As those of us who work in or around blue-collar industries on a regular basis can readily attest, our nation is in the midst of a transitional period. The nature of the work is shifting, the types of jobs available are changing, and blue-collar job opportunities are evolving. For all the talk about outsourcing and manufacturing changes however, there is actually more demand than ever for skilled blue-collar workers. Quality manufacturing and industrial positions around the nation are available, if you know where to look and how to prepare yourself. The employment environment may be challenging, and secure, high-paying opportunities are never easy to acquire, but for highly skilled and highly motivated prospective employees, the jobs are out there.
It may seem like hand protection is a very simple thing to address. Just give workers a pair of gloves and tell them to wear them…right? Wrong! The selection of the right hand protection can be quite vexing. If there are multiple uses, you may need to supply gloves that are more versatile or even initiate a policy of changing out different gloves for different purposes. If the only exposure you are worried about is the winter cold, then you may not have much of a worry. However, if you are working in a cold room or freezer, employer-supplied gloves are necessary.
I like to be a spectator at car races — classic races like the Indianapolis 500. I enjoy watching the racing, but sometimes it is hard to take my eyes off the crowd. It seems the hotter the weather, the more the clothes come off — women with bare backs, men without shirts, thinking they might be cooler under the broiling sun if they expose as much skin as possible. Nothing could be more wrong. The worst kind of heat outdoors is radiant heat from the sun, and the best way to protect yourself is to cover every inch of skin you can in light cotton. As an industrial hygienist with knowledge of the consequences of heat stress, I find it hard to watch people exposing themselves to the risks of heat injury.
Much has been made in recent years out of the now almost universal trend among major American corporations to outsource their blue-collar and manufacturing jobs overseas to cheaper labor markets in order to enhance their bottom lines. But while Wall Street and corporate executives have reaped much of the benefits of this trend in months past, a new class has emerged as a direct result of the disappearance of blue-collar jobs: the working poor.
All the business news talk is about recession, a contraction of economic activity — about fewer jobs, lower pay, bankrupt companies, and cutbacks. Some say it’s just the business cycle, others that it’s the credit bubble bursting and we can only wait for the next bubble for good times. For blue-collar employees, it certainly means more difficult times. But, there are ways to improve how you cope.
As the new year begins, we want to help keep you up to date with the many new laws that will have significant impacts on California employers. Employers should take steps now to comply with the new laws by reviewing their current policies and practices, and making appropriate revisions. The key laws are summarized below.
Liebherr and Caterpillar produce the largest trucks in the world, which are used for mining. Liebherr's T-282 has a 3,650-horsepower diesel engine that powers two electric motors located in the rear axles. They weigh 224 tons and measure 47 1/2 feet long with a wheelbase of 21 1/2 feet. What the mining industry calls ''haul'' trucks cost about $3 million, and only about 75 of them are purchased in a year's time.
Wouldn't it be great to earn a paycheck while sitting in a classroom? Or get an education tuition-free? What about getting paid to learn and train for a new career?
If you're unhappy in your job and also single, you may not think this is the best time to begin a career search or career transition. Maybe you've told yourself, ''This isn't a good time because it's just me. There's no one to lean on and offer support, financially or otherwise.''
Now more than ever, savvy business owners, managers, and senior executives are discovering the benefits of working with a coach. Whether top performers looking to accelerate their progress, entrepreneurs navigating the rugged terrain of self-employment, or new managers learning the interpersonal complexities of their work, smart business people are reaching the same conclusion. Mentoring fuels success.
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