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Iowa Member Wins National Safety Council Award

November 16, 2011

Lonnie Logan, center, the safety chairman of Davenport, Iowa, Local 1379, was named one of five recipients of the most distinguished award presented annually by the National Safety Council.

In November, after Lonnie Logan, the safety chairman of Davenport, Iowa, Local 1379, was named  one of five recipients of the most distinguished award presented annually by the National Safety Council, his local business manager, Duane Smith, thought about what makes Logan special.

“Lonnie has the ability to separate labor and safety issues,” says Smith, whose local represents electricians at Alcoa’s famous 134-acre plant located on the Mississippi, a facility that has produced metals for every space vehicle in America’s program and advanced products for all major airlines, even the wings for Air Force One.

The National Safety Council’s Distinguished Service to Safety Award is the highest honor it bestows on safety professionals. Logan received his award at the NSC’s congress and expo in October. The Philadelphia gathering was the nation’s largest assembly of safety and health professionals. 

 IBEW Safety and Health Department Director Jim Tomaseski says, “Brother Logan’s nomination for the distinguished service award was initiated by his peers in the labor division. His commitment to safety and his true concern for his fellow workers and other IBEW members shows in everything he does. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this prestigious award.”

Logan, a 22-year electrician at Alcoa, began serving on the plant’s joint health and safety committee about 12 years ago while he was serving as the local union’s vice president. Since then, he has played an active role in the National Safety Council’s Labor Division, chairing a committee on standards and serving on the executive committee. The labor division includes safety professionals from dozens of labor organizations.

“I am privileged to work for Alcoa,” says Logan. The company’s CEO drove a progressive safety agenda about 10 years ago, says Logan, contributing to joint efforts that have since returned notable gains. Last year alone, OSHA-recordable injuries declined by 2 percent. New hearing protection measures, ergonomic improvements and pedestrian motor vehicle awareness measures have further protected worker health and safety. 

The plant employs 2,500 workers. Sixteen hundred are members of the United Steelworkers Local 105, which participates in the joint safety committee. Local 1379 represents 125 workers.

Logan, the vice chairman of IBEW’s Safety Caucus, says his proudest achievement is helping found the electrical safety committee at Alcoa. “I worked with four management representatives,” says Logan.“We started from nothing, but our recommendations were adopted by local management, benchmarked at other plants and adopted by Alcoa corporate-wide.”

Serving on joint committees can put union safety representatives under criticism by their own members. Logan takes it in stride.  He says, “A member once told me that the company spent too much money on safety. I asked him what his life was worth so I could pass that on to the company.” 

Members who overheard the discussion, says Logan, respected his position.

“I just tell the truth,” says Logan.“Working safely is just the right thing to do. Ignoring the rules could change one’s life forever or send them home in a coffin.”

Smith says safety is an integral part of the Davenport works’ success. A $300 million expansion is underway to produce more aluminum to supply auto producers who are under government mandates to produce lighter, more gas efficient cars. Inside construction members of Rock Island, Ill., Local 145 will be helping build the facility.