Submitted by Steve Winicker.
LAST WEEKENDS SHOP ACTIVITY
Progress has been made making the 765 ready for a steam test on May 6th. The tender is filled and the water treated. The boiler also has been filled with water and treated with chemicals. The A tank is filled is well but not treated with chemical as we probably will not need that water and we will dump it at CVSR as the water we get there has less mineral. Coal is in the firebox and is ready to light off. Several small details will be finished this week. Jerrad is working on polishing up the engine, getting rid of some scratches and other issues that have come up over the last few years.
Other projects include:
buffing the 701’s paint is returning some shine to that car.
The Emery open air car is coming along with the old floor supports having been removed from the car and some of the new channel iron floor support put down. The box car is ready for rubber roofing.
Diner work continues as well.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Friday mid-day we should be completing the steam test for the 765 and getting tools and equipment we may need at CVSR loaded. Saturday evening there is a photo charter, and we will be continuing work on prepping for CVSR.
It is hoped we can put the rubber roofing on the box car Friday so if you want to see the shop from the car roof please stop by and assist with that project. We will need a number of people to help put down the roof for a hour or two.
SAFETY SENSE
The human body conducts electricity. Even low currents may cause severe health effects. Spasms, burns, muscle paralysis, or death can result depending on the amount of the current flowing through the body, the route it takes, and the duration of exposure.
In the event of a worker receiving an electric shock it is vital that fellow workers act swiftly to attempt to limit the damage caused to the victim. Call 911 so emergency services are on the way.
When a person comes into contact with a live electrical circuit of sufficient voltage to cause an electric shock you first priority is to eliminate the flow of current. This typically is not just turning off the machine, equipment or tool . . . you must break the current at the source by switching off the circuit or by removing the plug from the socket in the case of a power tool.
On some occasions this may not be possible to do quickly enough. At this point your only option is to break the contact between the current source and the person. This can be done by either moving the victim or moving the electrical source (wire) so they are no longer in contact. To do this safely without harm to yourself you must not be another conductor for the electric path to ground. Insulate yourself if you must move a victim away from a live contact – wear electrical or dry gloves or cover your hands with a dry cloth and stand on dry insulating material like cardboard, wood, rags or dry clothes. Ensure you have good footing and will not slip or fall when trying to move the victim. Utilize something non-conductive to release the victim or move the electrical current source from the victim. The following are some common items:
- Long piece of lumber (2×4, etc)
- Broom handle
- Leather belt (cut off buckle)
- Dry rope
- Blanket, clothes or other dry non-conductive materials
Once the victim is released from the live current check the victim’s breathing and heart beat. If breathing has stopped, but the victims pulse is present, commence mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If heartbeat has stopped, commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If both breathing and heartbeat have stopped, alternate between mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR. Use blankets to keep the victim warm and raise the victims legs slightly above the level of the head to lessen the effects of shock.
SAFETY IS JOB 1
SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS
