Stock up on Summer Safety Essentials

Summer is here, which means so are the additional workplace hazards it brings that can lead to an increase in accidents, injuries, and illnesses if not properly addressed. Now's the time to start fresh and stock up on all the safety essentials to ensure worker productivity.

Workers are at a higher risk of on-the-job injuries, which for employers, means a higher risk of lost productivity and increasing costs. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace injuries are more frequent during the summer months of June, July, and August. Between the three months, an average of 3,331.3 workplace injuries occur daily.

During the summer, more workers are performing job tasks while exposed to the outdoor elements such as construction, road paving, engineering, roofing, painting, landscaping, utility work, and agricultural work. However, indoor workers in chemical plants, foundries, HVAC, and material handling and distribution warehouses work in hot conditions year-round that are often made worse in the summer months.

Workers that are laboring outdoors or in warmer temperatures must prepare for heat stress, prolonged sun and UV ray exposure, falling debris and dropped objects, storm-related weather, flooding, low visibility, dangerous road conditions, slips trips and falls, cuts and scrapes, allergies, sunburns, and insect bites and stings to name a few!

Fortunately, employers can reduce accidents and injuries by taking the proper precautions by selecting the right personal protective equipment for the application and environment.

From rehydration drinks, cooling towels and bands, UV-blocking safety glasses, sunscreen, hard hats, tool tethering, and rainwear to Hi-Viz clothing, traffic control, fall protection, first aid kits, allergy medications and decongestants, and burn care and bug spray, Saf-T-Gard has everything your workers need and more to stand up to these challenges. 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.

Don’t Miss These 30% Sqwincher Savings

Did you know that OSHA launched a National Emphasis Program (NEP) focused on heat hazards to drive the development of the first-ever Federal Heat Standard? Under the NEP, OSHA will be conducting proactive inspections for heat-related hazards targeting more than 70 high-risk industries. When all elements of a violation are established, Area Directors are responsible for issuing citations for hazards under the General Duty Clause. Hazard Alert Letters (HALs) may also be sent.

Saf-T-Gard can help keep you and your workers safe from heat stress and OSHA citations in the event of NEP inspections by providing Sqwincher^® hydration solutions in a variety of formulations, flavors, and dispensing options in addition 30% off when you enter promo code THIRST30 at checkout.

Why Sqwincher^®?

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.

Shop Saftgard.com for 20% Savings

This promotion is valid on web orders only. Limit one per customer. Additional exclusions may apply.

The Smart, Simple and Speedy Way to Shop for Safety Online Today!

Be Prepared for Hurricane Season – Find the Right PPE to Stay Safe

Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30 each year, with peak season between August through October for the Atlantic basin. Due to record warm sea surface temperatures and hurricane-favorable climate conditions in the preceding months, researchers are predicting the 2024 season will be extremely active.

DuPont recognizes the importance of staying safe – before, during, and after serious weather events. Planning and preparation are essential to maintaining safety.

In the aftermath of a hurricane or flood, once the area clears, you may be approached with questions regarding disaster cleanup and remediation. Be prepared for these requests by learning about the hazards and activities associated with hurricane cleanup, widespread flooding, and damage to property and infrastructure.

After a hurricane hits, restoration efforts could involve multiple hazards, including contaminated floodwaters, moldy infrastructures, heat stress, electrical hazards, zoonotic hazards (insects, snakes, etc.) and power equipment or heavy machinery. It is important that those who engage in this cleanup work are aware of these hazards and are adequately protected.

Learn more about common hazards and PPE solutions with DuPont’s hurricane and flood cleanup overview sheet. This resource includes details on protective apparel options for general cleanup tasks, hazardous remediation, waste treatment and disposal, biological hazards, and emergency medical response.

Saf-T-Gard carries a comprehensive line of DuPont^™ Tyvek^® and Tychem^® for hurricane and flood cleanup applications. 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.

Vendor Product Spotlight: PIP EZ-Twist™ 267-HPF610 Earplugs

PIP EZ-Twist^™ 267-HPF610 Earplugs feature PowerSoft^™ polyurethane foam that fit comfortably and securely in any ear canal for optimal noise reduction. The EZ-Twist^™ hybrid earplugs offer the additional hygienic benefits of an easy-to-use stem for quick and consistent fit.

With the EZ-Twist^™ design, there is no need to roll the earplug before fitting. This is an ideal solution for unsanitary work environments where users' hands or their hand protection is soiled or where contaminants are present.

Why choose EZ-Twist^™ earplugs?

Get it right all the time with EZ-Twist™. Additional features and benefits include the following:

Click here to shop the PIP EZ-Twist^™ 267-HPF610 Earplugs online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

Worker Safety in the Summer: How to Protect against UV Rays – And the Heat

When it comes to working in the sun, one of the first rules of safety is to prevent exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Without proper protection, UV rays can damage the eyes and cause sunburn, which can increase the risk of further skin damage.

Another critical risk in summer work is heat stress. This condition — caused when the body is unable to maintain a normal temperature in hot environments — can lead to serious heat-related illness or death.

Symptoms of heat stress can include:

Heat stress is preventable, and a key consideration is personal protective equipment (PPE).

Follow these three tips for keeping cool when the workday heats up.

When workers are safe and comfortable, they’re also more productive. If workers have ineffective, uncomfortable PPE — from goggles that fog to gloves that cause hands to feel sweaty — they may struggle to perform tasks correctly or efficiently. Protect productivity by choosing the right PPE.

Saf-T-Gard carries a comprehensive selection of Honeywell PPE products for summer. 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.

Watch the FREE Ergodyne Sweet Relief for the Hot and Bothered Webinar ON DEMAND

With activity around a federal standard increasing, along with global temps, heat stress continues to be a topic on worksites everywhere. Ergodyne has been a leader in this space for decades and offers a comprehensive overview to heat stress risks and awareness, current Heat Stress Regulations, and more than 100 heat stress product solutions. Tune in to hear the latest on this “hot topic.”

Subscribe to Our Saf-T-Blog

Did you know Saf-T-Gard has a blog on our website, which we post new articles to every month?

Authored by subject matter experts, including Richard A. Rivkin, Saf-T-Gard CEO and Chairman of the Board, and the world’s leading safety manufacturers, the blog topics range from hazard identification, regulatory standards, and the latest technologies and innovations in safety to help safety managers, workers, and business owners across all industries stay informed, make better decisions, and work more efficiently.

Whatever safety challenge you face, count on Saf-T-Gard to deliver trusted advice backed by more than 85 years of service.

Click here to browse and read our current selection of blog articles, and click here to subscribe to our blog on LinkedIn for automatic notification when new articles are posted.

Do you have a topic that you would like to see explored in a blog article? Please e-mail LSeminara@saftgard.com.

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 from 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.

Five Safety Tips

1. ERGO-SMARTS - Back support belts can help reduce back muscle overreaction and injury.

2. ERGO-SMARTS - Vibration-reducing gloves help protect against hand-arm injuries from pneumatic, gas, hydraulic, and electric power tools.

3. ERGO-SMARTS - Wrist wraps and braces open the carpal tunnel area to reduce discomfort and the likelihood of injury.

4. ERGO-SMARTS - Wear proper-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) - too loose or too tight - it's not right!

5. ERGO-SMARTS - In the event of injury, apply ice to reduce swelling, immobilize if necessary, and seek immediate medical attention.

Question - Employees at times perform various tasks on construction equipment being used at a construction site, such as checking fluid levels. At times, this work is done while the employee is on the vehicle at heights over more than six feet. Do any OSHA construction standards require fall protection for employees who are on construction equipment, such as excavators, dump trucks, and bulldozers at heights in excess of six feet?

Answer - The OSHA standards for fall protection in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart M do not apply in this situation because Subpart M explicitly excludes vehicles. 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(1) states: Each employee on a walking/working surface (horizontal and vertical surface) with an unprotected side or edge which is six feet (1.8 m) or more above a lower level shall be protected from falling by the use of guardrail systems, safety net systems, or personal fall arrest systems. The phrase "walking/working surface" is defined at 29 CFR 1926.500(b)(2) as: Any surface, whether horizontal or vertical on which an employee walks or works, including, but not limited to, floors, roofs, ramps, bridges, runways, formwork, and concrete-reinforcing steel but not including ladders, vehicles, or trailers, on which employees must be located in order to perform their job duties. [Emphasis added]. Therefore, Subpart M does not require fall protection for an employee who is on a vehicle in order to perform his or her job duties because 1926.500(b)(2) expressly excludes vehicles from the definition of "walking/working surface."

Saf-T-Gard Spotlight

Saf-T-Gard Spotlight

Loren Rivkin is President and Chief Operating Officer of Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. and joined Saf-T-Gard full time in 1999.

What Loren likes about Saf-T-Gard:

"I enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to work in and grow my family’s business as the 4^th generation."

What makes Loren's day:

"I like the unique applications/work environments that require some outside-the-box ideas. I like customers that see value in partnering with safety specialists at Saf-T-Gard and realizing safety products are not simply a commodity that they can buy anywhere (even if they can, seemingly, buy them “anywhere” these days)."

Loren's outside interests are:

"Coaching my son’s little league baseball team, watching Wisconsin Badgers football, and spending time with my family including my wife, teenage son, and teenage daughter."

Anything else:

"It may be cheesy, but the products that Saf-T-Gard sells help make sure that people go home to see their families at the end of their workday, safely and in one piece. There is something about that idea that makes me proud to Bring Workers Home Safely since 1936."

Does 29 CFR 1926.417, "Lockout and tagging of circuits," require the use of a lock on de-energized circuits? Title 29 CFR 1926 Subpart K addresses electrical safety requirements in construction work. Section 1926.417 ("Lockout and tagging of circuits") states:

In promulgating this section, the Agency used the phrase "rendered inoperative," rather than "locked out." This indicates that methods other than lock-out would be permissible as long as they rendered the equipment or de-energized circuit inoperative. There are a variety of such methods; two examples are:

As I See It

It is July 2024, and I have a few topics to address.

First – an update. Last month I wrote about heat stress. Earlier this month OSHA announced its proposed heat stress rule. You’ll be reading and hearing a lot about it going forward. OSHA proposed regulatory language together with an economic analysis. OSHA took a fresh approach to rulemaking with a performance-based approach rather than just specifications.

And second – people complain about the weather and there’s not much we can do about it except be prepared. From June through November along coastal areas that means being prepared for hurricane season. If you’re an electric power utility or contractor, know that you can count on us for storm response. Click here for more information.

My eyes and ears are inundated by marketing messages trying to get my attention. Many people that I know are frequent (daily or ?) shoppers at that website named after a South American river and jungle. And now they have an option for business shoppers! Are you really trusting your workers’ safety to the fine folks that brought you mail-order books?

Maybe you’ve also seen or heard the TV and online ads for that big company with thousands of locations and a 24/7 website. Ae you really trusting your workers’ safety to the company that built its business on electric motors and whose leading product line is replacement light bulbs?

If you’re following this logic, you see where I’m heading. Workers’ lives are not a commodity, so the PPE and safety products you use should not be a commodity like mail-order books or light bulbs. Safety is all we offer, but with a personal approach. We never forget that the first P in PPE is personal. We harness all of the modern technologies like a 24/7 website with online ordering, EDI, punch-out, vending, etc., but it’s our people who make the difference for you and your people.

That’s who we are and what we do – because we’re Saf-T-Gard International – Bringing Workers Home Safely Since 1936.

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