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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Excavations


2009
12.23

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Traditional trench shoring or Timbering.
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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Excavations

Excavation and trenching accidents result in more than 100 fatalities every year. An excavation is any mechanically-made cavity or depression in the earth’s surface. This could include:

-          Trenches

-          Cellars

-          Roadways

-          Tunnels

To protect employees who may be exposed to danger in an excavation, shoring systems, sloping the ground back or some other equivalent means must be in place.

There are 3 ways to protect your workers against accidents.

  1. Shoring – Shoring is a structure that supports the sides of the excavation.
  2. Sloping – Sloping is cutting the banks of the excavation back to a safe angle to alleviate soil slides. The angle varies depending on the soil type.
  3. Trench Box – Trench boxes are exactly that – a large, heavy metal box placed in a trench to prevent the sides of the trench from caving in.

Ensure a competent worker is inspecting excavations prior to entry by any personnel. The inspections should test for atmospheric conditions and follow up inspections should be completed regularly as long as there are workers working in the excavation.

BLUE COLLAR BEGONE BACKTALK

When digging a hole, whether it is a foot deep or a mile deep, it can be very dangerous. My advice to you is; if at all possible stay out of holes, trenches or any other kind of excavation all together. It seems, once you start digging a hole in life, it becomes a lot easier to keep digging that to start climbing out. A great man once said, “The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.”

A suggestion I would make is team up with a friend or colleague with similar goals and become accountability partners. This will really help if one of you does get into a rut. The other one will be there to pull you out of the rut and get you back on track – whatever means necessary… Yes, if required, kick him right in the junk!

Just understand there will be the odd rut but just make sure you pull yourself out  of it before it becomes a grave!

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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To avoid this Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work completely; follow these 6 simple steps!  Don’t become another statistic – Blue Collar Begone!

Need another reason why to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE!” and leave the construction life behind? Check out another Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – Fatality


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Scott Weller Presents: Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – FATALITY


2009
12.09

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1997 Ford F-150 XLT
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Scott Weller Presents: Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – FATALITY

Injury Type : Fatal
Core Activity : Wood frame construction
Date of Incident : 2009-Sep

A worker was riding on the tailgate of a moving pickup truck when he fell off and struck his head on the pavement. The worker was sent to hospital and died later due to head trauma. Worker was 24 years old and had a pregnant girlfriend waiting for him to come home from work…. which he never did.

Don’t become a statistic. Scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE!” and leave the construction life behind in 6 simple steps?

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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work


2009
12.08

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Two construction workers at work.
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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work

Today’s Construction Site Hazard is Pre-Planning Your Work. When preparing to start the workday, take the time necessary to plan what is needed to complete the tasks safely. Too many injuries are caused by rushing a task and trying to meet deadlines in haste.

When Pre-Planning Your Work Ask Yourself:

How many people will be needed?

Is the pathway fully open?

Is housekeeping in the area well maintained?

Would it be better to enlist mechanical help to make a lift?

Am I using the proper tool for the job?

Has the tool been properly inspected?

Make sure you ask yourself any additional questions that may be job or jobsite specific. As you know, the hazards change from job to job so make sure to identify all hazards prior to commencing task.

Work smarter rather than harder.

Blue Collar Begone Backtalk:

Pre-Planning your work does not stop when you punch out at quitting time. What do you want for yourself? A miserable, empty existence filled with loneliness and frustration? Yes?!?! Well good thing you’re in construction then. You’re in the right place. For those of you who would rather have a happy life, spent with family and friends, having a couple of cool drinks at the lake, well that lifestyle only comes to those who plan for it.

Just like the jobsite, you need to pre-plan your work in everyday life.  Take some time to set some goals that you want to accomplish. Long term and short term. Start with simple easily accomplishable goals first and then move into the big dream goals.

After you write down some goals, then it’s time to develop your plan of action to ensure you set yourself up for that beautiful day, laying on the beach, enjoying the warm sun and sporting that tiny yellow banana hammock! The ladies will love it!

So take some time to set yourself up for an easier run at daily success by Pre-Planning your work.

Work smarter rather than…  “harder?”

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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To avoid this Construction Site Hazards – Pre-Planning Your Work completely; follow these 6 simple steps!  Don’t become another statistic – Blue Collar Begone!

Need another reason why to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE!” and leave the construction life behind? Check out another Blue Collar Begone Bulletin – Fractured Vertebra.

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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Sprains & Strains


2009
12.08

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mild 2nd degree sprain, rotated inwards.
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Scott Weller presents: Construction Site Hazards – Sprains & Strains

Today’s Construction Site Hazard is Sprains and Strains. With cold weather, the possibility of a strain or sprain increases. The importance of being warmed up prior to starting construction work is just like getting ready for a sporting event. Stretching is a means to avoid common sprain and strain injuries. Once you have been injured, you are 5 times more at risk to have a repeat injury.

Common body parts at risk:

Back

Trunk (hip & waist)

Knee

Shoulder

Arms

Elbows

Helpful Hints:

Develop a daily pre-job stretching program

Go into stretching with a relaxed and open mind

Stretch to the point where it is comfortable, not painful

Don’t bounce when you stretch, that can cause injuries

Breathe slowly, normal rhythm, don’t hold your breath

Blue Collar Begone Backtalk:

Sprains & Strains can be nagging and disabling. One bad sprain or strain can really hold you back and slow you down from accomplishing what you set out to do. Sprains & Strains seem to hit their hardest when you are unprepared headed into a task, goal or even life.

Examples of Sprains & Strains in life could be an addiction (one at a time please), a dead end job, or even an unhealthy relationship.

Take control of your life and develop a daily program to help you “stretch” your way out of the painful Sprain & Strain lifestyle which has held you back for so long. No.. that doesn’t mean getting into “downward dog” or “camel clutch” or whatever yoga poses you can think of but it does mean stretching yourself from your comfort zone to try experience something more than a hangover, smoke break or a deaf Vietnamese concubine that smells like cabbage! Seriously! I am laying in the bed right next to you!

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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To avoid Construction Site Hazards – Sprains & Strains all together; follow these 6 simple steps!  Don’t become another statistic – Blue Collar Begone!


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Scott Weller Presents: The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Spiritual


2009
12.07

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Amercian self-help writer Napoleon Hill (1883-...
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Scott Weller Presents: The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Spiritual

This was the toughest part of the PMS triangle for me. I grew up in a religious household and I could not wait to get out and start living my own life, and leave God and the church behind me. In the last year, I have really started to understand and implement spiritual aspects of life and success has just flowed to me easier than I could ever have imagined.

First off, let’s distinguish religious from spiritual. Religious, as I have interpreted it, is when you follow a set structure of beliefs. Spiritual is when you constantly ask what is your  purpose and why. Religious is a laid out path, while spiritual is a wide open field of possibility. Religious is your relationship with god, spiritual is your relationship with everything. Neither one is better than the other but because I, myself, am more spiritual, that is where I focus and focus is very important.

Everything in this world is made of energy. Yes, there are molecules, atoms and blah blah blah… Who are you kidding? You don’t even know what those are. You just remember something about it from 7th grade Science class. If you could take a microscope and look at everything that is around you, in it’s most minute form, it would be energy. This energy is powerful and, if used properly, can create amazing things. Have you seen Star Wars? Think of this energy like the force. If you train hard and remain disciplined, you become a Jedi!

How do you learn how to become a Jedi?

  • Read some books on Quantum Physics or self development. I would recommend by starting with the book that started it all for me and changed my life forever, “Think & Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.
  • Try meditation or yoga. It will bring you back to a very natural, peaceful frame of mind. It will help you live consciously (don’t worry, it will start to make sense).
  • Get a mentor. I know I keep harping on the mentor idea but a mentor will help you develop in all aspects of your life.

Once I started implementing a few of these ideas into my regular routine, success seemed to flow to me effortlessly and frequently. Everything I wanted seemed to appear before my eyes. I met people I never would have dreamed meeting and I know it was all due to my realization that everything in our existence has a spiritual side to go along with the physical.

I’m sure you have had times in your life where you seem to be putting in a ton of physical effort to get something done. So much, in fact, that you are completely exhausted and on the verge of giving up. Perhaps you just need to balance out the equation by simply adding some spiritual and stir until desired consistency!

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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Want to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE” and leave the construction lifestyle behind? Simple online strategies showing you how to leave the coveralls behind – Coming Soon!

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Scott Weller Presents: The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Mental


2009
12.02

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A pair of swinging Remojadas figurines, 300 CE...
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Scott Weller Presents: The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Mental

I have broken up the “M” of the PMS Triangle into 2 different aspects; mental stimulation through Education and Mental stimulation through visualization and affirmation. We have already discussed Mental Stimulation through Education; now let’s take a look at Mental Stimulation through Visualization and Affirmations.

Mental Stimulation through Visualization and Affirmations

What the heck is visualization? Well, before we get to that… picture this….

Let’s take a moment here… imagine this… You’re driving down the highway in your brand new, jet black Half ton with 400 horses under the hood. You have the power sun roof open and the sun is beating down on your head. …

That’s visualization! Visualization is taking the time out of your busy schedule of watching the big game and digging the lint out of your belly button, to visualize what you truly want to experience in your life. To be able to do this effectively, you need to first look at your life; and second, determine what changes you would like to make. So, if you want to make more money, visualize yourself walking into the boss’s office, sitting down and being rewarded with that big raise. If you want to quit fighting with the wife, imagine a nice romantic vacation filled with laughter and good times. If you want to get rid of that itch that has been hounding you since the summer of ’99, imagine yourself no longer needing a helpful scratch.

Visualization can be really fun actually. Enjoy yourself. I would forewarn you though, it can be very powerful. So make sure you are visualizing what you DO want because you will start attracting what you visualize.

Affirmations are when you verbally assert something is true. This is when you verbally repeat to your subconscious self, “I am getting the raise.” “I am in a healthier loving relationship.” “The itch is gone!” This is you affirming what you want in your life.

Visualization and Affirmations are simple exercises which anyone can do to improve the success mindset day in and day out. Taking the time to Visualize and affirm whatever you want will lead you right into the last aspect of the PMS triangle: Spirituality.

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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Want to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE” and leave the construction lifestyle behind? Simple online strategies showing you how to leave the coveralls behind – Coming Soon!

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The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Mental


2009
12.02

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The PMS Triangle – Let’s Get Mental

I have broken up the “M” of the PMS Triangle into 2 different aspects; mental stimulation through Education and Mental stimulation through visualization and affirmation. Let’s start with mental stimulation through education first.

Mental Stimulation through Education

This is going to be the most uncomfortable step for a lot of you. Classrooms are not my thing either but if you can get through it, it puts you light years ahead of those guys who are not willing to get out of their comfort zone.

Two years ago I was a laborer who kept getting passed over time and time again for promotions because I made myself too valuable where I was. I took on the responsibility of running a crew without any increase in pay. It was a perfect situation for management.  Finally, after the third time of being passed for a promotion (which included no pay raise either) I decided to make some changes.

I signed myself up for 14 courses, all of which were 1 or 2 days each. At this time, I was still working a 21 day shift, where I would work 21 days straight which was followed by 7 days off. On my 7 days off, I wouldn’t go out and get slobbering drunk (not all the time anyway).  I wouldn’t go away to the lake or fly somewhere warm. I went and sat in a stuffy classroom for 8 hours a day to improve my situation. I took my destiny from the hands of the management which kept passing me over for promotions and raises, and I put the power where it belongs… in my hands!

I completed the courses in 4 months and 3 months after completing those courses, I was the new health and safety manager for a young oilfield construction company. I was directly responsible for 150 workers safety. It was a new and exciting challenge and it was a huge raise!

The world nowadays is always looking for a piece of paper or certificate that says you’re capable. Learn to embrace the classroom. The minute you decide you don’t need any more education, is the moment you stop growing.

If the classroom just really isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to improve your situation. There are plenty of educational institutions that will provide distance or online learning. You can pick up books related to your given subject from the local library or, as I mentioned in another article, get yourself a mentor and develop a relationship with an expert on your given subject.

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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Want to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE” and leave the construction lifestyle behind? Simple online strategies showing you how to leave the coveralls behind – Coming Soon!


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How to Choose a Mentor


2009
11.28

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How to Choose a Mentor

Whatever you are trying to achieve, whether it be learning to snowboard, learn to play the guitar or learn to build new housing projects, the best way to learn anything, is to learn from someone who has done it already or is already doing it! Your mentor will simplify and speed up the learning process by steering you away from pitfalls that they, more than likely experienced through the always tough, “trial and error” process.

So… How do you choose a mentor for YOU?

Know what you want to accomplish – Make sure you clearly define what you want to accomplish. Set clear goals and timelines on what you want and where you want to go so that you can identify the type of mentor you should approach. Check the posting on goal setting for tips.

Research mentors in your chosen field –

  • “Looking for someone with experience”-Choose someone with experience in the field you want to pursue. If you don’t, it’s like having a first year apprentice tell a journeyman how to do his job. It makes no sense.
  • “Time is of the essence” – Make sure the mentor has the time available to offer to foster a mentorship.
  • “Goaltending” – Someone with similar goals and personality will always make developing the relationship easier and more enjoyable.
  • “Personality Clash” – Make sure you will “like” your mentor to limit any potential for conflicts of interest. With Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and all the other Social Media available nowadays, you can get a pretty good idea of what a person is like without even talking to them.

Contact Potential Mentors - You can get a hold of anyone in today’s digital world. When I was looking to get into real estate investing, I did my research, emailed 3 potential mentors who seemed like a good fit and heard back from 2 of the 3 within 24 hours.

Provide as much or more value as you receive – A mentor is usually a very busy person. Obviously! That’s why you chose them. If your mentor commits their time to you to help you, make sure you give them your best and remain coachable.  Don’t allow yourself to get “know it all” syndrome.

Show your gratitude – Make sure you show your gratitude. Simply taking action and doing what your mentor tells you is the simplest and most rewarding way for you to show him or her your gratitude.

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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Want to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE” and leave the construction lifestyle behind? Simple online strategies showing you how to leave the coveralls behind – Coming Soon!


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The PMS Triangle – Getting Physical


2009
11.28

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The PMS Triangle – Getting Physical

Let’s focus on the “P” of the PMS Success Triangle. So what do we mean by physical effort?

PMS_Triangle

Any effort that requires taking physical action would fall into this category. So preparing yourself physically for success – eating properly, exercising and keeping a strong and healthy body does play it’s part but is just one piece of the puzzle here. The most important aspect of the Physical part of the PMS Triangle is the physical action of “action taking.”

Taking action is usually the point in the process that people tend to magically disappear. Research, planning and all the preliminary parts of the process seem to be a little easier for people to commit to because you can always walk away if things become uncomfortable or challenging. When push comes to shove and it’s time to take action, that’s when people tend to get “cold feet.”

With blue collar, construction-type personalities I have found that we seem to be the exception to the rule here. We tend to be very action orientated and welcome the opportunity to just, “get ‘er done.” With that being said, we are talking about some fairly significant changes here and we all know, blue collar construction-type personalities don’t always do well with change!

But here’s the thing….

If you’re rigging a load, and it just doesn’t seem to be fitting, you don’t keep trying and fighting with it, shoving it hoping it might fit! You don’t decide since you have to change the game plan a bit, you’re just going to give up and walk away. The job has to get done! So what do you do? You lower the load, re-assess and then CHANGE your plan accordingly to ensure success the next time. Then you TAKE ACTION and you “get ‘er done!”

Why attempt to fight and shove life into a spot where it’s not fitting?

If you want to change the way your life is and what your life has in it, how do you expect it to change if you continue to walk away from tough situations? Simply, take the time to reassess your life, and take action. PHYSICALLY DO what you need to, to ensure success. To ensure you start heading in YOUR right direction.

Once you start following the PMS Triangle, opportunities are going to start finding you on a regular basis. Don’t walk away! Don’t be scared of change! This is a very important and necessary step in going from ditch digger to CEO.

Don’t know what the PMS Triangle is? Click here

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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Want to scream, “BLUE COLLAR BEGONE” and leave the construction lifestyle behind? Simple online strategies showing you how to leave the coveralls behind – Coming Soon!


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From Ditch Digger to CEO – Step 6


2009
11.25

Posted in Personal Development | 3 Comments »

Construction Job Site to the Beach – Combine Physical, Mental & Spiritual in Everything you do

The sixth step in going From Ditch Digger to CEO is combining your physical, mental and spiritual aspects to create a state of success harmony. To illustrate what I mean, have a look at the horrible artwork below:

PMS_Triangle

I call this the PMS Triangle. Go ahead… have a good laugh… I know I snickered a bit when I thought of the name.

A triangle is made of 3 sides. No one side no more or less important than the last. All three side contribute to the end result; a triangle! Same ideas can be associated with the PMS triangle. There are 3 sides to the PMS triangle; no one side is more or less important than the last.

Physical: Blue collar and construction personalities do not usually have a problem with the physical aspect of this process but the physical part is more than just throwing around a bunch of heavy… “stuff”. It’s more about the actual physical follow through and action-“izing” when your opportunity presents itself. Keep your eyes open, the opportunities are about to come fast and furious at you!

Mental: I agree! Blue collar workers are not known for being big on the mental aspects of life. Most blue collar people I have met cringe at the thought of sitting in a classroom for even a day. This is your chance to set yourself apart from the rest of the crowd. The mental phase is the preparation part of the process. This is gathering information and education but also going beyond that. To complete daily visualization exercises to keep a strong mental image of what it is that you desire most.

Spiritual: I know! I get it! Blue collar tough guys (and gals) do not typically want to talk about spiritual anything! I get that… but if you’re genuinely determined to change your life and create more opportunities and abundance in your life; well… sorry about your luck! Spirituality plays a huge role! Just as big the physical part and just as big as the mental part. I’m not talking about becoming a religious devote, I mean getting in touch with the inner you. Start to figure out what it is you want in life on a deeper level. Start to understand and really “feel” your desires. Try meditation. Try Yoga. Try anything that is going to help you align you and your desires in life. The power this creates is unbelievable.

By combining efforts with the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life, we begin to see immediate changes in our lives. You will have countless opportunities come to you easily and frequently. It will not be long before you go from Ditch Digger to CEO.

Stay tuned for a few additional tips and tricks to speed up the process of going from Ditch Digger to CEO – Coming Soon

To Your Success
-Scott Weller

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