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Since OSHA now requires all construction workers to have fall protection when they are more than 6 ft. from the next work level, there is ongoing confusion about how to protect workers operating with minimal fall clearance. The most popular option for working in areas like this are the self-retracting lifelines, or SRLs. But can they protect workers when they are just over the 6 ft. threshold? It is generally understood that for work areas with less than 18.5 ft. of fall clearance, u …

Mold doesn't need much to get started. Supplied with a little moisture and some warmth it's very hard to completely eradicate once it gets started. In situations where there are large areas of mold, or when flooding or plumbing problems have occurred, it's important to follow recommended safety procedures while completing your work. There are a few basic precautions everyone working in moldy areas should follow. First, avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. Undisturbed, mold isn't like …

Tyvek suits from DuPont provide an amazing degree of protection from the elements of your work site. Here are some tips to make them work even better for you. Whether you're using your Tyvek suits for basic clean-up trying to keep the dirt and other non-hazardous materials such as oil, paint, and sewage away from your clothes and skin, or you have some really serious particulate matter about such as pesticides and radioactive particles, the goal is to keep it away from you. Tyvek has …

First of all, a dust mask is has a single strap that goes over the head and provides very little protection from particles and debris in the air. They're also called nuisance dust masks and they're best used for mild applications like leaf blowing and general household dust protection. Dust masks just don't provide a good face seal and they protect about as well as nose hair, which is to say not that well. Replace them when they look dirty or after about 8 hours of wear. Honestly they're n …

Working at height can be challenging enough without having safety equipment that binds and weighs you down. Many of our customers climb regularly, and the feedback we are getting about the Miller AirCore Full-Body Harnesses is positive across the board. There are a range of requirements for harnesses meeting OSHA and ANSI fall safety standards. With the AirCore, Miller has managed to meet these standards using 16% less material overall. The results are greater mobility, reduced weigh …

Gas monitors are made to be used on some of the toughest job sites in the world. Industrial chemical and gas facilities are made for production, not comfort, and the safety of the workers depends on gas monitors doing their job day in and day out. Because so much is riding on the accuracy of these gas detection devices, regular calibration and testing is necessary. When sensors wear out or are overloaded, or when regular maintenance and re-certification is required, it takes trained tec …

Crews tackling installation or replacement of natural gas mains need to purge the lines with an inert gas to eliminate the combustion hazard. Purge testing before work begins requires a gas detection device that won't be overwhelmed or damaged by the high gas levels found in this type of work. It's also important to realize that many gas detection sensors require oxygen for accurate measurements. Nitrogen is the gas most often employed to displace the natural gas when servicing main lin …

Employers have complained since the organization's formation that OSHA requirements are just too much. They slow down workers, and cost too much. ANSI Z359 requirements add a whole new level of safety requirements for workers and employers, but is it worth it? The answer is most likely yes. In this case, when we talk about the equipment and inspection schedule being worth it, we're talking about how the purchasing decisions will be described in legal arguments likely to be made in court after a …

Work sites are often noisy places. If you're looking for high-quality disposable hearing protection, you can be sure your team will be satisfied with the Pura-Fit 6800 Earplugs from Moldex. But there are other events this summer that may also require hearing protection, and they're probably more fun than work. If you have never been to car races, for instance, I can tell you, it's one place where earplugs are absolutely necessary. And the same earplugs that protect you at work will work pe …

Harvest in the wine country is the peak of activity in the winemaking cycle. It's Go Time - The playoffs of the wine growing season. Preparing for the avalanche of grapes means everything in the winery must be tested, sanitized, and ready. Lab equipment for checking sugar, pH, and total acidity must be made ready, barrels need to be prepped, presses cleaned, and sorting tables sorted. It's also the right time to make sure gas monitors are calibrated. There can be many areas that require …