Saf-T-Gardian Newsletter - A Fresh Look at the Safety Industry
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Northbrook Chamber of Commerce Names Saf-T-Gard 2022 Corporate Citizen of the Year
 

(As Released by the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce) For many Northbrook residents, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. may not be a household name even after 43 years as a local business. However, Village leaders and area charities know that Saf-T-Gard and the family behind it are always ready to lend a hand. Their commitment to the community has grown even stronger during the pandemic, making them a deserving choice for the 2022 Corporate Citizen of the Year.

Saf-T-Gard’s story begins in 1936, when Leo and Lillian Rivkin launched the Latex Glove Manufacturing Company in a Chicago loft using shared balloon-factory equipment. Today, the business is in its fourth generation of family ownership, led by CEO Richard Rivkin and his son, President/COO Loren Rivkin. The company moved to Northbrook in 1979 and was renamed Saf-T-Gard in 1989, reflecting the business’s expansion into a wide range of workplace safety products. The company manufactures its own proprietary brands of safety apparel and distributes additional products from hundreds of global brands, providing head-to-toe protection for workers in all types of industrial settings.

Throughout its decades in Northbrook, Saf-T-Gard has built strong connections with the business community and local leadership. The company joined the Chamber as soon as it moved to Northbrook, and both Richard and his father Norman served on the Chamber Board, with Richard serving as Chair in 1999. Saf-T-Gard has also partnered with the Village in unique ways. Before occupying its current building, Saf-T-Gard allowed its temporarily vacant building to be used for police K-9 training, and also accommodated the construction of the Village’s second water tower in 2011 behind Saf-T-Gard’s Sky Harbor property.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, the Village again turned to the company for help, putting its supply chain to use in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. At a time when face coverings were the primary protection – but were mostly unavailable in stores – then-Village President Sandy Frum contacted Richard Rivkin with an ambitious plan to give out free face covers to the community.

“We got a call from Sandy asking, ‘How fast can you get 25,000 masks?’” recalls Richard. “We’re in the PPE business. We made it happen.”

As Sandy remembers, Richard and Saf-T-Gard “stepped up without hesitation. Within a matter of days, the Village had in hand thousands of masks – provided at cost – and was able to distribute them to residents and businesses at a time when masks were very hard to find.” The masks were handed out in April 2020 at a massive drive-thru event at the former Grainger property, followed by a second distribution at Northbrook Court.

“We’re glad that the Village leaders knew that they could call on us,” remarks Loren. “That comes from the relationships that have been built over time. The North Shore is the community we live and work in, and we want to help keep people safe.”

More recently, Saf-T-Gard is taking action to increase employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities, providing routes for these individuals to learn and develop vocational skills. Richard describes a “light-bulb moment” when he attended a reception at Cafe Voca, the North Suburban YMCA’s snack bar that is staffed by young adults with autism.

“I knew that we could identify tasks in our operation that could be performed by people with certain developmental disabilities,” notes Richard. Working with specialized employment counselors at Glenkirk, Saf-T-Gard has so far hired three individuals for part-time positions. “It’s been a win-win all around. They’ve been warmly welcomed and respected as co-workers, plus it frees up some of our other staff to do more advanced work.”

Local charities have benefited from Saf-T-Gard’s consistent support. Every year during the holiday season, the company donates to local nonprofits in honor of its employees and clients. In 2021 that list included the Northern Illinois Food Bank and The Greater Chicago Food Depository. Since 2020, the Northbrook Farmers Market has been made safer with hand sanitizer donated by the company.

Community involvement is also a priority for members of the Rivkin family. In addition to his past service with the Chamber, Richard has been a Rotarian for more than 20 years with leadership roles at the local and district level, including President of the Northbrook Rotary Club from 2009-2010 and District Governor from 2016-2017. His Rotary involvement has included international service trips, usually with his wife and fellow Northbrook Rotarian Helen, to Guatemala, India, and Nigeria, with programs that support education, clean water, and polio immunization. Richard has also been instrumental in supporting Rotary Club of Northbrook during the pandemic, providing essential technical assistance that allowed the club to hold Zoom and hybrid meetings.

That service ethic is carrying forward to the next generation of Rivkins. Loren’s wife Jill is one of the founding Board members of Gratitude Generation, a Deerfield-based nonprofit and Chamber member. Gratitude Generation’s mission is to instill gratitude in future generations by creating hands-on service projects for children and families, providing original elementary-school curriculum (GLOW! = Gratitude Lights Our World), and youth leadership training. Loren and Jill’s daughter serves on the Teen Board for the organization.

Quietly supporting the community in a myriad of ways, Saf-T-Gard epitomizes the ideal of corporate citizenship. “Not everybody knows us because we don’t have a big retail presence,” reflects Richard, “but we feel very connected to this community and are glad to share our time, talent and treasure. It’s who we are and what we do.”
   

Your Guide to Masks
 
 

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, CDC continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can, that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

Masks and respirators (i.e., specialized filtering masks such as “N95s”) can provide different levels of protection depending on the type of mask and how they are used. Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection, layered finely woven products offer more protection, well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection, and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection.

Whatever product you choose, it should provide a good fit (i.e., fitting closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around the nose) and be comfortable enough when worn properly (covering your nose and mouth) so that you can keep it on when you need to. Learn how to improve how well your mask protects you by visiting CDC’s Improve How Your Mask Protects You page.

A respirator has better filtration, and if worn properly the whole time it is in use, can provide a higher level of protection than a cloth or procedural mask. A mask or respirator will be less effective if it fits poorly or if you wear it improperly or take it off frequently. Individuals may consider the situation and other factors when choosing a mask or respirator that offers greater protection.

*Note: The options listed may be used to fulfill the requirements of CDC’s Mask Order for public transportation. Learn more about attributes of masks needed to fulfill the requirements of the Order at this website.

Click here to read more about the different types of masks and levels of protection they provide.
   
  Step up Your Safety with Savings on These COVID-19 Safety Essentials at Saf-T-Gard
 

The first “P” in “PPE” stands for “Personal”, and never before has safety been more personal than it is now as COVID infections reach unprecedented levels.

Hospitalizations have soared to a record high in January 2022, according to a Reuters tally, as Omicron quickly overtook Delta as the dominant version of the virus in the United States.
 

Rest assured, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. has the essential safety supplies on hand (and with added savings) to help prevent the spread and support you and your employees during the Coronavirus outbreak, including the following:

Click here to shop our selection of COVID-19 Safety Essentials, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order or with any additional questions on how we can assist you in your worker safety program.

   
 
OSHA's Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Violations for FY 2021
 
 

In October 2021, OSHA revealed its list of Safety Violations for fiscal year 2021 at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, which was largely unchanged from previous years. Fall Protection (1926.501) remains at the top of the list for the 11th year in a row, followed by Respiratory Protection (1910.134) and Ladders (1926.1053). Hazard Communication, which spent the last several years at No. 2, moved to the fifth spot on this year’s list.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for FY 2021 are the following:

  1. Fall Protection – General Requirements (1926.501): 5,295 violations
  2. Respiratory Protection (1910.134): 2,527 violations
  3. Ladders (1926.1053): 2,026 violations
  4. Scaffolding (1926.451): 1,948 violations
  5. Hazard Communication (1910.1200): 1,947 violations
  6. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147): 1,698 violations
  7. Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,666 violations
  8. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,452 violations
  9. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178): 1,420 violations
  10. Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,113 violations

Click here to read a more in-depth analysis published in Safety+Health magazine.
   
  The New Saf-T-Gard® Voltgard® Test Lab Now Proudly Offers DC Testing Services 
 
 

Electrical safety in the workplace consistently ranks in OSHA’s Top 10 List of Most Commonly Cited OSHA Safety Violations. While LOTO (lockout-tagout) and arc flash assessments are certainly components of a comprehensive electrical safety program, only rubber insulating gloves protect working hands from electrical shock hazards. OSHA, ASTM and NFPA standards mandate the use and testing of rubber insulating gloves when even the smallest probability of contact with 50 volts Alternating Current (AC) or higher exits.

Since the late 19th century, electric power systems standardized on alternating current (AC). Even though our electricity today is still predominantly powered by AC, computers, LEDs, solar cells, electrified mass transit and transportation, and electric vehicles all run on DC power. Moreover, the ASTM Specifications generally include DC test voltages and DC maximum use voltages for safety. As such, it makes sense to DC test rubber insulating products for use in applications where there is exposure to DC, including (but not limited to) the following:

  • Electric vehicles (EV), both fully electric and plug-in hybrid
  • Renewable power generation (wind and solar particularly)
  • Electrified mass transit and transportation

THE VOLTGARD® TEST LAB IS EQUIPPED FOR YOUR DC TESTING NEEDS! 

The exponential growth in renewable power generation (wind and solar particularly), as well as electric vehicles (EV), both fully electric and plug-in hybrid, adds additional hazards and risks to the manufacture and servicing of these vehicles.

Saf-T-Gard® International Inc., a global market leader in electrical protective equipment for workers, is uniquely qualified to work with your facility and keep your employees safe and complaint. Our Voltgard® Test Lab is the largest, independent, NAIL4PET-accredited test lab for rubber insulating products in the United States.

  • The Voltgard® Test Lab acts as the off-site lab for numerous auto manufacturers, automobile service and repair shops, public transportation, utilities, telecom companies, contractors, municipalities and industrial facilities nationwide by providing full-service testing and recertification of: Rubber Gloves, Sleeves, Blankets, Line Hose, Covers, Dielectric Footwear, Jumper Cables, Grounding Sets, Plastic Guards, Hot Sticks, Matting, Hoods and Insulating Hand Tools.
  • The Voltgard® facility is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment for the complete testing of these products, including: Washing, visual inspecting, and electrical testing – all to applicable ASTM standards.
  • All rubber protective equipment tested by the Voltgard® Test Lab undergoes this rigorous sequence to ensure that your employees are always using safe equipment.

It is important to understand the application of the job at hand, as the Voltgard® Test Lab recommends testing rubber insulating PPE as close as possible to the environment that it will be used:

  • All rubber insulating gloves are tested at AC voltages for general use and clearly marked with the AC maximum use voltage prior to shipment.
  • All rubber insulating gloves tested at DC voltages are clearly marked with the DC maximum use voltage.

When it comes to protecting your electrical workers, don’t trust just anyone with their safety. Tryst the experts with more than 85 years of experience and excellent. Trust Saf-T-Gard. Do you have rubber goods that need to be tested? Click here to access the Voltgard® Rubber Insulating Products Testing Order Forms to get started.
   
 
Watch the FREE Overlooked Fall Protection Fundamentals: Are You Inadvertently Putting Your Team at Risk Webinar ON DEMAND 
 
 

Industrial Manufacturing can present many challenging applications and environments for fall protection setups.

In this webinar, Dan Henn, ANSI/ASSP Z359 Accredited Standards Committee & Vice President of Operations, will examine the common pains and challenges industrial manufacturers experience with their fall protection program. You will learn how to navigate risk factors of inadequate setups based on application and environment constraints commonly seen in industrial manufacturers.

Click here to register, and watch the FREE webinar ON DEMAND today.

 
 

 
OSHA at 50
  

 

In its first half century, OSHA has helped transform America's workplaces in ways that have significantly reduced workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses. Learn more about the agency's five decades of progress and its efforts to continue fulfilling the promise of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

OSHA commemorated its first 50 years of protecting America's workers with a new video. Click here to watch the video.

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

 

Saftgard.com makes it easier than ever for visitors to find exactly what they are looking for by utilizing a guided navigation layout with a fully-optimized “smart” search engine. The responsive design enables use and access to more than 6,000 products with enhanced product content and imagery on your PC, smart phone or tablet.

Moreover, existing Saf-T-Gard customers can link their account to a new Saftgard.com web login to review ALL past orders and invoices, create a “wish list” of favorite items, save carts to simplify the ordering/reordering process and so much more! Buyers without an existing Saf-T-Gard account can register for one online, or they can still search, browse and order on Saftgard.com without a Saf-T-Gard account.

We invite you to spend a few minutes at Saftgard.com, and if you haven't already, please register for an account to enable online ordering.

Click here for a shortcut to the registration page, and click here for detailed instructions on how to link your Saf-T-Gard account to a Saftgard.com web login. 

  
 
Visit with Saf-T-Gard
  

 

Hazards exist in every workplace. Common examples include slips, trips, falls, exposure to loud noises, working from heights, vibrations and unguarded machinery. The best way to protect your employees is to recognize the hazards that exist on the job, and control them by utilizing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the application.

 

This is where Saf-T-Gard can help! We've been bringing workers home safely since 1936 with our finest industrial safety products and PPE, and we can do the same for you. Stop by our booth at the any of the following trade shows to check out our comprehensive selection of safety products and services that directly address every workplace safety hazard.

Wisconsin Safety Council Annual Conference - Tuesday, April 12, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Kalahari Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Booth #104

IEEE PES T&D Conference - Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 28, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, Booth #4511

ASSP Safety - Monday, June 27, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Wednesday. June 29, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, Booth #1846

International Lineman’s Rodeo - Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday, October 13, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, October 14, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, Kansas, Booth #217

  
   
Five Safety Tips
  

 

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

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

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

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

  
   

 

 

Question - Is a material safety data sheet (MSDS) required for a non-hazardous chemical?

Answer - MSDSs that represent non-hazardous chemicals are not covered by the HCS. Paragraph 29 CFR 1910.1200(g)(8) of the standard requires that "the employer shall maintain in the workplace copies of the required MSDSs for each hazardous chemical, and shall ensure that they are readily accessible during each work shift to employees when they are in their workarea(s)." OSHA does not require nor encourage employers to maintain MSDSs for non-hazardous chemicals. Consequently, an employer is free to discard MSDSs for non-hazardous chemicals.

  
   
Saf-T-Gard Spotlight  

 

Ania Rodriguez Escobales is an International Sales 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   

 

What is OSHA's position on providing a drug-free workplace?

"OSHA strongly supports measures that contribute to a drug-free environment and reasonable programs of drug testing within a comprehensive workplace program for certain workplace environments, such as those involving safety-sensitive duties like operating machinery. Such programs, however, need to also take into consideration employee rights to privacy.

Although OSHA supports workplace drug and alcohol programs, at this time OSHA does not have a standard. In some situations, however, OSHA's General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, may be applicable where a particular hazard is not addressed by any OSHA standard.

Citations for violation of the General Duty Clause are issued to employers when the four components of this provision are present, and when no specific OSHA standard has been promulgated to address the recognized hazard. The four components are: (1) the employer failed to keep its workplace free of a "hazard;" (2) the hazard was "recognized" either by the cited employer individually or by the employer's industry generally; (3) the recognized hazard was causing or was likely to cause death or serious physical harm; and (4) there was a feasible means available that would eliminate or materially reduce the hazard. An employer's duty will arise only when all four elements are present."

  
   
As I See It  

 

It is January 2022, and as we start the New Year, let’s have another round of “I didn’t know I could get that from Saf-T-Gard.”

Welding – There are some unique requirements here, and Saf-T-Gard is truly a one-stop resource for welding PPE. Traditional green-shaded welding helmets are so last century. Welding helmets today are light weight, comfortable, and feature an auto-darkening lens. Modern welding respirators are low-profile to fit under welding helmets and protect workers from dangerous particulates, welding fumes, and related respiratory hazards. Round out the head-to-toe protection with flame-resistant clothing. Whether welding in in your production line or solely for your maintenance department, we can help you take a fresh approach to welding safety.

Sorbents – Stuff spills, I get that. It happens either by accident or as a by-product of production. Sorbents can be supplied for both oil-only and universal applications in a wide variety of configurations including pads, rolls, booms, and socks. When you need to suck it up (sorry, bad pun), we’ve got the sorbents for that.

LOTO – No, this is not a game of chance or abbreviation for lottery. In fact, LOTO means Lockout/Tagout which is all about avoiding the game of chance with energized circuits and control valves. LOTO is constantly in OSHA’s top 10 violations (#6 in 2021) so let’s talk about locks, hasps, signage, and complete LOTO kits for your facility.

Sign Here, Please – Modern technology has brought down the cost and lead time for custom safety signs to be a competitive solution, especially compared to a local “signs-r-us” franchise or the guy in the orange apron. Whatever you need, we can get it done quickly and efficiently in the widest possible range of base materials and sizes.

So yes, you can get all that from Saf-T-Gard. Call or visit www.saftgard.com today. We are Saf-T-Gard International - Bringing Workers Home Safely Since 1936.

Sincerely,
Richard A. Rivkin, Saf-T-Gard CEO and Chairman of the Board

  
       
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: [email protected]
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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