Our Mission: Professionals

dedicated to education,

business partnerships and

political advocacy.

David Quezada Contributing Writer for the Dallas Business Journal

For many businesses, warmer months mean a potential increase for heat-related workplace injuries or illnesses. In addition to workers whose positions are primarily outdoors, such as landscapers or lifeguards, it is important to remember that people who primarily work indoors, such as food service or automobile repair shop workers, are also at risk when the mercury rises. Heat exposure — whether from the sun, an oven or machinery — can be a contributing factor to employee injuries or illnesses across a range of industries.

Even brief exposure to heat can cause a serious burn or sunstroke, but prolonged exposure to high temperatures makes it difficult for the human body to cool down, which can lead to dangerous and even life-threatening conditions. At the very least, high temperatures can cause potential hazards such as sweaty, slippery hands, fogged-up

safety equipment and distractions due to physical discomfort.

A worker who is exposed to extreme temperatures can experience any of the following heat-related illnesses:

1. Create an illness/injury prevention plan (IIPP)

A safe workplace begins with a plan. Identify and assess potential hazards, then determine how you are going to mitigate those risks.

Management needs to be committed to making improvements and all employees need to be trained on the proper procedures.

If your business employs younger or seasonal workers who may be less experienced, safety training is especially important.

Studies have shown that just more than half (52 percent) of small businesses require workplace safety training for

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to date

Jan. 18 Feb. 29 March 38 April 22

Jan. 2 Feb. 1 March 9 April 7

Jan. 38 Feb. 32 March 36 April 61

Jan. 18 Feb. 4 March 14 April 14

May 27 May 3 May No Report May No Report

***

July 6 - No Event on this Day

September 7 - Tom Overbeek - Navien

reports Membership Committee

The PBBA 1st ever “Members & Mum-

mers” night at Summer Mummers night

is officially sold out!

We will definitely repeat this event next

year.

Parade of Homes Committee Report

Is working on a 54-page book this year

and only insert the book in the MRT.

Home & Garden Show Committee Re-

port

The Home & Garden Show The commit-

tee is in search of a chairperson.

Professional Women in Building

PWB board will meet July 11th to select

scholarship recipients and to plan PWB

luncheon for August 11th.

Billy Black HVAC

Billy Black

Network and Sound

Solutions

Richard Michaels

Fashion Floors Carpet One

Colby Pierce

new members

news new student

workers, even though these employees are eligible for the same workers’ compensation benefits as full-time employees if they get injured or ill on the job. For help designing and implementing your IIPP, click here.

2. Create a

cooler workspace If your

employees primarily work indoors, make sure your HVAC or cooling system is clean, efficient and in working order before the weather heats up. For employees who work in workshops, such as auto repair shop technicians, encourage them to keep garage doors open or use fans to create cross-ventilation when possible.

For employees who primarily work outside, where possible provide sun canopies, portable fans, water misters and other resources to help create a more comfortable environment.

3. Provide hydration stations Water coolers are much more

than office hangout destinations. If

your office doesn’t already have a water cooler, consider investing in one. Placing water coolers in break rooms or other easily accessible areas is a great way to encourage employees to stay hydrated.

For workers who are primarily outdoors, make sure to provide enough large containers of cold water so everyone can cool down and stay hydrated throughout the entire day.

4. Encourage regular breaks

Working in hot and sunny environments or near heat sources all day can wear employees down. To help employees rest and recharge, encourage them to take regular breaks in the shade or other cool environments. Build break times into employees’ schedules to help enforce the practice.

5. Have a rapid response plan in place

Make sure employees know how to recognize the signs of heat-

related illness and the immediate steps they need to help themselves or their co-workers. In the event of a medical emergency, contact 9-1-1 immediately, but also train employees so they can be proactive before professional help arrives. Fostering a safe and comfortable work environment is an important commitment every day of the year, but especially when new risks, such as extreme heat, are introduced. Take steps today to refresh and recommit your business to your workplace safety program. For more

information on how to keep your employees safe this summer, contact your insurance agent or carrier.

David Quezada is vice president, Loss Control Services, for Employers, a company that offers workers’ compensation insurance and services to small businesses.

*** If you have news or notes to

share with the PBBA email us at info@pbbatexas.org or call us at the association at 432-520-7917.

A worker who is exposed to extreme

temperatures can experience any of the

following heat-related illnesses:

• Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat-

related illness and are often accompanied by

heavy sweating, fatigue and thirst. Prompt

treatment, including consumption of

electrolyte-containing beverages and moving

to a cool area, can usually help keep heat

cramps from progressing to heat exhaustion.

• Heat exhaustion occurs after long periods

of heat exposure due to a loss of fluids and

salts. The body is unable to properly cool

itself, and reduced blood flow to the brain

may cause headaches and dizziness. People

with high blood pressure are especially at

risk.

• Heat stroke shocks the body’s cooling

system and causes it to shut down. The most

common type of heatstroke is sunstroke,

which is caused by the sun shining directly

on the head and neck for prolonged periods

of time. In severe cases, a person’s body

temperature can spike to 104 degrees

Fahrenheit or more in as little as 10 minutes,

which can lead to organ failure. If heatstroke

isn’t treated immediately, it can be fatal.

Source: bizjournals.com

Benchmark Mortgage

Tracy Timlin

Carrasco Homes LLC

Vicente Carrasco

Commercial State Bank

Cheryl Crockett

Midland Community

Development Corporation

David Diaz

Oncor Electric Delivery

Sue Mercer

Overhead Door Company

Le’Ann Weidner

Prime Lending

Tena Waggoner

Prime Lending

Brenda Worthen

Sharyland Utilities

Doug Mcgee

renewals

SUN MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT 12 13 14

PBBA Board of

Directors Meeting

3:00 p.m.

15 Membership Committee Meeting 2:00 p.m.

16 General Membership Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Atmos Energy Building

17

Members at the

Mummers 8pm

18

19

20

21

22

23

24 25

26 27

28 29

30 1 2

3 4

5

6 No Lunch’n Learn this month

7

8 9

10

Happy Birthday

Rhonda Griffin

11

PWB Board Meeting

11:30 a.m.

Happy Birthday

Larry Tyson

12

13

14 15

Happy Birthday

Cindy Riley

16

17

Happy Birthday

Jack Fisher

18 19 PBBA Board of Directors Meeting 3:00 p.m.

20

Membership

Committee Report

3:00 p.m.

21 General Membership Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Atmos Energy Building

22 23

ALL MEETINGS HELD AT PBBA OFFICE

5601 W INDUSTRIAL AVE., STE B MIDLAND

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.

CHECK PBBATEXAS.ORG FOR UPDATES AND CHANGES!

Mail: 5601 W. Industrial, Suite B

Midland, TX 79706

Phone: 432.520.7919

Fax: 432.620.8718

Email: info@pbbatexas.org

Web: ppbatexas.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PBBATX

Instagram: @pbbatexas

info

—

President Gilbert Saenz Saenz Signature Homes

Vice President Walter Pate Texas Classic Homes

Secretary/Treasurer Jack Fisher McCoy’s Building Supply

Past President Scott Payne Hearthstone Homes

Courtney Black Permian Homes

Helen Bowden Kahler Homes

Bob Dozier Dozier Custom Homes

Barry Fletcher Betenbough Homes

Jake Hantz ATMOS Energy

Rodger Horton Benchmark Mortage

Travis Pate Texas Classic Homes

Chris Pepper Carrousel Const. dba Boyd’s Carpet

Brandon Ramsey Daltile

1. Courtney Black

2. Rodger Horton

3. Spencer Staton

4. Travis Pate

5. Stephanie Cavazos

6. Jake Hantz

7. Brandon Ramsey

8. Roland Espinoza

9. Jack Fisher

volunteers

BUILDERS 57

ASSOCIATE 116

AFFILIATE 46

HONORARY 15

234

membership