Efforts to get the story out faster can lead
to shortcuts on safety -- and this means danger in the workplace for
thousands of electronic-news-gathering workers and bystanders where news
happens. There have been many accidents attributed to news van antennas
hitting power lines, but three severe accidents in May 2000 prompted
action. As a result, California is on the verge of passing the nation's
first safety regulations for TV live vans.
"It's definitely a victory for broadcast workers across the country," said
Gena Stinnet, KABC-TV, Los Angeles, videotape editor and president of
National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-Communications
Workers of America Local 57 in Los Angeles. "California is often a leader
in health and safety regulations. Since this really is a national issue,
we're hoping other states will follow suit and pass similar regulations to
protect their workers."
Ms. Stinnet was propelled into action when Adrienne Alpert, a KABC
reporter, was severely burned when her news van antenna rose into a power
line two years ago. She lost her right foot and left hand and portions of
her left foot and right hand. That same month, three members of an ENG
crew in Alexandria, Va., and a photographer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were
injured when news van masts made contact with high-voltage electric power
lines.
Within three days of the KABC accident, members of local unions
representing the broadcast industry met to discuss what could be done. "We
wanted to create a floor of safety where no employer could beat the other
to a news story because they took shortcuts with safety," said Ms. Stinnet.
The group invited employers from the Los Angeles market to a meeting on
how to set uniform standards. Unfortunately, very few employers were
willing to take part in that process.
The group then decided to petition for regulations that would provide
better safety standards. Together, NABET-CWA, the American Federation of
Television and Radio Artists, International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers and the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees
submitted its petition to the California Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
Once in Cal-OSHA's hands, a committee was formed to develop potential
regulations. "We had an advisory committee of quite a number of
stakeholders -- employees and employers, manufacturers and safety experts
from around the country," said John MacLeod, executive officer for the
standards board of Cal-OSHA. "I believe the benefit of having an advisory
committee of stakeholders develop the proposal really helps in achieving a
consensus."
"Even though they didn't step up to the plate initially when we invited
them to, once the process started, the employers had their opportunity to
articulate their concerns in the committee process, and we were able to
work out a compromise," said Ms. Stinnet.
The proposed regulations call for new or improved safety equipment inside
ENG vehicles, including continuous pressure switches for raising the mast,
level indication devices, illumination above vans, warning signs, and
audible and visible warnings if vans are moved without first stowing the
mast.
New rules would also call for safety manuals, a code of safe practices and
annual training of ENG workers in vehicle operation, antenna setup and
teardown and emergency procedures. A requirement that vehicles be
inspected on a quarterly basis, which broadcasters said is too stringent,
is one of the last issues still to be resolved.
Though the legal process isn't yet completed, Mr. MacLeod expects the
regulations to go into effect early next year.
Mark Bell, a journalist who has been an ENG safety advocate for eight
years, said that is about as fast as the government can work.
"I think they've not only been responsive to the unions, but they've been
inspired by the cooperation the corporations have shown. The corporations
are being very sensitive to this. They don't want it to happen again," he
said.
Though Mr. Bell has been documenting serious accidents for several years,
no real statistics are available. Even so, there's no doubt that for every
serious accident that is documented, there are many less severe accidents
or near misses that aren't.
"I'll never know the amount of injuries," said Mr. Bell. "I can tell you a
lot of people lie about it, and there are a lot of employers that tell
their injured employees, 'Let's just keep this quiet, and by the way, that
raise you requested came through.'"
Once the regulations pass in California, unions are planning action to get
similar rules adopted in other states. "We've got a national NABET
committee that is researching this area," said Ms. Stinnet. "Once
California is successful, they're poised to get this out to our sister
locals. We're hopeful this will have a domino effect. There's more work to
be done, but this is a really positive first step."