WSA Member Update 11.15.24

WSA Member Update 11.15.24 November 15, 2024 Dear WSA Member, In the December 1st WSA Update I’ll discuss the changes that will be occurring with WSA for 2025. When I do so I’ll be looking for your input about how they will affect your interest in remaining a WSA member. Speaking of input… I was surprised to get zero comments on the ‘WSA Advisory Contract Addendum’ unveiled in the last Update. Is there concern enough about liability that you are planning to use any of the liability-limiting clauses it contained? Or, do you remain ready to sign whatever contract is presented to you in order to get the work? I’m interested in anyone’s thoughts/analysis about the clauses the suggested addendum contains. The document is here. Arguably the biggest campaign promise of incoming president Donald Trump is to conduct a mass immigrant deportation effort. Whether or not you have immigrants working for you, this is bound to make the available labor force smaller. That’s why we’ve added a new article in our Employees section: Improving Employee Retention for Power Sweeping Contractors: Key Strategies   Sample Driver/Sweeper Inspection Sheet Template #2 I also added a second sample Driver/Sweeper Inspection Sheet Template. It’s available in Word (so you can modify to suit) as well as in PDF format. You may find it useful to use when doing your daily vehicle inspection. The link to the PDF version is here. This month, our Safety First! post has info centered around the upcoming Thanksgiving Day holiday as well as preparations for the coming winter cold. November’s Safety First! message discusses the following: • Thanksgiving Traffic Heaviest of the Year • Defensive Driving Reminders • Reminders About Cold Weather Preparation • Cold Weather Safety Tips • Overall Reminders to Increase Your Safety Just today I got an alert about an unnamed, Toronto-based contractor, whose allegedly inebriated employee was found driving his sweeper the wrong direction in traffic. In case you want to use the story as a ‘teaching item,’ the link is here. BTW, the driver lost his license for a minimum of 90 days and the sweeper was impounded for seven. As always, if you have questions or comments about this WSA Member Update, or anything else to do with the World Sweeping Association or power sweeping in general, please let me know. Good Sweeping, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, Executive Director World Sweeping Association