STEPS Network Meeting March 15, 2006

Purpose: The South Texas Exploration and Production Safety Network, commonly known as the STEPS Network, promotes safety, health and environmental improvement in the exploration and production of oil and gas in South Texas.   The STEPS Network fosters a work environment that relies upon open communication and trust.

John Giefer - OSHA Area Director, Corpus Christi Area Office

• Four work-related fatalities were reported to the CC Area Office since February's meeting.
• Electrical shock caused employee to fall from a ladder.
• One fatality resulted from pressure release when tanker truck exploded.
• Two employees were killed at a deep well injection facility.

Chuck Bird -CITCO, - Annual Scholarship Fundraiser for ASSE

• The American Society of Safety Engineers is holding a fundraiser for scholarships. A Skeet and Trap Shoot Tournament is planned. The scholarships are for local students..

Guy Watts, Corporate Attorney, - Liability Associated with Motor Vehicles :

• Discussed the direction of jury verdicts in South Texas Courts
• Defined punitive damage, factor involved, sensibility of parties, etc. that are awarded by juries.
• Discussed Key Implementation of Safety Standards to protect your company

Jay Russell, RAID Corporation - Creating a workplace free Drug & Alcohol.

• Self test on percent of Drug and Alcohol problems in the work place.
• Understand the goals and objectives of substance abuser.
• Recognize the value of total organizational involvement.
• Substance abuser needs and how to recognize and control.
• Discussed proactive measures that could be used to educate worker on drug abuse.

Jimmy Vicknair, ACME Trucking,-   Load Securement

• Proper securement is essential to safely delivering a load to customers
• Hardwood must be used as Dundage
• Ratchet Style binders are safer that conventional boomers
• The responsibility of the load transported is the transport driver

The next meeting will be held Wednesday April 19, 2006 at 8am at the Holiday Inn Airport in Corpus Christi.