GLAIC conducts safety training

Safety Specialist Milan Racic teaches his last safety class for the GLAIC.

Members from six affiliate lodges attend class

NEARLY 20 MEMBERS from six lodges attended a one-day program on safety and health at the AmeriHost Inn in Hammond, Ind., March 28.

Sponsored by the Great Lakes Area Industrial Council #1 (GLAIC), members from the following affiliated lodges sent representatives to the training: Local D81 (Dixon, Ill.), Local M94 (Elkhorn, Wis.), Local 524 (East Chicago, Ind.), Local 1247 (Chicago), Local 1509 (Cudahy, Wis.), and Local 1600 (St. Charles, Ill.).

Milan Racic, safety & health specialist for the Boilermakers union, conducted the training. He is retiring Aug. 1 after serving 16 years on staff.

“Milan was on vacation at the time. He not only conducted the training for us, but donated his per diem and mileage to the council,” reported Intl. Rep and GLAIC Bus. Rep Howard Cole. “It was his last official act [for the GLAIC].“

At the March 28 training, Racic discussed OSHA, basic machine guarding, air limits on most common industrial chemicals, basic industrial toxicology, welding toxicology, the effects of manganese on the human body, and how to form effective joint safety and health committees.

Since the GLAIC was established in 1999, over 30 training sessions have been offered to members of its affiliated lodges. Topics include arbitration, collective bargaining, communications, conducting an audit, contract benefits, duties of an officer, the Family Medical Leave Act, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services, government reports, grievance procedures, health care, the International Constitution, local lodge bylaws, organizing, pensions, Robert’s Rules of Order, safety and health, sexual harassment, steward duties, time studies, unfair labor practices, and workman’s comp.