ANSI Safety Vests Meet Rigorous Standards

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: In your search for traffic safety vests, you've likely come across products called ANSI Surveyor Vests. What is ANSI and what is such a vest? ANSI stands for the American National Standards Institute. Founded in 1918, ANSI calls itself the “voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system.”

Membership in ANSI is made up of government agencies, organizations, companies, international bodies and individuals. All members go through a rigorous evaluation before membership is accepted. While OSHA guidelines are mandatory, ANSI standard compliance is voluntary. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Standard Organization (ISO). The main mission of ANSI is to help along operational and business standards that ultimately allow the U.S. to become competitive in the global market.

One area ANSI impacts is safety in the workplace. For example, ANSI surveyor traffic safety vests meet higher standards than some other similar products. If your company or organization is a member of ANSI , utilizing these unique vests will help you comply with the organization's voluntary standards. These types of reflective safety vests offer features such as polyester fabric for durability, zipper front closure to ensure they are always in place and easily seen, and two-inch vertical and horizontal silver reflective stripes with contrasting trim on the front and the back.

Visit www.ansi.org to learn more about their product standards, membership requirements, code of ethics, technical advisory groups, certification requirements and other programs to help you improve workplace safety.

Consider industrial-strength gloves for the home

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Home work gloves have come of age! Have you gotten tired of pine needles poking through your home work gloves, or those that don't protect you against colder weather? What about bulky work gloves or those that soak through in wet conditions?

Home work gloves, designed for gardening, garage tasks and other outdoor chores now feature new materials often found in industrial strength gloves. One example is nitrile gloves, considered by some as a great replacement for rubber, vinyl and neoprene. These gloves can protect against acids, oils, solvents, grease and animal fats. In addition, they work for those who may be allergic to typical latex gloves.

Many industrial strength work gloves are appropriate for home use. Winter work gloves with Thinsulate linings are great for keeping the digits warm during outdoor winter work. Also, Mechanix gloves are among the best gloves on the market. These gloves may cost more, but will withstand the test of time. Mechanix gloves feature synthetic leather palm and ring fingers, repelling more water and oil to preserve the life of the glove, hook and loop cuff closures, Spandex tops designed for a better fit, and EVA foam and elastic cuffs for mobility. All these gloves can be purchased through the Texas American Texas America Safety Company.

Finding Quality Industrial Ear Plugs

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Technology has enhanced most workplace safety products, and industrial ear plugs are no exception. The features and materials now used for these hearing protection devices include steel wire construction, patented air-flow control, dielectric design features and attenuation across all frequencies without the need to increase ear muff size or weight.

Many employees would wear ear-muff devices more often if they had options for fitting. Companies like Bilsom now offer multiple-position headbands that can be worn on top or in back of the head, as well as under the chin. In addition, Bilsom's patented technology allows for potentially dangerous noise blockage while voice and signal frequencies can still be heard clearly.

When you look for ear muff devices for use in industrial settings, watch for those that allow easy snap-in cushions for more economical replacement. When it comes to ear plugs, watch for those that have the highest NRR rating possible as it's currently the highest rating in the U.S.

Technology Enhances Workplace Safety Glasses

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Those who wear glasses or contacts know that high-tech options for correcting vision get better and better. However, did you know that industrial safety glasses have been enhanced by advanced technology as well? For example, Texas America Safety Company offers its AO Safety Metaliks Smart Lens Photochromic Safety Glasses, which can adjust to changing light conditions.

It takes only about 35 seconds for these glasses to change from dark to clear, and only about eight seconds to go from clear to dark. Employees who work both indoors and outside can eliminate the hassle of changing safety glasses countless times a day. These products also offer an adjustable nose piece and a nylon brow.

Before you order any type of safety goggles, check any OSHA rules and ANSI standards that might apply. For example, these “smart” safety glasses meet the ANSI Z80.3 Traffic Signal Recognition Requirement. Another example includes polarized safety glasses, which offer protection from reflective glare. If you order such a product, ensure it also protects against harmful UV sun rays. Finally, due to newer materials, safety glasses now weigh less than ever before.