NEWFANE — The town's insurer isn't saying not to dump ice water on your head. It's just saying be smart about it. And not to use the town's heavy equipment to further the fun.
Noting the viral spread of this summer's Ice Bucket Challenge - which sees dared participants either write a check toward research to fight the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or else post a video of themselves dumping a bucket of ice water on their head - Newfane's insurer is sounding a cautious note.
Selectboard Chair Gary Katz read into the record of the board's Aug. 21 meeting a letter he'd received from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns' Property And Casualty Intermunicipal Fund (PACIF) urging its members not to risk employee safety in the name of a good cause.
“While we've not received any workers' compensation claims from employee participation in this event, we have become aware of some instances where municipal employers are employing bucket loaders filled with ice and water, using fire truck pumps, and other ingenious methods in taking on the challenge,” the letter reads in part.
“As a result we want to remind you all that this is intended to be an individual Ice Bucket Challenge and should not employ ever-escalating methods of ice water delivery that pose safety hazards to employees,” the letter continues.
In some cases, PACIF warns, over-the-top employer encouragement of the challenge can violate federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration rules, such as when employees stand directly under a loader bucket and let loose.
“Using this method could subject an employer to citation, and the video documentation could be used to support that citation,” PACIF explains.
“In the end, this is a fun and worthy event that employers may choose to support. We just suggest that if your municipality does participate that employee safety be considered and that unusual methods of delivering the challenge be avoided.”
The letter is not intended to single Newfane out, and beyond hearing Katz read the letter, and there being a general sense of amusement, the Selectboard took no action on it.
According to The ALS Association, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Eventually, people with it lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement, which often leads to total paralysis and death within two to five years of diagnosis.
There is no cure. A drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration modestly extends survival.
As of Tuesday, Aug. 26, The ALS Association says on its website that the grassroots stunt brought in an incredible $88.5 million in donations, well over the $2.6 million the organization raised during the same time period last year.
“These donations have come from existing donors and 1.9 million new donors to The Association, which is incredibly grateful for this tremendous outpouring of support,” the organization says on its website.
Meanwhile, there's plenty of footage of mishaps among people taking on the challenge, and these videos enjoy viral followings of their own.