December 10, 2012
EVENTS
 
December 14
COMPUTER HELP
Click for eTicket
REPORT SAFETY HAZARDS

REPORT
WASTE 
MAKE SUGGESTIONS
REPORT WRONGDOING
READ PAST ISSUES OF N&V
CONNECT
Ford's Focus

We're coming in to the last two weeks before the holiday break. Good luck to everyone in this home stretch before the semester winds down and the campus slowly gets quiet.

We are starting another new feature this week called "After Hours" where we highlight the hobbies, volunteering, and odd jobs our coworkers enjoy outside of work. As this feature continues, I look forward to hearing all of your stories.

Have a good week,

Ford
Safety Record

               

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes
 
We had three injuries this week. One employee suffered a fractured toe when a piece of furniture landed on their foot. Regrettably, the employee was not wearing safety shoes.
 
We also had a strained hand from lifting heavy trash.
 
Finally, an employee twisted their knee after coming down from an improperly placed ladder. 
 
Two of these accidents could have been avoided. Please remember to click on the REPORT SAFETY HAZARDS button to send us an alert form. We haven't been getting many of these lately, and we want to be sure we're creating the safest environment possible. 

 

As always, please report all safety hazards, near miss incidents and safety success stories. 
 
E-mail us at OPPsafety@psu.edu.
Call us at 863-2340.
Visit us, or even drop a note outside our office in 103 Physical Plant. 
 
Let's have a safety record to crow about.
Announcements & Reminders  

 

Engineering Support

 
 There is a new feature on the OPP site where tech service employees can contact Engineering Services. 
 
Log in as an OPP user, and you will find a link to request engineering support at the top of the CIS screen. You can send an e-mail with your address, supervisor, phone number, and questions.
Welcome

  

Please take a moment to send an e-mail welcome to Dan Kutch. Dan is the new Facilities Specialist in the Work Control Center. He is from Altoona and started work last Monday.

Carpooling

 

You can find a list of carpoolers and regional bus services through the RideShare Program and a full list of all transportation options at the new Transportation Services site.

 

Or you can contact Alex Novak to post a request in News & Views. 

 
Up for Grabs

 

The full list of classifieds can be found on the "Up for Grabs" page. 

 

Any OPP employee can post an item FOR FREE with their name, department, and e-mail address. 

 

Sign up now or e-mail  Alex Novak with your item!
 After Hours

 

Deep Sky Dave


Outside of the Design room, Dave Reasinger has a second life shrouded in darkness.

 Dave has been with OPP for 8 years. He started as a draftsman and then worked his way through production to design to project management. He typically coordinates renovations, but he also helped with the design and installation of the system that prevents killer icicles from forming on the glass entrance to the McCoy Natatorium.

 

Most folks would never suspect that Dave has a dark side. He's often up late at night searching for deep sky objects, watching eclipses, and photographing occultations of Jupiter's moons. Dave is a member of the Central Pennsylvania Observers, a group dedicated to astronomy.
"I have 'Aperture Fever' and own 3 scopes, a 12 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain , an 8 inch reflector, and a 3 inch refractor."

During the recent transit of the Planet Venus last June, Dave and the astronomy club organized a public viewing at Tussey Mountain. They set up a dozen telescopes and expected 25-30 visitors, but were surprised when 300 people showed.  

"The adults were just as excited as the kids because they had never seen an event like this. We were impressed with the knowledge that many of the young people had about the solar system."

Dave and the Central Pennsylvania Observers provide pre-Christmas seminars on how to buy telescopes for kids and post holiday training on how to use them. The public is invited to meet with Dave Reasinger and the CPO at the South Hills Business School at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 10.  Free telescope training observing advice will be offered. 

"Astronomy is my relief valve from OPP construction  and has taught me to appreciate the stars. Much like architecture, the stars fascinate, but it is the teamwork of the constellations that dominate the sky."
 Tip of the Week

  

Holiday Tree Safety at the Office

 

With the Holiday Season upon us, many will decorate both individual work spaces and public areas within their buildings. Check out the Guidelines for Holiday Trees in University Buildings for complete information.

  • Live cut trees can be displayed in buildings for a maximum of ten days and they must be removed from buildings prior to the Holiday break. 
  • Trees must be secured and should not placed in corridors, stairways, or doorways.   
  • Open flame devices are prohibited in all University buildings. 
  • All lights and electrical cords need to be UL listed, in good condition, and cords should not being placed under rugs, thru doorways or in other areas where they can be damaged. LED lights are recommended since they save energy and keep the tree needles cool.

Holiday Tree Safety at Home

  

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments annually respond to an average of 210 structure fires caused by Christmas trees. Watch this terrifying video to see how quickly a dry tree can burn.

 

Picking

  • If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled, certified, or identified by the manufacturer as fire retardant.
  • Choose a live cut tree with fresh, green needles that do not fall off when touched.

Placing 

  • Before placing the tree in the stand, cut 1-2" from the base of the trunk.
  • Make sure the tree is at least three feet away from any heat source, like fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents or lights.
  • Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.
  • Add water to the tree stand and be sure to add water daily.

Lighting

  • Use lights that have the label of an independent testing laboratory. Some lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, but not both.
  • Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Connect no more than three strands of mini string sets and a maximum of 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Read manufacturer's instructions for the maximum number of LED strands to connect.
  • Never use lit candles to decorate the tree.
  • Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Disposing

  • Remove the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are a fire danger and should not be left in your home or garage, or placed outside against your home. 

For more information on this article, contact Steve Triebold.

 Contact Us
 
If you have any comments or suggestions for News & Views, contact Alex Novak by e-mail or at  863-0432.