New PPE to eligible employees
IDL and the Safety Program are committed to providing a safe working environment for our employees. This year, your IDL Safety Committee felt strongly about supplying field going employees with additional high visibility personal protective equipment (PPE) options. Thanks to Alisa Schotzko for leading the way, working on the proposal, and presenting to the executive team. They agreed and voted unanimously in favor of this additional PPE clothing. IDL already provides eligible employees high visibility vests and baseball caps.
Though it took a few months for everything to come together, the PPE shirts finally arrived! I was on a fire assignment in Alaska at the time, but I wish I had pictures of the “Cori and Lynn distribution center”! I’m sure it was a sight organizing and distributing over 500 shirts to all IDL offices. Be sure to thank Cori Wood and Lynn Buhl when you see them in the CDA Staff Office for taking this task on and getting the shirts out to employees a lot faster than if they would have had to wait for my return.
Jonathan Luhnow, Lands Resource Specialist, Sr. in the Pend Oreille Lakes Area Office, Bonners Ferry, poses with the new high visibility orange t-shirt and high visibility green sweatshirt.
Safety Orange Hats and Caps
The IDL safety orange baseball cap has been a successful program for four years and they will be provided again this year. In addition, field going employees will have another hat option to the baseball caps. John Cook, Assistant Fire Warden, Priest Lake Supervisory Area submitted the request to me for a warmer solution to the baseball hats.
The executive team places employee safety as a high priority so they didn't hesitate to approve this PPE addition. Order requests for both the baseball caps and stocking hats have been sent to area and program managers with a deadline of September 5th. If you are eligible for this PPE option, and haven't been approached yet, please reach out to your supervisor to make sure you don't miss out.
This PPE is critical to your safety during hunting season, while working on IDL logging operations, and in logging yards. Please contact me if you would like to submit your safety ideas or suggestions.
Ice Cleats
All permanent employees are eligible to order ice cleats through the IDL Safety Program. Slips, trips, and falls are the number one workplace accident/injury resulting in possible long term medical treatment. Last fall was the third year that ice cleats were provided to employees.
The 2021/2022 winter is proof that this program is successful. There were zero reports of slips/falls in icy parking lots or sidewalks. Many employees have expressed how much they appreciate the cleats and how much more secure they feel.
Don't take a chance with your safety, place your order using the link below by October 1st. I will also send a General IDL email at a later date.
Ice Cleat Order Form
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