The first "P" in "PPE" stands for "Personal", and never before has safety been more personal than it is now with COVID-19 affecting the lives and livelihoods of everyone.

No one understands this better than Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. After all, safety is rooted in our name. So when it comes to your workers' safety, you can trust that Saf-T-Gard has everything you need to work worry free, including the following:

• N95 Masks
• KN95 Mask
• Gloves
• UV Light Sanitizing Wand
• Face Masks
• Splash Shield
• Touchless Thermometer
• Hand Sanitizer
• Disinfectant
• Antimicrobial Wipes
• Windex and Fantastik
• Boots and Shoe Covers
• COVID-19 Safety Signs
• COVID-19 Floor Signs
• Workplace Partitions
• And so much more

We've been bringing workers home safely for more than 85 years, and we can do the same for you!

Click here to shop our selection of COVID-19 Safety Essentials to Keep Your Business Running online, 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.

The revolutionary SureWerx Pioneer^® 5408AU Heated Safety Bomber Jacket is made from new 3^rd generation Carbon Nanotube Technology (CNT) heating elements that are extremely thin (5 microns), machine washable, soft to the touch and flexible with no wires. The heat sensor is strategically located to accurately measure temperature and prevent over or under heating.

There are four (4) heat settings (100°F/108°F/118°F/127°F) indicated by colored LEDs. Simply select your preferred heat setting by pressing the control button. This jacket is compatible with various power banks and includes a USB port (power bank not included).

Additional features and benefits include the following:

• Made using 300 Denier Oxford material with polyurethane coating that is 100% waterproof and 120GSM insulated material with taffeta lining
• Double-stitched with heat-sealed seams to prevent moisture from entering the garment
• Exclusive StarTech^™ style reflective tape far exceeds ANSI/ISEA 107-15 for high visibility
• Jacket comes in Hi-Viz yellow color with a black bottom to conceal soiling and offer superior visibility and safety on the job
• Meets ANSI/ISEA Class 3 Type P and R requirements for those working in dangerous settings where visibility is the highest priority, including EMS, construction and traffic control
• Heavy-duty coat can be worn as rain or snow work gear and includes a full-front waterproof zipper, two (2) lower slash pockets with waterproof zipper, one (1) lower inside zip pocket and lower chest zip pocket, two (2) radiophone clip straps, three-piece lined detachable hood and elastic ribbed wrist cuffs and waist 
• Available in sizes Small-4XL

Click here to enter to win a FREE SureWerx Pioneer^® 5408AU Heated Safety Bomber Jacket, or click here to shop the SureWerx Pioneer^® 5408AU Heated Safety Bomber Jacket online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

Stop wasting time searching for the tags you need right away with Accuform^® TAR114 Tags By-The-Roll. Prevent your workers from misplacing their tags before they get to work by carrying Tags-By-The-Roll to jobsites or worksites. Tags-By-The-Roll provide a convenient solution for keeping a large quantity of tags readily available and organized in one octagon-shaped disposable dispenser.

When you need a tag, simply separate at the perforations and place your Accuform^® TAR114 Tags By-The-Roll: DANGER DO NOT OPERATE (LOTO) Tags on hazardous energy sources or wherever needed to keep others safe. Tags-By-The-Roll are durable, tear-and water-resistant, and are available with stock and custom legends.

Additional features and benefits include the following:

• Identify temporary hazard until that hazard is eliminated or hazardous operation is complete
• Comply in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.145 and ANSI Z535 requirements
• Thin, flexible 10-mil poly-based cardstock tags that are connected end-to-end with perforations and housed in an innovative, convenient, portable cardboard dispenser providing a large quantity of tags to be readily available
• 6 5/8” x 6 5/8” x 3 5/8” octagon-shaped dispenser has 1 ½” perforated center hole that can be removed for mounting
• PF-Cardstock tags have no wood content, are longer-lasting, durable, tear-resistant, waterproof, and will not crack, distort, or shrink when compared to traditional paper cardstock
• Easy to write on matte surface has 3/8” plain top, pull-resistant hole
• 100/roll; sold by the roll

Click here to shop the Accuform^® TAR114 Tags By-The-Roll: DANGER DO NOT OPERATE (LOTO) Tags online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

Selecting the right consumables for use in your ISO Class cleanroom is vital in order to protect the sensitive Life Sciences processes being performed, whilst ensuring the finished products stay protected from sources of potential contamination.

There is currently no international standard for consumables worn within the cleanroom, instead the cleanrooms themselves have a cleanliness classification which is known as the ISO Class. The standard defines the maximum allowable concentration of particles per square meter for eight Class of cleanroom ranging from 1 – 8, with 1-3 being the cleanest, and which do not normally have any or very limited human intervention.

The biggest source of contamination to a cleanroom are humans, whom shed up to 100,000 particles per minute when sitting/standing, so it’s imperative that the appropriate clothing is worn to contain contamination and stop it from entering the controlled environment. In state-of-the-art ISO Class 4 cleanrooms no more than 352 particles of size 0.5µm per cubic meter may be present, and in an ISO Class 5 no more than 3520 particles.

The IEST-RP-CC003.3 standard for Garment system consideration for cleanrooms and other controlled environments, recommends the best practice for gowning of personnel as a critical aspect of cleanroom contamination control. The suggested garments which should be worn within each classified area include – Coveralls, Hoods, Overboots, Gloves, Face Masks and Undergarments.

Outlined below is guidance for the selection of garments or apparel and accessories appropriate for use in cleanrooms and controlled environments:

It’s also essential that cleanroom clothing is manufactured using the correct types of fabrics suitable for cleanrooms and controlled environments.

When selecting garments for cleanroom use, depending on the specific application, the IEST standard recommends evaluating the fabric properties including testing for (selecting those relevant to the fabric type):

• Cleanliness and cleanability
• Electrostatic properties
• Biological properties
• Durability
• Comfort
• Opacity
• Particle filtration efficiency
• Microbial penetration
• Chemical compatibility
• Fluid resistance

Construction of cleanroom garments is another important consideration, and the IEST standard outlines recommendations for thread and seam structure. Seams for cleanroom garments should be joining seams to avoid free-air/particulate passage from the inside of the garment to the outside environment. The IEST standard recommends for the construction of cleanroom garments that they are constructed using a bound joining seam, as shown below:

BioClean-D^™ Disposable cleanroom garments are manufactured according to the recommendations set out within the IEST-RP-CC003.4 standard, using the most effective barrier fabric and the best seam joining for containment of particles and fibers.

Click here to download the technical release to find out more information on the composition and structure of cleanroom garments.

Recent NIOSH science blogs have discussed the physiological impact of wearing respirators. The first blog in this vein explored the Physiological Burden of Prolonged PPE Use on Healthcare Workers during Long Shifts, including potential CO2 buildup. A second blog addressed Heat Stress Imposed by PPE Worn in Hot and Humid Environments and how healthcare workers and their employers can recognize and mitigate potential stressors. As a third installment of this series, this blog addresses the general physiological responses to cold stress while working in cold environments and how personal protective equipment (PPE) can provide some protection.

Incidence of Hypothermia or Cold Injury

Due to the lack of a standardized reporting system, the true incidence of cold injury is not known, but appears to be uncommon across most of North America except in the northern tier states, including Alaska.

• In 2019, about 1300 people in the U.S. died of hypothermia
• 420 of these deaths, about 32%, were occupationally related

Many occupations require employees to work in cold outdoor environments (construction, first responders including search and rescue, North Sea oil and gas workers, etc.). Therefore, it is important to define cold stress and injury, identify the means to mitigate the exposure to cold, and provide immediate treatment for cold injury if necessary. Many of these occupations also require the use of PPE. This begs the question, what is the role of PPE in the mitigation of cold stress?

Definitions

Cold stress refers to environmental conditions (e.g., air temperature/humidity, windchill temperature, rain, and inadequate clothing for protection) in which body heat is lost to the environment at a rate that is faster than the body can produce heat. Consult the U.S. Customary Windchill Chart, an integration of air temperature and wind velocity, to provide an estimate of the cooling power of the environment. (Note that persons riding in open vehicles may be subjected to dangerous wind chills even when the natural wind velocity is low).

Cold strain refers to the physiological responses (e.g., attempts to compensate for body heat loss through vascular changes, increased metabolic production of heat, and shivering) involved in preventing or limiting body heat loss. Cold stress may progress to cold injury and illness. Cold injuries may include hypothermia (clinical hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature falling below 96.8ºF [35ºC]), frostbite (freezing of tissue causing damage to the skin and perhaps underlying tissue), non-freezing injuries such as immersion foot (following reduction of blood flow after exposure to cold and wet environments which can cause nerve damage), chilblains (redness and swelling of skin of hands, face after exposure to cold), and cracked skin. As the victim becomes colder, they may experience muscle rigidity, reduced blood pressure, cardiovascular effects (rhythm disturbances) and a decrease in respiratory rate. Cold strain may also involve psychological impact to body heat loss, such as cognitive decline, poor judgement (paradoxical removal of clothing), and clouded consciousness. 

Hypothermia: Symptoms and Treatment

• Early Symptoms                        
  • Shivering – attempt to generate heat
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of coordination
  • Confusion and disorientation
• Late Symptoms
  • No shivering
  • Blue skin
  • Dilated pupils
  • Slowed pulse and breathing
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Cardiac dysfunction, cardiac standstill (“flatline”) (established by medical professionals in an emergency department)
  • Brain – Isoelectric EEG (“flatline”) (established by medical professionals in an emergency department)

Can PPE Help Protect Against Cold Strain?

PPE, as the last level of defense within the hierarchy of controls, is worn to protect against specific external hazards found in occupational settings. However, some PPE is, by its nature, highly insulative in addition to its other protective features. Therefore, wearing insulative PPE when available can be protective in cold environments if the PPE remains dry. Some examples of cold protective PPE are:

• Insulated coveralls, bunker gear, and jackets
• Insulated waterproof work boots and gloves
• Insulated hoods, facepieces, and goggles 

Click here to read more and learn about recommendations for employers and how to make your clothes work for you while you work!

Join Robert Henderson, the President of GfG Instrumentation, Inc., a supplier of portable and fixed gas detection and indoor air quality monitoring products, as he examines the common challenges and presents solutions for maintaining a gas detection program in manufacturing and transportation settings, including managing compliance, personnel, and the products.

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