Annual Economic Conference

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Event Sponsor: Chicago Transom Partners

7:30 am Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 am to 10:30 am Program

Maggiano's Schaumburg
1901 E. Woodfield
Schaumburg, IL 60173

Speaker:
William Strauss, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
8:30 am to 9:30 am
Presents the Economic Outlook for 2012 and 2013
The "Great Recession" ended in the middle of 2009 with significant impacts on the economy. The economy experienced outsized losses in the housing, manufacturing and jobs. Yet, what should be a robust recovery is not occurring, nor expected to occur. Consumers are saving at an increased pace, limiting the growth of consumer spending. Credit conditions, while significantly improved from what existed during the recession, remain relatively tight and will act as a headwind to growth. Mr. Strauss will look at the performance of the overall macro economy with specific attention paid to key economic sectors and indicators.
Speaker:
Chris Huecksteadt, Metrostudy
9:30 am to 10:30 am
From 2006 to 2010 the housing market, both locally and nationally, experienced the biggest downturn since the Great Depression. Job losses, elevated unemployment levels, rising foreclosures and sagging home values all continue to impact the housing market's ability to recover. Chris Huecksteadt of Metrostudy, will analyze past and present trends in the housing market, with an eye on the keys to recovery and how the housing market can begin to right itself. The first half of 2012 saw some positive signs. Chris will review the housing numbers and discern where the market might be heading for in 2013 and beyond.

Registration fee: RCEC Member $35 / Non Member $45

Register online for this event.

Download USPS / Fax Registration Form

For more information call: Cathy Kirin 630-512-0552

Residential Construction
Employers Council

Cathy Kirin
Executive Director

603 Rogers Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
V. 630.512.0552
F. 630-812-0442

OSHA-Hierarchy of Controls

Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is the fundamental method of protecting workers. Traditionally, a hierarchy of controls has been used as a means of determining how to implement feasible and effective controls. 

OSHA requires that employers use the hierarchy of controls in order of preference for protecting the worker.

Hierarchy of controls in order of preference:

1.   Elimination of hazard; Substitution with safe alternative.

2.   Engineering; Ventilation & wet methods.

3.   Administrative; Work practices, scheduling workers to minimize exposure, extended breaks, etc.

4.   Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); Respiratory and hearing protection, protection of face, hand, feet, eyes & whole body.

The idea behind this hierarchy is that the control methods at the top of the list are potentially more effective and protective than those at the bottom. Following the hierarchy normally leads to the implementation of inherently safer job-sites, ones where the risk of illness or injury has been substantially reduced.

Source: Construction Safety Council
 

Acute Health Effects & Chronic Health Effects

The toxic action of a health hazard can be divided into acute (short-term) effects and chronic (long-term) effects.

Acute health effects are quickly seen, usually after exposures to fairly high levels or concentrations of hazardous substances. For example, fiberglass can immediately cause itchiness and skin irritation; an extremely loud noise can result in temporary or even permanent hearing loss.

A lethal concentration of carbon monoxide, CO (1200 ppm) is considered to be Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH); a worker exposed to this acute amount of CO can lose consciousness and die.
 

 Chronic health effects usually develop slowly. For example, if you breathe small amounts of asbestos fibers, you won’t even notice them. There are no acute effects. But if you inhale asbestos month after month, year after year, you greatly increase your chances of getting asbestos disease, such as lung cancer. This is a chronic effect.

Other examples of chronic health effects include hearing loss and cumulative trauma disorders; these are examples of physical health hazards.
 

[MORE]http://www.richblackwell.com/CCSC/ToxicHealthHazard.pdf

Source: Construction Safety Council

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