Tuesday, December 16, 2008

UPDATE: New Fishing Regulations and Limit Smelt Harvest

Michigan anglers will have several new opportunities, but also will face new restrictions, because of the fishing regulation changes approved at the Nov. 6 Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries signed fisheries orders that extend the spearing season through the ice for pike and muskellunge in certain waters, extend the whitefish spearing season on the Great Lakes and connecting waters, allow all anglers to use three rods, and establish a two-gallon limit on smelt.

The two-gallon limit on smelt, which historically have been unregulated, is designed to prevent waste during periods of high abundance and offer some protection to smelt as an important forage and sport species. The limit applies to both dip-net and hook-and-line anglers. This new regulation also takes effect April 1, 2009.

The spearing season for pike and muskie will now run from Dec. 1-March 15, instead of just January and February and the whitefish spearing season will now be open year-round. The new seasons are the result of legislation enabling the DNR to set spearing regulations. These regulations take immediate effect.

Anglers have been allowed to use three rods when fishing for salmon on the Great Lakes for a number of years, but were restricted to two rods elsewhere and when pursuing other species in the Great Lakes. A survey of anglers showed overwhelming public support for three rods. The new regulation, which takes effect April 1, 2009, allows anglers to use three rods on all waters and in pursuit of all species, though the DNR retains the authority to reduce the rule to two rods if necessary.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of WorkWear1, www.workwear1.com, a Local Distributor of Carhartt Clothing, Redford MI

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Snowshoeing a Great Winter Activity:

The sport is easy to learn, virtually inexpensive (compared to other winter sports), poses little risk of injury and is a great way to exert energy during the cold winter months. According to research, 40.8 percent of snowshoers are women (a number that is increasing rapidly), 9.4 percent of snowshoers are children (ages 7-11), and 44.2 percent of snowshoers are ages 25-44.

One of the more appealing facts about snowshoeing is how it can help enrich a person's health. Known to help maintain or improve cardiovascular fitness, the sport helps burn more than 600 calories per hour. Snowshoers can burn more than 45 percent more calories than walking or running at the same speed. Snowshoeing is a great way to pursue losing weight; however, a healthy diet should be maintained to seek the appropriate effectiveness in a healthy lifestyle as well.

The good news is that anyone who can walk can go snowshoeing. From young kids to senior citizens, depending on your age and weight range there will be a shoe that will fit your specific needs.

There are a number of reasons to enjoy the benefits of snowshoeing: A fun, inexpensive and active way to visit the outdoors; simple to learn and easy to access places with snow; great cardiovascular exercise for adults and for kids; an entertaining social group activity and snowshoer’s getting up close and personal with nature.

Snowshoeing expands the potential for exercise available in the wintertime. As of 2006, at least 500American schools, mostly but not exclusively in the Northeast have started offering snowshoe programs in their physical education classes to help combat obesity. It has the added benefit of being gentler on the feet than walking or running the equivalent routes, since snow cushions the foot's impact.

Snowshoeing makes even familiar hikes different and new. If the snow is deep enough, obstacles such as large boulders and fallen logs can be more easily bypassed. Winter transforms familiar forests into something wonderful and strange, and clearer, bluer skies in winter often afford more sweeping, longer-range views from favorite lookouts than are available in summer situations. The stillness of the air, quiet and snow cover give nature a pristine feel that is sometimes lacking at other times of year.

It is wise to choose your footwear according to your snowshoeing style. Leather hiking boots that have been waterproofed, like Merrell Hiking boots, are great for hiking and backcountry trekking. Trail-running shoes, also by Merrell, are perfect for running and aerobic snowshoeing (look for GORE-TEX material). Snowboarding boots are also ideal for snowshoeing. Waterproofing is the key!

Wool socks, like those from Carhartt, for hiking and/or a wool/silk combination for running are important to snowshoeing. Never wear cotton socks when in the snowy elements.

And, if you plan to snowshoe in deep snow and don't plan to stay on snow-packed trails, wear Gaiters to keep snow out of your boots and shoes. GORE-TEX Gaiters are great selection for backcountry hikers.

Don't be afraid to dress in layers. And, use layers that can be taken off with ease, considering in some cases it can get hot during the spring season. Consider wearing synthetics and wool to induce heat retention when wet. Long underwear, like those from Carhartt, is essential when snowshoeing and a zippered top lets you regulate body heat.

Polyester fleece provides a great insulation, as it too retains heat when wet. And, a waterproof jacket (preferably something with GORE-TEX) will keep you dry and protect you from cold winds. The more obvious choices in winter wear are gloves, a hat, sunglasses (or goggles) and other personal selections.

With more than half of all snowshoers being women, who snowshoe for different reasons: for backcountry access, to experience nature, to exercise with friends and family and, above all, to have outdoor fun all winter long ......"

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of WorkWear1, http://www.workwear1.com/, a Local Distributor of Carhartt Clothing, Redford MI

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Protect Workers with ANSI approved reflective safety vests

Do your employees work near vehicular traffic? Then they must wear high visibility clothing so that they can be seen by motorists. The ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard is the first uniform, authoritative guide for the design, performance specifications, and use of high-visibility and reflective clothing for employees. This standard was modeled after the European standard EN471 by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have recently taken a greater interest in high visibility clothing and the work situations in which it should be worn. There have been organizations that have already been cited under 29CFR 1910.132 for not having their workers wear clothing that ensured their conspicuity and/or visibility. In the citations, OSHA named compliance with the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 standard for high-visibility safety clothing as a method to ensure visibility of workers from all directions under Nighttime construction has heightened the probability that workers will be struck by a motor vehicle. Crews working between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. are three times more likely to be struck, and 25% of all fatal accidents occur during this time period.

ANSI-compliant, Class II Reflective Wear
Contrasting colors provide exceptional visibility for added safety

Carhartt High Visibility ANSI Class II vest has 100% polyester mesh front and back for cooler comfort. Lime green color vest features 2"-wide, silver reflective stripes over 4-1/2"-wide, contrasting orange stripes for extreme visibility. Inside features a 6-division, two-tier pencil pocket and lower patch pocket. Front, metal zipper closure. Machine washable, imported.

WORKER VISIBILITY MANDATED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

On November 24, 2008 Federal Rule 23 CFR 634 goes into effect. In summary it states that anyone working in the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway must be wearing high-visibility clothing that meets the requirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 edition class 2 or 3. This rule affects all workers including emergency responder's.

Class 1- When workers are well separated from traffic less than 25 mph • Parking Lot Attendants • Shopping Cart Retrievers • Warehouse Workers • Roadside/Sidewalk Maintenance Workers • Delivery Vehicle Drivers

Class 2 - When workers are on or near roadways 25 to 50 mph • Roadway Construction Workers • Utility Workers Survey Crews • Law Enforcement Personnel• School Crossing Guards • High-volume Parking Lot or Toll-gate Personnel • Airport baggage handlers and ground crews • Railway Workers • Emergency Response Personnel • Accident Site Investigator. Workers should be wearing Carhartt High Visibility ANSI Class II Vest

Class 3 - When workers are in high-risk situations. It allows them to be seen from a minimum distance of 1,280 feet. Roadways exceeds 50 mph • Roadway Construction Workers • Utility Workers • Survey Crews • Emergency Response Personnel

PLEASE NOTE: Not all garments sold on our website www.workwear1.com are ANSI classed. If the Item # does not begin with "A" and does not contain C2 or C3 within the Item # then it is a non-classified garment and does NOT meet any Federal or State Regulations.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of WorkWear1, www.workwear1.com, a Local Distributor of Carhartt Clothing, Redford MI

Monday, December 1, 2008

Michigan Hunting Seasons Continues

Reopen for Ruffed Grouse and Pheasant on Dec. 1

The Department of Natural Resources reminds small-game hunters that the seasons on ruffed grouse and pheasant reopen Monday, Dec. 1, and run through Jan. 1.

Grouse season is open statewide with a limit of five per day, 10 in possession, in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula (Zones 1 and 2) and a limit of three per day, six in possession, in southern Michigan (Zone 3).

Pheasant hunting resumes across much of southern Michigan, east of US-131 and south of M-20 and US-10. The limit is two roosters daily, four in possession.

"Bird hunters often find opportunity in the late season in areas that were too wet earlier in the year, but can now be accessed because the standing water is frozen," explained upland game bird biologist Al Stewart. "Hunters who concentrate in high-quality habitat should still be able to find birds."

Muzzleloader Seasons Open Dec. 5 and 12 Across State

The Department of Natural Resources reminds deer hunters that muzzleloader season begins on Friday, Dec. 5, in the Upper Peninsula and southern Michigan, and on Dec. 12 in the northern Lower Peninsula.

"Bad weather on opening day of the firearm season slowed the harvest in several parts of the state. Plenty of deer remain out there for muzzleloader hunters who have yet to fill their tags.

Hunters may take both antlered buck and antlerless deer during the muzzleloader season providing they have appropriate tags. The same antler restrictions that were in place during the archery and firearms seasons apply.

Muzzleloader season runs through Dec. 14 in the Upper Peninsula and through Dec. 21 in the Lower Peninsula.

Written By: Mike Girolami, President of WorkWear1, www.workwear1.com, a Local Distributor of Carhartt Clothing, Redford MI