Edwardsville (KSDK) - Guns at work. It will be the new reality for some Illinois businesses, as owners adapt to the new concealed carry law. But not every workplace is allowing guns. The new law allows companies to ban firearms on their property. And since the first concealed carry licenses are set to go out in a few months, many business owners are still deciding whether to allow enact a ban.

Kandi Mensing owns an HR consulting business called Elite HR Team. She's still deciding whether to allow people to carry guns on her property._

"You have to be able to trust their judgment, and how they're going to utilize that weapon," said Mensing.

But she says there is also risk in banning firearms.

"You have to consider whether your employees' safety is at risk then because you didn't allow them to carry a gun if they wanted to," said Mensing.

So she's attending a seminar to learn more about the law. She'll also use the information to advise her clients.

"Whether you are for it or against it, you still have to have a written policy," said Todd Sivia, whose law firm, Sivia Business and Legal Services, is helping host the seminar.

Sivia says if the policy's not clear, it could create problems for the establishment, and its patrons.. Whether that's a store, church, or restaurant.

"The waitress sees a gun on the person you don't want them to run around saying 'I see a gun, I see a gun.' That's going to create a panic," said Sivia.

So businesses who ban firearms will have to post a sign at the front of their building to alert people before they walk in the door. And it's especially important for Illinois businesses to be clear about their policies, because having a gun where you're not supposed to is a misdemeanor in the state. That's one reason firearm safety trainer Allen Keilman is attending the seminar.

"I want to make sure I'm giving the right message to our clients," said Keilman. "They're good people. They want to do things the right way."

The seminar will be Thursday, January 16th, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. It's being held at the SIUE Morris University Center in the Hickory/Hackberry Room. The event is free and open to the public.


Source: KSDK News

Edwardsville (KSDK) - Guns at work. It will be the new reality for some Illinois businesses, as owners adapt to the new concealed carry law. But not every workplace is allowing guns. The new law allows companies to ban firearms on their property. And since the first concealed carry licenses are set to go out in a few months, many business owners are still deciding whether to allow enact a ban.

Kandi Mensing owns an HR consulting business called Elite HR Team. She's still deciding whether to allow people to carry guns on her property.

"You have to be able to trust their judgment, and how they're going to utilize that weapon," said Mensing.

But she says there is also risk in banning firearms.

"You have to consider whether your employees' safety is at risk then because you didn't allow them to carry a gun if they wanted to," said Mensing.

So she's attending a seminar to learn more about the law. She'll also use the information to advise her clients.

"Whether you are for it or against it, you still have to have a written policy," said Todd Sivia, whose law firm, Sivia Business and Legal Services, is helping host the seminar.

Sivia says if the policy's not clear, it could create problems for the establishment, and its patrons.. Whether that's a store, church, or restaurant.

"The waitress sees a gun on the person you don't want them to run around saying 'I see a gun, I see a gun.' That's going to create a panic," said Sivia.

So businesses who ban firearms will have to post a sign at the front of their building to alert people before they walk in the door. And it's especially important for Illinois businesses to be clear about their policies, because having a gun where you're not supposed to is a misdemeanor in the state. That's one reason firearm safety trainer Allen Keilman is attending the seminar.

"I want to make sure I'm giving the right message to our clients," said Keilman. "They're good people. They want to do things the right way."

The seminar will be Thursday, January 16th, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. It's being held at the SIUE Morris University Center in the Hickory/Hackberry Room. The event is free and open to the public.

By: Bill O'Hara
A fast approaching compliance deadline is approaching - December 1, 2013

Key compliance facts:

The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) is a globally standardized approach to label elements and safety data sheets. The basis of GHS encompasses practices utilized by major existing systems around the world, including OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard and the chemical classification and labeling systems of other U.S. and international agencies.

Employers must provide the appropriate Hazard Communication GHS compliance training  prior to the compliance effective date.  Employers are required to be in compliance with either the existing HCS or the revised HCS, or both.  OSHA understands that there will be a period of time where labels and SDSs under both standards will be present in the workplace. This will be considered acceptable, and employers are not required to maintain two sets of labels and SDSs for compliance purposes.

The bottom line for meeting compliance standards for the December 1, 2013 deadline is that employers must train employees on the new label elements, which include pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, signal words and the new SDS format. This training must take place prior to the effective date. Contact Bill O’Hara for further information.

The table below identifies compliance dates for meeting GHS requirements. 

by Bill O'Hara, Safety Consultant

Fire Safety Week falls in October. Many people turn their furnace on for the first time, the days get shorter and we start spending more time indoors, we light candles inside our Jack-o-lanterns and fires in the fireplace on those chilly nights. With a few quick checks, you can ensure your family's safety in the coming blustery months.

You should always replace smoke detector batteries at least once a year to help ensure they will work when needed. The end of Daylight Saving Time is 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3. When clocks are adjusted to “fall back” an hour, that can serve as a yearly reminder to replace the batteries. 

It's also a good idea to practice fire safety home evacuation test drills with your children. State Fire Marshals recommend creating a family fire safety plan that includes learning about kitchen fire hazards and how to avoid them, as well as developing a home fire escape plan. Families should regularly practice these plans and explain them to children, revising the plan as the children grow up. Establish a safe meeting point outside the home or near a neighbor's house. 

Purchase a fire extinguisher for your house and garage. Check to make sure it's properly charged and accessible. 

Prevent Kitchen Fires

Did you know more fires occur in the kitchen than in any other room of the house? Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and of home fire-related injuries. Kitchen fires, especially those involving grease, can spread quickly and be very difficult to put out. There are other fire risks in the kitchen: including toasters, toaster ovens and overloaded outlets and extension cords. That is why it is essential to know how fires can start in the kitchen, understand the ways they can be prevented, and have an action plan for what to do if a fire starts.

In case of a kitchen fire, control the fire by: 

• Covering the pan with a lid or a bigger upturned pan.
• Turn the heat off.
• If you don't have a proper fire extinguisher handy, douse the burning oil with baking soda.
• Never run with a pan fire. You run the risk of spreading the fire further when the oil drips.
• Never throw water on the pan—it will splatter the oil and spread the fire, possibly burning you.
• Never throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. Flour might look like baking soda, but it's not, so it won't react similarly! One cup of either of these baking products contains the explosive potential of two sticks of dynamite. (Pay special attention this fire safety tip, it can result in third degree burns and even death in some cases.)
• Wear tight clothes when cooking over the stove. Billowing sleeves or hanging accessories above a lit stove can spell disaster.
• Install a smoke detector in the kitchen.

In a commercial environment, employers should schedule fire safety training, including fire extinguisher training for your employees to be able to know the proper use of the device. This can prevent millions of dollars in damage, lost time, and possible costly lawsuits.