[Pictured from Left to Right: Brandon Silvera – Divisional Vice President; Jeff Waugh – Area Manager and Safety Committee Member; Wolf Hopen – San Bernardino Area Sales Manager; Daniel Gonzalez – San Bernardino Recruiter; Toby Copeland – CA Area Manager; Jamie Ellis – Senior Safety Manager]

The San Bernardino office completed 2019 with ZERO injuries and an overall internal audit score of 96%. A huge congratulations goes out to Wolf and Daniel for a job well done! Trillium takes safety seriously on and off the job site and we are more than proud of the work this team has been able to accomplish over the past year. Here’s to a fantastic 2019 and to keeping it up throughout 2020!

On average, adults lose almost 10 cups of water a day simply by doing everyday tasks.  When we sweat, we also lose electrolytes, which are minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium that help maintain the proper balance of fluids in the body.

Key points to reducing your risk of dehydration:

1. Know the signs of dehydration, which include symptoms such as excessive thirst, sleepiness or tiredness, dry mouth. muscle weakness, headache, and dizziness or lightheadedness.
2. If you feel like you may be showing signs of dehydration, don’t ignore it! Immediately take a break and give yourself time to recover. Dehydration can lead to heat stroke or even death.
3. The best defense against dehydration is prevention.  Simply consume lots of fluids and foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables.
4. Determining how much fluid is complex because so much depends on age, physical condition, activity level, location, and body chemistry. The best approach is to make a conscious effort to stay hydrated.
5. The color of your urine is one of the best ways to tell how hydrated you are.  Dark yellow to amber urine means you may have mild to severe dehydration. You can usually tell you have healthy hydration levels if your urine is very light in color.  You may also urinate less than normal when dehydrated.
6. In hot weather, skip coffee or soda, or other caffeinated drinks and make water your beverage of choice. Consider supplementing water with sports drinks or fruits and vegetables to replenish electrolytes.
7. During periods of heavy exertion, stay cool and take frequent water breaks. Adjust your intake to match your activity level and working conditions.  A cup of water every 10 to 15 minutes might be necessary.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

{Pictured Above: Trillium Construction field employees showcasing the proper use of sun protection while on the job site.}

For those of you that work outside for a living, protecting yourself from the harmful effects of constant exposure to the sun is extremely important. Trillium Construction’s Safety Committee put together some valuable information for anyone who will be working outdoors this year. Take heed of these recommendations and stay safe out there!

At one time or another we’ve all had a bad sunburn and we know how bad it can hurt. In addition, prolonged, unprotected exposure can damage your skin and cause premature lines, freckles, sun spots, and skin cancer.

The best way to protect your skin from UV light is by wearing a sunscreen when you are outside. Here are some sunscreen facts and tips:

• Using sunscreen can reduce your chances of burning but it is not going to allow you to spend unlimited time outdoors without risk of skin damage.
• Sunscreen must absorb into the skin to be effective. Apply it about 30 minutes prior to going into the sun so as to let the sunscreen absorb into the skin.
• It is widely recommended that people use sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15-30. An SPF of 30 can block up to 97% of the harmful UV rays. Going higher than 30 on SPF hasn’t shown to make a positive difference.
• Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every 60-90 minutes, sooner if you’re in the water. (This is true even if you use “waterproof” sunscreen, as it is not truly waterproof, just water resistant.).
• Not all sunscreens protect you from UVA and UVB light. Check the label and use one that is protects the skin from both.
• You can get a sunburn through your clothes! For example, a white t-shirt gives only the same protection as a sunscreen with an SPF of 5; and it’s even less effective if it is wet.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Dress properly

• Wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing to insulate your body by trapping warm, dry air inside. Loosely woven cotton and wool clothes best trap air and resist dampness.
• The head and neck lose heat faster than any other part of the body. Your cheeks, ears and nose are the most prone to frostbite. Wear a hat, scarf and turtleneck sweater to protect these areas.
• Wear warm socks, insulated gloves and snow boots if possible

Frostbite: What to look for

• The extent of frostbite is difficult to judge until hours after thawing. There are two classifications of frostbite:
• Superficial frostbite is characterized by white, waxy or grayish-yellow patches on the affected areas. The skin feels cold and numb. The skin surface feels stiff and underlying tissue feels soft when depressed.
• Deep frostbite is characterized by waxy and pale skin. The affected parts feel cold, hard, and solid and cannot be depressed. Large blisters may appear after re-warming.

What to do

• Get the victim out of the cold and to a warm place immediately.
• Remove any constrictive clothing items that could impair circulation.
• If you notice signs of frostbite, seek medical attention immediately.
• Place dry, sterile gauze between toes and fingers to absorb moisture and to keep them from sticking together.
• Slightly elevate the affected part to reduce pain and swelling.
• If you are more than one hour from a medical facility and you have warm water, place the frostbitten part in the water (102 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit). If you do not have a thermometer, test the water first to see if it is warm, not hot. Re-warming usually takes 20 to 40 minutes or until tissues soften.
• What not to do
• Do not use water hotter than 106 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Do not use water colder than 100 degrees Fahrenheit since it will not thaw frostbite quickly enough.
• Do not rub or massage the frostbite area.
• Do not rub with ice or snow.

If Your Car Breaks Down in Winter

Remember these tips so you can act wisely in case of emergency. 7 Tips to help you survive in freezing temperatures.

Car breakdown?

• If you’re stranded in a car and can’t drive further, don’t get out. Call for help if your car broke down. Run the engine occasionally for warmth but keep a window Be sure the exhaust pipe isn’t blocked by snow.

Run out of gas?

• f the car runs out of gas, keep all the windows shut. Stay on the lookout for help. Make sure your windows are cleared of snow so passing drivers can see that there’s someone in the car.

Stuck for a while?

• Exercise or move your arms and legs for warmth and keep yourself awake. Don’t go to sleep under any circumstances

Caught outside?

• f you’re caught outside while on foot, head to the nearest shelter. Tie a scarf over your nose and mouth to protect your ears and face and to prevent suffocation from the wind and snow.

Stuck in a snowbank?

• If your vehicle is really stuck, don’t wear yourself out shoveling it out, according to the News Wheel. Instead, save your energy and concentrate on staying warm.

Ice scraper breaks?

• Prepare for a broken ice scraper ahead of time by making sure to include a back-up scraper and brush in your vehicle. Even better, also invest in a windshield protector that will make de-icing much easier.

Getting thirsty?

• The last thing you want to do when you’re stranded is eat snow directly, according to the News Wheel. The energy your body expends warming up the snow makes it harder for you to retain body heat. If you happen to have an empty container, though, you can place snow inside of it and drink it after it melts.

We know you can work out in the elements, but for how long?

• Take breaks in shelters, away from the wind and cold
• Drink warm liquids slowly
• Make sure your clothes are dry. Take a change of clothes in your car
• Don’t forget to pack some extra socks
• Cover all skin safely possible
• Allow more time to commute to your destination
• Fill up with gas
• Have plenty of food, water & milk for several days

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 450 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

The faster a workers’ compensation claim is received by the adjuster, the faster and more controlled the process is. The adjuster is able to conduct a thorough investigation while the facts of the claim are still readily available, before the employee and any witnesses may forget key details that are critical to the claim. Prompt reporting can also help to eliminate any delays in providing appropriate medical care and wage benefits to the injured employee.

Recent data released by Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. found:

• Claims that close within 30 days of occurrence cost an average of $287 and about 90% of those claims will remain medical-only cases.
• Claims that remain open 31-90 days jump to an average cost of $722.
• Claims that remain open 181-365 days jump to an average cost of $6,875

A recent study completed by NCCI on lag time also found:

• Week two after the date of the incident cost an average of 18% more than claims reported during the first week.
• Weeks three and four following the date of the incident averaged a 30% increase in claims cost.
• After four weeks the costs increased an average of 45% higher.

Making sure your staff is familiar with the importance of quickly reporting any incidents and injuries is key to controlling your costs. Any injury regardless of it’s initial significance should follow the same reporting process that should be clearly outlined in the employee handbook and regularly posted in break rooms and other common areas.