Page 9 - Work Force February 2025

Cold takes its toll
TROY — Wooden pipes and cast iron pipes stamped “1803” are just a few discoveries workers have made over the years, evidence that the City of Troy has some of the oldest infrastructure in the country.
The city, which is also well known for historic architecture, is a setting for production of the HBO series “The Gilded Age.”
So, it’s no surprise that the city’s infrastructure is in a constant state of repair.
CSEA member Sean Keefe has been working at the city’s Department of Public Utilities for 25 years. In the summer, he runs heavy equipment needed for excavation and repairs.
In the winter, he moves from site to site repairing water main breaks, unfreezing fire hydrants and keeping the water flowing for residents.
“In the summer, yeah, you’re tired, but it’s nothing like the cold,” said Keefe. “The cold is physically exhausting; it saps your energy. Your body is working hard to stay warm, you burn more calories and when you get home, you’re just drained.”
Keefe and his co-workers keep rags on the heater in the truck to warm their hands between jobs, as they can’t use gloves when they are
turning water valves.
It’s also potentially dangerous.
Cold and wet are a recipe for frostbite, but working around water makes it hard to stay dry. Then, there is the ice.
“I was on a hill a few weeks back during a cold snap. I slipped on some ice in a driveway, hit a curb and slid comically down the hill, landing on Oakwood Avenue,” said Keefe, with
a smile. “My coat was so wet that
it was frozen solid and crunchy. I could take it off and stand it up like a mannequin.”
While Keefe retains a sense of humor, he carries with him the brutal realities of the job.
Those realities include hands that crack and bleed from repeated exposure to cold air. Other ones include wind and sun burn on the face, frostbite and swollen joints.
For Keefe, it also meant four surgeries, including two shoulder reconstructions, back and knee surgery.
“Yeah, my surgeon said I will need more [procedures],” said Keefe “I’m only 43 [years old]. It takes its toll.”
— Therese Assalian
Sean Keefe, a water maintenance worker 2 at the City of Troy Department of Public Utilities, stands near his truck at a hydrant repair.
On the cover, from left, City of Troy Department of Public Utilities workers Amani Raphael and Austin Wagar adjust settings on the truck for the propane tank and heater used to inject steam to frozen hydrant valves. (Photo by Therese Assalian.)
cseany.org
February 2025 • Vol. 28, No. 2
Cold Work: Stay safe when the temps drop
See pages 2, 8-12
Proposed state budget focuses on affordability Page 3
Black History Month
Pages 4-5
Conference inspires CSEA delegation Page 6
Photo by Therese Assalian
Situational awareness key to withstanding frigid temperatures
HEMPSTEAD — CSEA Town of Hempstead Unit President Tom McDonough has learned exactly what it takes to stay safe when the temperature drops.
“Keep your
eyes on the
weather applications to keep track of the weather,” said McDonough, who serves as the town’s safety coordinator, chairs the Long Island Region Safety and Health Committee and serves on our union’s Standing Safety and Health Committee. “It’s
important to wear layers because the temperature you experience first thing in the morning will change in the afternoon. With layers, you’ll be able to adjust
your clothing so you can work comfortably at any time of the day.”
Monitoring your work gear to ensure that you are wearing the proper boots for various weather conditions is also paramount.
McDonough also stresses the importance of experience.
“I always ask senior workers to keep an eye on the new workers,” said McDonough. “If you don’t have experience working outside in the elements, you won’t recognize the signs of things like frostbite or
dehydration.”
Shivering is a sign to look for as
that is the body’s way of warming itself up. It is also advised to look
at workers’ hands, which could become lighter in color. When one begins to freeze, blood rushes to the body’s core to warm itself causing those symptoms. Members should also watch for numbness or tingling in their extremities.
“Situational awareness is key; always know what’s going on around you,” said McDonough. “I’ve seen workers get hurt because they slipped on the ice.”
McDonough suggests workers avoid certain beverages, including coffee because it is a diuretic, and
alcohol because it dehydrates. Wind burn is another issue
workers can face while working outdoors. McDonough suggests workers cover as much of their skin as possible, including wearing a hat, covering ears and wearing an apparatus to cover the face.
Occasionally going inside or sitting in the truck to warm up are also high on McDonough’s list of suggestions, along with wearing sunblock.
“CSEA members are family; we have to watch out for each other,” said McDonough.
— Wendi Bowie
McDonough
February 2025
The Work Force 9