NYCHA Holds Safety Symposium

“Today we are here for you,” General Manager Michael Kelly told more than 350 property managers and supervisors, along with department directors and executive staff, at NYCHA’s third Safety Symposium, hosted by the Office of Safety Security at Johnson Houses on June 18.

The symposium reported on the state of NYCHA’s safety program, including the substantial progress made thanks to recent safety initiatives in reducing employee injuries.

In addition to remarks on the status of NYCHA’s safety program from Senior Vice President for Operations Brian Clarke, Teamsters Local 237 Safety and Health Coordinator Diane Stein and NYCHA’s employee Safety Associates, the agenda included an original play on safety themes written and performed by the Safety Associates. The program also featured focus group discussions led by Human Resources Deputy Director Cherry McCutchen.

NYCHA’s Safety Associates are employees who volunteer to serve on borough Safety Congresses that identify and correct unsafe work practices and conditions. Earlier this year, a Safety Congress for Skilled Trades was also established.

The program concluded with recognition of eight NYCHA employees as Safety Leaders who have promoted safety practices in their respective areas.

The Right to Feel Safe

“Everyone deserves to feel safe at home and at work,” GM Kelly said. “Keeping each other safe goes hand in hand with our service to residents— these aren’t separate goals, but part of the same mission.”

Citing the unprecedented collaboration between labor unions and NYCHA management, GM Kelly reported that “we collectively reduced injuries by seven percent last year over 2013. And we brought the injury rate down by nine percent.”

One area of that collaboration is union participation in monthly Safety Congresses during which NYCHA’s Safety Associates report safety issues and identify unsafe conditions.

This partnership helped NYCHA obtain a training grant for injury investigation from the New York State Hazard Abatement board.

“We collectively reduced injuries by seven percent last year over 2013. “ And we brought the injury rate down by nine percent.” – GM Michael Kelly

Another initiative credited with reducing injuries is the “Make It Safe” program that empowers staff to stop work and immediately report unsafe conditions.

This year, NYCHA has earmarked $1 million for personal protective equipment and established a Safety Unit to identify safety issues and recommend solutions.

Despite these efforts, GM Kelly noted that 200 staff are out daily due to injuries. In addition to protecting the welfare of employees and their families, reducing these injuries would alleviate understaffing, improve morale, and result in better service to residents.

During 2015, NYCHA will continue to provide additional training, safety audits and inspections, as well as safety plans developed by Location Safety Teams.

“We’ve got a big job to do and we’ve go to do it right,” GM Kelly said. “And right means safe.”