ATTENTION blog readers: Graphic Products has a new guide available for you! And best of all, it's absolutely free upon request.

Read the official press release entitled, "OSHA safety and accident prevention spotlighted in latest guide from Graphic Products."

Here are some things you'll find within OSHA Accident Reports:

• Accident prevention recommendations based on specific OSHA standards like OSHA 29 CFR and PART 1926 Safety and Health Regulations for Construction
• Work safety tips
• Information about DuraLabel safety label and sign printers engineered for the industrial workplace

Labels: DuraLabel, OSHA Accident Reports, OSHA Compliance, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 11:29:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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Oregon OSHA recently cited a national refrigerated warehouse operation for 10 willful violations, four serious repeat violations and 22 other serious violations of the Oregon Safe Employment Act. Fines totaled $740,400. Sound like a lot? No question that is a lot. These citations and fines came largely as a result of Americold Logistics' failure to protect its workers from a hazardous chemical called anhydrous ammonia. But what's worse than surrendering that amount of money is the fact that Americold Logistics willfully put so many people at risk of serious injury and death.

Now that's scary.

Graphic Products is offering a free Ammonia Pipe Marking Guide to all facilities and organizations that want one. It's a smart choice, and it's as simple as submitting a brief request. Just click on the image below:
Related posts:

Oregon OSHA Fines Americold Logistics $740,400
Got Ammonia Pipes? Get 'em Marked Right!

Labels: Ammonia Pipe Marking, Pipe Marker Labels, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 2:54:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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A limited number of the new OSHA safety poster, which presents up-to-date OSHA and ANSI Z535 safety sign standards in a colorful and educational manner, are still available upon request. Valued at $19.95, this poster discusses proper use of signal words in the workplace as seen on six common safety hazard signs.

This popular poster is a perfect way to remind employees of safety in the workplace. They're going fast, so click on the link below to request yours today!

Send me my collectible OSHA Safety Signs poster today!


Related posts:

OSHA Safety Signs Poster
OSHA Safety Signs

Labels: ANSI Z535, Safety Poster, Safety Sign Standards, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 1:59:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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According to the National Safety Council, approximately 12,000 accidental deaths occur each year due to injuries sustained because of a fall. While the most important issue here is lives lost, another issue is the associated economic loss for not only families of fall victims but for organizations.

But there is hope. With the right preparedness, most of these cases can be avoided.

An article entitled "Prevention of Slips, Trips, and Falls" in the April 2008 issue of Facility Safety Management magazine references the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, which suggests three general ways to avoid slips, trips, and falls from happening:

• Understand how fall accidents happen
• Identify trouble areas
• Eliminate or minimize hazards of falling

The article goes on to give specific examples and provide more detail, but by simply applying proper safety signs and labels to areas and surfaces where these types of accidents occur, many of these types of accidents can be prevented.

DuraLabel offers many supply options to assist you in safeguarding your employees from slips, trips, and falls. And secondly, DuraLabel wants to prevent your organization from suffering economically as a result of this type of tragedy.

Effective label and sign-making supplies for preventing slips, trips, and falls include:

• DuraTag Supply (as shown in the "CAUTION: Slippery When Wet" sign above)
• Phosphorescent Supply (for emergency backup when light sources fail)
• Continuous Vinyl Supply (for general safety label and sign-making tasks)

DuraLabel: Click... Print... Solve!

Labels: Hazard Prevention, Safety Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 3:15:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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You are an excellent safety manager. For quite a while now, you have not seen or reported an accident or injury in the workplace, and you certainly have not seen any litigation as a result of your negligence to maintaining a safe workplace environment. Congratulations on a job well done! You must be doing everything right... right? Certainly, recent history has been your advocate. But have you considered that you might be getting by on sheer luck and fortunate happenstance?

Beware the perils of complacency!

During times of relative peace and prosperity, it is easy to become complacent and even careless when it comes to our responsibilities. With times, circumstances, environments, policies, and people constantly changing, what is required is continual inspection and stewardship of our workplace environments. One can never be too careful when it comes to workplace hazard prevention.

In an article entitled "Familiarity Breeds Success" in the March 2009 issue of Occupational Health & Safety, Linda J. Sherrard discusses the importance of avoiding complacency as it relates to workplace safety:

"Become familiar with the work environment and the language of potential hazards. This should be more than a once-a-month, 10 minute walk-through! It takes years to really learn a workplace and all the hazards to which employees may be exposed. "

Specifically, being aware of the need for and properly using personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to workplace hazard prevention.

• Are your employees wearing correct PPE?
• Should your employees be wearing more PPE items?
• Do your employees (including temporary employees, interns) understand specific hazards related to their jobs?
• Do you have a process set up for employees and/or supervisors to request and replace PPE items?
• Have you considered shared items (e.g., an employee may damage or break a faceshield and hang it back on the rack for the next employee to use)?
• Have you considered glare as a hazard (Glare causes mishaps and injuries, fatigue, eyestrain, headaches, aggravation)?

When it comes to workplace hazard prevention, move beyond the basics. Don't just prepare enough to get by, even if your employees have been safe and injury-free as of late. And don't allow shrinking budgets to stand in the way of what is most important in the workplace: the safety of your employees and yourself. Take precautions, become familiar with all of the hazards in your workplace with which employees may be exposed, and take PPE seriously. You'll continue to discover successful results as a reward for your sustained efforts!

Related posts:

Top Ten OSHA Violations in 2008
Guide to Required PPE - Yours Free!
Safe Workplace Blog

Labels: Hazard Prevention, PPE, Safety Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Daniel E - 8:50:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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What OSHA requirements were most often violated in 2008? Which types of violations of OSHA standards resulted in the most fines assessed. The new guide to the Top Ten OSHA Violations In 2008 answers these questions.

Don't make the same mistakes others are making. Use this guide to help you be aware of the areas in which other organizations are having problems with safety, allowing you to be sure the same areas are properly addressed in your facility.

This guide provides two lists. The first gives the top ten violations of OSHA requirements based on the number of violations. The second gives the top ten violations of OSHA requirements based on the amount of fines assessed.

This guide is available free. Just ask for it. Use this link to go to a form where you can request your free copy of: Top Ten OSHA Violations in 2008.

Labels: OSHA Compliance, Safey Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 7:49:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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Graphic Products offers a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Quick Reference Guide. It shows the 12 major hazard categories and identifies the required PPE for each category. It also provides a cross-reference, showing each type of PPE and identifying the hazard categories that require each type of PPE.

This guide to PPE is available free. Use this link to order your copy: Guide To Required PPE

The guide is designed so it can be used as a wall chart or a desk reference. It is available laminated, to protect it from tears and spills and to provide long life. It serves as a quick reminder about the PPE that is required in various common situations.

Labels: hazardous materials labeling, PPE, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 7:17:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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Graphic Products announced today that it has launched a new web site to provide in-depth information about the hazards presented by arc flash, and ways to address those hazards.

The URL for the new web site is: www.arcflash.me.

The new web site is called: The Arc Flash Information Resource Center

Arc flash is increasingly being recognized as a serious hazard in the workplace. The high temperatures and explosive nature of arc flash can result in serious injury and fatalities.

In the past decade NFPA 70E and the NEC have addressed arc flash hazards. However, a new revision of the code to be issued in 2009 will result in some changes. In addition CSA Z462 will be issued in Canada later this year, providing Canada with its first arc flash codes. The Arc Flash Information Resource Center will provide up-date information about these new codes when they are issued.

One of the changes coming in the new NFPA arc flash code is that specific information will be required on arc flash labels. The new web site will be regularly updated to reflect the most current code requirements, as well as providing information about potential future changes.

Labels: Arc Flash Labels, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 11:11:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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A new, free guide being offered by Graphic Products shows the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for twelve categories of hazards. It also provides a cross-reference between hazard categories and required PPE.

The upper half of the guide lists the twelve hazard categories. For each category the required PPE is listed.

The lower half of the guide shows the pictograms for ten types of PPE and, for each type of PPE, lists the hazard categories that require that PPE.

Use this guide as a wall chart or desk reference to help workers, vendors and contractors become familiar with the types of PPE required in various situations.

Labels: PPE, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 7:06:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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Are you interested in workplace safety? We have a blog that is dedicated to workplace safety and the OSHA Voluntary Protection Program. It's called Safe Workplace (http://www.safe-workplace.com/safety-blog/).

You can use the above link to visit the Safe Workplace blog whenever you'd like. The blog also publishes an RSS feed that allows you to monitor every post using your RSS reader. Or if you are not familiar with RSS, just use the box in the right hand column of the blog to enter your email address. Each time there is a new post, you will receive an emailed copy of the post. There is no easier way to receive safety news and information. If you wish to stop receiving the emails, just click on a "cancel" link included in every email.

Labels: Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 3:15:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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Two new safety articles have been made available online by Graphic Products.

The first article discusses a safety related issue that is growing in importance--the safety of older workers. As the workforce ages it is becoming important to both retain older workers, and adjust to their safety needs. Statistics show that older workers have fewer safety problems than younger works, but that can be improved upon even further with some changes in the work environment--changes that result in improved safety for both young and older workers.

Read the article: Modify Workplace Safety For An Older Labor Force

The second article discusses a method for preventing accidents in confined spaces. By maintaining constant contact with those in confined spaces, stress is reduced which leads to improved safety.

Read the article: Safety In Confined Spaces

Labels: Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 7:42:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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A new section on the Graphic Products' web site reprints some of the "Mistakes That Hurt" articles from the Safety Alerts for Supervisors Newsletter. These short articles describe safety mistakes, the consequences of those mistakes, and the fine that was imposed--including the reason for the fine.

The index to the Mistakes That Hurt articles is located at: http://www.graphicproducts.com/tutorials/safety-alert/index.html

Labels: Safey Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 8:48:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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The Visually Instructive Plant

We all know how important a safe and productive workplace environment is. But did you know that you could in­crease productivity, streamline processes and improve safety compliance through proper facility identification? And, a properly marked facility has better return on investment, positively affecting your bottom line.

Having critical information at the point of need, when you need it most, helps you reduce operating errors and accidents, minimize unscheduled downtime, eliminate confusion and increase safety, increase employee knowledge and confidence, and reduce wasted search time.

A new article, reprinted with permission from Facility Safety Management magazine, discusses the visually instructive plant, and what is involved in creating a visually instructive facility.

Labels: Safey Labels / Safety Signs, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 1:59:00 PM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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In the manufacturing world, although safety is always stressed as the most important part of the manufacturing process, situations arise whether due to downtime, production stress, poor maintenance procedures or poor engineering design that tend to raise the safety issue. In other words, a situation comes up in which safety concerns no longer are the number one priority.

Read this new article reprint online: Manufacturing Automation Safety

Labels: Labeling and Sign Making News, Workplace Safety

posted by Steve Hudgik - 9:54:00 AM - - Permanent Link to This Article

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