Watch the FREE Saf-T-Gard and PIP Global Safety Rubber Insulating Gloves 101: Safety, Compliance, and OSHA Requirements Webinar ON DEMAND

OSHA rules and the NFPA 70E standard require the use of rubber insulating products when even the smallest probability of contact with 50 volts AC or higher exists. Regardless of the heavy fines, serious injuries, and deaths that occur from arc flash and electrical incidents, compliance continues to remain an issue. What’s even more shocking is that many workers are not using rubber insulating equipment because they don’t know that they need it.

Electrical safety is not only a concern for utility workers or electrical contractors. In reality, almost every single facility has a need for electrical safety – whether the company is a larger facility with building engineers overseeing distribution, or a smaller facility with maintenance staff working on or around floor or wall sockets. Nowadays, maintenance staff, janitorial staff, facilities staff, and equipment operators all risk exposure to electrical shock. As such, education and awareness for use of rubber insulating equipment are critical.

While the best way to prevent arc flash and electrical incidents from happening is to de-energize equipment before beginning work, there are instances where turning off the power could create an even greater hazard. As such, employers and facility owners must establish safe practices to protect their workers against arc flash and electrical incidents including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

One topic that is often not discussed in detail is the need for rubber insulating gloves where a shock hazard exists from exposure to energized equipment.

Join electrical safety experts Richard Rivkin, Saf-T-Gard CEO, Chairman of the Board, and founder of the Voltgard^® Test Lab, and Ben Bird, PIP Global Safety Business Development Manager, Utilities, as they examine the greater need for rubber insulating gloves and the requirements for in-service inspection and care for continued safety, compliance, and cost savings.

Learning Objectives:

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Your safety is personal.

As a family-owned and operated business, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. understands that worker safety extends beyond the worker – it impacts families. That’s why we partner with our customers to protect them as if they were one of our own.

When lives and livelihoods are at stake, experience should be of the utmost importance, and Saf-T-Gard has a solid history of bringing workers home safely since 1936. Now in our 4^th generation of ownership, Saf-T-Gard continues to provide on-the-job safety, compliance, and peace of mind for hundreds of thousands of workers (and their families) across all hazards and industries with our head-to-toe safety products and personal protective equipment (PPE). We can do the same for you as well!

We are proud to combine our resources with those of the world’s leading safety manufacturers to deliver unrivaled expertise in supplying solutions that ensure workers make it home safely, because we know that the most important role isn’t on the jobsite. It’s at home, after the job is done.

We invite you to put our safety solutions to the test. Shop our Featured Products Catalog – which showcases a selection of our superior safety products and services to better illustrate the breadth and depth of our product line – and feel confident in knowing your investment is backed by more than 88 years of service and expertise.

Shop our Featured Products Catalog today and save 25% on any of the items ordered online when you enter GODIGITAL25 at the checkout. Some additional exclusions may apply.

Click here to download a PDF copy of our Featured Products Catalog, click here to browse and shop the Featured Products Catalog in flipbook format, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

OSHA's Top 10 Safety Violations Show Persistent Risks to Workers

OSHA has announced its most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2025, with Fall Protection – General Requirements topping the list for the 15^th straight year. Similarly, the group of 10 standards that make up the list is the same in 2025, though some standards have shifted up or down in their ranking.

Violations of these standards were documented at thousands of companies. For safety leaders and organizational leaders alike, the consistent representation of these hazards in the Top 10 could provide an opportunity to zero in on these areas in their own operations.

The preliminary data, revealed during the 2025 NSC Safety Congress & Expo – the world’s largest annual gathering of safety professionals – highlights persistent compliance issues and the need for stronger safety efforts across industries.

The Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards are:

Saf-T-Gard has been bringing workers home safely for more than 88 years, and we can do the same for you! Click here to shop more than 14 different categories of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety products that can help prevent these OSHA citations and so much more, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

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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 Products Online Today!

3M^™ Versaflo^™ Competitive Conversion Program

The protection you need. The savings you want.

Upgrade from your current respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) to get rebates on 3M^™ Versaflo^™ Powered and Supplied Air Respiratory Protection. Trade-in your current and qualifying respiratory protection and receive a rebate on qualifying purchases of 3M^™ Versaflo^™ Powered and Supplied Air products. There has never been a better time to upgrade your gear.

It’s time to assess your equipment and make the switch to 3M^™ Versaflo^™ and save! Convert using any of these 3M^™ Versaflo^™ Powered and Supplied Air kits and assemblies. It’s easy to get started. Trade-in your competitive product and legacy 3M™ PPE.

End-user rebate only. Distributors and wholesalers excluded. Must follow requirements online to receive rebate. Void where prohibited. Purchases must be made between January 1^st, 2025 and December 31^st, 2025. Submission for 2025 must be entered by January 15^th, 2026. Visit 3M.com/SafetyRebates for full terms and conditions.

*Qualifying submissions are on a one-for-one basis. The number of systems purchased cannot exceed the amount of end-users converting to 3M^™ products for rebates except as noted in the terms and conditions.

Limited terms and conditions. See full terms and conditions at 3M.com/SafetyRebates.

Upon approval, end-user customers are eligible to receive a manufacturer’s rebate when they Trade-in (i.e., permanently take out of service) NIOSH-approved competitive respiratory equipment or 3M^™ legacy product and replace with comparable and qualifying 3M^™ Versaflo^™ kits, assemblies and certain components, purchased between January 1^st, 2025 and December 31^st, 2025. Competitive product must be functional and hold a NIOSH approval. Proof of ownership or 3M^™ legacy product and proof of purchase of 3M^™ product required upon submission.

A full list of qualifying products and rebate amounts can be found on the program website at 3M.com/SafetyRebates or SafetyRebates portal in Canada. Products outside of this list do not qualify for this offer and qualifying products are subject to change at any time at the sole discretion of 3M^™ without notice. 3M^™ reserves the right to change or terminate this program at any time and without prior notice. Please read the full terms and conditions prior to participation in this program.

For any additional questions or program assistance please reach out to your Saf-T-Gard Safety Sales Specialist.

Saf-T-Gard offers a comprehensive selection of 3M™ respiratory protection products, including disposable respirators, reusable half-mask and full facepieces, cartridges & filters, powered & supplied air systems, Escape respirators, respiratory protection accessories, and more. 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.

Salisbury’s New ASTM-Compliant Data Matrix Labels

What’s Changing: Beginning in October 2025, Salisbury will begin rolling out gloves with the new Data Matrix labels, with the transition continuing through Q1 2026. During this period, you may see both the new labels and the legacy ASTM labels in circulation as existing inventory is phased out. Class 0 and Class 2 gloves will be the first to transition, with other classes and sizes to follow.

Why This Matters: The new Data Matrix labels are designed to make asset tracking and inventory management more efficient than ever. Each code contains key product details including serial number, glove size, and glove class, and is fully compatible with the Data Matrix scanners and software you may already be using. This enhancement reflects Salisbury’s ongoing commitment to innovation and to supporting you in delivering the highest level of safety to the workers who rely on our products every day.

Saf-T-Gard has one of the largest Salisbury Rubber Insulating Gloves inventories in the world! Click here to shop the them online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

ISEA New Standard on the Horizon: Knee Protection

The ISEA Board of Trustees has officially approved the development of a new Occupational Knee Protection Classification and Performance Requirements standard. This standard will create a classification system for occupational knee protection and define performance requirements for key features such as:

Saf-T-Gard offers a variety of Knee Supports/Knee Pads! Click here to shop the them online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

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 88 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 Products 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 predictive search engine. The responsive design enables use and access to nearly 8,000 different product SKUs with enhanced product content and images from your PC, smartphone, or tablet.

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 process, and so much more! Buyers without an existing Saf-T-Gard account can apply for one online here, 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 apply for an account to link to a new Saftgard.com web login. Click here for a shortcut to the registration page, and click here for detailed instructions on how to link your existing Saf-T-Gard account to a Saftgard.com web login.

Five Safety Tips

Question: “Does OSHA mandate that all volunteer members of a HAZMAT team be required to participate in medical surveillance, or may an employee opt out of medical surveillance?”

Answer: Medical surveillance requirements for personnel involved in emergency response to the release of hazardous substances, i.e., HAZMAT team members, are set forth in 1910.120(q)(9). Paragraph 1910.120(q)(9)(i) provides: "Members of an organized and designated HAZMAT team and hazardous materials specialists shall receive a baseline physical examination and be provided with medical surveillance as required in paragraph 1910.120(f) of this section." Therefore, HAZMAT team members involved in emergency response operations covered by 1910.120(q)(9)(i) must receive a baseline physical exam. Any employee subject to 1910.120(q)(9) who elects not to have a baseline examination may not perform emergency response duties as part of a HAZMAT team or as a hazardous materials specialist. An employee who is a "volunteer" member of a HAZMAT team or hazardous materials specialist must still receive the baseline examination under paragraph 1910.120(q)(9)(i). That paragraph applies to all members of any organized and designated HAZMAT team. Any employee who is expected to respond to hazardous substance releases as a HAZMAT team member with the knowledge of the employer is covered under the requirements.

Saf-T-Gard Spotlight

Steve Krieske (left) and Loren Rivkin (right) celebrate Steve's 40^th work anniversary in 2022. 

Steve Krieske is Vice President - Purchasing, and has been with Saf-T-Gard for more than 40 years.

What Steve likes about Saf-T-Gard:

"I have been given a lot of opportunity to utilize my knowledge in the safety business. Saf-T-Gard is also a very comfortable work atmosphere."

What makes Steve's day:

"A smooth day. I also like to see the efforts we put into purchasing turn into success for our sales team."

Steve's outside interests are:

"Family, walleye fishing, and baseball."

Anything else:

"I’m looking forward to the years ahead!"

A client's employee working for a construction company is paid to work from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. as bound by the National Maintenance Agreement that applies to craft employees working at this worksite. At 12:20 p.m. (while off the clock), the employee exits a restroom and falls awkwardly, causing a deep laceration which requires sutures to close. Does this case fall within the exception in Section 1904.5(b)(2)(v) for injuries and illnesses that are solely the result of employees doing personal tasks (unrelated to their employment) at the establishment outside of their assigned work hours?

Under 29 CFR Subpart C, "Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria," an injury must be recorded if it is work-related, is a new case, and meets one or more of the general recording criteria (such as requiring medical treatment beyond first aid). An injury is presumed to be work-related if it results from an event occurring in the work environment unless an enumerated exception to this geographic presumption applies. Under Section 1904.5(b)(2)(v), an injury or illness is not work-related if it is solely the result of an employee doing personal tasks (unrelated to their employment) at the establishment outside of the employee's assigned working hours. In the provided scenario, the exception in Section 1904.5(b)(2)(v) would not apply because the injury occurred during the employee's normal work schedule (lunch break). The exception in Section 1904.5(b)(2)(v) only applies if an injury or illness occurs when the employee is conducting personal tasks while present in the work environment at a time either (1) before the start of the normal work schedule, or (2) after the normal work schedule has ended. In other words, the exception does not apply to injuries and illnesses that occur during breaks (either formal or informal) in the employee's normal work schedule. Therefore, the case described above is work-related and must be recorded.

As I See It

It is November 2025 and I was prepared to share my opinion about purchasing PPE from non-safety specialists (you know, the ones who sell light bulbs, copy paper, sandpaper, toilet paper, etc.). However – NEWS FLASH – we had an inquiry from a potential customer recently that I would like to share. This is a true story and brings home the point of purchasing PPE from safety specialists.

One of our valued and respected customers (note – all of our customers are valued and respected) sent us photos of an industrial glove and asked if we could test it in our fully-accredited high-voltage test lab. They sent us photos of the glove and copies of a Certificate of Compliance issued in another country attesting to the gloves being tested at 1000 volts. The gloves themselves were marked with a meaningless lightning graphic and the words “DC 1000 volt rated voltage.”

The product manual for these “1000 volt” rated gloves further states that “This product is suitable for electrical workers...when working on electrical equipment with rated voltages of 400V and below” and “The product’s electrical insulation performance meets standards.” What standards??? Further investigation of this product and the brand name indicate that it is openly sold on several websites as “Voltage Resistant Gloves.” There is so much wrong with this that I could take over this entire newsletter with the explanation, but I’ll try to be brief. In the U.S., OSHA clearly requires that energized hazards at or above 50 volts require the use of rubber insulating gloves manufactured and tested to ASTM standards. In other countries, IEC 60903 is a similar standard.

While the risk of a regulatory violation (OSHA or otherwise) obviously exists, why would anyone want to risk their life using a blatantly inferior product? Want to know more about this? Call or email us for more details. Worker safety is a serious concern and we are seriously passionate about worker safety because we are Saf-T-Gard International – Bringing Workers Home Safely Since 1936.

Sincerely,
Richard A. Rivkin, CEO and Chairman of the Board