Conditions at Coal Terminal Protested

Displaying a black coffin, about 150 longshore workers Thursday protested safety and working conditions at a controversial coal terminal in the Port of Los Angeles where one worker has been killed and several others injured.

Members and supporters of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union demonstrated for several hours outside the Eldridge Street entrance to the Los Angeles Export Terminal, a 115-acre facility that handles shipments of coal and petroleum coke.

Since the facility opened in 1997, there have been a number of serious accidents, union members say, adding that a fire a few weeks ago knocked out the terminal’s ship loader for several weeks, halting waterfront operations.

In 1998, Jorge Huizar, 42, of South Gate was killed and another worker paralyzed when a conveyor collapsed. Last month, a heavy-equipment operator narrowly escaped injury as his bulldozer plunged 50 feet when a cavity opened up in petroleum coke beneath his rig.

“We are saddened today about what is going on at this facility,” said Miguel Contreras, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who spoke at the demonstration. “How much longer does this have to go on before someone notices?”

Terminal officials defended the facility’s safety record Thursday, saying there are “excellent” programs in place to reduce workplace hazards and thoroughly investigate accidents.

“I believe we are a safe operation,” said Gerald Swan, the chief executive officer of the terminal, which is owned by a consortium of 37 public and private investors, including the Port of Los Angeles.

Swan said the terminal is continuing to investigate the recent accident in which Keith Rowell’s bulldozer fell into the cavity. The operators want to determine the cause of such cavities and take steps to reduce the risk, he added.

At the rally, Rowell blamed the mishap on the opening of two draw-downs, or openings in the floors of the terminal’s storage domes that allow petroleum coke to move onto conveyors. He said that usually only one draw-down is open at a time. Swan said he did not know how many openings were involved.

“I was lucky I wasn’t buried,” Rowell told the demonstrators, “because there is no plan to get someone out if they are. We need better safety plans and communication to get things done.”

The demonstration came at a time when the union, which represents about 35 workers at the site, is negotiating a new labor contract with the terminal’s operator, Savage Pacific Services, based in Utah.

Mike Mitre, president of union Local 13, said the talks have progressed slowly since they began in April. He told the demonstrators that if the negotiations don’t produce a contract by November, “there will be serious repercussions.”

Since the facility was on the drawing board, community activists and union members have battled repeatedly with terminal officials because dust from its petroleum coke piles is a potential health risk. State air quality regulators finally required the terminal to store most of its petroleum coke under two domes to reduce emissions.

Petroleum coke is a coal-like byproduct of the oil refining process.