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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The investigative board from the US and Chemical Safety Hazard Board is certainly busy these days. The CSB’s resources had already been stretched to the max with other disaster investigations such as recent explosions at the Kleen Energy power plant in Middletown, CT, and the ConAgra Slim Jim facility in Garner, NC. Now the CSB is being asked to investigate the Gulf Disaster. This was a tough decision since they really do not have the capacity to take on another investigation. Considering the Gulf Disaster is one of the biggest chemical accidents of this century, CBS has decided to investigate. They are hoping the other two disaster investigations will be wrapped as soon as possible. Regarding the BP Oil Spill, they will closely examine technical factors, safety procedures, and the effectiveness of industry laws, regulations and standards.

For more information visit the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s Website. The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the agency’s board members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

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1. Wear seat belts – They help protect you not only from traveling at high rate of speeds to the site, but also in the equipment, protecting you inside from rollovers.

2. Avoid slips and falls – Proper housekeeping is the way to avoid these mishaps. Be sure to pick up any loose materials and put smaller equipment, such as shovels or tampers back in their storage areas.

3. Properly enter and exit machinery – This is a 3 step process:

1. Face the equipment and use the access system provided by the manufacturer
2. Make sure contact areas are clear, steps and handrails are secured and that landing areas are properly lit
3. Maintain 3 points of contact when mounting or dismounting – tow hands and one foot or one hand and two feet

4. Dress for protection – Proper footwear can prevent slipping and protect you from falling objects, shirt sleeves of a minimum of 4″ in length are recommend as well as gloves and long pants for extra coverage that can protect you from the sun, cuts and abrasions. Hard hats and safety glasses provide extra protection when you think you might not need it, error on the side of caution. As for hi-visibilty clothing, when working in a  high traffic area or in tight spaces, this may be appropriate to let other crew members as well as passers by know exactly where you are located.

5. Establish a safety procedure on your work site – Regular training and weekly safety updates make a good practice for a safer work site.

6. Make safe attachment changes – As these vary by the tool being used, it is imperative to understand each tool’s limit as far as weight capacity, warning label indicators and  lift restrictions.

7. Conduct walk-around inspections – Taking only a few minutes of your time, this can prove to be invaluable. Carefully inspect all machinery before operation (most machines come with a Operations and Maintenance Manual or OMM which should always be kept with the machine itself) and if something seems wrong or slightly off, don’t hesitate – shut it down. Be very diligent in looking for cuts, leaks, rubbings, cracks or signs of wear.

8. Keep machinery clean – Clean and clear steps, windows and controls allow for a safer use of the machine and can reduce the potential for accidents.

9. Make a commitment to operator training – Train new operators before setting them in place. “Practice makes perfect,” right? So practice it.

10. Secure loads properly – Once again, the OMM will provide you with proper lifting, transporting and load capacities. Do not over-exceed these limits as these are what the manufacture states the machine is capable of handling.

No matter what type of landscaping or construction you perform, Seton has the supplies to keep you safe and compliant.

Safety tips were provided by Greg Sitek, courtesy of Caterpillar Inc. Visit their site for more information.

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Over the past month or so we have talked about being ASME/ANSI compliant as far as pipe markers go. We’ve gone into detail about the compliance requirements of the ANSI A13.1-2007 pipe marking standard and the specifics regarding it.

We dived deeper into the pipe marking standard and have talked about the right color pipe markers you should have for what application. We discussed what size pipe marker you should have, depending on what size diameter pipe you need to mark.  We’ve even talked about the styles of pipe markers out there. Although styles are not regulated in the standard, it’s nice to know the options  you have, from self-adhesive markers, to snap-around pipe markers, to  markers that are  used in extreme conditions or for outdoor use.

To wrap-up the final part of the ANSI A13.1-2007 Scheme for Identification of Piping Systems, we’re going to explore the visibility requirement.  As you can see illustrated below, there  is a specific quantity of pipe markers you must buy. The standard suggests that the pipes shall be marked adjacent to all valves and flanges as well at both sides of the floor or wall penetrations. In addition, pipes shall be marked adjacent to changes in direction and every 25′ to 50′ intervals on straight runs.

ASME/ANSI A13.1-2007 Pipe Marker Placement

So there you have it. In 5 blogs we’ve explored all there is to know about the ASME/ANSI A13.1-2007 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems. The previous pipe marker topics we’ve explored have been:

Being Pipe Marker Compliant

Choosing the Right Color Pipe Marker

Choosing the Right Size Pipe Marker

Choosing the Right Type of Pipe Marker

No matter how big or small your project is, Seton has the ability to help you get the pipe marking job done right.

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In March of this year, The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed $136,000 in fines against a Massachusetts construction contractor for 19 alleged violations of workplace health and safety standards regarding asbestos-containing materials at a local hospital.

To read more about the asbestos related fines and penalties, see the full article here.

One of the most stringent regulations by OSHA regarding Asbestos is the proper labeling methods that should be used. OSHA 1910.1001(j)(4)(i) says that all labels should be affixed to all products and their containers that contain asbestos materials.  Specifically, pipes can be properly marked by using this pipe label.

Prevent personal injury, and properly label and dispose of asbestos materials. Have the right asbestos indication and protection items on hand for a safer work environment.

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Not many people know about the “Move Over” laws that are now enforced in 43 states nationwide. Up to 71% of Americans have never heard of these laws that are being strictly enforced and can cost hundreds of dollars in fines and other penalties.

Move Over laws call for drivers to change lanes or to slow down when passing emergency vehicles that are stopped on the roadside and have their lights flashing. This includes police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and tow trucks.

If drivers can’t “move over” by changing lanes, then they are required to slow down to at least 20 mph below the posted speed limit.

To date, 43 states have laws in place with stiff penalties of  up to $500, 90 days in jail, community service requirements and suspended licenses for up to three months.

States are beginning to post Move Over signs along with standard traffic signs in order to remind drivers to move over and drive safe.

Click here to see details of Move Over laws by state.

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The ASME (ANSI) Standard A13.1-2007 is a universal approach to pipe identification. It is designed to eliminate confusion of pipe contents. Recommendations in this standard include what size marker to use, what background and font color to use on your markers, and the proper placement of the pipe markers for best visibility.  But did you know that there are varieties of pipe markers available to suit your various application needs? We have detailed three styles below:

Self-Adhesive Markers – These vinyl pipe markers are so easy to install, just peel that back layer off and stick directly onto the pipe. These markers are suitable for indoor or outdoor pipes that are dry and clean.

Snap-Around Markers – These markers save you time on installation since you don’t have to clean the pipes before you “snap” them on. These pipe markers are ideal for dirty, oily, greasy and rough surfaced pipes, indoors or out.

High-Performance Markers – These markers are specially designed to withstand the harsh outdoor environments. These pipe markers resist abrasion, chemicals, high humidity and outdoor weather and are ideal for dirty, oily, greasy and rough surfaced pipes including stainless steel.

No matter what type of pipe marker best suits your needs, Seton offers all of the pipe marker styles listed above and others that easily allow you to comply with the ASME (ANSI) A13.1-2007 Standard.

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News Channel 8 reported on Wednesday March 17th that a tractor trailer at a truck stop in Branford Connecticut was leaking hazardous fluids. DEP officials discovered that the items in the truck had been inproperly packaged. ”State Police issued several infractions against the company because the driver was carrying chemicals that were not properly secured.”

Save money and time by making sure to consistentaly check that you are meeting all DOT compliances when transporting hazardous materials. Come up with a checklist to ensure that everyone is working together to remain compliant and avoid future fines.

As an example for a check list -

Are all HM shipments made on company cars or trucks performed per HMR Requerments? (i.e. shipping papers, placards, packaging, ect.?)

 Are all HM shipments offered to contract carriers performed per HMR requirements?

Are all HM shipments sent via UPS or Federal Express performed per HMR requirements?

 Are all HM shipments made via vessel performed per HMR or DG code requirements?

Has registration with CHEMTREC been completed?

Has a DOT security plan been developed?

Have employees that ship medical waste been trained?

Are all HM packages properly marked and labeled prior to shipment?

Verify that labels and placards are available in the Shipping area.

Do proper marks, including the proper shipping names and UN number appear on the packages?

Are labels displayed on the packages properly?

Spend the time to come up with a check list that meet your companies DOT needs and remember this will avoid future costly fines. Visit Seton for all your shipping and transportation needs and start being compliant today.

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The APWA (American Public Works Association) has developed and published a uniform color-code for temporarily marking underground utility lines. It encourages all contractors, surveyors and utility providers to use universally color-coded flags, paint, surface markers and underground tapes to promote worker safety, prevent service interruptions and reduce potential damage while working on or near any underground facilities.

The APWA Uniform Color Code uses the safety colors in the American National Standards Institute Standard Z53.1.

• Red – electric power lines, conduit systems and lighting cables
• Yellow – gas, oil, steam, petroleum, gaseous or dangerous materials
• Orange – communications, cable television, alarm or signal lines
• Blue – water, irrigation and slurry lines
• Green – sewer and drain lines
• White – route of proposed subsurface line or excavation
• Purple – reclaimed water
• Pink – temporary site survey markings

Seton offers a wide variety of color-coded underground marking products that meet the APWA color guidelines including Underground Warning Tapes and Marking Flags.

Click here for additional information on the APWA.

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February 2, 2010

Both climate regulatory and climate adaptation programs won cash infusions in President Obama’s budget proposal yesterday, despite a tough budget year that saw overall cuts at environment, natural resource and land management agencies.

Read the entire article Obama Budget Proposal Pushes Climate Regulations Forward – NYTimes.com.

For a comprehensive selection of Recycling signs, labels and other environmental products, please visit Seton.com.

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