Health and Safety

Process Safety Beacon Information on Hazardous Energy

Many process plants contain high speed rotating equipment – for example, compressors, centrifuges, and centrifugal extractors.

Paper Machine primary arm fatality

Attached is a USW Hazard Alert that involves a Rereeler Assistant with three years of service who was fatally injured when he was caught in-between the unguarded Primary Arm and the Reel Rail

U.S. Department of Labor Announces $10.5 Million in Funding Opportunities for Susan Harwood Training Grants to Support Worker Safety and Health

A total of $10.5 million is available for nonprofit organizations including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian

USW Covid 19 training Webinar

Attached is information that the USW is offering for working safely during the Covid 19 pandemic. Anyone who is interested please follow the instructions contained in the attachment. 

Past Practice Rules in Safety Shoe Arbitration

When management at Solvay’s Chicago Heights plant reinterpreted contract language regarding safety shoe reimbursement and unilaterally implemented its new policy, Local 7-765-01 filed a grievance, an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge and took the case to arbitration.

The local won.

Worker loses fingers in IP mill accident

GEORGETOWN, S.C.

Packaging Corporation of America: One Year after Catastrophic Explosion in DeRidder Killing Three

 February 8, 2018 marked the one-year anniversary of the explosion at PCA in DeRidder that killed 3 employees. According to OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,  three contract workers were climbing down from an elevated pipe rack when what's called a foul condensate tank exploded. The blast hit the employees and tossed their bodies 200 yards, killing all three.

CSB Releases Final Report

CSB Releases Final Report into Chemical Release at MGPI Industries; Report Emphasizes Key Safety Lessons to Prevent Future Inadvertent Mixing Incidents – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released its case study titled “Key Lessons for Preventing Inadvertent Mixing During Chemical Unloading Operations,” which examines a mixture of incompatible materials at the MGPI Processing Plant in Atchison, Kansas on October 21, 2016.

USW Local 12943 – Domtar – Kingsport, TN

On December 11, 2017, a member of local 12943 received multiple injuries to his hand. Preliminary information is that the member’s hand was pinned against the fork truck mast by a paper machine’s stock screen door.

USW Local 2-94 Unit 01 – Catalyst Paper – Wisconsin Rapids, WI (Biron Mill)

On November 5, 2017, a member of USW Local 2-94 suffered multiple injuries to his left hand and arm. The complete details are unknown but preliminary information is that a winder helper, was attempting to remove loose paper, when his left hand and arm were caught in an in-going nip point on the #88 Winder.

USW Local 941 – Georgia-Pacific – Brewton, AL

On October 29, 2017, a member of USW Local 941 suffered serious burns to both
legs and one hand. The member was carrying a step ladder when he inadvertently
stepped into an unguarded U-drain with approximately two-feet of hot water and
condensate. The basement area of the #2 Paper Machine has poor lighting and
housekeeping. A rebuild was taking place and the crew was handling an upset
condition. The auto-valve was working incorrectly which caused the chest to
overflow. The member was attempting to use a step ladder to access a manual