United Steelworkers (USW) Tony Mazzocchi Center Trainer Terry Davidek was selected as recipient of a health and safety activism award due to his continuous achievements regarding the advancement of workers.
Davidek will be presented with the 2014 Tony Mazzocchi Award by the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Section of the Americ
an Public Health Association on Nov. 18, 2014 at the Annual OHS Section luncheon.
In a letter to Davidek, Katherine Kirkland, Ph.D., MPH, explained that this award “recognizes activists for their sustained and outstanding efforts and dedication to improve the lives of workers.” Dr. Kirkland is chair of the Occupational Health Section.
Davidek is also the USW health, safety and environment coordinator for all ATI - Allegheny Ludlum Corporation facilities across the U.S. He belongs to USW Local Union 1196 and served under titles such as health, safety and environment committee chairman, safety coordinator, shop steward, workers’ compensation co-chairman, treasurer, vice-president and president.
“I never expected to receive something like this,” Davidek said. “I am surprised, honored and humbled.”
Among his numerous accomplishments, Davidek pressed his employer for the establishment of a full-time, hourly health and safety coordinator position for his local union in 1994. That position became a reality in 2001. Today, that hourly position is widespread throughout the company chain (including the USW’s steel sector) and working conditions have improved as a result. The union has also become stronger as the membership organized around health and safety. In the 2004 collective bargaining sessions, all local unions obtained “master language” on health and safety in their collective bargaining agreements based on the establishment of Local Union 1196’s safety language. Davidek was also influential in applying the hierarchy of controls to eliminate and control the hazards surrounding the death of a fellow union brother after an in-plant railroad accident. This not only prevents the accident from happening again, but in addition became a model for other in-plant rail operations. Davidek maintained a hazard-based approach to find and fix hazards and continues to fight against “blame-the-worker” behavioral safety approaches. He serves as a role model for other health and safety activists.
The USW Health, Safety and Environment department and Tony Mazzocchi Center congratulate Brother Davidek for receiving such an honor.
“We have thousands of dedicated safety and health activists, and in one sense Terry represents all of them,” Mike Wright, USW Health, Safety and Environment department director said. “But his own accomplishments are outstanding. He continues the legacy of Tony Mazzocchi.”
Photo courtesy of Terry Davidek.