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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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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Do you have an effective storage system? Have you ever planned out a storage system that you know is effective in storage and picking of inventory items? It is a simple step that can really help ensure better productivity within your warehouse or plant.

Start out by evaluating the types of products that will be stored. Look at the items size and weight and than determine if that item belongs in a bin, drawer or on a shelf. You can divide products into groups of small, medium and large. You can than evaluate their weight from light to heavy. This exercise will further help to evaluate the best place to store an item.

Make sure that workers who pick and stock items follow certain guidelines that will help them work more effectively,

- Items that are lighter should be stored above because they are easier to lift down

- Items that are small and normal weight should be stored by the waist line so they are easily visible and won’t cause strain while lifting

- Heavy-duty, heavier items should be stored below the waist line so they can be lifted by using the legs and other muscles so that strain is not caused

- Also keep into consideration the depth of bins, workers should be able to easily see small items if they are in shallow bins

All these simple steps will aid in making your workplace storage run more effectively.

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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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Want your anti-fatigue purchasing research to be quick and simple? Seton is here with some helpful information. First, remember why you need to purchase the anti-fatigue mat. Anti-Fatigue Mats are designed to reduce stress, joint and leg fatigue. Benefits include increasing traction against slipping, improving productivity and overall increase morale for your employees.  There are four main categories to consider when researching for anti-fatigue mats:

• Size-Make sure workers will have enough surface for their workspace. Find out their normal pattern of movement throughout the day to ensure they will be standing on the mat as much as possible.
• Surface- Consider how much wear and tear the mat will get everyday and over time.  Will equipment, machinery, forklifts, and employees constantly be on and off? If so, check out the extra durable surface mats.
• Thickness-Typically, the thicker the mat the more comfort it provides. You must take into account the base and plate though. Example-A 1/2″ thick mat with a deck plate surface has less of a sponge base than a 1/2″ thick mat without a special surface.
• Application-All types of anti-fatigue mats resist moisture and most chemicals, but is that all they will be expose to? Example-Water is a common element that is forgotten. Only those mats formulated to be constantly in wet areas should be bought if that is the case.

Remember, anti-fatigue mats are only one category.  Seton offers an extensive line of mats and carpets designed to host a variety of different needs.  Other types of matting include Entrance and Office Mats, Specialty Mats, Safety Messaging Mats, Foam Mats and more!

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