Safety Committee

Air Safety, Health & Security

Working for You 24/7 . . . the focus of Air Safety, Health & Security (ASHS) is on NWA Flight Attendants' workplace and working lives. The Local Safety Committees work directly with LEC Officers and MEC ASHS Chair and Vice Chair. Your Air Air Safety, Health & Security Committee is here to represent FA interests - both at the Local and MEC level - in efforts to reduce injuries and accidents, promote improved working conditions and protect/support FA health and well-being - both on and off the aircraft. Fly safely, stay healthy and remain vigilant!

ASHS Action Plan: Initiatives 2008
*Establish an ASAP
*Strengthen Local Council safety efforts
*Protect and defend our contract, Section 22—Safety, Security and Health
*Advocate for OSHA workplace protections
*Emergency Response preparedness through an effective ER Plan and Calldown Protocols in the event of a serious incident/accident
*Ensure AFA-CWA input on cabin interiors design, crew rest accommodations and training development for the B787 "Dreamliner"

SAFETY ALERT...
TURBULENCE AWARENESS!

Recently Flight #16 from KIX to HNL experienced a Code 6 turbulence encounter. Approximately four hours into the flight, the aircraft unexpectedly dropped 1,000 feet. As a result, two Flight Attendants and two passengers were taken to the hospital. One FA experienced two cervical fractures in the neck and the other significant bruising/soreness to head, shoulders, back and tailbone.

The last several months have seen a number of severe turbulence events, with injuries. Another example of the severity of these events is depicted in some vivid photos taken on a recent SEA-AMS flight which encountered Code 5+ turbulence and illustrates why galley security is a “must” as an effective countermeasure in preventing injuries. These photos are posted on the ASHS webpage: www.nwaafa.org/committees/safety/

Such experience demands ‘best practices’ to be followed on our flights everyday. Your MEC Air Safety, Health & Security Committee would like to recommend the following:

• During pre-flight briefings with the Captain, determine whether the flight deck will make PAs when Code 3+ turbulence is anticipated.

• Request the standard use of Codes 2, 4 or 6 to clarify the level of expected turbulence if it is referred to as “a little bumpy” or “light chop” to enable the appropriate responses in the cabin.

• Just to be on the safe side - when a specific timeframe is provided for expected turbulence, a good practice is to cut that time in half, allowing for necessary preparation in the cabin, galley stowage/security and taking the jumpseat.

• Ensure carrier/compartment doors are closed/latched when not in use in anticipation of any unexpected turbulence.

• When the service is completed, stow all carts – and keep counters clear of unnecessary service items. In severe turbulence, everything can become a flying missile!

• Repeat back any turbulence information provided by flight deck and/or the Purser/LFA to clarify and confirm severity, duration and immediate actions required, such as taking the jumpseat and strapping in.

• Use seat belts in crew bunks as a matter of practice. Also, in turbulence use extreme caution in responding to an interphone call while resting.

As can be seen, there’s NO time for complacency when we consider the reality of what can happen in severe turbulence encounters. Stay informed, be prepared, take quick action – and look out for one another!

Single Service Cart Update

Your Voices Were Heard:
Single Service Cart Summit a Success
On Friday, May 16, our MEC Air Safety, Health and Security (ASHS) Chair and ASHS Service Subcommittee Chair , along with Council 95 President and MSP flight attendant Deana Klein, met with Northwest management to resolve ongoing concerns about weight, maneuverability and injuries resulting from the “single service cart” concept launched on April 8, 2008.

As a direct result of this meeting, provisions in Section 22 of our contract (Safety, Security and Health) and your continued feedback to ASHS, we are pleased to report that, beginning immediately, the Company has accepted and implemented our recommendation that, whenever possible, two flight attendants work one single service cart.  More details on this and other planned changes and improvements will be presented in a joint NWA/AFA-CWA email communication this week.

Even with these new service guidelines in place, your feedback remains invaluable.  Follow these steps to file complaints and offer suggestions:

  1. Submit your concerns and opinions to Northwest Inflight Services via the Flight Attendant Communication Center:

    • 1-866-612-0001 option 2;
    • In MSP, 612-726-6990;
    • ;
    • or on ATLAS
  2. Submit your concerns and opinions to the MEC ASHS Service Subcommittee Chair Chris Smith at:

    • or online via the Service Carts Feedback form, created especially for this purpose

Union representatives are not provided with FACC data, so you must submit your comments to both the FACC and AFA-CWA.

Thanks to everyone who participated by providing input to ASHS.  You have helped us achieve these changes together.

Fly safely, stay healthy and remain vigilant!

Posted by Communications Chair on 05/18 at 02:53 PM