From the CEO
Spring is just around the corner!
It’s almost time to “spring forward”. In many ways, that’s very welcome news.
The end of winter is near. We’re seeing our construction folks begin preparations for seasonal projects, tourism is stirring a bit and spring break vacationers are chomping at the bit to get going.
All of that is wonderful and I am excited to move forward... Cautiously. We’ve worked hard over the past 12 months to keep each other safe from this COVID 19 virus. We’ve spent weeks away from work, restricting ourselves to our homes, not seeing our families, not going to school. While I am the first one to be ready to get back to my regular life, I also do not want to see virus spread spike again.
Let’s be mindful about what the regulations say where we live. Know the rules about testing in areas that you might be traveling to and research what you need to do when you return. At the very least, wash your hands and wear your mask, when required or if you are susceptible.
Many people will be vaccinated in the coming months, some will choose not to be. That’s a very personal decision that each of us must make. As you start to venture out please consider that others may still be at risk. Regardless, I wish you a healthy spring season. Get outside and enjoy the sunshine, safely.
Best regards,
Renee Schofield
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Should Employers Require COVID-19 Vaccination? |
As the push for vaccination increases across the nation, many employers are wondering if they should or even, could, require all employees to receive the vaccine.
The answer is: perhaps, and depends on the industry you are in. Many healthcare workers, for example, are required by their employers to get vaccinated. This makes sense as they are in a high-risk work environment for contracting the virus and work with vulnerable populations.
Outside of high-risk workplaces, whether an employer should insist on vaccination is not as clear-cut. A fair number of employees do not want the shot. Conversely, a CBS News survey recently found that 70 percent of employees don’t want to be required to return to the workplace unless there is a vaccine mandate in place.
Under federal law, employers are allowed to mandate vaccination, with some exceptions. But having such a requirement can quickly get complicated. Their vaccine policy must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and other workplace laws, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that mandates may be subject to legal challenge from employees if there is even a chance that they aren’t compliant with workers’ rights laws. Additionally, state and local governments may have their own regulations.
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Safety Corner: OSHA's Top 10 |
After a long winter and an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, construction season is sure to ramp up in 2021. While many businesses are preparing equipment and hiring the summer workforce, employers also need to ensure proper training.
Now is a great time to review safety protocols within your industry. Your training ensures the best possible outcome for every job performed. After all, all employers want to send their employees home healthy and in one piece, every day. As employer, your responsibility is to ensure that managers, supervisors and workers have the knowledge they need to do their jobs safely and that their training is refreshed as needed.
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Did you know that more than two million accidental poisonings occur each year in the United States? Most of these take place in the home (93 percent) and involve young children (45 percent).
March 21-27 is National Poison Prevention Week. This year, being aware of potential poison hazards in your home and taking steps to protect your loved ones may be more important than ever. Research shows that poisonings are more likely to happen when there is an interruption to normal family routines.
Certainly, COVID-19 has caused some major changes in the home, including more time spent indoors, school, work and other activities all happening in a confined space, as well as a significant increase in the use of chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing.
Everyday household items become dangerous when they’re used by the wrong person, in the wrong amount or in the wrong way.
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Nutrition and the Workplace |
As business owners, we care about the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We know that if our employees don’t feel well, they aren’t going to be at the top of their game at work.
In the last 20 years or so, many employers have introduced wellness initiatives in the workplace. Physical fitness challenges, company sports teams and office walking clubs are fairly common these days. And that is something to celebrate. Getting your employees up and moving is important.
However, with more than two-thirds of Americans qualifying as obese and 86 million people struggling with pre-diabetes, we should also be addressing nutrition. The impact of poor nutrition shows up in the workplace in multiple ways; absenteeism, poor performance (especially midday) or inability to focus.
Supporting healthy eating habits through education is key. What better place than the workplace, to make nutrition resources available? Through positive encouragement, you can influence behavior change. Best case scenario: Your workers take their new knowledge home with them and teach their family to eat more healthily.
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TSS TRAINING
Webinar, online, blended
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These include DOT and OSHA-related safety trainings as well as courses about home safety or those geared to keeping you secure behind the wheel.
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All webinars are
10 a.m. AK Time
1 p.m. CS Time
Signs & Symptoms
for Supervisors
Tuesday, March 23
Cost: $129
Forty percent of workplace fatalities involve employee substance abuse. Do YOU know the signs & symptoms?
It is essential for employers to understand the prevalence, trends and costs related to substance use among employees and how to respond. This training meets the requirements for DOT mandated training on drugs and alcohol and is appropriate for all supervisors, DERs and employees who need training.
Signs & Symptoms
for Supervisors
Tuesday, April 20
Cost: $129
Forty percent of workplace fatalities involve employee substance abuse. Do YOU know the signs & symptoms?
It is essential for employers to understand the prevalence, trends and costs related to substance use among employees and how to respond. This training meets the requirements for DOT mandated training on drugs and alcohol and is appropriate for all supervisors, DERs and employees who need training.
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View our featured online courses on TSS's revamped website homepage. Make sure to keep checking back for new content!
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Blended Learning First Aid & CPR
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COST: $85
2-Year Certification
During COVID-19 , TSS will not be offering standard CPR & First Aid courses. Instead, consider taking our Blended Learning course.
- Take the classroom portion of the course online.
- Then, schedule a hands-on evaluation at your convenience.
Same skills. Same certification. In the safest way.
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Schedule Your Drug
Screen at
(877) 225-1431
or
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