Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from September 2001

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from September 2001

Climate control.(labor relations)
September 1, 2001... Creating a healthy workplace for today's stressed-out employees How healthy is it to spend eight hours or more each working day in an environment where there is no trust, no understanding and no optimism? Where most employees are left...

A house divided.
September 1, 2001... Cannot meet safety and health's new challenges Behavior-based safety raises safety performance to the next level. Absolutely not, it's all about blame the workers and ignore engineering controls. Millions of workers need an ergonomics...

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... PPE Q: Why would a worker forget to wear personal protective equipment? A: There are several reasons in the worker's mind. It can be uncomfortable (doesn't fit well). It might be hot or cold, it "makes me look ugly" (don't laugh, I've...

Coming soon.(Department of Environmental Protection)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... EPA to cabinet? President Bush, attacked by environmentalists for a string of perceived anti-green slights, has come out in support of legislation that would promote the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet status and make EPA...

OSHA zeroes in on lead exposures.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... OSHA wants to reduce lead exposures on the job by 15 percent by the end of fiscal year 2002, and has announced a "national emphasis" program to reach that goal. The program will cover complaints and referrals and will set targeted...

Cell phone restrictions gaining momentum.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... New York is set to become the first state to ban talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving, after the state assembly passed a bill that the governor has promised to sign. In the past 30 months, 41 other states have proposed similar...

HOPES & FEARS, for the new OSHA.(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... John Henshaw's peers forecast his future In August, the Senate confirmed the nomination of veteran safety and health professional John Henshaw as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. ISHN surveyed his peers in...

New ANSI standards approved.(American National Standards Institute)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved three documents of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) to be American National Standards. ANSI/AIHA Z88.7: Color Coding of Air-Purifying Respirator Canisters,...

Steel erection standard becomes law in January 2002.
September 1, 2001... OSHA's steel erection standard will go into effect January 18, 2002. The original effective date was to be July 18, 2001, but a White House review of regulations issued at the end of the Clinton administration delayed the rule. OSHA will...

Upon further review.(records management)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... New recordkeeping rules will take effect January 1, 2002 Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao announced in late June that OSHA's new requirements for recording job-related injuries and illnesses will go into effect as scheduled on January 1, 2002...

Lawsuit settled over.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... REFRACTORY CERAMIC FIBERS voluntary exposure limit The Refractory Ceramic Fibers Coalition and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists won't be going to court over the ACGIH's threshold limit value for refractory...

Working Parents Take Note.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... An eight-year-old Wisconsin boy who accompanied his mother to work because she had no place else to take him was killed this past June after getting his arm caught in a conveyor belt of a machine, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal....

Labor Statistics.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... 12% of serious injuries occur during a worker's first day on the job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Disease Control.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... 2.1 million In 1999, employees made 2,188,000 visits to hospital emergency rooms across the U.S. as a result of workplace injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That's 5,994 trips to the emergency room every day of the year --...

Passing the baton?(fewer students study safety and engineering)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Students are turning off to safety careers The number of students pursuing degrees in environmental safety and health has dropped significantly in the past two years, a worrisome trend that threatens the future of the EHS profession,...

How to Build a safer community.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... ISHN's Technical Editor David Sarkus says there are five keys to building a "community feeling" among workers in order to achieve your safety goals: 1) Diversity: When people with different background, values, beliefs and expressions are...

How safe are young workers?(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Thousands and thousands of young workers 14-18 years old are working in safety skills and awareness to jobs that require avoid injury. Every year in the U.S., an estimated 200,000 young workers are injured on the job, according to NIOSH. About...

Few worries about Workplace Violence.(survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Not in my workplace! The Web portal HRnext reports that most human resources execs (69 percent) responding to its latest poll are "a little" concerned about violence occurring in their workplaces, while a minority (25 percent) say they are...

Look for certified Fall Protection.(certification for Safety Equipment Institute)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Safety Equipment Institute is now offering certification of fall protection equipment to the performance standard ANSI A10.14-1991, "American National Standard for Construction and Demolition Operations -- Requirements for Safety Belts,...

HID headlights improve night visibility.(high-intensity-discharge headlights)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Researchers at the Lighting Research Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute report that HID (high-intensity-discharge) headlights enable drivers to see more effectively at night than conventional tungsten-halogen lights. The study...

Tomorrow's workers.(survey)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... What are their attitudes? More than 1,000 high schooler around the country were asked about their expectations for working life in a survey conducted earlier this year for the Families and Work Institute. Their answers reveal an...

Where's the PPE?(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Use by road crews is not enforced If you drive past a highway construction project and notice that workers aren't wearing safety vests, hardhats or other personal protective equipment, it's probably because their employers do not require...

Selling your people on change.
September 1, 2001... Don't sidestep these six concerns Let's talk about six basic concerns of employees when a new process or procedure is introduced in the workplace. If you anticipate and deal quickly with the critical issues your people have about change,...

Will the public want your records?(access to workplace illness, injury records)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... New injury/illness recordkeeping rules grant access OSHA announced in the July 3, 2001, Federal Register that its final recordkeeping rule should be implemented "in large part" as scheduled on January 1, 2002. Issues on hearing loss and...

"We're different here".(safety management fundamentals)
September 1, 2001... Don't let this attitude be an excuse During my first ten years in the environmental health and safety profession, I visited thousands of different businesses -- essentially a different business every day. As a consultant conducting safety...

Take the stress & anxiety out of health & safety auditing.
September 1, 2001... Stress and anxiety are common reactions when you receive notice of a pending health and safety audit, but these feelings can be minimized by clearly communicating the objectives and goals. Audits are conducted either internally, by a second...

Evaluating management systems A different kind of thinking.(health and safety management)
September 1, 2001... Good management systems must be in place if safety and health are to remain a visible top priority at any site. In general, management systems include: policies, practices, facility and equipment design, training, consequences, accountability,...

Using Balanced Scorecards to measure safety performance.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Achieving safe performance is more people- and process-oriented than it is compliance-oriented. People respond to, and their behavior reflects, the systems, structures and processes that your organization develops and supports. Those...

What's your sign?(safety signs)
September 1, 2001... Persuading employees to stop, look and obey Signs, signs, everywhere a sign. Most industrial workplaces have more safety signs than are needed, so much so that a lot of them get ignored. Signs are important to a good safety program,...

SIGNS AND LABELS.
September 1, 2001... 1 FLOOR STANDS CIRCLE 216 EMED's portable floor stands feature highly visible graphics and an easy-to-read, two-sided message. Choose from over 50 messages, or EMED can custom design a floor stand for every need. Available in two...

High - Visibility Clothing Protects vulnerable road workers.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Drive anywhere these days and chances are you pass through a highway work zone at some point. With billions of federal dollars being poured into highway construction, safety issues are getting increased attention. As well they should: Between...

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING.
September 1, 2001... 1 COOLING VEST CIRCLE 228 The high-visibility Steele Evaporator [TM] cooling vest by Steele supplements the body's natural sweating process by providing water for additional evaporation to help keep the wearer cooler and hydrated. To...

OSHA Regs for Confined Space Safety.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Entering and working in a confined space is simply a dangerous situation, and no matter how experienced your workers are you can't take anything for granted. Familiarity and ignorance breed contempt, and the result is fatalities. The...

Five steps to safely disposing reactives.
September 1, 2001... Plan first. Work second. You've probably heard this safety maxim so many times you may be immune to it. Unless, of course, you're working with shock-sensitive, water-sensitive, pyrophoric and explosive materials. These types of energetic or...

The phone/fax process offers employers advantages.(responding to safety complaints)
September 1, 2001... Are you ready for the mother of all phone calls? "What phone call?" you may ask. "Short of a warning of catastrophic explosion, no phone call could possibly shake my world," you may be thinking. Ever hear of the OSHA complaint process?...

It doesn't have to be this way.(preventing work-related accidents)
September 1, 2001... Every day millions of workers routinely perform thousands of different tasks safely, following established and proven safety procedures. But some, for whatever reason, decide to play "Russian Roulette" by cutting corners, ignoring written...

Parents & teachers need a lesson in ergonomics.(school children experiencing low back pain)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Low back pain has been felt by nearly 70 percent of adult workers in industrialized countries (Andersson, 1991). Now, statistics are beginning to surface for children with back pain. Approximately 23 percent of elementary school children...

FOOT IMPACT PROTECTION.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Steel Blue Australia offers Trisole Comfort Technology (TCT). TCT is a system designed to effectively reduce the effect of impact forces in the peak to low stress areas of the foot. Specially designed and manufactured shock absorption pads are...

FLOOR COATINGS.(Devcon Floor Savers[TM] coatings - information on product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Devcon Floor Savers[TM] coatings are high-performance non-VOC formulations for protecting plant floors, walkways, ramps, platforms, and walls against harsh chemicals, solvents, hydrocarbons, acids, and alkalis. They can be easily applied by...

ERGONOMIC GRIPS.(from Harman Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Harman Corporation has introduced a new line of Ergonomic Grips designed to add comfort and improved gripping power for consumer products. Available in many sizes and lengths, the line includes round grips, finger grabber grips, and hanger...

FALL PROTECTION.(Carbis Inc. launches Flatbed Fall-Protection Systems for workers loading trucks)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Carbis, Inc. has introduced its new Flatbed Fall-Protection Systems specifically created to protect workers while loading flatbed trucks. The system utilizes a fall protection platform when indicated. Specified in aluminum, prime-coated steel...

LASER EYE PROTECTION.(from Trinity Technologies Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Trinity Technologies has expanded its line of Laser Safety Eyewear. New items include: alignment filters, designed to offer reduced exposure to laser transmissions; the stylish F.5 spectacle in three frame sizes; expanded prescription (Rx)...

Everyone has a role to play.(good housekeeping improves workplace safety)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Walk around your workplace. Does it reveal a lack of order or a potential housekeeping hazard? Are there one or more incidents on your injury log related in some way to poor housekeeping? Is your storage system inadequate? Has your company...

Partnering produces custom programs.(joint ventures with safety training services;)(Frito-Lay's Voluntary Protection Program)
September 1, 2001... any well-crafted, generic training programs cover common safety issues. Yet sometimes you can benefit from a customized program tailored to unique safety training needs at one or more of your sites. Tapping the experts Joint venturing...

SEI celebrates 20 years in safety.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Twenty years ago the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) began certifying protective head gear and safety eyewear. Today, the McLean, Va.-based non-profit organization, whose mission is to meet the need for independent certification of safety...

How to prevent workplace violence.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... It may not seem like your typical safety industry topic, such as bloodborne pathogens, hazmat, lockout/tagout, haz-com, ergonomics and others. But the issue of workplace violence should be included in any good safety program. What...

How to survive the wiles of winter.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... It may only be September, and you might still be dreaming about the sun and beach, but little by little Christmas catalogs are beginning to arrive in the mail, so it's not too early to start getting ready for the dangers that lurk within the...

National Safety Congress & Expo NSC PREVIEW Sept 24-26 Atlanta.(includes brief articles on products)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... SHATTERPROOF LAMP CIRCLE 201 Shat-R-Shield has developed a new line of shatter-resistant very high output (VHO) fluorescent lamps. The lamps are available in three types: VHO/TSC, VHO/LT/TSC and VHO/LT/Jacketed. The VHO/TSC and...

PADLOCK MANAGEMENT.(Padlock Management System from Brady Signmark)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The Padlock Management System, available through Brady Signmark, is a secure padlock storage system. To remove a lock from the system, an employee must use an issued "access key," which has an injection-molded, numerical identifier. Once the...

EMERGENCY OXYGEN.(Life OxygenPac)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... LIFE[R] OxygenPac provides crucial lifesaving oxygen until medical help arrives. It is an inhalator for a breathing victim and a CPR resuscitator adjunct for a non-breathing victim. It offers oxygen-enriched mouth-to-mask resuscitation with...

CHEMICAL SPLASH GOGGLES.(American Allsafe's MonoGoggle 211)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... American Allsafe's MonoGoggle[R] 211 is designed to protect against chemical splash. It has a frame designed with a pantascopic angle to improve work area visibility.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVES.(Speakman's Freeze Protection, Scald Protection)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Speakman's Freeze Protection (FPV) and Scald Protection (SPV) valves offer protection when there is the potential for water temperature at emergency showers or eyewash stations to exceed desirable limits. The valves sense temperature changes in...

CHEMICAL INVENTORY.(from Dolphin Software)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Dolphin Software's Comply Plus Web 2.5 is a Web-based application that helps manage workplace chemical inventories. The product combines Dolphin's existing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) management system software with a new Web-based...

GAS DETECTOR.(BW Technologies)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... BW Technologies has introduced the GasAlertClip with internal vibrating alarm for use in high noise areas. The zero maintenance, two-year disposable gas detector measures hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide or oxygen.

SPLASH GOGGLE.(AOSafety launches Splash GoggleGear [TM] for Lexa [R] eyewear)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... AOSafety has launched Splash GoggleGear [TM] for Lexa [R] eyewear, a comfortable, anti-fog chemical splash goggle. Available in medium and large sizes with an adjustable, elastic headstrap, the goggles are designed for a custom fit.

RUBBER-COATED GLOVE.(Marigold [R] Iron Grip [TM] MIG300 protective glove - information on product)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... New Marigold [R] Iron Grip [TM] MIG300 is a textured natural rubber-coated glove (palm and fingertips) designed to provide a strong, safe grip, protect against minor cuts and abrasions and resist liquid penetration. Its seamless...

HEAT STRESS PREVENTION.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Summit's Heat Stress Prevention program is now available in Peak Training [TM] interactive CD-ROM format. Guidelines help workers recognize the symptoms of heat stress and provide tips on how to avoid this dangerous condition. Facilitator's...

WORK BOOTS.(Red Wing Shoes launches style 2414 work boots)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Red Wing Shoes has incorporated the latest in ComfortForce technology with the introduction of its newest work boot styles. Created with the Aztec Super Sole 2.0 sole, style 2414 has a GORE-TEX bootie lining with a one-year waterproof warranty....

SAFETY PRODUCTS.(from SAS Safety)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... For over two decades, SAS Safety has been manufacturing high-quality safe products without the high dollar price tag, the manufacturer says. SAS continues to offer new safety products, so stop by Booth 2644 to see what's new.

SINGLE-GAS MONITOR.
September 1, 2001... Thermo GasTech's new portable single-gas monitor, the Screamer, has a loud buzzer (100 dB) for alerting the user of unsafe conditions. The unit is designed to be small in size, impervious to RF/EMI interference, and durable enough to handle...

STEEL TOE BOOTS.
September 1, 2001... WORX has developed two new all-purpose steel toe boots to enhance its work boot line. Created with the Vibram[R] Montana sole, styles 5414 (mid-high) and 5415 (8-inch) are highly abrasion, heat, and oil resistant. These features, combined with...

HARNESS.
September 1, 2001... The Miller DuraFlex Python Harness Series features wrap-around comfort and greater flexibility. Constructed of lightweight, durable cushioned tubular webbing in the upper torso, the harness is designed to improve comfort and safety by reducing...

EXPLOSION-PROOF VACUUM.
September 1, 2001... The pneumatic explosion-proof/dust ignition-proof vacuum from Nilfisk is designed for removal of hazardous debris, petrochemicals and fine powder without sparking. The filtration system can handle wet or dry collection.

PRESCRIPTION EYE WEAR.
September 1, 2001... The Trendsetters Collection of prescription protective eyewear from Titmus includes five products styled in smaller, contemporary sizes and fashionable colors. The TR301S (shown) combines a modified rectangular shape with a single bridge and...

SUPPLIED-AIR RESPIRATORS.
September 1, 2001... ArcOne has introduced, its new line of 14 NIOSH-approved Constant Flow Airline Respirators for welding. Ten different welding systems are included with state-of-the-art auto-darkening welding filters. The low-profile, lightweight, belt-mounted...

FIRE-RESISTANT APPAREL.
September 1, 2001... Rehab Plus Safety, a manufacturer of 100+ industrial safety products, has introduced Dragon Gear [TM] fire-resistant safety apparel (Nomex & Indura). Dragon Gear [TM] is designed to safeguard against flash fires, heat, and electric arcs.

NON-SLIP SHOES.(Shoes for Crews)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Renegade footwear from Shoes for Crews is made of water-resistant, full-grain leather and features the patented SFC III [TM] slip-resistant outsole. This ankle-high work shoe has a stitched moccasin toe, padded lining, comfort max insoles and...

AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR.(from SurVivaLink Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Survivalink Corp's FirstSave(R) portable automated external defibrillator (AED) delivers an electric shock to the heart to halt sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Features include: one-button operation; preconnected, non-polarized electrodes; a...

EHS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.(Dakota Software Corporation)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Dakota Software Corporation has released Tracer Version 3, a browser-based application that allows anyone with the appropriate security clearance, to view, filter, sort, track, and update corrective actions in real time. Enhancements include...

ERGONOMIC CHAIRS.(from BioFit Engineered Products)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... BioFit[R] Engineered Products has expanded its Ship Now! program by more than doubling the number of ergonomic chair models offered for industrial, office, laboratory and high-tech applications. With the addition of 159 chair models, BioFit's...

HANDS-FREE HYDRATION.(from CamelBak)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... The WaterPro [TM] from CamelBak [R] offers Hands-Free [TM] hydration to keep workers healthy, safe and productive in hot, humid, hard-working conditions. A 50-oz. insulated reservoir supplies cool, clean hydration for hours via a delivery tube...

SPORT GLASSES.(from Elvex Corp.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Elvex Summit II [TM] model SG-29 safety glasses provide a lens with an individual optical curvature for each eye, allowing a distortion-free view. All lenses offer UV absorption and have scratch-resistant coating.

RESCUE ROPE.(from Sterling Fibers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 1, 2001... Sterling's SuperStatic [TM] rope features 48-carrier static sheath and DryCore [TM] construction to create a rope that stays supple after extensive use, knots easily and resists moisture. The 1/2-in, style (shown) is a two-person/general-use...

COMBUSTION ANALYZERS.(TSI Inc.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... TSI Inc. has published a two-page product information sheet highlighting its new Series CA-6200 CA-CALC combustion analyzers. These instruments are designed to provide real-time analysis of flue gases for optimizing the combustion efficiency of...

Mr. Isaiah B. Haynie and Mr. Brian E. Coe.(recipients of scholarship)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... United Sales Associates has awarded two $2,000 scholarships, titled The Mark E. Maag Memorial Scholarship. Announced and administrated by Dr. Rick Fulwiler, the scholarship is in memory of Mark E. Maag, USA's first associate, who died January...

DuPont Safety Resources.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... DuPont Safety Resources has established an alliance with Humantech, Inc., to provide ergonomic consulting services and products that will help companies address employee Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD). Humantech is a provider of...

Industrial Scientific Corporation.(opens new product testing laboratory)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 1, 2001... Industrial Scientific Corporation has opened a $1.4 million product testing laboratory near its Oakdale, Pa., manufacturing and operations center. The 1,800-sq-ft. lab, featuring state-of-the-art, computer-controlled equipment, will put...

Quest Technologies.(launches Web site rental service)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Quest Technologies announces the launch of its new Equipment Rental Web Site, viewable from the "Rentals" link at the www.quest-technologies.com home page. Quest's secure rental Web site allows users to review and place orders for available...

Politics makes losers of us all.(politics of occupational health and safety regulation)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... Extremists dominate the safety & health dialog We've turned life into a tournament in which, according to our patron saint of football (and therefore of management) Vince Lombardi, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Those...

New safety eyewear.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2001... The 6400 Mako[TM] features an 10-base single curve lens for a vast field of peripheral vision. Lightweight lens/frame combination eliminates need for replacement lenses. Part of the Shark Hunter series, the Mako offers Smoke temples and Clear,...