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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I think we all know the importance of posting warning messages, but when is it too much? I recently read an article posted by Forbes.com that read “Only a moron would try to wash her daughter in a washing machine; or shake hands with the business end of a chainsaw; or light a match to check the contents of a gas tank.” Although these warnings are geared toward consumer use products, what about warning messages in your facility? Some say you can never be too safe. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?

Seton is here to help you create the perfect safety sign for your needs with Custom Safety Signs. So whether you want to remind a person to save their eyes by wearing goggles while working or not to hold the wrong end of a chainsaw, we can help you do that. Visit Seton.com to Design Your Own sign online and make your work facility a little safer.

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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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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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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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I recently read a Worldprofit Article that stated “Not all us give much time to evaluate safety in the workplace. Many of us simply assume that all safety necessities are in place every time we go to work. Of course, it is too late when the time of emergency comes and we are at a loss at what to do or what to grab. This situation is ironic to the fact that we spend much time in our place of work and being safe at all times is necessary.”

By now I’m sure most everyone has heard of the latest massacre in Manchester, Connecticut at Hartford Distributors where a worker who was asked to either resign or be fired went on a killing spree as he was being escorted out of the building. When things like this occur I’m sure many people start to question the safety in their own workplace. It was the heroic actions of several people at Hartford Distributors that helped to keep the death toll lower than what it could have been, had they not done what they did. I now have this nagging question that keeps popping into my head, what sort of steps do you have in place in your facility should an emergency such as this occur?

Most places have a safety committee to help monitor workplace hazards and work to remedy them as they pop up. There is also usually some sort of committee dedicated to First Aid who is assigned to handle emergency situations and includes people who can administer CPR and/or work a defibrillator. But what sort of procedures do you have in place should a situation occur like at Hartford Distributors? It’s not something we like to think about happening in the workplace, but as we have all witnessed it can and does happen. What would you do and how would you react? I invite you to add a comment and share with us your thoughts.

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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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Smoking bans are legislated and enforced by state and local government. Since there is no universal federal law on no smoking, following the right protocol can become very confusing.  Smoking regulations vary state by state. Some states have comprehensive no-smoking laws already on the books, while some states are still catching up.  As of July 2010, 29 states and Washington D.C. have passed laws that prohibit smoking in almost all public places and workplaces which also include restaurants and bars.

Some states have specific no-smoking signs that are required by state law. Size, color, material and wording are not consistent from state to state.  Penalties, violations and tickets are common to enforce smoke-free bans.  Be confident you are complying with your specific state’s laws and don’t have to worry about fines.  Seton offers Smoke – Free Signs available for your state and come in several sizes and styles to meet the needs of your state’s regulations.

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