The latest edition of IAMU's Toolbox Talks - Choosing the Right Welding Electrode is now available.  Click here to download it.

Other Toolbox Talk articles are available here.

If you have a Toolbox Talk idea, please send it to Margret Meade.

IAMU’s Annual Golfin’ Fore Safety is just a month away! If you haven’t yet registered, now is the time. Don’t have a foursome? No worries. We can pair you up with others.
 
This year, Golfin’ Fore Safety will be held June 24 at Bos Landen Golf Club in Pella, Iowa.
 
For more information or to register, click here.
 
Proceeds from the event go toward purchasing materials and equipment for the IAMU Training Field.
 
If you’re an associate member and are interested in helping to sponsor the event, IAMU has several options available.

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Safety Services department will be holding mobile crane certification and examination classes for digger derrick, service truck, and mobile crane operators.  OSHA’s updated crane standard REQUIRES that operators of lifting equipment be trained, evaluated and tested in order to obtain certification.

Background Information:
Although the new standard, 29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC, specifically exempts the digger derrick and the operator from meeting the requirements of the standard, the exemption applies only when it is used for work within the provisions of the power generation, transmission and distribution standards, or for construction work within the telecommunications standard.  The exemption does not apply if the digger derrick is used for lifting materials or to operate in working environments outside the scope of the standard because the equipment is essentially being used as a mobile crane.  For example, unloading materials from a truck, lifting a motor from a pump house to assist your water department, or providing assistance to any other city department will mean that the exemption no longer applies.  When equipment is used as a mobile crane, all provisions of the standard apply, including the operator certification rule.  OSHA also now requires that an operator be certified in specific areas when they operate equipment outfitted with a boom and winch and able to lift at least 2,000 pounds.  This includes service trucks in your public works, or water departments.

The new standard has very specific operator requirements, one being to obtain operator certification from an independent testing organization accredited by a nationally recognized organization.  OSHA’s updated crane standard, 1926.1427 in Subpart CC, requires that for a testing organization to be considered accredited to certify operators, it must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency based on that agency’s determination that industry recognized criteria for written testing materials, practical examinations, test administration, grading, facilities/equipment and personnel have been met.  IAMU is an Accredited Assessment Center through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).  We are authorized to conduct both hands-on assessments and practical examinations which are part of our Mobile Crane Operator Certification Program.  Additionally, we are offering Qualified Hand Signal Person and Qualified Rigger programs (available at a future date).

Who Should Attend:
Digger derrick and service truck crane operators who do not currently hold a mobile crane operator’s certification.

What Do These Classes and Certification Consist Of:
Classes will be a week long, requiring classroom instruction, an on-line exam that has a 80% pass requirement, a practical exam for certification of mobile crane, and then finally a short class and practical exam for the signalperson and rigging qualifications. Students who pass the written and practical exams receive nationally recognized certification from the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER).

Where Do These Classes Take Place:
IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA  50021

When Will Classes Be Held:
Dates have been scheduled for 2019 at the IAMU complex (unless otherwise noted).  Please click HERE or visit the IAMU website for available dates.

June 10-14
June 24-28
August 19-23
October 7-11
December 9-13
 
Mobile Crane Operator Certification/Examination Class Schedule:
 
Monday & Tuesday
9:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom

Wednesday
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Classroom/Exams

Thursday
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Practical Exams

Friday (if needed)
8:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Retake Exams

Class/Exam
Examination retakes are $100 and may be taken during any scheduled exam date.

Additional Notes:

• Registration for all dates is open
• There is a maximum of 12 participants per class session.
• Lunch will be provided Monday through Thursday.
• All participants will attend classroom days. Exams will take place on the Thursday of each class session. Depending on the number of participants, Wednesday evening and Friday may also be used for exams.
• Each participant will need to create an account with NCCER before class; step-by-step instructions are included with the study guide.  Please bring your account number with you to class.

For additional information about the classes and online registration for each event, click HERE.

Cancellation Policy:
IAMU will issue a full refund for a registration cancellation up to 30 days prior to class date.  Cancellations within 30 days of class date will result in a refund less a $50 cancellation charge per registration.

If unable to attend, IAMU will allow a registration to be transferred within the same organization for the registered class date at no additional charge.

Questions?
If you have any questions in regards to the classes, or requirements, please contact:

Margret Meade, IAMU Safety Specialist (mmeade@iamu.org)
Phone:  (800) 810-4268

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities’ Safety Services will be holding a Drug & Alcohol Employee/Supervisor Training webinar. The webinar will address the following:

• The effects of drugs and alcohol on the body
•  How to know if someone is on drugs
•  Suggestions for what an individual can do about it

60 minutes will be spent on symptoms of alcohol abuse;
60 minutes will be spent on symptoms of drug/controlled substance abuse

*Certificate of Completion will be emailed to registrants after the event*
 
Who Should Attend?
Employees and supervisors involved with CDLs and gas operations
 
Presenter:
Paul Kittelson, IAMU Safety Services
 
Webinar Time and Length:
July 9th - 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
or
July 30th - 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
 
Cost:
$45 per IAMU Member participant; $70 per Non-IAMU Member participant
 
Webinar instructions and information will be sent to the registrant’s email.
 
To register for the July 9th webinar, please click here.
 
To register for the July 30th webinar, please click here.

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that Iowa applicants applying for the USDA “ReConnect” Grant Program will have a significant advantage in the application process due to the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative and Iowa’s comprehensive plan for broadband internet expansion.
 
In December 2018, USDA announced the “ReConnect Program,” which will support broadband with $600 Million in grants and loans for unserved rural areas that do not currently have sufficient access to broadband. To be eligible for the ReConnect Program, applicants must provide broadband service to eligible rural areas with a population of 20,000 or fewer. To locate areas in Iowa that Federal law designates as “rural,” please review the Mapping Tool at http://reconnect.usda.gov. That communication can be viewed here.  
 
The USDA will award applications up to 150 points for a number of different criteria. With the Governor’s signed letter articulating Iowa’s qualifications, applicants will be awarded an extra 20 scoring points on their application by the USDA – giving them a greater chance of approval by the USDA. Read a sample letter from Gov. Reynolds here.
 
“Improving broadband internet access continues to be a top priority because it allows our rural communities to thrive. The Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative along with our focus on broadband internet will put Iowa on the map as a hub for rural connectivity,” said Gov. Reynolds. “By leveraging state, federal, and private resources, we can open the door for even more innovation and breakthroughs.”
 
“Making broadband a top priority not only means leveraging state dollars, but actively pursuing federal grants that can be used for our benefit,” said Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg. “Through the Governor’s action today and through our focus on empowering rural Iowa, we are taking concrete steps to connect communities by giving these applicants a significant advantage when applying for federal funding.”
 
To complete an application for USDA ReConnect and maximize your scoring potential, you must submit a map showing the U.S. Census Blocks in which you are proposing to provide service. This map will be Certified and returned by the Office of the Chief Information Officer, with a letter from the Governor.

As a reminder, the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) issued an order on March 15, 2019, extending the filing deadline for a utility’s annual report from April 1 to June 1. This extension applies to Part A forms. Part B forms are not currently available or due. Please do not use the 2017 Part B forms.

When new Part B forms become available, notification will be posted to the IUB's website on the “How to File a Utility Annual Report” page and your utility company’s regulatory contact will receive notification. For questions, please call Don Tormey at 515.725.7347 or email don.tormey@iub.iowa.gov.   

To summarize the IUB’s statement, file Part A by June 1 and do not file Part B until you are notified the new forms are available.  If you have any questions on the ME-1, please feel free to contact Krista Wenzel, KDW Advisors, LLC, IAMU Regulatory Partner, at 712.579.6000.

Just a friendly reminder that IAMU’s Golfin’ Fore Safety is quickly approaching.  The event will take place on Monday, June 24 at Bos Landen Golf Club in Pella, Iowa.

Proceeds from the event go toward purchasing materials and equipment for the IAMU Training Field.
For more information, or to register for the event, click HERE.

Don’t have a team?  We’ll find you one!  There is still room available for interested golfers!  We are looking for additional singles and pairs.

Hope to see you there!

Earlier this week, IAMU sent out a salary survey to our water members. IAMU often gets requests for salary information, so we developed a short survey to collect basic starting salary information for water and wastewater system employees (an electric and gas one were done earlier this year). Although no two systems are the same and there are many other benefits to consider, the survey numbers will give members a starting point when evaluating their wages.
 
Once we have the information compiled, IAMU will share it with members by posting it on the IAMU website and providing it upon request.
 
If you have any questions or didn’t receive the survey in your email inbox, please feel free to contact Jill Soenen at jsoenen@iamu.org or by phone at 515.289.1999.
 
Please have your survey completed by June 3. Everyone who completes the survey will be entered in a drawing for a $100 gift card.

IAMU offers members free OSHA compliance programs that may be downloaded and customized to your city/utility.

To access the downloadable materials, you must first sign in as a member. The OSHA Written Programs page is the first link under Safety Services, which you can find under the Services tab in the top navigation bar. The materials are available to utility and affiliate members. 

When using these IAMU programs or programs supplied by other entities, remember there are many responsibilities for employers and employee under each of the programs. Read and understand not only the responsibilities but the entire program. Then, train your employees. 

Additionally, many times, there are requirements within the safety programs to develop processes to support the various programs. For example, under the Energy Control (Lock Out/Tag Out) Program, employers are required to develop machine-specific lock out/tag out procedures. The program is not completed until these procedures are developed.

Questions? Call one of our Safety staff members at (515) 289-1999.

IAMU does offer a fee-for-service that can help you customize your written safety programs. Our Safety & Health Management Services is another IAMU service to help you in the longer task of developing supporting procedures and processes within the written programs. 

Contact David Hraha , Director of Members Services, at (515)-289-1999 to discuss the Safety & Health Management Services.