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Respirator filters are rated according to how much particulate matter they can reliably block. A P100 rating is the highest for personal respiratory protection. As long as your mask fits properly a P100 filter will block 99.9% of particles .3 microns or larger. (If you're interested in the nitty-gritty the CDC has a comprehensive and fairly unreadable guide to particulate respirators.) In defense of the CDC, there are a huge range of hazards, and not everyone can wax poetic about lun …

Gravity is a harsh mistress. In a confined space, she truly plays for keeps. Petzl, a French company started by cave explorers and mountain climbers, understands the dangers of confined space jobs better than anyone else in the industry. Pksafety.com is excited to be the first company in the US to offer Petzl products solely with confined space worksites in mind. Our experts have put together kits that meet the unique safety demands of confined spaces and take the guesswork out of starin …

Every storm leaves work to be done. Sometimes that work needs to take place at night. It's typically important, dangerous, and soggy. At PK Safety we've got everything you need if you're out in the storm this season. You may have noticed we're big on Protective Industrial Products or PIP as they are called. Their rain equipment is both well-priced and functional. We especially like the 2-piece Hi-Visibility Rain Suit for this type of work. It not only moves well while you're hauli …

Gas measurement is without a doubt the most important part of confined space safety. Do it right, and you and your crew go home at the end of the day—do it wrong, and you might never go home again! So if you're a newbie (or even a little rusty), you've got to do your homework. Here's the first lesson: get the right tools! If you already have a gas monitor, take it out and look at it. Without this device you are nothing! It always has to be with you in any confined space — no excuses! But m …

We've had several questions lately about our UEi Test Instruments and it seems like a good time to review these smart, relatively inexpensive gas detecting devices. Unlike our more robust industrial gas detection units that need to meet OSHA guidelines for gas detection, the UEi units are mainly designed to meet the needs of HVAC professionals and for individuals who want to get to the bottom of a home or RV gas leak. Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection is something that falls into both t …

Tripod systems are the norm in confined space entry and retrieval. They're excellent tools, but they don't work in every situation. Thankfully, Capital Safety's Advanced 5-Piece Hoist Davit System is an alternative that can take you where standard tripods can't. The tripod's archenemy is the square entry hatch. Regular tripods won't fit over them, so you've got to call for a bigger tripod if you encounter one in the field. However, this doesn't apply to Capital Safety's davit, which is …

At PK Safety we've focused mainly on workers operating at height. We offer climbing safety products like harnesses and fall protection, and we've been doing that for years. But there are plenty of situations that only require a portable ladder to reach the job. We've found Telesteps telescoping ladders to be the best solution for traditional ladder work, and they come with some very definite advantages. In the past to reach a light bulb in the middle of a warehouse or other open …

Confined spaces can be very spooky places. With inhabitants like molds, creepy crawlies and deadly gases, it's easy to see why: they're among the harshest places on the planet. A rural Maine community experienced this firsthand when Winfield Studley and Richard Kemp, two workers with Stevens Electric and Pump Services, suddenly went missing on the job. The two had spent the morning draining and servicing a flooded sewage tank connected to a local inn. At some point over the cou …

It's always tough to be the new guy on the crew. But it used to be far worse. As fuel requirements started soaring during the industrial revolution, exposure to dangerous methane gas increased. Since it's odorless, the standard operating procedure was to send the new guy down with a lit torch and a wet blanket draped over them. Small pockets would ignite, and big pockets would necessitate a new volunteer. The next stage in the evolution of gas detection was the famous canary in a coa …

Fall protection equipment needs to be regularly inspected by a Competent Person according the specifications set forth in the ANSI Z359 protection codes if you want your Z359-rated equipment to be considered usable. Inspection is critical for all fall protection safety equipment, whether you intend to meet the highest standards in the country or not. To do this effectively, it's important to have a consistent process for the inspection. For each piece of equipment you have in your inventory, …