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Texas, Colorado, and New Jersey are all reporting record temperatures this week. However, warm temperatures don't stop outdoor workers. Each summer hundreds of workers across the country are admitted to hospitals for heat-related illnesses. Companies need to protect workers by developing a skin wellness program. Here is what you need to know about a major element of that program - sunscreen. Excessive exposure to heat can cause a number of health issues including sunburn, heat stroke, heat …

Very few products at PK Safety have as many customer reviews as the ErgoKneel kneeling products we carry. All of the 23 reviews are 5-stars, except for one 4-star. That guy must have been a tough grader. The most popular ErgoKneel product, judging by the number of stellar reviews, is the Large ErgoKneel Kneeling Mat. SK from South Korea writes about the Large ErgoKneel: "I spend a good majority of my day working on my knees in the cockpit of helicopters. I have tried knee pa …

Not everyone can wear a half- or full-face respirator while working. There are several conditions spelled out in the OSHA standards where respirator masks either won't work, or put the wearer in danger. The most frequent impediment to having a mask fit and therefore work properly is facial hair. OSHA is very specific in the new (1998) guidelines. In section 29 CFR 1910.134(g), Use of Respirators, it states: "Facepiece seal protection. The employer shall not permit respirators with …

Taking care of your respirator is simple stuff, but it can have a big impact on your health and safety at work. In this post we're going to explain the best way to keep your non-disposable respirator clean and how to prolong the life of your cartridges. Most people never clean their respirators. Why? Maybe they love germs. Or accumulated grime. Or maybe, like me, they just wipe it out with a rag occasionally and keep working. Hey, I'll do it right from now on. Masks like the …

Folks have asked us for years about a gas detector that is suitable for HVAC installers, or even for home and RV use. Since most of the gas monitors we carry at PK are designed for industrial applications, we did our research and found what we think is the best inexpensive gas monitor on the market - the BOLO Combustible Gas Sniffer from Nova Systems. The BOLO gas detector is easy to use. It has an audible clicking sound kind of like an old Geiger counter. The clicks get closer together …

We are seeing a trend in the safety industry away from our old friend PVC. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely used plastic product in the world. And for good reason. It's tough, inexpensive, and very easy to manipulate. The pipes made from PVC have revolutionized plumbing, and it's used in everything from shower curtains to safety gloves. The down-side to PVC is it's not the most environmentally friendly of products. In fact, it's downright unfriendly. Toxic chemicals associate …

Sometimes less isn't more, especially when it comes to your hearing. If you work in an extremely loud environment, a single pair of earplugs or earmuffs just doesn't provide as much protection as both together. Here are a few things you should know about the double protection provided by wearing earplugs and earmuffs at the same time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that since 2004, approximately 125,000 workers have suffered significant, permanent hearing loss. Many of these wor …

I don't know if the road to Heck is paved with good intentions, but I do know that my pledge to make healthier life choices and wear a mask when commuting by bike in San Francisco hit a major pot hole soon after I started. The first mask I tried was the Moldex AirWave respirator mask. While it was comfortable on my face, and I felt like it created a good seal, once I started breathing hard, it got pretty hot in there. Even thought it wasn't difficult to draw a breath, once I let the …

September 15, 2012 is the deadline for new mandatory residential roofers' fall protection safety standards that require a guard rail system, a safety net system or personal fall safety systems for workers. If you are a roofer and don't comply with the new laws, you could be hit with heavy fines. Residential builders working six or more feet above a lower level must meet these new OSHA standards for fall protection. If you are unsure about how to comply with these new regulations, OSH …

One of the most frequent questions about the respirators we carry at pksafety.com is what size to buy. All our respirators come in small, medium or large, and most first-time buyers have no idea which is best for them. A proper fit is just about the most important consideration for a respirator, especially when pesticides, lead, or other harmful substances are in the air. Unfortunately the only way to know for sure if your respirator has a good seal is to do an OSHA-approved fit test …