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        You are here: Home / Archives for Committees / Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

        Harvard Flight Attendant Health Study — Researcher’s Letter

        April 22, 2014 10:00

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        Harvard has been conducting flight attendant health studies since 2007.  Many of you have already participated.  Thank you for your participation—-only with your participation can we learn more about our health.

        The Harvard team is committed to specifically investigating Flight Attendant health conditions over time, similar to the well-known Nurses’ Health Study research at Harvard.

        For your information, some of the study results are posted on the website FAhealth.org.

        In the next couple of months, Harvard researchers are inviting Flight Attendants bidding the Boston trip to participate in a study investigating exposure to chemical substances prevalent in the general environment, and specifically, in the aircraft cabin, by analyzing blood samples from flight attendants.

        The Boston trip is an accessible location for Harvard researchers to take samples. Some Flight Attendants at Alaska have already participated in this study by meeting the Harvard team at the hotel after arrival in Boston and donating a serum sample and hand wipe sample. (Researchers use an alcohol swab to sweep any possible dust particles off the surfaces of the hands.)

        To obtain a better picture of exposure, we need more Flight Attendants to participate. Participants are given a gift in appreciation when they arrive in Boston.

        In addition, the researchers are looking for the rare occasion when Flight Attendants have time off—at least 2 weeks—in order to compare the blood level of chemicals during a time when the flight attendant is not working on the aircraft (and not flying as a passenger) with blood levels after flying again. This “wash out” period can occur either before or after a Flight Attendant comes to Boston (Harvard would use a mobile lab technician to take a blood sample at a location convenient for you).  This “wash out” information is particularly important to separate aircraft exposures from other sources.

        Even if you do not anticipate an upcoming leave, Harvard still wants you to consider participation. The investigators are interested to know whether specific chemical substances are at higher levels in Flight Attendants than the general population. Because some of these chemicals have been associated with endocrine disruption in a small group of animal and human studies, the research team is interested to know about the impact on flight attendants.

        If you are willing to participate, please contact Dr. Eileen McNeely to let her know how and when to reach you.  She will answer any further questions you have about the research: emcneely@hsph.harvard.edu.

        Filed Under: Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC)

        New Master Executive Council Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson

        February 25, 2014 13:56

        Please join us in welcoming Seth Heiple to the position of Master Executive Council (MEC) chairperson of the Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC), effective March 1.  As MEC chairperson, Seth will be responsible for working with the Local SHSC Chairs in each base to coordinate the activities of the SHSC for all Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants.

        Seth joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant at the beginning of 2008.  While at Alaska he has served on both the Inflight Service Committee and the SHSC and worked with the F/A team that developed the “D Check” program.  Before joining Alaska Seth worked as a F/A for Northwest Airlines for close to 10 years, five of which he had the additional responsibilities of being an international purser.  Seth graduated from George Fox University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in International Business and Economics.  He is pleased to have the opportunity to serve as the MEC SHSC chair and support the Committee’s efforts to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for F/As and cabin environment for our passengers.

        The MEC would also like to thank current MEC SHSC Chairperson Barb Moynier for her hard work and accomplishments over the past several years that she has held the position.  Barb has been a tireless advocate for our Flight Attendants and her efforts are greatly and sincerely appreciated.

        The Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) is responsible for working with management on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.  Contact information for each Local SHSC can be found at alaskamec.org, then by selecting your base from the Local Council menu.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn and Sandra Morrow

         

         

        Filed Under: Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Committees, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC)

        MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson Opening

        January 27, 2014 20:20

        Dear Flight Attendants:

        Due to the cancelation of our January MEC meeting to accommodate the TA Roadshows, the previously scheduled interviews for the position of MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee Chairperson have been re-scheduled.  The interviews will now be held February 19 and 20 at the MEC office in Seattle.

        For those of you interested in applying for this position, there is still time to submit your resume.  Please submit your resume to MEC Secretary-Treasurer Yvette Gesch by fax at (206) 246-4752 or by email at ysgesch@gmail.com.  Resumes must be submitted by February 10, 2014.  Yvette will then contact you to schedule your interview.

        For a description of the position responsibilities please see below.  If after reviewing this information, you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact current MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Chairperson Barb Moynier at shsc@alaskamec.org or MEC Vice President Brian Palmer, who oversees our MEC Committees, at bpalmer@alaskamec.org.

        In Solidarity,

        Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, and Sandra Morrow

        Scope

        a.        The Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) shall work with the Company on matters pertaining to cabin and Flight Attendant safety and health.

        Policy/Responsibilities

        a.        The MEC SHSC shall consist of the MEC SHSC Chairperson, MEC SHSC Vice Chairperson—Air Quality, and the Local SHSC Chairperson from each council.

        b.        The MEC SHSC Chairperson is the primary contact with the Company, the FAA and the International office, regarding Flight Attendant safety and health issues.

        c.         The MEC Chairperson shall:

        (i)       Attend any safety meetings with the company.

        (ii)      Attend FAA/Alaska Airlines safety meetings.

        (iii)    Attend AFA-CWA Air Safety Department training seminars

        (iv)     In conjunction with the International Office, develop and conduct initial and ongoing local Safety/Health training, including NTSB accident investigation procedures

        (v)      Communicate with the AFA-CWA Air Safety Department.

        (vi)     Communicate with other airline safety representatives, as appropriate.

        (vii)   Participate in accident investigation, hijacking, sabotage, etc., as directed.

        (viii)  Communicate with the Alaska ALPA MEC Safety Chairperson as appropriate.

        (ix)     Attend and participate in Congressional hearings dealing with cabin safety, as directed.

        (x)      Assign special safety assignments to local Safety/Health Chairpersons as appropriate.  The MEC officers and appropriate LEC President shall be advised of these special assignments.

        (xi)     Handle safety incidents, i.e. equipment problems, occupational injuries, as they arise.

        (xii)   Compose informational and educational articles of interest to the membership and provide them to the MEC Communications Chairperson to be included in MEC communications and posted to the MEC website.

        (xiii)  Be on a 24-hour call-out in the event of an accident.

        d.        The committee shall:

        (i)       Participate in programs concerned with air safety, health and security.

        (ii)      Act in an advisory role to the MEC on safety and health matters.

        (iii)    Study safety and health problems and prepare recommendations to be presented to the MEC for consideration.

        (iv)     Review material, handle correspondence and keep members informed of safety and health developments through the Communications Committee and/or reports at Local Council meetings.

        (v)      Attend company debriefings after an accident or incident or when pertinent issues are discussed.

        Position Description Information (Please Review Both Links)

        • Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (SHSC) Member
        • MEC Chairperson Addendum

        Filed Under: Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Committees, Latest News, Master Executive Council (MEC)

        MEC AQ Update July 27, 2013: Recent Aircraft Cabin Air Quality Events

        July 27, 2013 19:27

        ***Updated July 7, 2015***


         

        July 27, 2013

         

        Dear Flight Attendants,

        Very likely you are aware that Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants have recently experienced two different high profile aircraft cabin air quality incidents. Please be assured that Alaska Airlines Maintenance and Engineering, Flight Ops and Inflight are working with AFA on this very serious issue.  Due to the increased frequency of air quality events and the severity of these recent two, AFA is stepping up our focus in this area.

        AFA representatives have been in contact with affected members, are working through the administrative processes and meeting with Company reps to identify the mechanical faults. AFA is currently developing practical educational material to share with all of our members and planning air quality awareness/incident training for safety reps from each local council. AFA International Air Safety & Health Department Industrial Hygienist Judith Anderson is assisting the effort as resident subject matter expert.  Once the investigations are complete, the affected crew members will be given copies of the maintenance reports to be provided by Alaska Airlines. AFA will also report back with any lessons learned from these and other recent air quality incidents.

        If you or any of your crewmembers experience an air quality event contact:

        • MEC Air Quality chairperson Karyn Kobe (775-560-3297), or
        • AFA Air Safety & Health Department Industrial Hygienist Judith Anderson (206-932-6237).

        More information regarding aircraft cabin air quality may be found on the

        • AFA Alaska MEC website (http://afaalaska.org/ashsc/airquality or http://afaalaska.org > Committees > Air Quality), or the
        • AFA International Air Safety & Health Department’s Air Quality page (http://ashsd.afacwa.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&homeID=1396).

        Take care and fly safe!

         

        “Five Bases, One Voice”

        Filed Under: Air Quality, Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Committees, Latest News

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