Rules For Radios In Building?

Mike Hawk · 04-11-2008, 10:55 AM

I have an ipod with headphones, I keep it on one ear so I can still hear people talk etc. One of our loaders uses those recording studio style headphones that go around your whole ear, on both ears. Usually have to throw a small at him to get his attention, our deaf loader can hear better than him when he is listening to his ipod.

feeder53 · 04-11-2008, 11:22 AM

Here at my full time job, We must have a permit to bring any personal property into this compound. This is due to the liability of many kinds.

LKLND3380 · 04-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownCarWasher

I'm a six-year, full-time 22.3 combo worker who spends 9 hours M-F inside the center. During this time, I've been listening to my Sirius satellite boombox while I work. Everyone loves it, including management, fellow employees, etc.

However, I was recently informed by a regional CHSP supervisor that my radio could ONLY operate on batteries. It's the first time anyone's ever mentioned this to me. This boombox would need 8 "D" batteries which I'm sure it would burn through quite quickly as well as $$$ to replace them.

I couldn't find anything specific in the Teamsters contract, except that drivers are allowed to have transistor radios in their package cars. Are there any documented "official" rules about operating radios in the building, and why can UPS have computers plugged in all over the center but they require radios to operate from batteries? Thanks for any helpful info.

Battery power here as well... When I first started we had people using electricity but then new management came in and said "we were stealing power from UPS and needed to bring in battery radios."

LKLND3380 · 04-11-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpstateNYUPSer

I sing to myself as I drive and, I have to say, I think I am actually pretty good--my peak helper may tell you otherwise.

I'll keep an eye out for a UPSer from NY on the next American Idol tryouts...

LKLND3380 · 04-11-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Dawg

Do your bell bottoms get in the way too? Radios are so yesterday man, .....get with the times, everyone in our building uses MP3 players.

District Safety Supe said a big NO to Mp3 players with headphones for ANYONE in the preload... We are unable to be arware of changing situations or word of mouth directions...

Mike Hawk · 04-11-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LKLND3380

District Safety Supe said a big NO to Mp3 players with headphones for ANYONE in the preload... We are unable to be arware of changing situations or word of mouth directions...

He is a D-bag then. I can hear just fine with my headphones on one ear.

UPS Lifer · 04-12-2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

Sounds like a typical Safety Committee weenie who is just trying to justify his position by making up a "rule" to enforce. He is probably still frustrated at not getting to be a Hall Monitor in junior high, so he is taking it out on his coworkers now. Go ahead and placate him for a few days by using batteries...eventually he will go away and find someone else to bother, and you can plug your radio back in again.

The power cords are not just a safety issue in the sense of a tripping hazard. There are fire or electrical code possible violations as well. This is a Ketter audit item.

Believe it or not - center offices are the areas that usually go into violation. If there are to many cords pugged into one outlet - that is a code violation.
Plant Engineering Department can give you specific details for your building.

As far as wearing headphones or any other equipment brought into the building - this is a district or region regulation with input from the Security and Human Resource Dept.

tieguy · 04-12-2008, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temp1

Nope, has nothing at all to do with the cord being a trip hazard.
Yes, it is in writing, and has been for years. Ask your PE guy for a copy of the facility safety memo that deals with radios in operations areas.
People have been electrocuted by their own radios in our buildings, so now no radios plugged in.
Those are the rules, guys, live with them. What's the big deal, you get to listen to the radio, just get some batteries.

Ding .. ding...ding...we have a winner. poster is correct.

scratch · 04-12-2008, 10:05 PM

One of the many reasons my Hub failed the last Audit was because a Preloader had a corded radio set on top of a water fountain. Water and Electric Cords are not a good combination. This had been going on for years.

tourists24 · 04-13-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trplnkl

You might think about trying one of these, I bet you can run all day on a charge, then recharge each night. It would pay for itself in a few months.

What exactly is this and where do you buy it?

tourists24 · 04-13-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZEPHYR

Is this a rechargeable? If so,,, how many hours of use before recharge?

Mike Hawk · 04-13-2008, 01:15 PM

Google is your friend.
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=8042
It runs off dewalt batteries so if it did run out before the end of your shift you could swap a new one in, and it comes with a charger, AUX port for mp3 players/satellite radios and an internal radio. You can probably find it at Lowes/Home Depot or an online tool retailer.

dannyboy · 04-13-2008, 01:37 PM

Tie, and the anon poster are correct. There have been at least three persons killed because of the sweat and electric radios being plugged in. So only batteries it has been for many years. Nothing new, just not been enforced in many locations.

As for the dewalt, I used to carry one in the package car. STrapped it right under the diad holder, and the strap also went through the right hand rail, and the foot rail around the heater. Never moved from there.

Good for about 20+ hours on a single charge, I would recomend the 18 volt battery, 85 bucks at lowes, but it lasts and lasts, and has a 3 year warranty. If it goes dead before then, take it back for a new one.

It takes a beating and gives pretty good sound.

As for anything you listen to that you have in both ears, they are not allowed, as your hearing will be limited, and the loose cord can get caught in machinery. Sorry, that too is against safety rules at UPS. You might be able to use only one, in one ear, but the cord can not be loose. Check if it would be allowed.

I have seen drivers with one or both earbuds. To me, that would really be an issue, especially if involved in an accident.

d

Mike Hawk · 04-13-2008, 02:31 PM

I lost a few headphones to packages falling on the cord and breaking it, so i got a http://www.x-tremegeek.com/templates...roductID=14675

Eliminates the slack cord safety hazard. If you are responsable about the volume of your headphones you can hear just fine with them on one ear.

govols019 · 04-13-2008, 06:08 PM

I always ran the headphone cord under my shirt so it wouldn't catch on anything.

Mike Hawk · 04-13-2008, 08:22 PM

Me too, but the slack sticking out cought the boxes. Im less worried about $12 headphones than I am about the headphone jack on my ipod.

BILLYOPP69 · 04-13-2008, 11:28 PM

Here in Florida they told us no radio's or fans. Nothing can be plugged into an outlet, it must be hard wired. We all got together and said fine if we can't plug anything in neither can they. No clerk work stations, no soda or ice machines, no portable lights when lights go out in loading bays etc. Needless to say we still have our radios. Power of many!!!!!

BrownCarWasher · 04-14-2008, 11:02 AM

I had my radio connected to one of these:

http://www.aquatichouse.com/Maintena...hockbuster.asp

I just think the rule is arbitrarily applied to radios because here we have water coolers, battery chargers, vending machines, computers, printers, etc. connected to electrical outlets scattered throughout the center. Some areas have a computer AND water cooler connected next to each other. Why even have electrical outlets in the bldg. if you can't use them?

Anyway, I'm wondering what would be best for portable power . . . 8 rechargeable "D" size batteries or a big portable power pack? Can the portable power pack withstand being charged up on a daily basis and will it provide enough power to last for 9 hours a day?

UPS Lifer · 04-14-2008, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILLYOPP69

Here in Florida they told us no radio's or fans. Nothing can be plugged into an outlet, it must be hard wired. We all got together and said fine if we can't plug anything in neither can they. No clerk work stations, no soda or ice machines, no portable lights when lights go out in loading bays etc. Needless to say we still have our radios. Power of many!!!!!

The "power of the many" has nothing to do with it. Your management team has decided not to do anything about it. That is it in a nut shell!

When you work for ANY company, it is not rule by a democratic process in the sense that you have a vote on business processes and procedures. The owner or manager or chief operating officer of the company makes those decisions.

Just be prepared that at some point, someone will address the issue in a way that may not be to your liking.

Here is another saying ... "if you live by the sword be prepared to die by the sword." LOL!

HazMatMan · 04-14-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrownCarWasher

I'm a six-year, full-time 22.3 combo worker who spends 9 hours M-F inside the center. During this time, I've been listening to my Sirius satellite boombox while I work. Everyone loves it, including management, fellow employees, etc.

However, I was recently informed by a regional CHSP supervisor that my radio could ONLY operate on batteries. It's the first time anyone's ever mentioned this to me. This boombox would need 8 "D" batteries which I'm sure it would burn through quite quickly as well as $$$ to replace them.

I couldn't find anything specific in the Teamsters contract, except that drivers are allowed to have transistor radios in their package cars. Are there any documented "official" rules about operating radios in the building, and why can UPS have computers plugged in all over the center but they require radios to operate from batteries? Thanks for any helpful info.

It's like that in my building too, something about the plug having to be "hard wired" or something. I guess it has something to do with the electrical currents or something. They replaced most of the fans for that same reason also..This is what I heard, it is not what I know..

dannyboy · 04-14-2008, 02:15 PM

Billyop

IT is not something your center has a choice over. It is a company wide ruling. And no where does it say your radio will be allowed if it is hard wired. That is not the case. Water coolers do not pose a shock hazzard when you sweat on them, nor do keyboards. But radios are a different matter.

The action has followed several employees being killed when they bent over the radio, or reached up to change channels and got fried because they were sweat covered. That is the reason, pure and simple. It is a serious safety issue. And UPS will put a stop to it in your center, sooner or later. And I hope it is not after one of your fellow employees gets killed by stray voltage.

Use battery packs that can be recharged, or use one like the dewalt that has a recharger built into it. It charges the battery for a 12+ hour day within a half hour or so. I always left it plugged in overnight, and it was ready to go in the AM.

So like Lifer posted, it will change, only when is at issue.

d