Hard Hats

 

 

The following information is being provided to serve as a basic guideline in the use of Hard Hats.

GENERAL
Head injuries on a construction job site may result from tools or materials being dropped upon them and striking against an object due to low head-room or projections. A serious blow to the head without hard hat projection may cause permanent brain damage or disable the person for life.

CONSTRUCTION
a. Shell
The outer shell of a hard hat are made of rigid, impact resistant, non-flammable materials such as fiberglass or thermoplastics which may sustain damage due to exposure to solvents, paints or extreme heat.

Do not store a hard hat in the rear window of an automobile.

b. Suspension System
The suspension system is comprised of the cradle, headband and sweatband. The suspension absorbs any blow which may be received and keeps the outer shell away from the skull. In addition, the suspension allows for ventilation between the head and the outer shell.

A faulty or broken suspension system will provide no or little protection to the hard hat user.

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
a. Never use a hard hat that is visibly damaged or that you suspect is damaged.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency https://www.assuranceagency.com

Cold Stress

 

The following information is being provided to serve as a basic guideline in the prevention and treatment of frostbite and hypothermia.

Frostbite
The most common injury caused by exposure to cold temperatures is frostbite. Body parts most susceptible to frostbite include the nose, ears, chin, fingers and toes. Frostbite occurs when the blood flow through a body part is restricted due to extreme cold temperatures and ice crystals then begin to form in the body tissue.

Symptoms
The first symptom of frostbite is a slightly flushed skin color. The color of the skin then changes to white or grayish yellow and finally grayish blue. Pain may be felt during the early stages, however, the pain may cease in later stages. The frostbitten area will also feel very cold, numb and the outer layer of skin may feel "hard".

First Aid Treatment
Move the victim to a warm location. Place the frostbitten part into a warm water bath between 100-105 degrees. Do not use hot water. Handle the part with extreme care. Do not rub or massage the area. Avoid exposing the part to hot air or metal objects. The re-warming process may take between 30-60 minutes. Severe frostbite should be handled by medical personnel.

Hypothermia
Prolonged exposure to cold temperature may also cause the cooling of the body's inner core, more commonly known as hypothermia. This loss of body temperature can be fatal.

Symptoms
Hypothermia symptoms include shivering, dizziness, numbness, confusion, weakness, impaired judgment, impaired vision and drowsiness. Later stages of hypothermia include the loss of consciousness, decreased pulse and breathing rate, coma and possible death.

First Aid Treatment
Professional medical treatment should be obtained. Move the victim to a warm area. If available, have the victim change into a set of dry, warm clothing. If the victim is fully conscious, a warm drink may be given. Do not give the victim a caffeinated or alcohol beverage.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https://www.assuranceagency.com

Identity Theft Fraud Alert

 

This information is provided by:
Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters

 

Over the past few days, our union attorney has received numerous telephone calls from members stating that someone has wrongfully filed an unemployment claim on their behalf at the Illinois Department of Employment Security. We wanted to make sure you were aware so you can protect yourself. Attorney Nicholas Cortesi advises that any member who runs into this situation should treat it as identity theft and do the following:

File a report at your local police department;

File an online complaint with the Illinois Department of Employment Security: https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/UI_Fraud_by_Individuals.aspx

File an online complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office: https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/about/email_ag.jsp

File an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission: https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc

Sign-up with a credit monitoring service such as Identity-IQ or Life-Lock to monitor their credit reports/scores.

If you have additional questions, please contact Union Legal Services attorney Nicholas J. Cortesi at 877-694-2663.
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Fire Prevention Plan

 

 

Overview
A fire is one of the costliest accidents a business can have. Even more costly is the death and injury toll from fires and explosions. In one recent year, fires and explosions caused more than 5,000 injuries requiring time off from work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Fire Prevention Plan
Your company has a written emergency action plan, and as part of that, a fire prevention plan. The reason these plans exist is to help keep workers safe.

You have the right to know about the possible fire hazards in your workplace. The company fire plan should, at a minimum, contain the following:

• A list of the major workplace fire hazards and their proper handling and storage procedures; potential ignition sources and their control procedures; and the type of fire protection equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them.

• Names or job titles of persons responsible for maintenance of equipment and systems installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires.

• Names or job titles of persons responsible for control of fuel source hazards.

• Housekeeping procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues.

• Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment.

What must my employer do?

The employer is responsible for:
• Controlling accumulations of flammable and combustible materials through proper housekeeping.

• Reviewing the fire plan with each employee, and making a written copy available upon request.

• Reviewing with each employee those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. This shall take place upon initial assignment.

• Properly maintaining equipment and systems installed on heat producing equipment to prevent fires.

For employers with 10 or more employees, the written fire prevention plan will be in writing and kept in the workplace and made available for employee review.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency  http://www.assuranceagency.com

What is a Competent Person

 

 

The term “competent person” comes up often in the OSHA construction regulations. OSHA defines competent person as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”

How does a competent person fit in with a jobsite safety and health program?
Your employer must have a comprehensive safety and health program that provides for frequent and regular inspections, by competent persons designated by the employer, of the:
• jobsite,
• materials, and
• Equipment.

The 29 CFR 1926 construction regulations require that a competent person inspect various work areas such as:
• scaffolding,
• excavations,
• stairways and ladders,
• asbestos abatement operations,
• welding and cutting zones, and
• Steel erection sites.
In addition, some OSHA standards add additional specific requirements that must be met by the competent person

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency http://www.assuranceagency.com