Posted by Dyanna de Leon on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 04:16 PM
For the ultimate Chainsaw Protection, Elvex Protective Clothing is the answer. Whenever you work with dangerous power tools like chain saws, you should know how to protect yourself. For those using chainsaws on the job making sure you are fully protected is extremely important. Chainsaw related accidents are among the highest incidents of occupational injuries. Elvex Chainsaw protective clothing can decrease the extent of an injury and can turn a devastating injury to a minor one.
Chainsaw Vests
protect from chainsaw kick back injuries. With Elvex's famous Prolar protective pads, chainsaw protection is at its best. Prolar pads work by jamming the chain against the bar and sprocket. Elvex Prolar pads have been tested by Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) for conformance to ASTM F-1897-2008.
Elvex offers Chainsaw Chaps that meet the requirements of ASTM Standard for Leg Protection for Chain Saw Users (F-1897-2008). This standard requires that the chaps can stop a chain saw running at 2,750 feet/minute tested at both 45° and 90° to the longitudinal axis of the test sample, under controlled laboratory conditions.
The ASTM Standard is a revised regulation as the ASTM increased the performance requirements for chainsaw test speed from 2,500 fpm to 2,750 fpm.
Posted by Dyanna de Leon on Tue, Sep 08, 2009 @ 01:31 PM
If you are a Healthcare professional, the risk for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens is very high. "Bloodborne Pathogens means pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can casue disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)." (OSHA) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Exposures occur through needlesticks or cuts from other sharp instruments contaminated with an infected patient's blood or through contact of the eye, nose, mouth, or skin with a patient's blood."
Healthcare professionals, as well as employees in the fields of Crime Scene Cleanup, Embalming/forensics, Tank Cleaning, Fiberglass Manufacturing, Animal Research, and Emergency Medical Response, protecting yourself from potential exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens is extremely important. Kimberly Clark offers Bloodborne Pathogens Coveralls to protect workers from pathogens, bodily fluids, bacteria and more. These coveralls pass ASTM F1670-1671 testing for penetration of blood, body fluids and bloodborne pathogens.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends the following if you are stuck by a needle or other sharp instruments, or get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin:
- Immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap and water or a skin disinfectant if available.
- Report this immediately to your employer
- Seek immediate medical attention
Posted by Ophelia Gonzales on Mon, Jun 15, 2009 @ 10:47 AM
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) created NFPA 70E, a standard for Electrical Safety in the workplace. This standard is designed to protect workers around any device capable of generating arc flash by requiring arc flash protective clothing for their corresponding Hazard/Risk Category. The information below is a high level overview.
NFPA 70E Requirements:
The NFPA published the latest edition of the NFPA 70E standard in 2009. It requires employees to wear flame resistant protective clothing that meets the requirements of ASTM F1506 wherever there is possible exposure to arc flash. It also requires employers to perform a flash hazard analysis to determine the flash protection boundary distance. For additional requirements please review the NFPA70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace 2009 Edition.
Why should I comply with NFPA 70E?
The
NFPA 70E is not only recognized by OSHA but can save your life!
Numerous arc flash burn injuries and deaths are caused each year by
arc-flash explosions. Wearing proper arc flash protection can minmize
the likelihood of inuiry and fatality. OSHA has confirmed that garments
which meet the requirements of ASTM
F1506 are in compliance with OSHA 29 CR 1910.269 Electrical Power
Generation, Transmission and Distribution, with regard to garments not
contributing to burn severity.
Posted by Scott Newton on Fri, Dec 19, 2008 @ 02:51 PM
Winter is here! We now carry a large selection of winter liners in various of styles. Our selection includes fleece liners, hard hat liners, beanies, insulated hats and much more. These liners not only keep you warm but they provide you with superior comfort and excellent cold stress relief. You will see the difference in your body temperature when wearing these warm fleece liners. Be sure to protect yourself from cold related injuries by staying warm with our winter liners!
Posted by Scott Newton on Thu, Nov 06, 2008 @ 02:00 PM
Are you ready for the rain? Protect yourself and your staff with comfortable, affordable, durable rainwear. Our selection of rainwear includes rainsuits, rain overalls, high visibility rainsuits, ponchos, and more. Rainsuits are available with different coatings and thicknesses to best fit your application. Many rainsuits offer protection from many different acids, oils, alcohols, salts and alkalies. Some rainsuits are even Flame resistant! Superior comfort, excellent protection and affordability? What are you waiting, be prepared and stay dry with rainwear from Onguard, Tingley Rubber, Occunomix and more!
Posted by Scott Newton on Mon, Sep 29, 2008 @ 09:08 AM
Work around dangerous chemicals? Protect your feet. ONGUARD Industries specialty upper and outside compounds make SureFlex the number one choice for providing high degree of chemical resistance. SureFlex WorkShoes and Boots are available with plain toe or steel toe. Both styles feature a wider calf design for a more comfortable fit, a kick-off lug for easy removal, removable and replaceable preformed 3-layer insole for added comfort and steel shank for added support and protection in the instep. Orange slip resistant safety loc outsole combined with SureFlex compound provides superior slip resistance. ONGUARD SureFlex gives you safety plus comfort, what can be better?
Posted by Scott Newton on Wed, Sep 10, 2008 @ 09:44 AM
Avian flu is a viral disease and it can be very contagious and even deadly in poultry (e.g., chickens). Of great concern are the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses that have killed millions of birds and infected humans in other countries. If these viruses are detected in the U.S. or if you travel on work assignments or are employed in countries that have HPAI H5N1 outbreaks, take appropriate precautions.
Avian Flu Systems in Humans:
Range from fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches; to diarrhea, eye infections, pneumonia and severe respiratory diseases. The symptoms of avian influenza may depend on which virus caused the infection but are often similar to those associated with human seasonal influenza.
How Humans are Infected:
Contact with sick poultry or surfaces solid with discharges from their mouths or beaks, or with feces. Inhaling contaminated particles from poultry.
Treatment:
Some prescription antiviral drugs may be effective.
General Precautions:
- Wash hands thoroughly and frequently, for 15-20 seconds, preferably with soap and hot water.
- Avoid contact with possibly infected poultry.
- Avoid consuming uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products.
Precautions when exposed - Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE):
Employees should remove all PPE at work to avoid taking contaminated items home.
Additional Guidance:
Get the seasonal flu vaccine. If you develop flu-like symptoms, stay home except to get medical attention.
-OSHA-
Posted by Scott Newton on Mon, Jul 28, 2008 @ 10:20 AM
About the standard:
ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 is the American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apperal established by ANSI, the American National Standards Institute.
This standard provides guidelines for the use of high-visibility safety appareal (shirts, rainwear, outerwear and safety vests) for construction, utility, police, emergency medical services, fire fighters and airport ramp ramp workers. ANSI/ISEA 107 is intended to improve workers vsibility during the day, in low-light conditions and at night. It also provides guidelines to help purchasers select the appropriate garment based on assessment of worker hazards and tasks, complexity of the work environments or background, and vehicular traffic and speed.
Not sure about the differences between all classes? See which class is required for your job.
Class 1 - For workers in occupations that permit full and undivided attention to approaching traffic. When work backgrounds are not complex. When Pedestrian workers are separated from traffic. Examples, parking lot attendants, shopping cart retrievers, warehouse workers, and delivery vehicle drivers.
Minimum requirements for Class 1:
- Background Fabric - 217 square inches
- Retro reflective Material - 155 square inches
Class 2 - For workers who require greater visibility under inclement weather conditions. When work backgrounds are complex. When tasks divert attention from approaching vehicle traffic. Examples, roadway construction workers, utility workers, survey crews, railroad workers, school crossing guards, airport baggage handlers, law enforcement personnel, accident site personnel, emergency response personnel, high volume parking and toll-gate personnel.
Minimum requirements for Class 2:
- Background Fabric - 775 square inches
- Retro reflective Material - 201 square inches
Class 3 - For workers and vehicle operations whose high task loads place them in danger. When wearer must be conspicuous through the full range of body motions at minimum 1,280 feet. When wearer must be identifiable as a person. Examples, roadway construction workers, utility workers, survey crews and emergency service personnel.
Minimum requirements for Class 3:
- Background Fabric - 1240 square inches
- Retro reflective Material - 310 square inches
Posted by Scott Newton on Wed, Jun 25, 2008 @ 09:03 AM
Every year, more than 2,000 workers are treated in burn centers with severe arc flash injuries. The flash is immediate, but the results can cause severe injuries that last months, years—even a lifetime. In some cases, they may cause death. Fortunately, arc flash hazards can be reduced by following safety precautions and using the recommended personal protective equipment.
What is Arc Flash?
Arc Flash is the result of a rapid release of energy due to an arcing fault between a phase bus bar and another phase bus bar, neutral or a ground. During an arc fault the air is the conductor. Arc faults are generally limited to systems where the bus voltage is in excess of 120 volts. Lower voltage levels normally will not sustain an arc. An arc fault is similar to the arc obtained during electric welding and the fault has to be manually started by something creating the path of conduction or a failure such as a breakdown in insulation.
The cause of the short normally burns away during the initial flash and the arc fault is then sustained by the establishment of a highly-conductive plasma. The plasma will conduct as much energy as is available and is only limited by the impedance of the arc. This massive energy discharge burns the bus bars, vaporizing the copper and thus causing an explosive volumetric increase, the arc blast, conservatively estimated, as an expansion of 40,000 to 1. This fiery explosion devastates everything in its path, creating deadly shrapnel as it dissipates.
The arc fault current is usually much less than the available bolted fault current and below the rating of circuit breakers. Unless these devices have been selected to handle the arc fault condition, they will not trip and the full force of an arc flash will occur. The electrical equation for energy is volts x current x time. The transition from arc fault to arc flash takes a finite time, increasing in intensity as the pressure wave develops. The challenge is to sense the arc fault current and shut off the voltage in a timely manner before it develops into a serious arc flash condition.
Did you know?
The temperature of an arc flash can reach 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit – about four times as hot as the surface of the sun.
Arc Flash Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment, or PPE is designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, Personal protective equipment, or PPE includes a variety of devices and garments such as goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators.
In order to select the proper PPE, incident energy must be known at every point where workers may be required to perform work on energized equipment. These calculations need to be performed by a qualified person such as an electrical engineer. All parts of the body that may be exposed to the arc flash need to be covered by the appropriate type and quality of PPE. Proper PPE can include Flame Resistant clothing, arc flash kits, helmet or headgear, face shield, safety glasses, gloves, shoes, etc. depending upon the magnitude of the arc energy.
Industry Standards - Four separate industry standards establish practices for the prevention of electrical explosion incidents:
OSHA 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910, Subpart S
This regulation states, in part, “Safety related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts… .” OSHA also addresses the qualification of workers exposed to electrical shock hazards and the provision for protective equipment appropriate for the work to be performed. OSHA enforces safety practices and cites to the NFPA requirements.
NFPA 70e-2004, National Electrical Code
Section 110.16 requires that companies place a warning label on electrical equipment likely to consitute an electrical safety hazard. This field marking can be generic or very specific, whichever the company selects. Future revisions of the NEC standard may require more detailed information on this label.
NFPA 70E-2000, Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces
NFPA 70E can be considered the “how to” standard behind OSHA enforcement. It provides the detailed actions companies must take to be in federal compliance.
Specifically:
- Safety program with defined responsibilities
- Calculations for the degree of electrical safety hazard
- Training for workers
- Tools for safe work
- Warning labels on equipment
IEEE Standard 1584-2002, Guide for Electrical Safety Regulation
In order for the warning labels to carry enough information to show the danger zone for electrical safety conditions, companies must determine that area within which only qualified workers should enter—the protection boundary. IEEE 1584 provides a method to calculate the incident energy in order to specify the level of PPE required for workers.
Posted by Scott Newton on Tue, Jun 17, 2008 @ 09:51 AM
Article by David Heller
Maintaining a workforce in modern times is a difficult task to say the least, particularly when it requires keeping on top of legislative changes and government red tape. Nevertheless, it is important for the well being of your workforce to make sure you have adequate protective clothing in place during working hours. Whether this involves buying specific items for your workforce, or devising a company uniform policy for health and safety reasons, you can source the right protective clothing for your needs. In this article we’ll look at why protective clothing is important for your organisation, and where you can find it.
Protective clothing comes in a range of different styles and sizes, spanning most of the traditional ‘dangerous’ industries. Whether you’re working in a heavy construction environment or handling volatile chemicals, chances are you’ll need some safety equipment in order to do your job. But why is protective clothing important from the point of view of the organisation employing staff? Furthermore, why should the organisation care if its staff are well protected?
From a moral point of view, that seems obvious. Employers should want to take care of their staff and take all measures to avoid them coming to any harm. Unfortunately morality and business don’t always go hand in hand, and it can be hard to ensure employers live up to their obligations. Recent health and safety legislation has had the effect of making the workplace safer for employees, leading to a range of industrial court actions against offending employers. As an employer, it is now in your best interests to be seen to be caring for your staff and the environment in which they work, which is why it can be a good idea to invest in protective clothing for your workforce.
Finding protective clothing is important for the health and well being of both your staff and your company. By failing to provide the right protective clothing and safety equipment, you may end up with an injured workforce or even complex and costly litigation along the way, which can be seriously detrimental for business productivity. Wherever possible, locating protective clothing should be high on the list of priorities for the employer or small businessman, to provide long term value for your business and your staff, and to avoid the dangers of the work environment for the health and safety of your employees.