All posts by Tena Larsen

When it comes to working outdoors in cold weather conditions it can become uncomfortable and dangerous. These conditions pose a great risk to construction workers but there are precautions that can be taken.

There are three cold-related illnesses and injuries that construction workers should be aware of: hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat. Common symptoms of hypothermia are shivering, confusion, exhaustion, slow breathing, and bright red skin. Frostbite happens when the skin and tissue just below the skin freeze because the skin has been exposed to cold conditions. Common signs of frostbite are stinging sensation, blue skin, numbness, and blistering. Trench foot is a serious condition that happens when the feet are wet for too long. Trench foot symptoms include tingling, pain, itching, swelling, blotchy skin, and numbness.

To ensure you are prepared for working in cold weather, we have some safety tips for you. Dressing appropriately for cold weather is extremely important. Wear at least 3 layers of warm, loose clothing that keeps you insulated even when wet. Bring an extra change of clothes to work in case your clothes become wet. Make sure exposed skin is covered with gloves, hats, and scarves before going outside. Stay hydrated with warm beverages. Take breaks away from the cold every two hours to warm your body temperature. Know the signs and symptoms so you can keep yourself and your coworkers safe. For more information on cold weather safety guidelines go to https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/cold-stress.

Does your morning work schedule take you extra time and cost you money? Stop wasting your time trying to figure out what materials are needed for each job and going in circles trying to find the job site. The OnRivet app makes it possible for your employees to see exactly what their day looks like from their phones. They can see what materials are needed for the job, maps to easily find their way to the job site, phone numbers to contact the client if questions arise, checklists, and notes specifically for the job they are doing. You can choose a monthly, weekly, or daily view of the calendar to see upcoming jobs. Do yourself a favor and save time and money with OnRivet! If you have questions about OnRivet or want to learn more contact us at info@onrivet.com.

It’s hard to imagine that we are approaching the 20th anniversary of 9/11. I’m sure we all remember where we were, what we were doing, and how we felt on that day. There were 2,996 innocent lives lost that day and they will never be forgotten. The events of 9/11 forever changed our country. We came together as a nation that day. This year and every year we commemorate the lives lost and the first responders who put their lives on the line. This year on September 11th let’s work together and make our world a better place. President Barrack Obama said, “Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” Take some time and explore the 9/11 Memorial & Museum online at www.911memorial.org/. There are some incredible stories of loss, recovery, and hope. May we never forget.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisana on Sunday as a category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph. In its path, Ida destroyed homes, flooded businesses, water systems were knocked out of service, and the storm was catastrophic to the power grid. The storm toppled trees onto power poles and caused transformers to explode. People were left without homes and water. The people of Louisana needed help and so many have answered the call for help.

FEMA arrived ahead of the storm and was prepared with more than 3.4 million meals, millions of liters of water, over 37,000 tarps, and 200 generators. The Louisana National Guard activated 4,900 guard personnel with 195 water vehicles, 73 rescue boats, and 34 helicopters. They were ready and willing to help.

There are countless power and energy companies helping to restore power to the people of Louisana. Companies like Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Indiana Michigan Power, and First Energy are sending crews to get the lights back on. Some crews will work for several weeks for 16 hours a day. The days will be long and hard but it’s all about helping each other.

First Responders from Pennsylvania and New Jersey are sending search and rescue teams along with water rescue equipment. Even in our little neck of the woods, the Utah Task Force One has joined in the efforts. Our Utah disaster response team is made up of local firefighters, emergency room physicians, and even K9 teams and they arrived ahead of the storm.

We are thankful for all of those big and small businesses that have jumped in to help. If you live in or around Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, or Gulfport they are looking for temporary workers to help aid in the cleanup efforts just go to www.lgsstaffing.com/2021/08/27/hurricane-ida-storm-clean-up/.

The Notre-Dame Cathedral is going through a massive restoration. It’s been over 2 years since the fire that destroyed parts of this centuries-old landmark. There are over 200 construction workers on site every day. A replica of the spire will be made of more than 1,000 donated oak trees from public and private forests from all over France. The trees were cut and collected this last spring before they sap and they will be stored for 12 to 18 months to get them ready for the reconstruction phase. Some of these trees are over 200 years old. The goal is to have this beautiful architectural gem repaired and open before Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics. If you are interested in seeing a virtual tour of the Notre-Dame Cathedral or learning more about it visit https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/virtual-tour-notre-dame/.

Learn & Work In Utah is a state-wide program that provides tuition assistance for programs at post-secondary institutions for the unemployed, under-employed, or those vulnerable to economic impacts of Covid-19. Programs offered through Learn & Work In Utah include high-demand skills in areas such as healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, business, finance, and technical training. The programs are available in a variety of online, in-person, and hybrid formats. For more information visit https://inutah.org/learn-work/.

Have you ever left a hose outside attached to the faucet in the winter? I’m sure a lot of people have experienced the horror of the basement flooding because the leftover water in the hose backed up into the faucet plumbing, then it expanded when it froze and broke the pipes. If this sounds familiar you might want to consider installing a frost-free faucet. A frost-free outdoor faucet is designed to extend into the exterior of the house along with the flow valve so that it’s inside the heated interior to prevent freezing. The best time to install this faucet is in the summer because winter is just around the corner. This is something every homeowner should think about installing to avoid costly repairs.

The American Cancer Society will be putting on their fourth annual Construction VS Cancer “The Big Dig” event in Utah on August 27th from 5 pm-8 pm at the Utah State Fair Park. Families will have the opportunity to operate real machinery with the help of adult volunteers in a fair-like atmosphere. There is also a virtual option for families who are immunocompromised, they can pick up a “Big Dig Kit” or have it delivered. The kits include a Home Depot build kit, a hard hat, and more. Registration is free for families with a young cancer fighter or survivor. General admission is $10 a ticket or family packs are available for $50 for 6 tickets. All proceeds from the event will go to support pediatric cancer research. The American Cancer Society is working to finish the fight against cancer in every community. To donate to the fight against pediatric cancer or to attend the event go to

A new documentary called The Money Machine will be coming to JUL-TV. It showcases the benefits of working in the trades as a career path for young adults. There will be a new episode each week taking a closer look at trades including welding, car building, guitar making, and whiskey distilling. This show will help these young adults just graduating high school to find a way to set themselves up with a career path. You can find The Money Machine starting in July on JUL-TV which is available on Roku devices, Apple TV, and Amazon Firestick. Check out the video above to learn more about this exciting new documentary.