Arbill's - Safer Every Day ® Issue Volume 2, Issue 8

’s

volume 2, issue 8, summer ’18

THE HEAT STRESS ISSUE

WELCOME TO DEHYDRATION

Quenching Thirst and Staying Safe

pg 6

REDUCE WORKPLACE INJURIES WITH PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS

pg 26

BEYOND WATER, REST AND SHADE

An Athletic Approach to Heat Stress

pg 40

COMFORT WITHOUT SACRIFICING SAFETY

Finding FR Safety Apparel That Also Prevents Heat Stress

pg 15

PLUS

Product Reviews Safety by the Numbers Ask the Expert & Much More!

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CONTENT

A R B I L L’ S S A F E R E V E RY D AY M A G A Z I N E | S U M M E R 2 0 1 8

Arbill’s Safer Every Day volume 2 , issue 8 summer 2018

PUBLISHER

Julie Copeland

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Robyn Zlotkin

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF David Gerhardt

ART DIRECTOR Julie Lazarus

ADVERTISING DESIGN Bill Gabriele

14

CUT PROTECTION

06 Welcome to Dehydration Quenching thirst and staying safe.

14 Ask the Expert 15 Comfort Without Sacrificing Safety Finding fire resistant (FR) safety apparel that also prevents heat stress.

22 Prevention is the Key to Readiness

The Prevention of Heat-Related Injuries Equals a More Capable and Ready Force

48 Walking the Walk Summertime tips for complying with the final OSHA walking-working surfaces rules 54 Heat Sress Steaming With Compliance 60 Product Reviews New and innovative products to keep your workers safe 66 Manufacturing Employment Is Growing

26 Reduce Workplace Injuries With Predictive Analytics

NAM provides manufacturing job market insight

34 Hot Times, Cool Hands Selecting the best gloves to prevent heat stress.

70 Safety by the Numbers Think you know safety? Put your knowledge to the test

40 Beyond Water, Rest and Shade An athletic approach to heat stress.

04 Letter from Arbill’s CEO

Safer Every Day is published four times a year by Arbill Industries, Inc. At Arbill, we envision a future in which every worker makes it home safely, every day. Working together, we WILL reduce injuries in the workplace.

Arbill knows that maintaining a diverse and talented network of suppliers makes good business sense as they bring innovation, flexibility and enhanced opportunities for our business and theirs.

Moreover, as a women owned company, Arbill understands the challenges of, and staunchly supports, diverse companies. For more information on becoming a member of Arbill’s diverse supplier network, contact Bill Gabrielle at bgabriele@arbill.com.

GET IN TOUCH We welcome your content suggestions, feedback and Letters To The Publisher. To submit your comments and suggestions, click here.

ADVERTISE If you would like to reach more than 35,000 professionals who are interested in safety, safety products, safety training and safety programs, contact Bill Gabrielle (215) 501-8208.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 3

Letter from Arbill’s CEO

HELLO!

JULIE COPEL AND Twitter: @arbill

W

ELCOME BACK TO Safer Every Day. As the summer months heat up, more and more employers are seeing the need to protect their employees from heat stress.

To meet this need, this issue will include in-depth guides to hydration and avoiding heat stress injuries, as well as selecting gloves and apparel that can keep your employees cool this summer. And by popular demand, we are continuing our military safety and “Ask the Expert” columns.

While you’re reading, you can also learn more about safety topics with our “Safety by the Numbers” quiz, check out our product reviews and learn more about SafetyCare, our comprehensive approach to workplace safety.

As we grow this magazine, we want to hear from you regarding topics and content that are of interest to you. To share your thoughts, or if you’d like to pose a question for our “Ask The Expert” column, click here to access our suggestions page.

Safer Every Day is designed to be an essential resource as you develop your company’s safety culture. I look forward to your input and hope that you find the knowledge in this issue serves the safety needs of your business.

Have a safe day!

Regards, Julie Copeland CEO, Arbill

3 THINGS YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS ISSUE

1

Beyond Water, Rest and Shade An athletic approach to heat stress.

4 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

2

Walking the Walk Summertime tips for complying with the final OSHA walking-working surfaces rules.

3

Ask the Expert How do I maintain heat stress compliance?

6 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

VERYONE KNOWS STAYING HYDRATED IS IMPORTANT. But not everyone

really understands what’s in store for them if they let dehydration take over.

Fluids are essential for regulating body temperature, lubricating joints and eyes, facilitating proper digestion, and removing toxins from the body. It shouldn›t come as a surprise, then, that effects of dehydration are a lot worse than just feeling a bit parched.

In this article, we’ll clear things up by going over what dehydration does to your body.

And we’ll end with some practical tips for staying hydrated throughout the workday.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 7

HYDRATION BASICS Dehydration happens when your body uses or loses more fluid than it takes in. When it happens, your body starts running on empty and can’t carry out its normal functions. Lost fluids must be replaced to avoid an imbalance of salts and sugar in the body, which can affect performance.

The average adult has about 2.6 million sweat glands, which activate when the brain determines that the body must be cooled down.

This takes a real toll on those whose jobs involve physical labor. Estimates suggest that workers who wear heavy protective clothing can lose as much as 2.25 liters of fluid every hour. To replace it, NIOSH and the Centers for Disease Control recommend that a moderately active worker drink one cup every 15 minutes, whether they feel thirsty or not.

HOW YOU BECOME DEHYDRATED There are a handful of key factors that contribute to dehydration: • Environment • Physical activity • Health conditions • Diet Strenuous work in the sun, heat, and humidity causes you to sweat and quickly depletes your body’s fluids. But that doesn’t mean you’re safe in the winter: the same thing can happen in extreme cold.

8 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

Dehydration can also be a constant risk for people who work indoors. Many factory, restaurant kitchen, and laundry service workers spend their days in hot environments.

Your hydration level is also affected by: • Frequent urination (due to altitude or illness) • Quicker breathing, which uses up more body fluids • Vomiting and diarrhea • Alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION Okay, so you’re sweating it out throughout your workday, but you go hours without taking a drink. What happens next?

The obvious symptoms are thirst and excessive sweating, but the subtler signs of mild to moderate dehydration include: • Dry, sticky mouth • Tiredness • Dry skin • Headache • Constipation • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Less frequent urination • Dark yellow urine (pale yellow indicates proper hydration levels) • Muscle cramps If you suspect that dehydration is starting to set in, there’s a simple way to check: the pinch test. Dehydration affects skin turgor (its ability to change shape and return to normal). With your thumb and index finger, pinch the skin on the back of your hand and hold it for a few seconds. If it doesn’t bounce back right away

and takes time to return to its normal position, you’re likely dehydrated and need to replenish your fluids.

If not addressed, this will progress into severe dehydration, the symptoms of which include: • Irritability and confusion • Sunken eyes • Low blood pressure • Rapid heartbeat • Rapid breathing • Fever • Little to no urination • Delirium or unconsciousness (in serious cases)

THE REALITIES OF DEHYDRATION Dehydration is no joke. It can lead to serious complications and can be fatal if not treated.

Here are some of the frightening consequences that can come from not providing your body with the fluids it needs.

HEAT INJURY OR ILLNESS Heat injury or illness can take hold if you don’t drink enough while you’re active and perspiring heavily. Injuries and illnesses range from mild heat cramps to heat exhaustion and life-threatening heatstroke.

DECREASED COGNITIVE & MOTOR SKILLS Dehydration reduces concentration and reaction time, resulting in decreased cognitive and motor skills. Studies show that it only takes 2

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 9

percent dehydration to cause impaired performance in tasks that require attention, motor, and memory skills.

This kind of impaired performance is risky for anybody, but it poses a particularly severe risk to workers who operate or work near heavy machin10 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

ery. A 2015 study out of Loughborough University found that participants committed a significantly higher number of driving errors when they were dehydrated. Shockingly, their performance was just as poor as that of people who complete similar tests while at the legal blood alcohol content limit.

SEIZURE AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS Electrolytes like potassium and sodium help transmit electrical signals between cells. If they’re unbalanced as a result of dehydration, these messages can become mixed up and lead to seizures and, occasionally, loss of consciousness.

HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK One of the most serious and life-threatening complications arising from dehydration is hypovolemic shock, or low blood volume shock. It happens when you lose more than 20 percent of your blood or fluid supply, which prevents the heart from pumping enough blood to keep the body running. It can lead to organ failure and requires immediate emergency medical attention.

URINARY AND KIDNEY PROBLEMS Urinary and kidney issues can arise after repeated or prolonged periods of dehydration.

Common issues include urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and kidney failure.

TIPS TO STAY SAFE The easiest way to prevent dehydration is to ensure you are consistently taking in fluids throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty.

While the recommended daily intake varies depending on age, climate, and physical activity level, workers should aim to drink about one cup of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replace what is being lost.

Here are some other helpful tips to help you maintain good hydration: • Avoid caffeine and sugary drinks. These are diuretics and will increase urine output, which can cause greater dehydration.

• Come prepared for the conditions. If you›re anticipating high temperatures, humidity, heavy PPE, and difficult work, come prepared with plenty of hydrating fluids.

• Wear breathable, light-colored clothing. This allows sweat to evaporate and keep your body temperature low. If your clothes become saturated with sweat, change into dry ones as soon as possible.

• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are great sources of electrolytes and fluids. Opt for fruits with high water content, Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 11

like melon, pear, pineapple, and grapefruit. Bananas are high in potassium and are perfect for quickly refueling.

• Monitor your urine. If you’re properly hydrated, you should have clear to light yellow urine. Dark urine indicates dehydration and you should increase your fluid intake immediately.

If you or a co-worker exhibits signs of dehydration, call for medical assistance immediately and move to a cool place.

with ongoing training and visual reminders, like posters.

• Keep fluids accessible and available. Making drinks easily accessible encourages employees to stay on top of hydration.

• Offer employee incentives. Reusable water bottles or hydration packs may encourage employees to keep fluids with them at all times and remind them to drink regularly.

• Choose the right PPE. Ensure all protective gear is breathable to allow sweat to evaporate and help workers remain cool.

• Use the buddy system. In addition to a manager looking out for employees, they can keep an eye on each other.

• Have an emergency plan. A plan makes it simple and efficient to get first aid or medical treatment for affected workers. Ensure everyone knows his or her role to avoid confusion in an emergency situation.

The best way to ensure you’re functioning at your best is to get to know your body – and listen to it. Pay attention to signs that you may be getting dehydrated and make sure you’re taking in fluids at regular intervals throughout the day.

Your health and well-being truly depend on it.

HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR EMPLOYEES Employers must provide and maintain a safe working environment for all employees. And that includes taking steps to prevent dehydration.

Moreover, numerous studies show that hydration levels have a strong effect on workplace productivity. A one percent drop in hydration is enough to cause a 12 percent drop in productivity. At three to four percent dehydration, productivity plunges by an astounding 25-50 percent.

With that in mind, here are some tips employers can follow to promote proper hydration in the workplace.

Whether you’re a weekday worker or weekend • Provide hydration eduwarrior, from the oil field to the soccer field, Sqwincher has the perfect solution to handle the cation. Teach workers to toughest hydration needs. Our unique product forrecognize the signs and mulations are the result of research and development that symptoms of dehydration goes well beyond quenching thirst to deliver rehydration for the and how to combat it. toughest of work conditions. If you’re interested in ordering Sqwincher Reinforce the message products, contact your Arbill representative or visit our website.

12 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

ASK THE EXPERT How Do I Maintain Heat Stress Compliance

A new of Safe feature rE our “As very Day is column k the Expert ” . feature Each column w a ill frequ safety q uestion ently asked , and o safety e ne o xperts will pro f our an ans vide wer. I submit f you’d like to a que contac stion, t us.

As an employer, what are the regulations and my responsibilities regarding heat-related injuries and illness?

It’s that time of year again, the time of year when temperatures rise, workloads rise and frustration and patience with employees gets tested. A tremendous risk for workers in certain industries and environments this time of year is heat-related illness from heat stress. These risks can be anything from an annoyance to life-threatening, so it’s up to employers to ensure that their employees are protected.

Unfortunately, there is not a specific OSHA regulation for Heat Stress. Instead, like Ergonomics, it falls under the general duty clause. This is because it’s extremely difficult to create a standard regulation that covers all the risks and protective measures.

For some employees, it can be as simple as drinking enough fluids, while others may require cooling devices, administrative controls like work/ rest schedules or shift rotations. Also, because not all heat stress risks apply to every employer and not every employee is susceptible, it’s just too open-ended to regulate. However, it is an extreme risk for some and you MUST take steps to protect employees from these risks.

So what are the risk factors? Primarily ambient temperature and humidity, which indicate the heat index around the employees’ work area. As the temperature and humidity rise in an area, the heat 14 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

index may indicate that the air is so saturated with moisture, that your body cannot evaporate sweat fast enough to cool you down, trapping the heat in your body. For employees, high heat with a very low humidity level (lower heat index) means your body can cool itself (evaporate sweat) easier, so it doesn’t feel as hot.

So how does this affect employees? In some working environments, like outdoor construction, steam industries, paper mills, boiler rooms, furnaces and the steel industry, employees are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. These high humidity and high-temperature industries put employees at risk and protective measures MUST be taken.

So what are heat-related illness risks? Well first we need to understand that even though there are varying symptoms that can occur, not every employee will react the same way. Some employees are more susceptible to heat-related illness than others.

This can be from risk factors such as age, gender, health risks such as being overweight, heart conditions, previous heat-related illnesses, medication levels or hydration. So what are the various heat-related illnesses?

• Sweating – Your body cooling through evaporation • Erythema – Reddening or flushness of the skin

• Heat Rash –Pores become irritated from lack of

evaporation and salt collecting in pores

• Heat Cramps – Electrolyte imbalance in mus-

cles from lack of hydration. Muscles begin to cramp.

• Heat Exhaustion – Elevated normothermic body temperature from lack of hydration and proper cooling. Body temperatures can be 100-103 degrees with profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness, headache, confusion and even unconsciousness.

• Heat Stroke –The body cannot cool itself, is dehydrated and core body temperature has risen to 105+. Sweating has stopped (or could still be profuse) and the body shuts down. This is a serious medical emergency, call 911 immediately!

So how do we prevent heat-related illnesses and protect employees? By determining at risk areas and employees and then putting in to place control measures to ensure employees are protected.

Some of these control measures can be very simple, cheap fixes that do not cost companies a lot of resources.

Some methods can include: • Developing a Heat Stress Program • Train employees on the risks of heat-related illnesses, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention methods for heat-related illnesses.

• Communication of the risks and preventative methods. This can be from heat stress flyers, safety briefing before work shift or by placing urine charts in restrooms that inform employees of their proper hydration levels.

• Developing “Heat Stress Stations” in safe, clean

areas allowing employees to properly hydrate as needed throughout the day.

• Allowing new employees acclimation time for environments, allowing their bodies to slowly adapt to the heat.

• Engineering controls such as cooling stations, misting fans, air circulation and cooling devices such as ice vests or vortex systems.

• Administrative controls such as training, information, work/rest schedules, shift and job rotations.

• Monitoring employees through heat stress monitoring high-risk employees. This is done through taking pre-work vitals (temperature, pulse and maybe even weight) and questionnaires to see if employees are at risk, and then taking post-work vitals during breaks. This lets you compare current vitals with pre-work vitals to see if employees are being affected by heat-related illnesses.

• Monitor the heat index through heat index risk apps, weather station apps, weather monitoring stations or even appointing employees to be Heat Stress Monitors.

There are many aspects to heat-related risks and protective measures in work environments. Because of this, the best thing to do is to first conduct a Heat Stress Audit and then develop a proper Heat Stress Protection program based on that audit.

Many EHS Compliance firms and regulatory agencies can assist. OSHA and NIOSH both have a tremendous amount of information on their website for Heat Stress. It may not be a specific regulatory requirement, but it is a requirement to protect your employees, and heat stress is a deadly risk!

CHRIS FULMER, Certified Environmental, Safety and Health Trainer (CET) through NESHTA and The Board of Safety Professionals, and Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP) with IHMM. Mr. Fulmer has over 25 years of experience in hazardous materials emergency response, hazardous waste remediation, EHS consulting and Project Management. Mr. Fulmer has been a safety and hazardous materials instructor for over 20 years in private industry and governmental agencies and spent 10 years as a Project Manager and Domestic Preparedness Specialist with FEMA and Department of Homeland Security training their Terrorism Response Protection, Detection and Decontamination to the nation’s First Responders and First Receivers. He has over 15 years’ experience as Safety Manager and EHS Consultant, and is now serving as an Arbill EHS Specialist.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 15

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COMFORT WITHOUT SACRIFICING SAFETY FINDING FR SAFETY APPAREL THAT ALSO PREVENTS HEAT STRESS

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HERE’S MORE TO FR (FLAME-RESISTANT) CLOTHING THAN protecting against burns. Reducing the risk of injury is an important aspect of FR clothing, but there’s another factor just as vital, ensuring it’s worn properly.

Any protection is useless if not used correctly. Seat belts only save lives if they’re used before an accident occurs. In the same way, FR clothing needs to be worn to benefit from its flame-resistant properties. But during the summer can you be sure workers are wearing FR clothing properly?

If clothing feels comfortable when worn, people are more likely to wear it the way it was designed. On the other hand, if workers feel that they will overheat while wearing the FR safety apparel, they’re less likely to wear it.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 17

LIGHTWEIGHT

Heavy clothing can contribute to worker fatigue, leading to mistakes and lost productivity. Conversely, lightweight apparel can lead to optimal job performance of workers.

Carrying a tissue box uses very little energy compared to carrying a bowling ball. To a smaller degree, wearing a t-shirt requires less energy than wearing a winter coat.

This might not feel significant for a short amount of time, but after 8 hours of work, it is substantial. Workers are more likely wear something lightweight rather than something that weighs them down.

People tend to associate thickness with security. This is usually true if there’s only one material. A 1” thick oak door is easier to knock down than a 3” thick oak door. If using different materials, the idea is often inconsistent. For example, a 1” thick steel door is more secure than a 3” thick oak door. Another attribute associated with strength is weight.

This isn’t always true when comparing different materials. Carbon Fiber is crafted for the purpose of changing the “rule” that higher performance means heavier weight.

Carbon fibers (like OPF) are used in many industries, with new uses being discovered every year. It’s popular for being lightweight without sacrificing protection.

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Breathable Fabrics

It’s easy to call something comfortable, but what does that mean? Personal preference plays a big part in comfort, but there are some general truths. There are five main characteristics that clothing needs to be considered comfortable.

BREATHABILITY

CLEANING OUT A CLOSED GARAGE DURING THE SUMMER CAN BE unbearable. The heat has nowhere to go and the air is stagnant.

Wearing clothing that isn’t breathable can have the same effect.

The excess heat can affect worker performance and contribute to heat-related illness. Breathable clothing feels better and can help increase production.

Everything about breathing suggests comfort. Taking deep breaths relieves stress and helps with concentration. Breathable clothing helps fight heat stress. Losing concentration is one of the many symptoms of heat stress. When hot air is trapped inside a garment, it impairs the body’s natural ability to keep cool. This can

MOISTURE-WICKING

lead to heat stress. According to Department of Health and Human Services (NIOSH) Publication No. 2010–114, “protective clothing … may increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.” Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps.

Some symptoms of these heat-related illnesses are confusion, dizziness, nausea and muscle cramps. These symptoms, and more, can affect worker efficiency. And worst of all, heat stress can result in permanent disability and death.

A survey reported by EHS Today indicated “uncomfortable” as the main reason for not being compliant with PPE. 40% of the survey-takers selected this reason. The breathability of apparel has a positive effect on comfort. This means wearing breathable clothing can lead to increased safety compliance.

MAKING IT FIT

A SURVEY BY EHS TODAY EXPLAINED THAT “UNCOMFORTABLE” WAS the main reason for not being compliant with PPE. But another

Working up a sweat at work is sometimes unavoidable.

Physical activity or high heat environments will cause most people to perspire. The trick with perspiration is figuring out how to control the after-effects. Wearing sweaty clothing is not very comfortable.

Wet, sticky clothing restricts movement and slows down some activities. Perspiration is reabsorbed into the skin if it stays for too long. This can cause irritation and rash. Luckily, moisture-wicking fabric can combat these consequences.

Perspiring is the body’s natural cooling process. Moisture-wicking clothing helps the cooling process.

The combined effect pulls moisture from the skin and to the fabric. Then, the moisture releases into the air. For example, materials like carbon fiber can dry 2-3 times faster than cotton, keeping the wearer and clothing dry. As moisture is released, it takes heat along with it, creating a natural cooling effect. This works with the body to assist in maintaining a healthy body temperature and reduces the chance of heat stress.

This is like breathability, except it relates to excess moisture, instead of stagnant air. Keeping workers dry keeps them more comfortable, but this goes beyond perspiration.

The evaporative process helps regulate body temperature, making it more comfortable.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 19

reason offered also had to do with comfort. “Poor fitting” was the third most common response.

Clothing needs to fit a worker no matter what movement they are performing. The size should be big enough that it doesn’t restrict movement. At the same time, the size shouldn’t be so loose-fitting that it gets in the way. Finding the perfect fit for all workers is sometimes difficult. It’s important to know who will be wearing the garment since male and female body builds are typically different. The good news is that women can now have work clothes that are designed with them in mind.

DUAL HAZARD PROTECTION

IDEALLY HAVING MATERIALS THAT PREVENT HEAT STRESS SHOULDN’T mean that workers aren’t protected from both Arc Flash and Flash Fire hazards. That’s why it’s a good idea to select materials that offer dual protections dual protection which can protect the safety of workers in many environments. If arc flash and flash fire hazards are both present, there’s no need to switch apparel when switching tasks. If only one of the hazards is prevalent, the added protection is still reassuring. Selecting materials that are inherently flame-resistant means the protection is built into the fibers, so it won’t wear out or wash out if you follow laundry instructions.

One material that meets these needs is TECGEN SELECT® from NSA. It combines FR properties and comfort, resulting in protection and usability. What makes this combination possible is the use of a specialized fiber called OPF. OPF (Oxidized Polyacrylonitrile Fibers) is a precursor to Carbon Fiber. Carbon Fiber is a building material known for being lightweight, yet very strong. The special OPF fiber that goes into TECGEN SELECT® features an oxidized carbon shell which provides exceptional thermal protection and strength. Beneath the durable shell is a visco-elastic core. This provides flexibility and a soft hand. The end result is a flame-resistant fabric that is both protective and comfortable.

National Safety Apparel’s vision is to provide innovative and high-quality safety apparel to our customers to get them home safely, day after day. Our house of brands has grown to include personal protective equipment (PPE) for flash fire and arc flash, cut protection, hi-vis work and foul weather gear, and our evolving, foundational thermal protection.

If you’d like to learn more about NSA’s FR resistant apparel and other products, contact your Arbill representative today or visit our website.

20 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

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Prevention is the Key to Readiness The Prevention of Heat-Related Injuries Equals a More Capable and Ready Force

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heat-related “illnesses” was higher among females than males, but their cases of heat stroke incidences was 44% lower than males.

Heat related casualties remain a significant readiness issue, resulting in two to three heat related fatalities per year and accounting for over 1000 of the 2000 total armed forces hospitalizations a year, according to the U.S Army Public Health Center.

While the heat awareness training for our servicemembers has significantly increased, deployment to environments at higher risk for heat injury has also increased the chances of another servicemember becoming a casualty. The services have made great strides in combating the effects of heat on our troops by fielding new clothing and equipment, increased research and development in sensor technology, and continuing to emphasize planning and training for high risk heat environments. Yet, heat remains a constant unseen enemy that requires monitoring, conditioning, and a rapid response to prevent injury or death to our servicemembers.

uring the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Monmouth, NJ in 1778, heat stoke was said to have claimed more lives than musket fire, and the effects of DEHYDRATION AND HEAT EFFECTS WILL heat even caused the death of George Washington’s horse. During that battle, DEGRADE PERFORMANCE. temperatures were over 100 degrees Losing 4% of body weight from dehydration is estimatand soldier’s wives brought water to the battlefield ed to degrade physical performance by 50%, and this which gave rise to the legend of Molly Pitcher.

4% body weight loss is possible in less than 2 hours.

As the focus of military operations shifts back to Every 1% loss of body weight increases core tema more expeditionary and mobile combat force and perature and raises the risks of heat injuries. There away from the large Forward Operating Base (FOB) are 3 types of heat injuries; model, readily available pallets of water near the batHEAT CRAMPS tlefield becomes less likely. This poses a greater risk of heat related injuries The symptoms include muscle cramps, pain, or spasms in the abdomen, arms and requires more focus from our leaders in the ranks. or legs. Treatment includes: According to the Armed Forces 1. Stop all activity and sit in a cool place Health Surveillance Branch report in 2. Drink clear juice or a sports beverHOURS July 2017, the number of cases of heat age, or drink water with food Losing 4% of body weight stroke in 2016 of active duty service 3. Avoid strenuous work for a few from dehydration is estimated members was 401, down 4.1% from hours after the cramps subside to degrade physical perfor2015 (418 cases). However, the num4. Seek medical attention if you have mance by 50%, and this 4% ber of cases of heat exhaustion and heart problems, are on a low-sodium body weight loss is possible in “unspecified effects of heat” was up diet, or if the cramps do not subside 6.7%. Interestingly, the incidence of within one hour. less than 2 hours

2

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HEAT EXHAUSTION The symptoms include paleness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, weakness and muscle cramps. Treatment for this should include: 1. Moving into the shade 2. Loosening of the uniform or clothes 3. Drinking approx. 2 quarts of water over an hour period.

If, however, after 30 minutes the condition seems to worsen, medical attention should be sought.

HEAT STROKE The most severe type of heat injury. The symptoms include excessive sweating, convulsions and chills, confusion or lack of coherent thoughts, vomiting, or unconsciousness.

This is a life-threatening condition and rapid cooling and immediate evacuation is required. Treatment while waiting for emergency evacuation should include: 1. Rapid cooling 2. Removing clothing 3. Placing cold soaked towels or sheets on the body

4.Fanning of the body to reduce core temperature HYPONATREMIA Also known as water intoxication, hyponatremia is another less common type of heat injury. Hyponatremia occurs when the concentration of sodium in your blood is abnormally low and may occur due to underlying condition or from drinking too much water.

Symptoms include: 1. Changes to mental status 2. Repeated vomiting 3. A history of large volumes of water consumption 5. Distended or bloated abdomen 6. Very clear urine.

This requires immediate medical attention and it’s important to not give more water or an IV while waiting for medical care, but to provide some salty food or snacks instead.

TESTING THE TEMPERATURE Combating the effects of heat on our troops starts Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 23

2000

with knowing the Web Bulb index.

The Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine at Natick, Developed in 1956 by the United States Marine Corps at Parris Island to MA is looking at non-invasive monireduce heat stress injuries in recruits, toring devices that can track physioHeat-related fatalities the services use the Wet Bulb Globe logical heath during operations and account for over 1000 Temperature (WBGT) to estimate the training. For example, the Estimated effects of temperature, humidity, wind Core Temperature, or ECTemp, algoof the 2000 total speed, and sunlight. Unlike a standard rithm, developed by Dr. Mark Buller armed forces air temperature reading, the WGBT at the Institute provides accurate hospitalizations a year is determined with special equipment estimates of core body temperature and calculated to reflect components by analyzing heart rate changes over of air, humidity, and wind that affect ‘actual temperatime. The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, ture’ experienced by personnel. In fact, heat injuries has indicated that the algorithm has proven to be successful in real-world scenarios. The 350th can occur in cold weather as well, which is why it’s Training Squadron has been working with Dr. critical to keep all these factors in mind when deterCraig Murdock, one of the lead researchers from mining WBGT.

AFRL and indicated that “Using the ECTemp has helped them identify and mitigate over 30 cases Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Categories of heat stress and prevented more serious heat CATEGORY WBGT, °F WBGT, °C stress casualty situations.”

1 < 82 < 27.8 Other organizations including the Defense 2 82-84.9 27.8-29.3 Threat Reduction Agency are also looking into 3 85-87.9 29.4-31.0 biometric sensors that can provide real time 4 88-89.9 31.1-32.1 information to leaders monitoring the health 5 => 90 => 32.2 of servicemembers through wearable devices and embedded sensors. Heat injuries are Ø Add 5°F for rucksack or body armor preventable by knowing and assessing the Ø Add 10°F if in MOPP 4 risk, planning activities around peak heat peri ods, ensuring baseline physical fitness for Knowing the Web Bulb index allows troops to: the tasks to be performed, and by continuous 1. Acclimate to the environment monitoring of our servicemembers. Preven2. Improve or maintain physica conditioning or fitness tion of heat related injuries is a key to readi3. Eat a proper diet ness, and readiness is our number one goal!

4. Maintain continuous hydration 5. Monitoring exertion levels.

This allows troops to maintain exertion levels while planning adequate periods of rest, espeBG, MICHAEL BOBECK (RETIRED) cially during period of high heat Served almost 38 years both on active duty in the Army indexes. and full time in the Army National Guard in Aviation and Safety positions. Key assignments included Chief of Knowing one’s individual’s level Aviation and Safety for the Army National Guard and of heat stress is becoming more State Army Aviation and Safety Officer for the NY Army important which is why continued National Guard. Active duty tours included the Army and Joint Staff, research and new technology is 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, beginning to provide that awareand 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He currently works as a Governness to individuals and their leaders. ment Specialist with Arbill.

24 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

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REDUCE WORKPLACE INJURIES WITH

PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS // B Y D A V I D G E R H A R D T

WHAT IS PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS? While the notion of predictive analytics may seem like a topic for a dissertation of an MIT grad student, the reality is that predictive analytics is already a part of your life – you just don’t notice it.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 27

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TODAY, Netflix determines what movies/shows you are likely

to enjoy, eHarmony selects your ideal life mate, Healthcare organizations identify patients at risk of developing various diseases and credit card companies determine your propensity to file for bankruptcy. Predictive analytics is here and it is about to get more pervasive.

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO RISK MANAGEMENT?

HINDSIGHT IS A WONDERFUL THING BUT FORESIGHT IS BETTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SAVING LIVES, OR SOME PAIN. –

william blake

28 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

Well, as your company’s Safety or EH&S Director, what if you had a system to “predict” the future? And what if that system alerted you to those employees who are at an elevated risk of injury. What would you do with this information? Would you intervene or alert others to take steps to prevent these injuries from occurring? Of course you would.

The problem is you can’t predict the future. However, with the right analytic tools, you can greatly increase the likelihood of accurately anticipating what will happen.

At Safer Every Day, we reviewed a number of services that claim to use predictive analytics to reduce workplace injuries. However, upon closer examination, most fall short of their claims. But one system stands out, Vantage Predictive Analytics (a service of Arbill).

Vantage combines sophisticated analytics with an intuitive user interface that provides users with sim-

ple-to-use, immediately actionable, insights, BEFORE an injury occurs.

Before delving into Vantage, let’s take a couple of steps back and describe what predictive analytics is.

Predictive analytics is the branch of advanced analytics used to make predictions about unknown future events. Predictive analytics uses many techniques including data mining, statistical modeling, machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyze current and historical data as part of its calculations to provide in-

sights into what might happen.

Predictive Analytic systems model reality and determine patterns found in data that can be used to identify risks or future opportunities. As it relates to workplace safety, when these models are properly constructed, a composite score can be derived that is an indicator of the level of risk for injury for each employee.

The power of predictive analytics is that it allows organizations to gain deeper insights earlier on and this in turn allows them to take a

IT IS A MANAGER’S PRINCIPAL TASK TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A WORK ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS EMPLOYEES SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE. –

hein onkenhout , senior consultant, vantage predictive analytics

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WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS WORKPLACE SAFETY SYSTEM? DOES THE SYSTEM LOOK AT OBJECTIVE OR SUBJECTIVE DATA?

There are plenty of systems that provide electronic recordings of inspection data and other observations. The quality of this type of data is hard to ensure because it relies on an inspector’s observation making it inherently subjective. A system that looks at objective data, can provide deeper insights. This type of data includes historical injury statistics, HR and other system data and environmental data from sensors and other inputs.

Vantage Predictive Analytics is an example of a system that uses a combination of objective leading indicators, taken from a variety of disparate sources, to create a unified picture of the risk of injury at the employee level. Moreover, by removing the subjectivity of observations, all employees and departments are measured against the same standard. This in turn makes the results more accurate across the entire organization.

CAN THE SYSTEM TRACK MULTIPLE INDICATORS? Indicators, also known as tracking factors, are those attributes that an analytics system monitors. Some systems can track only one indicator or may focus on just a handful of indicators.

This does not provide the full picture as there can be multiple 30 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

leading indicators that provide insight into potential injury risks.

These indicators include historical and current employee data, behavioral factors, along with environmental information such as heat, gas, noise, etc. A system that can track multiple indicators has the advantage. Vantage, for example, can simultaneously track up to 12 indicators.

IS THE SYSTEM EASY TO USE THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION?

Being able to identify potential risks of injury is powerful, but it is useless if the system is difficult to use or navigate. The system should provide an intuitive interface that allows you to drill down to a specific location, office, or employee. It should use an easy-to-understand set of pointers or signals that identify where there is increased risk for injury throughout your organization.

Vantage, for example, uses an organizational chart as the navigational tool, combined with contextual clues provided by colors and risk scores. Vantage makes it easy for users to identify the hot spots within the company and where interventions are needed.

CAN THE SYSTEM BE TAILORED TO YOUR BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY? To truly assess risk in your organization you need a system that can be customized to your

industry, and also to the specific risks that lead to injuries within your company. Different industries may weigh risks or indicators differently depending on the type of work, hazards that are present, or the environment in which work is performed. In short, you do not want something that is “one size fits all.”

Instead, like Vantage, you need a system that can be customized to meet the intricacies of your company.

CAN THE SYSTEM DETECT RISK DOWN TO THE EMPLOYEE LEVEL?

Many systems provide an overall view or may be able to highlight elevated risk at the location level. While this information is helpful it does not contain sufficient detail. Being able to drill down to the employee level, as Vantage does, and identify potential at-risk employees enables you to intervene before an incident happens.

DOES THE SYSTEM COME WITH EXTENSIVE SUPPORT, TRAINING AND GUIDANCE?

Implementing a predictive analytics system is a great first step in preventing injuries within your organization. But to create a holistic strategy you need to do more. The team you work with should not just have the technology expertise to effectively implement the system.

They should also be able to

proactive approach rather than a reactive one.

provide industry expertise, human capital know-how and senior management experience.

They should help you develop and customize the solution to your needs while also providing intervention and training insights for when risk arises. It is not enough to just identify risk, you need to know how to intervene and have a plan to help those employees who may be at higher risk for injury. Combining the technology with proven intervention techniques creates a powerful and effective injury prevention program.

Vantage recognized early on that once an at-risk employee is identified, a new set of issues have to be dealt with – who is going to perform the intervention?

Do they have the bandwidth? What training do they have to assure a positive outcome? To address these issues, Vantage offers a comprehensive approach, which can include consulting support by a team of experts.

CAN PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS HELP REDUCE WORKPLACE INJURIES? Just as healthcare companies and banks use predictive analytics to identify risk, so can companies looking to identify the risk of injuries within their organizations. Predictive analytics is on the rise and should be a vital part of your safety program.

While some organizations have begun taking a proactive or predictive approach to injury prevention, many organizations still limit themselves by using reactive tactics. They rely on lagging indicators, that report after the fact rather than warn before an injury occurs. For example, lagging indicators could be the month-end reporting of how many injuries and what type of injury occurred.

This type of reporting and analysis can describe what happened after the fact, but it cannot help prevent injuries.

Using predictive models allow organizations to develop leading indicators that aide in identifying the likelihood of where and when the chance for the next injury will happen. These systems take disparate data from many sources and integrate them into a unified model. This unified model, like what is produced by the Vantage system, allows companies to

COMPANIES THAT RELY ON STATIC SURVEYS AND REARVIEW LOOKBACKS TO IMPROVE WORKPLACE SAFETY MISS THE MORE SUBTLE SIGNS OF ELEVATED RISK AND RELY ON MANAGERS TO DETECT PROBLEMS EARLY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. THIS HIT AND MISS APPROACH NOT ONLY RELIES ON SUBJECTIVE AND LAGGING DATA, BUT DOES NOT APPRECIATE THAT THE MANAGER MAY BE THE SOURCE OF THE RISK. –

dr . mory framer , senior consultant , vantage predictive analytics Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 31

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BY SYSTEMATICALLY MONITORING AND INTELLIGENTLY INTERPRETING OBJECTIVE EMPLOYEE INDICATORS WE CAN HIGHLIGHT “HOT SPOTS” AND INTERVENE BEFORE THE SMOKE BECOMES A FIRE. –

dr . mory framer

identify trends and problem areas within the organization before incidents happen.

Making the switch from a reactive to a proactive prevention approach is a must for leaders who are serious about keeping their employees safe. This approach not only has a positive effect on employee morale, but also helps reduce costs. As the cost of injuries increases, addressing the financial impact is becoming a priority for forward thinking companies. Why? Because not doing so is expensive. According to OSHA, the average injury cost (direct and indirect costs) is about $100,000 - with the direct cost of a fatality more than $900,000.

In addition to these costs is the possibility of increased fines by OSHA. In August 2016, OSHA raised the maximum penalty for violations by 78%. This increased the maximum penalty for serious violations from $7,000 to $12,471 per violation and from $70,000 to $124,709 for repeated violations.

Beginning in 2017 OSHA will also require employers to electronically submit a summary of injuries and illnesses which will be made accessible to the public.

With the increase in fines, new regulations, and increasing costs of injuries, it is imperative for organizations to invest in creating and maintaining a safer workplace. Taking a

proactive approach to injury prevention will not only reduce your safety spend and insurance premiums, but more importantly, it will increase employee safety. Now is the time to invest in protecting the most important assets you have, your people.

REACTIVE VS. PROACTIVE APPROACH TO INJURY PREVENTION The shift from reactive to proactive

injury prevention is not an easy change, but it is a necessary one.

As fines and the costs of injuries continue to rise it is important for organizations to invest in technology that can help them identify injuries and perform the proper interventions.

This technology should be easy to use, yet compile and aggregate objective data points, track multiple leading indicators and provide a holistic view of risk throughout the entire organization. It should also be customizable to specific job and industry risk factors and identify risk down to the employee level. Lastly, the team behind the technology should provide industry expertise and implement intervention and training strategies.

For more information on Vantage Predictive Analytics, including watching a short video and to learn more about the service, features and benefits, as well as to schedule a no obligation consultation, click here.

TAP TO WATCH A VIDEO SEE HOW VANTAGE CAN HELP YOU REDUCE INJURIES AND WORKERS’ COMP

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Do you work around hot materials or in high temperatures? Although they might not be discussed as often as cut or puncture risks, heat hazards can be just as dangerous in the workplace â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or, depending on the nature of the work that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing, even more threatening. Because of this, whether your concern is being able to safely handle piping hot pieces of metal or avoid experiencing heat stress symptoms after working in extreme temperatures, the best thing you can do if heat hazards are a

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factor in your workplace is make sure you’re wearing the PPE that will provide you with the greatest amount of protection.

Thankfully, nowadays, there’s a wide variety of work gloves and sleeves available on the market that are crafted with these types of risks in mind. This way, when you’re equipped with the right heat-resistant PPE, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is getting the job done.

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BEST GLOVES FOR HEAT

WHAT ARE HEAT-RESISTANT GLOVES?

Kevlar® liner for additional protection against flames or heat, and/or an aluminized liner to deflect high temperatures away from the hands.

In order to provide workers with the maximum number of benefits in the workplace, most heat-resistant glove styles feature a combination of these high-performing materials. This way, along with providing an impressive level of heat protection, the glove will also protect the worker against other common workplace hazards (such as cuts, abrasion, or puncture risks) at the same time.

WHAT TYPE OF GLOVES PROTECT AGAINST HEAT?

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT HEAT-RESISTANT WORK GLOVES? The amount of heat protection re-

Heat-resistant gloves are work gloves that are designed to protect workers’ hands from burns or other injuries that can result from coming into contact with extremely hot objects, working near sparks or flames, or from being exposed to high temperatures in the workplace. Since the severity of heat hazards can vary from low to extreme depending on the application or industry, certain heat-resistant gloves are better suited to some workplaces over others.

The type of heat hazard that’s present will influence which hand protection you should be wearing. And, since certain materials offer different advantages than others, you’ll notice that the materials used to make heat-resistant work gloves can vary from glove to glove.

Some of the materials that are commonly used to make heat-resistant work gloves include Kevlar®, terry knit, carbon fiber, SilaChlor®, or even a combination of the above.

When it comes to heat-resistant gloves, Kevlar® is a very popular choice because of the many benefits it offers: it can withstand extreme temperatures (up to 800° F, to be exact) without melting, it’s flame-resistant and extremely cut-resistant. For those in need of gloves that provide both reliable heat protection and excellent insulation, terry knit gloves are another great option since the material will trap air within the glove. If you’re looking for a heat-resistant glove with a little more dexterity, SilaChlor®-lined styles are a good choice because they give you the heat protection you need while maintaining their flexibility. Work gloves designed for welders or other extreme-heat applications may also feature durable leather (like cowhide or goatskin), a

quired is subjective according to the work conditions. However, there are a few factors you should think about to ensure that you choose the heat-resistant glove that’s best for you.

Consider the following: • Is degradation an issue?

• How much insulation do I need?

• What is the temperature of the workplace I’ll be in?

• Will I be handling heated objects? What will be the actual temperature of the objects? How long will I be holding them for? (ie. What will the ‘time to pain’ be?)

• How much dexterity will I require in order to get the job done? Will mitts or gloves be more beneficial in my workplace?

• When it comes to choosing the best style of heat-resistant gloves for the job, all of these factors are important.

For example, the temperature of the object will determine what type of fiber is required. And, if having a full range of movement in your hands is crucial for getting the job done, you won’t want to be wearing a glove that provides excellent heat protection but is extremely bulky and hard to maneuver.

Basically, you’ll want to make

Certain heat-resistant gloves are better suited to some workplaces over others.

36 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

sure that you haven’t chosen a glove that’s so thick that you won’t be able to do your job, but you don’t want one that’s too thin to provide you with enough heat protection. For this reason, it’s crucial that when choosing your next pair of heat-resistant gloves, you keep your work conditions and job requirements top of mind.

monly referred to as Kevlar™.

Unless you need protection from thermal heat or arc flash, HPPE is the better bet since it has a naturally cool feel and is lighter.

But if you do have to wear gloves made with para-aramid for safety reasons, then you should consider this next point.

1. SELECT THE RIGHT MATERIALS The majority of gloves

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE OF YARN Thanks to advance-

available on the market today contain at least one of these two fibers: High-Performance Polyethylene (HPPE) or Para-Aramid com-

ments in technology, work gloves now come in a range of thicknesses and weights. These are often measured by gauge on a scale of 7 to 17.

Glove NOTHER FACTOR that can affect heat buildup in gloves is color. Conventional thinking dictates that white gloves would be the coolest working in the heat. This is true; however, many employees and employers are turned-off by white gloves because they tend to look dirty after a day’s use. This may discourage use or increase the need for laundering. As an alternative, many companies offer gloves that use white speckled with black. Green or hi-viz gloves are also popular because in addition to staying cooler, they’re easier to find when employees take them off during the day.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 37

BEST GLOVES FOR HEAT The higher the gauge, the more stitches per inch. Lower gauge gloves often require heavier yarns, so they tend to feel heavier and hotter. Experts recommend a gauge of 13-15 which provide the right balance of strength and breathability.

3. LEATHER OR NOT Leather is a great

It’s crucial that when choosing your next pair of heat-resistant gloves, you keep your work conditions and job requirements top of mind.

material for work gloves because of its strength, flexibility and abrasion resistance. Unfortunately, it lacks breathability in hot weather.

If your employees can’t do without leather gloves, look for a compromise glove option. There are models that have a leather palm and a nylon backing. This provides a good balance between protection and air flow. Also, consider gloves with an open cuff instead of a knit cuff to improve airflow.

4. COATED GLOVES Gloves coated in materials such

as nitrile or polyurethane are great for keeping hands safe from oils, liquids and chemicals while providing a solid grip. Unfortunately, that same resistance also prevents air flow. One option to consider is gloves that have coating on the fingertips and dots on the palm. The provides grip and abrasion resistance while allowing the material to breathe.

On top of that, it’s ambidextrous so once the dots wear out on one side, you can flip them over and use the other size — giving you twice the lifespan and your hands won’t overheat.

5. DISPOSABLE GLOVES By their nature

disposable gloves made from latex or nitrile lack the ability to 38 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

add breathability by combining materials or adjusting material thickness. To avoid heat stress, consider gloves with a powder coating on the inside, since the powder can help wick away moisture and keep hands drier in the gloves.

6. ARM PROTECTING & SLEEVES Arm pro-

tection has become very popular over the past few years and for one simple reason: Your arms are as vulnerable to injury as your hands. In the summer months, compliance for safety gear suffers because it’s hot and uncomfortable. Failure to comply with safety mandates can lead to fines, disciplinary actions, as well as a heightened risk of severe injury.

To avoid these issues: • Only select the length of sleeve you need • Choose color and fabric wisely • Opt for a single layer if possible • Selecting a sleeve based on these criteria will ensure that you’re wearing the most breathable, comfortable material.

While you can’t avoid the heat or co-workers who ask “hot enough for ya?” it is always possible to stay safe and avoid being uncomfortable by wearing the right PPE.

SUPERIOR GLOVE® is one of North America’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of work gloves. A respected source for thousands of customers, Superior Glove® has been in the business since 1910. With four manufacturing facilities, we are able to serve customers globally. Specializing in cut-resistant gloves, we are also licensed manufacturers of Kevlar® and Dyneema® products and other high-quality work gloves for every industry. If you’re interested in Superior Glove’s products, contact your Arbill representative or visit our website.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM

AT WORK 600 people die every year in the United States from heat stroke-related causes.

DRINK WATER OFTEN:

You should drink water every 15 minutes, whether you think you’re thirsty or not.

APPLY SUNSCREEN:

Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more and continue to reapply.

WEAR LIGHT-COLORED, BREATHABLE PPE:

Safety gear is still required when it’s hot.

Choose light-colored, breathable fabrics like our KTAFGT made with TenActiv™ to keep you safe from workplace hazards and heat illness in conjunction with the other precautions.

KTAFGT

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Heat-related illnesses, injuries and death are entirely preventable in the workforce. OSHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national heat stress campaign centers around prevention, water, rest and shade best practices, and has been very successful at raising awareness to the safety concern around heat stress. Yet heat-related deaths doubled from 2014 to 2015, and the number of non-fatal cases resulting from excessive heat exposure rose to 2,830 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015). With weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, it is more important than ever for safety professionals to be informed on the latest research to prevent future heat-related illness and injuries.

Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day 41

BEYOND WATER Scholars in the athletic field have studied heat-related illnesses and their impact on athletes of all ages and levels. Now, their findings can be applied to industrial settings to aid safety professionals in preventing heat-related illnesses in the workplace.

We will explore the science behind heat stress, how to recognize symptoms in the field, and how research from athletics can be used to prevent occupational heat illnesses, injuries, and most importantly, deaths.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HEAT STRESS

Heat-related illness (HRI) is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of health issues that result from prolonged exposure to environmental heat and humidity, including heat rash, cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

To better understand how these illnesses and injuries occur, it is important to understand the underlying body processes that are taking place and how they contribute to the onset of symptoms. Thermoregulation is the complex interaction of the body’s central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the skin that helps maintain a core temperature of approximately 98.6° Fahrenheit.

When core body temperature rises, the blood vessels near the surface of the skin widen, and sweating begins to occur in an attempt to dissipate heat.

As the thermoregulation system is overwhelmed by prolonged heat exposure, hyperthermia – a body temperature greater than normal – can occur.

Moderate hyperthermia is normal and protective, but if it continues for a prolonged period of time and develops into an HRI, harmful long-term neurological effects can result. It is not necessarily the degree of hyperthermia that is important, but rather the duration of the increased body temperature – which is why it is critical to drop body temperature as soon as possible.

In general, the body gains or loses heat in one of four ways: 1. Radiation: Heat is transferred to or from an object or body via electromagnetic radiation from higher to lower energy surfaces (i.e., sunlight).

2. Conduction: Heat is transferred from warmer to cooler objects through direct physical contact (i.e., ice packs).

3. Convection: Heat is transferred to or from the body to surrounding fluid or air (i.e., fan or immersion in water).

4. Evaporation: Heat is transferred via vaporization of sweat.

Any of these heat loss methods can help overheating workers lower body temperature and prevent HRIs. Ice packs and cooling towels are a good example of conduction, while a cold bath or misting system are examples of viable convection methods. Evaporation is the most effective means of heat transfer.

Efficient evaporation depends on water saturation of the surrounding air and velocity of the air, but its effectiveness is greatly reduced when humidity is high, as water cannot easily vaporize. In some cases, those experiencing severe heat exhaustion or heat stroke will stop sweating because their body can no longer react to an elevated internal temperature.

Studies have shown that if a heat stroke victim’s body is cooled within 30 minutes – the “golden half hour” – there is a 100 percent survival rate

42 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

MENTAL FUNCTION

Decreased mental performance may be linked to the discomfort of a high skin temperature, high skin wettedness, and strain to their cardiovascular system. Military research has found that mental performance degrades most when a person is performing repetitive tasks.

This is often the case in industrial and construction settings when routine tasks are completed more slowly when a worker is suffering from heat stress. Vigilant task perfor-

mance worsens significantly after two to three hours of heat stress. Furthermore, heat stress can slow a worker’s reaction time and decision-making ability, leading to errors.

Dehydration also intensifies a worker’s decreased mental function during heat exposure.

STAYING OFF THE INJURED LIST

Safety professionals can use research from athletics to help workers affected by heat Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 43

BEYOND WATER stress return to work or to prevent heat stress from occurring in the first place.

After professional football player Korey Stringer died from complications of heat stroke in August of 2001, his wife Kelci teamed with exertional heat stroke expert Douglas Casa, Ph.D., ATC to form the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut. The institute has identified five “big ticket” items that, if followed, will almost certainly eliminate HRIs and fatalities.

1. Hydration 2. Heat Acclimatization 3. Work-to-Rest Ratios 4. Body Cooling Throughout the Session 5. Education Hydration is an obvious prevention method; however, it is only one piece of the HRI puzzle.

All four items must be considered and implemented to prevent HRIs.

Once temperatures reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit, begin adjusting work-to-rest ratios.

PSYCHOLOGY OF TOUGHNESS

44 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

HYDRATION

Water is an integral component of body processes as it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, helps convert food to energy, and regulates body temperature. When an individual is adequately hydrated, called euhydration, body processes such as thermoregulation are able to occur. When an individual is dehydrated, however, these processes are unable to successfully happen.

To prevent dehydration workers should have free access to readily available fluids at all times.

One way to determine the amount of fluid an individual lost is to weigh themselves in the morning before their shift and immediately after. Every pound lost should be replaced with eight ounces of water. Furthermore, electrolytes will be lost during the perspiration process and should be replaced accordingly.

HRI is prevalent in athletes during the preseason and among new workers in industrial settings.

In both populations, fighting the notion of “I don’t need a break” is a challenge. The new worker may set out to prove their worth to an orga-

nization in the same way an athlete aims to impress their coach early in the season. This overzealousness may obviate a worker’s training on HRI symptom recognition, causing them to bypass normal behavioral adaptations to heat and ignore the early warning signs of an HRI. On the athletic field,

HEAT ACCLIMATIZATION Acclimatization is also a key prevention method. The California Heat Illness Prevention Standard, for example, defines acclimatization as a “temporary adaptation of the body to work in the heat that occurs gradually when a person is exposed to it. Acclimatization peaks in most people within four to fourteen days of regular work for at least two hours per day in the heat.”

During the first few days of acclimatization, physiologic strain will be the highest and will be manifested by elevated core temperature and heart rate. This strain decreases with each subsequent day, and dramatically improves comfort and physical work capabilities as time goes on. Successful acclimatization increases stroke volume, which is the amount of blood pumped per heartbeat, and sweat rate,

recognition of early HRI symptoms is supplemented by the presence of an athletic trainer or team doctor who is well-versed in HRIs and takes prompt action when symptoms develop in an athlete. It is very unlikely to have such oversight in an industrial setting, leaving recognition of HRI symptoms to

safety managers, supervisors, and the workers themselves. Often, those supervising athletes have incorrectly assumed that an HRI condition is not serious and that the athlete will recover on their own with rest. In the workplace, this attitude can be addressed in frequent training when workers will

be exposed to hot working environments.

Studies show that if a heat stroke victim is not treated and cooled within a half hour of collapse, survival rate drastically decreases. So, it is essential that authority figures recognize the signs of HRIs swiftly and address them properly.

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BEYOND WATER and decreases heart rate, core body temperature, skin temperature, and sweat salt loss.

Some heat acclimatization strategies that apply to an industrial setting include: • Mimic the work environment climate.

• Use work and rest to modify the heat strain.

46 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

• Ensure four to fourteen days of heat expo-

sure.

• Maintain the daily duration of at least 100 minutes.

• Begin the acclimatization process up to one month before work in hot conditions begins.

• Upon arrival to the hot work

environment, start slowly and reduce work intensity and duration and limit heat exposure.

• Acclimatize in the heat of the day, work in the coolest part of the day.

WORK-TO-REST RATIO

Even simple tasks such as addition, response time, and recognition of words and phrases decrease as dehydration is prolonged

Once temperatures reach 75 degrees Fahrenheit, begin adjusting work-to-rest ratios. There are many variables, including temperature, work intensity, and clothing/equipment that come into play, but the general idea is that as the heat increases so to should the frequency and length of breaks.

OSHA has separate, temperature-dependent guidelines in place for workers doing light, moderate, and heavy work. For light work, the defined temperature is a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) of 86° Fahrenheit, 80° F for moderate work, and 77° F for heavy work. These guidelines suggest workers should not be subjected to the aforementioned temperature situations for more than two hours without a break.

BODY COOLING

Preventing body temperatures from reaching dangerous levels while working in high-heat environments is key to heat-related illness prevention. One way to combat rising temperatures is to utilize body cooling techniques throughout the workday or training session. These tech-

niques include removing outer layers of clothing and/ or equipment to allow the body to cool off and receive air flow. Place cooling towels, wet sheets, or ice packs over major arteries or areas with a conglomeration of blood vessels to facilitate cooling. Wetting the skin surface via a hose, mist, or other means, and applying a fan can accelerate the evaporation process.

Of course, this should only be done without risk of not being protected by proper PPE.

EDUCATION

The fifth big ticket item is education. The industrial athlete faces similar extreme environments, pressure, and exertion as a world-class athlete in their field of competition.

Both can benefit from repeated HRI education on prevention, recognition, and treatment. HRIs can be prevented by adequate hydration, acclimatization, implementing work-to-rest ratios, and body cooling as temperatures soar. Having the ability to recognize and treat heat stress victims early can be the difference between life and death. By understanding an athletic approach to HRI prevention, the industrial worker can get a new, illuminating perspective on the matter.

Since 1983, Ergodyne has pioneered the development of products that Make the Workplace A Betterplace™.

What started with just one product has grown into a line of top flight, battle-tested, Tenacious Work Gear®; all precision crafted to provide protection, promote prevention and manage the elements for workers on jobsites the world over.

If you’re interested in Ergodyne’s products, contact your Arbill representative or visit our website.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 47

WALKING THE WALK

Summertime tips for complying with the final osha walking-working surfaces rules ARE FALLS A CONCERN TO YOU or your workers? Do you regularly inspect walking-working surfaces, correct and guard against hazardous conditions? Are you committed to a safe working environment at your company?

Keeping current with legal changes is a necessary first step. In November of 2016, OSHA published its final rule on Walking and Working Surfaces, updating the existing standard. These new updates apply to all general industry workplaces, covering surfaces like floors, stairs, ladders, ramps, scaffolds and elevated walkways.

This final rule also covers a wide variety of general industries, and although it does not change current agricultural or construction standards, these new standards are meant to more closely align with modern construction requirements.

It’s now been over a year and a half, and every business should be asking if they are making the right steps to be compliant.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 49

WALKING WORK-WAYS

UNDERSTANDING COMPLIANCE

F

alls from any height can cause traumatic injury.

Understanding how to comply with these new standards is key to protecting your employees and achieving compliance, helping to avoid penalties and, more importantly, tragedy.

The final rule adds requirements on the design, performance, and use of personal fall protection systems. There are staggered compliance deadlines that give companies time to evaluate their current

50 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

equipment and safety systems and take the needed steps to achieve compliance in order to prevent slips, trips and falls in the workplace.

For instance: • Instead of mandating guardrails, employers can choose the fall protection system best for their workplace situation.

• Scaffold standards for general industry must now comply with the standards for construction.

• Fixed ladder cages and wells will be phased out and will have to be replaced with ladder safety systems or

personal fall arrest systems, such as vertical system solutions, over a 20-year period.

• Outdoor advertising “qualified climbers” will need fall protection, and fixed ladders over 24 feet will require a ladder safety system.

• Rope descent systems are prohibited for those working 300ft above grade unless other options aren’t available.

• Employers need proof that permanent anchorages used with a rope descent system have been

should keep an eye out for dry substances on walking surfaces, including: • Dusts • Powders • Granules • Wood shavings or sawdust • Plastic wrapping

Another factor that contributes to walking workplace accidents and injuries in the summer is lack of proper PPE. When it gets hot, employees are less likely to wear proper footwear, hard hats and fall protection. Having PPE that combines safety and comfort will increase the likelihood that your employees will wear the right PPE and be ready when accidents happen.

T

APPLYING COMMON SENSE

inspected, tested, certified and maintained as capable of supporting at least 5,000 lbs. per employee attached.

• Employers must regularly inspect walking-working surfaces and maintain and correct against hazardous conditions to help prevent future issues and training on new equipment must be provided.

Finally, these new rules require that D-rings, snaphooks, and carabiners be proof tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds without cracking, breaking, or incurring permanent deformation.

W

SUMMERTIME RISK

hile many associate slip and fall injuries with the winter months, hazards still exist in the summer months, both indoors and outdoors. In fact, it’s the element of surprise that can make summer slips, trips and falls more severe than those that occur in winter.

For example, when thinking about slips, we tend to focus on wet or icy surfaces, mud on boots, or grease spills and don’t always consider that dry products or spills can also make walking and working surfaces slippery. Workers

he easiest place to start is with common sense. To get you started, here are six tips that can help you reduce walking-working surface injuries in the workplace.

1. Use Appropriate Footwear

Footwear with proper traction is essential for the workplace.

However, there is no single type of footwear that will be anti-slip in every condition, so it’s important to assess the working conditions and consult with the shoe manufacturer, if necessary.

While this may sound a bit overboard depending on the industry, the number of slips, Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 51

WALKING WORK-WAYS

ew rules require that D-rings, snaphooks, and carabiners be proof tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds without cracking, breaking, or incurring permanent deformation trips and falls that could be prevented with proper footwear is staggering. Make sure the footwear fits well, as properly fitting footwear increases comfort and prevents fatigue, which, in turn, helps employees remain alert, focused, and safe.

2. Remove Clutter

Good worksite housekeeping can significantly decrease the risk posed by potentially slippery surfaces. Ensure workspaces are free of clutter and that slip and trip risks like extension cords and tools are kept out of the way.

3. Contain Work Processes

Even when the work involves a lot of liquids, oils, dusts, and particles, there are ways to minimize the amount of it that winds up on the walking surfaces.

Exhaust and ventilation systems can help keep particles and sawdust under control, and raised edges on worktables can prevent debris from reaching the floor.

Drip trays can be installed to contain any leaked or spilled 52 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

oils, lubricants, and even water and condensation.

4. Provide Adequate Lighting

Workers can’t recognize and avoid a hazard if it isn’t visible.

Workspaces, walkways, and stairs should have adequate lighting to ensure workers are able to clearly identify any slip hazards that may be present. Aisles and paths of travel, in particular, should be kept well lit.

5. Use Slip-Resistant Surfaces Where Necessary

Conduct a hazard assessment and install slip-resistant flooring in high-risk areas. Sloped floors and transition areas should be clearly marked with anti-skid

paint or slip-resistant strips (preferably in yellow or other hi-viz colors, to stand out).

6. Highlight Risky Areas with Training

Training is one of the most effective ways to make your employees aware of the slip, trip, and fall risks in their workplace and how to mitigate them.

Worker training should include: • Identifying slip, trip, and fall risks • Proper use of personal protective equipment, including appropriate footwear • Workplace standards for good housekeeping • Positive work habits to reduce risks (immediately cleaning up spills, removing slip hazards once identified, not rushing) Training should be ongoing and there must be continuous follow-up to ensure the rules are being followed and identify areas for improvement. Keeping employees engaged is key to effective training and fostering a safe work environment.

With its history of innovation and excellence, 3M Personal Safety Division offers its customers the quality products, expertise and service of the trusted 3M™ DBI-SALA® and 3M™ Protecta® Fall Protection brands. With 3M Fall Protection equipment, you can help elevate your employees’ safety and comfort to new heights. If you’re interested in learning more about our fall protection products, contact your Arbill representative or visit the Arbill website.

The gear you need.

The savings you want.

Trade-in or trade-up to get rebates on high-quality 3M™ DBI-SALA® and 3M™ Protecta® Fall Protection.

We’re so confident you’ll love our fall protection products, that we’ll let you trade in your current gear and give you a rebate on new purchases. Harnesses, SRLs, lanyards and more—we’re including over

1,200 products to choose from.

If you already use 3M Fall Protection products, you can trade-up to get rebates when you upgrade on gear with more features and benefits.

What you’ll need: • Digital copy of your receipt of purchase from a 3M authorized distributor • Digital images proving your old equipment was taken out of service (e.g. Harnesses with D-rings cut off, SRLs & Lanyards with hooks cut off)

Trade-in or trade-up at go.3M.com/FPtradein today.

3M, Protecta, DBI-SALA , Delta, ExoFit, ExoFit NEX and STRATA are trademarks of 3M. © 3M 2017. All rights reserved.

Heat 54 Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day

Stress Steaming With Compliance

Its that time of year again, the time of year when temperatures rise, workload rises and frustration and patience with employees gets tested. A tremendous ris with workers in certain industries and environments this time of year is heat related illness from heat stress.

The risks can be anywhere from an annoyance to life threatening, so its up to employers to ensure that their employees are protected from these risks.

Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day 55

STEAMING WITH COMPLIANCE

SWEATING your bodies way of cooling through evaporation.

56 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

Unfortunately there is not a specific OSHA regulation for Heat Stress, as it falls under the general duty clause similar to Ergonomics. The reason why is because its extremely difficult to create a standard regulation that covers all the risks and protective measures.

For some employees it can be as simple as drinking enough fluids, while others it may be cooling devices, administrative controls like work/rest schedules or shift rotations, and not every employer applies to heat stress risks, and not every employee is susceptible…its just too open ended to regulate.

However, it is an extreme risk for some and you MUST take steps to protect employees from these risks.

So what are the risk factors?

Its simply ambient temperature and humidity…basically heat index around the employees work area. In short, as the

temperature and humidity rises in an area the heat index is determined to be “how hot it feels”. What this means is the air is so saturated with moisture, that your body cannot evaporate sweat fast enough to cool you down, trapping the heat to your body. High heat with a very low humidity level (lower heat index) means your body can cool itself (evaporate sweat) easier, so it doesn’t feel as hot.

So how does this affect employees? In some working environments, like outdoor construction, steam industries, paper mills, boiler rooms, furnaces, steel industries, etc. employees are at greater risk for heat related illnesses.

These high humidity and high temperature industries put employees at risk and protective measures MUST be taken.

So what are heat related illness risks? Well first we

need to understand that even though there are varying symptoms that can occur, not every employee will react the same way. Some employees are more susceptible to heat related illness than others.

This can be from risk factors such as age, gender, health risks such as overweight, heart conditions, previous heat related illnesses or it could be medications, level of hydrations, etc. So many factors play in that its hard to determine. So what are the various heat related illnesses: • Sweating – your bodies

• •

•

•

way of cooling through evaporation Erythema – reddening or flushness of the skin Heat Rash – where pores become irritated from lack of evaporation and salt collecting in pores Heat cramps – electrolyte imbalance in muscles from lack of hydration and muscle begin to cramp Heat Exhaustion – elevated normothermic body temperature from lack of hydration and proper cooling.

Temperatures can be 100103 degrees with profuse Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 57

STEAMING WITH COMPLIANCE

High temperature & humidity

Previous heat-related illness

Direct sun exposure

Indoor radiant heat sources

Advanced age

Lack of recent exposure

Limited air movement

Heat-related Illness

Not enough fluids

Pregnancy

Physical exertion

Medications Physical condition & health problems

PPE & clothing

sweating, nausea, dizziness, headache, confusion and even unconsciousness • Heat Stroke – a serious medical emergency. The body cannot cool itself and 58 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

is dehydrated and core body temperature has risen to 105+. Sweating has stopped (or could still be profusely sweating) and the body is shutting down. Call

911 immediately!

So how do we prevent heat related illnesses and protect employees? By determining at risk areas and employees and then putting in to place control measures to ensure employees are protected. Some of these control measures can be very simple, cheap fixes that do not cost companies a lot of resources. Some methods can include:

Developing a Heat Stress Program

Train employees on the risks of heat related illnesses, signs and symptoms, treatment and prevention methods for heat related illnesses

Communication of the risks and preventative methods. This can

be from heat stress flyers, safety briefing before work shift or by placing urine charts in restrooms that inform employees of their proper hydration levels Developing “Heat Stress Stations” in safe, clean areas allowing employees to properly hydrate as needed throughout the day Allowing new employees acclimation time for environments, allowing their bodies to slow adapt to the heat Engineering controls such as cooling stations, misting fans, air circulation, cooling devices such as ice vests or vortex systems, etc Administrative controls such

as training, information, work/ rest schedules, shift and job rotations, etc.

Monitoring employees through heat stress monitoring highrisk employees. This is done

through taking pre-work vitals (temperature, pulse and maybe even weight) and questionnaires to see if employees are at risk, and then taking post-work vitals at break to compare to pre-work vitals and see if employees have succumbed to heat related illnesses.

Monitor the heat index through heat index risk apps, weather station apps, weather monitoring stations or even appointing employees to be Heat Stress Monitors There are so many aspects of heat related risks and even protective measures, and so many variables to work environments and employees that the best thing to do is to first conduct a Heat Stress Audit and then develop a proper Heat Stress Protection program from there. Many EHS Compliance firms and regulatory agencies can assist.

OSHA and NIOSH both have a tremendous amount of information on their website for Heat Stress. It may not be a specific regulatory requirement, but it is a requirement to protect your employees…. and heat stress is a deadly risk!

TRAIN EMPLOYEES on the risks of heat related illnesses

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 59

PRODUCT REVIEWS

In each issue of Safer Every Day we will feature safety-related products that provide a high level of protection, safety and the peace of mind that safety professionals are looking for when sourcing products to keep their coworkers accidentfree. If you have questions about any of the products shown, or if you would like to make a purchase, contact Arbill at 800-523-5367.

Front Arc Flash Hood ITEM ID: H65NPQH40LF BRAND: ATIONAL SAFETY APPAREL PRODUCT NAME: 40 CAL ARCGUARD® REVOLITE™ LIFT FRONT ARC FLASH HOOD

This lightweight CAT 4 hood has a 40 cal/cm2 arc rating and features PureView™ faceshield technology with an anti-fog and scratch coating. See clearly and breathe easy with this innovative USA made new product from NSA. | Safer 60 Arbill’s Arbill’s| Safer Every Every Day Day

A17245(L-2X)& A1724W(1-3) Hand/Mechanic glove

Gen-Wear

The Gen-Wear includes a mesh back to reduce heat, sweat patch and synthetic palm reinforcements for added grip and dexterity. Choose your sized version to find the perfect anatomical design made to fit the contours of your hand. Throw in a touch screen back of index finger and high visibility to offer your workers the perfect utility glove.

Item ID: A119111

A17991X Mission(1-5) 120 HiViz Shell PU PalmCoat Cut Resistant

Consistent with our mission to ensure that every employee goes home safely, our Truline brand reduces injuries by offering the best performing workplace safety products. With more than 800 SKU's in six PPE categories, customization and new innovations to meet specific needs, Truline is ready to help you create a safer workplace.

For more information on ordering or to request product samples, contact Marcelo Rodriguez at 215-501-8190 or at mrodriguez@arbill.com.

This hi-viz glove provides excellent visual Tactician 440

identification enhanced recognition from a The Tacticianfor 440 has a specially distance.

The breathable stretch polyester shell treated leather that repels oil and with a polyurethane palm coating provides water along with a TPR back and superior resistance to abrasion in a form padded palm for utmost protection.

In fitting glove. With and addition, andoutstanding engineersdexterity, Aramid grip lining visibility, these a durable offers ANSI Cutgloves Leveloffer 4 and Flash and comfortable solution for working testing achieved an ARC Levelinside 3 withor anoutside ATPV=31 whereCal/cm2. added visibility is desired.

10450 Drummond Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154 exclusively by

Arbill 800.523.5367

Safely Leading the World at Work

Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day 61

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Heat and Cut Protection for Workers in High-Risk Industries ITEM ID: 240-9 BRAND: SHOWA PRODUCT NAME: SHOWA-240 Forged with flame-resistant materials, the SHOWA 240 has a 13 Gauge knitted liner which contains Kevlar®, Modacrylic and Fibreglass, making the glove extremely strong and resilient.

High Dexterity, Ventilated Back for Precision Work

Extreme Comfort & Protection in High Cut Risk Applications

ITEM ID: B0500 BRAND: SHOWA PRODUCT NAME:

ITEM ID: 826637 BRAND: ANSELL PRODUCT NAME: HYFLEX 11-542

SHOWA-B0500W Microporous polyurethane foam, high dexterity, ventilated back for precision work. A light, elastic lowlint glove, resistant to deformation and which keeps its shape longer.

Protects the hand from oils and abrasion while remaining elastic and breathable.

| Safer 62 Arbill’s Arbill’s| Safer Every Every Day Day

Extreme comfort & protection in high cut risk applications for increased compliance and an uninterrupted workday.

INTERCEPT™ Cut Resistant Technology provides high levels of protection against lacerations. Lightest weight design for comfort & dexterity and exclusive dirt masking design & high abrasion resistance delivers longer product use life.

Garments with Durability and Comfort ITEM ID: TD127SWBXX0025 BRAND: DUPONT PRODUCT NAME: DUPONT™ TYVEK® 400 D GARMENTS DuPont™ Tyvek® 400 D garments combine the protection, durability and comfort of DuPont™ Tyvek® fabric on the front and the comfort, softness and breathability of DuPont™ ProShield® 10 fabric on the back. These garments are suitable for applications where comfort requirements are combined with limited protective requirements for frontal exposures.

Double Layer Hot Mill Terry Glove ITEM ID: A1834 BRAND: TRULINE PRODUCT NAME: STERRITUFF

N-DURANCE GLOVES

This 64 oz. double layer hot mill terry glove is extremely breathable and acts as a great insulator for temperatures up to 400 degrees F. The seamless design and continuous cuff provide comfort and reduce hand fatigue. It features an ambidextrous style and it has Nitrile blocks for enhanced grip and abrasion resistance.

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 63

Single Servings of Great Tasting Electrolytes ITEM ID: A802950 BRAND: SQWINCHER PRODUCT NAME: 20 OZ. QWIK STIK™ ZERO ORANGE

PRODUCT REVIEWS

Qwik Stik ZERO is a one-man hydration solution without the sugar or calories. Simply rip open a pack, pour into a bottle of water and let the hydration hit the spot. Also available in a 10 count tube.

lectrolyte Replenishing Frozen Treat ITEM ID: 159200229 BRAND: SQWINCHER PRODUCT NAME: SQWINCHER

SQWEEZE FREEZER POPS

Even the toughest of the toughest will enjoy Sqwincher Sqweeze Pops. This 3 oz. electrolyte-replenishing treat does the trick in a variety flavors with just the right amount of performance boosting electrolytes.

Sqweeze Pops are perfect for those on site locations that aren’t water accessible.

CAT 2 Protection Faceshield ITEM ID: H20FB/ H20FS BRAND: NATIONAL SAFETY APPAREL PRODUCT NAME: ARCGUARD® FACESHIELD National Safety Apparel offers the ArcGuard® Faceshield, with CAT 2 protection available in two arc ratings – 12cal/cm2 and 20cal/cm2. It allows high visible light transmission for greater visibility and is lightweight with easily adjustable settings. It includes multiple adapter options and a see through chin cup

Lightweight Boot with Heavyweight Protection ITEM ID: HW091616_26BR2457 BRAND: HONEYWELL PRODUCT NAME: OLIVER 55 SERIES WORKBOOT The 55 Series work boot may be lightweight, but it packs a punch with heavyweight protection. It’s loaded with the latest technology and innovation, including a lightweight sole with self-cleaning tread profile, Oliver coolstep® plush lining and built in Softstride® comfort system. For the Ultimate in lightweight, work boot comfort, you can’t beat Oliver.

| Safer 64 Arbill’s Arbill’s| Safer Every Every Day Day

Unwavering Relief When Work Brings the Heat ITEM ID: 6215HV BRAND: ERGODYNE PRODUCT NAME: CHILL-ITS® 6215 HI-VIS PHASE

CHANGE COOLING VEST

he Chill-Its® 6215 Hi-Vis Phase Change Cooling Vest maintains a constant cool of 64°F / 18°C for four hours, thanks to a cooling pack which can be easily recharged in 10 minutes with a cooler of ice water, 15 minutes in a freezer, 25 minutes in a refrigerator, and 1-2 hours near an air conditioner.

The “Skinny Jean” of Glovesy ITEM ID: A17245 BRAND: TRULINE PRODUCT NAME: GENWEAR TRIMFIT

GOATSKIN HI-VIZ GLOVE

Perfect for workers (male or female) with smaller structured hands! Truline’s GenWear Hi-Viz TrimFit Series offers all of the features, protection and comfort of the GenWear StandardFit Series, but focuses on design, fit and dexterity.

Incredibly Supple in Dry and Oily Conditions ITEM ID: STEX-81 BRAND: SHOWA PRODUCT NAME: SHOWA

S-TEX 581

Extremely lightweight, yet highly cut resistant, S-TEX 581 features a micropo rous foamed nitrile palm coating over a Hagane Coil® liner reinforced with Kevlar®.

Incredibly supple and enhances grip in dry and light oily conditions.

If you would like to have a product considered for inclusion in the Product Review section, please click here, provide your contact information and describe the product you would like to include.

The Manufacturing Economy Continues to Expand Solidly in 2018s The Manufacturing Economy Continues to Hit Its Stride

// B Y C H A D M O U T R A Y, CHIEF ECONOMIST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS

T

he NAM Manufacturersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Outlook Survey has continued to show optimism levels at unprecedented heights over the course of the past year and half, with record levels of optimism and expected growth rates. The manufacturing sector has benefited from

66 Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day

improvements in the global economy, but business leaders have also appreciated pro-growth policies emanating from Washington, including tax reform and smarter regulatory policies, among others. Other reports also indicate solid growth in new orders and production, and most notably, the labor market continues to show strength.

Looking more closely at the data, manufacturing production rose by 0.5 percent in April, bouncing back from being unchanged in March. Overall, the data continue to show healthy growth for manufacturers. Along those lines, the manufacturing production index increased to a level not seen since July 2008. Likewise, capacity utilization in the sector has grown from 75.1 percent one year ago to 75.8 percent, its highest rate since August 2015. The year-over-year paces also remain encouraging, even with some easing in the most recent month, at 1.8 percent in April. At the same time, total industrial production was up 0.7 percent in April, with 3.5 percent growth over the past 12 months.

Improvements in the global economy have also helped to boost manufacturing in the United States, and trade volumes have risen significantly over the past year on the better outlook. In fact, international demand has started 2018 on a positive note, extending the rebound in 2017. U.S.-manufactured goods exports have jumped more than 6 percent year-to-date this year relative to the same time period last year, with gains seen in sales to each of our top six trading partners. For its part, the U.S. trade deficit declined in April to its lowest level since Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;welcome news after soaring to the highest level since October 2008 in February. Encouragingly, goods exports rose to a new all-time high, boosted by a record level of exports for industrial supplies and materials, largely on strength in the petroleum segment.

Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day 67

WITH A BRIGHTER ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUES With that in mind, the Federal ReHIRING HAS ACCELERATED serve is expected to continue its Manufacturers added 18,000 workThe Manufacturing path toward normalization, increasers in May, and across the past eight Economy Continues to ing short-term rates already twice months, the sector has seen robust Expand Solidly in 2018s this year. The Federal Open Market hiring growth, averaging 25,500 Committee wants to stay ahead of new workers per month on averstrength in the U.S. economy, esage. In addition, manufacturing empecially in the labor market, but it is ployment has risen by 1,220,000 also closely following recent inflationary trends. workers since the end of the Great Recession, Manufacturers are regularly citing accelerating with 12,673,000 employees in the sector in this raw material pricing pressures as one of the prireport. That is the highest level of manufacturing mary concerns, with input costs expanding at their employment since December 2008. At the same fastest pace since 2011 in many measures. While time, nonfarm payrolls rose at a healthy pace, inflation remains modest overall, there is no doubt up 223,000 in May, and the unemployment rate that the costs of some commodities has risen dropped to 3.8 percent, the lowest level since sharply—a point that has not gone unnoticed by April 2000. Similarly, the so-called “real” unemconsumers and manufacturers. ployment rate, which includes discouraged, other In terms of the overall outlook, I continue to see “marginally attached” workers, fell to 7.6 percent, the U.S. economy growing around 3 percent in the best rate since May 2001.

2018, the fastest pace of growth since 2005. Tax Moreover, the labor market is expected to conreform should help, especially in terms of busitinue making healthy gains moving forward. Job ness spending. We continue to hear examples of openings in the manufacturing sector recenthow manufacturers are responding positively to ly soared to the highest reading since January the passage of tax reform and the changed reg2001, with 451,000 openings in April. Overall, ulatory environment. In my own estimation, fixed the pace of manufacturing job openings has investment in the manufacturing sector should trended higher, consistent with the tight labor rise by $55 billion this year, with employment market seen in other data. While the generation increasing by another 104,000. In addition, the of new jobs is nearly always welcome news, the more-competitive economic environment will congap between the number of manufacturing worktinue to bear fruit in the years to come, as well. ers and available manufacturing jobs—often a result of the fact that there simply are not enough qualified applicants to fill them—is a serious problem for manufacturers. InCHAD MOUTRAY is chief economist for the National Assodeed, manufacturers cited the inciation of Manufacturers (NAM), where he serves as the ability to attract and retain talent NAM’s economic forecaster and spokesperson on economic issues. He frequently comments on current ecoas their top concern in the latest nomic conditions for manufacturers through professional NAM survey. The strong employpresentations and media interviews. He has appeared ment numbers were not limited on Bloomberg, CNBC, C-SPAN, Fox Business and Fox to manufacturing. Job openings News, among other news outlets. He holds a Ph.D. in for nonfarm payroll businesses economics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and bachelor’s and rose to a new all-time high, jumpmaster’s degrees in economics from Eastern Illinois University. He is a Certified Business Economist™, where he was part of the initial graduating class in 2015. ing to 6,698,000 in April.

2018

68 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

P AY

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PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE IN YOUR SHOES CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING! M ILLIO N e than 3 00

C H ILD R E N

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WHY FOOTWEAR, WHY NOW? More than 1 million children die annually from soil-transmitted diseases that could have been prevented if footwear was worn HOW YOU CAN HELP You can send footwear directly to

Pay It Forward Sports

10450 Drummond Rd Philadlephia PA 19154 Organize a Shoe Drive

Make a Monetary Donation Visit our website & learn more

OUR STORY

Pay It Forward Sports started

in 2015 when Arbill's CEO Julie Copeland's children, Austin, Logan & Addison, were in Tanzania on a family trip and noticed kids playing soccer barefoot. When they returned home, the Copeland children, along with thier cousins, Riley & Mason, asked everyone they knew to donate sneakers or cleats (3,000 were collected and sent to Tanzania) and Pay It Forward Sports was launched.

BECOME A SPONSOR

Pay It Forward Sports is

seeking sponsors to defray the cost of collecting and shipping footwear to our sorting facility, to purchase collection bags, and to pay freight charges to ship the collected footwear.

To learn where we are sending footwear this year and sponship opportunities, call Arbill's Cynthia Williams at 215.501.8219

PAY IT FORWARD SPORTS IS A 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT AMINISTERED BY ARBILL INDUSTRIES, THE LEADER IN WORKPLACE SAFETY.

under the auspices of the united states Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) collects and publishes data on a wide array of safety-related issues. With statistics supplied by OSHA, in each issue of Safer Every Day we will give you the opportunity to test your safety knowledge.

To play, simply select which of the multiple choice questions is correct. Get five out of five right and you can consider yourself an expert. Three or four correct and your score is average. Get below 3 correct and you have some work to do to enhance your knowledge of OSHA stats.

O S H A

BY THE NUMBERS

Almost all heatrelated deaths occurred during May â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September. Which months had the highest numbers?

1

A. May, June B. June, July C. July, August D. August, September

Which three states had the highest burden for heat-related deaths: 2

A. Arizona, Texas and California (*) B. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas C. Nevada, Utah, Arizona D. Texas, Arizona, Nevada 3

2015?

Number of heat related deaths in

A. 17 B. 27 C. 37 (*) D. 47 4

rates of nonfatal injuries and illnesses from environmental heat?

A. Alabama and Georgia B. Tennessee and Florida C. North Carolina and Oklahoma D. Kansas and South Carolina

Which of the following occupations had the highest rate of nonfatal occupational injuries and illness caused by exposure to environmental heat?

5

A. Production B. Installation, Maintenance and Repair C. Transportation and material moving D. Construction and Extraction

Which two states had the highest

DID NOT DO AS WELL AS YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD? Send us an e-mail at osha@arbill.com or call us at 1-800-55-1222 70 Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day

1

C. July, August

A. Arizona, Texas and California (*)

2

3 4

C. 37 (*) D. Kansas and South Carolina

B. Installation, Maintenance and Repair

5

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics: Work Injuries in the Heat in 2015.

Arbillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | Safer Every Day 71

AROUND & ABOUT

LISA MILLER AWARD On April 10th Arbill have created a new award honoring the life and legacy of Lisa Miller, a dear colleague and friend and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the EHS training and consulting portions of our SafetyCare program. The ceremony included a catered lunch and Lisa’s family was in attendance.

Lisa and Julie shared their perspectives on Lisa’s importance to the company as well as a tribute video featuring memories from friends and co-workers. The Lisa Miller Safety Leadership Award will be given annually to the Arbill employee who best exemplifies Lisa’s “Can Do” spirit and her passion to make workplaces safer.

BRING YOUR CHILD TO WORK DAY April 26th was National Bring Your Child to Work Day and Arbill embraced the event with a full day event for the children of our employees. From the warehouse to the CEO’s office, the children learned what it takes to run a successful business, got to try on PPE, took part in safety related art projects.

FALL PROTECTION AT A PAPER MILL EHS Project Manager Asha Quinn is next to a massive grapple machine that drops logs onto a conveyer that starts the process of turning logs into paper. Asha and Senior Safety Advisor Frank Patton walked 6-miles to inspect all the fall protection equipment at the plant.

NJUA FASHION SHOW On April 11th, Robyn Zlotkin attended the Spring New Jersey Common Ground Alliance quarterly meeting, held at the PSE&G training center in Edison, NJ. Instead of a typical presentation, Robyn used a fashion show to showcase a selection of PPE options to help keep New Jersey’s utility workers safe.

72 Arbill’s | Safer Every Day

SAFETY 2018 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION One of our favorite meetings each year is the American Society of Safety Professional’s annual development conference and Exposition. This year was particularly exciting because we had the opportunity to show off our new trade show booth reflecting our SafetyCare program.

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Arbill’s | Safer Ever

E HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS issue of Safer Every Day and found the information useful. Safer Every Day is designed to be an essential component of your company’s safety program, and we want to make sure the magazine meets your needs. To share your thoughts and suggestions, click here to access our suggestions page.

The next issue of Safer Every Day will focus on protecting your employees from the cold. It will feature informative full-length articles, best practices, EH&S insights and additional safety resources.

If you would like to reach more than 35,000 safety professionals, secure your spot today in the upcoming issue by contacting Bill Gabriele at (212) 501-8208.

3 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT ISSUE

1

Secrets to reducing cold stress-related injuries

Next issue published in xxxx 2018

2

Now is the time to prepare for winter

3

Proper footwear for winter weather

Arbill’s | Safer Every Day 73