GCC/IBT Local 140-N Blog
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Safety is one of the major concerns of ours in our shops. Staffing levels have increased our risks of injury. The increased workload has resulted in shoulder,wrist and hand injuries. Safety bingo apparently is not preventing these problems. How do you feel about the way The Los Angeles Times and Tribune view our safety and their effort to insure it?
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Lock down procedure for reel change
More and more we are asked to do some prep work for the next shift, whether its shagging plates, or reel arm changes. This is impart to give crews a head start on line up time. But the fact is that crews are under manned.
It is a myth that a full roll can’t fall out of the reel arms.
On Saturday 9/23/06 night side came on to ‘A press all changes had been done.
During makeready an employee found a gap between the operator side reel and the stop of about a quarter inch, he then checks for green chuck indicators on all arms, he has green on all arms, he then rotates the reel so that he can get to the lock down bolt to
Check if it is tight, this is done form the front of the unit, the load position.
He then proceeds to put the wrench on the lock down bolt at that moment the reel slips that quarter inch the weight of the three complete full rolls was enough shear the bolts that hold the stop in place. Clearly this is a training issue, but more important it’s a safety issue. Had this employee been checking the bolts on A8 standing in the pit, and someone working on his makeup on A7, well you know what could have happened with three tons of paper free falling.
The problem doubled when the same employee found the reel arms on A3 with the same quarter inch gap from the stop on the drive side. But the difference at this time the press was running, luckily the lock down bolt was tight there was no danger of the rolls falling out. To be on the safe side the shift supervisor asked that we not enter the pit area between A3, A4 and let the rolls run out. The adjustment to the reel arm on A3 was made after the first run was off.
If there is any employee that is not sure of the locking procedure for a reel change and needs additional training please ask a reelroom coordinator or trainer for help. This goes for any safety procedure. When it comes to possible injury or death there should be no short cuts taken. Is a bust out worth someone’s life?
Saftey B.I.N.G.O IS THE ANSWER
The situation with the three full rolls falling from the reelarms at the Olympic Facility is a reminder on how dangerous our job really is.
Just by fate, no one was killed or maimed in this accident.
Accidents are up at Oly, but many do not report the accidents for fear of having their team removed from the monthly drawing of fifty dollars.
Eddie Padgett
Ed here at the Times we don’t have accidents, since Tribune took over they are called incidents. Its not safer, it just sounds better. BINGO!
The reason we are having problems with rolls coming out of the Color Liners is because of a design flaw.
Hoe presses and Metro presses had three or four bolts to secure the reel arm.
Color Liners have one bolt.
Compounding the problem is the serrated teeth that lock the reel arm are of too fine of a pitch and too shallow in depth. It's very easy to end up with the teeth not locked, but riding on top of each other.
Snugging up the lock down bolt and then rocking the reel arm sideways with the adjusting bolt can ensure that the teeth are meshed.
However, if you come on to a press that is already changed over and the reel arms are loaded; there is no way to ensure that the reel arm is secure other than removing the rolls and checking the arm is secure by the procedure mentioned.
Now how can that be done for every reel arm on a press that is changed over and loaded and who is to be liable for a loose reel arm.
If I didn't change it over, it certainly is not me and if that is the case then every changed over unit will be emptied and checked no matter what effect it has on production.
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