Minnesota Rural Water Tracer Wire Specification

The League of Minnesota Cities Spring Loss Controls Workshops are officially complete! We thank each of your for working us into your busy schedule to attend.  These workshops are always as much of a chance for us to learn as they are for you, and this year one of our more popular presentations was shared by our friends at the Minnesota Rural Water Association (MRWA) who taught us all about their trace wire specifications.

MRWA’s trace wire specification has been nationally praised and has even been used by companies such as Google in their utility projects. Here is a link to this specification for all of you that were unable to attend a workshop and for those of you that did but didn’t get the link. 

http://www.mrwa.com/PDF/TracerWireSpecGuideFinalweb3.pdf

 

By: Cody Tuttle

 

 

Youth Employment - Summer help is on the Way

Each year about this time we in loss control get the question as to whether or not a 17 year old can operate a mower.  The answer to this question is yes; however, there are other restrictions related to youth employment cities should be aware of.

Lifeguards

·         15, 16 and 17 year olds can work as lifeguards in pools, but only with uninterrupted adult supervision.

·         16 and 17 year olds can work as lifeguards at lakes and rivers, but only with uninterrupted adult supervision.

Machinery

·         Youth ages 16 to 18 are restricted from driving certain power-drive machinery.  (They can operate push mowers and weed whips.)

·         Minors cannot operate motor vehicle on streets as part of their normal job. (There is an exception for incidental and occasional driving by licensed drivers.)

Liquor

·         No individual under the age of 18 can serve, dispense, or handle intoxicating liquors that are consumed on premises.

·         Minors are prohibited from working in rooms where liquor is served or consumed. (There is an except for the job of busing dishes and providing musical entertainment.)

Other Regulations:

·         Minors cannot work where hazardous material exists.

 

For additional questions on this issue please contact your loss control consultant or LMC HR Department: jhottinger@lmc.org.

By: Joe Ingebrand

Air Advisory in State Take Two – What This Means When Working Outdoors

Last year we had a number of Air Quality Advisories in the state due to a number of wildfires in Canada and the wind shifting the smoke to our areas.  This year we are seeing much of the same type of issue in many parts of the state.  As such, we thought it would be beneficial to re-publish the information on Air Quality Advisories that we shared last year. Please take a moment to review the information and remember to stay informed on the air quality issues that may impact you or your workers.

 

We have all noticed the haze and gloomy air in the past week hanging around.  This haze was caused by over 180 fires blazing in British Columbia, Canada.

There are over 2 million acres of wildfires raging across Canada and into Alaska currently with no real end in sight.  The smoke from these fires has risen to over 20,000 feet which then allows the jet stream to act as a highway, transporting the smoke across the country. 

The state that has felt the largest impact is Minnesota, however there have been health advisories issued across the Western and Midwestern parts of the United States.  The reason that Minnesota is so heavily impacted is due to the East/Southeast direction of wind movement, which has put us directly in the line of “fire”, so to speak. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a statewide Air Advisory on Monday, which indicated that the northern two-thirds of the state should take extra precautions due to the reduced air quality from the smoke infiltration. What does this mean?

1. Exposure to the high level of fine particles has previously been linked with respiratory and cardiovascular health effects.  There is a risk of exacerbation with pre-existing health conditions, which can lead to chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue.
2. The level of fine particulate in the air on Monday was unhealthy for anyone.
3. Those individuals that are sensitive to fine particles (pre-existing cardiovascular or respiratory disease, elderly, children, and individuals who are under heavy or extended exertion are advised to postpone or reduce vigorous activity and reduce exposure to air pollution (heavy duty vehicle exhaust, wood fires, candles)
4. Those in the at risk or higher risk groups should check the Air Quality Index prior to vigorous activity being resumed.

As many of our Public Works and Parks Departments work the majority of their days outside participating in activities that require extended or heavy exertion, these employees are considered an “at risk population”.  As such, the MPCA does recommend limiting or avoiding those activities until the risk is reduced.

For current air quality conditions visit the Air Quality Index page

 

By: Tara Bursey, Loss Control Consultant

 

Summer is Coming - Does your City Restrict Water Usage?

With the summer months coming, public works watch the water levels closely to ensure there is enough in the system for everyone. This also includes ensuring there is an adequate supply in case of a fire.

When the summer heat comes, we want our yards to look green and beautiful. Does your community have an ordinance on watering restrictions? If you do, how do you notify your community of these watering restrictions? Some communities add the ordinance to their web-site or attach it to water bills, send out fliers, or post signs in developments with specific information on restrictions.

The City of Edina has a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on Watering Restrictions. Their PSA includes days allowed to water, offense warnings & fines, how to test your yard for water needs, best time of day to water, and cost savings for proper watering!

 

By: Troy Walsh

Training through MN LTAP

The Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (MN LTAP) is a great training resource for road crews. Here a couple of their upcoming courses.

Traffic Sign Maintenance Training Program

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

This is a free course and lunch is provided.

 

Minnesota Roadway Maintenance Training and Demo Day

http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/training/roadway/

The cost is $125 and includes parking, refreshments, lunch, and program materials.

By: Troy Walsh

Ransomware

Imagine a criminal breaking into your home, but instead of taking anything, they change the locks and tell you to pay them or they will not give you the new keys. This is what Ransomware does, though instead of your home, it is all of the files on your computer. Files you need to access in order to do your job. These criminals plan on using that need for their own profit.

 

Here is an article from The Washington Post that demonstrates just how bad this type of malware can be for your city.

What it is?

Ransomware is a type of malware that uses encryption to restrict access either by locking files or by inhibiting entry into the system altogether. Once the system is encrypted, it is very difficult, or impossible, to gain access again on your own. The malware operators then require payment before they unlock the system (which they may not do even if they are paid).

The pop up message requesting payment may be disguised as a fake warning pretending to be from a law enforcement agency locking your system claiming that it has been used for illegal purposes, or even Microsoft stating the version of windows you are running is pirated. Do not be fooled by this, call an IT professional and the police immediately. Do not turn any infected systems off either, doing so may actually make the IT pro’s job more difficult.

What you can do to protect yourself?

The typical method malware, such as ransomware, gets on your system is through some form of download.  It may be hidden in something you download, so be sure to only download files or programs from trusted sites.

Another method used to infect your computer is phishing emails. These are spam emails used to trick you into clicking a link that will take you to a fraudulent site that will download the malware to your system. Make sure you’re using some form of anti-virus software that includes email checking. The best practice is to delete any emails from sources you don’t know. Never click any links in emails unless they are from a trusted source. Also be wary of emails that appear to be from trusted sources that contain just links or a simple phrase such as, “check out this video!” or “this site is so great!” The trusted source may have gotten a virus, and that virus is sending those emails, or the email may contain a spoofed address.

For other ways to protect yourself, you can also check out our On the Line blog on this topic by LMC’s Greg Van Wormer.

Backup you system regularly!

It may be impossible to recover your files once they have been encrypted by ransomware; however, if you have your data backed up, you can limit the how much information you lose.

Cities should be backing up their systems, at least weekly (nightly is better!), and storing backups in a place safely offline and away from any computers that may become infected. Consider using a rotating backup schedule, allowing for multiple backups to be retained.  If you do use such a schedule please consult with your city’s Responsible Authority to ensure your backup schedule meets your city’s records retention schedule.   

What should you do if you get it?

Despite your best efforts, you may still find yourself the victim of ransomware. Should this be the case, call the police, an IT professional (if you have one in house), and LMCIT right away, as mitigation may be covered under your Property/Casualty insurance.  Whatever you do, Do Not Pay the Ransom, there is no guarantee they will actually remove the ransomware should you pay it.

Computers and the internet are a great resource, please remember to use them safely.

By: Cody Tuttle

Electrical Shock Drowning (ESD)

May 28, 2011 Lake City, MN. A 50 year old man was electrocuted in Lake Pepin near a boat lift which had exposed wiring.

 

His dog was in the water, was shocked, and began to sink. Another man jumped in to rescue the dog but was shocked.  (The man did escape the water). The 50 year old man then jumped in for his dog, and the man appeared to have been electrocuted.

 

With spring coming quicker than the winter weather would lead you to believe, it’s time to start thinking about water safety. I am specifically talking about electrical systems on docks, piers and marinas, splash pads, public pools and let’s not forget fountains and other water features around town.

 

Not all cities have marinas or lakes with docks, but those that do need to really think about how those city features are used and maintained. These precautions can be related to pools, and water features around the city, which both adults and children are using for recreation as well. Just because someone isn’t swimming doesn’t mean they can’t wade, reach, or stand.

 

Electrical Shock Drowning (ESD) occurs in fresh water where minute amounts of AC current are present. As little as a few milliamps can incapacitate a person so they can’t move their muscles. This can occur with as little as 6mA to 16 milliamp (mA) of current. Most victims talk about a tingling in the water as they were swimming. Tingling can be felt with 1mA of current in the water. 6 milliamps will cause agonizing pain which is less than a third of the electricity used to light a 40 watt light bulb. 100 mA passing directly through the heart is almost always fatal. A voltage gradient of 2 volts per foot in fresh water is enough to kill a person who bridges it.    

 

Electric shock drowning can occur anywhere electricity is used near water, but is primarily most prevalent at marinas where boats are docked and plugged-in to shore power. Most cases of ESD occur in fresh water. Salt water has less resistance to electricity and the electrical gradient or difference in potential is very low. Fresh water has a higher resistance to electricity and therefore a higher electrical gradient or difference in potential. It is the difference in potential that makes it more dangerous. The electricity can cause a swimmers muscles to contract. They become immobile, can no longer move or swim, and drown.

 

All electrical circuits in and around water features need to be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected. The wiring and outlets should all be regularly inspected by a licensed electrician who is familiar with the electrical codes as they pertain to marinas and water features. All GFCI, regardless of location, should be tested at least monthly to ensure they are functioning. How about a pool or water feature which has electricity for lighting, electrical outlets, etc.? Those too need to be inspected and part of a preventative maintenance program. I have been at pools where there were swim meets and the teams brought their own timing equipment, extension cords, etc. The timers were plugged into outlets on the light poles around the perimeter of the pool. None of the outlets were GFCI protected, and none of the extension cords were GFCI protected. These could cause an electrical shock issue due to improperly wired equipment, damaged cords coupled with the wet pool deck, high traffic, etc. Given the hazards it is a good idea to regularly inspect all of the docks, boat lifts, marina wiring, pools, fountains, and water features that have electrical features to ensure the people visiting those facilities are protected. In the case of marinas and docks with power to them it is recommended they be posted with no swimming. The boats hooked to the power at the marinas could contribute to the problems as they might have faulty wiring and it is best not to take the chance in that situation.

 

Links: ESD Incidents: http://www.electricshockdrowning.org/uploads/4/8/5/6/48564375/electric_shock_drowning_incident_list_6-28-15.pdf

ESD Facts: http://www.electricshockdrowning.org/esd--faq.html

BoatUS magazine ESD article: http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/magazine/2013/july/electric-shock-drowning-explained.asp

On a side note: When was the last time you tested your GFCI outlets in and around city buildings? They should be tested monthly to ensure they are functioning.

By: Paul Gladen