Ear Muffs For Hearing Protection

Employees need hearing protection that drowns out loud noise. However, blocking out too much sound can create a situation where workers aren’t attuned to their environment. By selecting the proper ear muffs for hearing protection, you’ll be providing the insurance your workers need to thrive in a noisy area. Ear muffs have varying degrees of hearing protection which are described below:

Noise blocking – Noise blocking ear muffs keep out the noise you don’t want. Top of the line noise blocking ear muffs will give you maximum attenuation at all frequencies. An economical version can provide protection for short term situations in work environments.

Sound management – Sound management ear muffs use technology to get rid of unwanted noise while allowing workers to hear normal conversation. Features like alarm warnings add to the safety of these ear muffs.

Radio – Radio headphones give workers the protection they need from unwanted noise with the added bonus of being able to listen to AM and FM radio on the job.

Photo Realistic Signage: The Updated Industrial Safety Products

Part of maintaining a safe work environment with industrial safety products includes displaying proper signage to keep occupants informed of the hazards that may exist. Signage is most effective when it is highly visible and sends a clear visual message at a glance. These industrial safety products aren’t merely available as brightly colored fixtures on walls anymore. Photo realistic signage is an industrial safety product that makes it clear to building occupants what hazards are in their immediate area. For instance, in areas where eye protection is necessary, you can select a bright colored caution sign with the image of protective eyewear to send a clear message to those in the area. In areas where flammability is an issue, photo realistic signage showing a caution sign with the image of flames leaves the viewer well aware of the possible dangers.

Costs Associated With Workplace Injuries and Illnesses

Not only is a motto of “Safety First!” ideal in preventing injuries or accidents in an industrial setting, it is also beneficial for reducing the costs associated with injuries and accidents, leading to a more financially stable company.

Overall, it has been estimated work-related injuries costs between $40-$45 billion last year, with at least $1 billion being paid for medical bills and compensation per week. Of this $45 billion, at least 26 percent ($13.4 billion) of this money was used to treat injuries resulting from “Overexertion.” This information is based on the “2005 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index Findings.” Other statistics revealed:

· $6.9 billion to treat employee injuries due to “Falling On The Same Level.”
· $4.6 billion to treat employees “Struck By An Object”
· $3.0 billion went towards injuries due to “Repetitive Motions”
· $2.0 billion was paid to treat injuries resulted from employees “Caught In Compressed Equipment.”

Therefore, the staggering costs of injuries and illnesses in an occupational setting emphasize the importance of being safe and preventing accidents.

Hard Hat Maintenance

Hard hats should be cleaned regularly in order to improve their length of service. Cleaning your hard hat and suspensions is pretty simple. The hard hats with or without logos can be cleaned with simple soap and water, or by using a damp towel. The plastic suspensions can be cleaned similarly; however, most modern suspensions some with a sweatband in the front or back of the hat. These sweatbands can be gently washed by hand, but they probably won´t last as long as the hard hat. Several universal brow pads are available at an economical price.

Replace your hard hat when:
*Cracks appear in the shell.
*Shiny surface appears dull or chalky.
*Shell becomes brittle.


Replace your Suspension when:
*The suspensions become brittle
*One or more of the mounts break off
*The suspension will no longer hold securely to the head
*The cradling straps break or become worn

Inspect your hard hats before and after each use. Although there is no set service life for hard hats, manufacturers recommend replacement after no more than 5 years.

The Whistleblower Program

As the name implies, the “Whistleblower Program,” established by OSHA was setup to protect employees who complain to the OSHA about their working conditions, and the lack of safety in their workplace.

The “Whistleblower Program,” is mandated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and prohibits any employee from being fired or discriminated against, after filing an OSHA complaint. Based on the guidelines established for the “Whistleblower Program,” employees have a right to participate in inspections against their employer, submit complaints about OSHA violations, and be a witness in the OSHA's case against their employer. So if you have to make complaints about your workplace safety, know the “Whistleblower Program” is there to protect you.

OSHA Regulation Compliance

Compliance to OSHA regulations can be achieved by ensuring every person in your workplace is educated about the rules set forth by the OSHA. However, as an employer, it is your duty to ensure your workplace follows these regulations. There are various tips that can be adopted to help your workers comply.

The first tip an employer can adopt to ensure compliance is to have regularly scheduled discussions on how to make the workplace environment safer. During these seminars, OSHA regulations can be continually stated and reinforced.

Another tip to help ensure OSHA regulation compliance in your workplace is to send out memos or safety updates reminding employees of the proper protective equipment to use, and how to perform care and maintenance for them.

A third tip to implement within your workplace is the use of brochures and pamphlets highlighting specific job-related regulations.

With the use of these tips, noncompliance can be eradicated among your employees.

The American National Standard Institute (ANSI)

The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) is a private facility, which publishes safety standards on the way industries and workplaces should conduct themselves and operate in a safe manner.

ANSI differs from OSHA in its standards of practice in regards to first aid kits. ANSI provides the exact requirements a first aid kit should contain, however this is in not in contrast to the OSHA standards on first aid kits, which gives out a more general statement on first aid kits.

The ANSI standard entitled, ANSI Z308.1-1998 – “Minimum Requirements For Workplace First-Aid Kits,” outlines the supplies and equipment, two be placed inside of a first aid kit. The ANSI standard Z308.1-1998 also provides a classification of first aid kits based on their intended use.

Construction Safety Vests For Flaggers

At the construction site, the visibility of flaggers is key to their safety. Construction safety vests are not only ideal, but can fulfill a requirement from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). According to OSHA, garments for flaggers can be a variety of fluorescent colors, including orange, yellow or yellow green. These garments can be construction safety vests, shirts or jackets. Flaggers working at night should wear construction safety vests or comparable garments with a retro reflective material. The retro reflective material can be numerous colors, including orange, yellow, white, or a fluorescent color. OSHA requires that the reflective material be visible to a distance of 1,000 feet away.

Protective Equipment Training

Protective equipment training can occur in many forms. It can be carried out using a demonstrator, overheads, a presentation, or DVD video. Regardless of the method chosen, protective equipment training is something, which cannot be overlooked.

The basic components of protective equipment training include training employees to efficiently wear protective equipment, training employees to maintain protective equipment, and educating them on the ability to assess when protective equipment is necessary.

Personal protective equipment training should also be able to convince employees that they are not invincible while wearing protective equipment, and there are restrictions to the level of protection they possess.

OSHA On Safety Glasses

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides regulations on safety glasses for workers in the United States. According to OSHA, employers need to provide safety glasses in environments where machinery or other operations present hazards to the face in the form of physical bodily injury or chemical or radiation dangers. OSHA requires all safety glasses must meet the standards established by the American National Standards Institute. In addition, OSHA requires that all safety glasses must be clean, in good condition and free from defects. For those employees who need corrective lenses, safety glasses can take the form of protective eyewear with built in corrective lenses or goggles which go over an employee’s glasses.