Two weeks ago at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, a bulk Stacker/Reclaimer being used at the Alabama State Port Authority's (ASPA) McDuffie coal export marine terminal simply collapsed (see photos below).
Two weeks ago at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, a bulk Stacker/Reclaimer being used at the Alabama State Port Authority's (ASPA) McDuffie coal export marine terminal simply collapsed (see photos below).
Workers there (ILA Members) are naturally concerned that this equipment is not being inspected and maintained properly, and express fear of continued operation of similar equipment.
The workers, however, have no avenue for outside intervention.
ASPA (the employer of the workers) is a State of Alabama instrumentality. Consequently, by virtue of Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Occupational Safety & Health Act (which exempts Federal, State & Municipal entities) Federal OSHA has no jurisdiction.
The State of Alabama, unlike most other States who desire to extend workplace OSH protections to Federally-exempt State & Municipal workers, has no OSHA Approved State Plan with which to do so. Consequently, the workers are left to their own resourcefulness.
It's a somewhat frustrating situation.......... But not hopeless.
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