Submitted by Steve Winicker.
LAST WEEKENDS SHOP ACTIVITY
Jerrad moved the crane earlier in the week allowing Tom and Rich to spot the 765’s trailing truck under it Friday.
Saturday, Jerrad and an intrepid crew of assistance worked on disassembling the 765’s trailing truck. The wheels are now separated from the truck. They will be taken to a wheel shop by Zach next week and inspected and fit with roller bearings. Carl spent some time cleaning out the smoke box on 534.
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
My goal is to get more floor down on the flat car. If time and circumstances allow, we can further disassemble the trailing truck spring rigging, checking for wear and other work needed to put it back under the locomotive.
SAFETY SENSE
This week’s weather will be some of the colds temperatures the Midwest has experienced in several years. On Wednesday Ft. Wayne is forecast to have a daytime high temperature of -8F and a low of -17F. Wind chill will further reduce the ‘real feel’ temperature. Frostbite and hypothermia are a real threat under these temperatures.
Frostbite is a cold-related emergency that may quickly become life or limb threatening. Preventing cold-related emergencies requires being aware of the weather situation and taking clothing and work exposure appropriately.
Be aware of the wind chill. Dress appropriately and avoid staying in the cold too long. Wear a hat and gloves when appropriate with layers of clothing. If the job permits, mittens provide better protection from the cold than gloves. Drink plenty of warm fluids or warm water but avoid caffeine and alcohol. Stay active to maintain body heat. Take frequent breaks from the cold. Avoid unnecessary exposure of any part of the body to the cold. Get out of the cold immediately if the signals of frostbite appear. Frostbite is the freezing of a specific body tissue including fingers, toes, the nose or earlobes.
Signals of frostbite include….
· Lack of feeling in the affected area
· Skin that appears waxy, is cold to the touch, or is discolored (flushed, white or gray, yellow or blue).
What to do for frostbite….
· Move the person to a warm place.
· Handle the area gently; never rub the affected area.
· Warm gently by soaking the affected area in warm water (100–105 degrees F) until it appears red and feels warm.
· Avoid breaking any blisters.
· Do not allow the affected area to refreeze.
· Seek professional medical care as soon as possible.
The best recommendation is to, if possible, postpone outside work during extremely low temperature situations. If that is not possible one must dress appropriately and manage their exposure to the adverse conditions.
SAFETY IS JOB 1
SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS
