TMAC4Safety

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.

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.