Free Heat Index Calculator App: Heat Safety Tool

Heat Safety ToolThe Heat Safety Tool app from OSHA is a handy tool for calculating the heat index of your job site to determine protective measures for heat stress prevention.

This smartphone app works by using your current location to determine the temperature and humidity levels, then calculates the heat index and displays a risk level for outdoor workers. Users can then read precautionary tips associated with the risk level, including replenishing fluids, taking the appropriate breaks, training for new employees and emergency panning and response.

The app provides:

  • Heat Index Calculator
  • Heat Risk Levels (Lower, Medium, High, Very High)
  • Heat stress prevention tips
  • Training on what is heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash signs and symptoms
  • First Aid tips for treating heat stress illnesses
  • OSHA contact info

Remember, when working in the heat safety comes first and with the Heat Safety Tool app, you’ll have all the vital information for preventing heat stress related illnesses at work. This app is available for iPhones and on the Android Market

Healthy Traveling Tips to the 2012 Olympics

2012 Olymipic Trevel TipsGoing to the the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer? Use these helpful tips to make sure your trip is a healthy and more importantly, a safe one.

Up-to-Date Vaccines

Some rare illnesses and diseases to the US may be common in the UK, so make sure your entire family is current on vaccinations. Especially if you are traveling with children, make sure they have their shots. Consult your physician to find out which vaccines you have had, and which ones you need. In the UK, vaccines are known as Jabs.

Don’t Shy from Healthy Habits

Just because you are on vacation does not mean you take a break from your healthy habits:

  • Frequently wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer or hand wipes
  • Don’t forget to wear sunscreen when outdoors during the day
  • Also apply bug repellant to avoid bites from foreign insects
  • Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve and NOT in your hands

In Case of an Emergency

999 EmergencyIn the event you become seriously ill or suffer and injury, don’t dial 911 for emergency help while in London, call 999 and asked to be taken to the A&E (Accident and Emergency), not the ER. For all other minor cuts, scrapes, minor illness and more, visit a local walk-in center or pharmacy for help. Remember, your health insurance here in the US won’t cover you in London. Any medical expenses will be out-of-pocket. To locate a pharmacy or walk-in center, visit the National Health Service website, or call 0845-4647 (while in London of course). Travel health insurance will reimburse any costs you incur.

Talk Like the Brits

Here’s some useful terms to say that will help avoid confusion if you are in need of medical care:
British Terms                              American Terms
A&E (Accident & Emergency)     ER (Emergency Room)
Chemist                                 Pharmacist
Consultant                             Attending Physician
Giddy                                    Dizzy
Gip                                       Aches, Pain
Jabs                                     Vaccinations, Shots
Loo                                      Restroom
Paracetamol                           Acetaminophen
Plaster, Elastoplast                 Elastic Bandage, Band-Aid
Surgical Spirit                        Rubbing Alcohol

Visit the CDC website for more healthy traveling tips this summer.

New Fire Service Gloves for Firefighters

Our selection of Fire Gloves has expanded to include Shelby Specialty Gloves, an industry leader in firefighting gloves and the top choice for professional and volunteer firefighters around the world. Shelby gloves deliver world class performance and hand protection during extrication, rescue, aircraft rescue, wildland and structural firefighting operations.

Structure Gloves – NFPA or OSHA certified gloves made to perform at a high-level and meet the demands of structural firefighters. These gloves come in various materials that have fire retardant properties.
Wildland Gloves – used by wildland firefighters, these gloves offer a high-level of cut and abrasion resistance, while providing excellent dexterity when handling fire tools, including chainsaws, rakes, shovels and drip torches.
Proximity Gloves – made from aluminized PBI/Kevlar, these gloves protect against extreme radiant heat generated by burning fuels and other Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting operations.
Extrication Gloves – these specially designed gloves have cut, puncture and abrasion resistant properties that protect firefighters and rescuers from sharp objects during extrication operations. They also have extra padding around the knuckles.
Rope Gloves – specifically designed to protect your hands from injuries associated with rope rescue operations. Rope gloves have reinforcements built-into areas of the glove where rope is handled the most.
Rescue Gloves – general purpose work gloves that offer excellent protection against cuts and abrasions.

Shelby fire gloves come loaded with features including waterproof liners and flame resistant fabric liners that are breathable and sewn directly to the glove shell. These fire resistant gloves have the level of protection your firefighting application requires.

Combustible Dust Explosion Prevention

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), if your company or firm produces/manufactures any of the following products or materials in powdered form, there is a potential for a “Combustible Dust” explosion and respiratory health risks. These products or materials include:

Combustible DustAgriculture Products: egg white, powdered milk, soy flour, sugar, whey, wood flour, starch, tapioca and more.
Agricultural Dusts: cotton, malt, oat flour, peat, potato flour, gluten, rye flour, tea, wheat starch, sunflower seed dust, coffee dust, alfalfa, soybean dust, sugar, onion powder and more.
Carbonaceous Dusts: corn, cork, charcoal, lignite, peat, soot, pine, cellulose, coal, coke (petroleum), lignite and lampblack.
Chemical Dusts: sulfur, calcium acetate, dextrin, lactose, lead stearate, ascorbis acid and more.
Metal Dusts: aluminum, bronze, iron carbonyl, magnesium and zinc.
Plastic Dusts: polyethylene, emulsion, epoxy resin, melamine resin, polypropylene, phenolic resin and more.

To lessen the risk of a “Combustible Dust” explosion, explosion proof vacuums are recommended for cleanup and housekeeping. These types of vacuums do not produce sparks and help to reduce the risk of an explosion.

To ensure worker safety, make sure your employees are equipped with the appropriate respiratory protection to lower the risk of long term respiratory issues.

View the OSHA Combustible Dust Poster for a complete list of products or materials at risk, along with dust control and prevention measures.

Sun Protective Clothing

Don’t let the sun wear you down this summer. At Enviro, we take heat stress seriously and are dedicated to providing you with the best information and heat stress prevention supplies necessary to keep you cool this summer. After an uncharacteristically warm winter, this summer has the potential of being warmer and dryer than previous years, which means heat stress prevention is crucial.

Cooling Neck ShadesNeck Shades
When your neck is cool, your entire body is cool. Your neck absorbs the most heat when exposed to the suns rays and puts the most stress on your body, wearing your muscles down and resulting in fatigue. Neck Shades are the best way to protect your neck from sunburn and extreme heat exposure and they are not just for hard hats. Neck sun shade is great for any outdoor activities including; sporting events, fishing, hiking, lawn mowing, and more. The possibilities are endless with a protective neck shade.

Cooling VestCooling Vests
For those summer days that push the extremes, a Cooling Vest is the best way to keep your body temperature down and prevent you developing heat stress. Cooling vest for adults have a slim-line design that conform to your body and are worn under personal protective clothing or other garments and keep you cool for several hours. The special crystals inside the vest absorb and retain the temperature of water (that it has been soaked in), which then releasing a cooling sensation through your body. Cooling vests are not just for industrial worker, but are also great around the house or on camping trips.

Cooling BandanasCooling Bandana
Another great way to keep your body cool during summer. With a Cooling Bandana, you can get cool in minutes. Simply soak in cold water and feel the coolness for days. It works without freezing or ice and can be reused thousands of times without loosing any effectiveness.  Cooling bandanas are used by people around the world to keep them cool during any outdoor summer activity.

Remember, Cooling Clothing is a cost-effective way to not only prevent sunburns, but prevent heat stress during the hat summer months ahead so you can stay cool while on the job, or out on the trail.

New to Enviro: 3M Peltor H9A-02 Earmuffs

3M Peltor H9A-02Enviro now carries the all-new 3M Peltor H9A-02 Food Industry Earmuffs. They are specially designed to meet the personal protection needs of food manufacturing workers, while adhering to industry regulations for hygiene. With a newly constructed headband and ear cushions, these 3M ear muffs are comfortable for all day use.

The food processing industry requires special protection for workers and these protective earmuffs deliver.

Headband – constructed with virtually zero creases that help reduce the risk of particle accumulations, which leads to bacteria growth. The headband rests comfortably on top of your head.

Two-Point Suspension – made from lightweight aluminum, the headband wire connects at two points on each ear cup that helps evenly dispense the pressure around your ears.

Low-Profile Earcups – smaller and lighter than traditional Peltor earmuffs, these ear cups have a low-profile design that increases comfort during long periods of use. The ear cushions and inserts are made from a polymer that helps reduce condensation and keeps you cool.

Foam Ear Cushions – two soft, foam ear cushions seal around your ears and provide the same high-level of hearing protection that Peltor is known for.
NRR 26 dB.

Washable Parts – the headband, ear cups and ear cushions are all washable and help promote good hygiene while extending the life of your earmuffs.

No other ear muff offers the unique features than the 3M Peltor Food Industry Earmuffs (H9A-02). They will meet the demands of food processing workers and hygienic regulations of the food industry.

Peltor Communication Headsets for Aviators

Aviation HeadsetWhether you fly twin-engine prop planes or helicopters, Aviation Headsets are designed to drown out loud propeller noise, while delivering clear, unmuffled 2-way communications to your co-pilot, passengers, ground crews and airport tower personnel.

Peltor Aviation Headsets are designed with the consumer in mind. They are easy-to-use and plug directly into your plane or helicopter’s communication system. Airplane headsets don’t have any protruding features that reduce the risk of bumping against obstacles during flight and the soft, padded foam allows the headsets to sit comfortably on your head, even by the end of a long flight.

The benefits to Peltor Aviation Headsets:

  • Parallel connector – the speakers in each earcup work separately, so if one fails the other will operate as usual.
  • Noise-cancelling boom mic – drowns out unwanted ambient noises. The mic has a sturdy design with four positions for flexible communications.
  • Soft, foam-filled ear cushions seal around your ear for the best hearing protection Peltor has to offer. NRR ranges from 23-28 dB
  • Adjustable, padded headband that dispenses the weight of the headset evenly around your head, giving you long-lasting comfort.
  • Reliable Peltor electronics

Peltor Aviation Headsets are the #1 choice communication head set  by aviators all over the world.

Check out Enviro’s new selection of Aviation Headsets for fixed wing airplane pilots, twin-engine airplanes, helicopters with low-impedance intercom systems and airport ground crews.

Gloves Made for Mechanics

It is important for mechanics to wear gloves when servicing an automobile to protect their hands from from contact with chemicals, burns and cuts. Mechanics Gloves are specifically designed for protection against the dangers of auto repair without compromising dexterity. While there are many different styles of gloves to choose from, it is recommended to opt for more protective coverage than may be required, just to be safe.

Before deciding which mechanics glove to purchase, it is important to evaluate you working conditions to determine how much protection you need. Here are some question to ask yourself?

  • Will I be exposed to hazardous liquids, i.e. oil, gas, brake fluid, ect?
  • Do I frequently touch hot engine parts?
  • Do I use hand tools?

What to look for in mechanic gloves?Mechanic Gloves

  1. Cut Resistance – find a gloves that offers the appropriate level of cut resistance. Gloves with reinforced palms made from PVC or Kevlar offer extra protection. Remember, there is no such thing as a CUT-PROOF glove.
  2. Heat Resistance – most gloves offer protection from burns when touching or handling hot engine parts.
  3. Full Finger vs. 3/4 Finger – determine the physical conditions your hands will be exposed to determine which finger length is appropriate. Full finger covers the entire finger, while 3/4 finger leaves half of your finger exposed to potential hazards, but also offer more dexterity.

Remember to always keep a pair of Mechanic Gloves in your toolbox.

DuPont Tyvek 2012 Dirty Work Photo Contest

Tyvek Photo Contest

DuPont wants to see photos of you wearing Tyvek Coveralls while working on a “dirty work” project or after the “dirty work” project is complete. The DuPont Tyvek 2012 Dirty Work Photo Contest is a two-part promotion consisting of the Photo Contest and a Sweepstakes. The contest runs between May 1 to September 30, 2012 and there is no entry fee required.

Photo Contest: Submit a photo for your chance at a grand prize of a $2,500 travel voucher or in the form of an American Express Gift Card. The winner will be based on how well the Tyvek coveralls and “dirty work” project are portrayed in the photograph.

Sweepstakes: there are a total of 5 sweepstakes prizes of $50 American Express Gift Cards each. Each month a random winner is drawn.

Visit the 2012 Dirty Work Photo Contest website for more information.

Tyvek Photo Contest

Remember to pick up your Tyvek Coveralls and other personal protection equipment (PPE) at Enviro Safety.

What is Arc Flash?

Flash ClothingWhile there are many hazards in the workplace, none is more dangerous than Arc Flash. More than 2,000 workers across the country are injured by arc flash every year and have to be treated for severe burns. Injuries caused by the flash can last for months to a lifetime. With the proper flash protection, including flame resistant gloves, pants, jackets, overalls, arc flash suits and other arc flash clothing, you will protect yourself from severe burns when working around electrical currents.

What is Arc Flash?
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), defines it as being an electrical current that passes through air when insulation or isolation between electrified conductors is no longer sufficient to withstand the applied voltage, leading to an electrical explosion that can reach temperatures of up to 35,000°F.

What causes an Arc Flash to occur?
Most flash arc is caused by a tool or other element could compromise the distance between two energized components.

The NFPA 70E-2004, Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee workplace, requires employers to provide their workers the the appropriate flash protection Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

Arc clothing has flame resistant properties that protect you from getting burned if exposed to an arc flash. Made from non-conductive materials, such as Modacrylic or Nomex that won’t ignite when exposed to a flame. Hi visibility arc flash safety vests give you added ANSI certified high vis protection.