We are pleased to announce our fall seminars for the IAMU Safety Group Insurance Program.   These seminars have always proved very useful for city and utility personnel, as well as agents. This year we will focus on Crime and Public Officials/EPLI Risk Management.  Shown below is the schedule of locations and dates.  Refreshments will be available one-half hour prior to sign in and registration.  As always, there is no registration fee for the seminar. To register for one of the seminars, Download the registration brochure and return to:

Jester Insurance
PO Box 4779
Des Moines, IA  50305-4779
Fax: 515-243-6862
Email: lprikl@jesterinsurance.com

Storm Lake
Oct. 20
Tues.
9:00-noon
Buena Vista University
Sieben Forum
Rm-Hansen 8
610 W Fourth St
Storm Lake, IA 

Independence
Oct. 22
Thurs.
1:00-4:00 (Notice: New Time Period)
Heartland Acres
Agribition Center
2600 Swan Lake Blvd.
Independence, IA
(Hwy 20 Exit 252)

Altoona
Oct. 28
Wed.
9:00-noon
Prairie Meadows
1 Prairie Meadows Dr.
Altoona, IA

Compressed air is versatile and adaptable; it easily flows through pipes and valves, quickly filling a space. It can be compressed to higher pressures, stored as energy, and used to perform many types of work processes. Compressed air is considered a power source like gas, electricity and water, and is often referred to as the fourth utility. 12% of all industrial electricity consumption is to produce compressed air.

Pressurized air in piping, though safe and useful, can be dangerous if your system is not designed with approved components.

Thermoplastics, such as PVC, are not recommended for use in compressed air applications due to its highly crystalline structure. Under pressure, air will compress, generating a high potential energy.  Both the ANSI/CAGI B19.1, Safety Standard for Air Compressor Systems and the Compressed Air and Gas Institute’s reference book, the Compressed Air and Gas Handbook, are the recognized industry safety standards and prohibit the use of PVC piping for compressed air. OSHA has also published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin (SHIB) that restates the prohibition of using this material in pressurized systems.

OSHA requires that the nozzle pressure of an air gun used for cleaning purposes remain below 30 psi for all static conditions. This type of nozzle is called a pressure-reducing  safety nozzle. Ensure that ‘water hose’ clamps are never used in place of quick disconnect air couplings.  

Registration for the IUB's Customer Service Fall Meetings is now open!

For those IAMU members who want to participate, a registration form is available online.  Registration for each location will close two business days prior to the meeting date.  Each registered attendee will receive a packet of information.

The agenda includes a discussion of the yet to be released Board decision on NOI-2014-0004, the statute of limitations on debt collection and board jurisdiction over municipal level payment plans, the Winter Moratorium, Regular Disconnection Process/Landlord-Tenant, Low Income Programs update, including LIHEAP and  Weatherization, Specialty Rules and Rulings, including Medical Excuses and the 20 Degree Rules and Utility/Customer Complaint Issues 

If you have questions, please call Jane Whetstone at 515-725-7358 or email customer@iub.iowa.gov.

In May, IAMU held the first session of the Social Media Workshop.  It proved to be a popular offering, and to make it accessible to more cities and utilities across Iowa, we've decided to "take the show on the road"!

Two regional sessions of the Social Media Workshop have been scheduled, and others will be added in the future as demand warrants.  Spencer Municipal Utilities is hosting the first regional session on Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.  The second regional session will be Thursday, October 1st from 12:30pm to 4:30pm at the Kirkwood Training and Outreach Services facility in Marion, Iowa.

The Social Media Workshop is $75.00 for IAMU members and $100.00 for non-members.  CLICK HERE to register for Spencer or CLICK HERE to register for Marion.

IAMU will be hosting four OSHA 10-hour Construction Outreach Courses to be held at the following locations: 

·         Mount Pleasant - September 28 & 29, 2015

·         Manchester - September 30 & October 1, 2015

·         Ankeny (IAMU) - October 15 & 16, 2015

·         Sioux Center - October 27 & 28, 2015

by Jim Wolfe, IAMU Electric Services Coordinator

The revised OSHA standards that our electric utilities follow are nothing new as they have been in place for over a year now. With all revisions come questions and clarification. Many of you are in different stages of compliance when it comes to supplying employees with clothing for protection from electric arcs and flames. It has been an ongoing struggle to make the so called ”right decision” when purchasing this expensive equipment. Last week, the Iowa Dept. of Labor helped some of you decide what type of garment is required to be worn to protect line workers while wearing rubber protective sleeves.

On May 1, 2015, OSHA issued a final rule Standard 29 CFR 1900.1200, Confined Spaces in Construction.  This standard was initially scheduled to become effective August 3, 2015, however, the OSHA is postponing full enforcement of the new standard until Oct. 2, 2015.  This delay is in response to requests for additional time to train, and acquire the equipment necessary to comply with the new standard.  IAMU is currently working to update its confined space model program.

Although there are similarities to the general industry confined space standard, this rule intends to address the particular safety concerns of the construction industry.  MSA has prepared a technical brief “OSHA 1926.1200 Confined Spaces in Construction:  What to Expect From the New Standard” explaining more about the new standard and similarities/differences as compared to the general industry standard.

Due to low enrollment, the Social Media Workshop that was scheduled for August 19th at IAMU has been cancelled.  However in order provide members with this valuable training, IAMU will be scheduling regional Social Media Workshops beginning in September.  Keep watching The Informer for news about a Social Media Workshop near you!

Mark your calendars for the 2015 Fall Broadband Meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at the IAMU Office and Training Complex in Ankeny.  The meeting will begin with registration from 8am-9am with the first session at 9am.  The agenda for the meeting is still being determined so check back for more information.