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Chamber Corner for September 7  |
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New Gift Check Participants Welcome
Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce members are encouraged to jump on board now to be a participant in the Shop Chautauqua County Gift Check program.
Over $100,000 worth of gift checks are sold each year. This has resulted in a $1.25 million economic impact on Chautauqua County since the programs inception in the fall of 2001. The Shop Chautauqua County Gift Check program is designed to promote and encourage the concept of shopping locally among residents of Chautauqua County. It provides chamber members with a program that aims to increase their customer base and encourages the regeneration of local dollars.
The program works very simply. Customers purchase gift checks, sold in denominations of $5, $10, $15 and $25, at either Chamber branch office. Gift checks are then redeemed only at participating chamber member businesses. The chamber member then accepts and deposits the gift check as if it were a regular check and the transaction is complete. It’s that easy!
For only $40 a year, participating member receive valuable marketing exposure as part of the program. All the member has to do is sign up to participate and the Chamber will do the rest!
To sign on as a Gift Check participant, contact Jessica Culligan at 366-6200 or jculligan@chautauquachamber.org.
TANGLEWOOD MANOR HOSTING A CONCERT
On September 13, Tanglewood Manor Inc. will be hosting a concert for the community in the Louis Ferreri Memorial Park from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. to benefit the Chautauqua County Memory Walk that will be held at Chautauqua institution on September 27. Local musicians will be donating their time and talent to this event in an effort to raise money for this great cause. Food and beverage sales as well as raffle sale proceeds will also contribute to the cause.
Anything your organization can donate to this event, such as an auction item or an off-set to some of the costs to host this even such as hot dogs, buns, beverages, ice cream, etc. would be greatly appreciated. For more information or questions contact Lisa LaRusch, Community Care and Marketing Coordinator, Tanglewood Manor, Inc. at 483-2876 or 969-7682.
OSHA SAFETY
reprinted from www.uschamber.org
Why worry about safety? Simply because workplace accidents can destroy your business. Thousands of Americans are killed each year in on-the-job accidents, and many more suffer work-related disabilities or contract occupational illnesses. Besides the incalculable cost of pain and grief, there are high monetary costs attached to workplace accidents. These costs can include the inability to meet your obligations to customers, wages paid to sick and disabled workers, wages paid to substitute employees, damaged equipment repair costs, insurance claims, workers' compensation, and administrative and recordkeeping costs.
In addition, the monetary penalties for failing to comply with federally mandated safety requirements alone could destroy your business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's minimum penalty for willful violations of safety rules that could result in death or serious physical harm is $5,000, with a maximum of $70,000.
If you have employees, you are probably covered by OSHA. If you have none, you generally aren't covered, although in some cases businesses who use non-employee workers such as independent contractors are still subject to OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Act is a comprehensive law — it covers most employers. Unless you are sure your business is exempt, you should assume that the law applies to you.
As a practical matter, small employers (10 employees or less) are exempt from programmed inspections and injury and illness reporting. This doesn't mean that you aren't subject to other OSHA requirements, however.
An employer under the Act is a person engaged in a business affecting commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States or any state or political subdivision of a State. You are probably subject to OSHA requirements if you: are in control of the actions of your employee; have power over the employee; and are able to fire the employee.
The following employers are not covered by the OSH Act: self-employed persons; farms at which only immediate members of the farmer's family are employed; those whose working conditions are regulated by other federal agencies under other federal statutes (This includes most employment in mining, nuclear energy and nuclear weapons manufacture, and many segments of the transportation industries.); persons who employ others in their own homes to perform domestic services such as housecleaning and child care; churches and nonsecular church activities; states and political subdivisions (although some state plans cover public employees); employers not engaged in interstate commerce (Interstate commerce is defined so broadly that it covers almost all economic activity in the United States. If you, as an employer, purchase materials that came from out of state or use the telephone or mails, you are engaging in interstate commerce for purposes of this Act.); and mall business exemptions.
OSHA exempts small businesses with 10 or fewer employees from injury and illness reporting. Small businesses in specified low-hazard industries are exempt from programmed inspections.
The exempt categories are characterized by standard industrial classifications (SICs). Exempt categories include security and commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges; auto dealers and gasoline service stations; apparel and accessory stores; furniture, home furnishing, and equipment stores; eating and drinking places; miscellaneous retail; banking; credit agencies other than banks; security and commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges and services; insurance; insurance agents, brokers and services; real estate; holding and other investment offices; personal services; business services; motion pictures; legal services; educational services; social services; museums, art galleries, botanical and zoological gardens; membership organizations; private households; and miscellaneous services.
Sometimes you may find that you are one of several employers at a job site who share authority or control over some employees. In case of an injury or violation, you need to determine who is liable for the damages or penalties. The OSH Review Commission considers many factors in determining whether the employer cited by OSHA had the responsibility for protecting the worker who was hurt or at risk.
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