Blog Archives - IAMU Informer

24th Annual Water & Wastewater Operator's Training Workshop - November 13th-15th

10/17/2018

The 24th 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, November 2nd! Don’t wait!

What You Need to Know About Mobile Crane Operations

10/17/2018

Most of us are now aware that the crane regulation in Construction was updated in 2010 and many needed changes were made from the original 1971 regulation, which was based on a 40-year-old standard. The new regulation is designed to prevent most common cause of fatalities; electrocution, struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn. It also clarifies host employer responsibilities and the elements of crane operator certification.

Mobile cranes are defined as equipment that can hoist, lower and move horizontally a suspended load. There are certain pieces of equipment that are exempt from having to meet standard requirements as long as the equipment is used in the manner in which it was designed.

Read the full article here.

Application Period for Winter Home Heating Assistance Begins November 1st

10/17/2018

The home heating season is rapidly approaching and the Iowa Utilities Board reminds Iowans that limited financial heating assistance is available to income-eligible utility customers through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The annual application period runs from November 1 through April 30, with early applications accepted throughout October from households with elderly or disabled residents.

The LIHEAP program is designed to help low-income families meet the partial cost of home heating through a one-time payment made directly to the utility or heating fuel vendor. Iowa law also protects qualified applicants who are the head of a household under LIHEAP or the weatherization assistance program from being disconnected from natural gas or electric service during the annual winter moratorium, November 1 and through April 1. Although qualified applicants cannot be disconnected during the moratorium, the IUB urges all LIHEAP-certified customers to continue paying toward their energy bills through the winter to avoid accumulating high debt and facing potential utility service disconnection in the spring.

Eligibility for the federally funded LIHEAP program is based on household size and income. Interested applicants should review the federal income guidelines to determine whether they qualify, then apply at the community action agency serving their area. Heating assistance dollars for LIHEAP and the federally funded weatherization assistance program are limited.

For assistance, utility customers may contact their local utility company, or contact the Iowa Utilities Board Customer Service staff at 877.565.4450 or customer@iub.iowa.gov.

Learn more on the IUB’s LIHEAP web page, iub.iowa.gov/liheap, or through the Iowa Department of Human Rights, humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa/liheap, or call 515.281.3861.

Don't Fall for These Ladder Mistakes

10/10/2018

Ladders — including step ladders, extension ladders, and attached climbing ladders — are an essential tool in most organizations. For such a simple staple, ladders have a deadly reputation, with more than 20,000 ladder-related, on-the-job injuries and 150 worker fatalities in 2015. EMC Senior Risk Improvement Representative Case Doorn lays the blame on common mistakes that many ladder-climbers make. Click here for the rest of the story from EMC’s Lost Control Insights e-newsletter.

Make Plans to Attend the 47th Annual Iowa Governor's Safety & Health Conference

10/10/2018

Session topics will include:

Change management,
Ergonomic analysis,
Fall protection,
The active shooter phenomenon,
Safety performance measures,
Safe driving,
The mobile workforce,
HAZMAT,
Scaffolding safety,
Working with millennials,
Virtual and augmented reality,
Influencing risk, and more.

All of this great programming will take place on Thursday and Friday, November 1 and 2. Sign up now to join occupational safety and health professionals from around Iowa and the surrounding region for breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and inspiring conversations about protecting workers and promoting worker health.

There’s still time to reserve your spot at the reduced early-bird rate of $260 for two days or $140 for one day.

Exhibitor registration is also now open at the early-bird rate of $425. You can learn more about the benefits of exhibiting at the conference and register at our website.

Location
As in previous years, the conference will take place at the Meadows Events & Conference Center in Altoona, IA. You can reserve your hotel room now at the discounted rate of $107 plus tax by calling the reservation desk at 515-957-3000 and asking for the “47th Annual Iowa Governor's Safety & Health Conference” room block, or by registering online. Use the group code 10312018GOV to get the discounted rate.

Permit Required Confined Space & Manhole Entry Workshop - October 16th

10/9/2018

Confined spaces (CS) - such as manholes, crawl spaces, and tanks - are not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in the event of an emergency. CS’s with life-threatening hazards (e.g. toxic substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation) are reclassified as Permit Required Confined Spaces.

DNR has approved 0.2 CEUs for WT, WD and WW.

Who Should Attend:
This workshop is designed for city and utility employees and outside contractors employed by a city, or anyone working around or in Confined Spaces. The training received will cover the overall requirements of the standard, including:

Confined vs. Permit Required Confined Space
Effective Confined Space evaluation
Monitor calibration and “Bump” testing
Proper ventilation
Hands-on manhole entry
Emergency preparation & hands-on emergency extraction

*If you hire Contractors: Contact the contractors that work for your city / utility and encourage their attendance.

Location:
IAMU Training and Office Complex
1735 NE 70th Avenue
Ankeny, IA 50021

Cost:
$140 per IAMU Member participant
$195 per Non-Member participant
(Maximum of 40 participants)

Questions?
Contact Larry Banwart at (800) 810-4268 or lbanwart@iamu.org.

Click HERE for registration and additional information.

Registration Open for the 24th Annual Water & Wastewater Operator's Training Workshop

10/9/2018

The 24th 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, November 2nd! Don’t wait!

Toolbox Talk - Fire Door Annual Inspection Requirements

10/3/2018

The latest edition of IAMU's Toolbox Talks - Fire Door Annual Inspection Requirements 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.

Public Power Week is Next Week

10/3/2018

This year, Public Power Week is Oct. 7 – 13. Use this time to get the word out about what it means to be a municipal power utility. The American Public Power Association (APPA), has developed numerous materials for its members to use and has suggestions about what systems can do to connect with their communities. To learn more, click here.

Public Natural Gas Week is Next Week

10/3/2018

This year, Public Natural Gas Week is Oct. 7 – 13. This is an ideal time for gas utilities to let their customers know the value of getting their gas supply from a municipal provider. The American Public Gas Association (APGA), has developed numerous materials for its members to use and has suggestions about what systems can do to connect with their communities. To learn more, click here.