First and foremost, I hope all of your family and friends have come through the last few months healthy and safe. It has been a totally unprecedented time and it seems that this pandemic may stick around for a while. It is important that we continue to be diligent in using all protective measures to keep from getting the virus or unknowingly spreading the infection.

In this edition of “Safety Corner,” I want to remind you about some very important licenses that you should be keeping up to date. Begin by taking a moment and opening up your wallet, because it only takes a few minutes to go through the licenses and certifications you do have. (Keeping them in your wallet or another safe place on the jobsite is important because we have all, at one time or another, been asked to present your licenses and certifications to your employers.) Make sure they are all up to date.

The most important license to check is your drivers license (CDL), which requires you to have a medical certificate. You also need to have a hoisting license, which you are required to cover the machinery that you are operating. If you are a crane operator, make sure you have a valid Crane Operator Certification card. Like the hoisting license, you are limited to operate only the category of crane covered by your certification. There are other licenses and certifications that must be renewed carefully, and it only takes a few minutes to check and make sure they are all valid and up to date.

On a personal note, I wanted to let you all know that this will be my last Safety Corner. I will be retiring from the Engineers Training Center in the not-too-distant future. To my brother and sister members: It has truly been an honor and a privilege to have a role in your training.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Training Coordinator John Gaffny and all his staff at the Engineers Training Center, and with Business Manager Bill McLaughlin and all his staff at the main office. Thank you all for your support and brotherhood.

Remember: Operate your machine within manufacturer recommendations! Don’t be intimidated! And most importantly: Be safe!

Bill LaFlamme
Co-Safety Officer