ToolBox Talks, on the job safety-Winterize Your Car

Driving in the winter means snow, sleet and ice that can lead to slower traffic, hazardous road conditions, hot tempers and unforeseen dangers. Weather At any temperature -- 20° Fahrenheit below zero or 90° Fahrenheit above -- weather affects road and driving conditions and can pose serious problems. It is important to monitor forecasts on the Web, radio, TV, cable weather channel, or in the daily papers. Necessary Equipment An emergency situation on the road can arise at any time and you must be prepared. In addition to making sure you have the tune-up, a full tank of gas, and fresh anti-freeze, you should carry the following items in your trunk: • Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack • Shovel • Jumper cables • Tow and tire chains • Bag of salt or cat litter • Tool kit Essential Supplies Be prepared with a "survival kit" that should always remain in the car. Replenish after use. Essential supplies include: • Working flashlight and extra batteries • Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth • Compass • First aid kit • Exterior windshield cleaner • Ice scraper and snow brush • Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container • Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy. In addition, if you are driving long distances under cold, snowy, and icy conditions, you should also carry supplies to keep you warm such as heavy woolen mittens, socks, a cap and blankets.

Provided by Assurance

This document provides general information about a safety and health topic and is only intended for use in facilitating discussions with employees in safety meetings. It does not address all hazards, OSHA or local requirements related to the topic or accompanying photograph. This document cannot be relied on to determine whether a site specific situation meets all safety and health requirements. Assurance Safety Consulting is not responsible for any health and safety violation or injury at a job site.

Tool Box Talks-Heating Devices

Tool Box Talks - Heating Devices
Temporary heating devices are essential equipment during the winter months of the year, when working on construction sites can get very uncomfortable and cold. You may use temporary heating devices like circulating and radiant room heaters, LP-Gas heaters, or other types of temporary heating devices to make the temperature more comfortable and acceptable to work in, making you more efficient and effective on the job site. However, the use of temporary heating devices comes with several hazards, including the hazards of fire, fumes from fuels, the consumption of oxygen, and burn/heat injury hazards.
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RCEC-Time is running out-Register Now for the Annual Meeting

(Also doing business as the Midwest Construction Contractors Association)

Have a Ball...

At Pinstripes
Bocce & Bistro
100 West Higgins Road
South Barrington, IL 60010

-Thursday-
October 18th
6 pm to 9 pm

$55 for Members
$65 for Non Members
No Refunds after Oct. 4th

Enjoy
Cocktails, Appetizers, Buffet
& Sweet Table

Create a 4-Person
Bocce Team
for our
Bocce Tournament
Prizes will be awarded!

Register online for this event.

Print Registration Form 

Sponsorships Available
Cocktails / Sweet Table
Appetizer & Buffet / Bocce Tournament

$500 Sponsorships Include:
Company name displayed on large banner at event.
Listing on rcecusa.org homepage for one year, with link.

Print Sponsorship Form

                                         Request a Sponsorship Online

On the Job Tool Box Safety Talks-Compressed Gas Cylinders – “In Storage”

• Gas cylinders must be secured at all times to prevent tipping.
• Use appropriate material, such as chain, plastic coated wire cable, commercial straps, etc., to secure cylinders.
• Cylinders must be segregated in hazard classes while in storage. Oxidizers (oxygen) must be separated from flammable gases, and empty cylinders must be isolated from filled cylinders.
• Store out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat and ignition; temperatures must not exceed 125 ºF. 
•  Acetylene cylinders must never be stored on their sides.
• Always place valve protectors on gas cylinders when the cylinders are not connected for use.
• Cylinders must be stored where they are protected from the ground to prevent rusting.
•  Storage areas must be well-ventilated, cool, dry, and free from corrosive materials

[MORE]

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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