Aerial Lifts and OSHA Grants

Holiday decorations, light pole banners, and flags are all operations that most municipalities deal with on an annual basis. Working at elevated heights adds a risk and safety considerations to the day-to-day operation.

When you are working above ground level how are you completing these tasks? Are you using a ground ladder, bucket truck, contractors, or something unsafe? Hopefully it’s not the last one. What about vehicle traffic control and/or pedestrian traffic?

The City of Victoria has changed their approach to these tasks in the last few years moving from ground ladders, a borrowed/rented bucket truck, to aerial lifts.

Victoria evaluated their operations in their thriving downtown and other locations that require scheduled elevated work. The City was able to use ladders for most of their downtown area as they installed Holiday decorations, flags multiple times a year, and replaced pole banners multiple times are year. Utilizing the ladder was a good practice but added an ergonomic risk. When the ladder wasn’t an option, they were able to rent a bucket truck from other municipalities, but that depended on scheduling, availability, and where it would work. The bucket truck didn’t always fit into tight areas and added a traffic control consideration.

Victoria looked at many options but decided to look at Skid-Lift as their option. The City of Victoria also utilized the Minnesota OSHASafety Grant Program to help with this purchase. Minimizing the use of traffic lanes and improving employee safety are all considerations when evaluating their needs. 

Attached are a few photos of Victoria’s old ladder operation, and after Victoria was awarded the Safety Grant to purchase the Skid-Lift for Holiday Decorations:

City of Victoria

City of Victoria

City of Victoria

Submitted by: Troy T. Walsh, Loss Control Consultant

Is Your City Ready for the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Act?

In December 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule creating the National Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to maintain all drug and alcohol program violations in a central data base. The final rule goes into effect January 6, 2020.

Employers are required to query the system to determine if current or to-be-hired employees have a violation that would preclude them from performing functions covered by DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. Employers will also have to report drug and alcohol violations to the clearinghouse. Employees will be able to view driving records and provide consent to current or prospective employers to gain access to information on violations.

FMCSA Clearinghouse

The League offers a webinar that will take you through the key components of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act and the Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, helping you understand what your city will need to do to use and submit information.

Submitted by:  Julie Jelen, Loss Control Consultant

Winter Operations Training Videos

The Iowa DOT has released an updated series of snow and ice videos. The new series includes 13 videos and takes about 90 minutes to watch. Topics include plowing techniques, preseason prep, plow mounting, and deicing chemicals.

The old series was popular, with more than 200,000 views on the plowing techniques video alone. The new series updates those videos and uses newer technology. The free videos can be used to supplement training where needed.

Iowa DOT Winter Operations Training Series

Submitted by: LMCIT Loss Control

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Updates

UPDATE: 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a two-year delay to a rule that establishes nationwide minimum training standards for a new truck driver. These new rule changes will be effective February 2022.

https://cdllife.com/2019/fmcsa-pushes-back-entry-level-driver-training-rule-by-two-years/

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Updates that we need to be aware of and they will be come effective in February 2022. Not 2020 like originally designed.

• Unlike some of the current CDL standards that may be set by State Statutes, there is a change. Standards are now being set at the Federal Level. State can no longer establish their own.
• Requirements for teacher qualifications: Instructors now must have two years of driving experience, clean driving MVR, and a medical certification for on road and private range instructions.
• Increases in curriculum mandates:
• Previous 4 knowledge courses have been replaced with 31 required theory topic courses.
• These will be joined with 19 behind-the-wheel skills and will be tested with the vehicle inspection skills at a state level DMV.
• All existing CDL training schools and any new school must be listed on the Training Provider Registry.

Who does this affect, and the Final Rule Establishes new training standards for individuals applying for:

1.  Class A or B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for the first time.

2.  An upgrade of their CDL (example Class-B seeking to upgrade to a Class-A)

3.  A Hazardous Materials (H), Passenger (P), or School Bus (S) endorsements for the first time.

What could this mean to you? It could take additional time to find a candidate who needs to get or upgrade their CDL. It could mean additional expenses involved that would need to be budgeted if changes in CDL required operations, and or if you have employee turnover.

We have added a few links to reference some local and federal information related to these updates:

• Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence
• FMCSA's New Requirements for Entry-Level Driver Training
• CDL License Requirements

Submitted by: Troy T. Walsh, Loss Control Consultant

Compost Sites

Is your city having trouble with your compost sites? Are people dumping items that shouldn’t be there?

To prevent this from happening, there are a few different things your City can do:

• Have the compost site fenced and have a lock/code/key for residents to access the site.
• Have the compost site only open during hours that would be staffed 
• Have security cameras at the compost site
• Have signs that include what is okay and not okay to drop at the compost site

Your City should have a policy/procedure for your composting sites. The policy/procedures should include:

Who is allowed to use the compost site?

• Residents
• Are non-residents allowed to?
• Are commercial users allowed to? If so, is there a fee?

When is the compost site open/close?

• Only for staffed hours or
• 24/7, need a key?
• Certain days that it is closed?

What are acceptable items at the compost site?

• Grass clippings
• Leaves
• Brush/Logs
• Christmas tress

If the City’s compost site is only open during staffed hours, are there requirements to enter the compost site?

• Registering with the staff
• Driver’s License
• Permit

Is there a cost to use the compost site?

What other rules should users be aware of?

• No plastic bags left on site
• No yard waste left outside facility
• No chain saws or wood splitters
• No stumps

Examples:

https://www.biglakemn.org/DocumentCenter/View/1693/Compost-Site-Handout-PDF

https://www.ci.stcloud.mn.us/359/Compost-Site

Submitted by: Kate Connell, Loss Control Consultant

DNR Outdoor Recreation Grant Program

The DNR is offering to provide matching grants for up to 50% of the cost of acquisition, development and/or redevelopment of local parks and recreation areas. The maximum grant award it $250,000. Just recently, the City of Byron was awarded a grant of $100,000 for an adaptive playground.

Eligible applicants are cities, counties, and townships.

Eligible projects include:

• Park acquisition and/or development/redevelopment including:
• Internal Park Trails
• Picnic Shelters
• Playgrounds
• Athletic Facilities
• Boat Accesses
• Fishing Piers
• Swimming Beaches
• Campgrounds

Project proposals must include at least one of the eligible primary outdoor recreation facilities in the Program Manual (linked on website) and have a total cost project of at least $20,000.

The next application cycle information and materials will be posted in November 2019 with an expected application deadline of March 2020.

Please visit https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/outdoor_rec.html for more information regarding the grant.

Submitted by: Kate Connell, Loss Control Representative

Warm Weather and Tick Reminders

The warmer weather is coming upon us. We want to remind you of what to be aware of when outside during the warmer weather.

Ticks

What are Ticks? Ticks are small around the size of an apple seed, black or red in color, have four pairs of legs, and have flat, oval bodies. Being small, they are hard to spot. Ticks usually live in wooded areas, tall grasses, weeds, and leaf litter.
What can Ticks cause? Ticks spread diseases by passing along bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Common diseases of ticks include Lyme Disease, along with Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Tularemia. These all can result in negative health effects.
Symptoms of being bit by a Tick: Usually most of these illnesses will give you the typical flu-like symptoms, such as chills, fever, headache and muscle aches. Also, muscle stiffness/soreness, fatigue or lethargy.
How to prevent a tick bite?

• Dress Properly by tucking in your pant legs to not expose the skin on your ankle/legs. If you are exposing the skin around your ankles/legs, be sure to check thoroughly for ticks upon returning inside. Wearing light colored clothing can help with spotting a tick more easily.  More and more companies are manufacturing tick repellent clothing which could also be another option to consider.

• Use Repellent especially on your feet and ankles and any exposed skin.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Try to stay on more busy trails. If you do venture in wooded areas or tall grasses, immediately check your body for ticks.

• Check your body thoroughly. Pay special attention to under the arms, in/around the ears, belly button, in/around hair, between the legs, and around the waist.

What if a tick bites me? If you have been bitten you may see a “bullseye” or solid red patch around the site of the bite.  Pay attention to any of the symptoms listed above. These symptoms typically occur within 30 days following a tick bite.

How to remove a tick?  The most common method is to use a fine-tipped tweezers, pull upward with steady even pressure, and after removing the tick make sure to wash the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.

Other methods that may be helpful to remove ticks could include, liquid soap, petroleum jelly or rubbing alcohol. The petroleum jelly and the rubbing alcohol methods, while effective may be dangerous, as they may irritate the tick and make it release its toxins.  The liquid soap method if the best alternative option of these listed.

Heat

Common heat related disorders include:

• Heat exhaustion: symptoms include faint or dizziness, excessive sweating, cool/pale/clammy skin, nausea/vomiting, rapid/weak pulse, and muscle cramps.
• Heat stroke: symptoms include throbbing headache, no sweating, body temperature above 103, red/hot/dry skin, nausea/vomiting, rapid/strong pulse, and may lose consciousness. 
• Heat cramps: symptoms include muscle pain or spasms in the abdomen, arm or legs.  
• Heat rash: symptoms include small blisters or red cluster of pimples.

Reminders when outside in the hot weather:

• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, 5 to 7 ounces every 15-20 minutes. Also, avoid dehydrating liquids such as alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated drink.
• Wear protective clothing and sunscreen: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light colored clothing. Also, wear a hat when working outside.
• Pace yourself: know your limits and stop if you are feeling any symptoms.  
• Take breaks: take time for rest and water breaks in a shaded area.

Helpful links:

https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html 

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/default.html

Submitted by: Kate Connell, Loss Control Representative