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There are so many answers to that simple question. One answer might be the cheapest, but that one likely won't be the safest. Far from it. And if you happen to have the pleasure of entertaining an OSHA inspector on your jobsite, it certainly won't end up being inexpensive in the long run. Completing your work without someone getting injured should always be a priority. No job is worth having someone hurt or killed. Some crews might say it depends on the worker, but we're a safety company an …

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared a "public health emergency of international concern" over Zika virus due to it's rapid spread across the globe and it's link to an alarming spike in birth defects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Aedes mosquito-borne virus is believed to potentially cause pregnant women to have babies with abnormally small heads — a condition called microcephaly. Numerous cases …

Lad-Saf is a name that has been around as a solution for fixed vertical climbs for years. The heart of the system is a flexible steel cable stretched between a top and bottom bracket in front of the ladder or climbing pegs. If you've got a top and bottom attachment point, you've likely got what you need for this sturdy, safe vertical system from DBI-SALA. Workers attach a Lad-Saf Cable Sleeve to the wire before they begin their climb. It's simple, and that's likely the reason so many …

Circulation of fresh air is critical for many confined space entries. Teams are turning to the efficient and easy to use venturi blowers for a number of reasons. To start with, Plastic Allegro venturi blowers are lightweight, efficient, and intrinsically safe because they have no moving parts. Power for the blower is created by compressed air or steam being introduced to the cast chamber at the base of the unit. Circulating air creates a Venturi effect pulling air in through one end …

DBI-SALA recently made a significant upgrade to their Force2 and EZ-Stop lines of fall safety lanyards. The company has replaced their traditional shock packs with smaller, lighter absorbers. The new shock packs are 66% smaller and 44% lighter than previous models. That's a major advancement especially for workers moving at height where every ounce counts. For confined space workers, the less bulky lanyard shock packs mean greater mobility. The interior of the packs is made of H …

RKI Instruments isn't a sexy company. They don't spend their money on fancy marketing handouts or ad campaigns, and they often name their instruments after the year they were launched. So why do so many companies prefer RKI gas detectors to all others? Maybe it's because their products flat-out work, and continue to work (properly cared for) for years and years. RKI Instruments has been in business for 20 years and produces some of the most sophisticated gas monitoring devices on the ma …

Let's face it, people don't read so much anymore. That's why OSHA has decided to put more pictorgrams and fewer blocks of tiny, difficult-to-read text in their new Safety Data Sheets (SDS). SDS will replace the traditional Material Safety and Data Sheets (MSDS). See? Fewer words in the title as well. OHSA has transitioned to the new SDS format in order to provide workers with clear representation of the dangers, safe handling, and use of hazardous chemicals. Their hope is the new format …

Ventilation is one of the central pillars of confined space safety. Fumes, vapors, and volatile organic compounds accumulate and create an atmosphere that is not conducive to breathing. And I think we can all agree that breathing is a central pillar of living. OSHA calls ventilation one of the most important engineering controls available to maintain a safe work environment. We agree. And we've got a number of smart ways to accomplish replacing the atmosphere of your toxic environme …

The two things we hear most about the 8 inch ECKO K2025 Blower and Ducting Combo is that it works great and you can't beat the price. And really, what else do you want? You need a good warranty? The motor has a 1 year complete warranty. So check that one off the list. It's also lightweight and easy to carry. At only 38 lbs. it's pretty svelte. But the feature that makes it manageable is the built-in handles. Both the blower and the attached canister have big, easy to grip handles tha …

While this confined space entry video is strictly about a rank beginner, the gear the confined space training facility at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) uses is exactly the type of equipment we offer at pksafety.com. The spot features an attractive local news anchor facing her fear of confined spaces. Spoiler alert - she doesn't freak out even a tiny bit. The TEEK campus features state of the art emergency preparedness facilities and is home to the Texas Task Force …