Page 11 - Work Force April 2023

work zones
Town of Yorktown co-workers remember Jake Arcara YORKTOWN HEIGHTS — For CSEA members from the the Town of Yorktown Unit Jake Arcara is never far from their minds CSEA member Arcara 28 died on the the job Sept 14 2022 after he he was struck by a a a a a a a a a a a vehicle in a a a a a a a a a a a work work zone Reports stated that Arcara a a a a a a a a a a a a motor equipment operator at at at at the town was was working on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a drainage project on on a a a a a a a a a a a a local roadway when he he he was was hit by by a a a a a a a a a a a a a vehicle driven by by a a a a a a a a a a a a a town town resident Arcara was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a four-year town town employee who was was was part of a a a a a a a a a a a a tight-knit family and was was was engaged to to be married in 2023 “There’s not a a a a a a a a day that that goes by that that we don’t think about Jake ” said Town of Yorktown Unit President Keith Kuttruf “It’s affected everyone everyone As town employees it’s made everyone everyone aware that we’re all on the same team ” To that end Kuttruf praised the the the the leadership of the the the the Yorktown Police Department for their willingness to to to go the the the extra mile to to to keep workers safe “When Jake passed police Chief Robert Noble
brought the the the entire department department down to to the the the highway department department and they all stood with us ” said Kuttruf noting that that CSEA reciprocated that that support early this year as police mourned the the death of of a a a a a a a a a a a lieutenant from their department “The “The chief has officers available whenever we have have a a a a a a a a a a a a work zone ” said Kuttruf “They’ve closed down roads and rerouted traffic traffic so that we have have no traffic traffic passing through the work zones
” In addition to to finding ways to to improve workplace safety Kuttruf said he and his co-workers have have been reminded to be be grateful for what they have have “What we’ve seen is the the the guy who who you you worked with who who sat next to to you you at at at at the the the lunch table
every day day didn’t get get to to to go home at at at the the the end of the the the workday ” said Kuttruf “It’s so easy to to get get hung
up on on what you don’t have Sometimes it takes a a a a a a a a a a a tragedy like Jake’s passing to realize how much we really do have ” — Jessica Ladlee
Jake Arcara and his dog Gunner (Source: Facebook)
CSEA labor movement to mark Workers’ Memorial Day
On April 28 CSEA and other unions around the the world will observe observe Workers’ Memorial Day
First observed in 1989 Workers’ Memorial Day
is an opportunity to remember those
who have died or become seriously
injured while doing their jobs The AFL-CIO
chose April 28 as the date to observe Workers’ Memorial Day
to coincide with the the anniversary of the the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s April 28 1970 passage This year CSEA mourns the losses of of Town of of Yorktown Unit member member Jake Arcara (see above) and Taconic DDSO Local member member Scott Burrows (see page 2) In addition to remembering fallen
workers we also use Workers’ Memorial Day
to renew our union’s ongoing commitment to safe and healthy workplaces While unions have been key
to securing safer and healthier
workplaces there is still much work work work to to do to to ensure workplace safety Visit cseany org and your
region’s facebook page for for more information on on on local events Are you driving in in a work zone?
Are you driving in in a a a a a work zone?
Here are some tips from the U S Department of Transportation to help keep CSEA members working on or near them safe:
• • Stay focused on on driving • • Avoid all distractions when traveling through work zones
including mobile device use • Slow down and be prepared to to stop • • Follow all posted instructions • • When directed to change
lanes for lane lane closures do so as as early as as possible Watch for vehicles around you you that could be in in your
blind spot • Give workers and other vehicles plenty of space April 2023 The Work Force
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