council

Trenching Hazards: March’s Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: I am hearing a lot about trench & excavation hazards recently.  Besides cave-ins, is there any other hazards I should be aware of?

Answer: Many construction workers are injured and killed in trench and excavation collapses each year.  Although collapsing is the major hazard with trenches and excavations, there are others that you should be aware of, as well.

  1. Trenches and excavations can be deficient of oxygen or could contain hazardous concentrations of gases like carbon monoxide. Stay out of the trench or excavation and report to your supervisor if either hazard is a possibility.
  2. Watch out for buried electrical cables that could cause injuries or electrocutions. Excavators are supposed to call local utilities before they dig, but its safest to assume that they haven’t.  If you see a cable, assume it is hot.  Get out immediately without coming into contact with it and report to your supervisor.
  3. Watch for water lines and avoid breaking them. Broken lines will cause trenches and excavations to cave in quickly.  If you see water inside a trench or excavation, get out immediately and contact your supervisor.
  4. Watch for buried gas lines and other buried hazards. They could cause injuries.  For example, a broken natural gas line could be ignited by a welding spark, torch, cigarette or other source.
  5. Be aware of falling and moving objects while working, especially when an equipment operator is lowering pipe, shoring materials or other objects into the trench or excavation. Keep well away from the process.
  6. Remember that changing weather conditions may affect the stability of the soil in a trench or excavation. When changes in weather occur, such as rain, snow, ice storms, heavy winds or extended periods of hot, dry, weather.  Stay out of the trench until it is inspected by someone with the knowledge and experience to know whether entering could be hazardous.
  7. Always maintain an accessible means of exiting the trench or excavation such as a ladder or ramp. There should be an accessible exit within 25 feet of every worker inside the trench or excavation.

Provided by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

February 2020 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for February 2020!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Embracing the Long View for Safety. Do you abandon your new safety strategy too soon? In this episode, Mike & Nic chat about the diffusion of innovation model and what it means for safety! (11:30) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  2. Tench Safety Grant (TSG) Program:BWC’s Trench Safety Grant Program provides 4-to-1 matching funds, up to $12,000, to Ohio private and public employers covered by the State Insurance Fund who wish to purchase equipment to substantially reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses associated with trenching and excavation. The grant funds can assist employers in purchasing safety equipment, such as trench boxes and hydraulic shoring.
  3. Trench Safety Ohio.com! A new website from the Ohio BWC that provides links to trenching safety information and tips, training, and publications.
  4. Practical Application of Electrical Safety (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on December 12, 2019. The topic was Practical Application of Electrical Safety and it was presented by Karl Cunningham, Global Electrical Safety, Maintenance and Project Specialist, ES Squared, Inc. (34:26) Listen/Download via Google Drive.
  5. February’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. OSHA’s Policy on Online Training: February’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, Stitcher & You Tube! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  1. NOTICE: March Meeting Date Change! Due to OSC 2020, our regularly scheduled March meeting will now be on March 5th, 2020. Please advise all staff planning to attend.
  2. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, March 5, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Safety Crash Course – Part 2 and it will be presented by various speakers. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, March 2.
  3. 2020 Expo! The 4th biannual Portage County Workplace Health & Safety Expo will be on Friday, June 19, 2020, 8am-3pm, at Maplewood Career Center. More details coming this spring!
  4. Expo Vendor Tables Starting at $50!!! Deadline is March 31, 2020. Follow link for more details.
  5. New PCSC You Tube Channel! One podcast will now be automatically converted to video and uploaded to our new You Tube channel every week! 
  6. Website Update! Our website can now be found at PortageCountySafetyCouncil.com! The old WordPress URL stills works but now we are ad free and you can save a few seconds with the new domain address. In addition, we’ve also added several new pages under the About Us tab, to make it easier to explore & navigate all the good things the PCSC is currently involved in! Check it out!

EXTERNAL TRAINING CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

*Click here for ETC guidelines.

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.
  • Rebate Fact Sheet: Have a question regarding rebate requirements? Check out this fact sheet from the Ohio BWC.

January is Workplace Wellness Month

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PCSC Members:

We’re teaming up with SCSC to promote workplace wellness throughout the month of January!

At our monthly meeting on Thursday, January 9, 2020, we’ll be officially launching our new Healthy Workers are Safer Workers Campaign which provides employers with free campaign tools and workplace wellness resources aimed at helping them improve worker health!

We’ll be giving away 100 free campaign posters to those in attendance! Click here to download a free electronic copy today!

In addition to the campaign launch, we’ll be publishing a new workplace wellness podcast every Monday throughout to month! Once released, these episodes will be available through all of our podcast channels on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher!

To learn more, click here to listen to the January is Workplace Wellness Month podcast announcement today!

 

Jan 9, 2020 – Reboot Your Health

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Greetings Safety Council Members!

Our next meeting is Thursday, January 9, 2020, 11:30am-1:00pm, at the Ravenna Elks Club which is located at 776 N Freedom St in Ravenna. Sponsored By US Safety Gear

January is Workplace Wellness Month!!!

Our topic for this month is…

Reboot Your Health, presented by Dr. Aubree Jones, D.C., Peak Health & Wellness.

Dr. Aubree Jones is a native of Chautauqua County, New York. She graduated from Falconer Central school in 2008 and continued her studies at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH earning her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Physiology in 2012. Dr. Aubree then went on to earn her Doctorate in Chiropractic from New York Chiropractic College in 2016.                                                                                             

Please RSVP online no later than 12pm on Monday, January 6. Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted at the door. Please make your check payable to: “Portage County Safety Council.” Please note: $5 fee will be charge for walk-ins including members who do not RSVP by deadline, no shows will be invoiced. Invoicing at the door is no longer available.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP NOW

 

 

December 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for December 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. [Safety Blast] Winter Walking-Working Surfaces Standard. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, gives us a snapshot of OSHA’s walking-working surfaces standards in regards to inclement winter weather often experienced in Northeast Ohio and beyond! (2:19)
  2. Training Common Sense to Improve Winter Safety. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, shares why it’s important to train workers in what appears to be common sense during the winter weather season! (7:10)
  3. How to Avoid Slips, Trips & Falls in Winter Weather Conditions. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant Specialist for the Ohio BWC, called in to share some tips on how to avoid slips, trips & falls in winter conditions! (7:20)
  4. The Effects of Drugs at Work (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on March 14, 2019. The topic was The Effects of Drugs at Work: Warning Signs & Prevention and it was presented by Dr. Amanda Burke, Prevention Specialist at Townhall II. Click here to view the power point used in the presentation. (43:34)
  5. December’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide.
  7. Bandsaw Guarding: December’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  8. 7 Short Lessons On Electrical Safety That Everyone Should Know. Article by Ving!
  9. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 12, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Practical Application of Electrical Safety,  and it will be presented by Karl Cunningham, Global Electrical Safety, Maintenance and Project Specialist, ES Squared, Inc.. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, December 9th.
  • Holiday Food Drive on December 12th! The first 50 attendees who donate at least one non-perishable food item at our 12/12/19 luncheon will receive a free Bridges Out of Poverty book! Donations will go to Kent Social Services.
  • January Will Be Workplace Wellness Month! January 2020 will be Workplace Wellness month at the PCSC! We’ll be releasing a related podcast every Monday of the month. More info and resources coming soon!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  • Flu Prevention. In this Safety Talk, Susan Forgacs, Public Health Nurse from the Portage County Combined Health District gives us some timely tips on flu prevention. (7:50)
  • The Costs of Improper Handwashing at Work. In this interview, Justin Rechichar of the Portage County Health District shares that according to CDC statistics, employers lose an average of $1,685 in production per employee every year. Something he says that can be significantly reduced by proper handwashing. (14:21

 

November 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for November 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. [Safety Blast] Winter Driving Safety Tips. Lori Cook, Traffic Safety Advisor for AAA East Central NEO gives us 9 tips on how to stay safe driving in the winter! (1:49)
  2. Behavior-Based Safety 101 (Live). This is a live recording of the “BBS 101…It’s Not BS!” breakout session at the NE Ohio Safety Expo on Oct. 11, 2019. The topic was presented by Sarah Ghezzi, CSP, Industrial Safety Consultant, for Ohio BWC! (45:34)
  3. Improving Safety By Understanding People (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on November 14, 2019. The topic was Improving Safety By Understanding People and it was presented by Mike Thompson, PCSC Manager. Click here to view the power point used in the presentation. (36:53)
  4. Ohio Fire Codes in the Workplace (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on August 8, 2019. The topic was Ohio Fire Codes in the Workplace and it was presented by Lt. Jeff Coffee of the Kent Fire Dept. (44:46)
  5. Winter Safety Podcast Library. Contains 14 podcasts dedicated to winter safety! These episodes would make great toolbox talks or meeting icebreakers.
  6. OSHA’s Cold Stress Guide.
  7. November’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  8. Holiday Safety Tips: November’s Safety & Hygiene Corner.
  9. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, December 12, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Practical Application of Electrical Safety,  and it will be presented by Karl Cunningham, Global Electrical Safety, Maintenance and Project Specialist, ES Squared, Inc.. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, December 9th.
  • 2020 sponsorships are SOLD OUT!
  • 28 PCSC members completed the OSHA 10 Hour General Industry training at Hess Print Solutions in Kent, OH, on Nov. 7-8, 2019, earning their OSHA 10 card! Good job and congratulations everyone!

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

WORKPLACE WELLNESS:

  • [Health Talk] Diabetes 101. November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Mindy Gusz, Community Outreach Coordinator at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center, gives us a crash course on diabetes and how to overcome it! (5:08)
  • January 2020 will be Workplace Wellness month at the PCSC! More info and resources coming soon!

 

October 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for October 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

ATTN: SCHOOLS!

  • Check out Anti-Virus Youth Education!  Anti-Virus Youth Education has positively impacted over 75 school districts and over 20,000 students! Based out of Ohio, they have completed leadership & character development workshops in 6 states, have been designated as a Best Practice by the Ohio Department of Education and their curriculum can be found in 16 nations! Director, Tanya Miller called in to chat about this exciting program making a difference around the world! Please share this episode with colleagues and friends who work in education today!

WHY I STAY SAFE CAMPAIGN RESOURCES:

  • Free Employer Toolkit: The Why I Stay Safe Employer Toolkit reviews the results of our survey, highlights key takeaways, lists easy ways to implement the campaign at your workplace and provides free campaign graphics to help get you started!
  • Free Campaign Poster & Flyer: Feel free to download, print and display at your workplace! The poster is 11×17 and the flyer is 8.5×11, both are in PDF.
  • Free Campaign Graphics & Pictures: Feel free to share in your company emails, newsletters and social media pages! All are in JPEG format.
  • Take the Employer Pledge! If your company will be participating in the #WhyIStaySafe Campaign, please sign-up in the Employer Pledge! This helps us to measure the impact of the campaign. We won’t share contact info with anyone.
  • Why I Stay Safe Campaign Launch (Live). This is a live recording of our Why I Stay Safe Campaign launch at our monthly workplace safety luncheon on October 10, 2019. PCSC Manager, Mike Thompson, shares the insight from a recent survey that led to the development & launch of the campaign as well as the free resources that are available online aimed at helping employers integrate the campaign into their current safety program.

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Selling Safety to CEO’s, Managers and Front Line Employees. Cari Gray, Safety Consultant for the Ohio BWC, called in to chat with us about how to sell safety to CEO’s, middle managers and front-line employees! (36:15)
  2. Someone’s at the Door – They’re from OSHA! (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on September 12, 2019. The topic was Someone’s at the Door – They’re from OSHA! and it was presented by Pat McCon, Sr. Risk Engineering Consultant, Zurich North America. (43:25)
  3. Why I Stay Safe Podcast. What’s your employees’ primary motivation for working safe? It may not be what you think it is! Join Nic & Mike as they chat about the results of a recent survey that led to the launch of the Portage County Safety Council’s new Why I Stay Safe Campaign! (19:00)
  4. Breaking Out of the Safety Box. What is “the safety box” and how can you break out of it to improve your company’s safety performance? Join Nic & Mike as they answer these questions and chat about how to overcome common industry blinders that may be hindering your company’s safety score! (20:55)
  5. October’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  6. Temporary Workers: October’s Safety & Hygiene Corner
  7. How Avoiding Back Pain Can Be As Basic As Muscle Memory. Article by Ving!
  8. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • OSHA 10hr Training is Almost SOLD OUT! More than half the seats are already filled. Hurry and register today before its too late!
  • NEXT MEETING: Thursday, November 14, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Healthy Backs & Bodies and it will be presented by Tanya Snowden, PT, CEAS, AOEAS, Program Creator and Master Instructor, HEALTHY BACKS & BODIES™. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, November 11th.
  • 2020 Sponsorships Available! 2020 monthly luncheon sponsorships are now available! Each month is still only $125 and you get 20% off when sponsor more than one month. Contact us before they’re gone!
  • FY20 Participation Spreadsheet in now available! Rebate eligible members can now review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum FY20 rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis. 

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.

Temporary Workers: October 2019 Safety & Hygiene Corner

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Question: What are the employer responsibilities to protect temporary workers?

Answer: There is a joint responsibility of the host employers and the staffing agency.

While the extent of responsibility under the law of staffing agencies and host employers is dependent on the specific facts of each case, staffing agencies and host employers are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for temporary workers – including, for example, ensuring that OSHA’s training, hazard communication, and recordkeeping requirements are fulfilled.

OSHA could hold both the host and temporary employers responsible for the volatile condition(s) – and that can include lack of adequate training regarding workplace hazards. Temporary staffing agencies and host employers share control over the worker, and are therefore jointly responsible for temporary workers’ safety and health.

OSHA has concerns that some employers may use temporary workers to avoid meeting all their compliance obligations under the OSH Act. Therefore, it is essential that both employers comply with all relevant OSHA requirements.

A key concept is that each employer should consider the hazards it is in a position to prevent and correct, and in a position to comply with OSHA standards. For example: staffing agencies might provide general safety and health training, and host employers provide specific training tailored to the particular workplace equipment/hazards.

  • The key is communication
  • Staffing agencies must ensure that they are sending workers to a safe workplace. They also must verify that the host has fulfilled its responsibilities for a safe workplace.
  • Ignorance of hazards is not an excuse.
  • And, just as important: Host employers must treat temporary workers like any other workers in terms of training and safety and health protections.

OSHA has updated their page on responsibilities and temp workers

https://www.osha.gov/shpguidelines/communication.html

https://www.osha.gov/temp_workers/

*Brought to you by the Ohio BWC safety consultants.

September 2019 Newsletter

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Welcome to our monthly newsletter for September 2019!

Our goal for the newsletter is to connect our members to relevant safety resources, all linked together in one convenient location every month. We hope you find this resource useful and valuable!

Please share with your colleagues!

SAFETY RESOURCES:

  1. Breaking Out of the Safety Box. What is “the safety box” and how can you break out of it to improve your company’s safety performance? Join Nic & Mike as they answer these questions and chat about how to overcome common industry blinders that may be hindering your company’s safety score! (20:55)
  2. Drones: Commercial uses, Regulations and Best Practices (Live). This is a live recording of our monthly workplace safety luncheon on June 13, 2019. The topic was Drones: Commercial Uses, Regulations and Best Practices and it was presented by Josh Grappy, UAS Program Coordinator, Ohio BWC. (36:08)
  3. Transferring Safety Knowledge Through the Generational Gaps.Tony DeAscentis (the CEO) & Gabe King (the Millennial) of Ving!, stayed over with us after their presentation to chat about how to transfer safety knowledge through the generational gap! (15:30)
  4. September’s Safety Update from the Ohio BWC Library. Each edition provides up-to-date news & safety information.
  5. Push & Pull Motions: September’s Safety & Hygiene Corner
  6. OSHA’s Top Workplace Safety Tips for Employers. Article by Ving!
  7. PCSC Podcasts: Our podcasts are now available on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, Podbean, & Stitcher! Access local & relevant workplace safety information right through your phone! Subscribe today!

PCSC NEWS:

  • 2020 Sponsorships Available! 2020 monthly luncheon sponsorships are now available! Each month is still only $125 and you get 20% off when sponsor more than one month. Contact us before they’re gone!
  • OCTOBER MEETING: Thursday, October 10, 2019, 11:30am-1:00pm. The topic will be Effective Safety & Motivational Leadership and it will be presented by a panel of local safety managers. RSVP deadline is 12pm on Monday, October 7th.
  • DID YOU KNOW? We record the audio from most of our monthly meeting presentations and make them available for free on our website and through our podcast! That means you can access and share the presentation audio through any computer or smart device! If you enjoyed one of our guest speakers, consider sharing the audio of their presentation with your colleagues today!
  • NE Ohio Safety Expo Podcasts: We’ll be interviewing speakers and recording a few presentations at the NE Ohio Safety Expo in October! They’ll be made available for free on all of our podcast channels and website. Stay tuned for more info.

EXTERNAL TRAINING CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES:

Please note that these events are not hosted by the PCSC but do qualify for one FY20 ETC. PCSC member can use up to 2 ETC in order to meet the minimum 10 Attendance Credits required to rebate eligible.

 

PROGRAM UPDATES:

  • BWC Updates: These are the power points presented by BWC Representative Nic Coia at our monthly meetings.
  • Monthly Meeting Power Points. We post them on our website after the presenters send them to us and give us permission to publish. If the speaker provides additional info, we’ll post it there as well.
  • External Training Credit Opportunities: We post them on our blog as outside organizations send them to us. A maximum of 2 external training credits are allowed per program year to help members earn the 10 minimum attendance credits required by the rebate. Please Note: ETC certificates of completion must be submitted by June 30 every year in order to qualify. Click here for ETC guidelines.
  • Rebate Participation Spreadsheet. Rebate eligible members can review how close they are to fulfilling the minimum rebate eligibility requirements by reviewing the Participation Spreadsheet which is typically updated on a monthly basis.