Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from July 2004

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from July 2004

If only someone knew ... preventing chemical emergencies: know your plant, personnel, inventory & regs.
July 1, 2004... Whether your workplace is one simple building or a manufacturing complex with specialized facilities spread over acres, what will happen should a chemical or other spill occur? Where are the containment structures? Are they large enough to...

Welcome to alphaville: why safety makes many bosses squirm.(Editorial: comments)
July 1, 2004... Does this fellow sound familiar? You're presenting your annual safety budget proposal and out of the corner of your eye you notice he's leafing through the binder, pages ahead of where you are with your PowerPoint slides. He drums his...

Fed agencies network to help working teens.(News: scan)
July 1, 2004... Millions of teens are entering the workforce this summer doing a variety of jobs that will teach them valuable skills. And many risk being seriously or even fatally injured on the job. Eighty percent of U.S. teenagers work during their high...

A shot of caffeine beats gulping down java.(News: scan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... New research from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago suggests that the best way to use caffeine for sustained alertness may be to drink small, and regularly in timed, amounts. The study also suggests that it is best to begin using...

NIOSH working on safety guidelines for nanotechnology.(Guidelines)(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... U.S. officials are developing "best practices" guidelines that businesses may want to follow when handling nanomaterials, according to a government research official quoted in an article in Small Times. NIOSH officials, working at the...

Fitness programs are paying off, companies discover.(News: scan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The benefits of fitness programs are real, as proven in several studies, such as one from Purdue University, which found that executives who exercise improve their ability to make complex decisions by 70 percent. Other studies have found that...

Brain over brawn changes the game for safety pros.(News: scan)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The U.S. job market continues to evolve, with significant implications for safety and health professionals. Despite the recently announced 308,000 new U.S. jobs, manufacturing payrolls remained unchanged after 43 months of declines,...

Grassroots coalition presses for stronger enforcement.(rules & Regs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Citizens for Sensible Safeguards recently issued a statement of principles urging the Bush administration to step up efforts to protect the public from highway, workplace, environmental and food-borne hazards. Every year, more than 40,000...

House passes OSHA reform bills; Senate is silent.(rules & Regs)(Occupational Safety & Health Administration )
July 1, 2004... The House of Representatives in May passed OSHA reform bills that could enable employers to get more time to challenge citations and allow more companies to recoup lawyers' fees, according to an Associated Press report. Another measure...

New pilot programs aimed at expanding VPP.(rules & Regs)(Voluntary Protection Program)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Two new Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) initiatives from OSHA launched May 26 are designed to expand programs to promote the safety and health of thousands more workers across the nation. "We want to continually improve OSHA's cooperative...

OSHA releases ergo guidelines for Grocery Stores.(rules & Regs)(Occupational Safety & Health Administration )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Industry-specific guidelines for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in grocery stores announced in late May by OSHA provide practical recommendations to help store employers and employees reduce the number and severity of...

One fewer hour improves productivity at Wal-Mart.(rules & Regs)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Contrary to expectations, Wal-Mart has seen productivity increases as a result of the new Hours-of-Service regulations that came into effect earlier this year, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The new rules limit the number of...

The "Big Five" and you: how personality traits can affect behavior.(Psychology of safety)
July 1, 2004... Faithful readers of this column may have noticed that most of my articles this year have addressed how personality factors relate to individual safety performance. But I believe there is much to be learned about the personality/behavior...

Uncertainty over an emerging risk: how to protect employees who breastfeed.(Managing Best practices)
July 1, 2004... The December 2002 issue of Pediatrics reports that breastfeeding among full-time employed U.S. women is now 25 percent, nearly double its rate from 1996, and the highest rate ever recorded. Breastfeeding is no longer considered a lifestyle...

Flying solo: reducing risks for your "lone ranger" workers.
July 1, 2004... Work that's done without regular supervision or contact with coworkers obviously carries extra risks. Consider self-employed workers: They make up just 7.4 percent of the U.S. civilian workforce, yet experience almost 20 percent of workplace...

Confined space entry.(Questions & Answers)(monitoring confined spaces)
July 1, 2004... (Q) Do I need an industrial hygienist to monitor my confined spaces, or can I train a line employee to operate the instrumentation? (A) Gas monitoring instruments for use in confined spaces are designed to be very straightforward and...

Putting a label on safety: are your employees schooled in chemical labeling?
July 1, 2004... Before your employees use the chemicals in your workplace, you need to know if they are taking one very important and necessary step: Are they reading the labels on the container? They should, because labels provide them with important safety...

Hearing/noise control.(Product Update)(earmuffs introduction)
July 1, 2004... 1 UNIFORM ATTENUATION MUFFS CIRCLE 251 Bilsom's new version of its Clarity[TM] line of earmuffs features patented "uniform attenuation" technology that filters out harmful noise while allowing users to hear warnings, alarms and coworkers'...

Staying cool without skimping on: protective clothing.(occupational safety)
July 1, 2004... 29 CFR 1910.132 requires that every employer assess the workplace, determine the hazards present, and then provide affected employees with appropriate equipment, including clothing, to protect them from the hazardous conditions. Performing a...

Choosing the right instrumentation: is your need for personal gas monitoring or for industrial hygiene?
July 1, 2004... In today's gas detection market, occupational health and safety pros have many choices when purchasing a single or multi-gas monitor. One major factor to consider when choosing is whether the monitor will be used as a personal monitor to...

Gas detection systems: how to make your facility's monitoring data accessible.
July 1, 2004... You really have to have backbone to survive in the safety monitoring world today. No, there is no heavy lifting required. I am referring to the data backbone of the facility, plant or process to which the monitoring system is applied. In...

1 Cleanroom gloves.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 260 New AciTek[TM] cleanroom acid gloves from Ansell protect hands from a wide range of acids, etchants and solvents. The 100-percent natural latex polymer gloves feature an aggressive grip pattern that assures a strong hold on...

2 Dexterous glove.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 259 G-Tek[TM] Maxifoam[TM] from PIP features a seamless knit nylon shell with gray nitrile foam-coated palm and finger tips. Providing excellent fit and feel, this protective glove is ideal for applications requiring superior...

3 Black disposable nitrile.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 257 The new NightHawk[TM] from Best is a black disposable nitrile glove with textured fingertips that provides impressive ESD and static-dissipative properties. Part of Best's N-DEX[R] family, NightHawk is ideal for workers in...

4 Supported glove line.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 258 Perfect Fit's new PowerCoat[TM] line of general purpose PVC, nitrile, neoprene and natural latex supported gloves offers a broad range of hand protection options. Featuring a liquid-proof shell, the chemical-resistant gloves...

5 Latex-free disposables.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 262 Ambi-Gard NL latex-free disposable gloves from Saf-T-Gard are formulated from a unique stretch synthetic vinyl polymer, offering superior protection and comfort at an affordable price. Ambi-Gard NL gloves are packed 100 gloves...

6 Industrial grade PE gloves.(Hand Protection)
July 1, 2004... CIRCLE 261 Sempermed[R]'s SemperGuard[TM] PEF Industrial Polyethylene Gloves are lightweight yet durable, making them ideal for light-duty applications such as food handling, janitorial work and packaging. The versatile, powder-free gloves...

What's up with gloves? Innovation, education--and compromise.
July 1, 2004... As a second-generation safety guy, I've seen tremendous change in the PPE industry. When asked about what's new in the glove industry--new standards, new hazards or new ways to motivate people to wear the correct glove--the last two decades...

Gas monitor with pump.(product News)
July 1, 2004... RKI's GX-2003 five-sensor personal gas monitor with pump pulls samples from up to 50 feet and measures 100% volume combustibles as well as LEL, O2, CO and H2S. Weighing 11 ounces, the unit's LCD displays all gas readings, battery level and...

EHS Software.(product News)
July 1, 2004... ImageWave's EHS Enterpriser Software Solutions provides MSDS management (MSDSFinder[R]), environmental reporting (including SARA 313 and TIER II), container labeling, MSDS scanning/updating, and more. The software can run on a company network...

First-aid kits.(product News)
July 1, 2004... First-aid kits from North have been modernized with an improved mix of components and new packaging. The new North first-aid kits--available in plastic or metal, unitized or bulk--are ANSI 308.1-2003 compliant and are easy to inspect for OSHA...

Gas detector with PID.(product News)
July 1, 2004... Part of MSA's Stellar[R] Series Portable Instrument product line, the Sirius Multigas Detector combines two instruments in one featuring a PID in a multi-gas unit. Sirius simultaneously monitors for VOCs and combustible, toxic and...

Toxic gas detection.(product News)
July 1, 2004... Zellweger's MDA Scientific CM4 four-channel toxic gas monitoring system now features a software upgrade that offers better false-alarm recognition, fewer false alarms and improved reliability. CM4 provides continuous monitoring of toxic and...

Mini Particulate Sampler.(product News)
July 1, 2004... BGI's new frmOMNI[TM] is a "Mini" Ambient Particulate Sampler that replicates EPA designated FRM samplers, Its patent-pending BGI miniPM[TM] miniaturized multi-cut Inlet design, for TSP, PM10, PM2.5 and PM1, is verified by the HSE for entry...

Emergency oxygen unit.(product News)
July 1, 2004... LIFE[R] 02 SoftPac[TM] is a lightweight emergency oxygen unit that provides supplemental oxygen to a breathing victim or oxygen-enriched CPR to a non-breathing victim. The six-pound device features a constant reading supply gauge, shoulder...

Hoist System.(product News)
July 1, 2004... The UCL Advanced Hoist System, a next-generation confined space entry and rescue system, features lightweight materials including high-strength, 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. Its four- or five-piece modular design is adaptable to specific needs and...

Infrared gas detection.(product News)
July 1, 2004... The Statox 501 IR from Compur combines the advantages of an infrared gas detection system such as nearly unlimited lifetime and long maintenance intervals with low investment cost. Bright LED display shows gas concentration in percent LEL....

Glove Liners.(product News)
July 1, 2004... OK*1 Glove Liners are designed to enhance protection and comfort when worn with standard gloves. Available in a range of sizes, all OK*1 Glove Liners feature flexible, long-lasting materials and offer a variety of features such as visco-polymer...

United American Sales, Inc. (UASI).(Businesses)(program for increasing sales)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... United American Sales, Inc. (UASI) has announced a comprehensive program for increasing market share and developing sales in the industrial safety products distribution sector. Comprehensive catalogs for distributors and customers, seasonal...

Best Manufacturing.(Businesses)(donation of gloves to medical professionals)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... In an effort to support international relief organizations, Best Manufacturing has donated nearly 1,500 packs of exam gloves to volunteer medical professionals that travel to disadvantaged countries to establish temporary dental and medical...

3E Company[R].(Businesses)(appointments of 3E Co.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 3E Company[R] has appointed Robert S. Christie as chief executive officer. Christie has more than 25 years of executive management experience with information service providers such as Thomson Learning, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Standard &...

Protective Industrial Products (PIP).(Awards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Frost & Sullivan has recognized Protective Industrial Products (PIP) with the 2004 Environmental Health & Safety Company of the Year Award for its commitment to providing multifaceted solutions to the needs of its customers.

Safety Today, Inc.(Awards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Safety Today, Inc. was honored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. with the Outstanding Business Partners award for 2003. Safety Today, a full-service safety equipment distributor, was one of six parts and services suppliers to earn...

American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA).(Awards)
July 1, 2004... The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) has named eight American Industrial Hygiene Foundation (AIHF) scholarship winners. The scholarship recipients are industrial hygiene graduate students from schools accredited by the...

Fauske & Associates, Inc. (FAI).(References)(newsletter published)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Fauske & Associates, Inc. (FAI) a leader in the field of process safety management to the chemical and nuclear industries, has published the Spring/Summer issue of its "FAI Process Safety News" newsletter. The 11-page newsletter features...

American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).(References)
July 1, 2004... A new book from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), How Smart Managers Create World-Class Safety, Health, and Environmental Programs, by Charlotte A. Garner, CSR tells how companies can strengthen their safety efforts and reduce...

Events.(industry Briefs)(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... september 92nd Annual National Safety Congress & Expo, Sept. 10-17, New Orleans, LA, National Safety Council, (630) 285-1121, www.nsc.org OS&H Asia 2004, Occupational Safety & Health Exhibition for Asia, Sept. 15-17, Singapore, Messe...

Recommended reading.(books recommended for industrial safety)
July 1, 2004... In developing articles for ISHN we come across books outside of the safety field with ideas, best practices and research applicable to your work as a safety and health practitioner. Here are some titles that definitely provide food for thought:...