Stretch for Safety

In our last blog we showed you a video from the City of Maplewood that discussed some of the things that the city has done to improve employee safety. As part of their wellness program Maplewood has also created a video to walk you through some stretches that can help reduce muscle soreness and your risk of injury.

Stretching has been shown to greatly reduce the occurrence of sprain and strain injuries by lengthening the muscles making them less prone to trauma and tears. This means you are less likely to suffer an injury if you accidently overextend your muscles while performing a task, or if you were to slip on ice and fall into an awkward position. Your body would be better prepared to absorb the shock and protect itself.

Another benefit of stretching is that it helps muscles and tendons recover from job fatigue more quickly by reducing muscle tension and soreness. Anecdotally, individuals who take part in a stretching program report being less sore at the end of the work day.

And lastly, stretching can also help you warm-up your muscles and prepare them for work. Muscles that haven’t been appropriately prepared for a strenuous activity have an increased risk of injury.

So give stretching a chance, your body will thank you for it!

By: Cody Tuttle, Loss Control Representative 

Safety Takes Center Stage

How does your City promote safety within the community and/or with staff? The City of Maplewood has developed a safety video highlighting some tools & equipment certain departments have acquired to simplify the job and make staff and the public safer.

The Public Safety Departments are working on physical and mental training. They are working to reduce not only muscle and soft tissue injuries, but also training to deal with difficult situations on the job. Physical and mental training is only part of the solution, embracing new equipment and safer tools are also helping Maplewood reduce staff injuries.

The Public Works staff have upgraded the way they shovel and apply asphalt. Sometimes getting your hands dirty and shoveling asphalt is still what needs to be done, but can we make the job easier on staff? Sometimes additional warning lights can provide a better warning to the passing public, and adding some mechanical advantage to the asphalt trailer can make it easier for staff!

When looking on how to make the workplace safer, ask the staff what are your concerns and what potential injury could you have on-the-job? This could give you a guide on what to improve and make the job safer and easier!

Check out Maplewood’s YouTube video Safer Workers Stronger City: https://youtu.be/zw0S2xs7uDs

By: Troy Walsh, Loss Control Consultant 

You Know What Ticks Me Off?

Ticks!

Dealing with these blood sucking critters is sadly a reality for those of us that work outdoors. Ticks can attach to you when you are walking through or working in forested areas, brush, and high grass. They can carry a variety of diseases that they are able to transmit to you or your pets.

So, what can you do to prevent a tick bite? The best protection is to avoid high grass and wooded areas, but unfortunately this obviously isn’t always an option when on the job. The next best thing you can do is treat your clothing or buy clothing which is pre-treated with a tick repellant that is an EPA-registered insect repellant that is rated against tick bites (remember to only apply in a well-ventilated area if you are treating your own clothing).

Once back indoors

Of course, even using a repellant does not guarantee that a tick will not find its way onto you or your clothes, so here are some other steps that you should take after coming back indoors:

·       Check your clothing for ticks and remove any that are found (How to remove and dispose of ticks).

·       Shower soon after being outdoors – this can help wash off any unattached ticks, and has been shown to reduce the risk of getting Lyme disease and potentially other tickborne diseases.

·       Washing cloths may or may not kill ticks.  Many can survive cool water wash cycles.  Placing clothing in a dryer for 10 - 15 minutes at high heat, typically will kill most tick species.  Most ticks require moisture to survive. 

·       Check your body thoroughly with the help of a hand-held or full-length mirror. Ticks typically must feed on the host body for upwards to 24 hours in order to transmit a disease so removing them quickly is crucial. The most common areas for a bite are:

o   Under the arms

o   In and around the ears

o   Inside belly button

o   Back of the knees

o   In and around the hair

o   Between the legs

o   Around the waist

Recognize the symptoms of a tickborne disease

While preventative steps will greatly reduce the possible risk of transmitting a tickborne illness there is still no guarantee. That is why it can be just as important to recognize the symptoms. Fortunately, many tickborne diseases share similar signs and symptoms:

·         Fever/chills

·         Headaches

·         Fatigue

·         Joint or muscle aches and pains

·         Rashes

If you know you have been bitten, or start feeling any of the symptoms you should see your doctor immediately.

Other Resources:

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html

By: Cody Tuttle, Loss Control Representative

Bleacher Safety Act - Fact Sheet and Reporting Update

Did you know that all Bleachers in MN that are over 55” in height, or have guardrails over 30 inches in height are required to be inspected and certified as in compliance with the Bleacher Safety Act? If not don’t worry, we outlined the requirements in a previous blog which you can read here. You can also read about it in Section VII-J of our Park and Recreation Loss Control Memo.

So why are we talking about it again?

In their push to make information more accessible the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) recently created and released a Fact Sheet outlining the requirements for bleacher safety.

Additionally, there has been a change in the reporting regarding the periodic inspections/re-certification that are required to be performed every 5 years. You no longer need to submit these forms to DLI, but rather retain them for your records and make them available upon request.

By: Cody Tuttle

NEW OSHA Reporting Rule - Starting July 1st, 2018

MNOSHA has adopted the federal rule requiring annual reporting of injury and illness data. All high-hazard Minnesota industries with 20 or more employees, including municipalities, are now required to electronically submit their data to federal OSHA by July 1, 2018. When counting employees, include all that are compensated such as seasonal, part-time, temporary, or volunteers.

If you have 20 to 249 employees, you are required annually to submit OSHA 300A Summary forms electronically. This is the same form that’s posted in your city/utility offices from February 1 through April 30.

If you have 250 or more employees, you are required annually to submit OSHA recordkeeping forms (Forms 300, 300A, and 301) electronically.

So, how do I do this?

First, be sure to check who the person is in your organization responsible for OSHA/injury records. They will more than likely be the person to set up the account and input annually.

Have a copy of your city/utility 2017 300A Summary in front of you (and 300 & 301 completed forms if you have 250 or more employees).

You’ll be inputting the data in the Injury Tracking Application (ITA)  www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/index.html

• Click on create an account, fill in your name, title, phone, email, and create a username.
• You will be sent a link to change password to one of your choosing.
• Use the “Manual Data Entry” choice to create an establishment.
• Use NAICS code of 921190, “Other General Government Support”.
• Select “General Public Administration”.
• Click the “Yes – Local Government” button, and choose the total employee count.
• After completing establishment details, continue to enter 300A Summary data.
• Submit to OSHA when complete.

For 2018 the reporting date is July 1 but in 2019 and beyond, the date moves to March 2 of the year after the calendar year covered by the form(s).

Your League Loss Control Consultant is available for assistance, or visit MNOSHA Compliance for more information and free training resources to help improve recordkeeping - www.dli.mn.gov/osha/Recordkeeping.asp.

By: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant

Be Accessible

As I am sure many of you are aware, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility has become more of a focus at all levels of government over the past several years. Many of you may have even had the state, or your county, redo some of your sidewalks to make them ADA compliant while performing street projects on their roads that run through your city.

We all strive to ensure our facilities are ADA accessible not just because some federal grants may be contingent on it, or even just because it’s the law, we do it because it is the right thing to do for our communities. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans have a disability, so we want to make sure that our parks, playgrounds, streets, and public buildings are all accessible so that we are not unconsciously excluding that 20% of our populations.

It is because of this that the League has spent the past year compiling resources to assist our members in ensuring that their city facilities are ADA accessible.  We developed a training, which many of you may have participated in at our 2018 Spring Loss Control Workshops, and also have begun rolling out a Loss Control Survey, where your LMCIT Loss Control Consultant will come to the city and help you find areas where you can improve accessibility for your residents. If you have an upcoming project ranging from restriping a parking lot to designing a new playground please feel free to reach out to your Loss Control Consultant and we would be more than happy to send you the relevant information you are looking for, or even stop by your city to discuss in more detail. The resources we can share with you also include self-checklists for the most common ADA issues we have seen in parks and municipal liquor stores (two areas where LMCIT has seen several ADA claims arising recently).

Another resource for ADA guidance that you may be interested in is the US Access Board’s new YouTube Channel. The channel’s videos have informational animations that can assist you in visualizing how to be compliant in your own facilities. The Access Board also has their Online Accessibility Guide to help you understand some of the ADA’s core concepts.

Lastly, be sure to check out this article about ADA from the March-April 2017 edition of Minnesota Cities Magazine.

By: Cody Tuttle

Who Foots the Bill for Safety Shoes?

A question we often get asked in loss control is whether or not the employer needs to pay for some of the employee’s footwear.  The answer to this question is Yes in Minnesota.  This includes ALL employees regardless of full time or seasonal/temporary employment. Current interpretation of this requirement is that the employer is responsible for providing at least the minimum cost of PPE that is of a type necessary for the job being performed. If employees want more expensive PPE, the employer has the option to pay the entire cost or have the employee pay the difference between the minimum type necessary to provide the protection and the option the employee is selecting.  

Where there may be some confusion is with the differences in the Federal and Minnesota OSH Acts requirements pertaining to PPE. Federal rule states that where equipment is personal in nature and may be used by workers off the job, the matter of who pays for the PPE may be left to labor-management negotiations. Under the Federal rule, examples of PPE that is personal in nature and often used away from the worksite includes non-specialty safety glasses and safety shoes. However, shoes or outerwear subject to contamination by carcinogens or other toxic or hazardous substances which cannot be safely worn off-site must be paid for by the employer. This federal interpretation does not apply in Minnesota. Minnesota Statutes182.655 subd. 10(a) requires employers to pay for all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety shoes.

Since we’re talking about safety footwear, it’s also important to note they must meet ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) minimum compression and impact performance standards in ASTM F2413-17 (Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective (Safety) Toe Cap Footwear) or provide equivalent protection.  All ASTM approved footwear has a protective toe and offers impact and compression protection, but that doesn’t mean that the type and amount of protection is the same.  Safety footwear protects in different ways, so it is important to check the product’s labeling or consult the manufacturer to make sure the footwear will protect the user from the hazards they face.

 

By: Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant

Public Works Week

It’s Public Works Week, and that means around the state cities and residents are celebrating all of the things you do to keep our cities functioning. We at the League of Minnesota Cities would like to once again thank you for taking care of our streets, sidewalks, water, wastewater, and parks. Thank you!

 

By: League of Minnesota Cities

 

 

DNR Grant Available: Managing Emerald Ash Borer

MN DNR invites Minnesota communities to apply for grant funds, up to $30,000 to reduce the impact of emerald ash borer (EAB) on community forests. Projects should help communities manage and protect ash or reduce the loss of tree canopy caused by EAB.

Eligibility

Any local unit of government within Minnesota is eligible including but not limited to tribal communities, municipalities, and county agencies.

 

Eligible activities include:

• Tree inventory.
• Development of management plans that include an EAB component.
• Ash removal and stump grinding.
• Protection of valuable ash with non-neonicotinoid injectable insecticide.
• Tree planting.
• Gravel beds building.
• Community EAB education and engagement.

Pre-Application Due by June 15, 2018

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/forestmgmt/managing-ash.html

 

By: Joe Ingebrand

 

 

Civil Engineering Day

Did you know that this Saturday, April 28^th, is Civil Engineering Day at the Science Museum of Minnesota? From noon to 4pm the Science Museum will be helping the public understand how civil engineering affects everything from the roads they drive on to the water they drink. It's a great chance to educate the public on the important role Public Works and Civil Engineers play in making our cities work!

 

Find out more information on the Science Museum of Minnesota’s website here: https://www.smm.org/civilengineering

By: LMCIT Loss Control

You can’t blame gravity for falling. Think again about ladder safety!

I know what you’re thinking. It’ll never happen to me. I do much more dangerous tasks on the job than climbing a ladder. Reality is that most ladder deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less. The point is, ladders can be dangerous if not used properly.

Since March is Ladder Safety Month, let’s discuss portable ladders.

1)      The first way to ensure your safety is to use the right ladder for the job. How high are you going? Does it require a step ladder or an extension ladder? How much do you weigh? The weight includes if you’re wearing a tool belt or tool vest! Are there electrical wires nearby? All ladders receive a rating based on their maximum intended or working load – the total weight that they can safety support:

Type IAA: Rugged	Special Duty	375 lbs.
Type IA: Industrial	Extra Duty	300 lbs.
Type I: Industrial	Heavy Duty	250 lbs.
Type II: Commercial	Medium Duty	225 lbs.
Type III: Household	Light Duty	200 lbs.

 

2)      Once you have the correct ladder, inspect it. There are all sorts of ladder inspection checklists out there. Part of a ladder inspection is verifying the labels are visible as it’s important to read the safety information labels on the ladder. The climber is not considered qualified or adequately trained to use the ladder until familiar with this information. 

3)      Speaking of training, the employer is responsible in making sure that each employee who uses a ladder is trained by a competent person on how to use a ladder correctly, how to recognize the hazards related to ladders, and the procedures they must follow to minimize these hazards.

 

4)      After inspecting your ladder, be sure you’re using it properly. How to properly use an extension ladder and step ladder will be covered in training, but here are the basics regardless of the type of ladder:

• First, always face the ladder. Grab the ladder with both hands and ascend while facing it, ensuring that you have three points of contact on the ladder at all times. To maintain three points of contact, you must not be carrying anything. Items should be on a tool belt or tool vest.
• Make sure the ladder is locked into place before ascending and always make sure the to check the ladder’s stability before placing your weight on it. Never move or adjust a ladder while somebody is on it.
• While ascending, your center of gravity should be between the side rails. Do not overreach or lean while working so that you don’t fall off the ladder sideways or pull the ladder over sideways while standing on it.
• As tempting as it may be, the top of ladder should never be used as step. In fact, ladder manufacturers recommend never standing above the third highest step.
• Footwear also plays a part in falls from ladders. Wearing slip resistant shoes with heavy soles to prevent foot fatigue, and cleaning the soles of the shoes to maximize traction is important before climbing. 

Ladder accidents are preventable. Safety training, ladder awareness, and education tools will help prevent people from being industry statistics. Why not use March to raise awareness in ladder safety in your organization? 

For more ladder information, please visit these links:

OSHA QuickCard - Portable Ladder Safety

OSHA Fact Sheet – Safe Use of a Stepladder

OSHA Fact Sheet – Safe Use of Extension Ladders

National Ladder Safety Month

 

 

By: Julie Jelen

Clean Your Room!

I doubt I’m the only one whose parents yelled at them to clean their room as a kid. I bet you didn’t think good housekeeping would also follow you into the workplace! Housekeeping in the workplace can mean everything from promptly cleaning up any spills to putting any tools or equipment back where they belong, and keeping walkways clear. Poor housekeeping in the shop can result in slip, trip, and fall or struck/injured by injuries and can even be the root cause of fires in the workplace.

 

So, what can you do? A good start is to establish a Workplace Housekeeping Program. A good Housekeeping Program would include:

• Ensuring that there is a clean, out of the way storage location for all tools and materials.
• Training all staff on proper housekeeping procedures such as putting tools and materials in their designated storage locations, not leaving them out when not in use, and promptly cleaning up and spills, and cleaning workspaces of any debris such as sawdust when you are done with a task.
• Holding staff accountable for doing their part to keep the shop clean.
• Establishing a regular routine to clean other aspects of the shop such as light fixtures, rugs, and flooring.

Lastly, conduct regular inspections of the entire shop to ensure that proper housekeeping measures are still in place. This will give you an opportunity to take a step back and evaluate how you program is going, and see if any new issues have arisen such as mats or flooring becoming worn and becoming a tripping hazard, or new tools/supplies/materials that were never provided a proper storage location.

Keeping the shop and/or work area clean is an important aspect in keeping everyone safe, and should be everyone’s responsibility. Go look at your shop, How are you doing?

Other Housekeeping resources:

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/12470-tips-for-effective-workplace-housekeeping  

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/9287-practice-good-housekeeping-in-the-workplace

 

By: Cody Tuttle

Learn How to Ensure Your Parks are ADA Compliant at the Spring Loss Control Workshops!

ADA Accessibility is the focus of this year’s LMCIT: Spring Safety and Loss Control Workshop. The 2010 ADA Law requires accessibility to parks, play areas, pools, boating, fishing piers, exercise facilities, and sport facilities among others. With no “Safe Harbor”, existing recreational facilities will need to be upgraded as well, along with any new facilities.  

Attendees in the upcoming Public Works/Parks & Rec Track workshop will have the entire morning session to learn about common ADA issues at parks & recreation centers, solutions to improving accessibility, and exposure to available ADA resources & tools. After the classroom session, the class will take a field trip to a local park where they will have a chance to put into practice what they learned in the classroom. 

Some of the areas to be discussed include:

• Parking                                                
• Access Route
• Building Entrance
• Restrooms
• Playgrounds
• Picnic Shelters and Tables
• Docks/Fishing Pier
• Sport Facility Seating

 

By: Joe Ingebrand

   

Gravel Road Maintenance Program

In the deep part of winter, and all we see is snow, ice, cold, and freezing temps. You cannot help but think of summer, when we can remove the heavy coats and insolated boots. In the next couple of weeks the ice and snow will begin to thaw, and we all know the havoc that is does to our roads. I’m sure you all know what needs to be done to the road-surface to minimize accidents and complaints, but how about the continuous maintenance of the gravel roads in your area?

What types of planning do you have to minimize the accidents and complaints for these surfaces? Do you have a program for maintenance of gravel roads, or do you just do maintenance based on complaints? Minnesota LTAP has a Gravel Road Maintenance and Design Training on April 10^th or April 12^th to help with these questions.

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/topic/maintenance/gravel/

If those dates do not work for you, or if you’ve taken the workshop in the past and just need a refresher, they also offer an online training. More information on that can be found at:

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/topic/maintenance/gravel/online/index.html

Having a good gravel maintenance program that reviews spring maintenance after the thaw, continuous summer maintenance to reduce wash boarding and maintain a proper crown, as well as preparation for the next winter is important, and can help reduce crashes, accidents, and minimize complaints!

By Troy Walsh

 

 

Minnesota LTAP: Work-Zone Traffic Control Seminar

The personalities of today’s motor vehicle drivers are always a challenge. More traffic congestion, larger vehicles, distracted drivers, and potential lack of driving experience can all be challenges to work-zones.

 

You cannot physically drive each vehicle through your work-zone for the public, but you can give them the absolute best warning of work-zones possible. To do this you need to understand work-zones, speed reduction areas, employee safety, and what to plan for before a roadway job starts.

 

This is a course to cover basic traffic control procedures, work zone set-up, work zone traffic control signage, and to cover the 2018 Minnesota Field Manual for Work-Zone Traffic Control. It is also a great opportunity to ask question about your specific work zones, and individual areas that you may have questions on!    

 

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/topic/traffic/workzone/index.html

 

 

Dates & Locations

The workshop is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the specified locations on the dates listed below.

·         February 22, 2018—Kahler Apache Hotel, 1517 16th Street SW, Rochester, MN

 

·         February 27, 2018—City Center Hotel, 101 Main Street, Mankato, MN

 

·         March 1, 2018—Holiday Inn, 75 South 37th Avenue, St. Cloud, MN

 

·         March 6, 2018—Radisson Hotel, 2540 Cleveland Avenue N, Roseville, MN

 

·         March 14, 2018—DoubleTree Hotel, 2200 Freeway Boulevard, Brooklyn Center, MN

 

·         March 28, 2018—Radisson Hotel, 505 West Superior Street, Duluth, MN

 

·         April 4, 2018—Holiday Inn, 20800 Kenrick Avenue, Lakeville, MN

 

 

By: Troy Walsh

Required Workplace Postings (Repost)

Editor’s note: This blog was originally posted in April 2015, however we thought it important to repost as we’ve had several members reach out to us after receiving calls and/or mailings from companies wanting them to purchase this signage that they can get for free.

 

Get what you need…but don’t get scammed!

Ever get a phone call from a company trying to sell you workplace posters?  Hold on…it might be a scam.  “Required postings” scams have exploded in number over the last few years and have been reported by cities and other employers from coast to coast.  One sign it’s a scam is if the person on the other end tells you that there have been changes to regulations and that “you must purchase the latest OSHA posters” or else you’ll be “out of compliance.”  Often these scammers will attempt to sound like they represent a government agency.  They may send “official looking” announcements or even threatening notices warning of fines or penalties if you don’t purchase the “updated” postings.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  These companies don’t represent OSHA or any other government agency.  They are private businesses, trying to make a quick buck through misrepresentation and deceit. 

The fact is Minnesota law does require employers to post state-mandated posters; however, these posters are available for FREE from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI).  Although there have been some design changes to the State’s posters, the regulations described in the posters have not changed, so employers do not need to replace their current poster set.  You do not have to pay anything to be in compliance with Minnesota’s required postings. These required postings include Safety and Health on the job, Minimum Wage, Age Discrimination, Unemployment, and Workers’ Compensation, and must be posted in a conspicuous location in the workplace (Note:  in addition to the state posting requirements, some U.S. Government agencies require postings, such as the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission).

You can request your FREE posters (available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali) by phone, email, snail mail, or electronically via DLI’s website by visiting the web address below.  You can even print your posters directly from DLI’s website.  From the printer to the bulletin board!  For more information visit:  Order free, mandatory workplace posters online.

So if you receive a call or letter and suspect a scam, get a name and address, do some fact-checking, and then, if necessary report the incident to your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).  That way, we’ll all be doing our part to “keep ‘em honest.”

 

By Joe Ingebrand

Have a Nice Trip, See You Next Fall!

Did you know that Slip, Trip, and Falls are continuously one of the most reported occupational injuries? They are the League’s second most reported cause of injury among our members, and can result in injuries ranging from strains and sprains from landing in an awkward position to dislocations and fractures from landing on a hard surface such as ice or concrete. Today we’re going to focus primarily on the slip and fall hazards presented by snow and ice.

Living in a colder climate like we do, the snow and ice can significantly increase the risk of slip and fall injuries. Employees often need to walk on icy walkways to perform tasks such as checking a water meter, moving a garbage bin, or delivering a notification to a resident. Not all walkways are controlled by the city and probably would not have been treated for snow and ice removal the same way a city trail or sidewalk would have been, so what can a city do to protect its employees from these dangerous injuries? One thing we have seen many of our members use to reduce the risk with great success is provide employees performing these types of duties ice tread attachments for their boots such as those pictured below. You should still be cautious when walking on potentially icy surfaces, but these can provide some much-needed traction and reduce the odds of a slip.

Another common place where we see snow and ice related slip and falls is pathways into and out of buildings. We regularly see incidents where employees slip on ice and are injured walking from the parking lot into the building. It is an employer’s responsibility to provide employees with a safe, hazard free, pathway into and out of the workplace, so care should be taken to ensure that the parking lots and sidewalks in front of city buildings are plowed and de-iced.

Entryways inside of buildings can also become slick and wet as snow is tracked in, creating a separate slip and fall hazard. To protect from this, make sure excess water is mopped up whenever possible, and consider putting up a “wet floor” sign as warning. Lastly consider putting down mats where people can wipe their feet, but make sure that are laid flat and secured so as to not create a new tripping hazard.

Other things you can do in your shop to prevent the risk of slips, trips, and falls is to use fall protection when working from heights, and using good housekeeping around your shop. Good housekeeping includes things like promptly cleaning up spills and ensuring that all tools and equipment are put away in a safe location, leaving walkways clear. We will discuss housekeeping further in a future blog.

Be safe and watch where you step!

 

By: Cody Tuttle

 

2018 Road Salt Symposium

Where: Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Avenue North, Plymouth MN 55447 (NOTE NEW LOCATION)

When: Thursday, February 8, 2018 (8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.)

Register and More Information Here:  https://freshwater.org/2018-road-salt-symposium/

Cost: $135

 

What is it?

The Annual Road Salt Symposium is an opportunity to learn about alternative chemical, non-chemical, and mechanical solutions that exist to help keep the roads clear of ice, and our waterways clean of the chlorides that can impair them as a result of road salt. Wise use of road salt creates a win-win situation that protects the environment, reduces community expense, and ensures safe roads.

 

Topics Covered:

• Salting our freshwater lakes
• Innovations in application: reducing chloride use
• Environmental Leadership Awards
• Emerging issues in application: where are we headed?
• Local chloride initiatives

Who Should Attend:
Public Works directors, supervisors, and staff responsible for plowing and de-icing operations.


Credits:

• 1.0 Roads Scholar Program credit (per the MNLTAP flyer for the event found at http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/roadsalt/)

By: LMCIT Loss Control

 

Maybe Snowbirds have the right idea…

We just made it through a December where we saw some colder than average temperatures, with some northern parts of the state seeing record lows. As January, our typically coldest month, is just getting started we thought it might be a good idea to remind you of some of our previous cold weather blogs related to Frozen Water Lines as this may be an issue some of you may see this winter.

1. Dealing with Frozen Water Lines? Do not use electric current to thaw the lines!
2. Water Line Freeze Ups - Guidance to Residents
3. What cities may say to residents who have frozen water lines
4. This issue will be with us for awhile - frozen water lines
5. Sanitary sewers and frozen water lines...What goes around comes around.
6. Frozen water lines and sewer lines don't mix!
7. Frozen Water Lines....... Take 2 ???
8. Frozen Water Lines....A "golden opportunity" to plan
9. Frozen Water Lines - Educate the Public
10. Link on Waterlines – Minnesota Rural Water

Lastly, I also wanted to remind you of a couple other previous blogs to help you stay warm and safe this winter:

·         Baby, it’s Cold out There!

·         Winter Safety Tips

Now remember, stay warm, be safe, and GO VIKINGS!

 

By: Cody Tuttle