Staying Safe
Clayton Schenck, Chair, Board of Directors
Happy May everyone! I am Clayton Schenck and I am the Vice President of Magnum Electric out of West Fargo, ND. We've been in business for over 30 years, employ 180 electricians and mainly perform New Commercial, Hospitality, Multifamily housing, Ag and Industrial of work. Many may know my predecessor at Magnum (Tom Heng) as he was the Chair of the Electrical Association board in 2012/2013. I am honored to be taking this role and following my friend, Joe Gatewood, as he passed the virtual gavel to me on April 15.
May is safety month, and 2020 is the year that safety precautions have been taken to a new level! I am beyond grateful that construction was deemed an essential job. Throughout the pandemic, we have added numerous safety provisions to our procedures to keep our team, our clients and ourselves safe. That is our Number 1 priority.
The following are the basics that everyone on our job sites are required to do throughout their shifts and encouraged to do at home and off duty as well.
• Hand Washing – Adequate hand washing throughout the day for 20 seconds with soap and water when able, or with 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available, is preferred.
• Respiratory Etiquette – Cover your cough or sneeze, avoid touching your face (especially mouths). The crew is advised to use a tissue and discard it immediately.
• Social or Physical Distancing – As I mentioned above, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working. Others have not had that choice. One of the beauties of the jobsite is that physical distancing is usually easy. As the weather gets warmer and more outdoor projects arise, staying 6 feet away is easier and easier to enforce.
• Housekeeping – Housekeeping activities are being implemented regularly including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, tools and machinery and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, break and lunch rooms and meeting rooms. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will take place in high-touch areas.
• Communication and Training – Signs are placed on jobsites, and meetings are held regularly to go over what each jobsite will have available for the crew. Everyone is at a different level of comfort, concern, fear, etc. of the virus, so the biggest tools are communication and listening. Helping the crew understand, listening to their concerns and addressing them appropriately will help us keep the great team we have been building throughout the years.
These are very basic and simple, but constant reminders may help all of us as we work with new regulations and new invisible threats. Implementing these practices and communicating that you are doing so with your customers will also help them feel comfortable with you continuing to go into their buildings or even homes.
The Electrical Association has created a Tool Box Talk on COVID 19. Members can find this topic and more at
www.electricalassociation.com/toolboxtalks.
Another resource that is not required yet in Minnesota is a letter stating that you are an essential employee if you were to get pulled over or questioned while on your way to work or out and about. The Association has created a template for you to use ‘just in case.’ Find it at:
www.electricalassociation.com/news
Stay safe everyone, and I hope to see you all at an
upcoming Association conference or event soon!