Safety

Priority

Safety is our highest priority. We are uncompromising in our commitment to the health and safety of our members, our customers and the community we serve. We will continually strive to improve our processes, demonstrate leadership, and promote comprehensive safety.

Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns contact the Hall for assistance.

Health and Safety Committee

As per our MOU section 2-4 Health and Safety the City will continue to undertake all reasonable efforts to provide for employee health and safety in accordance with the State Law and will continue to provide personal protective equipment to protect employees from safety and health hazards, this includes boot vouchers on an as needed basis.

In order to facilitate this policy, a joint committee entitled "Health and Safety Committee" shall be established. The committee shall consist of two Unit II employees which are appointed by the Union and two City representatives designated by the City Manager.

Unit II Safety Committee Members

Tristan Makinson

Derek Sigurdson

Hall 602.230.2301

Know Your Rights

Under federal law, you are entitled to a safe workplace. Your employer must provide a workplace free of known health and safety hazards. If you have concerns, you have the right to speak up about them without fear of retaliation. You also have the right to:

Be trained in a language you understand

Work on machines that are safe

Be provided required safety gear, such as gloves or a harness and lifeline for falls

Be protected from toxic chemicals

Request an OSHA inspection, and speak to the inspector

Report an injury or illness, and get copies of your medical records

See copies of the workplace injury and illness log

Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses

Get copies of test results done to find hazards in the workplace

What is personal protective equipment?

Personal protective equipment, commonly referred to as "PPE", is equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Personal protective equipment may include items such as gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or coveralls, vests and full body suits.

OSHA requires employers to pay for personal protective equipment when it is used to comply with OSHA standards. These typically include: hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, safety glasses, welding helmets and goggles, face shields, chemical protective equipment and fall protection equipment.

For any Safety concerns please contact our safety committee or the hall.

Summer Heat

Brothers and Sisters we are at the 100 + degree temperatures here in the valley. We want to remind our members to stay safe out there and make sure you stay hydrated, use plenty of sun-block and as per OSHA’s recommendation, take as many breaks needed. Employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace including heat-related hazards. This is a reminder to our members, your life is important and many of you have families that depend on you. Please keep aware of heat stress and keep an eye on each other.

Ladder Safety

Many of our members work with ladders everyday. The following are some tips that may make your interaction with ladders less hazardous: Before using a ladder, inspect it for faults, such as broken rungs or rails. If it is an extension ladder, inspect the pulleys, ropes and locks for excessive wear. Also, check the footings and pads to make sure they still provide a non-skid surface. If any defect is found, the ladder should be tagged unsafe and taken out of service. If it cannot be fixed, make sure it is disposed of properly. When setting up a ladder, make sure the ground it is set upon is level and stable. Do not set the ladder up on a muddy surface or you may find yourself falling over. Do not use bricks or other material to raise the height of the ladder. If it is not tall enough, you are using the wrong ladder. The ladder should reach a minimum of three feet above the "point of support" and should be secured at this point. When using extension ladders, abide by the 1:4 rule. This means if you are using a 12 foot ladder, the base should be three feet from the structure. Some ladders provide a picture guide on the ladder itself to assist you in this. When using a stepladder, make sure the folding cross braces are locked in the proper position before you step onto it. Always face the ladder when ascending or descending, and have both hands free to grasp it securely. If you need tools, they should be carried in a tool belt or pulled up with a rope once you have reached your destination. Remember the "3-Point Rule": At least two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, should be in contact with the ladder at all times. Keep your body between the side rails of the ladder. This reduces the chance of tipping it over and/or falling off. Do not climb higher than the third rung from the top on straight or extension ladders or the second tread from the top on stepladders. By following the above rules, you greatly reduce your chances of being injured while working on ladders. Remember, the life you save will be your own!