WSA Member Update 12.1.24

WSA Member Update 12.1.24 December 1, 2024 Dear WSA Members, I hope you all had a meaningful Thanksgiving holiday. Now, the parking lot sweeping industry moves on to the perennially somewhat insane Christmas cleanup season. The holiday season has been shown to be one of the most perilous times for safety, with so many carrying out an array of holiday-related jobs, from installation of lighted decorations to driving and operating equipment in busy environments under winter conditions. For a refresher on holiday workplace safety, here is a page on the OSHA website dedicated to that topic.  I’m glad I asked for comments about WSA’s recently presented ‘Sample Contract Addendum.’ Two WSA members responded with very insightful – and somewhat identical – comments. Both were in agreement about the value of having that document, as well as our ‘Limiting Liability in Contracts‘ pdf, available for reference during contract evaluation. You may read their comments in this recently uploaded pdf file. Last issue I said there would be changes to WSA starting 2025. If, after reading what is planned, you would choose not to renew for the coming year, please let me know and I will remove your membership at year’s end and won’t invoice you. You may not know that WSA is an effort by a single individual – me. I’ve enjoyed assisting contractors since I started the SuperVac Quarterly in 1988 for the Schwarze family. I’ve decided to continue one more year, during which I’ll also be seeing if I can find someone to continue on with the effort. If not, the next will be WSA’s last year. For 2025 the changes I’m making are these… Though costs have risen, there will not be a membership increase; that will stay at $385. However, instead of sending out a somewhat time-intensive and expensive renewal packet, I’ll be sending each member only a renewal certificate as a pdf file they can print in their office. (If you can’t print it, though, I’ll send one in the mail.) I’ll also be writing and emailing only one of these WSA Updates per month, instead of two. However, if event or alert bulletins are called for I will be sure to let you know. I founded WSA on January 1st of 2013. Since then, I’ve published a total of 754 posts at the WSA website, as well as linked to info at dozens of outside sources. The intent of all has been to help you run your business more professionally and profitably. As an additional reminder: All 11 years of the WSA Updates are archived in WSA’s ‘Director’s Blog‘ category.  However, time marches on and I’m turning 75 this coming year. As some of you know, I have many other interests and involvements. I want to put more time in on those while my health so allows. BTW, in 2025 I will also be reducing my WorldSweeper newsletter to six issues per year. Finally, I want to let you know of an item of potential interest if you sweep streets in your area: In October the EPA unveiled an ‘Escaped Trash Risk Map‘ that estimates escaped trash density on land and at risk of getting into waterways. Here is another link that includes the highlights of the study. If the numbers are high in areas you now sweep you may be able to use the information to increase your sweeping frequency. Alternatively, your municipal client or prospect may appreciate your effort in letting them know how they might learn about the trash density in their area.  If you want to know even more about this new tool, the EPA is holding a free webinar on Tuesday, December 10th, from 1-to-2 pm, ET. Here is the registration link. 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