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The FMCSA has proposed the following changes to the Hours of Service (HOS) rule: Broaden the short-haul exception to make it available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours, and extend the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles. Modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending the maximum window during which driving is permitted by two hours. Increase the safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by tying the break requirement...

At an event in Washington, D.C., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Department of the Army Assistant Secretary for Civil Works R.D. James announced that the agencies are repealing a 2015 rule that impermissibly expanded the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The agencies are also recodifying the longstanding and familiar regulatory text that existed prior to the 2015 Rule—ending a regulatory patchwork that required implementing two competing Clean Water Act regulations, which has created regulatory uncertainty across the United...

Mark Reif, age 56 of Plainville, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 at his home in Plainville. Mark was born on August 21, 1963 in Great Bend, Kansas to Charles and Lucille (Pierce) Reif. Mark spent his life in Rooks County, graduating from Plainville High School with the class of 1981. He furthered his education at Northwestern Kansas Technical College in Beloit before enlisting in the United States Army where he was stationed in Germany for 3 years. After his honorable discharge he returned home to raise a family...

David C. Drake, age 69, of Thayer, NE died Monday, August 19, 2019 at UNMC Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha, NE. Drake was a longtime member and sponsor of Kansas Grain and Feed Association, as well as a steadfast supporter and exhibitor of the Kansas Agri Business Expo. He was born April 27, 1950 to Eugene “Gene” and Vivian (Broton) Drake at Devils Lake, North Dakota. He attended and graduated High School at Lakota, ND (Go Raiders!) Dave while on a basketball scholarship attended and graduated from NDSU in Bottineau, ND with...

A federal court yesterday sided with Kansas and declared that the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule exceeded federal authority and violated administrative procedures, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said. “From the beginning, it was clear to us that the WOTUS rule proposed by President Obama’s administration went far beyond the authority granted to the federal agencies by the Clean Water Act and did not go through the proper administrative procedures prior to its adoption,” Schmidt said. “This ruling agrees with our assessment and lays the groundwork for the...

Remember the following when preparing for harvest: • Anticipate equipment problems before they arise and make sure a plan is in place to address them. • Check maintenance records to ensure that equipment is in proper working order and that critical maintenance activities are performed. Critical items may include belts, lagging, buckets, bearings, dryers, and grain stream processing equipment. • Make sure that hazard monitoring equipment (belt alignment, motion detection, bearing temperature) is connected and operational. • Stock critical parts in preparation for breakdowns. • Allow adequate time for preventive maintenance activities during busy periods. •...

Use the following checklist to prepare for hot weather and to make sure that all appropriate precautions are in place. Develop a list of hot weather supplies (e.g., water, shade devices, etc.). Estimate quantities that will be needed, and decide who will be responsible for obtaining and transportation supplies and checking that supplies are not running low. Create and emergency action plan for heat-related illnesses (who will provide first aid and emergency services, if necessary). Develop acclimatization schedule for new workers or workers returning from absences longer than one week. ...

Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The threat is real. Common type of heat illnesses include heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, dizziness, fainting, weakness, irritability, confusion, thirst, nausea, and vomiting. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion, loss of consciousness, or seizures. Train employees to recognize these symptoms in themselves and others. To prevent heat related illnesses: • Schedule hot jobs during cooler periods of the day. • Hydrate - drink at least one pint of water per hour (recommended). • Take regularly scheduled breaks in a cool...

The hot, hazy days of summer are here. The heat can be especially harmful for those who work outdoors in direct sunlight or in hot environments, making them susceptible to heat-induced illnesses such as heat stress, heat exhaustion, or the more serious heat stroke. "Working in extreme temperatures is not only uncomfortable, it can be life-threatening," said former OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Jordan Barab in 2016. "As we move into the summer months, it is important for workers and their employers to minimize the chances of heat-induced illnesses, and imperative that they recognize...

Location To prevent fire extinguishers from being moved or damaged, they should be mounted on brackets or in wall cabinets with their carrying handles 3-1/2 to five feet above the floor. In addition, a sign indicating the location of the fire extinguisher should be present. Inspection Fire extinguishers need to be inspected at least monthly. The inspection assures that they will operate effectively when needed. When inspecting a fire extinguisher, ask the following questions: • Is each fire extinguisher in its designated place, clearly visible, and not blocked by equipment, pallets, or other objects that could...

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