It’s Time to Hit the Books — or at Least Take a Class
No matter where your staff goes during a workday, PDRMA has training courses to keep them safe on the ground, in the air and on the road. Be sure to register them for the training they need to operate brush chippers, aerial lifts and vehicles properly — and to learn what to do if your agency experiences an active shooter.
“These courses are great refreshers for experienced staff and vital for new hires and seasonal employees,” says Bill Hooker, PDRMA Training Program Supervisor. “We cover issues from day-to-day safety and risk management to handling the worst possible safety situation imaginable — an active shooter.”
Mark your calendars — PDRMA’s 2019 Risk Management Institute takes place Nov. 15 at Tinley Park Convention Center! We invite everyone from senior management to front-line staff to join us as we help you gain an in-depth understanding of risk management and the strategies and tactics by which your agency can most benefit. We’ll touch on high-risk employee terminations, benchmarks for establishing a Well Workplace, provide an update on the Risk Management Review and look at managing marijuana in the workplace as well as a powerful personal safety story. The day begins with a keynote address and includes morning and afternoon break out sessions.
Mark your calendar for Early-bird Registration, which begins Sept. 23! |
Brush Chipper Operations — Train the Trainer
The blades in brush chippers and shredders are sharp enough to slice through wood, and the engines are powerful enough to grind tree limbs into powder. Some estimates are that brush chippers account for roughly 200 employee injuries nationally each year. Your employees can learn how to operate these powerful machines through proper planning, safety procedures, well-maintained equipment and well-trained operators.
Those responsible for providing brush chipper training programs to agency staff should attend this class, offered Sept. 16 at Mount Prospect and Sept 17 at Oak Brook from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Since this program includes hands-on practice, dress in outdoor-appropriate clothing but not loose-fitting items. Bring your own safety equipment, as noted in the course description on the Training Calendar. Seating is limited so register now!
 Hazard Communication, Flammable and Combustible Material Handling
Many agency swimming pools, operations departments and golf and parks maintenance facilities contain hazardous, flammable and combustible liquids and materials. If not properly managed, these materials can pose a danger to staff, the public, agency property and the environment. On Sept. 20 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the village of Addison, participants learn Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements and best practices for storage, labeling, grounding and Safety Data Sheet requirements for such materials.
NEW VIDEOS
Distracted Driving
According to the Centers for Disease Control, each day approximately 10 people are killed and more than 1,000 injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. In some cases, it’s the result of visual distraction; in others, it’s because of cognitive or manual distractions. And texting while driving involves all three. Reading or sending a text message takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, long enough to cover the length of a football field while driving at 55 mph. PDRMA has two new on-demand videos to help reinforce safer driving habits:
- Fatal Distraction: Keep Your Eyes on the Road — It Changes Your Whole Life. This compelling video shares the story of the Haylett family and the devastating results of a single text message while driving.
- Fatal Distraction: Keep Your Eyes on the Road — A Fatal Text Message. Fast driving and a four-minute discussion about a bicycle took the lives of Jessica and Kelly Schlau.
Safety Matters: Active Shooter Preparedness
Park districts offer fun, recreation, exercise and social engagement for thousands of people every day. Keeping those crowds safe is becoming more critical as incidents of active shooters in public areas mount. This class is a comprehensive approach that teaches employees how to identify an active shooter, encourages every employee to have a plan, increases situational awareness and supports knowing the organization's overall emergency action plan. It also explores how to report suspicious activity, determine the safest course of action — run, hide or fight — and how to respond when law enforcement arrives.
Take Two for Safety, A New TAKE — Driving
This brief video is a quick refresher about the many decisions and observations we make — even unconsciously — while driving. It’s a sure cure for complacency about multitasking. (Did you know talking on the cell phone while driving is as much of an impediment as two alcoholic drinks?) It suggests a simple two-minute timeout before starting the car, beginning with eliminating distractions.
Take Two for Safety, A New TAKE — Slips, Trips, and Falls
It’s good to be reminded to clean up spills on the floor, but who remembers to remove oil, grease and other substances from the soles of their shoes? This concise video is full of smart techniques to keep a safe workplace by practicing good housekeeping, ladder safety and ensuring areas are clear and obstacle free — including some tips you may not know! |
