New Year, Same Excellence: Work Hard in 2026 Protected by Saf-T-Gard

The first "P" in "PPE" stands for "Personal", and no one understands this better than Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. As a family‑owned and operated global supplier of industrial safety products now in our 4^th generation of ownership, Saf-T-Gard has been bringing workers home safely since 1936 with our finest-quality selection of safety products and personal protective equipment (PPE), and we can do the same for you.

Today, Saf-T-Gard carries on the tradition that was started more than 90 years ago: Bringing customers the products, training, and service they need to keep employees safe in the workplace. Our mission is "To provide, based on our experience, expertise, and understanding of our customer's requirements, solutions to their needs for industrial safety products and PPE of the finest world-class quality, appropriate and suitable for the purposes intended, that provide value, safety, and security."

Saf-T-Gard is an active member of the National Safety Council (NSC), the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), and the AD Safety Network and provides thousands of solutions from recognized brand names, in addition to its renowned line of proprietary brands. Saf-T-Gard actively operates the Voltgard^® Test Lab, one of the largest, independent, NAIL4PET-accredited test labs for rubber insulating products in the United States.

Saf-T-Gard offers tens of thousands of products spanning the full range of PPE and facility safety, from the world’s leading manufacturers, including PIP Global Safety, Justrite, SHOWA, 3M, DuPont, Moldex, Cordova Safety Products, Ansell, Pyramex, Tingley, CoreTex, and AccuformNMC, in addition to Saf-T-Gard’s exclusive brands. Saf-T-Gard serves customers in all 50 states and in more than 50 countries around the world.

Saf-T-Gard has received numerous awards, including Illinois Family Business of the Year, United States Department of Commerce President’s “E” Award for Export Excellence, AD-Affiliated Distributors Safety Network Gold Star's Distributor Award and Peak Performance Distributor Award. Saf-T-Gard is an active member of the National Safety Council (NSC), the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) Worker Safety Committee, the North American Independent Laboratories for Protective Equipment Testing (NAIL4PET), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM International), IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and AD-Affiliated Distributors Safety Network.

Click here to shop our comprehensive worker safety solutions 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.

Join Us for the e-Hazard Low Voltage Qualified (LV) AND High Voltage Qualified (HV) Electrical Safety Training Classes

Do you know all of the best practices in electrical safety and how to apply them in real-world situations? Are you aware of all the potential electrical hazards and safety practices specific to industrial high voltage systems?

Sign up for both the e-Hazard Low Voltage Qualified (LV) AND High Voltage Qualified (HV) Electrical Safety Training Classes sponsored by Voltgard^® (a division of Saf-T-Gard International, Inc.) to learn all of this and more.

Who Should Attend:

Safety Directors, Electrical Contractors, Maintenance Electricians, Linemen, Owners, Managers, Safety Engineers, Supervisors, Electricians, and Electrical Engineers

Dates:

Location:

Courtyard by Marriott – Chicago Deerfield

800 Lake Cook Road

Deerfield, IL 60015

(847) 940-8222

Cost:

Contact:

Product Spotlight: Saf-T-Gard^®
Visi-Gard^® B2 Safety Glasses

Keep your eyes safe and on the prize with the
Saf-T-Gard^® Visi-Gard^® B2 Safety Eyewear! These versatile safety glasses integrate a variety of safety and comfort features for all-day wear.

Hard-coated polycarbonate lenses are scratch and impact resistant, filter more than 99% of UVA and UVB ultraviolet light, and meet ANSI Z87.1 High Impact Safety Standards.

Additional features and benefits include the following:

Click here to shop the Saf-T-Gard^® Visi-Gard^® B2 Safety Eyewear 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 Products Online Today!

3M™ Disposable Respirators Trade-In Program

Now you can breathe easy. End users get one month’s supply of select 3M™ Disposable Respirators at no charge when switching from competitive disposable respirators.

Excellent for customers:

How it works:

Eligible 3M™ Disposable Respirators:

Click here to download the 3M™ Disposable Respirators Trade-In Program flyer.

Saf-T-Gard offers a wide array of eligible 3M™ General Purpose and Specialized Disposable Respirators. Click here to view them online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

*3M™ reserves the right to modify, discontinue, or terminate this offer at any time and without prior notice. Amount of no charge respirators are determined at the sole discretion of the 3M™ safety specialist. The end user must place a future dated stocking order for the equivalent amount of respirators and provide proof of purchase to the 3M™ safety specialist in order to qualify for offer.

*Offer open to industrial end-users of disposable respiratory products in United States and valid between January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 (even though the 3M™ Disposable Respirators Trade-In Program flyer lists December 31, 2024 as the deadline). Maximum value up to $25,000. Void where prohibited.

*Please allow at least 2-4 weeks for delivery. 3M™ is not liable for undelivered packages. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. 3M™ PSD products are for occupational use only.

Winter Weather: Plan, Equip, and Train to Prevent Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities during Winter Storms

Winter weather presents hazards including slippery roads/surfaces, strong winds, and environmental cold. Employers must prevent illnesses, injuries, or fatalities, by controlling these hazards in workplaces impacted by winter weather.

OSHA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are working together on a public education effort aimed at improving the way people prepare for and respond to severe weather.

Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice

To prevent slips, trips, and falls, employers should clear snow and ice from walking surfaces, and spread deicer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. When walking on snow or ice is unavoidable, workers should be trained to:

Preventing Falls When Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces

OSHA’s Hazard Alert, Snow Removal: Know the Hazards Pamphlet, and winter weather webpages provide guidance to employers on how to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Employers should consider options to avoid working on roofs or elevated heights, plan ahead for safe snow removal and must:

Cold Stress

It is important for employers to know the wind chill temperature so that they can gauge workers’ exposure risk better and plan how to safely do the work. It is also important to monitor workers’ physical condition during tasks, especially new workers who may not be used to working in the cold, or workers returning after spending some time away from work.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information from the nearest NWS office. It will give information when wind chill conditions reach critical thresholds. A Wind Chill Warning is issued when wind chill temperatures are life threatening. A Wind Chill Advisory is issued when wind chill temperatures are potentially hazardous.

Who is Affected by Environmental Cold?

Environmental cold can affect any worker exposed to cold air temperatures and puts workers at risk of cold stress. As wind speed increases, it causes the cold air temperature to feel even colder, increasing the risk of cold stress to exposed workers, especially those working outdoors, such as recreational workers, snow cleanup crews, construction workers, police officers and firefighters.

Other workers who may be affected by exposure to environmental cold conditions include those in transit, baggage handlers, water transportation, landscaping services, and support activities for oil and gas operations. Risk factors for cold stress include:

What is Cold Stress?

What constitutes cold stress and its effects can vary across different areas of the country. In regions that are not used to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered factors for "cold stress."

Increased wind speed also causes heat to leave the body more rapidly (wind chill effect). Wetness or dampness, even from body sweat, also facilitates heat loss from the body. Cold stress occurs by driving down the skin temperature, and eventually the internal body temperature.

When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage and death may result. Types of cold stress include trench foot, frostbite, hypothermia, and chilblains.

For more information, see OSHA's Cold Stress Safety and Health Guide.

How Can Cold Stress be Prevented?

Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) of 1970, employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized hazards, including cold stress hazards, that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in the workplace.

Click here for more information on winter weather from OSHA, including the different types of cold stress - their symptoms and first aid, preparedness, hazards/precautions, worker’s rights, and more!

Watch the FREE FyterTech Nonwovens Follow the Fluid Webinar ON DEMAND

Workplace slips, trips, and spills are costly and dangerous. Deploying a spill control plan in your facility is key to reduce your level of risk.

Join JD Hamacher III, Director of Sales for FyterTech Nonwovens, to get an in-depth overview of the best practices for using spill control to mitigate risk and keep your facility clean, safe, and productive. ‘

Let's keep your workers safe, and your business in compliance.

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 90 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 “smart” 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, smart phone, 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, 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

Visit with Saf-T-Gard

iP Utility Safety Conference & Expo - Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), and Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Orlando, FL, Booth #413

NECA Safety Professionals Conference (NSPC) - Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. (Eastern Time), and from 4:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. (Eastern Time), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Atlanta, GA, Booth #TBD

The Battery Show & Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo - Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), and Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Huntington Place, Detroit, MI, Booth #6724

Question - Can transparent plastic materials be used for welding curtains or screens?

Answer - Standard 29 CFR 1910.252(e)(2)(iii) states: "Protection from arc welding rays. Where the work permits, the welder should be enclosed in an individual booth painted with a finish of low reflectivity such as zinc oxide (an important factor for absorbing ultraviolet radiations) and lamp black, or shall be enclosed with noncombustible screens similarly painted. Booths and screens shall permit circulation of air at floor level. Workers or other persons adjacent to the welding areas shall be protected from the rays by noncombustible or flameproof screens or shield or shall be required to wear appropriate goggles." In reference to the requirement in the first sentence of the standard, the employer would be in violation if the plastic curtain forms a booth to enclose the welder since the curtain is not noncombustible, as required. There is no known treatment which will make organic plastics noncombustible. In reference to the requirement of the second sentence of the standard, the transparent plastic welding curtain could easily be installed to meet the ventilation requirement. In reference to the requirement of the third sentence of the standard, a transparent plastic screen or shield would be permitted since it can be made flameproof as well as sufficiently absorptive and
non-reflective of the welding rays.

Saf-T-Gard Spotlight

Ania Rodriguez Escobales is Export Sales Administrator, and she joined Saf-T-Gard in April 2018.

What Ania likes about Saf-T-Gard:

"I like the professional work environment and that the company is dedicated to results."

What makes Ania's day:

"Being able to fulfill my daily goals."

Ania's outside interests are:

"I enjoy sharing time with my family and exercising."

Anything else:

"I am from Puerto Rico, and I love the music!”

What are the requirements to give workers a choice of hearing protection devices?

OSHA regulations, 29 CFR 1910.95(i)(3), states: "Employees shall be given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer." In this instance, OSHA did not intend to specify the number of types or variety of hearing protectors from which employees may make their selection. Instead, OSHA included this performance language recognizing that there are several reasons why employees should be allowed to select from a variety of hearing protectors. Plant conditions such as dust, temperature, and humidity can cause one type of hearing protector to be more suitable than another. For example, earplugs can be more comfortable in a hot, humid environment, than earmuffs. Also, individual ear canals come in all shapes and sizes. For people with unusually shaped ear canals, fitting may be difficult, and commonly-used insert protectors may be very uncomfortable. In general, employers are advised to give workers a choice between at least one type of earplug and one type of earmuff since individuals may be more comfortable in one type of protection than in the other. However, the number of different hearing protectors required to constitute an adequate variety is simply the number needed to supply each employee that requires a hearing protector a suitable one. The term "suitable hearing protectors" as used in the provision means hearing protectors that are comfortable to wear and that offer sufficient attenuation to prevent hearing loss.

As I See It

It’s January – the start of the new year. New year = new items for you to consider, so let’s focus on IYDKYCGFS (items you didn’t know you could get from Saf-T-Gard).

IYDKYCGFS #1 – Arm protection. You probably know that our legacy is hand protection, but do your workers need protection up the arm as well? We have a full range of arm protection ranging from disposable polyethylene and polypropylene and Tyvek^® sleeves to general purpose cotton and vinyl sleeves to cut-resistant Kevlar^® sleeves to flame-resistant fabric sleeves to high-voltage rubber insulating sleeves.

IYDKYCGFS #2 – Emergencies happen. Despite the best in personal protective equipment (PPE) and the best in facility safety, emergencies happen, and fast response is critical. ZOLL, the world’s leading manufacturer of AEDs, (also available from
Saf-T-Gard) has introduced a mobile compact trauma kit of medical supplies that empower untrained bystanders to manage severe bleeding, cardiac arrest, seizures, choking, and more to manage care until EMS arrives. First Aid Only has introduced an emergency response bag with packaged contents to treat most emergency injuries including burns, wounds, bleeding, eye injuries, bloodborne pathogens, CPR and sprains.

IYDKYCGFS #3 – It’s still winter. Groundhog Day is still a couple of weeks away so we don’t yet know how many more weeks of winter we will have. So, for your outdoor workers as well as workers in cold environments like freezer lockers, we offer a battery-powered heated baselayer vest covering the chest and back with three (3) temperature ranges. The rechargeable battery provides up to seven (7) hours of warmth. It’s washable, too!

There are a lot more new products available at www.saftgard.com – just select New Items from the Shop
Saf-T-Gard drop down menu. Experience matters when it comes to your workers’ safety, and we are Saf-T-Gard International –Bringing Workers Home Safely Since 1936.

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