first-aid first’-aid’ (fûrst’ād’) adj.
n.
Emergency treatment administered to an injured or sick person before professional medical care is available.

First Aid Kits and Supplies include everything from Storage Cabinets and First Aid Kits to Refills on Pain Medications and Bandages. First Aid Kits and Supplies are necessary in every facility or warehouse, regardless of the type of product being produced. First Aid Signs, Labels and Tags are also available to remind employees of First Aid locations and procedures.

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Means of Egress…It sounds pretty straight and forward, but what does it really mean? How easy is it to locate a means of egress when seconds count? How effective are your means of egress? Are your means of egress up to code? These are just some questions to ask yourself about emergency exits, or your “means of egress”. If you are in charge or will be held accountable for emergency plans, you should be able to answer these questions about your entire facility.

Every workplace must have enough exits suitably located to enable everyone to get out of the facility quickly. Considerations include the type of structure, the number of persons exposed, the fire protection available, the type of industry involved, and the height and type of construction of the building or structure. In addition, fire doors must not be blocked or locked when employees are inside. Delayed opening of fire doors, however, is permitted when an approved alarm system is integrated into the fire door design. Exit routes from buildings must be free of obstructions and properly marked with exit signs. The standard 29 CFR 1910.36 Design and Construction requirements for exit routes consists of several requirements:

• Every exit must be clearly visible, or the path to it conspicuously identified in such a manner that every occupant of the building will know the best way to get out of the building in a fire or other emergency.
• Exits must never be obstructed. Any door or passageway that is not an exit or path to an exit must be identified with a sign that reads ‘Not An Exit‘ or a sign that indicates its actual use, such as storage.
• All exit signs must either be self-illuminating, or illuminated by a reliable external light source

For more information regarding 29 CFR 1910.36, visit osha.gov. Remember, there are more than just signs needed for as proper “means of egress” ; fire extinguishers, safety vests, flashlights, evacuation maps just to name a few. Check out Seton’s new virtual tour online for Emergency Evacuation.  This tool demonstrates an integrated emergency evacuation plan from the top to bottom of your building. Be confident that your employees are equipped with the right Seton products to keep them safe during blackout/emergency evacuations.

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Did you know that March is Workplace Eye Wellness Month? The Prevent Blindness America website reports that “more than 2,000 people injure their eyes at work each day”. Those are some scary statistics and what is even scarier is that “of the total amount of [eye] work-related injuries, 10-20 % will cause temporary or permanent vision loss”. We at Seton want to remind you about the importance of wearing proper eye protection and posting eye protection signs in your workplace. We want to help keep you and your employees safe and offer many safety signs to suits your individual facility needs. We have a large selection of OSHA Safety Signs to post in work areas, where eye wear is required. We also have various signs for posting near eyewash stations and first aid stations so employees can locate them quickly. Remember, work safe and stay safe not only in March, but all year long.

For more info on Workplace Eye Wellness Month please visit the Blindness America website for tips on how to prevent eye injuries the type of safety eye protection you should wear.

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OSHA’s latest rule on cranes and derricks in construction went into effect on November 8, 2010 and now impacts equipment not typically categorized as cranes in the past. The new rule, meant to prevent the leading causes of crane-related accidents and fatalities, now includes definitions referring to “multi-purpose machines”. Defined as “[machines] configured to hoist and lower (by means of a winch or hook) and horizontally move a suspended load”, users of these non-traditional crane products should be aware of these changes and how the new regulations will impact how they use their equipment. Click here to visit the OSHA site and download a PowerPoint Presentation on the new law.

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According to OSHA §1910.335(b),employers are required to use safety signs, labels and tags to warn and protect employees from hazards that could cause injury due to arc flashes, electrical shock, burns or failure of electrical equipment.  This is one example of how to utilize labels in your workplace.  Seton provides labeling solutions to meet all your business needs.  We offer 1,000’s of labels ranging from standard OSHA and shipping labels to custom bar code and promotional labels made to your specifications.

Whatever your labeling needs, Seton is here to safeguard your assets, facility, equipment and property.

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Employers are required to protect employees from workplace hazards that can cause injury; including sharp edges, falling objects, flying sparks, chemicals, noise and a variety of other potentially dangerous situations. To learn more about OSHA’s requirements for PPE use in the workplace visit: OSHA.gov

Some general guidelines for introducing PPE:
- Know the different types of PPE
- Selecting appropriate PPE products for a variety of workplace situations
- Understanding the proper use and care of PPE

Seton offers a full selection of PPE to meet all your needs – welding and protective clothing, safety eyewear, headwear, hearing protection, gloves, fall protection and respirators from the brands you have come to trust. Check it out today!

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Back on August 2nd I posted a blog about an announcement made July 28, 2010 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It was on that day we heard OSHA would be issuing a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction. This new rule is suppose to take effect on Nov. 8, 2010, but it seems that there are many unanswered questions about this new rule and people are asking for more time to review and understand the new rules before they are enforced.

A recent article posted by DJC Oregon states: “New Occupational Health and Safety Administration rules intended to improve safety for crane operations are set to go into effect Nov. 8, but some industry stakeholders say the rules are too complex to be implemented so soon.”

So what exactly is the issue? It appears that the new rules were presented in a 1,100-page report and although many seem to be pleased with the new ruling, 1,100 pages is a lot to read and take in. Concern has been expressed that there are things in the report that need clarification and are asking that OSHA extend the new ruling.

To read more about this please visit djcoregon.com

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On July 28, 2010 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it is issuing a new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction. This new rule will take effect on Nov. 8, 2010 and will replace the current standard that dates back to 1971.

“The rule addresses critically important provisions for crane operator certification, and crane inspection, set-up and disassembly,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. “Compliance with the rule will prevent needless worker injuries and death, and provide protection for the public and property owners.”

“The new rule is designed to prevent the leading causes of fatalities, including electrocution, crushed-by/struck-by hazards during assembly/disassembly, collapse and overturn.” To read the complete rule click here.

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Were you aware that violations classified as “willful” and “repeated” carry much higher penalties? It can cost employers up to $70,000 per violation. And did you know that these types of violations also carry greater consequences than occasional violations? Consequences such as civil liability and adverse press attention. Now those could really put a damper on things.

Well EHS Today recently published an article outlining these 5 steps that employers can take to help avoid falling victim to citations:

• DON’T ARGUE WITH THE STANDARDS
• KNOW YOUR OSHA HISTORY
• DON’T IGNORE EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS OR ACCIDENT REPORTS
• DON’T ARGUE WITH THE INSPECTOR
• CONSULT A KNOWLEDGEABLE LAWYER EARLY ON

To read the full story click here.

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Workers from a US Postal Distribution Center in Scarborough, Maine have been repeatedly exposed to severe electrical shocks including arc flashes and blasts. Fines totaling over $430,000 were issued on Monday June 28, 2010.

According to OSHA,

“The citations and sizable fines reflect the Postal Service’s failure to equip its workers with the necessary knowledge and skills to safely work with live electrical parts,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. “The Postal Service knew that proper and effective training was needed for the safety of its workers but did not provide it.”

OSHA’s investigation began in late December 2009 when an employee compliant came through. One of the reasons why the fines are so steep is because they are considered “willful”.  OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health. For more information on this story please visit http://osha.gov/

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