The Frattalone Scoop - Fall 2000 - Volume 7 Issue 4

• A Message from Dylan Larson
• The Safety Corner
• For the "Health" of it...
• Food for Thought
• Frattalone Christmas Party
• Company Meetings
• 2000 Frattalone Golf Tournament
• New Employees
• New Web Site
• Holiday Schedule
• Bib-Overalls Available
• Rick Hay’s Benefit
• Marriages
• Bible Study Group
• NADC Scholarships
• Fishing Tournament
• Fishing Contest
• T'was the night before Christmas at Frattalones…

A Message from Dylan Larson

It’s hard to believe that the first year of the new millennium is almost over! The years seem to fly by faster with each passing season. Especially when we have a fall like we are having this year. We are as busy now as we were in mid-season, which is nice so we can get some of the earthwork jobs finished.

This is the time of year we look back and reflect on the past year. We hope 2000 was a prosperous and successful year for you and your families. At Frattalone’s, we also reflect on how fortunate we have been in having a safe and profitable year.

We are very fortunate to have so many employees that are experienced professionals in their trade. We recognize our employees with 10 years of service with a gold ring with the image of a traxcavator with diamonds in the bucket and with 20 years of service, employees receive a gold Frattalone watch. Frank Frattalone will present these employees with their gifts at our holiday party.

We want to give our employees steady employment year after year. In our seasonal industry it is a constant battle trying to balance our time between personal-family time and work. Long hours, Saturdays during the summer and layoffs in the winter, make this balancing act difficult. It is also a struggle for the office in bidding, scheduling and producing this work with tight completion schedules. With our solid employee base, we are able to perform quality work and keep our customers coming back to Frattalone. We would like to recognize all of the 10 year + employees for their commitment and dedication to Frattalone Excavating:

Keep up the good work!

Dylan Larson
Vice President of Operations

The Safety Corner

Fall & winter construction has arrived. This means shorter daylight hours, poor visibility on your way to work, on the job sites, and on your way home. Extra care MUST be taken by all of us!

MnOSHA is currently soliciting public review of the new "vest" requirement on our job sites. I anticipate that the final changes will become law in December. The changes include a specific requirement of Class 2 type vests with a minimum area of cloth and a specific requirement related to the use of temporary cones vs. j-barrier lane dividers.

The yellow vests that are currently in Buche’s office are acceptable. The older orange colored vests will NOT be acceptable. They are also including an exception for those working with cutting torches & welders. The vests do not have to be worn by these workers, during that specific work task. If you have an orange vest, turn it in for a new yellow vest. If your vests are noticeably soiled/dirty, you must wash them. If they are worn out and faint in color turn them in for a new yellow vest. Another issue that appears to be showing up frequently is the NON use of seat belts. If your machine has a seat belt…it MUST be worn! There are no exceptions. If the belts are not operating properly, write up that piece of equipment for an immediate repair…do not delay! We have received OSHA violations for this issue. You don’t want to have the fine assigned to you. They typically range on the order of $1500. I don’t think any of us have this kind of money to waste on a seat belt violation.

It is our goal to provide you with a safe work environment. It is only as safe as you allow it to be. These rules apply to everybody!

Wyatt Gutzke, P.E.
Project Manager/Safety Director

For the "Health" of it...

"I’m freezing" is a complaint heard often during long cold winters in the Upper Midwest. Sometimes, however, it is literally true. When skin is exposed to cold temperatures long enough, it can actually freeze, along with underlying tissue. The result – frostbite – is a painful and potentially dangerous condition.

Prevent frostbite by dressing warmly in layers of clothing, preferably wool and polypropylene. Hats are important, and mittens protect better than gloves. Keep protective clothing and blankets in your car in case of a breakdown or accident. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke when out in the cold.

Home treatment:

If you have symptoms of mild frostbite (numbness and whitening of the skin without hardening of underlying tissue) these home treatment tips may help:

• Get out of the cold immediately. Don’t rewarm frozen areas until you’re in a place where they won’t refreeze.
• Don’t rub or massage the frozen area, and avoid walking on frostbitten feet.
• Warm small areas with warm breath or put hands or feet inside warm clothing against bare skin. If possible, immerse the frostbitten area in warm water (104 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit) for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Do not break blisters if they form as the skin warms. Broken blisters can get infected.

Call a health care professional if:

• Frostbite is severe and skin is white or blue, hard and cold.
• Blisters form during rewarming.
• Signs of infection develop; such signs include increased pain or swelling, the appearance of heat or red streaks in the frostbitten area, a discharge of pus, or a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher with no other cause.

So….bundle up this winter!

Food for Thought

At a county fair, the townspeople held a horse-pulling contest. The first-place horse ended up moving a sled weighing 4,500 pounds. The second-place finisher pulled 4,000 pounds. The owners of the two horses decided to see what these horses could pull together. They hitched them up and found that the team could move 12,000 pounds. By working separately, the two horses were good for only 8,500 pounds. When teamed together, their synergism produced and added 3,500 pounds. It’s a hard lesson for us, but unity consistently produces greater results than individual endeavors.

"Teamwork" divides the effort and multiplies the effect.

Frattalone Christmas Party

Just a reminder that the Frattalone Christmas Party will be on Saturday, December 9th at the Maplewood Community Center. Look for your invitation in the mail soon. This year we will be using an R.S.V.P. service to get a more accurate count.

Company Meetings

Following are the dates for the all company safety and informational meetings for 2001. These meetings are a very important part of keeping you informed of company policies and procedures. Attendance is mandatory.

• Thursday, 4/26/01 @ 6:15 p.m.
• Thursday, 8/9/01 @ 6:15 p.m.
• Thursday, 10/25/01 @ 5:30 p.m.

2000 Frattalone Golf Tournament

We had a beautiful day for the Frattalone Golf Classic this year! The winners were Nick Frattalone and Charlie Speckmann with one under. There was a tie for second between Al Krzykowski and Steve Havel and Dave Grimsrud and Dan Grimsrud. Al and Steve won using the card handicap system. Thanks to all who could join us!

New Employees:

Welcome Aboard!

New Web Site

If you have access to the Internet, check out our new and revised web site at www.fmfrattalone.com.

Holiday Schedule

Listed below are the days Frattalone Excavating will be closed.

Bib-Overalls Available

We will be ordering bib overalls on Friday, 11/10/00. Please let Shelly know if you would like a pair. They are $65.00. There are two samples in the store to look at for sizing. We will not be stocking these. They are special order.

Rick Hay's Benefit

There was a benefit held on October 27th for Rick Hays, who is having a kidney transplant. The money raised will be used to defer costs of the transplant that Rick will be having in the end of November. Thank you, to all who contributed and good luck, Rick!

A note from Rick:

Thank you, everyone, for your generous donations and prayers! Because of your thoughtfulness, I have peace of mind that my family and I will be fine while I am recovering. Thanks again!

Rick Hays

Marriages

Nick Frattalone and Christi Forshier were married on Friday, October 6th, 2000. Congratulations!

Bible Study Group

Bible study/work support group sessions are being held every other Thursday from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the conference room. The next session is on 11/16/00. All are welcome. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dean Law or Todd Olund.

NADC Scholarships

Frattalone Excavating is a member of the National Association of Demolition Contractors, which makes any employee and their family members eligible to participate in the NADC Scholarship Program. There are three scholarships; "Bill and Wanda Baker" Scholarship (for high school seniors only), Patrick H. O’Rourke and Southern California Chapter of NADC (both for all other applicants). These scholarships are awarded annually. For an application, please see Shelly in the office.

Fishing Tournament

The Walleye Tournament in September on Lake Milacs got moved (because of high winds) to Farm Island Lake and switched to a multi-species tournament. The two person – team winners were as follows: Scott Flesch and Frank Belisle took 1st and 2nd in the Bass division, Lee Gass and Tom Wager took 1st and 2nd in the Sunfish division. Brad Kelly and Tim Siefert took 1st and Dean Law and Bob Helland took 2nd in the Northern division.

Congratulations!

Fishing Contest

Results as of 11-1-00:

Keep those entries coming in! Every tenth entry receives a T-Shirt. Winners so far are Lee Gass and Bob Hoffman.

Reminder:

We will be having a fishing rod building class, consisting of three – two hour sessions. The classes will run from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on 2-1-01, 2-6-01 and 2-8-01 in the lunchroom. Please contact Dean Law with any questions you may have.

T'was the night before Christmas at Frattalones...

….and back in the shop, nothing was moving, not even Ed’s mop. The yard it was full, a sad sight for the boss; when equipment is sitting there’s nothing but cost!

The trucks were all lined up in a row, the shiny orange paint reflecting in snow. The chrome of the wheels, the bumpers, the grills, beamed in the light of the mid-winter chill.

Tonight all the workers will feast with their kin, then sleep ‘till the Santa Claus presents are in. And the children will wake with their hearts all a flutter, to find all their toys in the Christmas tree clutter.

Now the Christmas day ends and the relatives know, they’d better get going before all the snow. The kids are tucked in with a stuffed bear and cow, and three hours from now, it will be time to plow.

The office is buzzing as winter hits hard, as the bidders are bidding and leading a charge; to find all the work for the workers to do, when the snow is all melted and their back with their crew.

Then spring finally comes when we thought it was lost: the snow will melt first, and then goes the frost. The machines will be humming, the orange trucks will be running, and the boss will be smiling, ‘cause the money is a coming!

Then paydays will come and paydays will go, and we’ll all work like hell ‘till the first time it snows. And we’ll do all our shopping while Ed does the mopping, and that’s how the cycle at Frattalone’s goes…

Written by: Dave Grimsrud