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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No matter how damaged and dirty your property looks right now, you can make it look fresh and clean again with a few simple changes. Use the list below and you can quickly transform your property into a tidy and good-looking area that you’ll be proud to show off to your customers, clients or residents.

• Replace faded traffic and parking signs. Fresh signs not only look good, but they’ll also be easier to see, increasing driver and pedestrian safety. High-Intensity reflective signs are extra visible, especially at night. Plus, they meet Federal MUTCD regulations.
• Keep new signs looking great for longer. It takes time and money to replace signs. Not only for the price of the signs, but in time and labor to install them too. When ordering new signs, get them with a clear protective layer like SetonUltraTuff™. This outside layer keeps signs from fading in the sun and lets you wipe off graffiti without scrubbing. Plus, SetonUltraTuff™ coated signs carry a lifetime guarantee.
• Repair or replace bent or rusty sign posts. If buying new posts, upgrade to the flexible style that pops back into place if it gets hit.  This saves you the hassle of repeatedly replacing posts that get run over.

• Get rid of broken concrete parking curbs and speed bumps. Replace them with plastic or rubber versions. They won’t chip or fade, which means you won’t have to keep repainting them all the time.
• Repaint parking lot stripes. Nothing makes a parking lot look fresh faster than a new coat of parking lot striping. Hire a professional to stripe the lot for you, or buy a striping machine and striping paint and re-stripe it yourself.
• Make sure your parking lot is safe. Use barricade tape or orange cones to block off unsafe areas from vehicles or foot traffic. Set up crosswalk signs that tell drivers to take caution and to show people where it’s safe to walk.
• Protect landscaping. Bushes, grass and trees are expensive. After you’ve replaced any dead or severely damaged ones, be sure to protect them with security posts or bollards. They’ll keep unruly drivers from running them over and the snow plow from damaging them next winter.
• Keep smoking areas tidy. Hang “No Smoking“or “Smoking Allowed” signs in outdoor break areas or at entrances. Install bins or receptacles for people to safely and cleanly discard their cigarette butts.

• Discourage trespassers and vandals. Post signs to let vandals and other miscreants that you’re watching. This cuts down on graffiti, littering, dumping and other property damage.
  

  Take the tour to learn about upgrading your property

Seton offers a wide variety of signs, posts and pavement products to keep your property, clean

and attractive.  Learn more about how and where to use these products by taking the virtual parking lot tour at seton.com.

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No Smoking policy is a very serious subject.  Usually there is very little humor involved at all. When I came across a funny no smoking sign it was a bit refreshing. Anyone who follows policies and updates on smoking bans can relate to this! I love how the signs are meant to be funny but still show the seriousness of promoting and following no smoking policies.  Enjoy!

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Taken from the Unofficial DMV Guide™, here are just a few of the more bizarre traffic, parking and driving rules from around the country.

Alabama

Apparently ‘Bama is an acronym for Blunt All Motorist Adventures, for officials there have inexplicably made it illegal to drive while blindfolded.

Alaska

Contrary to public opinion roof racks are not specifically designed for skis, snowboards and cocker spaniels. Or at least not in Alaska, where authorities have found it necessary to declare it illegal to tether a dog to the roof of a car.

Arkansas

Think twice while in Arkansas if you harbor an unflagging passion for cold cut sandwiches and honking your car horn. Arkansas authorities have deemed it illegal to blare a car horn where ice cold beverages or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m.

California

No matter how luxuriously comfortable that divided highway may look, it is illegal in Eureka, California, to use a road as a bed.

Connecticut

No need to get your Lexus Sport Luxury Sedan painted blaze orange. Hunting from cars in Connecticut is illegal, even during deer season.

Georgia

Going on an intuitive hunch that teeter-totters and cars don’t mix, officials in Dublin, Georgia, have made it illegal to drive through playgrounds.

Kentucky

Make sure your canine does not harbor a weird fetish for tailgate lights or trailer hitches while in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. You’ll be fined if your pet molests a vehicle.

Maine

Be careful about Jonesing for a Bavarian Cream while in South Berwick, Maine. You’ll be ticketed if you park in front of Dunkin Donuts.

Maryland

Keep in mind while traveling through Rockville, Maryland, that the streets there are rated G. If you possess a PG-17 vocabulary, take the bypass. Swearing from a vehicle in Rockville is considered a misdemeanor.

Missouri

If you are a horn-honking hooligan you better be carrying your vehicle’s bill of sale if you have the nerve to toot your horn while in University City, Missouri. Officials there have wisely made it illegal to honk the horn of someone else’s car.

Nevada

To prevent any literal interpretation of Reno’s No Standing signs, authorities there have made it illegal to place a bench or chair in the middle of the road.

New Jersey

Arbor Day requires careful planning in Blairstown, New Jersey, for local officials there have made it illegal to plant trees in the middle of the street.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, it is illegal to drive through a cemetery if you’re not there to dig a grave or bury someone. So if you intend to visit the grave of a loved one bring really powerful binoculars.

Ohio

In Canton, Ohio, people wearing roller skates cannot share the streets with cars. And yes, this applies even during the “couples only” skate.

Oregon

In Oregon you need to be not only alert for state troopers with speed guns, but also with stop watches. For you can be ticketed if you leave your car door open longer than is deemed necessary.

South Carolina

There’s a good reason why automakers don’t manufacture models named the Dodge Dumpster or the Lexus Litterbin. For in Hilton Head, South Carolina, it is illegal to store trash in your vehicle due to rat problems.

West Virginia

Virginia may be for lovers, but West Virginia is for meat lovers. Officials in the Mountain State have deemed it perfectly legal for anyone to scavenge road kill.

If you have traffic and parking rules you need to enforce in your area, consider signs from Seton to convey your message.  Seton offers a wide variety of traffic and parking signs for roadside, driveways and parking lots.

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Kevin Lessin a former Merill Lynch broker is selling an antique Wall Street sign which dates from somewhere between the 1890s and 1920s. It’s blue and white porcelain with a wrought iron frame.

He bought the sign several years ago from an antique collector and until recently had it posted on eBay.  For now the street sign is on loan to the Museum of American Finance in Manhattan – but not for long.

On June 22, Christie’s will auction off the sign that once stood at the corner of Wall and Broad Streets. Christie’s estimates that the sign could sell between $60,000 and $80,000. But some serious Wall Street memorabilia collectors speculate that the bids could go as high as $125,000.

Wall Street got its name from the early Dutch settlers of New York who built walls during the 1600s to form the boundaries of their colony. By 1900 most of the country’s major financial corporations had their offices there. Today, the corner of Wall and Broad Streets is the symbol of commerce, financial trading and the American economy.

If you want to own the Wall Street sign go to Christies.com and place your bid.

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I’m sure you’ve seen those commercials on TV asking if you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma and if so to call now. So you’ve seen the commercials, but if you’re like me, the first time I heard of mesothelioma I wondered what the main culprit was. If you’re thinking asbestos, you’ve hit the nail on the head. So how exactly does asbestos contribute to this deadly disease? Well it is a material that can easily break into tiny fibers when disturbed. It then floats in the air and when inhaled can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Now here is an interesting statistic from www.asbestos.com, “approximately 80 percent of diagnosed [mesothelioma] cases can be directly linked to a job where asbestos was present.” So I’m sure you can imagine the importance of identifying this dangerous substance with the proper asbestos warning signs and labels.

When it comes to asbestos in the workplace one must consider the risk of exposure to workers and others. The use of a management system is a great way to identify, assess and properly manage any asbestos-related materials in the facility. It will also help to eliminate exposure to this harmful substance whenever possible.

Here are just a few of the steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of all exposed:

• Assess any work to be performed to be certain that materials containing asbestos won’t be affected
• Display warning signs or labels on materials containing asbestos
• Provide asbestos-related training to employees on the proper handling of asbestos-containing materials and it’s disposal

Remember to stay safe and to work safer.

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Spring and summer are the driving seasons for teens. With proms, graduations and vacation outings teens are on the road more than any other time of the year.  National Youth Traffic Safety Month is observed each May in an effort to educate, engage and empower teens and their parents to practice safe driving and to encourage their friends to do the same.

Safe Driving Tips for Teens

• Limit passengers: Too many people in the car can be distracting for new drivers.
• Know your car: It’s important to know ahead of time where your controls are and how they work. This includes headlights, wipers and turn signals. Fumbling for unfamiliar controls can cause accidents.
• No calls, no texts: If you absolutely have to call or text, safely pull over to the side of the road first or ask your passenger to do it for you.

Safe Driving Tips for Parents

• Know when they’re ready: Don’t force teens to drive if they’re uncomfortable with the idea. On the other hand, don’t let teens coerce you to let them drive if you think they’re not mature enough to handle the responsibility.
• Teens need practice: It’s important teens practice under your supervision as much as possible for you to give feedback. Practice all driving scenarios including crosswalk safety, school bus safety, railroad crossing safety and how to yield.
• Lead by example: Follow the rules of the road and teens are likely to do the same.  Stop at all stop signs, observe speed limit signs and adhere to all parking sign regulations.

To learn more about National Youth Traffic Safety Month visit NOYS.

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Watching the news the other day, I saw a story that’s causing quite a stir. Oklahoma lawmakers recently passed a bill that allows pregnant women to get a temporary handicapped parking sticker and to park in handicapped parking spaces.

Should pregnant women be considered disabled and be allowed to park in handicapped parking spaces? Taking an unofficial poll of my family members and friends I discovered strong arguments for both sides.

My friend, pregnant with twins, says that pregnancy is not a disability. But it can cause disabilities (even though temporary) like mobility and breathing problems. She welcomes a law that let’s pregnant women qualify for handicapped parking privileges.

My sister’s third trimester was tough. Her back hurt, her feet were swollen and she had trouble walking – but she didn’t consider herself disabled. In her opinion, people should make accommodations for pregnant women out of kindness, not law.

My concern is about the shortage and abuse of handicapped parking spots. Often there aren’t enough handicapped spots available. Combine that with the scoundrels who park in handicapped spots without a legitimate placard and it’s even worse. Add pregnant women to the list of people vying for one of these spots and it’s the disabled people who suffer.

I think I like the kindness option the best. Help a pregnant woman by offering her your seat on the bus or carry her bags for her. And if you’re a business owner, why not post some Expectant Mother Parking Signs in your lot in addition to the Handicapped Parking Signs mandated by ADA regulations?

What do you think? Should there be a law allowing pregnant women to park in handicapped spaces?

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May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.  The summer riding season is here and it’s time to remind car and truck drivers they’re sharing the road with motorcycles.  According to NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration), 5,290 motorcyclists were killed and 96,000 more were injured in 2008.  Drivers -  be on the lookout for motorcycles and take care when driving near them.

But Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is more than just warning drivers to be cautious of motorcycles. It’s also a time to promote motorcycle rider responsibility. Things like proper licensing, responsible riding habits and diligent motorcycle maintenance go a long way in increasing motorcycle rider safety.

Here are some top maintenance tips for motorcycle safety:

• Check tire pressure regularly. Under inflated tires can make lane changes or emergency maneuvers dangerous.
• Inspect tire tread wear. Tires with tread wear or flat spots make the bike harder to turn.
• Clean and lubricate chains. A broken chain can make a driver lose control of the bike while driving.
• Check belts. A broken belt can cause loss of power and loss of control of the bike.
• Inspect and replace brakes before they fail completely. Don’t wait until you have no braking power at all.
• Adjust shocks for rider and passengers. Not enough spring tension and the bike drags on the ground. Too much and the rear end skips and bounces, causing loss of control.
• Replace halogen headlights before they fail. Halogen light emitted from headlights decrease over time. Replace headlight bulbs every 1-2 years to get maximum light output and maximum visibility.

For additional information on motorcycle safety, visit NHTSA.

Seton offers Motorcycle Parking Signs to give motorcyclists a safe place to park in your parking lot.

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The 4^th annual KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® Day is scheduled for May 1st to launch National Youth Traffic Safety Month.

KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® is a citizen’s group that encourages all member of the community including neighbors, law enforcement officials, schools, businesses and civic organizations to help create safer streets for everyone – especially kids. 

You can visit KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25® to learn more about how to get your community to reduce speeds and save lives by posting yard signs and decals.

Here are some Fast Facts about speeding from KKAD25 and NHTSA:

• Speeding in residential neighborhoods represents the single greatest complaint to police departments and city councils throughout the U.S.
• Most speeders on your street live in right in the neighborhood.

• It is not unusual for speeders to be clocked in excess of 40 mph (and even 50 mph on occasion) in 25 mph zones.

• If you hit a pedestrian driving at just 20 mph, 5% will die. At 30 mph the death rate increases to 45% and at 40 mph it climbs even higher to 85%.

Seton offers products to help you reduce traffic to safe speeds in your community including Speed Limit Signs and Speed Bumps.

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