You may be taking a first look or a closer look at flame-resistant (FR) clothing for a simple reason: Legal regulations and voluntary industry safety standards encompassing personal protective equipment (PPE) are becoming more exact and pervasive. NFPA 70E, a national consensus standard that establishes safety guidelines for workers exposed to electrical hazards, is a [...]
The 2012 Edition of NFPA 70E has been published and there are a large number of changes. There are a few key changes related to arc flash protective apparel. The three most notable are: First the terms Arc Rated & AR have replaced Flame-Resistant & FR. This is an attempt to prevent the use of [...]
OSHA recently released the 2011 top cited safety hazards in the construction industry, and residential fall protection was number one. In this last year, OSHA’s revised residential standards have caused quite a stir in the home building and roofing market, having many contractors scrambling to comply. The lack of fall clearance is one of the [...]
It is widely understood that clothing made from non-flame resistant synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, nylon and polyester/cotton blends, are not appropriate when working on or near electrically energized parts and equipment. If these garments are exposed to an electric arc flash, they can ignite, melt and drip, which can lead to severe contact burns [...]
OSHA prohibits the use of nylons, acetates, polyesters alone or in blend with cotton, when work around thermal exposures could occur and cause these fibers to melt and stick to the skin. Therefore, many companies require electrical workers to wear natural fiber, or all cotton clothing, while working in these situations. Cotton also presents a [...]
OSHA really wants to get their point across that worker safety is a priority and contractors need to make sure they are constantly making it a priority. Back in December of 2011, OSHA proposed more that $127,000 in fines to contractors for violating workplace health and safety hazards. The contractors who do business with TheManStore [...]
While we are in the middle of winter, everyone must remember to stay warm when working outside. This comes down to making sure your body is constantly kept warm. You can make sure to keep warm by wearing insulated boots, winter-lined gloves or winter lined leather drivers gloves, protective winter liners for your head, and [...]
OSHA fall protection update and helpful equipment guidelines OSHA has announced a three-month “phase-in” of the residential construction fall protection standard update. Please note however: OSHA will continue to cite residential construction employers that are not, at a minimum, adhering to the alternative protective measures that were set forth in the old fall protection directive, [...]
