Blog

We recently received this review of the Draeger Pac 3500 single gas monitor for carbon monoxide: "I purchased the Draeger Pac 3500 CO single gas monitor after a recent carbon monoxide-related death in a local restaurant. As a home inspector, I often go into a home that is vacant and turn on the heating system. If the levels of CO rise to a dangerous level, I might not know until it was too late. "The Draeger unit is compact and easy to use. I like the digital readout so I do …

With oil production continuing to expand in areas like Midland, Texas and The Bakken, OSHA regulators haven't been far behind. It's not just drillers and chainhands that fall under the protection guidlines, but toolhands and other contractors who need to be fully equipped to deal with the health hazards associated with oil and gas extraction. We're going to take this space to discuss the personal protective equipment (PPE) that takes care of the OSHA requirements. In addition to those w …

Fit testing your company employees for respirators can be thought of the same way the Chinese symbol for crisis incorporates the characters for danger as well as opportunity. Sure there's a chance for things to get completely messed up. Done incorrectly, your fit testing might result in long lines of employees standing idle for hours which would be embarrassing for the fit test administrator and bad for the bottom line. If you are in charge of fit testing for a large organization like a hospi …

Ever wonder how fire departments and police maintain control over scenes where major incidents have occurred with only their limited personnel? In many areas, they don't. They rely on the well-trained volunteer firefighting force called the Fire Police to help maintain safety and security. While the exact role of Fire Police Units vary from state to state and department to department, their role remains vital. Fire Police units have formed in counties across the United States to assist …

National Safety Apparel (NSA) has been making protective clothing for more than 75 years. They started in Cleveland at a time when steel and particularly wire production was in full swing. NSA was, and is, a family business dedicated to produced high-heat clothing, and as the requirements of industry have changed so have their products. Today NSA serves workers in electrical, oil & gas, thermal, cut-protective, flame-resistant, FR rainwear, and hi-visibility markets by producing some of the m …

The Moldex Battleplugs are a new type of reusable earplug. These patented, baffled hearing protection devices have two modes which provide completely different noise reduction ratings. A small hinge on the outside part of the earplug allows a cap to be either open or closed depending on the expected noise level. If the caps are closed, the Battleplugs have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 24. In the open position, they have an NRR of 9. When the caps are open, the wearer is still pr …

For a ready-made, one-click solution to putting personal protective equipment on your employees, check out the PK Safety PPE Kit. Each kit arrives in a poly bag ready to pass out. Hearing protection, hand protection, eye protection, a hard hat, and a reflective safety vest are all included. Each piece of this safety kit meets OSHA safety standards. The Evolution 6121 hard hat is made of high-density polyethylene and has raised channels that run across the top. These ridges not only m …

So many single-gas monitors are disposable these days. But not all of them. People buy disposable monitors for a range of reasons. Their workers lose them, or they want a fixed, measurable cost on their books. Some folks just want the cheapest monitor available so they are in compliance with OSHA regulations. But not every company falls into these categories. For companies who are serious about gas detection, the Draeger Pac 7000 single-gas monitors make perfect sense. Financially th …

We get two questions about respirators more often than all other questions combined. People want to know what size mask to order, and they want to know how they can be sure the mask is fitting properly. Because these are such common questions, you'd think we'd have a quick and easy answer for each of them. But each question has some variables, and it's not so easy. Here's what you need to know to make sure your respirator mask fits correctly. For this discussion we will limit the sco …

While OSHA still establishes the laws surrounding workplace fall protection and is tasked with enforcing them, many organizations look to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the most current safety procedures and best practices. The new(ish) Z359.1 standards from ANSI are an attempt to create a more holistic fall safety program. One of the biggest differences between these new specifications and the existing OSHA fall safety requirements are regular inspections of all fall sa …