Saf-T-Gardian Newsletter - A Fresh Look at the Safety Industry

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  Request a FREE Voltgard® Electrical Safety Brochure
 
Every single facility has a need for electrical safety. Let the Voltgard® electrical safety experts show you how we can keep you safe and compliant. There are several regulatory standards that necessitate the use and testing or replacement of in-service rubber insulating equipment to protect workers from electrical hazards. OSHA workplace rules make the use of rubber insulating equipment mandatory, even when the smallest potential of contact (with 50 volts AC or higher) exists. 
 

These rubber goods must be periodically tested to ensure the products maintain their integrity when exposed to a full range of voltages. Regardless of the heavy fines, serious injuries and deaths that occur from electrical incidents, compliance continues to remain an issue. What's even more shocking is that many workers are not using rubber insulating equipment because they simply don't know they need it.

The reality is that EVERY SINGLE FACILITY HAS A NEED FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY - whether the company is a larger facility with building engineers overseeing distribution, or a smaller facility with maintenance staff working around floor or wall sockets. There are quite a large number of possible end users. As such, awareness is paramount. Not only about the requirements for use, but also about the requirements for in-service use, inspection and testing of electrical protective equipment. Let the Voltgard® electrical safety experts show you how we can keep you safe and compliant!

Click here to request your FREE Voltgard® electrical Safety brochure today to learn more about the greater need for electrical safety in the industrial workplace, the standards for compliance, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers about the in-service testing process for rubber insulating products and how Voltgard® is uniquely qualified to deliver on ALL of your safety needs.

   
 
EHS Goes High Tech with IIot Tools
 
 

We’ve been hearing a lot about “Industry 4.0.” It describes the fourth industrial revolution, which includes cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and cognitive computing, wearables, and more. As part of Industry 4.0, “Safety 4.0” is a term that defines the current state of safety technology and processes, as well as the specific ways EHSQ management systems are advancing with the help of digitalization. 

In the future, Industry 4.0 and Safety 4.0 will not require manual gathering of data from the workforce. With the right device, hub, and platform ecosystem, monitoring of the safety management system will be done in real-time or near real-time. Safety 4.0 is the key to advances we are making as we help EHS professionals in their digital transformation of safety. It’s about process, engagement, culture, and mobilizing data, and we are only beginning to understand the potential ahead of us. 

In this Insight Report, you will learn: 

  • How to leverage the safety process with IIoT 
  • How wearables are contributing to workplace safety 
  • How you can drive and deliver the EHSQ performance you desire 
  • How to use technology to lower production costs 

Click here to download the report.

   
  Introducing the NEW Saftgard.com - The Smart, Simple and Speedy Way to Shop for Safety Online Today!
 
 

Saf-T-Gard is pleased to announce that our all-new, totally-updated website (www.saftgard.com) is ready for prime time! We’ve seamlessly merged the e-commerce capabilities of saftgard.net with the corporate and informational proficiencies of saftgard.com into one, overarching website that showcases the following features and benefits:

  • Sleek new design
  • Enhanced product content and imagery
  • Improved functionality, including predictive, “smart” search engine, guided navigation as well as faceted product category search and responsive design for use on your PC, smart phone or tablet
  • Enriched My Account features, including the ability to access your Saf-T-Gard account to review ALL past orders, view invoices, create a “Wish List” of favorites that conveniently stores items for later reference and a hyper-friendly user interface with the features you expect, like “Save for Later” and “Saved Carts” tools to simplify the ordering/reordering process
  • AND SO MUCH MORE

All this aside, Saf-T-Gard never loses sight of the fact that the first P in PPE is “personal”. We want to do business the way you want to do business – whether it’s by phone, fax, e-mail, online or in person! However, we invite you to spend a few minutes at www.saftgard.com, register for an account to enable online ordering, and let us know what you think. We are confident that you will pleased with the new user experience.

   


OSHA Enforcement and Compliance Increases in 2019 to Keep America's Workforce Safe
 
 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) fiscal year (FY) 2019 final statistics show a significant increase in the number of inspections, and a record amount of compliance assistance to further the mission of ensuring that employers provide workplaces free of hazards.

OSHA’s enforcement activities reflect the Department’s continued focus on worker safety. Federal OSHA conducted 33,401 inspections – more inspections than the previous three years – addressing violations related to trenching, falls, chemical exposure, silica and other hazards. 

In FY19, OSHA provided a record 1,392,611 workers with training on safety and health requirements through the Agency’s various education programs, including the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, Outreach Training Program and Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. OSHA’s compliance assistance programs have helped small businesses address safety and health hazards in their workplaces. In FY19, OSHA’s no-cost On-Site Consultation Program identified 137,885 workplace hazards, and protected 3.2 million workers from potential harm.

“OSHA’s efforts – rulemaking, enforcement, compliance assistance and training – are tools to accomplish our mission of safety and health for every worker,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “I am proud of the diligent, hard work of all OSHA personnel who contributed to a memorable year of protecting our nation’s workers.”

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

   
 
Saf-T-Gard®
Reflect-A-Gard® RG-2005 Vests Deliver Visible Safety and Savings
 
 

Save as much as 68% on Saf-T-Gard® Reflect-A-Gard® RG-2005 Class 2 Hi-Viz Breakaway Safety Vests now through March 31, 2020.

Saf-T-Gard can help keep you seen and safe on the job in the
Reflect-A-Gard® RG-2005 Class 2 Hi-Viz Breakaway Safety Vests with features and benefits that include the following:

  • Fluorescent lime polyester mesh fabric offers high visibility and breathable comfort
  • Two (2) horizontal and two (2) vertical 2” reflective stripes deliver ANSI/ISEA-107 Class 2 Level 2 compliance
  • The vest is designed to separate harmlessly from the body in the event that it gets caught
  • The five (5) breakaway points include two (2) on the shoulders, two (2) on the sides and one (1) in the center
  • One (1) inner pocket at left chest for convenient storage and transportation of work materials
  • Hook-and-loop closure provides easy on/off and comfortable, secure fitting
  • Available in sizes Large-5XL
  • Sold individually or 50 each/case by size
  • $3.25/each or $112.50/case of 50 each by size ($50 minimum order)
  • Save 31% more per vest when you order by the case

Click here to shop the RG-2005 Vests online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

   
 
Celebrating 100 Years of the Hard Hat
 
 

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the invention of the hard hat. The hard hat is one of the most recognizable pieces of safety equipment in the world. Hard hats were first worn by construction workers beginning in the 1920s. Over the years, hard hats have come to symbolize the strength of the construction industry and its workers.

Hard hats are designed to protect workers from head injuries due to falling objects or overhead hazards by reducing the intensity and distributing the pressure of impacts to the head. The E.D. Bullard Company, in San Francisco, California, was the first manufacturer to develop and sell hard hats that were used by some miners and laborers. At the time, Bullard referred to their product as the “Hard Boiled®” hat. In the early 1930s, electricians in Boston, Massachusetts, also began wearing hard hats. By the mid-1930s, construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began, and all workers were expected to wear hard hats [Carpenter et al. 2019].

During the ensuing 40 years, hard hats of various shapes and materials reached the market. These included hard hats made of steel, aluminum, canvas and resin, Bakelite®, and fiberglass. In each case, these hats were advertised as light, resilient, and cool while protecting the worker. In the 1960s, hard hats made of plastics such as polyethylene were sold. In the 1970s, when OSHA and NIOSH were created under the OSH Act, the use of hard hats was regulated as part of the head protection standard, and hard hat use significantly expanded [OSHA 2019]. As demand increased, more manufacturers produced hard hats, including MSA, Honeywell, 3M, and Kask [Rosenberg et al. 2010].

The hard hat has a rich history, but its design has remained fairly consistent over the decades, including a suspension system and outer shell. In recent years, safety helmets, similar to those worn in mountain climbing or ice hockey, have begun to be used on some construction sites to improve worker protections beyond that provided by the traditional hard hat. NIOSH is studying the performance and design of hard hats and safety helmets to improve overall personal protection with the hope of potentially reducing the likelihood of traumatic brain injury caused by falls and to save lives [Konda et al. 2016; Wu et al. 2017]. NIOSH researchers are also working to improve consensus standards that address hard hat performance.

For more safety and health related topics in construction go to the NIOSH Construction Safety and Health webpage.

   
 
Give Employees the Gift of Hand Protection against Cuts, Punctures and Impacts
 
 

When it comes to hand protection in the workplace, is your company playing the role of Santa Claus or The Grinch?

As an employer, you determine whether your workers have and use the right hand protection that matches the hazards in your workplace. If you have a proactive safety culture, you’re probably already giving the gift of hand protection.

Otherwise, you’re at a high risk of a bad holiday surprise. A hand injury can cost from $540 to $26,000, according to the National Safety Council. Think about lost productivity, workers comp and liability insurance costs.

Watch out for glove-supplier reps who show up with a big box of free samples to give your employees. It might seem generous, but there’s no guarantee those gloves meet industry standards or are appropriate to the specific risks impact, cut, puncture, needle stick that each of your workers is exposed to during various tasks.

The best manufacturers and suppliers will typically take the time to collaborate with you in assessing those risks and offering guidance on how the different products on the market address your workplace safety needs.

That process is important, because 70% of workers don’t wear hand protection. And of those who do, 30% don’t wear the right kind of glove for the task. So getting the wrong gloves is likely to just discourage them even more.

Visit SafeHandsAtWork.org to learn more. It’s part of ISEA’s hand protection awareness and education campaign, launched in 2019 in collaboration with the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) and the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA), to help workers and employers grasp the importance of #SafeHands.

 
 
Season's Greetings
 

 

Warmest wishes for a joyous and safe holiday season from all of us at
Saf-T-Gard!

 
   
Saf-T-Gard Catalog
 

 

The time for better safety is now!

Click here to request a FREE copy of our current full-line Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. catalog today, and learn how to better GARD yourself with Saf-T-Gard.

Featuring more than 3,900 different line items from more than 100 different brands and 14 different product categories, this catalog is an excellent resource and provides a wealth of information to help keep you safe and productive for even the most rigorous applications!

 
   

 
Watch the FREE Confined Spaces 101: What You Need to Know Webinar On Demand Today
 

 

Join Honeywell Miller’s Fall Protection Expert, Tom Dillon, as he walks you through dealing with confined spaces on your work site.

Learn the questions that help determine the safest confined space equipment, the considerations for compliance around confined space workers and hear some real-life examples of confined space safety.

We have been helping protect the workers for 75 years and want to make sure the future of your workers is always safe.

Click here to register, and watch the FREE webinar on demand today.

 
   

 
Closeout Corner - Don't Miss These Great Deals  

 

Saf-T-Gard is making it easier than ever to save big on your favorite safety items with the "Closeout Corner" featured monthly in the Saf-T-Gardian e-Newsletter.

Click here to view the reduced pricing on all of your must-have items to take advantage of this limited-time pricing and inventory.

Be sure to check back next month for even more products and savings!

 
   
Safety Tips  

 

1. COLD IS COMING - And that means hand protection for outdoor workers should have warm linings

2. COLD IS COMING - And that means head protection for outdoor workers must include warm helmet liners

3. COLD IS COMING - And that means fewer hours of daylight and reduced visibility - another reason for Hi-Viz reflective clothing

4. COLD IS COMING - And that often means icy, slippery walkways and driveways - tungsten-carbide tipped rubber pullovers fit over any shoes or boots for superb traction

5. COLD IS COMING - And yes, that means colds are coming, so be sure you have enough industrial-pack cold remedy medicines on hand

 
   
Q&A

 

 

Question - Can transparent plastic materials be used for welding curtains or screens?

 

Answer - Standard 29 CFR 1910.252(e)(2)(iii) states: Protection from arc welding rays. Where the work permits, the welder should be enclosed in an individual booth painted with a finish of low reflectivity such as zinc oxide (an important factor for absorbing ultraviolet radiations) and lamp black, or shall be enclosed with noncombustible screens similarly painted.

 

Booths and screens shall permit circulation of air at floor level. Workers or other persons adjacent to the welding areas shall be protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shields or shall be required to wear appropriate goggles.

 

In reference to the requirement in the first sentence of the standard, the employer would be in violation if the plastic curtain forms a booth to enclose the welder, since the curtain is not noncombustible as required. There is no known treatment which will make organic plastics noncombustible.

 

In reference to the requirement of the second sentence of the standard, the transparent plastic welding curtain could easily be installed to meet the ventilation requirement.

 

In reference to the requirement of the third sentence of the standard, a transparent plastic screen or shield would be permitted since it can be made flameproof as well as sufficiently absorptive and non-reflective of the welding rays.

 
   
Saf-T-Gard Spotlight  

 

Ania Rodriguez Escobales is the Telecom Administrative Assistant, and she joined Saf-T-Gard in April 2018.

What Ania likes about Saf-T-Gard:

"I like the professional work environment and that the company is dedicated to results."

What makes Ania's day:

"Being able to fulfill my daily goals."

Ania's outside interests are:

"I enjoy sharing time with my family and exercising."

Anything else:

"I am from Puerto Rico, and I love the music!”

 
   
Factoid  

 

OSHA has previously maintained the position that hard hats used by employees must be worn with the bill facing forward unless the hard hat manufacturer certifies that the bill facing back meets current ANSI Z89.1 standards. Does OSHA still adhere to this interpretation?

Section 1926.100(a) provides: Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from flying objects, or from electrical shock and [electrical] burns, shall be protected by protective helmets.

Section 1926.100(b) provides: Helmets for the protection of employees against impact and penetration of falling and flying objects shall meet the specifications contained in American National Standards Institute, Z89.1..., Safety Requirements for Industrial Head Protection.

In 1992, OSHA stated: ANSI only tests and certifies hard hats to be worn with the bill forward [;] hard hats worn with the bill to the rear would not be considered reliable protection and would not meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1926.100(a) and (b), unless the hard hat manufacturer certifies that this practice meets the ANSI Z89.1 requirements. This continues to be OSHA's interpretation of this standard.

Additionally, note that a manufacturer may certify that it would be acceptable to wear the hard hat with the bill to the rear when the hard hat liner is turned/reversed.

 
   
As I See It  

 

It is December 2019. As the year draws to a close, it’s a time for reflection and celebration.

While it’s easy to be distracted by the holiday season, we need to remember that safety never takes a holiday. And that includes on-the-job safety, at-home safety, on-the-road safety, personal safety and safety in general.

The messages come from all corners – AAA, government, business associations, etc., but the loudest message is that of common sense. Staying focused and minimizing distractions are the first steps in that common sense because distractions are the enemy of safety.

When workers are distracted, they may take shortcuts and pay less attention to safety training than otherwise. But safety never takes a holiday.

That’s why at this time of year, supervisors should not let potential distractions take their toll. Toolbox Talks for the Team are a good 5-minute safety pep talk that should be part of every supervisor’s regular routine.

On-site safety signs should be more than just what OSHA requires – motivational safety signs and posters definitely have a positive impact on worker safety and reinforcing the need for safety (ask your Saf-T-Gard representative for examples of motivational safety signs and posters).

And if company or department year-end celebrations are planned – it’s a great time to recognize safety superstars by individual, team, or department.

As the New Year approaches, our wishes for you all are to be healthy, be thankful, and be safe  because we are Saf-T-Gard International – Bringing Workers Home Safely Since 1936.

 
       
Proud to partner with: Saf-T-Gard International, Inc.
205 Huehl Road
Northbrook, IL USA
Phone: 1-847-291-1600
Fax: 1-847-291-1610
Email: CustomerService@saftgard.com

www.saftgard.com
  Saf-T-Gard is a major manufacturer, distributor, importer and exporter of safety solutions for industry since 1936.

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