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May 18, 2019Armed with a proper understanding of chemical exposure risks and available safety solutions, engineers can be confident in selecting the best personal protective equipment to provide reliable barriers to workplace hazards
There is a tendency to think about personal protective equipment (PPE) in the workplace in the abstract — as a requirement to be checked off, rather than a critical component of worker safety and often the last line of defense. Most organizations care deeply about safety, of course, but their understanding of PPE — especially PPE designed to protect against chemical exposure — can be limited.
That is a problem, because different chemicals react differently to different PPE materials, and even today, there are examples of well-meaning companies that provide the wrong PPE to workers handling various types of dangerous chemicals. Just last year, there was an incident in which a manufacturer discovered a gap in its PPE program only when workers suffered -
May 18, 2019New equipment, products, or chemicals might make the PPE that was perfect last year less than ideal for what you're doing now. It's also worth asking if any new OSHA rules affect the PPE you choose.
Innovations in Safety
Safety always comes first, so it's important to review the PPE you're using to see whether there's something that might protect even better. New innovations, improved technologies, and unique materials hit the market every year.
Manufacturers have begun creating gloves and other PPE with:
- higher cut resistance to meet the higher ANSI cut-levels that now go all the way up to A9
- better visibility, including high-vis safety gear with different colors and options to allow workers to be seen
- touchscreen compatibility so workers can keep their gloves on when using an iPad or phone—so no more forgetting to put them back on
- better palm coatings for extra grip
- higher cut resistance to meet the higher ANSI cut-levels that now go all the way up to A9
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May 11, 2019AR/FR PPE goes through daily wear and tear rigors. Here are keys to ensuring the longevity of your investment.
In creating an AR/FR personal protective equipment (PPE) program, you should dedicate a fair amount of time researching, selecting and sourcing quality garments to protect your employees. Time is spent on the front end to make sure that the proper garment is designed in order to comply with industry standards and provide acceptable wearer comfort.
Once the PPE is determined, there is still an ongoing need to ensure the program is serviced—and serviced correctly.
For example, an employee will put an AR/FR garment through the rigors of his or her daily routine, which means that it will likely become dirty and soiled over a period of time. Rather than diminish an investment through improper care, it is key to clearly understand and appropriately implement maintenance programs to increase the longevity of the clothing or PPE.
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May 11, 2019According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), falls continue to be the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. To help combat this sobering, but preventable, statistic, global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) today announced that it will conduct free fall protection training sessions, from May 6 through May 10, during OSHA's annual National Safety Stand-Down.
As part of this week-long safety blitz – now in its sixth year – MSA will provide free, OSHA-compliant fall protection training demonstrations at construction jobsites across the U.S utilizing the company's fleet of mobile training vehicles. MSA's 50-person team of fall protection and confined space safety experts will highlight basic fall protection principles and necessary personal protective products through demos and hands-on training. Covered topics include -
May 11, 2019Nitrile gloves are protective gloves constructed using synthetic rubber. They are known to be perfect substitutes to latex that serve their purpose in case you are allergic to the latter material. The superiority of the best nitrile disposable gloves can actually be attributed to their high puncture-resistant rating.
Nitrile material is already around for quite some time. However, it has only become more affordable lately, which is the main reason behind its increased popularity nowadays in various industries, including cleaning, food, and the medical industry.
Most people love and enjoy the latex-free and strong comfort offered by the nitrile material. Nitrile gloves are actually gain the most popularity in the medical industry as this is where they quickly replaced protective gloves made of latex.
Still, you can expect nitrile to provide similar protection from a number of things, like chemicals, cuts, and punctures. The only difference between nitrile -
May 11, 2019Road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities peak in the holy month of Ramadan. It is sad to witness hundreds of accidents and dozens of fatalities every year. Ramadan is a very special time and its all about being with the ones close to you, which creates a lot of traffic! This festive time also brings very unique challenges for all traffic participants.
Based on our Ramadan accident survey of last year’s Ramadan (2017), here are the most important findings:
- Older motorists (40+) and male motorists are especially vulnerable
- Peak accident timings are around the mid morning rush hour from 10-11am
- Tuesdays are the most dangerous days, Sundays the least dangerous
The Ramadan specific lifestyle has physical effects on our body – especially this year, when Ramadan will coincide with the hot summer weather. Fasting can result in dehydration and low blood sugar, which in turn can affect our attentiveness, concentration, vision and reaction. - Older motorists (40+) and male motorists are especially vulnerable
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May 05, 2019Budget, use and space constraints should be considered when choosing uniforms for your organization.
Uniforms are the unsung heroes of the workplace. They give team members a sense of pride and unity. They contribute to a polished, professional appearance for the organization as a whole. And they can even help protect employees against potentially life-threatening hazards.
So, given the importance of uniforms, is it better to rent them or buy them? The answer is — there are advantages to both. To determine the right solution for your organization, you’ll need to consider your budget, how you plan to handle laundering your uniforms, how much variety and customization you need, your uniform replacement procedures, and the amount of space you have on-site.
Financial considerations
There are financial advantages associated with both renting and buying uniforms. The best approach for your organization depends on your short-term -
May 05, 2019Acclimatization, break schedules, ventilation, clothing & monitoring stress can avoid illnesses and even fatilities.
The topic of worker heat exposure has made headlines across the country in recent years. In January of this year, OSHA leveled a fine of $149,664 for violations of the General Duty Clause in response to the 2018 death of a California Postal Worker. Workers in farming, construction, landscaping, oil fields, utilities, and our military face significant risk to heat related illnesses as temperatures begin to rise.
These are hardly isolated incidents. According to OSHA’s records, there were 30 fatalities related to heat-related illness from 2017-2018. Over the past 25 years, there have been more than 200 recorded deaths.
The culprit: heat stress
Heat stress, the net heat load on the body from the combined contributions of metabolic heat production and external environmental factors, is more than just a nuisance. -
May 05, 2019Clever clothing innovations are making PPE use more acceptable, with more versatile applications.
Workplace safety is one of the major concerns that has been successfully driving the international industrial protective clothing fabric market. Today, from hard hats to steel-toed boots, personal protective equipment, often known as PPE, is keeping workers safe from head to toe. PPE has also been successful in keeping employees safe and has also been acting as the last line of defence against injury or death.
Development of new products are expected to give the market growth a boost and the progress is driven by various factors such as growing concern towards workers’ safety along with stringent governmental regulations, persistent growth in demand for protective clothing from various end-user industries, and extensive investments in research and development.
However, the high price of protective clothing and a constant threat of substitution can act against -
May 05, 2019The sixth annual National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down, which takes place May 6-10, will focus on preventing falls in construction, as falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the industry.
OSHA is partnering with several safety organizations for the sixth annual National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down. The week-long event, taking place May 6-10, will focus on preventing falls in construction, as falls are the leading cause of fatalities in the industry.
The national safety stand-down encourages employers and employees to pause voluntarily during the workday to participate in safety demonstrations, hazard recognition and fall prevention training, and discussions about hazards, protective methods, and the company's safety policies, goals, and expectations.
"Falls can be prevented when employers train and educate workers about these hazards properly
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