By E. D. APPIAH
Freeport News Reporter
ewurabena@nasguard.com
Some employees at Freeport Aggregates have called for an investigation into the company's safety practices.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, two employees claimed yesterday that they have been forced to endure poor safety conditions, among other things.
According to the employees, the problem lies within management. Those workers said that the company has significantly reduced the hours employees work and have cut more than 20 jobs all together.
"They keep cutting back on our hours," said one of the workers. "They say that the economy is bad, but they're still eating good, when we have guys working 10 hours a week. You can't feed your family off $90."
The employees claim that the continued cuts have forced the remaining workers to take on the work of those let go.
The company reportedly also promised its employees that each of them would have the opportunity to work 38 hours per week. Those promises, allegedly made just two months ago, have reportedly gone unfulfilled.
Another major concern, explained the workers, is a lack of proper safety equipment and measures.
"They have certain guys on the job working around dry cement," another employee commented. "We have a sheet with all the warnings. They're supposed to provide us with safety masks, but they haven't done none of that. They give you these papers about safety and all that, make you sign it, but still they don't abide by it."
The Freeport News is in receipt of a warning label taken from a bag of dry Portland Cement type 1 & 2 at the Freeport Aggregates plant. The cement, which contains a hazard warning, is produced by a United States Company called the Vulcan Materials Company.
The warning reads in part: "Contains Portland Cement that is injurious to eyes, skin, lungs and digestive system...Avoid Breathing or ingesting dust."
The warning goes on to list the dangers associated with unprotected contact with the material including nose, throat, or lung irritation as well as the development of such respiratory diseases as Silicosis and Lung Cancer. Freeport Aggregates allegedly shipped in approximately five thousand bags of the product.
The employees also claim that attempts to meet and discuss the ongoing issues have been unsuccessful. The workers claim that up to Wednesday morning attempts had been made to meet with company manager Marcus Callahan, but they were ignored.
"Everybody in the yard tried to get together to have a general meeting, but the supervisor threatened us, saying we either clock in or go out the gate," he said.
When contacted for an official response to the allegations, Marcus Callahan, one of the managers at the plant, declined a direct comment. However he referred The Freeport News to the company's attorney, Greg Moss.
In an official statement, Moss dismissed claims regarding issues of safety.
"The suggestion that there is hazardous material at the site is simply untrue," the statement said. "The company provides Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for employees dealing with cement, (including) respirators, safety glasses, hard hats and all that is required by industry standards."
Moss called the allegations an attempt to create mischief for the company. He did not dispute claims of job cuts, but explained that those cuts are only a reflection of "hard recessive times" in which we now live.
