Monthly Archives: September 2008

Hand Protection

PPE: More About Gloves

We want to help you make the right decision when it comes to protecting your hands.  There are so many types of gloves to choose from, we want to share the following background information:

  • Leather Gloves – Provide protection from cuts and burns.  They also help sustain heat from sparks, blows, and rough objects.  Leather gloves make excellent driving gloves.
  • Aluminized – Furnish insulating and reflective protection from heat; require an insert of synthetic materials for protection against heat and cold.
  • Aramid Fiber – Cut and abrasion-resistant, these gloves wear well and protect against heat and cold.
  • Synthetic – Cut and abrasion resistant, heat and cold protective, they may withstand some diluted acids.  They do not stand up against alkalis and solvents.
  • Fabric Gloves – Constructed from cotton or other fabrics, insufficient for protection against rough, sharp or heavy materials.  They work well to keep out dirt, slivers, and prevent chafing and abrasions.
  • Coated Fabric Gloves – Cotton flannel with napping on one side.  The plastic coating is good for general-purpose gloves, adds slip-resistance from handling materials, bricks and wire to handling chemical lab containers.
  • Chemical and Liquid Resistant Gloves– Made from different types of rubber (natural) – butyl, neoprene, or various plastics: polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl alcohol, or polyethylene.

Types of Chemical and Liquid Resistant Gloves:

  • Butyl – Synthetic rubber, stands up well to a wide variety of chemicals.
  • Natural (latex) Rubber – Very popular and comfortable, these gloves perform with most water solutions of acids, alkalis, etc.  For those workers who are allergic to latex, glove liners, hypoallergenic, or powderless gloves are good alternatives.
  • Neoprene– Synthetic rubber – Offer good dexterity.  They have superior chemical and wear resistance, compared to natural rubber gloves.
  • Nitrile – Copolymer, provides high sensitivity and dexterity, and stand up to heavy use.

Source: OSHA

Hand Protection

PPE: Hand and Arm Protection

Employers must take care by conducting extensive hazard assessments to ensure that potential injury to arm and hands of workers is avoided.  The employer should determine which type of protection is needed for the utmost security, by selecting the proper glove, finger guards, arm coverings, or elbow-length glove that is appropriate for the task at hand.
There are numerous selections of gloves and hand protection available.  We encourage you to consider what hazards exist in your work surroundings and then make your choice.  Whether you are an employer, employee, or performing jobs at home, it’s important to make the right choices.

Factors that should influence your decision in choosing gloves:

  • Types of chemicals you are exposed to.  Also the nature of contact (splash, total immersion.)
  • Duration of contact.  Area of body that requires protection.
  • Grip.  (Dry, Wet, or Oily).
  • Thermal Protection.
  • Size and Comfort.
  • Abrasion/Resistance Required.

Gloves generally fall into four groups:

  • Fabric and Coated Fabric
  • Chemical and Liquid-resistant
  • Insulated Rubber Gloves

Check back tomorrow and we’ll hand you a little more specifics on gloves!

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

PPE: Head Protection

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The key to a successful safety program is to protect employees from head injuries.  The easiest and most important way is by wearing safety helmets/hard hats.  These protect workers from the shock of a blow to the head, and penetration.  The shell should be 1 to 1 ¼” away from the head to cushion impact, and the hardhat should have instructions for proper adjustment and replacement of suspension and headband.  Proper fit is of the utmost importance.
Most hard hats have slots to accommodate safety glasses, face shields, mounted lights, and/or earmuffs.

Three industrial classes of hardhats are:

  • Class A – Impact and penetration resistant and limited voltage protection – up to 2,200 volts.
  • Class B – Highest level of high-voltage shock and burn protection – up to 20,000 volts.  These protect from impact and penetration hazards such as falling/flying objects.
  • Class C – Lightweight comfort and important protection but not electrical hazard protected.

Bump Caps are for low head clearance areas where hard hats are not required.  Made to protect from bumps and bruises, bump caps are constructed from polyethylene.

Baseball Cap/Bump Caps have a PE lining inside the cap to protect from bumps and lacerations, as well, and are intended for workers who are not mandated to wear hard hats.

Safety is important, but just because you need to be safe, doesn’t mean you can’t have some style.  There are many different hard hat styles that are all ANSII approved.  Full brim and cap style hats are available in a variety of solid colors.  You can also find hats with different patterns on them, including flames, camouflage and flags for various countries.  You can even purchase hard hats displaying your favorite team. NFL, NCAA, NHL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR styles are all available.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues, Hearing Protection

PPE: Hearing Protection

According to NIOSH, (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), prevention measures must be taken by employers and workers to ensure the protection of workers’ hearing.  Noise-induced hearing loss is 100 per cent preventable but once acquired, hearing loss is permanent and irreversible.
The most effective way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is through engineering controls, such as acoustic barriers or mufflers.  Hearing loss prevention programs for all workplaces with hazardous levels of noise should be customary.
Factors to be determined are duration of exposure to noise, decibels (dB) involved, and if workers are between locations, the decibel difference.  Occupational noise at or above 85dB per eight-hour work-days requires employers to establish a hearing conservation program, which includes regular testing of employees’ hearing by qualified professionals.

Different types of hearing protection:

  • Single Use Earplugs – Self-forming, made of foam, fiberglass wool, silicon rubber, or wax.
  • Pre-formed or molded – Must be individually designed by hearing professional.
  • Earmuffs – Seal the ear.

There are many different types and styles of ear protection, suitablefor continuously noisy workplaces or intermittent racket. There are earplugs, earmuffs, earplugs that can be worn around your neck, under the chin, handy for use when needed. (Also, you just might want some earplugs to take along to a concert, or NASCAR race!)
Source: OSHA
NIOSH

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues

PPE:ANSI Standards and Eye Protection

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The American National Standards Institute has been developing safety standards since the 1920’s, when they approved the first safety standards to protect the eyes and heads of industrial workers.

FYI:  The proper standards are listed below:

  • Eye and Face        ANSI 787.1 – 1989
  • Head            ANSI 789.1 – 1986
  • Foot            ANSI 741.1 – 1991

EYE AND FACE PROTECTION

Work-related eye injuries alone cost over $300 million dollars per year, in lost production time, worker compensation, and medical expenses.  Workers who are exposed to hazards such as molten metal, dust, dirt, wood chips, liquid chemical splashes, flying particles, gases or vapors, caustic liquids, infection-related materials, and light radiation must wear the appropriate eye and face protection.  Improper or poor-fitting eyewear will not ensure safety from eye injury.  If workers wear prescription lens, there are safety glasses that comfortably fit over the prescription glasses, or some safety eyewear can be made with the prescription in them.  Contact lens wearers must wear eye/face protection when working in hazardous settings.
Types of Eye/Face Protection:

  • Safety Spectacles – Impact resistant lenses; safety frames are usually made from metal             or plastic. Side shields may be added for further protection.
  • Welding Shields – Vulcanized fiber/fiberglass with filtered lens, protect from infrared burns, radiant light sparks, slag chips, and metal.  Shades on the shields are numbered, and the welder must use the correct shade number according to tasks being done to secure eyes from harmful light radiation.
  • Laser Safety Goggles –Protect from intense concentrations of laser light. These are special goggles.
  • Face Shields – Sheets of transparent plastic, (sometimes polarized), which goes from eyebrows to below chin and across width of head.  They do not absorb impacts; however, they work well with goggles or safety spectacles against impact hazards.  Protect face from splashes, dust, sprays, etc.

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

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Work hazards exist in most professions.  Employers must provide as much administrative assistance and planning to eliminate these hazards as they can, by either work practice control (changing the way employees do their jobs) or engineering control (building barriers between hazards and workers, when possible).  When these measures aren’t enough, OSHA requires that employers provide their employees with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).  (Note:  Certain Standards of OSHA state that the employer must provide PPE at no cost to the employee, while others state only that the employer must provide PPE.) Examples of PPE are hardhats, respirators, full body suits, hearing protection devices, foot, hand, face and eye protection.

In several installments, we will share information with you to help you understand the basics of determining the proper types of PPE that will keep employees safe!  It is important that employers and employees:

  • Do a hazard assessment of their workplace
  • Be familiar with the different types of PPE
  • Train in proper wear and care of PPE
  • Select appropriate PPE for various circumstances
  • Report to supervisor when PPE needs to be replaced
  • Replace worn or damaged PPE

We hope to help you decide what products to furnish to ensure your safety!

Source:  OSHA, PPE 3151-12R

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

Lightning – Not-So-Fun With Electricity.

One of the most fascinating things to do during a thunderstorm is watching lightning.  One never knows when it is going to happen; this brilliant illumination that dances among the clouds.  Those bolts of lightning cause an average 80 deaths and 300 injuries in the United States every year.  Persons should listen to weather warning devices such as NOAA weather radio in order to prepare for approaching thunderstorms.  If you can hear thunder, it is time to take precautions.

Places you don’t want to be if this threat occurs:

  • Open spaces, such as ball parks, golf courses
  • On the water: wading, in a boat, swimming, etc.
  • Outside, period
  • In the shower or running water
  • Talking on a corded telephone
  • In a group of people

    Lightning Strike

Do you know:

  • Lightning can travel sideways, up to ten miles?
  • Lightning can strike someone swimming or scuba diving in water and travel a great distance away from the point of contact?
  • That you are safe in a car, as long as you have the windows up and do not touch any metal?  Contrary to theory, rubber tires do not offer protection from lightning.  The car’s metal conducts the charge to the ground.
  • Lightning hits the tallest point?  Therefore, if you are outside, crouch as low as possible, and touch as little of the ground as necessary.
  • Ten per cent of lightning occurs without visible clouds?  Even if the sky is blue, you need to take cover when you hear thunder.
  • If the time delay is 30 seconds or less between lightning and thunder, you need to seek shelter immediately?

If someone is struck by lightning:

  • Call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance
  • Give First Aid
  • Check for burns.

Lightning can cause broken bones, damage to the nervous system, loss of hearing or eyesight.  You are not at risk to touch someone who has been hit by lightning; people who have been struck do not carry electric charge that can shock you.

The next time clouds gather, and thunder starts to rumble, play it safe, and stay inside!

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing

Drivers, Start Your Engines!…. Safely?

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Before you start your engines, we thought we’d share some facts regarding NASCAR Safety.

Millions of dollars have been spent to ensure the safety of the drivers, team members, and the fans of the sport. construct Safety Barriers with materials that absorb better than concrete.  The Hans Device (combination helmet and neck restraint) is mandatory.  Restrictor Plates are used at two high-banked superspeedways, Daytona and Talladega. These plates reduce the speed of the cars for safety.  Cars are designed with two roof flaps, which help prevent cars from becoming airborne.  Drivers, of course, are outfitted with fire retardant gloves, boots, and suits.
Pit Road has speed limits for safety.  Pit Members are required to wear helmets, full fire suits, and gloves.  The gas man must wear a fire apron.  Although it is not compulsory, it is recommended changers wear safety glasses to prevent debris from getting into their eyes.  Since the NASCAR cars do not have wing mirrors, it is mandatory to have spotters to communicate with their drivers to relay information as to location of cars in blind spots.

Mechanix products are probably the most popular gloves NASCAR team mechanics use in their job.  Many products are available: all types of gloves, even ones with lights, ladies’ gloves, Radio Belt, knee pads, backpacks, and more!

If you plan to visit the track, you might want to also take along:

  • Safety glasses with UV protection
  • SunX Towelettes
  • Miracool Bandannas
  • Earplugs from
  • Maybe even some Gatorade

Be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat, and drive friendly!

Source:   Wikipedia

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

MOSQUITOS ARE STILL HERE!

I was playing golf last night and, without thinking, left the mosquito repellent at home.  I spent most of the time out there swatting at the bugs.  Needless to say, it didn’t turn out to be one of my more relaxing games.

For those of us who live in warmer climates, the arrival of fall doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be on guard against mosquito bites.  Viruses that cause West Nile, dengue fever, eastern and western equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis are carried by these little pests. Tom Sidway, veterinarian and manager of Texas Department of State Health Services zoonosis control program, states that 30 per cent of the states’ 1,700 West Nile cases from 2002-2006 became ill after August 31.

To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infection:

  • Cover as much skin as comfortable when outdoors.
  • Use insect repellents that contain DEET.
  • Change water in pet bowls, bird baths, and wading pools several times per week.  Drain standing water from around your home.
  • Make sure door seals are intact; mosquito-proof your house.

We know that all mosquito bites don’t cause illness, but we need to protect ourselves when we are outdoors.

Texas DSHS

General Safety Issues

HOLDING TAILGATE MEETINGS

No, this isn’t a tailgate party before a football game, it’s a 10-15 minute on-the-job meeting held to make employees aware of work-related illnesses and accidents.
In California, these meetings are required in both the construction and tunneling industries.
The person in charge asks employees to share actual experiences, ones that they have witnessed: an on-the-job accident or near-accident.  These meetings are casual and relaxed, where the workers feel comfortable talking about topics that pertain to their particular job hazards.  The meetings are always about safety and health problems on the job, and employee participation is encouraged.  Meetings are held to ensure rules are followed and to prevent accidents from happening.

As an example, and according to Cal/OSHA, workers are killed or injured every year because machine guards are taken off and not replaced.  Typical excuses given for this type of accident are:

  • “I didn’t have to time to replace it”
  • “The guard slowed me down”
  • “Listen, I’ve run these machines for years without guards and I’ve never been hurt”
  • “I wanted to be sure the machine was running ok, just never got around to replacing the guard”.

Of course, it’s too late for the victim after the accident has occurred.  Regretfully, it is then that the guards are replaced and strict rules are enforced.

Regardless of what type of company safety policy is enforced at your place of business, it is important that all workers have input to make sure they are protected from accidents and illnesses that are job-related.

Source: CAL/OSHA