Included in IMPO's top five news stories: an investigation reveals widespread visa program abuse and how NASCAR can be used as an example for your maintenance department.
Take a look at last week's top stories:
Report: U.S. Poultry Workers Denied Bathroom Breaks, Wear Diapers To Work: Processing line workers at some of the nation's largest poultry companies are routinely denied adequate bathroom breaks and often take humiliating and unhealthy steps in order to cope, according to a recent report from advocacy group Oxfam. The report, titled No Relief, alleged that poultry workers’ requests for breaks to use the bathroom are mocked, ignored or met with threats of discipline or termination. Workers are also often forced to wait an hour or more for a break and given time limits during their breaks. The report said that as a result, employees limit their fluid and food intake, urinate or defecate while working at production lines or wear diapers to work.
Report Shows Widespread Abuse Of Visa Program For Overseas Workers: Numerous companies are reportedly abusing a federal visa program to in order to employ overseas contractors in the U.S. for improperly long hours and low wages. The investigation by The San Jose Mercury-News details the saga of Gregor Lesnik, an unemployed electrician from Slovenia who was among dozens of eastern Europeans that helped expand a paint factory for Tesla Motors in Fremont, Calif.
Gun-Maker Sentenced To Probation, Fined For Firearms Crimes: The former owner of a company that makes military-style rifles has been sentenced to probation and the company fined $500,000 for violating federal firearms laws. Mark Malkowski was sentenced to two years of probation and personally fined $100,000 during the sentencing hearing Tuesday in federal court in Hartford. Malkowski and the company, New Britain-based Stag Arms, had pleaded guilty to charges including possession of a machine gun not registered to the company and failure to maintain proper firearms records.
MM: A Star Wars–Like Military Bubble Shield: In this episode, the Trophy Active Protection System is completely automated and can respond much faster to an incoming projectile than a human could. Watch the video to see the concept in action.
What NASCAR Can Teach Your Operators And Maintenance Department: As I watched the last NASCAR race I thought about how the crew chief sets the car up according to his plan for the type of track, the distance of the race, the weather factors and the style of the driver. The real information comes from the driver, or the operator. Just listen on the radio: “The car is tight in the corner and loose off the straight. I have a vibration in the rear quarter panel.” With this information the crew chief directs the pit crew to adjust the air pressure in the next set of tires to stop the tightness in the corners, get the wrench set to put a round of wedge in the right side to stop the looseness on the straight and get the right rear tire changer to be sure all the lug nuts are tight. This communication is vital for the team to have a winning car.
