Union, Honda Spar

UAW questions Ohio plants' safety record

June 28th 2002 - The United Auto Workers union, which is trying to organize Honda of America's hourly workers in Ohio, is questioning the safety of the automaker's manufacturing plants.

The safety concerns vary department to department, said Frank White, an organizer for the UAW. Repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel, are a concern to workers in the assembly area, while exposure to chemicals worries associates in the painting department.

Honda officials say the union has misconstrued statistics. The plants are safe and healthy places to work, said Rick Schostek, vice president of support services and general counsel of Honda of America Manufacturing.

The union, citing Occupational Health and Safety Administration logs, said there were 2,748 job-related injuries and illnesses at the Marysville auto plant last year, compared with 302 injuries and illnesses in 2001 at a General Motors Corp. plant in Lordstown.

The industry average is about 22.7 incidents per 100 workers for total job-related illnesses and injuries. The Honda average is close to 40 incidents per 100 workers, Schostek said, but that number is inflated by a safety program.

The company encourages employees to report any minor discomfort to allow for immediate evaluation and treatment.

When compensating for that program, the average is closer to 23.9 incidents per 100 workers, Schostek said.

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