According to Liberty Mutual Insurance’s Workplace Safety Index, injuries related to pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing material cost employers $13.7 billion. Consider these additional back-related injury statistics from Liberty Mutual:

• 1 million workers suffer back injuries each year
• 1 out of 5 workplace injuries are back related
• 4 out of 5 back injuries are to the lower back
• 3 of those 4 injuries occur when lifting

Several factors increase the risk of a severe injury from lifting or handling materials. These factors are related to the differences in the load, the organization of the work, the work environment , and the worker. The load may be too heavy or too large. We may work on unstable or uneven surfaces.

The human factor also plays a role in ergonomic injuries. These factors include the lack of experience, training, familiarity with the job, and age. The risk of low-back disorders increases with age and with the number of years at work, our physical dimensions, and
capacity (such as height, weight, strength, and prior history of musculoskeletal disorders – back disorders in particular).

Conducting a risk assessment will identify hazards and individuals at risk and provide guidance on correcting those hazards. Consider the work being done, identify what may cause or increase the risk of ergonomic injuries, and whether a mechanical aid may be used to handle, carry, or stack materials.

If you’re planning to attend the 6th Annual Energy Conference next month, the Prairie Meadows hotel room reservation deadline, to guarantee the conference rate, is THIS Friday, Sept. 21.

• Online Reservations are available at www.prairiemeadows.com
• Use Group Code - 10092018IAM for the conference rate. 
• Conference hotel rate $110 per room, per night, plus tax. 

 
To call in a reservation, dial (515) 957-3000 or (800) 325-9015. Cut-off date for the IAMU rate is Friday, September 21, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.

The 24rd Annual Water and Wastewater Operator’s Training Workshop will be held November 13 – 15, 2018, at Holiday Inn Northwest, Des Moines. To register, click here.

This yearly training is a must for any water and wastewater professionals wanting practical information to help them do their jobs. The three-day workshop includes basic and advanced topics on water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater. Attendees can earn up to 1.2 CEUs toward certification, plus get a chance to connect with other municipal water professionals from around the state as well as check out products and services from water-related vendors.

Early registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 2! Don’t wait!

The IAMU Fall Broadband Meeting is Wednesday, September 26th at the IAMU Office and Training Complex in Ankeny. This annual gathering gives IAMU utility members with broadband networks an opportunity to network, share ideas, and hear from speakers on several topics.

Cost is just $35.00 per person for IAMU members or $50 for non-members. 

Register online here.

Questions?  Contact Curtis Dean at (515) 650-0251 or curtis@smartsourceconsulting.com.

IAMU will be offering a Gas “Boot Camp” Operator Qualification Training Workshop at the end of October. The workshop will take place October 1st-5th, 2018 at the IAMU Training & Office Complex.

This workshop is geared towards:  New operators, dispatchers, on-call personnel, and operators who would like to qualify or re-qualify on the covered tasks being presented.  Hands-on and written evaluations will be offered.  Participants may attend only Monday or all week.  This training is also very valuable for dispatch personnel answering phone calls.

Qualifications will be offered for all topics covered.

Click here to register.

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Electric Utility Billing Workshop.  The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, in cooperation with Denison Municipal Utilities, is offering a one-day training workshop to aid municipal personnel in the unique challenges faced in performing electric utility billing.  This course is targeted to all new office staff, billing clerks, customer service representatives, those needing continued training, and a light refresher for experienced staff.  A networking breakfast and a catered lunch will be provided.

The training will take place on Thursday, October 4th at Denison Municipal Utilities in Denison, Iowa.

The following topics will be covered during the workshop:

• Electrical Terminology
• Electric Equipment
• Electric Procedures
• Multipliers
• Meter Reading
• Meter Data
• Processing Data
• Billing Accounts
• Customer Issues
• Data Processing
• Software
• LIHEAP
• Winter Moratorium
• Rates (Setting & Applying)

Cost:
IAMU Members: $109
Non-Members: $159      

Workshop Location:
The workshop will take place at:
Denison Municipal Utilities
721 Broadway
Denison, IA  51442
Utility Phone Number – (712) 263-4154

Registration is open!
Registration is available online by visiting our website at www.iamu.org and clicking on the workshop under the “Events” link.  You may also mail, or fax the registration form in.  For additional information including brochure and registration link, please click HERE.

Questions?  Contact Dan Llewellyn at (800) 810-4268 or email at dllewellyn@iamu.org.