Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It has spread from China to many other countries around the world, including the United States. Depending on the severity of COVID-19’s international impacts, outbreak conditions - including those rising to the level of a pandemic - can affect all aspects of daily life, including travel, trade, tourism, food supplies, and financial markets.

To reduce the impact of COVID-19 outbreak conditions on businesses, workers, customers, and the public, it is important for all employers to plan now for COVID-19. For employers who have already planned for influenza pandemics, planning for COVID-19 may involve updating plans to address the specific exposure risks, sources of exposure, routes of transmission, and other unique characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (i.e., compared to pandemic influenza viruses). Employers who have not prepared for pandemic events should prepare themselves and their workers as far in advance as possible of potentially worsening outbreak conditions. Lack of continuity planning can result in a cascade of failures as employers attempt to address challenges of COVID-19 with insufficient resources and workers who might not be adequately trained for jobs they may have to perform under pandemic conditions.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed this COVID-19 planning guidance based on traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices. It focuses on the need for employers to implement engineering, administrative, and work practice controls and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as considerations for doing so.

This guidance is intended for planning purposes. Employers and workers should use this planning guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement. 

Additional guidance may be needed as COVID-19 outbreak conditions change, including as new information about the virus, its transmission, and impacts, becomes available.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides the latest information about COVID-19 and the global outbreak:

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov.

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 future 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 check out 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.

The DuPont^™ ProShield^® 10 PB-127 Coveralls make it easier than ever to provide your workers with a comfortable, quality coverall for those dirty work assignments while enabling you to cut costs for your disposable garments.

Constructed from a spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) fabric, the DuPont^™ ProShield^® 10 PB-127 Coveralls are made to the high-quality standards you have come to expect from DuPont^™ and protect workers from dirt, grime and non-hazardous dry particles while keeping them comfortable for hours on end.

PB-127 additional features and benefits include the following:

• Soft, breathable and lightweight, DuPont^™ ProShield^® 10 Coveralls feature a proprietary DuPont^™ comfort fit design that is specially engineered for enhanced worker range of motion and durability in use
• Made from spunbond meltblown spunbond (SMS) polypropylene fabric to optimize comfort, softness and breathability
• Additional safety and wearability features include a zipper front closure with storm flap, serged seams, attached respirator fit hood and elastic wrists and ankles
• Ideal for use in general industrial maintenance and janitorial/cleaning applications
• Available in sizes Medium-7XL in white or blue colors
• Sold by the package of 25 coveralls

Saf-T-Gard carries a comprehensive line of DuPont^™ Protective Garments in several different fabrics, including coveralls, pants, shirts, aprons, sleeves, lab coats and hazmat suits. Click here to shop them online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

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.

Have you heard about the FDA mandate on AEDs and their accessories? After February 3, 2021, manufacturers and distributors can no longer support AEDs that do not have FDA premarket approval. Customers will no longer be able to receive service or order accessories (including batteries, cables, and electrodes), so they will need to replace these devices to ensure they are ready for an emergency.

Click here to access ZOLL’s premarket approval (PMA) info flyer that summarizes this mandate to help you better understand what it means for you. The flyer also provides an up-to-date list of approved devices so that you will know if your AED has FDA premarket approval.

Saf-T-Gard offers a wide variety of ZOLL^® AED Plus^® packages including semi-automatic and fully-automatic options. Click here to shop them online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order. 

Lockout/Tagout is all about communication. Even if the procedures seem burdensome, following them to the letter is essential. People often forget things. It happens especially when we're distracted, busy, or in a rush. It's normal. But when it's combined with powered equipment, it's also highly dangerous.

Why do I need to be concerned about Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)? Employees can be seriously or fatally injured if machinery they service or maintain unexpectedly energizes, starts up, or releases stored energy. OSHA's standard on the Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout), found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147, spells out the steps employers must take to prevent accidents associated with hazardous energy. Practicing LOTO not only provides workers with protection from industrial machinery, but also protects your company from extensive OSHA fines that be detrimental to company reputation and finances.

Topics covered in this webinar include the following:

• Why do companies need to comply?
• Understanding the OSHA standards on Lockout/Tagout
• Understand the steps to make sure your program complies
• What are energy sources?
• Types of Lockout Devices

Click here to watch this FREE webinar on-demand, and learn why implementing and following a carefully planned Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedure is so important as well as the steps you can take to make sure your program complies.

We’ve all heard nutritionists, coaches, and athletes spread the word that electrolytes are important when working out and replenishing fluids. But they don’t always take the time to go over exactly what they are and why they’re important. Well, we don’t want to keep you in the dark, especially about something that’s essential to your health. So, here’s a primer on electrolytes and why you need to keep them in mind throughout the work day.

Electrolytes Explained
Your body runs on electricity, whether it’s the neurons firing in your brain or the pumping of your heart. Electrolytes are chemicals that conduct electricity when dissolved in water. When they interact with other electrolytes and with cells, they keep the body’s small electric currents flowing. Not only does this help your body’s natural processes run smoothly, but it’s also essential for your survival. We use one word to describe them, but electrolytes are really a family of chemicals. There are different types, each providing a different charge, either positive or negative, to trigger a reaction in the body. In fact, you probably know a few of the most common ones already by their more familiar names: Magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium.

Why Electrolytes Matter for Your Day-to-Day Well-Being and Performance
You know that feeling you get when you’ve had a really long, hard day at work and your limbs seem unusually weak? Odds are, what you’re experiencing is an electrolyte imbalance. It’s easy to skip a break to get a few extra things done before going home, or to not bother getting up to get a refill on your drink once it’s empty. But athletes aren’t the only ones who need breaks and plenty of fluids. Even if you’ve got a desk job, you need to actively replenish your electrolytes during the day and make sure they’re kept balanced.

(Not) Sweating It Out
But you’re not sweating? That’s great news for your shirt, but it could be a bad sign for your body. Sweating is your body’s way of cooling itself down, and your sweat glands use electrolytes to make it happen. Basically, water and electrolytes fill your sweat glands and get released as a salty mixture that allows the water to evaporate and cool you down. If your body doesn’t have enough of one or both of those components - the water or the electrolytes - you’re not going to sweat. And not sweating means your body is at risk of overheating. Make sure you replenish your fluids regularly even if you’re not sweating (and not just if it’s a warm day).

Symptoms of Electrolyte Imbalance
Depending on the type of electrolyte, different symptoms can occur when there is an imbalance. Some symptoms to watch for on the job include:

• Twitching or muscle spasms
• Confusion
• Frequent urination
• Nausea, stomach pain, or vomiting
• Extreme thirst
• Sudden moodiness or irritability
• Lethargy

If anyone displays the signs of electrolyte imbalance, treat it immediately and call for medical assistance if necessary.

Replenishing Electrolytes
Keeping a water bottle with you at all times and taking breaks is essential, but it doesn’t always mean you’re in the clear. Sports drinks and similar drinks are a popular option for maintaining a healthy electrolyte balance. There are even low-calorie and low-sugar alternatives that provide electrolyte-rich drinks to accommodate special diets. Fluids are important, but you can also get electrolytes from what you eat. A healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables is the best way to keep your levels where they should be. People who eat a healthy diet often consume enough electrolytes to keep them going through most activities. If your job is physically demanding, however, consider supplementing with a drink designed to replenish electrolytes. Keep in mind that some physical conditions can increase your chances of developing an electrolyte imbalance. The kidneys, for instance, play a key role in monitoring electrolyte levels and filtering out the excess. If you have a kidney disease, it might affect how often you need to replenish and how quickly symptoms can set in. If you have a chronic health condition, speak to your doctor about what you can do to maintain a healthy and functioning body throughout the day, and whether you’ll need to take additional precautions to keep your electrolyte levels up.

Keep Your Levels Up