Last week, workers at a Bronx car wash voted to unionize. The workers maintain that they have experienced widespread minimum-wage violations. It is the second of New York City's 200 or more car washes, where the workers have voted to join a union. They are part of a campaign to unionize dozens of New York City car washes with the aim of achieving better wages, worker treatment, and safety conditions. Many of the workers want better safety training and conditions in light of the many chemicals they use in cleaning and polishing cars.

If you have ever been in a car accident, you know that everything sort of aches the day after. Even if you didn’t sustain any injuries, your muscles just feel worn out and tired. That feeling is due to the sudden jarring your body experienced during your accident.

Are most of your personal belongings still in boxes from the day you moved into your new home? You might be waiting to put everything away until you can find the perfect way to decorate all your new rooms. This is understandable if you just moved in a week or two ago. But if those boxes are collecting dust because it’s been months, you might want to get going.

As an electrical contractor you may be responsible for a job site and the overall security of that site. There has been an nationwide increase in the theft of tools, equipment, and construction materials at construction sites. If you are in charge of a construction site, taking a proactive approach with security measures will help reduce theft.  The incurred losses are not only in the property stolen, but also in lost time at the site and cost overruns.  Here are some steps a contractor can take that will help reduce job site thefts.

One of the most dangerous auto repair operations at your New York gas station is the lifting and hoisting of vehicles. It has the potential to cause significant damage to the building, shop equipment, and customer vehicles.  Also, there is significant risk that an accident with the lift and cause serious personal injury to your employees and any visitors in the shop. It is very important that the business owner be aware of the potential hazards associated with automotive lift operations, and understand the basic safety measures to reduce these hazards.

New York state dairy farmers lost a very important safety net due to the expiration of the 2008 Farm Bill on September 30, 2012. The Milk Income Loss Contract program — a safety net providing payments when national milk prices drop — expired along with the Farm Bill.  This program not only affects the income of dairy farmers, it also may affect the price of milk paid by the consumer. Some predict that the price of milk may double. The New York State Farm Bureau is encouraging Congress to pass the 2012 Farm bill, that protects both the farmer and the consumer.

If you have ever had an injury, you know it is not very fun – especially if you are out of work because of it. It can be even more troublesome if the injury happened at work. However, if you are an employer with an injured employee, you can rest assured that your workers comp carrier will be there to help you through it.

Autumn is upon us.  We  enjoyed exceptional late summer weather in New
York State.  As a landscaper, fall represents a busy time for you and
your workers. There are many fall tasks to be accomplished in your
landscaping business. There are lawns that need to be thatched or
reseeded, leaves raked, gardens to be readied for winter, and numerous
other tasks. We’re sure you have planned your schedule to ensure that
your customers are happy. Doing a good job now will yield tremendous
results in the spring.

Next week is National Fire Prevention Week, October 7 -13.  The purpose of this week is to promote fire safety and prevention in both the home and the workplace. Fire safety should should be practiced all year long. Many potential fire hazards go undetected because business owners fail to fireproof their workplace. It is paramount that daycare business owners make fire safety a top priority. Children love to crawl, climb, and explore and will find the potential fire hazards. Next week, stress to your staff, children, and parents the importance of fire prevention and safety and offer some examples.

When you buy a new dog, there are several things you want to keep in mind. Can you handle taking care of it? Can you afford the cost of taking care of it? Can you give it the love it needs? And finally, does your homeowners insurance allow you to have it and maintain coverage at the same time?