Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from March 2002

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from March 2002

Peering into eye safety: Compliance comes through motivation, not just mandates.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... It takes more than compliance mandates to have a successful eye protection program. Employees must also be motivated to wear the proper protection all of the time. Certain motivational "carrots" can be implemented to help achieve compliance....

Looking for safety recruits? Don't scare 'em off with the job description. (Editorial Comments).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... You might have heard some wailing and gnashing of teeth lately about declining enrollments in occupational safety and health degree programs. Thanks to a study by Earl Blair, Ed.D., CSP, associate professor of safety management at Indiana...

Questions & Answers. (Editorial Comments).
March 1, 2002... injury costs Q: Is there a standard ratio defining the relationship of direct to indirect injury costs? A: Typically, indirect costs range from four to six times direct costs, but I know of no standard. I think it varies significantly...

Clarification.(respirators)(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2002... Bill Newcomb, director of regulatory affairs in product development for North Safety Products, pointed out the following discrepancies in the article "The long battle against lead exposures," published in ISHN's January issue (p. 32): *...

OSHA beefs up enforcement. (Rules & Regs).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... OSHA plans to conduct a total of 36,400 inspections in fiscal year 2002, up from slightly less than 35,800 inspections in FY01 and roughly 36,000 inspections in FY00, according to the agency. In OSHA's fiscal 2002 budget, federal...

DOE reveals environmental management problems. (Rules & Regs).(Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The report "Top to Bottom Review of the EM Program" examines the Department of Energy's environmental management program, which oversees cleanup activities at 114 DOE sites. The report points out weaknesses such as inefficient contract...

Pollution violators: Cough up $4.3 billion. (Rules & Regs).
March 1, 2002... Violators expended a record $4.3 billion for pollution controls and environmental cleanup as a result of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) enforcement and compliance assurance efforts for FY 2001, the EPA announced last month....

Want to know OSHA's priorities? Follow the budget dollars. (Rules & Regs).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... $ It's been hard to get a read on exactly what the Bush administration plans to do with OSHA, but the President's $437 million budget request for the agency in fiscal year 2003 offers some clues. "It's a strong and sound budget that...

OSHA produces five new publications. (Rules & Regs).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Five new publications from OSHA are designed to help employers and workers maintain a safe and healthful work environment. The new publications are: * Recordkeeping: It's new, it's improved, and it's easier -- Focusing on injury and...

Bush appoints Ergo critic. (Rules & Regs).(Eugene Scalia appointed Labor Department Solicitor)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... President Bush has appointed Eugene Scalia to be Labor Department Solicitor, one of the top jobs in the DOL front office, with clout over policy and standards-setting, as well as the responsibility for defending regulatory actions in court. ...

Nursing home chain reaches ergo settlement. (News Scan).(Beverly Enterprises)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Beverly Enterprises, the nation's largest nursing home chain, has agreed to comprehensive requirements for lifting devices and safety procedures to protect nursing home caregivers from ergonomics-related injuries, according to the Service...

Training initiative targets young workers. (News Scan).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The National Safety Council (NSC) and NIOSH have teamed up to develop more effective safety training materials for new and young workers -- particularly teenage workers making the transition from school to work. Over the next year a new...

To each their own: EHS activities vary widely. (News Scan).
March 1, 2002... A recent study confirms what you might already suspect -- the work done by environmental health and safety pros varies so much from one workplace to another that it's hard to come up with a neat, clean definition of exactly what EHS pros do....

New National Electrical Code. (Check Out).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Now's a good time to become familiar with the 2002 National Electrical Code, which took effect in most states at the start of 2002, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers. The NEC is revised every three years by the National...

How effective are your safety trainers? (Trainers).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Here's what to look for, according to the new ANSI Z490.1 voluntary standard on Criteria for Accepted Practices in Safety, Health and Environmental Training. Effective trainers have the ability to: * establish a positive learning...

Engineering salaries surveyed. (Trainers).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... $79,000 was the median salary paid to engineers in 2001, according to a survey by the National Society of Professional Engineers. The pay scale ranged from under $49,000 for the lowest ten percent to $141,970 for the highest ten percent. ...

Little let-up in lost work days. (News Scan).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2002... In contrast to the steady and continuing drop in the nation's overall workplace injury and illness rate (eight straight years of declines, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), the rate of the most serious injuries and illnesses, those...

Who emphasizes employee involvement? (News Scan).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Engaging employees appears to be more valued at companies in the start-up stage than in more mature organizations, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and The Ohio State University's Fisher College of...

New standard aims to reduce slips & falls. (News Scan).(American National Standard from the American Society of Safety Engineers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... A new American National Standard from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) focuses on reducing slips and falls in the workplace, the second leading cause of incidental workplace deaths. A1264.2 Standard for the Provision of Slip...

Want to engage employees? Connect outward actions & inner feelings. (Psychology of Safety).
March 1, 2002... Last month I offered ten practical strategies for getting more involvement in safety-related activities. Here I review ten more strategies for fueling participation. These go beyond behaviors and involve internal thinking, beliefs, or feeling...

Investigating health complaints: a lack of facts leads to friction. (Managing Best Practices).
March 1, 2002... I can boast a little that I have conducted more than 450 health hazard evaluations during my career. Most were initiated after more than one individual complained of symptoms or showed signs of health problems when working at a particular job...

Advances in eyewear: Give your construction workers no excuse for non-compliance.
March 1, 2002... Getting workers to wear safety eyeglasses at just about any general industry work-site, such as manufacturing plants, isn't easy. But construction sites present an even tougher challenge to ensure compliance. Consider the three main reasons for...

Sporty eyewear. (Product Update).(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Encon has introduced the next generation of its NASCAR eyewear line. The NASCAR II series is SEI certified to meet or exceed ANSI Z87.l-1989 standards as well as CSA Z94.3-99 standards. The comfortable, protective glasses feature adjustable...

How much is too much? (Chemical Protective Clothing).
March 1, 2002... Any conscientious employer who cares for its employees wants the best for them. And, certainly, when it comes to safety and personal protection, particularly when working with chemicals or hazardous materials, most employers want their workers...

FR protective clothing. (Product Update).(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Lakeland has introduced Pyrolon[R] DTP (Disposable Thermal Protection) flame-resistant protective clothing. Providing improved thermal protection, comfort and an economical price to occasional users of FR cottons and aramids, these garments...

Is your confined space safety team ready?
March 1, 2002... Five minutes can seem like an eternity when you're waiting for something good. But it's only a moment when you or one of your employees faces certain brain death. That's why OSHA is very specific about confined space rescue. Your rescue team...

Is it time to give your manufacturing plant an Ergo upgrade?(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... When International Truck and Engine Corp. decided to produce a new high-performance truck -- the International 4300/4400 models -- the manufacturing processes used for the existing models were improved to create operator-friendly jobs. Some of...

Machine safety: How to best utilize a light curtain.
March 1, 2002... In this day and age of increased productivity and automation, machines are being made to cycle faster and perform more tasks in a given time. This usually means that a machine's design will have multiple openings or points of access. It becomes...

Predicting safety success: Examine these nine factors.(part 1)
March 1, 2002... This is the first of a series of three articles presenting the connection between organization function and performance excellence. This article introduces the aspects or factors of organization function that are actually predictive of...

Portable gas monitor. (Product News).(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... The new Impact portable gas monitor from Zellweger Analytics allows for monitoring of up to four gases simultaneously. Ideal for harsh environments, Impact features a large display, reverse backlight and IP65 rating. The advanced Smart...

Ergonomic chairs. (Product News).
March 1, 2002... Urethane chairs from BioFit offer ergonomic support, featuring a waterfall-front seat, lumber support, seat-height and backrest adjustability, plus a footring on certain models. Seats and backrests of self-skinned urethane resist damage from...

Spring-hinge spectacles. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... The new 6600 Springer contemporary safety spectacles from H.L. Bouton Co. feature a spring hinge hidden in the temple to provide added comfort and a snug fit. Part of the company's Shark Hunter series, the 6600 Springer is available in a black...

Eyewear cleaning. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Allegro Optics eyewear cleaning products from Allegro Industries include: four different metal refillable cleaning stations, some of which have mirrors for ease of use; two wall-mounted, disposable cardboard stations; and a disposable plastic...

Photoluminescent EXIT signs. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... American PERMALIGHT Inc.'s photoluminescent EXIT signs have been tested by Underwriters Laboratories to comply with UL924 as official emergency lighting. PERMALIGHT[R] EXIT signs are non-radioactive, non-toxic, non-electrical and easy to...

Portable Gas Detectors. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... The G20 and G40 Portable Gas Detectors from General Monitors simultaneously monitor from one to four toxic gases, including oxygen deficiency and combustible gas. The robust G-series features full-sized electrochemical cells for optimal...

Reading Safety Glasses. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... New RX-100 Reading Safety Glasses from Elvex are designed for workers who require the combination of safety glasses and reading glasses. RX-100 features dual curvature mono-lens and integrated side shields and comes in five bifocal powers....

Gas detector datalogger. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... The GasAlertMax gas detector from BW Technologies is now available with a datalogger. Choose from two versions of the GasAlertMax-DL: black box datalogger with long-term data retention for full-time continuous datalogging during instrument...

Lockout padlocks. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Verton(R) MFX lockout padlocks from American Lock are designed for applications that require tough, lightweight and arc- and spark-resistant padlocks. Ideal for electrical LOTO applications, these nonconductive padlocks come in eight...

Height adjustable workstation. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... The new Easy Riser[TM] height adjustable workstation from Fox Bay Industries is a lightweight, hydraulically operated platform that effortlessly lifts a worker to a desired height. Ideal for assembly line work or light manufacturing, the system...

Pneudraulic tools. (Product News).(advertisement)
March 1, 2002... Pneudraulic installation tools from Huck Fasteners are designed to fasten blind rivets, blind bolts and lockbolts for a wide range of production and maintenance applications. The tools' comfortable grips and low-effort trigger pull minimize...

Industrial Nitrile Glove. (Product News).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The industrial-weight Chemsoft[TM] Nitrile Glove from North Safety Products provides increased stretch qualities and a thinwall design along with excellent chemical and permeation resistance. Offering flexibility and dexterity, the glove can be...

Portable railing system. (Product News).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... SafetyRail 2000 is a patent-pending portable railing system that can be mounted without holes being drilled and enables 300 feet of rail to be set up in one hour. Each base holds up to four rail sections that can be secured in infinite...

Multi-gas monitors. (Product News).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... GfG Instrumentation offers the G333 series of portable multi-gas monitors, which handle up to four gases with ranges in %LEL, [O.sub.2], CO and [H.sub.2]S (dual tox). Featuring automatic calibration and one-button operation, the lightweight...

Conney Safety Products. (References).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Conney Safety Products' spring 2002 Buyers Guide includes new products in the areas of confined space monitors, emergency air systems, work zone safety clothing, protective footwear and more. Call (608) 277-3300 or visit www.conney.com.

Wonder Makers Environmental. (References).(offers guide to mold control)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Fungal Contamination: A Comprehensive Guide to Remediation offers more than 300 pages of information about mold with details of effective mold control techniques. Soft-cover manual can be purchased through Wonder Makers Environmental for $125....

CRC Press. (References).(offers new edition of Industrial Fire Protection Handbook)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The second edition of Industrial Fire Protection Handbook, released by CRC Press, is updated to reflect changing safety codes, regulations and technologies. The practical guide features numerous examples and illustrations to provide an overview...

Scott Specialty Gases. (References).(offers gas, equipment reference guide)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... The 2002 Specialty Gas and Equipment Reference Guide from Scott Specialty Gases contains technical and safety information along with pure and mixed specialty gases and liquids for scientific, industrial and regulatory compliance applications....

PureSafety. (Internet).(offers online Occupational Safety and Health Administration 300 Recordkeeping course)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... PureSafety is offering an online OSHA 300 Recordkeeping course. The 40-minute course is designed for employees in any industry where medical or exposure records are kept. Available via PureSafety's Learning Management System or to be licensed...

J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (Awards).(sponsoring safety awareness contest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... KellerOnline [TM], an interactive safety management tool from J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., is sponsoring a contest to find the safety profession's most innovative promoters of safety awareness. Information on the "2002 KOL Safety...

Titmus Optical, Inc. (Awards).(received award from Optical Laboratories Association)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Titmus Optical, Inc. has received the Award of Excellence from the Optical Laboratories Association (OLA) for its new prescription safety frame, TR301S. The frame was chosen Best in Specialty Frames for 2001.

Moves. (Industry Briefs).(two appointments)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Brenda Messer Beasley has become the new chair of ASTM Committee F30 on Emergency Medical Services. An ASTM member since 1985, Beasley is allied health department chair and emergency medical services program director at Calhoun Community...

Jack Morgan.(Obituary)
March 1, 2002... Regretfully, Jack Morgan of Industrial Scientific passed away on January 18. Jack began his career with Industrial Scientific (a division of National Mine Service) in 1978 as a production supervisor, and was advertising manager since 1990. Jack...

Safety is easy: at least in most places. (Your Turn).(Brief Article)(Column)
March 1, 2002... I was reading an article the other day and ran across a common line of thought: "Many have the idea safety is easy and anyone can do it. This is a misconception, however, because safety is highly technical in nature and paper-oriented..." ...

Lens cleaning products. (Product Update).(Protectoseal)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Protectoseal offers a new line of products for cleaning eye-glasses, safety glasses, face shields and more. Products include an anti-fog lens cleaner, which has special surfactants to resist lens fogging in extreme temperatures. The cleaning...

Wrap-around spectacles. (Product Update).(American Allsafe)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Sleek, lightweight Visio[TM] spectacles from American Allsafe offer wrap-around protection that meets ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 standards. The one-piece polycarbonate front has adjustable temples for comfort and an 8 base lens curve for...

Sports styled eyewear. (Product Update).(AOSafety)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... AOSafety has launched new sports styled safety eyewear. X.SPORT features a sleek 7.5 base lens, stylish spatula temples that provide improved comfort, an adjustable soft nose bridge and sport-grip temples with pantoscopic adjustment for better...

Splash goggles. (Product Update).(Gateway Safety Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Gateway Safety's model 390 protective splash goggles prevent liquid or chemical splash entry utilizing three 90-degree angles in an innovative vent design. The durable polycarbonate lenses are available in clear, clear anti-fog, clear...

Protective eyewear. (Product Update).(Uvex Safety)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... Offering comfort, protection and style, uvex genesis eyewear from Uvex Safety employs the use of Multi-Material Technology (MMT) to create a lightweight yet resilient frame. An interchangeable dual 9 base wrap-around lens protects the entire...

Stylish safety eyewear. (Product Update).(N-Specs[TM] from Northern Safety Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... N-Specs[TM] is a new, premium-quality series of safety eyewear from Northern Safety. The stylish collection includes the ultra-contemporary Avenger LX[TM] as well as traditional models. Available in a variety of lens and frame colors, the...

Prescription frames. (Product Update).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Titmus Optical has added the EXT7 to its Titanium collection of prescription safety frames. The lightweight, unisex, oval-shaped frame features spring-hinge temples and is available in three colors and two sizes. Offering nickel-free plating...

Protective coveralls. (Product Update).(Kimberly-Clark Corp. Safety Div.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2002... KleenGuard[R] Extra Coveralls from Kimberly-Clark's Safety Division are reported to be 25 times more breathable than other competitive garments, while offering excellent particle barrier protection and durability. Made with the company's...

FR garments. (Product Update).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Westex's INDURA[R] Ultra Soft[R] flame-resistant fabrics are a blend of 88 percent cotton and 12 percent high-tenacity nylon, offering soft comfort while increasing abrasion resistance. The abrasion-resistant performance of the product's nylon...

Reflective Rainwear. (Product Update).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Tracer Class III Rainwear from LaCrosse-Rainfair combines 3M Scotchlight[R] reflective material with a unique application pattern for optimum visibility even in low light or at night and in any weather. Elastic inner sleeves keep arms dry...

Patriotic PPE. (Product Update).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2002... Bacou-Dalloz is offering a family of U.S.-made red, white and blue PPE products that support the company's September 11, 2001, disaster relief efforts. A percentage of the proceeds from the total of all sales of four lines of products --...