100% Attendance at our Painters & Tapers Only Quarterly Safety Meeting!

As most of you know, we held a volunteer quarterly safety meeting on April 20th for the painters and tapers only.  The safety training topics included respirator training, fit testing on the respirators and stilt safety.  We wanted to report out to everyone that for the first time since we began tracking the attendance, we had a 100% show-up rate.  

We hope that the safety training session was beneficial to everyone in attendance. We had excellent participation and questions during the session.  We want to thank all of you for taking time out of your busy lives for the sake of your safety.  The main reason we provide safety training is because of you and our company's safety mission statement - "Everyone Goes Home Alive and in the Same Condition as They Arrived; Your Loved Ones Count On It."  

During the meeting, we also celebrated the story of our employees that saved a plumber's life. We had a crew working at a downtown tenant space on 4/12/13 and a plumber suddenly dropped to the ground.  He was unconscious and at times, not breathing.  Our very own employees, Gabe Macias and Tom Gracyk immediately began performing CPR on the plumber. Also assisting in the emergency situation was Jim Woods, Paul Baca, Joe Bellich, Rick Rizzi and Randy Francisco.  In the end, we found out that the plumber had a massive heart attack. He has had bypass surgery and we were told that he is doing well.  We were also informed that our employees saved his life.  The CPR kept him alive until the paramedics arrived!  What an awesome team effort and great work under some extreme pressure!

What about you?  Are you trained on CPR?  Are you prepared to save a life?  Will you be ready to step in when someone literally needs you to save their life?  If you have not been trained in CPR, please contact Safety Pete at 847/417-1689 and he could provide you with information on how to get trained in CPR or contact your union to obtain this training.  Below is the contact information for your respective unions:

            Painters District Council #14:  www.pdc14.com                     312/421-0046

            Painters District Council #30:  www.paintersdc30.com           630/377-2120

            Chicago Carpenters:               www.chicap.org                      847/364-8367

We urge you to be prepared like Tom & Gabe are!  Don’t forget to give your family an extra hug & kiss tonight!

Below is a video from the quarterly safety meeting celebrating the story! Below that is another video showing the painters being fit tested on their respirators by Luis Moctezuma of 3M and some photos taken during the safety meeting.

I.D.I.'s President, Butch - demonstrating how in the old days, some employees would wear a dust mask and punch a hole in it so they could smoke a cigarette.  This was obviously not condoned at the time and no one does this anymore!

Type of Respiratory Protection for Lacquer Paint Applications!

As you all know, we had a volunteer quarterly safety meeting on Saturday, 4/20/13 with our painters and tapers and the main topic of the meeting was respiratory protection.  During the meeting we were discussing respirator cartridge filters, the types to use and when to use them, etc.  One of our very fine painters,Vito Rizzi asked the following question:  "What type of cartridge filter should be used for applying lacquer type paints."  We encourage these types of questions as we can all learn from them.  So first of all, thank you, Vito, for asking the question.  According to the material safety data sheets and according to 3M, which is our respirator cartridge filter provider, the correct cartridge filter to use for lacquer paints is the organic vapor cartridges.  These are the black labeled cartridges that we are already using for our common paint spray applications.  These black labeled organic vapor cartridges are the correct respirator filters to use for most paint applications.  They are used for latex, lacquers, enamels, most epoxy's, solvents and many other varieties of paints.  Applications that would typically require a different type of cartridge filter other than the black labeled organic vapor cartridge are ammonia, acids, chlorine, etc.  The material safety data sheets will typically tell you the type of cartridge filter to use.  The MSDS will typically say to use an organic vapor cartridge which is the black labeled one.  If you are reviewing an MSDS sheet and it says to use a cartridge other than an organic vapor cartridge, then I would advise you to contact our Safety Director, Peter Graham.  I (Peter) am always reviewing the MSDS sheets when we are using a new product that we are not familiar with.  If we provide a paint product that calls for a different type of respirator cartridge filter, we would notify our paint crew that will be using the product and provide them with the correct cartridge filter.

I hope this answers the question.  As always, please contact our Safety Director, Peter Graham with any safety related questions.

Have a Safe Day!

Reminder - Quarterly Safety Meeting, Saturday, 4/20/13 Painters & Tapers Only!

International Decorators put out a memo on 2/5/13 advising that we would no longer be holding volunteer quarterly safety meetings.  The reason being is that we were contacted by the Chicago Carpenters Union and they demanded that if we hold our meetings, we must pay our employees for attending these training sessions plus pay all contributions into the fringe benefit funds.  This makes our quarterly safety meetings cost prohibitive. 

We are currently working on plans to ensure that all of our employees continue to receive safety training.  In the meantime, we contacted District Council #30 & #14 (painters & tapers unions) and they have given us their permission to continue to offer our quarterly safety training meetings.  With that being said, we are holding our 1^st quarterly safety meeting for 2013 on April 20^th.  This meeting will be held for painters and tapers only. 

If you are a painter or taper employee for International Decorators, you are invited to attend our quarterly safety meeting on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 7:00am to about 9:00am.  The safety meeting will be held at our office location in the warehouse at 28059 W. Commercial Ave., Barrington, IL 60010.  The meeting topics will be on respirator safety including fit testing and safe stilt usage.

Painters (and tapers that have a respirator for 3M Fire Dam applications) – please ensure that you come to the meeting clean shaven in the areas where the respirator seal comes into contact with your face.  Also, please ensure that you bring your ½ mask respirator with you and your full mask respirator if you have one as you will be fit tested on them. 

We look forward to seeing you on April 20th.  Should you have any questions regarding the upcoming meeting, please call our Safety Director, Peter Graham at (847) 417-1689.  

Seven Common Causes of Incidents!

Good afternoon to all I.D.I. employees:  The following is a toolbox talk from the Construction Safety Council's website in regards to the common causes of accidents and injuries.  This serves as a good reminder and as a tool to use in our battle against injuries.

Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 incidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident. Unsafe Acts cause four times as many incidents & injuries as unsafe conditions. Incidents occur for many reasons. In most industries people tend to look for "things" to blame when an incident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes," such as those listed below. Consider the underlying incident causes described. Have you been guilty of any of these attitudes or behaviors? If so, you may have not been injured; but next time you may not be so lucky.

• Taking Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hope will make the job faster and more efficient. But do time savers ever risk your own safety, or that of other crew members? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chance for injury.

• Being Over Confident: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence istoo much of a good thing. "It'll never happen to me" is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures, tools, or methods in your work. Any of these can lead to an injury.

• Starting a Task with Incomplete Instructions: To do the job safely and right the first time you need complete information. Have you ever seen a worker sent to do a job, having been given only a part of the job's instructions? Don't be shy about asking for explanations about work procedures and safety precautions. It isn't dumb to ask questions; it's dumb not to.

• Poor Housekeeping: When clients, managers or safety professionals walk through your work site, housekeeping is an accurate indicator of everyone's attitude about quality, production and safety. Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety.

• Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your co-workers. You are being paid to follow the company safety policies-not to make your own rules. Being "casual" about safety can lead to a casualty!

• Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad day at home and worrying about it at work is a hazardous combination. Dropping your 'mental' guard can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can also be distracted when you're busy working and a friend comes by to talk while you are trying to work. Don't become a statistic because you took your eyes off the machine "just for a minute."

• Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and effectively. Being hasty in starting a task, or not thinking through the process can put you in harm’s way. Instead, Plan Your Work and then Work Your Plan!

"It is better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once." (Mark Twain)

Have a Safe Day!

Green Tape on Cords 4/1/13 - 6/30/13!

Good afternoon to all I.D.I. employees:  We begin a new quarter on Monday, 4/1/13 for our Assured Grounding Program.  The Safety Coordinators will be supplied with green tape from your Superintendents. Just a reminder that we need for you to inspect, test and color-code with green tape all 3 pronged electrical tools and extension cords.  All electrical tools and cords need to be visually inspected.  If you see any defects in the cords such as bare wires, severe kinks, missing or damaged ground prong, the cord pulling away from the plug end housing, etc., then that tool or cord would need to be immediately removed from service and reported to your lead supervisor.  If your tool/cord passes the visual inspection, your next step is to test the cord with a receptacle tester.  First, you should test the outlet that you will be plugging your cord into to ensure that it is properly wired.  You should see 2 yellow lights lit up on your tester and the red light should be off.  This means the outlet is working appropriately.  Next, plug your cord into the outlet and then test the cord with the receptacle tester.  Again, you should see the same light pattern as mentioned above and this would mean the cord passed the test and it is good and safe to use.  Any other light pattern means that there is a problem with the cord and the cord needs to be removed from service and reported to your lead supervisor.  If the cord passes the visual inspection and the cord tester test, you should then remove the previous quarter's white electrical tape and install the green electrical tape about 1" down from both plug ends.  Your cord is now in compliance with our 2nd quarter's Assured Ground Program.  The green tape shall remain in place from 4/1/13 through 6/30/13.  You are not quite done yet!  You now need to visually inspect all electrical cords and tools on a daily basis and if any defects are found, the cord needs to be immediately removed from service.  Thank you for taking the time to ensure your electrical tools and cords are in safe working order.  Your actions may prevent one of our family members from sustaining an electrical shock type injury or worse yet and electrocution.  If you have any questions regarding our Assured Grounding Program, please call our Safety Director, Peter Graham, at (847) 417-1689.

Have a Safe Day!

Texting and Driving – A Dangerous Combination!

Good morning to all I.D.I. employees:  

Below is an article about the dangers of texting while driving.  You are one of our family members and we care about you when you are away from work as much as we do when you are working.  For the sake of yourself and your loved one's; please don't text while driving as there are statistics out there showing that texting while driving is now leading to more driving fatalities that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  

Any form of distraction while driving can lead to disastrous consequences. Texting while driving has become the #1 most dangerous distraction for drivers in the United States. It has gotten a lot of press lately but some drivers don’t seem to feel that it can affect them.

Many people consider themselves multi-taskers behind the wheel. Some people even brag about the ability to text, eat, shave and even put on makeup while driving. What these drivers do not realize is that they are essentially driving blind, and that taking their eyes off the road, even for just a few seconds, can take the life of a stranger or loved one.

Distracted driving is the #1 cause of death of teenagers in the United States. 500,000 people were injured and 5,000 people died in 2009 alone from distracted driving, and that number has continued to climb. The average time eyes are off the road when performing a single text is 5 seconds. 5 seconds on the freeway is enough time to travel the length of a football field. What seemed so far away when you started will soon be right in front of you.

If you text and drive, you are statistically 23 times more likely to get in a car crash than someone who has taken the pledge not to text and drive. Of all the fatal car accidents in America, 18% of them were caused from someone reading or writing a text.

Texting isn’t the only distraction that can cause accidents. Looking at Facebook, changing the music and playing games are also major factors too. Anything that causes you to look away, even for a second can lead to major disaster. Other non-phone related distractions are:

• Eating
• Changing the radio station or CDs
• Children in the back seat – quieting them down or feeding them
• Shaving, applying makeup, or doing your hair
• Daydreaming or sleeping

As you can see, there are many other distractions that can pull your eyes away from the road. The best plan of attack is to take care of these things BEFORE YOU GET INTO THE CAR. These things can wait.

Please remember our safety mission statement:   

"Everyone Goes Home Alive and in the Same Condition as They Arrived; Your Loved Ones Count On It!"

Have a Safe Day!

Quarterly Safety Meeting, Saturday, 4/20/13 Painters & Tapers Only!

International Decorators put out a memo on 2/5/13 advising that we would no longer be holding volunteer quarterly safety meetings.  The reason being is that we were contacted by the Chicago Carpenters Union and they demanded that if we hold our meetings, we must pay our employees for attending these training sessions plus pay all contributions into the fringe benefit funds.  This makes our quarterly safety meetings cost prohibitive. 

We are currently working on plans to ensure that all of our employees continue to receive safety training.  In the meantime, we contacted District Council #30 & #14 (painters & tapers unions) and they have given us their permission to continue to offer our quarterly safety training meetings.  With that being said, we are holding our 1^st quarterly safety meeting for 2013 on April 20^th.  This meeting will be held for painters and tapers only. 

If you are a painter or taper employee for International Decorators, you are invited to attend our quarterly safety meeting on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 7:00am to about 9:00am.  The safety meeting will be held at our office location in the warehouse at 28059 W. Commercial Ave., Barrington, IL 60010.  The meeting topics will be on respirator safety including fit testing and safe stilt usage.

Painters and (tapers that have a respirator for 3M Fire Dam applications) – please ensure that you come to the meeting clean shaven in the areas where the respirator seal comes into contact with your face.  Also, please ensure that you bring your ½ mask respirator with you and your full mask respirator if you have one as you will be fit tested on them. 

We look forward to seeing you on April 20th.  Should you have any questions regarding the upcoming meeting, please call our Safety Director, Peter Graham at (847) 417-1689.