July ’17 Labor Citizen

Brothers and Sisters:

The hot season is on us and it is even more important to stress the importance of the effects of heat on our daily work. Machine rooms, hoistways and their environment can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion. According to WebMD the hallmark symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Fainting may be the first sign. Other symptoms may include: throbbing headache, dizziness and light-headedness, lack of sweating despite the heat; red, hot, and dry skin; muscle weakness or cramps, nausea and vomiting; rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak; rapid, shallow breathing; behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering; seizures or unconsciousness.

If you suspect you have or your partner has any of these symptoms, contact 911 right away and attempt to cool the core body temperature to at least 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. You can wet skin with water and fan the person with air; apply ice packs to the arm pits, groin, neck and back or immerse them in a tub of cool water.

Also, be aware that sweat can be conductive around live equipment. Always LOTO and confirm there is no current in the circuit. If you need to troubleshoot live, use the appropriate PPE and stay aware of your own physical state.

The Local 17 Annual Golf Outing will be held August 26th at Emerald Woods Golf Course,12501 N Boone Rd, Columbia Station. The $100 fee includes food, drink, prizes golf and a cart for the day. The format is once again a two man scramble. Please get your money and reservations into Business Manager Tim Moennich at the hall ASAP. The phone number is 216-431-8088 or you can email Tim at TMoennich@iueclocal17.org.

There are still opportunities for Local 17 members to sign up for courses in CPR and scaffolding. These courses are brought to you through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) on cooperation with the American Heart Association and the Scaffold and Access Industry Association and are paid for through the employer contributions made in members names for every hour they work. This advanced training can make the difference between working and not working, take advantage of it.

Do you have questions about retirement investment planning? Local 17 is planning a night with a representative from MassMutal, the company that administers the 401K for the IUEC, to give members and their spouses the chance to ask questions and learn about retirement investing options. This event is not limited to those nearing retirement. Choices made early on in your retirement planning can have long lasting effects on it’s eventual value. Contact Tim for more information on this important event.

IUEC signatory Ashland Individual Services has developed an elevator emergency education course for first responders in select US cities. They identified problems with the current Emergency Evacuation Manuals found in almost all machine rooms that can result in injuries to passengers and first responders. Many of the hazards identified by AIS are routinely handled in the JHA, JSA or company safety training but are not immediately identifiable to those outside the industry. The most important thing they teach the first responders is to call the IUEC elevator contractor to have a qualified and trained individual safely evacuate the passenger.
State representatives Tom Patton and Bob Cupp are co-sponsors of House Bill 236, the Model Elevator Law, which would bring licensing of elevator constructors to the state of Ohio. Kevin Sullivan from the National Elevator Industry Work Preservation Fund and lobbyist Andrew Herf are working together on this effort. To help fund the effort there will be a raffle of a rifle and pistol with 200 chances at $50 each. For more information on the raffle contact Tim.
The Brothers and Sisters of IUEC Local 17 send their condolences to Brother Don Knapik on the passing of his sister Carol.
As of this writing there are four mechanics on the bench.