Please take a few minutes to review this list and see if you need to address the chemicals found under your sink (or in the garage). Children are always curious and might do unexpected things with these household chemicals. Also, outdated chemicals need proper attention when disposing. Never put these chemicals in the trash or down the drain. Your local waste management authority will have information to help you get rid of these products. 

1. Never mix household and chemical products together; this may create a poisonous gas.
2. Read the labels of household and chemical products before you use them.
3. Follow safety recommendations when using household cleaning products or other chemicals, such as wearing gloves, long sleeves and masks.
4. Properly ventilate the area when using household cleaning products or other chemical products. Turn on the fan and open the windows.
5. Don’t leave chemical products unattended. If you must leave the room in the middle of a task, either put the product away or take it with you.
6. Properly mark and store under lock and key all household and pool chemicals, paints and poisons. Keep these on a high shelf, out of children’s reach.
7. Store household products in original containers and never put cleaning solutions in food containers.
8. Dispose of household and chemical products that are leaking, expired or that look bad.
9. Know how to properly dispose of chemical products. Never put them in the trash or pour them down the drain. If you don’t know how to dispose of the products, contact your local waste management authority.
10. Post the poison control center number near every phone. In the US, it’s 1-800-222-1222.

Catch those pesky roof leaks and divert them away from walkways, offices, equipment, product or anything else that needs protection. The diverters channel the leak to a hose that can then be directed to safe drainage point.

They are made of a vinyl-coated lightweight fabric and come in multiple sizes to conquer leaks that span small and large areas. Heavy-duty grommets in each corner make installation quick and easy.

Now that spring is here and the roof leaks are in full motion, there most likely will be a pipe leak rearing its ugly head causing slip hazards and chemical exposure.  Conney has it covered with the Ultra-Pipe Drip Diverter.

The Ultra-Pipe Drip Diverter has a rugged, coated vinyl construction and comes with bunge cords and hooks for quick installation. Its large 18” diameter opening captures overhead leaks and funnels it to a hose, not included, which then directs it to the desired drainage point.

Trying to obtain LEED certification?  The Ultra-Roof and Ultra-Pipe Drip Diverters may be useful in acquiring points.

Proper training is essential to the safe operation of powered industrial trucks. Paragraph (l) of OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks Standard, 29 CFR 1910.178, contains training and certification requirements for the use of forklifts that are specific to the workplace. The standard requires employers to develop and implement a training program for all operators based on the general principles of safe truck operation; the types of vehicles being used in the workplace, including the instructions, warnings, and precautions found in the operator’s manual; the hazards of the workplace created by the use of the vehicle; and the general safety requirements of the OSHA standard.

You should evaluate your worksite to determine if an under-ride hazard exists. Refer to the OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin for specific recommendations to minimize the chances of an under-ride situation.

Here are some afterthoughts which, unfortunately, too many of us have experienced:

• “That’s how we’ve always done it before.” (…before the accident occurred anyway.)
• “I never thought that a little bolt dropped from that distance would cause so much bleeding.” ( I should have worn a hard hat, I guess.)
• “If I had taken that first-aid/CPR course, I probably could have helped him.” (…and chances are, he would still be here.)
• “I should have taken care of that board with the projecting rusty nails earlier.” (Now, I have to take off work to get a tetanus shot.)
• “Wow, I never realized that a fire could get out of control so fast.” ( If I’d called the fire department before trying to put it out myself, I might still have a place to work tomorrow.)
• ” I know they were always preaching that we should lift with the leg muscles instead of the back muscles.” (What the heck is a herniated disk?)
• “For few more dollars, I could have bought safety shoes.” (That deep cut in the toe section ruined my new work boots, and this broken toe still hurts.)
• “My safety glasses were in the tool box, but I was just going to grind off this one little piece….” ( I wonder if they’ll still let me drive with only one eye?)
• “We were only going to use the scaffold for one day. I never thought a hammer would fall off the plank and strike someone.” (I had a hunch I should have taken the time to install the toe boards.)
• “They always insisted that the tool rest should be no more than one-eighth inch from the grinding wheel. What difference does another quarter inch make?” (I was lucky not to go blind when the chisel got wedged and the wheel exploded into a thousand pieces.)

Any of this sound familiar?? They say hindsight is the only perfect science-but foresight could have avoided these incidents, misfortunes and regrets.

Learn from others’ mistakes and you’ll have no regrets!

Talk with one of our safety advisors to find out more information.

This was truly a glove that evolved from the field workers. Oil rig workers were heavily involved in the design and modifications of the glove so that it would meet all the needs of their industry. One interesting aspect to the glove is the coloring of the palm and fingertips, critical for observing hand signals in a noisy environment.

We currently have 2 different mining companies experimenting with this glove and the feedback is very positive. One of the strengths to this product is launderability. Gloves in this industry get absolutely trashed after a 10 or 12 hour shift. When you pay over $50 for a pair of gloves, it must be able to handle repeated laundering.

See this PDF to learn more about this innovative new product.

The shift comes in response to news that all too many household cleaners, personal care items, cosmetics and other consumer products contain potentially toxic ingredients that haven’t been tested for safety and recent reports linking common household chemicals like Bisphenol A and phthalates to cancer and other illnesses, as well as chronic health problems such as asthma.

“There’s no question, we’re in the midst of a sea change,” says renowned pediatrician and author Dr. Alan Greene. “People are starting to understand what’s in these products and how their family’s health is affected when, say, they breathe air filled with cleaning product vapors or absorb residues through their skin. At the same time, they’re realizing that just a few simple changes can make these problems disappear. And it’s often just a matter of making smarter choices when we shop.”

One such line of product is Clorox Green Works.

Experts say that when safe and naturally effective alternatives like these are purchased, they protect more than your home. They make a big difference in the health of the world around us because products with biodegradable formulas don’t introduce hazardous contaminants into the environment when they’re used. Their ingredients don’t poison the water or pollute the air, and that has a larger impact than most consumers realize. In Los Angeles, for example, common household products such as cleaners and cosmetics are the region’s No. 2 source of air pollution after automobile exhaust.

This article is provided courtesy of the North American Precis Syndicate.

I find the state websites to be very helpful when researching standards, creating training programs, or looking for interesting safety photos and videos.  These sites are a wealth of information.

Alaska: http://labor.state.ak.us/lss/oshhome.htm

Arizona: http://www.ica.state.az.us/ADOSH/ADOSH_main.aspx

California: http://www.dir.ca.gov/occupational_safety.html

Connecticut: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/osha.htm

Hawaii: http://hawaii.gov/labor/hiosh

Illinois: http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/

Indiana: http://www.in.gov/dol/iosha.htm

Iowa: http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/iosh/index.html

Kentucky: http://www.labor.ky.gov/ows/osh/

Maryland: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/mosh.html

Michigan: http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-11407—,00.html

Minnesota: http://www.dli.mn.gov/MnOsha.asp

Nevada: http://dirweb.state.nv.us/OSHA/osha.htm

New Mexico: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/Ohsb_Website/index.htm

New Jersey: http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lsse/employer/Public_Employees_OSH.html

New York: http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/safetyhealth/DOSH_PESH.shtm

North Carolina: http://www.nclabor.com/osha/osh.htm

Oregon: http://www.orosha.org/

Puerto Rico: http://www.dtrh.gobierno.pr/PROSHA.asp?m=6

South Carolina: http://www.scosha.llronline.com/

Tennessee: http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/tosha.html

Utah: http://www.laborcommission.utah.gov/UOSH/index.html

Vermont: http://www.labor.vermont.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=74

Virgin Islands: http://www.vidol.gov/Units/OSHA/OSHA.htm

Virginia: http://osha.gov/dcsp/osp/stateprogs/virginia.html

Washington: http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/default.asp

Wyoming: http://doe.wyo.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Watch Where You Walk

Be aware of where you are walking. Look down continuously for spilled liquids, materials, equipment, changing surface levels, etc. Make sure the area is well-lit or use a flashlight if lighting is poor.

Wear Proper Footwear

Make sure your shoes are in good shape and correct for the job. Discard worn-out shoes with smooth soles and other defects. If conditions are wet and slippery, wear non-slip shoes or boots. Avoid footwear with leather soles which have poor floor traction–especially on smooth surfaces.

Check Floor Openings

Avoid unguarded floor openings. On construction sites, when covers are placed over floor openings, avoid walking on the cover unless it is absolutely secure and will not move or collapse. Never jump over pits or other openings.

Be Careful on Stairs

Do not run when going up or down stairs. Check to see that stair treads are in good shape, with no obstructions on the steps. Always use the hand railings that are provided. Avoid carrying large loads when going up or down stairs and ensure that stairs are well-lit.

Use Ladders Correctly

Never use broken or defective ladders. Set the angle of the ladder at the proper four-to-one ratio (height to width angle). Make sure the ladder is on solid footing and will not move when you climb upon it. Whenever possible, tie your ladder to the structure to improve stability. Anchorage at the bottom is also a good idea. Never stand on the top two steps of a step ladder.

Make Sure Scaffolding is Safe to Use

When working on scaffolding, make sure it is secure, stable and properly set-up. Do not work on scaffolding if guard rails are missing or the base is unstable. Check to see that planks are in good shape and not cracked. Tall scaffolds should be tied into a structure to increase stability.

Don’t Jump Out of Vehicles

Never jump from equipment or vehicles. Use the handrail and steps provided, remembering the “three point rule.” Avoid stepping onto loose rocks, slippery surfaces, oil spills, etc.

Watch your step and don’t trip yourself up! Remember, Gravity Always Wins!

Ask the safety support team for more information.