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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Reminding employees to wear safety glasses is not the only requirement employers should have. Remember to also protect your investment and remind employees to frequently clean their eye wear. Invest in quality cleaning tissues that are tough enough to get the grime and grit off but are also gentle enough not to leave scratches or abrasive marks. Also make sure to have dispensers that are well sealed to keep the dirt out. These simple steps will help ensure the longevity of your facilities safety eye wear.

Lens cleaning comes in all shapes, sizes and formulas. When choosing a formula or a station for your workplace, consider the following:

Formulas

• Silicone is ideal for enhanced anti-fogging and anti-static protection
• Non-Silicone is used for work conditions that require product purity and or prohibit the use of silicone (for example spray painting)

Stations/Dispensers

• Permanent dispensers are designed for heavy dirt and high-traffic areas where maintenance is available
• Disposable dispensers are ideal for dirty areas where maintenance is minimal or not available

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May is tomorrow and that means Summer is knocking on the door. With warmer, nicer weather, it only means more construction workers will be spending more of their time outdoors. The costs associated for preparing for sun and heat exposure is far less than those expenses paid for injuries or illness, even absences that occur due to the heat.

According to Construction Business Owner Magazine:

“The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) has no specific regulations addressing employer responsibility for heat- and sun-related hazards.  However, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) rule does state that employers must provide both protective equipment and employee training to workers if they work under certain conditions.  Sunlight and heat-common enemies in the construction industry-are included in these environmental hazards. at least one OSHA Standard Interpretation of PPE specifically requires employers to protect their employees from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.”

Working outdoors is not completely unavoidable, but there are a few steps you can take to minimize exposure and risk:

• Schedule shifts to maximize the hours worked before or after the peak sun times of the day

• Provide and require employees to wear PPE; UV-resistant sunglasses and hats with wide brims are recommended and a good start
• Educate your employees on prevention and early detection of heat exhaustion, dehydration and skin cancer

To  read more of this article and to better educate yourself on the summer risks, check out the full article here.

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Lens Cleaning comes in all shapes, sizes and formulas. When choosing a formula or a cleaning station that is right for your workplace, consider the following:

Formulas

• Silicone based solutions are ideal for enhanced anti-fogging and anti-static protection.
• Non-silicone based solutions typically are for work conditions that require product purity and/or prohibit the use of silicone, such as spray painting.

Stations

• Permanent stations are designed for heavy dirt and high-traffic areas where maintenance is available.
• Disposable stations are ideal for dirty area where maintenance is minimal or not available.

Check out seton.com/eyewear to meet all your cleaning needs.

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What is eye protection?
Eye protection includes a wide range of safety equipment from eyeglass and goggles, to faceshields used in welding applications. This equipment protects the wearer from flying particles, dust, liquid chemcicals and glare while on the job.

Can any type of protection be used?
No, it must be chosen depending on the types of hazards a worker will be in contact with. All eye protection isn’t created equal (impact, heat, chemical resistance, glare resistance or a combination of) and therefore specific protection will be required to keep one safe on the job. All safety eyewear used must be certified.

Where does PPE Certification come from?
The certification to look for when choosing eyewear protection is labeled “ANSI”. This is from the American National Standards Institute which ensures that all standards for a particular product are met and adhered to for the protection of the consumer.

Does one need training prior to to using eye protection?
Yes! An employer must provide training to all employees who come in contact with harmful substances where eye protection will be required. This training should occur at least once per year and be comprehensive in how to prevent injuries on the job. This should include: uses of, maintenance and storage, inspection of, proper fit and any protection limitations of the product.

Who should host these trainings?
One who is qualified and trained as an administrator within a company or organization. Work site procedures must be enforced and should include selection of the eyewear protection, fit tests, use of and care of the equipment as well as what to do in an emergency situation.

What if an employee already wears glasses?
Eyewear protection comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes, therefore allowing an employee to have additional eye protection available to wear over their prescribed glasses. 

Can an employee just use a faceshield as eyewear protection?
No. A faceshield won’t provide adequate protection from impact hazards and therefore should be used in conjunction with safety glasses or goggles.

To view Seton’s full line of eyewear protection, visit us at seton.com/Safety Eyewear

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Keeping your eyes safe and protected on the job is important.  Typically, one may think of the basic, clear wrap-around glasses, but did you know that safety eyewear comes in a variety of shapes, styles, colors and sizes too.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), an estimated 2,000 workers suffer eye injuries on the job every day. How can you protect yourself? First be aware of the work area, second adhere to safety standards put in place and lastly, make sure you have the right type of eye protection. Accidents occur in all industries, with about half of the workers with reported injuries are employed in a manufacturing setting (BLS.gov). To help keep you safe on the job, make sure you wear the proper protection and look for the ANSI Z87.1 certification on all eyewear protection you choose. 

Safety Glasses: Designed to keep eyes protected from flying debris while on the job. Many of the top manufacturers have created an array of styles to meet everyone workers needs. Jackson Safety, Uvex, Crews, Harley-Davidson and Smith & Wesson are just a few of the brand names to choose from and each offers a wide selection of frame and lens colors too.

Safety Goggles: Are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates, infectious fluids, or chemicals from striking the eyes. Safety googles can easily fit over hard hats and eyeglasses, making them ideal for many work situations and most lenses are also fog-resistant which helps extend the viewing range when wearing goggles.

Cleaning Stations: Easy to use, easy to install and helps to remind employees to frequently clean their safety eyewear. Choose from different cleaning formula types, as well as, the types of station to fit your overall needs. Stations come in either permanent or disposable dispenser.

Eyewear Accessories: Don’t forget about all the fantastic accessories available for safety eyewear. Choose from spectacle sideshields to add some extra protection to glasses, or choose the eyewear hanging cords or cases that provide convenience and help extend the life of the eyewear.

To view Seton’s full assortment of safety eyewear and accessories, click here.

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Seton introduces a new way to view and purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  

Interactive Catalog

The online  Interactive Catalog is 32-pages of Personal Protective Equipment, broken down into simple categories for easy shopping.

Sections include:

Safety Eyewear - Safety Glasses, Goggles, Cleaning Solutions and Accessories

Hearing Protection - Earplugs, Banded Hearing Protectors, Earmuffs and Noise Blocking Earmuffs

Head Gear - Hard Hats, Helmets, Face Shields, Visors and more.

Harnesses & Lanyards - Shock Absorbing Equipment and Fall Protection Kits

Gloves – Nitrile, Latex Dipped, Welding and others

Respirators and much more!

Peruse the catalog, find the products you’d like to order and click on the style number. You’ll be redirected to the specific product page where you can place your order quickly and easily.

Thanks for shopping Seton.com!

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Shop seton.com  for the largest and most comprehensive selection of safety, labeling and signage products and get 20% off orders of $199 or more. 

Choose from a wide assortment of labels, decals, asset tags, pipe markers,  OSHA signage and much more.

Just enter Service No. ES0188 in the service number field during checkout on seton.com.

But hurry, offer expires February 6, 2010.

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BRANFORD, CT, January 12, 2010 – Seton, the leading provider of safety, labeling and signage solutions, today announced the launch of a new line of OSHA-approved Personal Protective Equipment, more commonly known as PPE.

According to Rebecca Gounaris, Seton Product Manager, “Seton’s extensive line of new PPE showcases a wide variety of industry-leading brands. We are excited to add this new line of equipment to our already substantial offering of safety solutions.”

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states that employers are required to “purchase and use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce employee exposure to hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels.”

PPE is designed to protect employees from serious workplace injuries or illness resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical or other workplace hazards. In addition to commonly known PPE, such as safety glasses and hard hats , Seton will offer its customers a wide variety of new safety equipment and clothing, including an array of  faceshields, goggles, coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, respirators and much more.

Included in Seton’s new PPE line are many top brands, including 3M™, Moldex®, EAR, Harley Davidson®, Smith & Wesson®, Peltor™, Sperian, Bullard®, MSA and Dupont™.

“As a result of this product line addition, our customers will now have the opportunity to protect their workers from head to toe with our comprehensive line of PPE,” said Gounaris.

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