This summer, my family drove to Disneyland for a vacation to celebrate the high school graduation of my two oldest children. We prepared for a year in advance; saving money, researching, making reservations, getting our van in tip top condition with new tires, oil change, tune up, windshield replacement etc. Finally we were off with four teenagers in tow. The holiday was amazing, but alas, it was time to go home. We drove into Olympia, Washington around eight o’clock and decided to splurge on a Red Lobster dinner. And we feasted! We tried to get a hotel room afterward, but 20,000 American military troops had come home, and there was nothing available in the area. We got back onto the I-5 and headed to Tacoma to look for a room. We had only been on the road for a few minutes when I noticed a vehicle approaching from the merging lane, speeding and out of control. She was heading right at us, and there was nothing we could do! The driver T-boned us on the passenger side. We fl ipped twice and the van slid on the side of the freeway until we were fi nally stopped by a guardrail that overlooked a 20 foot drop onto train tracks below. She would later

tell offi cers that her fl ip-fl op sandal had gotten stuck. Words cannot explain what I felt as I realized what had happened, and turned to look back at my family. Everyone, miraculously, was OK! We were covered in broken glass, and the leftovers from our dinner were hanging everywhere, but we were OK. The windows had blown out and the windshield was badly damaged...but still fi rmly in place. A memory came to me of meetings at All-West Glass, where we were told how a properly installed windshield can save lives in a crash. The paramedics who treated my son for lacerations and glass in his arm looked at me and said, “Someone was looking out for your family today. When we are called for rollovers, there is rarely a happy ending.” I smiled, grateful for our lives and agreed. I also told him I was going to call All-West Glass when I got home, to thank them for the great job on the windshield installation. I think several factors played a part in our miracle, such as the fact that we were all wearing seatbelts. I fi rmly believe that the windshield holding up played a big part as well. Thank you All-West Glass Prince George! Kelly Martineau (former All-West Glass CSR, Mackenzie, BC).

september 2010

Laura StantonVice-President

As I write my column, I am on my way to Kelowna to see the new IGD warehouse. They are a full week ahead of schedule and should be operating out of the new location the week after Labour DayMany thanks to Kevin and the gang at IGD Kelowna for a successful move! I look forward to seeing the new digs.IGD Kelowna’s telephone and fax numbers are changing to: Phone 250-765-0535, Fax 250-765-1344. The address for the new warehouse is: Unit 2, 690 McCurdy RoadKelowna, BC, V1X 2P5

Sales for All-West Glass are still positive. While their construction work has decreased slightly over last year they are still getting lots of jobs while also maintaining sales in Automotive and Residential. That is in no small part to all of you and the great work you do. We continue to receive great feedback from our customers about the quality of our work and the calibre of people we have working for our company and of course the level of service we provide…so ‘thank you’ and keep up the great work!

Talewinds...

Kelly (far right). Photo taken during the family trip to Disneyland

www.fl ickr.com/photos/awg

Saved by a windshield?Family OK after vacation roll-over.

MOLD: IT’S NOT ONLY ON BREADIn recent years, many people have become increasingly concerned about the potential health effects of mold. There have been numerous stories in the media about mold problems in schools, courthouses and other public buildings.There are many different types of mold; it comes in a variety of colours and it is not possible to say one colour is worse or better than the other. It almost always grows in damp, poorly ventilated areas.

Mold spores are always present in the air, both outdoors and indoors. When they settle and the three conditions necessary for mold growth are present, that is, a suitable temperature, suitable substrate or material and adequate moisture, then growth takes hold and the problem escalates. Mold growth may produce billions of spores per square metre of visible growth which, when airborne, can pose a potential health risk. Mold may also create toxins which, when touched, can cre-ate an allergic reaction in some people.

The documented health risks associated with mold include runny nose, eye irritation, cough, aggravation of asthma, headache, fl u-like symptoms, fatigue and skin rash. Not everyone who is exposed to mold will experience adverse health effects. Susceptibility varies with a person’s age, state of health and genetic predisposition. Infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with respiratory conditions or allergies or asthma and those with compromised immune systems (chemotherapy patients, bone marrow transplant patients, HIV patients) are more at risk.If you have mold in your home, it is important to remove the cause – good old H2O – fi rst. Just removing the mold, or painting over it, won’t get rid of it if there is still a moisture problem. Quite often household detergent is enough to rid a surface of mold. It is important that the area be completely dry within 48 hours afterwards. Any growth area over 10 sq. ft. should be handled by a professional. If you are removing it yourself, remember to wear gloves and a mask if possible.For more information, check out www.mouldfacts.ca/index.html and see the mold photos from Mike at Windows & Doors on Tonya’s blog on the Glazette or if you type the word mold into Google there are lots of yucky photos! And in case you’re wondering what’s the correct spelling? Both mold and mould are acceptable. Karen Murray, Health and Safety Offi cer

This months Tech Tip comes as a refresher for windshield installations. It by no means covers every step of the installation process but does contain the basics. Before anything, inspect the new windshield for defects and any contamination that may compromise the bonding of the urethane. Also look for scratches and defects in the glass.• Start the dismantling in your head before you actually touch the vehicle.

Know what you are going to do before you do it. This will increase your confi dence going into the job.

• When removing the wipers, label the driver and passenger side. • When cutting out the windshield, only use water as a cut-out lubricant. • Trim the existing urethane bed using only the “Full-Cut” method. • Prime all scratches on the pinchweld using U5404 body primer and

inspect the area for any condition that might comprise the installation (rust, contaminated areas, etc). Make sure to allow for proper dry-ing time of the primer and be sure to shake the primer for at least 30 seconds.

• Dry-fi t the new windshield to ensure proper placement and fi t.• Prime the new windshield with U5500 glass primer, again shake the

container for a minimum of 30 seconds, and allow proper drying time • Apply a V-Bead of urethane (Betaseal One or Betaseal Express) to the

body (a windshield application is also acceptable but the body appli-cation is preferred).

• Make sure the decking height is correct and the windshield lines up (top to bottom, side to side).

• While re-assembling, install the wiper arms noting the driver and pas-senger sides. Hold the wiperblade tip on the alignment marks on the windshield for correct placement. Once all the parts have been re-installed, check the wipers and wiper fl uid for correct operation.

• Fill out the Windshield Tech Sheet. • Always be sure to prime and urethane all mouldings to the windshield

before installation. Cam Leslie, Automotive Sales Manager

AUTOMOTIVE TECH TIPTThe Globally Harmonized System he Globally Harmonized System

(GHS) will eventually replace (GHS) will eventually replace WHMIS as a system for classifying WHMIS as a system for classifying chemicals based on their hazards and chemicals based on their hazards and communicating related information communicating related information through the use of labels and safety through the use of labels and safety data sheets. data sheets.

TThis system will be used worldwide his system will be used worldwide so that the same set of rules and so that the same set of rules and

the same format for classifying is the same format for classifying is used by all countries. Canada is slowly used by all countries. Canada is slowly beginning the process of switching to beginning the process of switching to the new system. the new system.

WWhat it will mean is that Safety hat it will mean is that Safety Data Sheets (old MSDSs) will Data Sheets (old MSDSs) will

be standardized and have 16 sections be standardized and have 16 sections instead of nine under WHMIS. instead of nine under WHMIS.

TThere will be some changes to haz-here will be some changes to haz-ard symbols and classes. Eventu-ard symbols and classes. Eventu-

ally, everyone will have to be trained ally, everyone will have to be trained under the new system. under the new system.

IIt isn’t happening really quickly, just t isn’t happening really quickly, just something to be aware of.something to be aware of.

Ear to the Ground

MILESTONES

Photo left: Stephen Hug from AWG Smithers (yes, he’s really tall!) received his 20 year milestone award from President Dan Young

Photo Left: Emma Sebo of Whitecourt receives her prize for the NAOSH week colouring contest.

Cathy Holtvluwer 3 IndustriesWade Freeson 4 AWG EdmontonArin Negaard 4 IndustriesBurton McKinnon 4 AWG Prince GeorgeBrian Ramsay 5 AWG TerraceJeremy Neault 5 AWG Prince GeorgeLen McCroary 5 AWG Prince GeorgeGrant Wiebe 5 IGD WinnipegJodi Braam 6 AWG TerraceJayne Coleman 9 AWG Prince RupertDon Hurford 10 AWG QuesnelTonya Gillard 13 IndustriesDwight McGregor 14 AWG VanderhoofDerek Storteboom 14 IGD CoquitlamBriana Peterson 17 IGD CoquitlamJason Ashton 18 AWG QuesnelSinisa Savcic 18 IGD CoquitlamRegan Nold 19 AWG YellowknifePatrick O’Leary 20 IGD EdmontonGary Haugland 21 AWG TerraceJason MacDonald 21 IGD CoquitlamNelson Osmond 22 AWG Grande PrairieDan Young 25 IndustriesCarol Dale 27 AWG KitimatBrian Wells 27 IGD EdmontonJames Bobyk 28 AWG TerraceDarcy Legeard 30 IGD Prince George

20 YEARSStephen Hug, AWG Smithers

10 YEARSJeff Marshall, AWG Quesnel

Natascha Roberts, AWG YellowknifeJason MacDonald, IGD Coquitlam

Cole Williams, DistributionDamon Cockle, AWG Slave LakeAllison Bacon, AWG Slave lake

William Hoffmann, AWG YellowknifeDan Sagar, IGD Coquitlam

Nicole Davies, AWG Fort ST JohnGreg Stevens, AWG Prince George

Matthew Clayton, AWG Prince GeorgeBrian Wiebe, AWG Grande Prairie

Editor’s Note: Our apologies for missing Bob Normandeau’s birthday last month. Bob hails from AWG Grande Prairie

At Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, the School of Trades & Technology is offering the “Women Exploring Trades” program which will allow women to participate in 6 different Red-Seal trade areas over the duration of the program.

These trades are: * Parts person * Industrial Electrician * Instrumentation Mechanic * Piping * Glazier * Heavy Equipment Operator

In each of these areas, the candidates will be taught the “essential skills” for each trade along with, related safety and safe work prac-tices while participating in practical and theoretical labs.

All classes will be taught by TRU staff that hold “Red-Seal” certifi ca-tion in the trade and have many years of Industry experience. There will be a limit of 16 students per class. The future goal would be to al-low successful candidates the opportunity to further enrol into a Trades Foundation or Apprenticeship program and/or become employed as a “registered apprentice” in British Columbia. Also visit: www.constructionwomen.org if you are a woman interested in working in construction.

Photos Above: A bunch of All-West Glass managers got together to enjoy some R & R on a fabulous fi shing vacay out at some cabins on Tesla Lake near Burns Lake, BC run and operated by our very own Lakes District Air. Check out their website at ldair.ca! If you want to get out to Telsa give Nick or Mary a call and tell them you’re with one of our group of companies and maybe they’ll be ‘extra’ nice to you! Photo left: From left to right: Waylon Rushfeldt-Peace River, Terry Dickerson-Terrace, Ed Vandenhoek-Grande Prairie, Cam Leslie-PG, Dave Farr-Vanderhoof, Phil Chilibeck-PG, Jeff Marshall-Quesnel. Photo right: Ed catches a beaut!

Hey Ladies. Thinking of a new career?

In 2008, women represented 4.3% of all Glaziers in the In 2008, women represented 4.3% of all Glaziers in the country which is 2.9% above the level in 2000. 95.7% of all country which is 2.9% above the level in 2000. 95.7% of all Glaziers in the country are male.Glaziers in the country are male.

Statistics from: workinginCanada.gc.caStatistics from: workinginCanada.gc.ca

Percentage of women in the construction trades:1971 - 0.7%1981 - 2.2%1991 - 2.8%2001 - 3.0%2006 - 3.1%From a report by Simon Fraser University’s women’s studies department

SPARKLES

Chris Lomas, Glazier, AWG Edmonton

What was your fi rst job ever? Bag-boy at IGA.

If you could trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would you trade jobs with? Why? Deep-Sea Diver, Love the water and all that is in it and below it.

What is/was your favorite subject in school? Drafting.

What do you like to do for fun? Spend time with my family.

What is the craziest gift you ever received from someone? A Picture of a nut from my daughter, because I always tell her to go nuts.

If you could invite 5 famous people to your party and ev-ery single one of them would come, which 5 people would you have come to your party? Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Bill Engvall, Ron White, Jeff Dunham, Robin Williams.

What cartoon character best describes you? Homer Simpson

What is your best personality trait/your worst personality trait? Upbeat / Procrastinator

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? New Zealand

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail? Invent perpetual motion.

If you were a contestant on Fear Factor, what would be the worst/scariest thing for you to do? Shave my mother-in-laws legs.

Are you going on a vacation this year? Where? Camping in the mountains

What is your favorite movie of all time and one that you can watch over and over again and quote lines from it? Dune (1984)

Whats the worst/most embarrassing CD/Album you’ve ever owned? Spin Doctors, Pocket full of Kryptonite

What was the last concert you went to? Weird-Al Yankovic

Which one song describes your life the best? Why? DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s Parents just don’t understand, Made sense when i was growing up and even more so now that I have kids.

Linda Leber, CSR, AWG Fort ST John

What was your fi rst job ever? BABY SITTING

If you could trade jobs with anyone else in the world, who would you trade jobs with? Why? LANCE ARMSTRONG BECAUSE HE GETS TO BIKE IN FRANCE.

What is/was your favorite subject in school? ENGLISH LIT

What do you like to do for fun? SITTING IN THE SUN, READING, ROAD BIKING, PLAYING SQUASH.

What is the craziest gift you ever received from someone? A GERARD BUTLER ACTION FIGURE – THANKS ROB!

If you could invite 5 famous people to your party and every single one of them would come, which 5 people would you have come to your party? SO, DOES THAT MEAN I’D HAVE TO COOK…??

What cartoon character best describes you? SOME DAYS DAPHNE, SOME DAYS VELMA…

What is your best personality trait/your worst personality trait? I’M VERY ORGANIZED; I’M A LONER.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? SIX MONTHS IN SCOTLAND, SIX MONTHS IN HAWAII.

What would you attempt if you knew you could not fail? BECOME A BEST SELLING AUTHOR.

If you were a contestant on Fear Factor, what would be the worst/scariest thing for you to do? BEING A CONTESTANT ON FEAR FACTOR WOULD BE THE WORST/ SCARIEST THING…!

Are you going on a vacation this year? Where? WENT TO SUNNY, HOT, KELOWNA – LOVE THAT PLACE!

What is your favourite movie of all time and one that you can watch over and over again and quote lines from it? TOO MANY TO LIST!…STAR WARS – THE ORIGINAL-. I CAN STILL QUOTE EVERY LINE, AND SAW IT 14 TIMES!

What’s the worst/most embarassing CD/Album you’ve ever owned? STAR WARS ON CASSETTE – HOW DID YOU THINK I MEMORIZED IT?!

What was the last concert you went to? I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ONE – HOPING TO SEE “3 DOORS DOWN”.

Which one song describes your life the best? Why? “IF YOU REALLY LOVE A WOMAN” BY BRYAN ADAMS; LISTEN TO THE LYRICS – IT’S EVERY WOMAN’S SONG!

Reflections is a monthly newsletter for employees

and friends of AWG Northern Industries. We welcome and encourage

your articles, photos, cartoons etc. However, we reserve the right to edit all submissions for space and

content.

Contact: Tonya GillardAWG Northern IndustriesPhone: 250-877-7619Fax: 250-877-7606

E-mail: reflections@

all-westglass.com

QUALITY CORNER

Winner from last month is AWG Windows & Doors. Send your answers to refl ections@all-westglass.com OR fax to 250-877-7606 or pop in your mail bags. The winner will be a blind draw of all the correct entries and will receive $25.00 for their staff fund.

#1 Two years ago, a man was offered a motorcycle for $1024, but he declined to buy it. A year later, he was offered the same motorcycle for $640, but again de-cided not to buy it. A little while after that, he was again offered the motorcycle, this time at $400. Again, he refused to buy it. Last week, he turned the motorcycle down even though the price had now fallen to $250. If the owner offers it for sale yet again, and he makes a consistent reduc-tion, how much will it be for sale for the next time?ANSWER: Each price was 5/8 of the previous price. So the next price win be $156.25.

#2 Before Copernicus, everybody thought the sun revolved around the earth; it took a while (and several inquisitions) to catch on, but nowadays most people know bet-ter. Here are a couple of persistent scien-tifi c myths. Or maybe not. Which are true?1. Water swirls down the drain the other way in Australia.2. You can catch a bird if you put salt on its tail.3. You can’t stare too long at the sun.4. There is no such fi sh as a sardine.5. Hair and fi ngernails keep growing after death.6. Mixing milk and meat is dangerous.7. Owls see perfectly well during the day.8. It’s okay to mix alcoholic drinks.9. When you freeze food, it kills the bac-teria.

ANSWER: 1. False, 2. False, 3. True and False. Never stare into the sun---or use vague language., 4. True, 5. False, 6. False, 7. True, 8. True, 9. False.

LAST MONTH’S BRAINBUSTER ANSWERS

Wasn’t that a story on the front page? Apparently Jason Turcotte of AWG PG did the wind-shield install because they have a Tech Sheet he fi lled out. I am so glad Kelly and her family are OK. It really brings home the importance of the safety aspects of windshields and the careful work of our automotive intallers. Jason, you quite likely helped saved lives. How great you must feel!

Congratulations to AWG Terrace who won $250.00 for the second quarter meeting madness draw! We are going to move the September quality minutes deadline up a few days to Oct. 11th to accommodate the Q3 meeting madness draw. Usually the deadline is the 15th of the following month - so it’s just shaved off by a mere four days. Chill.

The Alberta government will be imposing accident stats online by the fall so all you Alberta stores take note of this. Information will include number of lost-time claims, estimated number of employees, lost-time claim rate, number of fatalities, whether the employer holds a Certifi cate of Recognition (COR), industry and province wide lost-time claim rates for comparison.

Please be advised that we are not able to offer extensions on the clothing orders anymore due to the fact that everything is now automated and after the quarterly orders are in - the online site closes down and nothing can be added. However, we have a few new shirts on tap; new style AWG and IGD golf shirts and new style AWG workshirts (green) and now (black) on offer for IGD as well. The old vendor discontinued the current green workshirts so we can no longer get them, sorry. You will all look sharp in these new styles.

Please note if you live around Prince George and area or are passing through Prince George, the Ramada is offering all All-West Glass employees 20% off all rooms. IGD and AWG em-ployees can say they work for All-West Glass and get the discount as well. They are not asking for any ID for proof.

Finally, I am going to be taking a month-long leave of absence for family reasons so Adam will most likely be doing Refl ections for you next month. If you have any photos etc, please e-mail directly to him. I will be checking my e-mail if you need to reach me and will do my best to stay on top of things.

QUALITY TOPICSDo you volunteer in your community? If so, to what organizations do you give your time? Please list each employee and the organization they volunteer for. If anyone would like to share stories of their volunteer experiences/promote their charities please contact Tonya at admin and we may be able to do a Refl ections feature.Please review your lock out policy.Do you know how to identify mold? Are you aware of the dangers of mold? AWG locations: How often have you encountered it on work sites?

Name an English word of more than 2 letters that both begins and ends with the letters “he” in that order. There are at least two possible an-swers. “hehe” is not acceptable.

In a tree-clearing project, six lumberjacks can chop down 18 non-endangered trees in twelve hours. How many lumberjacks will it take to cut down 9 trees in four hours?

Clark, Daw and Fuller make their living as carpenter, painter and plumb-er, though not necessarily respectively. The painter recently tried to get the carpenter to do some work for him, but was told that the carpenter was out doing some remodeling for the plumber. The plumber makes more money than the painter. Daw makes more money than Clark. Fuller has never heard of Daw. What is each man’s occupation?