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November Online Specials!

Go to http://www.LSS.com and take advantage of temporarily reduced prices on these great products:

This offer ends on Nov. 30, 2006, but you'll find new special offers every month at LSS.com. Add it to your favorites. You'll always have instant access to over 100,000 products.

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Cold Weather Work

Are you sitting down? This newsletter arrived via e-mail, so chances are very good that you are not only sitting at your desk now, but that you and your computer are situated in a relatively comfortable indoor office. Dont take it for granted.

If youre one of the folks that work outside, or if you have friends or family who spend any part of their workday there, you shouldnt take the hazards for granted. Especially during the winter, workers risk serious health problems when exposed to extreme temperatures. In the worst cold weather cases, these exposures can lead to trench foot, frostbite, hypothermia and even death.

If you are an employer who has anyone spending all or part of their workday outdoors, you need to provide the training that will help them protect themselves from injury and illness caused by exposure to cold weather. Workers need to know the signs of dangerous weather conditions, the symptoms of cold-induced injuries, and the means of protecting themselves, including diet, clothing and the effects of medications.

Theres more to weather hazards than dropping temperatures. Wind and wet can combine with air temperature to make the cold more dangerous than the thermometer might indicate. Combine an air temperature of 35 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind speed of 20 mph and the air will feel like 24 degrees. That becomes significant when you consider that frostbite, the condition in which body tissue freezes, can start at 30 degrees.

When dressing for cold weather, workers should wear layers of clothing so they can adjust to changing weather conditions. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, especially the kinds designed to enhance warmth, is the best choice. Excessive perspiration can lead to chills, but moderating body temperature by removing layers of clothing can help to control perspiration.

Workers who are in poor physical condition, or take certain medications, or have other illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension are at higher risk in cold weather. To minimize the risk of hypothermia, workers heading into the cold should avoid anti-depressants, anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications, and other over-the-counter cold medications.

How do you know when you or someone else has been overexposed to cold? Signs include fatigue, irrational behavior, violent shivering, poor motor control, shallow breathing and unconsciousness. Eating high calorie foods, such as pasta, will provide the body with energy to generate the heat needed to avoid the onset of these symptoms. Consuming warm, sweet beverages such as sugar water and sports drinks will also help. Alcohol, on the other hand, accelerates the loss of body heat.

Employers can give employees added protection by having them work in groups or at least in pairs. Most people are able to observe changes in someone elses behavior far sooner than in their own. The chances of danger signs being recognized increase when there are more eyes watching for them. Adjusting work schedules to take full advantage of the warmest part of the day will also help to reduce risks, and employers should plan for the costs of providing shelter and time for short warming breaks for employees working in cold conditions.

Click here for information from the Centers for Disease Control or from the Red Cross or from the National Weather Service

Click here for a selection of cold weather clothing.

Click here for information on preventing hypothermia.

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2006 Saf-T-News Archives

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Lab Safety Supply, Inc. 401 S. Wright Rd, Janesville, WI 53547-1368, USA Tel: 800-356-0783 Fax: 800-543-9910 http://www.labsafety.com

Contact Information

If you have any specific questions about product specifications, applications or compliance issues, call one of our Technical Support Specialists at 1-800-356-2501 or e-mail them at: TechSvc@labsafety.com

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Lab Safety Supply, Inc. 401 S. Wright Rd, Janesville, WI 53547-1368, USA Tel: 800-356-0783 Fax: 800-543-9910 http://www.labsafety.com

 

 

 

 

 

Carhartt Extremes Cold Weather Coat and Hood

Keep yourself comfortable, even on the coldest days!

First, the fabric is four times more abrasion resistant than regular nylon1000 denier, high-tenacity Cordura Plus nylon shell with a water-repellent polyurethane finish shrugs off rain and wind. Plus, a 100% nylon layer is quilted to an arctic-weight lining to create a layered effect to help hold in body heat.

Next, the construction...with a zipper-front and Velcro closure wind flap, this coat keeps all cold air away from your body. It also features extra-large front pockets, two chest pockets with Velcro closures, rib-knit storm cuff sleeves and an inside draw cord at the waist. Underarm grommets provide ventilation to let moisture out, keeping more heat in. To make moving easy, elbows are pleated and the back is split-cut with bi-wings. The hood snaps easily onto the collar and fastens with Velcro chin straps.

To see this revolutionary outerwear, click here. And check out the coveralls and bib overalls too!

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Register for a chance to win a Medique, 3-Shelf Fast Fill First Aid Kit plus an LSS Emergency Road Kit at LSS.com.

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Register for a chance to win at LSS.com. New drawing every month.

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FYI: Safe Holiday Travel

As the holiday season approaches, friends and family are planning visits. High fuel costs or not, a record number of Americans will be traveling in planes, trains and automobiles. The American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that between Thanksgiving and New Year's, more than 60 million people will get in their cars and travel 50 miles or more from home. If you belong to this group, the time to check your tires and service your vehicle is nowbefore you hit the open road. Its the least you can do to ensure a safe and happy trip.

No matter where your holiday destination is, you can lessen the stress of travel with good planning. Set up connections and make arrangements early to beat the last-minute rush. Considering all the details of your trip well in advance will help to ensure safety for you and any travellng companions. Things change and you may need to make adjustments, but starting with a plan can make adjustments easier.

Click here for information on traveling with children.

Click here for safe driving tips.

Click here for winter driving tips.

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FYI: The OSHA Top 10

Once again, OSHA has published the list of top 10 most violated standards. The list below is for fiscal year 2006, with data collected from October 2005 through September 2006.

  1. Scaffolding1926.451 (7,895 violations)
  2. Duty to have Fall Protection 1926.501 (5,746 violations)
  3. Hazard Communication 1910.1200 (5,586 violations)
  4. Respiratory Protection 1910.134 (3,410 violations)
  5. Lockout/Tagout 1910.147 (3,068 violations)
  6. Powered Industrial Trucks 1910.178 (2,582 violations)
  7. Electricalwiring methods, components, and equipment for General Use 1910.305 (2,396 violations)
  8. Machine Guardinggeneral requirements 1910.212 (2,296 violations)
  9. Ladders 1926.1053 (2,115 violations)
  10. ElectricalGeneral Requirements 1910.303 (1,791 violations)

Click here for more information on the top violations.

For help in resolving possible workplace violations check out our on-line safety training program.

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FYI: CDC Tips for Keeping Pests Outside

You cant blame our little furry friends for wanting to get out of the cold, but that doesnt mean we want them taking shelter in our workplaces or homes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has advice for defending your castle from mice and rats with a three step process called, Seal Up, Trap Up and Clean Up.

Keeping rodents from getting in is easier than getting them out, so the first step is the most important, sealing up holes inside and outside the structure. According to the CDC, a mouse can crawl into a hole the size of a nickel and a rat the size of a half dollar. At home, look for holes around connections for all appliancesstoves, refrigerators, washing machinesplus fireplaces, doors and laundry room floor drains.

The next step is to set up traps around the structure in order to curb the rodent population. Capturing mice and rats requires different traps. Set traps next to walls so that critters that find an entrance will be stopped before they get too far inside your structure. Peanut butter makes good bait.

Keeping your workplace or home clean makes them less attractive to rodents. Mice and rats love trash. Leaving dirty dishes or food in breakrooms or around your house amounts to an invitation. Bird feeders are a common food source for rodents so keep them away from buildings. Elevate hay, garbage cans and woodpiles at least a foot off the ground to keep rodents from nesting underneath.

Click here for more information from the CDC.

Click here for a selection of pest control products:

Electronic Mousetrap
Small Animal Traps
Pest Repeller

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Safety FAQ

Q. What is the difference between a respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and a surgical mask?

A. NIOSH-approved respirators are designed to help reduce the wearers exposure to airborne contaminants. The primary purpose of a surgical mask is to help prevent biological particles from being expelled by the wearer into the environment.

Surgical masks are also designed to be fluid-resistant to splash and splatter of blood and other infectious materials and not for reducing the wearers exposure to ambient airborne contaminants. Surgical masks are not necessarily designed to seal tightly to the face, so the potential for air leakage around the edges exists.

Other types of masks that appear similar to respirators may not be designed to protect the wearer from airborne hazards. Therefore, they should not be considered an equivalent substitute for a NIOSH-approved respirator.

There are some approved respirators designed to have the characteristics of both a NIOSH-approved respirator and a surgical mask, such as LSS product No. 41453.

Click here for more respirator Safety FAQs.

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SAF-T-TRIVIA

Last Week's Question:

What is OSHAs minimum height for exit sign lettering?

A. 6 inches
B. 7 inches
C. 8 inches
D. none of the above

The answer is A. 6 inches

This week’s winner is Stanley from Huntsville, AL. Congratulations! Stanley wins the LSS Mechanix Wear® Original Work Gloves!

This Week's Question:

Which hazards are reduced using bonding and grounding techniques?

A. flammable liquid viscosity
B. danger of mechanical sparks
C. danger of static sparks
D. all of the above

Submit your answer to mailto: SafTTrivia@labsafety.com by Monday, November 20th.

We'll select one lucky winner from all the correct entries we receive to win a pair of LSS Mechanix Wear® Original Work Gloves. If you are selected, we will notify you by e-mail. Good Luck!

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Lab Safety Supply

 


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