“I have a Dream” & “Free
at Last, Free at Last” the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr…it resonates
today more then ever before. And not only for the Black-Lives-Matter “monument”
taking over the Confederate “statues of shame” sea to shining sea as this courageous
“movement” should, but for my own “I have a Dream”. That I would finally be
exonerated by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company “my dedication as a valued
employer” once-upon-a-time, before getting “blacklisted” for caring - about
safety and trying my best at doing things right in conflict with a reckless
management mindset that went pissed off at “whistleblowers” and pleased off with
“Shoot the Messenger”. Even if that “Messenger” was trying to WARN the Valdez management
that drunk tanker captains at the helm of a 214861 DWT steel hull filled with 1480000-barrels
of hazardous cargo - like North Slope Crude Oil - well it don’t mix! I mean
Bligh Reef ain’t no longer safe for shorebirds with that kind of dereliction
the conviction to environmental responsibility! Like with Little Mara-Lago’s
under-aged girls forced to have sex with Prince Andrew, well Prince William was
also under duress this brazen statutory rape by drunken pirates of the Alaskan
oil trade. And no doubt about it, even though Alyeska did not have control of
the gas pedal on Joe Hazelwood’s EXXON Valdez on a “joy ride” of doom in 1989, the
company controlled the “clutch” in that 1000-foot “causeway” that was Captain
Joe’s escape route to destruction. Yes, Joe could have and should have been
arrested before he set foot on that tanker back in March of 1989, by Alyeska’s
very own security detail denying access then EXXON would say “Joe You’re Fired”.
But back then complacency ruled Alyeska’s wherewithal, not only with
environmental risks as “bigotry” was also a well-established trait the company
could not “fix”, like that was also condoned so survived. I spoke up upon all things considered in “ugliness”
and paid for it dearly my career cut short. And the only reason I bring up the
famous wreck, well in retirement and traveling and telling other retirees what
I did for a living, mention the pipeline and Valdez, guilty by association like
an automatic Peyronies.
But today I feel “Exonerated”,
so who cares about that Reef that still feels the dire-straits effect of crude
oil haphazardly dumped overboard and who cares about the effect of “racism”
on-the-job, as many of those individuals that had to put up with it - RIP! Some
lost, some…today I am the winner! And so I proclaim, “Free at Last, Free at Last”
as in a recent correspondence from Betsy Haines as Uncle’ Al’s Vice President
of “Operations and Maintenance” in mouthpiece, in a follow up correspondence wherein
I questioned as to why Alyeska was facing stiff penalties from the Department
of Labor due numerous “Serious” OSHA violations, Betsy thanked me! A sincere thanks, my exoneration for still
being concerned about worker safety with her words not mine in effect; “and
I’m glad you are still concerned with the safe operation of TAPS”. Wow,
it only took how many years, as once “blacklisted” on the Alaska oil scene,
work becomes tough. After being targeted as a “Vocal Rebel Rabble-Rouser” in
voicing out loud the derelictions listed above in Valdez, the only reason I was
able to sustain continued employment in Alaska’s “Big Oil” was the fact I had superiority
commendations from the “Owner Company”, for my due diligence in dedication to
doing things right, for my own well-being and that of my fellow workers. OK, at
last count this “glad” in “Exoneration” some 30-years by now in overdue. OK,
let me regurgitate all about this “current” recklessness that Betsy denies with
Alyeska already contesting the DOL, on what the investigator inspectors of the
OSHA under DOL under Antonin Scalia’s son - maybe Trump cares about the workers.
But the defense to this DOL mandated “Penalty” due OSHA violations, that being
initiated by Alyeska in contest what was found during an “un-scheduled” visit,
well the fact this company is now highlighted for such abuse on the DOL
web-site designed for “Transparency” and titled “Enforcement Cases with Initial
Penalties of $40000 or Above”( https://www.osha.gov/enforcement/toppenalties/bystate),
aka “GUILITY” it speaks for itself. And with Alyeska it reeks of déjà vu all
over again and I fear the career of the “Whistleblower” - LOOK OUT is my
sentiment!
~~~~~
On
12/4/2019, the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health
Administration, through its integrated State of Alaska field office(AKOSH),
initiated an “un-announced inspection” at the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company’s
“Valdez(Alaska) Marine Terminal”. Alyeska is responsible for the “Operation
& Maintenance” of the 800-mile Trans-Alaska-Pipeline. It appears from the
DOL record that this “inspection” was based on a “whistle-blower” complaint,
most likely due what was perceived as on-the-job OSHA violations. And the way
things are supposed to work within the rank and file with Alyeska including
contractors, a concern over safety is supposed to stay a local issue and only
when stubbornness rules, then one is allowed to move concerns up the “poop
chutes and sleazy ladders”…as it is a game! Look, if the local can’t fix it the
reason they don’t want to fix it, so YES it becomes a game.
Now
following this “un-announced inspection” and what was witnessed by the DOL/OSHA/AKOSH
inspectors, on 5/26/2020 the DOL/OSHA “Enforcement” sector levied a penalty of
$404602 against Alyeska for 31 “Serious” violations along with extended penalties
in the amount of $311313 culminating from an additional 22 “Serious” safety violations
through contractor(s) obligation in remission at the Valdez facility/site. In
total, you can perform the simple addition, but what is more alarming then
$money$ for fines is the penalty citations for Alyeska and its contractors, accounting
for 306 “Safety Violation Instances” and 993 “Worker Exposures” consistent with
the violations acknowledged during the inspection. As witnessed and recorded at
the time of the initial inspection, the violations ranged from the risk of “excessive
noise” to exposure to “highly explosive & highly hazardous chemicals” to “cancer
causing ceramic refractory fibers” present and many instances of BETX/M(Benzene-Ethylene-Toluene-Xylene
and M-phthalodinitrile) exposure, risks levels in excess allowed by the “lawman”
in protection of workers engaged in the pipeline activities. It makes one sick
just to fathom what these workers were subject to, like slave labor! It is
noted that BETX is an age old worker exposure problem for Alyeska that dates
back since inception of the pipeline in operation to transport “crude oil”. An
analysis of the complaint and inspection result is very disturbing, as during
the 80s through the 90s, I was a worker at the “Terminal” that witnessed the
same type and kind of on-the-job safety concerns. Like in that past, again it
appears a dereliction the conviction to make sure the work environment is safe
and work allowed to be performed safely and NEVER placing the workers in harm’s
way at any expense, just do it right. But when a complaint has to be filed for
outside interference in help, that means someone is not listening and the
obligation for local oversight is missing-in-action, and thus it requires that “unwanted”
outside interference to terminate the abuse. Sad, that this was already a war
fought by dedicated employees, many that found that career with the “Pipeline
People” sabotaged by an ugly management style that excelled in a message from
the top of a “Shoot the Messenger” mandate, instead of exhausting resources to “fix”
the safety problems. Look, when the local management did not take our concern
about the drunk tanker crews seriously, we decided our only hope to STOP a
wreck recking the Sound, was to “Unionize”. And instead of taking our concerns to
heart, resources were then directed to fight that “Union” and Joe had his heyday
joy riding. So it appears déjà vu all over again, as to see this sizable “penalty”
for so many “Serious” violations so many workers possibly exposed, it begs at
what the hell is going on at the helm?
Once upon a time the Alyeska
Pipeline Service Company was known as the “Best of the Best”. I was part of
that effort, but it was a short-lived victory as deep down inside…well the
reason drunk tanker captains get away with heinous crimes on the high seas and “white
supremist” allowed to hock their racism goods on-the-job for way too long, like
it was condoned. Only in “laughter is the best medicine” does Alyeska find a
justifiable existence as a reputable company, in my book my experiences. But no
doubt that Alyeska in the category of the “Best of the Best”, it went out the
window in abandonment many years ago and once gone, it never returned. No
matter how many “fluff & feather” awards the company was able to squander
over the years…let me be more specific why that company deserves no accolades
for anything in a “Best of the Best” category as this most recent “Penalty” by
the DOL is testament, that it required an “outside interference”. But Alyeska will
use its political stroke to demand retribution, same old story! So as a gage,
watch what happens to those “penalties”! And yes Betsy, I always cared about
worker safety and still do, does anybody else? But I don’t get paid for caring!
And to all the retired “Cowitts”
that dishonored worker loyalty and honored instead a commitment to “kiss
everything that smells of an asshole 800-miles long a trail of tears who cares”
and placed that “golden parachute” obligation “I can take it with me” over the righteousness
of the workers back in the 80s and 90s, remember that the “blood” of the EXXON
Valdez is on your hands. And the stench of the wreck still lingers the
shore-lines of Prince William Sound - no different then the lingering filth of a Jeffrey Epstein finger fucking! Free
at Last? Not this guy, take your accolades and shove it as when I said I ain’t
working here no more, I meant it! And words od wisdom and a warning to that “whistleblower”…you
did what was necessary, but watch your back!
The Pipeline Raven has
farted!
