The short answer is 'Yes!'

But the bigger question is 'Why?'

The obvious answer may be that wearing a safety harness will keep you out of a sling. Protecting yourself from harm makes good sense.

From a legal perspective, the OSHA requirements for fall protection have been on the books for many years. Many state and local statutes also require protection for all those who work in an elevated position. The sad truth is that many people simply do not use it.

Ask builders or contractors privately about fall protection and you'll most likely hear answers such as ‘it slows production’ or ‘it’s not necessary’. However, the general attitude towards using fall protection is changing as more and more people recognize the benefit of following the local and federal requirements.

Instead of focusing on the legal requirements of using some sort of fall protection system, let's discuss the practical reasons for using it.

The most valuable thing any of us possess is our life, so it makes sense to take reasonable precautions to protect our health and safety. A CNN/Money article from August 2005 states that in 2004 there were nearly 100 reported deaths from falls on the job site. This figure does not include the thousands of preventable fall-related injuries from minor to disabling.

This is not a doom and gloom statement: the reality is that working in an elevated position is potentially dangerous. Taking precautions to prevent the possibility of an injury accident beforehand is smart. You would never suggest that someone drive their car without a seat belt. The same is true when working in an elevated position. So now the question is how can I do it easily and without spending tremendous amounts of money?

A simple kit like the one pictured above may be all you need to not only protect yourself while working. A harness, lifeline and reusable anchor point are basics to keeping you safe, but yet meet all Local and Federal Fall Protection requirements.

Residential wood frame construction exposes workers to many situations that pose specific safety problems. At Dunn Lumber, we’ve found that the folks at Super Anchor are experts at solving them.

The most important part of any fall-prevention solution is the actual anchor attachment point. Super Anchor has multiple anchors for different applications: from permanent, one-time temporary use or reusable anchors, to anchors installed at the framing stage or those installed after the roof is completed. Each has been painstakingly engineered and extensively tested to insure that they are as effective as possible while being affordable.

Super Anchor Safety products provide simple solutions to all residential fallprotection situations. Super Anchor products are available at all Dunn Lumber locations and our staff will be pleased to answer your questions. Visit the Super Anchor web site at www.superanchor.com for more information.

With home heating costs on the rise, conserving energy this winter has becomemore important than ever. The media is reminding homeowners that they can reduce their energy costs by winterizing and sealing their homes. The major sources of air leakage in an average home are: frame walls (17%); ceilings (5%); windows (16%); basement walls (20%) and doors (3%), but by far the main source of heat loss is from cracks in walls, doors and windows (38%).

We carry a wide variety of DAP weatherization products to help seal leaks in your home, getting the full performance from your insulation while reducing your heating bill.

Once leaks are found, they are fairly easy to seal with the right products. Any cracks H inch or narrower can be sealed with an acrylic caulk. DAP’s Dynaflex 230, an elastomeric latex sealant, is a perfect choice and comes with a 50-year durability guarantee. Its permanently flexible formula can accommodate up to 50% total joint movement without cracking or losing adhesion.

Larger gaps require using a foam sealant. Polyurethane foams traditionally have been used for this application, but they are difficult to work with, can over-expand and can be nearly impossible to clean up. A new foam, DAPtex Plus window & door foam sealant with CoVinyl-X9000 takes the fear out of foam. It is latex-based but has all the sealing and insulating properties of polyurethanes with none of the application issues. It is toolable, so you can work with it once it is applied and it will not over expand, so you don’t have window or wall sockets popping out because you applied too much of the product. Best of all, unlike polyurethane foam, DAPtex Plus cleans up with soap and water.

Like standard caulks and sealants, foam sealants can be used in a variety of locations including attics and basements. They are not recommended for use around heat sources like chimneys and wood burning stoves. For these applications, use special high temperature silicone caulks.

With just a little effort you can stop one of the major causes of high utility bills and stay warm this winter with-out draining your pocketbook.

One of the most frustrating things contractors deal with each year is trying to find a company that will insure them.

You can be on the phone or in meetings for months prior to your policy expiring, trying to convince your agent to insure your company for another year. You are asked dozens of questions about the activities of your company, and by the time you are done answering, you have a laundry list of projects that your company will no longer be insured on. To top it all off, the premiums are going through the roof!

Dunn Lumber certainly doesn’t have all the answers to the challenges facing our builder customers today, but we would like to invite you to an informational clinic on January 11, 2006, focusing on the topic of insuring your business. Whether you do $100k in annual sales or $100m, there will be representatives there that can discuss options for insuring your business. These representatives will cover:

• What type of insurance do you need and how much.
• What you can do to gain the underwriters attention (get to the top of the pile).
• Understanding the process: what are actual delays versus stalling.
• Industry trends; what you can expect in the future.
• What is covered? It seems everything is excluded.
• How to simplify the buying process and prepare in advance.
• Understanding the questions, will help you prepare your answers.
• Why am I buying insurance when, if I turn in a claim, I will be canceled?
• How to pre-screen your broker; aren’t they all the same?
• Why can’t I get bids when that is how our business works?

This free clinic will be held at the Bellevue Dunn Lumber (2350 140th Avenue NE). There will be an AM and a PM session. Space is limited, so sign up early. To sign up, please mail in the coupon beloiw or send e-mail to shirleyp@dunnlum.com Please include your company name, names of those attending, AM or PM session, and a daytime phone number.