Meeting_Body
REVISED
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2015
Subject/Action
SUBJECT: MONTHLY REPORT ON CRENSHAW/LAX SAFETY
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE monthly report on Crenshaw/LAX Safety.
Issue
ISSUE
The Metro Board of Directors at its April 30, 2015 meeting directed Metro Staff to report monthly on safety-related matters on the Crenshaw/LAX Project. This report is responsive to the Board directive, and represents the second of such reports, with the first report being submitted in May 2015.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
As a result of several safety-related incidents experienced by Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors (WSCC), Metro’s Design-Build contractor for the Crenshaw/LAX Project, and a subsequent stop work notice issued to WSCC by Metro Staff, the Board approved a Motion which directed, among other items, the CEO to report back monthly on the safety status of the Project.
Since submitting the May status report, Metro Executive Staff met with WSCC’s Executive Team on May 18th to discuss WSCC’s remediation plan to address the three key safety issues identified by staff in the stop work notice. WSCC explained in detail the safety programs and safety training requirements for work crews and Management that have been in place since the inception of the Crenshaw/LAX Project, and the additional measures that have been implemented to mitigate recurrence of incidents that have been experienced on the Project.
In regards to improving the process for identification of underground utilities, which was one of the key areas of concern, WSCC explained a revised procedure for this type of work had been developed, including a ‘Pre-Excavation Planning Checklist’ which was provided to Metro Staff at the May 18th meeting. In addition to implementing the revised procedures, WSCC formalized the pre-activity site review process and will assign a utility project lead for every excavation. Also, WSCC conducted additional training for both craft personnel and Supervisors to designate ‘competent persons’ in utility identification and protection.
To address Metro’s second key concern related to the insufficient number of WSCC safety staff dedicated to oversee and enforce the safety requirements on the Project, WSCC presented their detailed safety staffing plan for each shift and committed to continue evaluating staffing needs and augmenting safety staff to be commensurate with the level and complexity of work activity. For example, as tunneling operations commences later this year, WSCC will review the level of safety staffing and dedicate resources to support the 24/7 operation.
In response to Metro’s third key area of concern related to disciplinary practices for safety violations, WSCC explained the policy that is currently in place, which includes termination for acts of gross negligence or actions that could result in serious injury or death. This policy was recently re-emphasized by communicating it in conjunction with distribution of paychecks for every employee. Also, WSCC will now share employee and subcontractor safety discipline data monthly with Metro Staff to confirm enforcement of the policy.
In addition to addressing the areas of concern, the Metro and WSCC Executive teams committed to adopting a more collaborative approach by participating in each other’s internal meetings, where Metro Executive Staff will attend WSCC’s internal Executive Safety Committee meetings and WSCC Executive Staff will participate in Metro’s All-Hands Safety meetings. In addition to attending these team meetings, Metro Executive Staff will also participate monthly in joint field inspections with WSCC’s Executive Staff at various sites along the corridor to demonstrate a visible commitment to safety.
Attachment A includes additional details of WSCC’s corrective action plan as briefly outlined above.
Attachment B lists incidents including industrial injuries, 3rd party injury and activities or incidents that could have resulted in injury or property damage. One industrial injury of note has occurred since our last report, an injury to the hand of an employee which limited his ability to perform regularly assigned work, but did not result in an absence.
Attachment C summarized the monthly and project-to-date industrial accident rates and WSCC continues to maintain an injury rate less than the national construction average.
Attachment D is a Board Box sent out on Friday, June 12, 2015 responding to the request of Directors Ridley-Thomas and Knabe calling for five actions including a written corrective action plan. The first attachment to this Board Box is the same as prior Attachment A; therefore, Attachment A has been deleted to avoid redundancy.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
As part of this monthly Board report, staff will continue to update the safety statistics on the Project. As such, Attachments B and C include a list of incidents reported to Metro through May 20th and WSCC’s Recordable Injuries and Injury rate as of the end of April, respectively. Starting in July, staff will present this information in its oral presentation at the monthly Construction Committee meeting as directed in the Board Motion.
Staff will partner with WSCC’s team and participate in the monthly Executive Safety meetings and field reviews to oversee safety activities on the project.
Staff will also continue their recruitment efforts to add the three additional safety FTEs for the Crenshaw/LAX Project which are included in the FY 16 budget. We are working with HR to make an employment offer to the first candidate and complete the health screening and background check process so that the candidate will start during the month of June, 2015. In the meantime, we have seconded construction safety specialists through the CMSSC contract to augment our core construction safety staff, only until our Crenshaw/LAX positions are filled.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - WSCC’s Corrective Action Plan
Attachment B - Project Incident and Injury Log through May 20, 2015
Attachment C - WSCC’s Industrial Injury Rates through April 30, 2015
Attachment D - CEO Board Box: Response to Board Motion on Crenshaw/LAX Project Safety (This Board Box includes WSCC’s Corrective Action Plan)
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Greg Kildare, Executive Director, Enterprise Risk and Safety
Management, (213) 922-4971
Reviewed_by
Reviewed by: Stephanie Wiggins, Interim Deputy CEO, (213) 922-1023
