UAW-Ford ERT skills event featured friendly but fierce competition

Written By Helen Niemiec 

Jun 21, 2023

Twenty Emergency Response Teams from across the company met in Dearborn for a two-day competition on May 23 and 24, having the opportunity to show their skills and to get bragging rights.  ERT members are volunteers who are the first to respond to an emergency on-site at the plant. The team members undergo many hours of training and use their skills to assist in an emergency until first responders arrive.

 Rawsonville Components Plant walked away with top honors this year, after having vowed to get the traveling trophy back at the plant. RCP won the trophy in 2019, the last competition before all group events were cancelled due to COVID-19. The competition returned in 2022, in which Flat Rock Assembly Plant took home the trophy. 

The top three finishers for overall points in Fire, HAZMAT, Rescue, Medical Emergency and Water Roll segments were Rawsonville Components Plant, first place; Kansas City Assembly Plant, second place; and Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center, third place. 

In addition to winners receiving trophies, all ERT members received a badge bearing a shield to identify them as ERT members. This event marks the first time ERT members have received badges. 

Although all competitors wanted to win, they said that what makes the event so enjoyable is the camaraderie and sharing of skills. Working and training together makes for strong friendships. 

We have a great team. The guys are well-trained and work so efficiently. We get our biggest compliments from our local fire department, who say they rarely come to the plant because of us. That speaks volumes of our training and the dedication of our team members.

Bill Tondreau

Sterling Axle ERT Chief

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Mark Lambert, an electrician at Lima Engine, easily moved the water ball toward his team’s opponent. Lima finished first in the competition.
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The Sharonville Transmission ERT team gave it their best in the water ball competition.
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When not competing in an event, the ERT teams gathered to watch the other teams.
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The Dearborn Truck ERT team secured a weighted mannequin and lifted it from above in a confined space exercise.
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Glenn Scott, chief of the Buffalo Stamping ERT, shows an ERT badge created for this year's participants. It is the first time the team will have badges to wear as further identification.
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Sterling Axle ERT Chief Bill Tondreau listens to instructions before his team starts its task.
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Rawsonville Components Plant’s ERT took first place in the competition and takes the traveling trophy to the plant.

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Team Chief Glenn Scott, a diesel mechanic at Buffalo Stamping Plant, joined his plant’s ERT six years ago. “We do it for the plant. We do it because we want to help,” he explained. 

Though Scott has been an ERT member for just six years, he has served his community as a volunteer to the local fire department for 35 years.  

Jose Gonzalez, midnight shift captain for the Sterling Axle Plant ERT, joined his plant’s ERT 11 years ago. He respects his teammates and praises Tondreau as a leader. “What it all comes down to is that we want to make sure that no one gets hurt at the plant. We want them to leave in the same condition they came to work in.” 

Jeff Rishel, an electrician who has been on the Rouge Site Services ERT for 20 years, said that his job gives him and his team the ability to help outside the Rouge. He said the Combined Services people go wherever other plants or buildings need help with breakers. 

“We can go to World Headquarters or to KTP to do our job, but in an emergency, we can join in with the ERT and help. We can fit right in because we all get the same training. From what I have seen, I’d say all ERTs are very well-trained,” Rishel said. 

Mark Lambert, an electrician and member of the Lima Engine Plant ERT, showed great skills in the water ball exercise, with his team taking first place in that event. While only at Lima for seven years, he was a firefighter for several years before joining Ford. Since 1986, he has been competing in water ball: moving a ball with water blasting from a fire hose resembling tug-of-war.  

Engineer Jeff Fisher, of the Sharonville Transmission Plant ERT, made his first trip to the competition this year, though he has been on the team for 12 years. “I’m having a great time, and I’m glad I came this year,” he said. 

All team members have the respect of their trainers and the UAW-Ford National Joint Committee on Health and Safety. 

Lorenzo Robinson, UAW-Ford coordinator, congratulated all for doing their very best during the two days. “It was a great competition with great games. We can’t thank you enough for what you do for your plants.” 

Niles Owen, on the staff of Emergency Response Solutions International, the company Ford uses to train ERT members, said he always enjoys these annual contests. 

“The ERT members love coming out, and they compete at a very high level. They’ve all trained really hard, and to see them come and show what they can do is very rewarding,” Owen said. 

Interested in becoming an emergency response team member? To learn more, reach out to your plant safety department.    