Channellock kicks off Ultimate Football Challenge
Hand tool manufacturer celebrates football season with tool
giveaway
With football season right around the corner, Channellock Inc., a global
leader in the design and manufacture of quality hand tools, is helping
kick off this American tradition with the “CHANNELLOCK Football
Challenge” sweepstakes.
The sweepstakes, running for 22
consecutive weeks, begins August 4, 2008 and ends January 4, 2009. With
a new contest every two weeks, football fans must re-enter every other
week to have 11 chances to play and win one of 11 CHANNELLOCK tool
rolls. The five-piece tool rolls include a 10-inch tongue-and-groove
plier, 6.5-inch tongue-and-groove plier, 7-inch diagonal cutting plier,
7-inch end cutter and an 8-inch long-nose plier with side cutter. To
enter the sweepstakes, visit
www.channellocksweepstakes.com.
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Industrial
Distributor Survey
Demand stable amid spiking prices — near-term outlook
remains uncertain
The June-July industrial distributor survey conducted by
Longbow Research is generally consistent with recent
economic data and commentary from industrial distributors in
the market that show an industrial economy muddling through
amid a continued spike in input costs, which distributors
are aggressively attempting to pass through to customers.
Demand was moderately positive, likely due to seasonal and
geographic factors within the sample, but remains at
depressed levels and below May levels; the outlook remains
cautious with near-term uncertainty given anecdotal evidence
of softening of demand over the summer.
Demand improved moderately in the
June-July timeframe; responses indicating higher year-over-year demand
rebounded modestly to 23% in June-July versus 16% in May, 34% in April,
and 50% in February–March. Contacts reporting flat demand moderated
somewhat to 39% from 45% in May and compares to 38% in April and 44% in
February-March. Those reporting declining sales were flat at 39% in
June, unchanged from May versus 28% in April and 6% in February-March.
Survey sample included about 12% of responses from the weak West region,
with the remainder coming from other regions that have shown stronger
results.
The outlook for 2008 continues to
fluctuate, suggesting continued caution as industrial distributors
muddle through current weak domestic markets; 48% of respondents (vs.
45% in May, 50% in April, and 65% in the February-March timeframe) are
looking for higher sales in 2H2008.
Overall, caution prevails weak
end-market demand in North America continues to create a challenging
environment for industrial companies as the economy enters the third
calendar quarter of 2008 awaiting signs of improved demand. Distributors
are reporting anecdotal evidence of broader and longer summer shut downs
in response to a soft domestic economy. A number of public industrial
distributors have also reflected a cautious tone in their outlook for
the coming quarter; both AIT and MSC have given cautious guidance
anticipating weak US industrial demand to continue for at least the next
three months.
Longbow Securities is a third-party
research provider established in 2003 and headquartered at 6000 Lombardo
Center, Suite 500, Independence, Ohio 44131. The company provides
research services to institutional investors, investment advisers, and
professional money managers. For more information, visit
www.longbowresearch.com.
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ASSE and ASTM team up to offer
slips, trips and fall prevention compendium for employers
To help employers reduce and ultimately eliminate slips,
trips and falls that continue to occur in workplaces, the
American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), recently announced
the availability of a compendium including slip, trip and
fall prevention standards and a technical report from their
catalogues.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), floors, walkways and ground surfaces were the source
of injury and illness for 18 percent of all days away from work cases in
2006.
Also in 2006, 770 workers died due to
falls, a five percent increase since 2005. Slip, trip and loss of
balance injuries without falls accounted for 35,440 non-fatal injuries
and falls on the same level accounted for 151,750 non-fatal injuries in
2006.
The compendium includes:
“Safety Requirements for Workplace Walking/Working Surfaces and Their
Access,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.1-2007);
“Standard for the Provision of Slip Resistance on Walking/Working
Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2006);
“Technical Report for Using Variable Angle Tribometers (VAT) for
Measurement of the Slip Resistance of Walkway Surfaces,” (ANSI/ASSE
TR-A1264.3-2007);
“Safety Requirements for Temporary Roof and Floor Holes, Wall Openings,
Stairways and Other Unprotected Edges in Construction and Demolition
Operations,” (ANSI/ASSE A10.18-2007);
“Standard Practices for Safe Walking Surfaces,” (ASTM F1637-07);
“Standard Guide for Composing Walkway Surface Evaluation and Incident
Report Forms for Slips, Stumbles, Trips and Falls,” (ASTM F1694-96,
R2004);
“Standard Guide for Ranking Footwear Bottom Materials on Contaminated
Walkway Surfaces According to Slip Resistance Test Results,” (ASTM
F1240-01);
“Standard Guide for Selection of Certain Walkway Surfaces When
Considering Footwear Traction,” (ASTM F802-83, R2003); as well as ANSI/ASSE
A1264.1-1955 (R2002), ANSI/ASSE A1264.2-2001 and ANSI A10.18-1996
standards as historic documents.
ASSE and ASTM note that the standards
included in the compendium are effective as standalone documents, their
intent is to provide employers with a comprehensive package addressing
the issue of slips, trips and falls in the workplace. For more
information on the compendium visit
http://www.asse.org/shoponline/products/stp408.php.
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Demand for life-saving fire protection engineers exceeds
supply as the need for more personnel rises
Each year in the United States more than 3,000 people die as
a result of fire. To combat its destructive force, fire
protections engineers use their own skills and the latest
technology.
"Fire protection engineers are in
high demand and short supply," said Chris Jelenewicz a fire protection
engineer with the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE). In a
recent survey by SFPE of the largest employers of fire protection
engineers, an overwhelming majority currently has difficulty recruiting
enough qualified engineers. "Those surveyed believe this imbalance in
demand will continue at least five years into the future," said
Jelenewicz.
These employers cover a wide range of
industries, including private consulting firms, large corporations, fire
departments, local building code officials, insurance firms, federal,
state and local government agencies and architectural and design firms.
Frequently, fire protection engineers assist architects, builders and
fire departments in the design and construction of new facilities.
What is a Fire Protection
Engineer?
According to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a fire protection
engineer uses science and engineering principles to protect people,
homes, workplaces, the economy and the environment from the devastating
effects of fires. Fire protection engineers analyze how buildings are
used, how fires start and grow, and how fires affect people and
property. They use the latest technologies to design systems to control
fires, alert people to danger, and provide means for escape.
Fire protection engineers also work
closely with other professionals, including engineers of other
disciplines, architects, state and local building officials, and local
fire departments to build fire safe communities.
For more information about a career
in fire protection engineering, go to SFPE’s career website at:
www.careersinfireprotectionengineering.com.
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Rockwell Automation
helps packaging machine builders meet October Risk
Assessment Compliance deadline
Rockwell Automation is helping packaging machine builders
comply with the ANSI/PMMI B155.1 standard, which will apply
to all packaging and related converting machinery shipped
after Oct. 25, 2008 (the end of the compliance window
defined by the B155.1 committee).
The requirements for packaging
machinery and packaging-related converting machinery introduced in 2006
include a risk-assessment standard (ANSI/PMMI B155.1-2006) to help
machine builders identify safeguarding requirements and define the
required control circuit architecture and safety performance level.
The standard is not a regulation,
however compliance with it can help machine builders take proactive
steps to reduce risks to an acceptable level over the life cycle of the
packaging machinery as well as document the risk assessment process.
Rockwell Automation safety
specialists will help machine builders comply by conducting a risk
assessment. This evaluation includes documentation and assistance to
help individual machine builders apply the appropriate level of safety
integration for their specific needs.
In addition to risk assessments,
Rockwell Automation also provides the following Safety Services to help
machine builders achieve their safety-related objectives at any step of
a safeguarding project.
Arc Flash Services:
Help reduce the risk of employee injury from electrical arc flash/blast
and the resulting release of dangerous levels of heat energy, fire,
molten materials, vaporized solids that can be inhaled, flying shrapnel,
and rapid expansion of air, all capable of causing severe and sometimes
fatal injuries. Arc Flash Services include:
* Electrical Power Systems Analysis
* Overcurrent Protective Device Coordination Analysis
* Arc Flash Safety Training
* Hazard Analysis and Mitigation
* Short Circuit Current Analysis
* One-line Diagrams
CE Mark Conformity Services:
Helps manufacturers meet all applicable CE marking directives before
sale in the European Union. This service spans 13 elements, including
issuance of a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) indicating conformity of
the referenced product to the listed provisions of application
directives and standards.
Safety System Validation
Services: Validating that a safety system performs to meet
design requirements helps avoid unexpected problems. This service
provides comprehensive tests and analysis to help provide proper system
installation and functionality by evaluating circuit performance, fault
tolerance, fault action, software logic, device application, device
function and reset actions for all modes of operation.
Safety Circuit Analysis:
This service verifies that safety circuit design meets applicable
standards. These standards may include EN-954 Category B,1,2,3 or 4,
ANSI B11.TR3 Control Reliable, Single Channel with monitoring, Single
Channel or others you specify. Services include drawing evaluation (and
redlining if not compliant for customer’s revision), re-evaluation of
corrected drawings, third-party evaluation and letter of conformity to
the defined safety circuit architecture.
Safety Systems Design and
Integration Services: Rockwell Automation will provide a
turn-key safety solution encompassing a wide selection of machine safety
components and services. These services include project management,
system architecture design, panel design, material procurement
(including third-party hardguarding products), assembly, software
development, hardware/software integration testing, factory acceptance
and startup assistance.
Hazard Assessment:
Identifies safeguarding deficiencies and recommends a machine guarding
solution compliant with current safety standards and designed to meet
production and maintenance needs.
Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
Assessment: Complete analysis of a system with recommendations
for training, marking/labeling, and hardware to improve the LOTO
process.
Machine Stop-Time Analysis:
These services include stop-time measurements and safe distance
calculations to assure compliancy of light curtain, two-hand control,
area scanners and safety mat installations. They will also help to
determine ergonomic and operational advantages of safeguarding options.
Safety Seminars
To help companies stay current on safety-related topics, Rockwell
Automation Training Services is holding one-day machine safety seminars
at locations across the United States. The seminars are designed for
those in both leadership and technical roles.
Michael Duta, a safety consultant
with more than 23 years of engineering experience, will conduct the
sessions. Duta has in-depth knowledge of applicable safety standards
(ANSI, OSHA, EN, IEC, ISO, NFPA), and is skilled in electrical and
mechanical integration with regard to machine safety – encompassing
safety relays to safety PLCs.
Seminar topics include “Components of
a Successful Machine Safety Program,” “OSHA Compliance,” “Standards +
Technology and Improving the Bottom Line,” “Safety Component
Applications Based on Machine Safety Standards,” “Safety Circuit
Design,” and “Risk Assessment Methodology.”
For more information, contact the
Rockwell Automation Response Center at 800-223-5354 ext. 2108 or visit
www.rockwellautomation.com/services/safety.
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KNAACK
launches Weather Guard 2008 “Tough Truck Driveaway” sweepstakes
For
the third year in a row, WEATHER GUARD will give away a 2008 Toyota
Tundra to one grand prize winner. Knaack’s new Weather Guard 2008 Tough
Truck Driveaway promotion will run through November 30, 2008. The truck
will be fitted with Weather Guard storage equipment and accessories
including an aluminum saddle box, aluminum lo-side boxes and an ATR
ladder rack with accessory side rails, all valued at $2,700.
Participants may enter the contest at
www.weatherguard.com/toughtruck.
“This year marks the third WEATHER
GUARD Toyota Tundra truck giveaway, and we anticipate record
participation,” said William Zbylut II, vice president of marketing,
Knaack LLC. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Toyota
with this exciting and successful promotion of WEATHER GUARD products.”
The grand prize winner will be
announced at the 2009 World of Concrete Show at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, Las Vegas, Nev., which will be held February 3 to 6, 2009.
For more information, contact
Knaack at 800-456-7865; Web site:
www.weatherguard.com.
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MAPI Quarterly Report:
Soaring prices for energy, elevated food and raw materials
costs stir global inflation concern
Startling jump in crude oil price a key issue for global
economic outlook in 2008; exports offer some help for U.S.
economy
A dramatic surge in energy prices together with elevated
food and raw materials costs have created a global inflation
concern, complicating the world outlook amidst continuing
worries surrounding the U.S. economy and financial
situation, according to a new report.
In the MAPI Quarterly Forecast of
U.S. Exports, Global Growth, and the Dollar: Third Quarter 2008 Through
Fourth Quarter 2009 (ER-657e), economist Cliff Waldman writes that
moderate export demand has buffered the U.S. economy from a growing
portfolio of risks and has been the primary reason that the much-feared
emergence of a significant recession has yet to occur.
“While U.S. data have been modestly
above expectations, the risk of an imminent downturn remains and the
U.S. financial system is still grappling with significant structural
issues,” Waldman said. “Over the near term, U.S. troubles will continue
to impact the growth outlook for key trading partners as well as the
stability of global financial markets.”
MAPI expects the growth of total U.S.
goods and services export demand to accelerate modestly from 8.1 percent
in 2007 to 8.3 percent in 2008. Following that, the lagged impact of a
continued dollar decline should combine with stronger industrialized
country growth during the second half of next year, and MAPI predicts
that total U.S. export growth will accelerate to 9.7 percent in 2009.
Gross domestic product (GDP) growth
in non-U.S. industrialized countries, which include Canada, the Eurozone
(plus Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Sweden), and Japan, will grow by
1.8 percent during the third and fourth quarters of 2008 before slowing
to 1.7 percent during the first half of 2009. Growth should
reaccelerate, albeit to a still modest 2.1 percent, during the second
half of 2009.
Weaker growth in India, the continued
expectation of an inevitable slowdown in China, and the risk to a number
of Asian economies from global price turmoil underpins the outlook for
developing countries. The report indicates developing country aggregate
GDP growth will slow from 5.2 percent during the third and fourth
quarters of 2008 to 5.1 percent during the first half of 2009. Further
weakness is likely in the second half of the year, with growth expected
to decelerate to 5 percent during the third quarter of 2009 and to 4.9
percent during the fourth quarter of 2009.
MAPI expects the dollar to continue
its depreciation against both the industrialized and developing country
currencies through the balance of 2008 and 2009.
Waldman forecasts that the dollar
will decline by 3 percent on a compound annual basis against the
currencies of industrialized trading partners during the third and
fourth quarters of 2008 and in the first quarter of 2009. The dollar
depreciation will slow to 2 percent during the second and third quarters
of 2009 before a flat performance during the fourth quarter of 2009.
Against the currencies of the
developing countries, MAPI forecasts a decline of 10 percent during the
third quarter of 2008 and then a moderation to a 7 percent decline
during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. MAPI
expects a further decline to 5 percent for the last three quarters of
2009.
“Persistent weakness and continued downside risks for the U.S. economy
likely mean that the dollar will continue on a path of depreciation well
into 2009,” Waldman added.
To request a copy of the complete
report, visit www.mapi.net.
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SME and EMCI establish unifying
industry standard for engineering management certification
New collaborative effort launches July 15, 2008
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) announced today
that it has signed an agreement to establish a partnership
with Engineering Management Certification International (EMCI),
a certification program that both facilitates and maintains
competence in engineering management among qualified
engineers, scientists and technologists. This new
collaboration continues the creation of unifying a standard
for this in-demand certification.
Effective July 15, SME will close its
Certified Engineering Manager certification and merge it with the EMCI
program. All previously SME-certified CEM's will become certified
through the Engineering Management Certification Fundamentals (EMCF) or
Engineering Management Certification Professional (EMCP) designation.
The EMCI program will also align SME
with other leading engineering and management associations, which
include founding partners ASME (American Society of Mechanical
Engineers), ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), ASEM (American
Society of Engineering Management), AIChE (American Institute of
Chemical Engineers) and AIME (The American Institute of Mining,
Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers).
SME's announcement comes after a
thorough comparison of its own CEM program and the EMCI program. Strong
synergies between the programs were identified, and SME determined that
by merging its program with EMCI it could provide its members and
customers with a more powerful, widely accepted credential that is
highly endorsed by other engineering societies. SME Executive Director
and General Manager, Mark C. Tomlinson said, "SME frequently
collaborates with other engineering societies to develop the most
beneficial results for members and customers. In that spirit, we are
pleased to announce this partnership."
Tomlinson also reassured those
currently holding the CEM credential, "that the merger of the CEM and
EMCI programs will provide a more perfect union of SME's strengths with
those of the founding organizations. Members will also find that the
EMCI program offers a more robust curriculum and therefore, a greater
body of knowledge."
To complement this announcement and
ease the transition between the certifications, all current CEM holders
will be notified by letter throughout July and August. Notifications
will also be posted online at both
www.sme.org,
www.asme.org and
www.engineeringcertification.org. For more information, please call
SME at 1-800-733-4763 or ASME at 1-212-591-8463.
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Stanley Vidmar achieves ISO
14001:2004 certification
Stanley Vidmar, a manufacturer of premium custom storage
solutions for use in a wide range of industries, has been
awarded ISO 14001:2004 certification by DNV (Det Norske
Veritas) Certification.
As outlined by ISO (International
Organization for Standardization), ISO 14001:2004 certification is
awarded to organizations that demonstrate conformity to ISO 14001:2004
standards by establishing, implementing, and maintaining ongoing
environmental management systems that address both environmental aspects
that these organizations can control and aspects that they can
effectively influence.
A process that began over three years
ago, Stanley Vidmar's procurement of ISO 14001:2004 certification began
with an internal analysis of each of the environmental aspects relating
to its production materials, manufacturing processes, and working
environment and their impact on the company's internal environment as
well as the areas surrounding Stanley Vidmar's production facility.
"As we began our certification
process, we started by taking a close look at each of our manufacturing
processes and determining what impact they had on our region as far as
air emissions, water discharges, and waste were concerned. We also
analyzed what danger these items posed in the case of a spill or leak,"
said Lou Heller, Stanley Vidmar's Environmental, Health, and Safety
Coordinator. "We then generated operating instructions to make sure that
all high-risk aspects and impacts were addressed with regular
inspections."
Heller continued, "As part of the
certification process, we were required to have at least two
environmental projects in process at all times. Examples included the
installation of energy-efficient lighting and heating units, which cuts
down on electricity usage, and the usage of natural gas."
In particular, Stanley Vidmar
initiated the following operational changes as part of its DNV
accreditation effort:
• In preparation for accreditation, all cabinet painting was switched to
a powder system, eliminating the use of high-solid paints. This switch
reduced more than forty tons of VOC (volatile organic compounds)
emission to zero.
• Lighting within the Stanley Vidmar facility continues to be replaced
with low-energy lighting, reducing emissions.
• Gas heaters within the Stanley Vidmar facility will continue to be
replaced and updated with more energy-efficient models in an effort to
reduce NOX gas emissions. Since 2003, Vidmar has reduced its NOX
emissions by 46%.
• Stanley Vidmar abides by a strict ongoing waste management program and
recycles all skids, cardboards, and paper products.
• Stanley Vidmar worked with the Pennsylvania Environmental Department
to secure a permit verifying that Vidmar maintains clean parking lots
and grounds and that no waste is permitted to leak into the Little
Lehigh Parkway (a high-quality watershed located next to the Vidmar
facility).
• A new roof was installed on the Stanley Vidmar facility that features
1-1/2 inches of insulated material, a move which will save 1000 MCF of
gas per year.
Beyond the actions listed above and
Stanley Vidmar's strict adherence to a long list of environmental
guidelines, a big part of the company's ISO 14001:2004 certification
effort was the establishment of an internal culture that reflected the
company's ongoing commitment to environmentally sound work practices. As
part of this cultural shift, Vidmar established a "Green Card" program
that involved each employee receiving a wallet-sized card that reminded
them of Vidmar's ISO 14001:2004 effort and the ways in which they could
contribute to Vidmar's environmental mission.
"The 'Green Cards' were a great way
for our ISO 14001:2004 certification effort to personally touch each of
our employees and give them a daily reminder of what each of them could
do, on an individual basis, to contribute to that effort," said Jim
Cannon, Stanley Vidmar's President and General Manager. "The Stanley
Vidmar 'Green Card' reminds all of us to take advantage of every
opportunity to reduce waste, reuse materials, and recycle, the
cornerstone of our ISO 14001:2004 commitment. It also reminds us that
this truly is a group effort, and one that we will continue to improve
on as we look toward the future."
Stanley Vidmar offers storage
solutions to all industries, with modular space-saving systems that
provide quick, safe access to parts, tools, and supplies. Customers can
arrange for a free analysis of their storage needs by calling
800-523-9462. Detailed information about Stanley Vidmar products is
available online at
www.stanleyvidmar.com.
About DNV Certification
A leading international certification body, DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
Certification is an independent foundation specializing in the provision
of services designed to safeguard life, property, and the environment.
DNV's professional auditor network spans more than 100 countries. More
information is available at
www.dnvcert.com.
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FREE screwdrivers for
industry professionals!
PB Swiss Tools Screwdriver Challenge sponsored by Count
On Tools, Inc.
Some
may call it crazy, but no, it’s not a joke. We want to do
something that has never been done before in the history of
tools! People are always looking for the best deal around,
but only PB Swiss Tools has the right price for you…FREE!
That’s right; we are giving away free PB Swiss Tools
screwdrivers to any industry professional willing to put our
brand to the test against their current brand(s).
We are looking for every mechanic,
technician, maintenance, repair, engineer…everyone needing high quality,
industrial strength screwdrivers to take part in our challenge. All it
takes is going online and signing up. If you qualify, we will send you a
PB Swiss Tools screwdriver, free of charge, for you to use at your job.
We want you to put this thing to the test…WHATEVER it takes!!! After 2-3
weeks, we will send you a short feedback survey for you to fill out and
return to us. The screwdriver is yours to keep! Supplies are limited so
sign up fast to ensure that you will receive your FREE PB Swiss Tools
screwdriver.
Take the PB Swiss Tools Screwdriver
Challenge and find out! Visit
www.pbvsyours.com
to sign up and get qualified for your FREE screwdriver.
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Hagemeyer launches 2008 marine products catalog
New catalog offers marine products from world class suppliers
CHARLESTON, SC; July 1, 2008 –
Hagemeyer introduces its 2008 Marine Products catalog. This full-color,
448-page catalog features industrial, electrical, and safety products
from Hagemeyer’s supplier partners for the Marine market.
“We carefully selected a
comprehensive assortment of products that will meet the needs of our
Marine customers,” says Will Lutz, Vice President. “In addition, we have
made a considerable investment in inventory to ensure these products are
available, allowing our customer to focus on his or her business, not on
finding products.”
The user-friendly catalog is
Hagemeyer’s first catalog designed specifically to support Marine and
Composites customers. Product categories include: Fiberglass Working
Products; Shop Supplies and Equipment; Paint Supplies & Paint;
Abrasives; Adhesives, Cleaning, Chemicals & Lubricants; Power, Cutting,
and Hand Tools; Electrical Products; Safety; Facility Care; and Material
Handling & Storage. As another value-added component of this commitment,
Hagemeyer offers services like vendor-managed inventory, on-site
inventory management, and other inventory management solutions.
The free catalog is available from
Hagemeyer Account Representatives or through Hagemeyer locations. It can
also be ordered electronically at
www.hagemeyerna.com
by clicking “Resources” and then “Catalog Order Form.”
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ASSE offers clean-up tips for flood-related mold
Mold grows easily in flood-related conditions, which include
standing water, humid air and wet surfaces according to
American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) members. The
longer these conditions remain, as in the current flooding
in the Midwest, the more the mold growth can spread. To
address this, ASSE offers the following tips to consider on
how to clean-up mold and minimize its adverse effects.
Individual circumstances are often unique so there is no
one-size fits solution.
“For businesses, addressing mold and
moisture after a flood disaster should be the first step to reduce the
risk to others who may need to work in an affected building,” said ASSE
Regional Vice President and Assistant Director of School Plant Services,
Environmental & Energy Management for the Virginia Beach City Public
Schools, James H. Morris, III.
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) recommends that ‘surfaces wet longer than 48 hours with
“clean water” should be considered as potentially contaminated, and any
surfaces in contact with “dirty water” should be considered
contaminated.’ ASSE members recommend that people consult their state
and local experts for more guidance regarding state and local laws and
regulations addressing mold.
In addition, to lessen the chances of
a mold colony growing in a store/business, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) recommends that 1) the humidity level be kept below 50
percent; 2) an air conditioner or dehumidifier be used during humid
months (depending on the climate); 3) adequate ventilation, including
exhaust fans, in the kitchen and bathrooms, be used; 4) to add mold
inhibitors to paints before applying them; 5) bathrooms be cleaned with
mold-killing products; and, 6) not to put carpeting in bathrooms,
basements, or other areas where moisture or water could be a concern.
Mold, ASSE members note, is a group
of microscopic fungi, which also includes mildew and other organisms
that rot materials on which they grow. Molds can often be invisible to
the eye. A blotch of black, gray, white, red, orange, yellow, blue or
violet fuzzy or slimy growth is usually the result of widespread mold
growth. Besides infection and allergic reactions, excessive mold growth
indoors can result in offensive, musty odors from the gases released by
certain molds as they grow and die.
Morris added, “All mold cleanup
operations individuals should wear proper personal protection equipment,
which includes gloves, goggles and a respirator. However, the type of
respirator varies on the size of the mold-affected area.”
ASSE offers the following tips for
cleaning a facility/building area affected by mold:
1. Avoid direct contact with affected mold areas as
much as possible.
2. If it can be thrown away, throw it away.
Replacements may be less expensive in the long term (and short term)
than attempting to decontaminate some surfaces.
3. If it cannot be disposed of, decontaminate and
then dry as thoroughly as possible. Moisture removal is a key factor to
preventing future growth.
4.Wallboard can often be cut to the point of
contamination replaced with new sections.
5. Clean all tools after use, or dispose if possible,
and also clean tools after each shift.
6. When in doubt about the structural integrity of a
facility, obtain an evaluation by a licensed and qualified builder or
structural engineer before entering. Medical clearance may also be
necessary based upon the severity of mold in the area.
7. Individuals involved in mold remediation should be
aware that attempts to mix chemicals to clean surfaces can cause further
damage, such as the toxic gases that can be released when ammonia and
bleach are mixed. Workers need to exercise caution, so as not to create
additional hazards. The power supply (circuit breakers) should be turned
off in the specific damaged areas/ high levels of moisture to avoid
electrical shock hazards.
For ASSE’s position statement on
mold in the indoor working environment
click here.
For more information and resources
on mold safety and remediation visit EPA’s
Mold Resources webpage or download the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Mold Fact Sheet.
To obtain a draft of the ASSE/ANSI
Z690, “Guidelines for Mold and Fungi Control and Remediation for Worker
Protection in Indoor Work Environments,” contact ASSE Customer Service
at 847-699-2929,
customerservice@asse.org or
click here.
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New Lean catalog provides the
latest in visual workplace labeling
New literature from Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC) assists
lean manufacturers in creating a visual workplace, where
critical setup, operating and inspection information is
posted right at the point of use.
The brochure shows how the use of
visual devices can serve to simplify training, detect abnormalities at a
glance, and reinforce adherence to best practices.
Also included is a photo gallery
which shows a variety of practical visual ideas for use in 5S, Total
Productive Maintenance, Standard Work, and other lean concepts.
In addition, the brochure presents
Brady’s complete line of visual workplace solutions, including portable
and benchtop printers that enable users to create durable,
professional-grade signs, labels, tags on-site and on-demand.
For a PDF of the Visual Workplace
brochure or for additional information on Brady’s visual workplace
solutions, visit
www.bradyid.com/visualworkplace.
To order the a printed version of
the brochure, call 1-888-250-3089 and ask for literature number Y875266.
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Kimberly-Clark Professional
establishes hurricane preparedness portal on Web site
Information and resources are designed to ensure worker
safety during response, cleanup and remediation efforts
With the 2008 hurricane season now
underway, Kimberly-Clark Professional has begun providing a wealth of
useful information and resources on its web site to help protect workers
involved in hurricane response, cleanup and remediation efforts. The
information can be found at
www.kc-safety.com/hurricanerelief.
This year, experts at the National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ClimatePredictionCenter have
projected a 90 percent chance of a near-normal or above-normal hurricane
season.
Since hurricane awareness and
preparedness are two ways to help reduce the effects of a hurricane,
Kimberly-Clark Professional has included the following information on
its web site:
• Recommended guidelines on how to prepare for a
hurricane, from the NationalHurricaneCenter.
• Details on the kinds of protective equipment needed
by workers in hurricane flood response situations, from the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC).
• Hurricane tracking information via the
NationalHurricaneCenter web site.
• Ways to protect hurricane relief workers from
biological hazards as well as other hazards associated with severe
weather cleanup and eco- remediation efforts, such as mold and
infectious diseases.
• Information on hand protection for cleanup and
remediation work.
• Suggestions on how to maintain personal hygiene in
a severe weather situation.
• Cleaning task product recommendations.
“In severe weather situations, being
prepared is crucial for the personal safety of workers involved in
response and remediation efforts,” said Randy Kates, General Manager for
the Kimberly-Clark Professional Safety Business. “The materials on our
web site provide a full range of information on what to do to prepare
for a hurricane, where to turn for up-to-date information on a storm’s
progress, and information on the safety apparel, cleaning tools and
personal hygiene products needed in the event of a hurricane or other
natural disaster.”
For more information about the
Kimberly-Clark Professional Safety Business and its KleenGuard Brand
products, visit
www.kc-safety.com or call 1-800-255-6401.
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