Training is in Session! This month, RFI and Merut held a company wide training to refresh our workers on how to safely perform many job duties that they experience every day. Last month we posted all the different ways training can benefit the employees and the company (https://www.rutkoskifencing.com/benefits-of-safety-training/) One of the best ways to ensure safety is to ensure that the employees have all the knowledge they need to be able to do their job the right way. During this training we covered many topics. Risk Management First, we reviewed Risk Management – how to assess the risk in the tasks that they do. We held an open discussion about the tasks on our JSEA and discussed the “hierarchy of controls” for eliminating and reducing hazards. We reminded workers of their Stop Work Authority; everyone has the right to stop work if they feel the environment is [...]

Holiday Safety Tips The holidays are here! The days are getting colder, shorter and more festive! While this snowy season brings holiday cheer, decorations, and good food it may also bring new hazards into your home.  Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe during the holidays. Protect yourself against fire hazards – never use lit candles near trees or flammable material, keep the tree at least 3ft away from fireplaces and radiators, choose a tree that is labeled fire resistant, check your holiday lights for damaged wires, and turn the lights and decorations off when not in use. Food safety – when preparing a meal, wash your hands, any utensils, the sink, and anything else that touches raw meat. Reheat leftovers at at least 165°F. Keep your pets in mind too! Some Christmas plants, flowers, and desserts may be toxic to cats and [...]

Benefits of Safety Training In order provide a safe and proactive work environment, Rutkoski Fencing has dedicated a significant amount of resources to ensure our workers have the knowledge to recognize the hazards they may encounter on the job and how to mitigate them. Safety training is among the most beneficial life-saving systems a company can put in place. Here’s why: It Increases Employee Awareness & Reduces Complacency There are hazards in everything we do, from the moment we wake up to when we go to bed. There are hazards in the office and on the job site. Training employees to recognize hazards will increase their awareness, not only at work, but in their daily lives. Over time, people become complacent if they are used to doing the same task consistently. Safety training is a good way to remind workers to break up the routine, and refocus [...]

At Rutkoski Fencing, driving is a big part of many of our employees’ daily lives. Often driving large trucks, heavy equipment, and long hours to job sites. We make sure to train all our drivers on all the dangers that can occur while driving. Once of the largest risks drivers take is driving while drowsy or fatigued. Drowsiness and fatigue can be caused by medications, working long hours, lack of sleep, depression, physical and mental overexertion, and even boredom. Know the warning signs: Tired or sleepiness/ Inability to stay awake – Heavy eyelids Difficulty concentrating – trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs Slower reaction time Increased error in judgment Drifting from your lane and hitting a rumble strip. Driving drowsy poses the same risks as driving while intoxicated. Being awake for 18 hours straight makes you drive like you have a [...]

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an effort to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of breast cancer through education on symptoms and treatment. This October, Rutkoski Fencing & Merut Construction are taking on the fight against breast cancer. We have created the 'You can make a difference' campaign, so that we can raise funds to stop this disease. Together we have currently raised $1,335 to donate to Susan G. Komen organization, the worlds’ largest and most impactful non-profit supporter of breast cancer research. Susan G. Komen provides education, screening and treatment programs for women and men in our community, and supports cutting-edge research so that one day we can live in a world without breast cancer. Greater knowledge will lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, which is associated with higher long-term survival rates, and that money raised for breast cancer will produce a reliable, permanent cure. [...]

  Every seven seconds a worker is injured on the  job. From offices to construction sites, employees can suffer an ergonomic injury. This can happen carrying too much weight, repeating tasks and sitting in an awkward position. Symptoms of ergonomic injuries include posture problems, intermittent discomfort, tendinitis, chronic pain and disability. If any of these symptoms go untreated, a person is susceptible to more long term problems or musculoskeletal disorders. Employees should take stretch breaks. Here are a few sample target areas: Hands and arms- open your hand and make a fist. On that same hand, slide your fingertips up your palm. Stop when your fingertips reach the top of the palm and the base of your fingers for a good stretch. Neck and shoulders- place both hands behind your head and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Back and legs-Hold one leg off the floor and keep [...]

Mental health is essential to a person’s overall health and well-being. Mental illnesses are common and treatable. Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the United States experience a serious mental illness in a given year that interferes with or limits one or more major life experiences. Approximately 1 in 5 youth aged 1-18 experiences a severe mental disorder at some point in their life. Here are some tips to help with your mental health: Switch up your exercise regimen. Try a new sport or exercise class. Working out with other people can enhance its stress-reducing benefits. Experiment! Try a new recipe, write a poem or paint. Creativity and overall well-being are linked. Smile! Smiling is good for stress and can help lower your heart rate and calm you down. Spend time with friends and family. People are 12 times more likely to feel happy on days they [...]

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. In 2016, research states that at least 3,450 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents involving distracted drivers, including those who were texting and driving. Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, playing with the radio, entertainment system or navigation- basically anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Reading and sending texts takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. That's equivalent to driving 55 mph with your eyes closed the length of an entire football field. Driving safely requires your full attention. You increase your risk of crashing by engaging in any non-driving activity. To prevent tragedies due to distracted driving, motorists are urged to: Turn off electronic [...]

The third leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths is falls.  A worker doesn't have to fall from a high level to suffer fatal injuries. Construction workers are most at risk for fatal falls from height-more than seven times the rate of other industries-but falls can happen anywhere, even at a desk job. Falls are 100% preventable.Whether working from a ladder, roof or scaffolding, it's important to plan ahead, asses the risk and use the right equipment. Discuss the task with coworkers and determine what safety equipment is needed. Make sure you are trained properly on how to use the equipment. Before starting the job look around for any potential hazards. Set up equipment on level ground. Be sure to check the weather before beginning job. Never work in inclement weather. Make sure stepladders  have a locking device. Always keep two hands and one foot or two [...]

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, claiming 647,457 lives, in 2017.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 50% of Americans experience at least one of the top three risk factors: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and smoking. Other factors include obesity, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. This is a great time to discuss prevention and lifestyle changes you and your coworkers can take to improve health. For instance, offer healthy food options to employees, create a wellness program and offer incentives to employees for participating. Other benefits of this include: lower health costs, more productive employees, behavioral changes and tax incentives. Raise awareness of Heart Month and improve heart health with the following member-exclusive materials: 5-Minute Safety Talk: Managing Stress at Work Checklist: It’s Never too Late to Form Healthy Habits Quiz: Employee Wellness   To remain healthy, start at home. [...]