Newsletter: February 2007 Newsletter

Mr. Joseph Fengler, Director of Military Defense Logistics at Honeywell’s Washington DC office, is scheduled to address the VSRA membership at the Association’s February General Membership meeting on Tuesday, February 20. Mr. Fengler will provide a DoD legislative update, with his unique perspective as a former professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee.

 

Mr. Fengler is Honeywell’s primary interface to the Department of Defense (DOD) for intermediate and depot maintenance policy, performance-based logistics contracts and contract logistics support and Honeywell’s DC office lead for operation and maintenance (day-to-day operations) funding.  Before joining Honeywell in late-2006, Joseph served on the House Armed Services Committee as a professional staff member where he was responsible for DoD working capital fund accounts, depot and intermediate maintenance facilities and funding as well as coordinating Global War on Terrorism supplemental requests and associated legislative authorities. 

 

Prior to his four years on the committee, Joseph served close to a decade as a civilian budget analyst for the Department of Army.  His last assignment with the Army was the Chief of Budget Formulation for Operation and Maintenance.  In that capacity, he managed a staff of over 30 senior analysts to formulate and defend the Army’s $25 billion annual operation and maintenance budget request that included contracted services, civilian personnel, travel and transportation, supplies and equipment, training, and maintenance.  He started his federal career when he was selected by the Office of Personnel Management to serve in the Presidential Management Internship program.  He is a graduate of the University of La Verne, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  He also holds two Master Degrees in Arts from the California State University of San Bernardino in National Security Studies and the Claremont Graduate University in International Studies.

 

His civilian awards include the Superior Civilian Service Award for bravery for actions on September 11, 2001; two Commander’s Awards for Outstanding Civilian Service; the American Society of Military Comptrollers Award for Distinguished Service; the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller Coin of Excellence; Commander’s Coin for service in Kosovo, and the H.Q. Department of Army Staff Badge.

 

He and his wife Doriann live on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  

The Security Committee was formed in April 2005 primarily to be the single point of contact for the dissemination of future changes in Navy policy concerning security requirements.   Chaired by Ed Hinson of Earl Industries, the committee has established a relationship with government security agencies providing the membership a forum to discuss security issues and assist others in providing efficient and reliable ways to meet government-directed security and access requirements. Since its inception, the committee has accomplished and is currently pursuing:

 

1.         Sponsored meetings with guests from Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Force Protection and Industrial Security, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Security, and Defense Security Service (DSS) so they may quickly disseminate any changes in requirements for access to military installations. Of particular note was when MARMC recently changed contractor security badges from local naval station badges to regional badges.

 

2.         Organized a forum to discuss and assist contractors with the use of Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS). With JPAS, the Department of Defense (DoD) uses the Web to connect security personnel around the world with a database managed by DoD Agency Central Adjudication Facilities (CAF’s). It is used by non-SCI Security Program Managers, Special Security Officers and DoD Contractor Security Officers for providing “real time” information regarding clearance, access and investigative status to authorized DoD security personnel. 

 

3.      Provided a forum for Facility Security Officers from various contractors to meet and discuss access issues that are currently facing the membership.

 

4.         Developed and disseminated a consolidated database of committee members’ contact information.

 

5.      Currently working with MARMC force protection discussing the impact of Transportation Worker Identification Cards (TWIC) on ship repair facilities.

 

The Security committee will continue to provide a means by which contractors may discuss and solve many security issues in order to provide better service to the Navy. They are continually looking for input as well as any concerns currently facing ship repair companies. Any questions or comments may be directed to Ed Hinson at ehinson@earl-ind.com.

By JON W. GLASS, The Virginian-Pilot
© February 10, 2007 | Last updated 7:49 PM Feb. 9

 

NORFOLK - While shipbuilding giant Northrop Grumman Newport News awaits an answer from the Coast Guard, it appears that workers at other local shipyards will not need new federal identification cards, industry officials said Friday.

 

"There's been some progress," said Joe Carnevale, a retired rear admiral and senior defense adviser for the Washington-based Shipbuilders Council of America, which is working with the region's Virginia Ship Repair Association. "Our expectation is that most will not. It looks like the Coast Guard is taking a very rational, reasonable approach."

 

A Coast Guard spokesman said Friday that a decision could be made by late February on whether Northrop Grumman's 19,000 employees will be required to have the cards.

 

At issue in Northrop Grumman's case is whether a Navy security plan the shipbuilder now has in place provides safeguards equal to requirements under the new law.

 

The aim of the biometric ID system, developed by the Department of Homeland Security, is to make the nation's ports more secure from terrorist attacks. Workers will have to undergo FBI background checks and submit fingerprints to be embedded on computer chips in the cards.

 

At the port of Hampton Roads, workers could begin using the cards as early as July.

 

The cards, known as the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC, are intended primarily to screen port workers who need unescorted access to transport cargo, such as longshoremen and truckers.

 

However, the law also applies to shipyards able to transfer or permanently store large amounts of bulk fuel oil and other hazardous materials that could be potential terrorist targets

 

That shipyard provision, which ensnared Northrop Grumman's yard, has been controversial and also sparked confusion over which yards had to comply.

 

Northrop Grumman asked the Coast Guard for a waiver, arguing that its work on nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers places the yard under stringent Defense Department security rules.

 

Company officials contend that for them, the new Homeland Security rules are redundant, adding unnecessary costs that ultimately would be passed on to the Navy - and taxpayers. Smaller local shipyards, who also deal primarily with the Navy, expressed similar concerns.

 

Steven Blando, a Coast Guard spokesman in Washington, said the agency has been working with the Navy to review the classified security plan in place at Northrop Grumman's yard.

 

"That process will continue until the latter part of February, during which time the review will be briefed up to senior Coast Guard and Navy leadership," Blando said in a statement. "A decision will be made at that time on whether the DoD plan, with it s robust security measures, can be recognized as equivalent" to the new maritime security law.

 

If the shipbuilder's existing plan is deemed adequate, its workers will not need TWIC cards.

 

Mal Branch, president of the Virginia Ship Repair Association, said much of the confusion over the provision covering shipyards has been cleared up since the Coast Guard issued final rules for TWIC last month. Things look better for the region's smaller repair yards, he said.

 

The law applies only to shipyards able to transfer at least 10,500 gallons - or 250 barrels - of petroleum products or other hazardous materials. Even then, some small facilities - those with a permanent fuel-oil storage capacity of less than 42,000 gallons - have successfully won waivers from that rule, the Coast Guard said.

 

Most local yards cannot permanently store anywhere near those levels of fuel oil. "There is a pretty strong feeling that will probably end up exempting most of our yards," Branch said. "There seems to be a lot more optimism now."

 

Beyond that, he said, a Coast Guard ruling favorable to Northrop Grumman would bolster the other yards' chances of escaping TWIC, because they also have Navy security plans in place.

 

On Tuesday, December 19, 2006, VSRA further formalized its commitment to the safety and health of its members by signing the Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Norfolk Area Office in Region III of the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 14 VSRA member companies signed on as initial participants in the 3-year agreement to jointly develop and implement model shipyard occupational safety and health and training programs, renewing the important partnership that had expired a year earlier.

 

A capacity audience, which included Congresswoman Thelma Drake as guest speaker and RDML Clarke Orzalli, Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Commander, witnessed Mal Branch, VSRA President, and Leo Edwards, OSHA Acting Area Director, pen the agreement as part of a high-profile ceremony during VSRA’s Holiday General Membership Meeting and Luncheon.

 

The Strategic Partnership Agreement furthers OSHA’s long range efforts to develop a business / labor / government partnership approach to safety and health management; allowing for better use of OSHA resources and encouraging more participation in the safety process by VSRA members. VSRA signatories confirmed their commitment to work with OSHA to reduce occupational injuries and fatalities, increase safety and health awareness, and institute model training programs for all participants – with the end goal of reducing the annual rates of occupationally related fatalities and Days Away from Work Rates by 3% and 4% respectively.

 

“I am honored that VSRA and its members could continue this important strategic partnership with OSHA,” said Mal Branch. “Due in no small part to the work of Phil Smith, the VSRA Safety Committee and our friends at OSHA, this agreement is an important step to increasing the number of ship repair employers who develop, implement and maintain comprehensive safety and health programs for the good of our employees and industry.” 

 

While 14 companies signed on as initial participants, the opportunity to join in the Strategic Partnership Agreement remains open for any of VSRA’s more than 170 member companies that meet established criteria. To be considered, a company must have a comprehensive written safety and health program in place, complete required assessments and resulting corrections as necessary, and commit to providing annual safety-related data to VSRA and OSHA. Additionally, it must not have been cited by the Norfolk Area Office within the past 3 years for alleged violations classified as “repeated” and/or “willful.”

 

The initial partnership member companies and their representatives who signed the agreement on December 19 are as follows:

 

Accurate Marine Environmental, John Domanski, Vice President

AMSEC, John McAllister, Acting CEO

BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, Bill Clifford, President & General Manager

Colonna’s Shipyard, Tom Godfrey, President/CEO

Crofton Diving, Robert Crofton, President

DeWitt Davis IV, DeWitt Davis IV, Proprietor

Earl Industries LLC, Jerry Miller, President

George G. Sharp Inc., Nick Clark, Program Manager

Main Industreis, Inc., Raymond Challoner, President

Marine Chemist Service Inc., Robbie Walker, President

MHI - Marine Hydraulics Inc., Tom Epley, President

Marine Specialty Painting, James Edge, Safety Director

Metro Machine Corp., John Strem, President

QED Systems Inc., Joe Yurso, Director of Technical Development

Tecnico Corp., Mike Torrech, President/CEO

New guidance from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) alerts shipyard employers and their employees about abrasive blasting hazards and the controls that can be implemented to protect employees.

"This new guidance focuses on silica alternatives since most shipyards have moved away from using silica as a blasting agent," said OSHA Administrator Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "However, alternative blasting materials may bring a different set of hazards, so we want shipyard employees and their employers to have the most up-to-date safety and health information possible."

The new guidance also addresses the specific air contaminants that employees may be exposed to during abrasive blasting. Other abrasive blasting safety and health hazards are discussed and recommendations on how to avoid these occupational hazards, such as engineering controls, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), exposure monitoring, medical surveillance and training on the OSHA Hazard Communication and PPE standards.

OSHA also recommends that employers perform an inspection of the worksite to identify additional hazards, such as excessive noise, static electricity, confined spaces, heat exposure and fall hazards. The guidance also encourages employers to research each of the discussed hazards, as well as understand the suggested preventative measures and the abatement that has been detailed in the guidance.

Although these guidelines are designed specifically for shipyard employment, OSHA hopes that employers with similar work environments will also find this information useful.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to assure the safety and health of America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit the OSHA website.

The Virginia Ship Repair Association is expanding its initiatives in Workforce Development and Training. To help accomplish our expanded training offerings, we are looking for a few good people to add to our resources list!

If you know someone who is retiring or has recently retired from the trades please let us know! We are building a list of instructors, resource experts and outreach staff to help us deploy our mission of becoming the most efficient and qualified ship repair yards in the world!

Please have interested individuals contact Josephine Anderson at janderson@virginiashiprepair.org or by phone at (757) 233-7034.

The Virginia Ship Repair Association has had great involvement in Career Days at local schools.  To date, the association has reached 560 students at local schools across Hampton Roads, with volunteers from various member companies.

 

Another opportunity to reach more young adults is coming soon!  This will take place at the Career Connection “Transition to the Future” March 7, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  This event is a career and information night for students and parents, and encompasses all of the Virginia Beach Public Schools grades 6-12.  It will be held at the Advanced Technology Center on the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College.  VSRA has registered for this event and will have a table of information available.  We need YOU to represent the ship repair industry, to the youth of Hampton Roads! 

 

For more information or to sign up please contact Josephine or Ann at the VSRA office at 757-233-7034.  Thank you!

As ship repair work becomes more complex, our industry is challenged to attract bright young minds and interest them in a career maintaining the strongest Naval fleet in the world. To help reach that goal, VSRA member companies partnered with Norfolk Public Schools to launch a LEGO competition that will interest Middle School students in the repair industry. The first two pilot teams are from Blair Middle School, and they are using the LEGO Digital Design Studio to create a ship, or a part of a ship. The teams then develop a written and oral presentation on the occupations that maintain that ship. Each team has an engineering and an occupational consultant to help them. This year, AMSEC took the lead and is working with the teams.

 

Our goal is to have multiple Middle Schools involved each year because this project is helping build relationships between our industry and the teachers who are so critical to the development of our future workforce.

 

The competition will be held at Nauticus on April 10, 2007 from 8:00 am to 10:00 am. We encourage VSRA members to attend, engage with the kids, and show them your support! Look for the results to be announced in the April VSRA Newsletter.