TMAC4Safety

This Friday, Dec. 30, please join us in honoring the life of our fallen lineman and brother, Blake Rodgers. At 2pm EST, the time of Blake’s funeral, Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative invites electric cooperatives and power providers, near and far, to join us in pausing their work and removing their hard hats for a 5-minute safety stand-down. Any crews that participate in this stand-down are encouraged to take photos and share them with us to provide to Blake’s family. ([email protected])

We are so thankful to those who have reached out in support during this time and hope you will join us on Friday to honor Blake.

SmallCPSC LOGOU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release Release Date: September 21, 2020

CPSC Urges Consumers to Keep Their Guard Up as Severe Storms Threaten U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Additional storms are threatening the United States with strong winds and drenching rain during this extremely active storm season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to prepare for the hazards that can come with power outages and flooding. Hazards including fires and carbon monoxide can be prevented by taking steps now to prepare.

Before the Storm
Consumers need to be especially careful during a loss of electrical power. Many use portable generators and other sources of power and heat, exposing themselves to increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fire. If you plan to use a portable generator in the case of power loss, follow these tips to prepare before the storm:

Make sure CO and smoke alarms in your home are working properly, by pressing the test button and replacing batteries, if needed.
Install battery-operated CO alarms, or CO alarms with battery backup, in your home, outside separate sleeping areas, and on each floor of your home.
Check that your generator has had proper maintenance, and read and follow the labels, instructions, and warnings on the generator and in the owner’s manual.
Poisonous carbon monoxide from a portable generator can kill you and your family in minutes. CO is an invisible killer. It’s colorless and odorless. According to the CDC, more than 400 people die each year in the United States from CO poisoning. CPSC estimates about 70 consumers die each year from CO poisoning caused by portable generators.

After the Storm
The storm has hit, and the power is out. Now what? Follow these life-saving tips:

· Operate portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from the house, and direct the generator’s exhaust away from the home and any other buildings that someone could enter.
· Never operate a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed, or on the porch. Opening doors or windows will not provide enough ventilation to prevent the buildup of lethal levels of CO.
· Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm when it sounds. Get outside immediately. Then call 911.
CO poisoning from portable generators can happen so quickly that exposed persons may become unconscious before recognizing the symptoms of nausea, dizziness, or weakness.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have said that you may need to adjust any preparedness actions, based on the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC and your local officials.
Other related product safety hazards include:
CHARCOAL DANGER: Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Do not cook on a charcoal grill in a garage, even with the door open.
CANDLES: Use flashlights instead if possible. If you must use candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when you leave the room and before sleeping.
WET APPLIANCES: Look for signs that your appliances have gotten wet. Discard unplugged electrical or gas appliances that have been wet, because they pose electric shock and fire hazards. Do not touch electrical or gas appliances that are still plugged into the socket.
Before using your appliances, have a professional, or your gas or electric company, evaluate your home, and replace all gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers, and fuses that have been under water.
GAS LEAKS: IF YOU SMELL IT, REPORT IT. If you smell or hear gas, do not turn lights on or off, or use electrical equipment, including a phone. Leave your home, and contact local gas authorities from outside.

In Case of Evacuation/COVID-19 Concerns:
If you must evacuate, the CDC recommends having additional items on hand, such as cloth face coverings, hand sanitizer, and cleaning products to help prevent the spread of viruses at the shelter. CPSC also reminds consumers to keep all cleaning products and medications out of reach of children, and keep these items in their original child-resistant containers at your evacuation site.

Remember, it only takes one storm to wreak havoc, causing mass destruction and loss of life. Be informed, be prepared, and be safe!

NEVER backfeed a Portable Generator!! Here’s why! You could kill an Electrical Lineworker!!

Backfeeding Generator Danger—Backfeed Danger| Norwall Backfeeding—a dangerous & illegal practice that opens you to liability and criminal prosecution if someone is injured or killed. Safe Practices and Solutions

For more than three months, we have been working with our members and signatory employers on the Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis. After several encouraging weeks, we are seeing record numbers of new infections in California and Nevada.

It is not a disease to be taken lightly. Transmission of the mutated virus is frighteningly easy, and there is no evidence that it is any less dangerous or deadly than the original virus.

To prevent the spread of the virus among our members and their families, we urge the following common-sense precautions:

1) Wear a face mask. There is unanimity in the public health profession that wearing a mask helps reduce transmission of the virus. To not wear a mask is to express a disregard for the health of your fellow workers and union members. Wear the mask.

2) Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer – all the time. Simple, but effective.

3) Practice physical distancing of at least six feet whenever possible. Public health professionals emphasize this as a simple, but critically important step to take to fight the virus. When it is not possible, the face mask is even more important.

4) Take your temperature and the temperature of your family members every morning before you go to work. Don’t go to work with an elevated temperature, even if you feel fine.

5) If you feel sick, don’t go to work. Use sick leave. Stay home.

Public health professionals are unanimous in their support of these steps. These are easy things to do, and they can save lives.

The IBEW was founded in 1891 with a goal of making line work safer. Safety continues to be our true north, and when it comes to this virus, there is no room for political debates. Let’s do what the public health professionals tell us to do. Let’s keep ourselves and our families as safe as possible.

–Tom Dalzell, IBEW 1245 Business Manager

Today, April 28th, is Worker’s Memorial day. It is the day each April we remember those Brothers and Sisters who have suffered and died on the job.
It is a day to rededicate ourselves to fight for safe workplaces.
Once again the Worker’s Memorial Day’s core theme is “Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living.”

50 years ago, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker a safe workplace. Even though each of you fight every day to improve safety in the workplace, 275 American workers die from on-the-job accidents and illnesses. Millions more suffer injury or illness.
April 28th was chosen as Worker’s Memorial Day because that was the date the OSH Act went into effect.

This year’s WMD is so different from any we have seen before. As we fight a new safety hazard not only in our workplace but everywhere, it is important to stand up for our rights and continue to promote safety as we move throughout our daily life.
Thousands of workers’ lives are being tragically and needlessly lost to COVID-19 because workers are not getting the protections they need to be safe at work—protections that would save lives and stop the spread of this deadly virus. We must continue to fight to protect our members from every hazard!

Today, we commemorate our fallen brothers and sisters and make a promise to carry on the proud labor tradition of improving safety on the jobsite.
Take time to reflect on those we have lost and what we can do to prevent further fatalities and injuries on-the-job.

When going into water, ACT before getting trapped!
Watch this important video!

This Is The Easiest Way To Escape A Sinking Vehicle. Knowing How Might Save Your Life Some Day Can you get out of a submerged car? This is a fact we should be aware about because huge number of people drown each year because they can’t escape. Yeah that’s easy to say but hard to do more than you think. According to Geoff Fahringer who is an expert diver we should be able to …

2 yrs is not enough!!

Judge sentences drain company owner to 2 years for South End trench collapse deaths - The Boston Globe Kevin Lee Otto was convicted during an October bench trial of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of witness intimidation.

Are you ready? 🤔

As winter arrives and the use of all heating systems increases don’t forget to check (and replace if needed) your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries. Due to the increased use of synthetic materials in household materials like furniture houses can be consumed in as little as 3 - 4 minutes.

WRITTEN BY A COP:
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life. In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... This is for you, and for you to share with your wife, your children, & everyone you know. After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do :The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse,....... DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.
Toss it away from you... Chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.
AND RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy.. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.)... DON'T DO THIS!
The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your HEAD and tell you where to go.
AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE..

If someone is in the car with a gun to your head
DO NOT DRIVE OFF....... Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF!!!!
Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it.
As soon as the car crashes......BAIL OUT AND RUN!!!!
It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) BE AWARE... look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door.
Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
(And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot.
This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; and even then,
it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN!!!!
Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP!!!
It may get you r***d or killed.
(Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next VICTIM).

9. Another Safety Point:
Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last and because it was late and she thought it was weird..She called the police.
The police told her 'Whatever you do, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR!
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a windrow and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, do not open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby.. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

10. Water scam!
If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running or what you think is a burst pipe.....
DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE!
These people turn on all your outside taps full blast so that you will go out to investigate and then attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbors!

I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know.
It may save a life.
I was going to send this to the ladies only but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc.... You may want to pass it onto them.
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or a loved one's life.