Know your OSHA obligations if COVID-19 strikes your business
Not all employers are bound by the recordkeeping and reporting requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Generally, an employer must have more than 10 employees to be subject to those legal obligations, unless OSHA specifically instructs you otherwise. Your company also must be in an industry that’s considered hazardous, such as manufacturing, construction, utilities, agriculture, and wholesale trades. Examples of non-hazardous industries include retail, financial services, and real estate. OSHA classifies industries using the Census Bureau’s North American Industrial Classification codes. If you’re uncertain about your status regarding OSHA, contact the agency. Reporting requirements can vary by each business establishment — defined as “a single location where business is conducted or where services or industrial operations are performed.” That means if you have multiple locations with varied functions, it’s possible that one location is subject to OSHA recordkeeping (maintaining an OSHA log) and reporting requirements, and another isn’t. OSHA “General Duties Clause” Beyond administrative requirements, all employers large enough to be subject to regulations specified in the Occupational Safety and Health Act (regardless of industry) are covered by the law’s “general duties clause.” This clause specifies that employers must give employees a place to work “free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” Also, 28 states have their own laws and regulations governing occupational health that might be more stringent than OSHA’s. Perhaps you operate in one of them. If you’re subject to OSHA’s recordkeeping and reporting requirements, how does COVID-19 fit into that picture? According to OSHA, the following conditions must be met before you are required to record an employee COVID-19 case: Most basic: The employee’s ailment is, indeed, proven to be COVID-19, The case “involves one or more of the general recording criteria” laid out in OSHA regulations, including, for example, that the condition can’t be remedied with basic first aid procedures, and The disease was contracted in conjunction with the employee’s work. Determining What’s “Work-Related” OSHA concedes that “in many instances, it remains difficult to determine whether a COVID-19 illness is work-related, especially when an employee has experienced potential exposure both in and out of the workplace.” With that challenge in mind, OSHA has laid out some “enforcement guidance” for its investigators to determine violations applicable to COVID-19 cases. Here are three highlights included in that guidance: A discussion of the reasonableness of the employer’s investigation into work-relatedness. “Employers, especially small [ones], should not be expected to undertake extensive medical inquiries, given employee privacy concerns.” An examination of the evidence available to the employer. Employers shouldn’t be penalized for good-faith determinations when limited evidence was at hand to draw an accurate conclusion about whether a COVID-19 case was work-related. A look at how available evidence is interpreted. The OSHA enforcement guidance offers several illustrations of evidence that is likely to lead to a reasonable conclusion that a COVID-19 case was work-related. One example is when several employees who work closely together all come down with COVID-19 and there’s no alternative explanation. Another involves the employee whose job duties “include having frequent, close exposure to the general public in a locality with ongoing community transmission.” Recordable vs. Reportable As with other workplace-related illnesses and injuries, a work-related COVID-19 case may be “recordable” (and thus logged), but not “reportable” — that is, promptly reported to OSHA. To be recordable, an illness or injury must be too serious to be remedied with basic first aid and involves time away from work. COVID-19 cases often fit that description. To be reportable, the case either involves in-patient hospitalization or, in the ultimate example, death. However, that standard isn’t as clear-cut as it might appear with COVID-19. That’s because to meet the “reportable” standard, the hospitalization must occur within 24 hours of the incident. In the COVID-19 case, the incident is exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus that leads to the disease. It’s unlikely that someone who is exposed to the virus one day would be hospitalized within 24 hours. You’d also need to know that the employee was hospitalized and that the COVID-19 case was work-related. Knowing both promptly may be improbable. However, as soon as you do determine that the case was work-related, you’ve got 24 hours to report it to OSHA. When an employee dies of a confirmed COVID-19 case, and the death occurs within 30 days of exposure to the virus, you have an eight-hour window to report it to OSHA from the time you know “both that the employee has died, and that the cause of death was a work-related case of COVID-19,” according to a Q&A provided by the agency. A Little Perspective OSHA’s enforcement guidance — and common sense — indicate that proper recording and reporting take a back seat to a basic concern for employee health. “In all events,” the guidance states, “it is important as a matter of worker health and safety, as well as public health, for an employer to examine COVID-19 cases among workers and respond appropriately to protect workers, regardless of whether a case is ultimately determined to be work-related.” About the Author: Steve Pierson provides clients with a wide array of technical accounting, tax, financial, estate and succession planning, employee benefits, and international tax planning expertise, as well as merger and acquisition transaction guidance. Pierson is an Executive Vice-President and Shareholder of Seldon Fox.
Cost-effectively preventing Heavy Equipment Theft
Heavy equipment theft of everything from forklifts, skid steers, and trucks to bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, and wheel loaders can be a serious issue for business owners, whether at the rental yard or job site. Stealing batteries, catalytic converters, and entire vehicles can be a relatively low-risk, high-reward opportunity for thieves unless sufficient security equipment and procedures are in place. Equipment damage plus cut locks, cables, and fencing, can also cost businesses thousands of dollars to repair. However, deterring opportunistic or premeditated larceny can be difficult with an unplanned, piecemeal approach, utilizing systems that are ineffective against theft. Fortunately for rental, construction, or material handling companies with heavy equipment, fully integrating the latest capabilities of physical security and access control systems can significantly cut theft and drive down the cost of deterrence. This “virtual” approach combines video surveillance, access control, and information technology (IT) integration to replace many of the functions of in-person security personnel, dramatically reducing costs. Virtual systems can be customized to a variety of loss prevention situations no matter the size of the operation or type of assets that need to be protected. Southwest ToyotaLift is a family-owned and operated material handling equipment dealer with four locations in California and Nevada. About a year ago, the dealer bought a new facility to add to its capacity. However, according to Barry Westenhaver, operations manager of the new facility, the site’s location made it susceptible to theft from break-ins, “We are freeway accessible and have a 600-foot yard along the freeway with equipment in full view. The yard is next to a neighborhood on the other side where people can climb a wall, and this led to a real problem with break-in theft,” says Westenhaver. He recalls that such an incident occurred about every three months at the peak. Westenhaver says that some opportunistic crimes occurred when people came off the streets during the night to steal car-type batteries. The next morning, the facility’s staff would arrive to find that the fence by the freeway had been cut open, and forklifts were torn apart with components missing. However, even more troubling to Westenhaver were sophisticated thieves who planned and staged the theft. “[These thieves] knew what they wanted to take, what to use, and how to do it. They would use a forklift or truck to break through our fences or armed gates, and were on and off our property so quickly that no one had time to respond,” says Westenhaver. According to Westenhaver, the police would usually arrive in about 10 minutes, but “because of the way the theft was staged, we almost never caught anyone. We would see them on camera, but there was not enough detail on the cameras we had at the time.” According to Westenhaver, although the ToyotaLift location kept adding security features in a patchwork fashion, nothing seemed to stop the theft problem He even considered utilizing electric fences but decided against them due to the potential liability. “We had a security alarm system from a well-known company. We added security cameras but did not link the cameras. We installed a $50,000 fence along the freeway – and within a week, thieves cut through the fence with a power saw and stole equipment anyway. Regardless of what type of security we used, we had trouble, so we were looking for a new system,” he says. While evaluating several security systems from various vendors, Westenhaver was contacted by BTI Communications Group, a technology convergence provider serving the loss prevention, logistics, aerospace, and healthcare sectors. Where traditional security systems can inundate staff with mind-numbing nuisance alerts, many of which go ignored, the goal of the fully integrated virtual approach used by BTI is to vigorously and promptly protect valuable rental, construction, and material handling company assets from theft without unnecessary staffing, excess equipment, or complexity. In terms of video surveillance, that means instantly spotting any anomalies and escalating only those that need attention. It means preventatively notifying staff of any movement that needs further attention. When building access is included, it can also mean spotting any discrepancies in door or gate access control, based on time of day, location, personnel involved, and other factors. It means “slicing and dicing” a host of variables specific to the business that must be considered, and drawing the attention of security personnel or managers when it is time to act, and not when it is too late. “What really caught my attention was that when the new camera technology sensed motion, it notified the security tech remotely monitoring the cameras that someone was onsite. This enabled the tech to immediately talk with either the police or the offender [via a microphone and loudspeaker system],” says Westenhaver. “We saw a real-life video of that in action, and were impressed by all the different means to deter theft.” In the video, according to Westenhaver, the police were notified of a theft in progress at their auto yard. When the police arrived with canine support, the dog caught one suspect, while another hid. As police backup arrived, a remote technician monitoring the camera system located the hiding suspect behind a silver car and alerted police via yard loudspeakers so he was caught as well. “Calling out to a suspect over loudspeakers can deter theft before it starts. Or, in the case of a serious break-in that you have on video, calling the police immediately is better,” he says. According to Westenhaver, Southwest ToyotaLift purchased the integrated security camera system, installed it at its new facility, and pays a modest monthly fee to BTI for equipment maintenance and camera monitoring. Westenhaver prefers this remote monitoring arrangement, rather than the more costly traditional option of paying onsite personnel to monitor security cameras, which the material handling equipment dealer had tried in the past. “When we pay BTI for remote monitoring, they only focus on our cameras when the devices sense motion, so one person can cost-effectively monitor many properties just like he or she
Riekes Equipment receives “Nebraska’s Safest Companies” Award
The Celebration of Safety is an annual event hosted by the National Safety Council – Nebraska Chapter to recognize companies and individuals who don’t take shortcuts with their safety. This year 114 companies will be honored virtually as Nebraska’s Safest Companies for their dedication to outstanding safety programs. These companies have implemented safety initiatives designed to reduce injuries and save lives. Riekes Equipment has an exemplary safety record that is better than the national average compared to their industry classification and will be recognized at the event for a second time. “During this time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, one thing still remains certain… Now is not the time to take shortcuts with safety. Winning a Nebraska’s Safest Company Award clearly illustrates a company’s commitment to ensuring that their team members return home safely to their families at the end of each workday,” said Eric Koeppe, President/CEO, National Safety Council – Nebraska Chapter. “This recognition means a lot to Riekes,” said Jeff Bublitz, VP of Operations and Chair of the Riekes Safety Committee. “We work hard, especially so in 2020, to ensure that continuously improved safety programs are in place to keep our team safe – both in our branch locations and our communities. The “Nebraska Safest Companies” Award validates those efforts.” A group of 75 Safety Champions will also be recognized during the virtual event.
Rockford Systems reopens Machine Safeguarding Seminars to In-Person Learning
The company also expands popular online seminar program to a monthly schedule in response to growing demand Rockford Systems, LLC. has announced plans to reopen its in-person Machine Safeguarding Seminars following the suspension of live learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first two-and-half day live seminar is scheduled to restart April 21-23 with additional seminars set for July 21-23 and October 20-22, all held at the company’s training center in Rockford, Illinois. The decision to reopen the seminars to live participation is based upon the company’s robust COVID-19 protocols and the widespread rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination. Matt Brenner, Vice President and General Manager for Rockford Systems, LLC said, “Training is a critical step in the plant safety lifecycle. Understanding safety regulation and being more aware of machine hazards is critical for manufacturing employees. Rockford Systems safeguarding seminar is a great source of baseline machine safety information.” Rockford Systems Machine Safeguarding seminars instruct professionals on managing a company’s risk profile and avoiding business disruption. Highly experienced instructors teach attendees how to interpret the performance language of OSHA 29 CFR, ANSI B-11, and NFPA-79 standards as each relates to specific machine applications and production requirements. Attendees receive extensive course materials, a guard opening scale, a grinder gauge, and lunch for two days. “We are very excited to offer live machine safeguarding training with appropriate measures consistent to protect the health of all attendees,” said Roger Harrison, Director of Training for Rockford Systems, LLC. “Our live seminars combine classroom discussion with demonstrations of machines under power, so attendees will again be able to have hands-on experience with a variety of machinery safeguarding systems. As American industry reopens, Rockford Systems wants to be part of the recovery.” COVID-19 Protocols Class sizes are restricted to comply with both current Illinois gathering tier mitigation requirements and to allow for greater than 6-foot social distancing between participants. The instructor will follow best safety practices including either a mask or a face shield while training. Attendees are required to have a daily forehead-scanner temperature check, wear masks while not eating or drinking, and limit their physical presence in the building to the training areas. All surfaces and equipment are sanitized daily. Attendees are free to use our GermBlock™ shields which limit airborne droplets resulting from coughing, sneezing, or speaking from reaching a nearby person, therefore helping to mitigate possible COVID-19 infection. Online Seminar Program Expanded During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockford Systems switched to an online interactive platform for its machine safeguarding seminars that has proven highly popular with EHS managers, loss-control engineers, machine operators, and other professionals who appreciate its convenience, cost savings, and flexibility. Rockford Systems announced plans to continue the online seminar program that has been expanded to a monthly schedule in 2021. Online and in-person criteria are identical and continuously updated to include the latest machine safety standards. Unlike with the all-day live learning program, the online segments are two hours long per day for five days and are accessible from any Internet-connected device. Associated costs of attending the live seminar, such as airfare, hotels, and lost employee productivity due to being off-site, are also eliminated.
The Upender, improving worker safety
The Upender is an ergonomic “lifting aid” that helps prevent worker injuries, lowering the cost of claims and downtime. Ergonomic solutions in the workplace are necessary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018, reported that musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) accounted for over 30% of worker injury and illness cases involving days away from work (DAFW). The CDC states that workplace musculoskeletal disorders cost between $45 and $54 billion annually in workers’ compensation, lost wages, and lost productivity. There are many tools and resources available to assist with identifying ways to increase worker safety by conducting routine audits and planning for improvement. One way to improve safety is the use of lifting aids which are listed among the top ergonomic best practices because the equipment reduces the need for lifting, turning, twisting, and bending. There are many popular lifting aids like forklifts, hoists, scissor lifts, tilters, stackers, conveyors, pallet trucks, etc. But are you familiar with the Upender? Mechanical Upenders are sometimes called coil positioners because they rotate products and are used in a variety of production and maintenance applications for rotating, turning, or positioning heavy or awkward loads. Upenders are available with Electric or Hydraulic drive systems and are equipped with a heavy-duty brake to stop the load in any position. The Upender lifts and maneuvers products to make them more accessible during manufacturing and assembly for a safer work environment reducing risks for manual labor. Upenders have been adopted in many steel handling applications. The Uni-Craft Corp. team presents the Upender that repositions large, round, and odd-shaped products such as dies, rolls, or coils. The Uni-Craft Upender is an ergonomic solution with applications in manufacturing and assembly to the end of the line during palletizing and shipping. The Upender offers many benefits and can tilt loads up to 95 degrees to change the vertical or horizontal orientation of heavy, awkward products. The Uni-Craft Upender is capable of capacities of more than 8,000 pounds and features a range of speed, powering, and control options, including integrated switches to meet the specific needs of each application. The Upender makes repositioning large or awkward products simple and efficient while protecting workers and helping to avoid workplace accidents. One great solution example was a furniture manufacturer with extreme space constraints. The customer struggled to efficiently flip awkward, bulky pieces of furniture 90 degrees in order to palletize in preparation for shipping. The solution for this customer was a Pass-Through Upender capable of flipping the furniture safely onto a pallet for shipping. The Upender for this customer was equipped with control features that ensured the furniture was oriented and precisely placed on the pallet.
WIKA Mobile Control presents Top Sales Award to Crane Warning Systems for the 12th year in a row
WIKA Mobile Control (WMC), a manufacturer of operator aids and sensors for lifting equipment, names Crane Warning Systems as their top dealer for 2020. This is the 12th consecutive year that Crane Warning Systems has been recognized as Top Sales Distributor in North America for WMC. This award acknowledges exceptional sales performance and dedication to promoting the WMC product line. “Crane Warning Systems not only delivers outstanding sales numbers, but they continually provide exceptional support and customer service for our products,” said Eric Mowen, Aftermarket Sales Manager for WMC, “Year after year, their hard work and dedication is what continues to make our partnership a success.” Located in Lakeland, FL, Crane Warning Systems offers WMC’s entire line of crane operator aids including load moment indicators (LMI), wireless and hard-wired indicators, anti-two block systems, and sensors. “We’re ordinary people who take extraordinary care of our customers’ aim for success,” said Patricia A. Finfrock, Director of Operations.
Safe + Sound Week announced
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced the date for Safe + Sound Week. This year it will take place on August 9-15, 2021. Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August to show your business’s commitment to keeping workers safe year-round. Safe + Sound Week is also a time when information and ideas are shared to help get your safety and health program started or improve an existing program. Download the Save the Date and share that you’ll be participating in Safe + Sound Week on social media using #SafeAndSoundAtAWork. Registration opens in July and details will be on the website.
Kaivac CEO releases poem “Grateful for the Janitor, Our First Responder”
After a recent tele-meeting of Kaivac sales and marketing people, Bob Robinson, Sr., founder and CEO of Kaivac, sent those on the call a recap of the meeting. The gist of the meeting was to review the current pandemic, its impact on the professional cleaning industry, and most specifically, what the industry can do to help cleaning workers at the forefront, working to stop the spread of the infection. Along with the recap, Robinson included a poem. Says Robinson, it was totally “spur of the moment,” but he adds it conveys many of his thoughts as we journey into year two of the pandemic. That poem is below: Grateful for the Janitor, Our First Responder We all expect to work in a clean, healthy environment. And it’s our janitors we ask to provide this. In this pandemic, we should call them “Essential Workers” and “First Responders.” That way, they’ll know just how grateful we are for their service. They are asked to work in harm’s way. They charge into buildings. Fighting the pandemic by cleaning contaminated surfaces. But what cleaning weapons are we giving them to fight with? Who else do we have to do this? We must give them the proper tools. After all, how would you like to be in their shoes? Empowering them to clean safely, effectively, and fast, we commit to improving their toolkit. We are grateful for the janitor, and at Kaivac, we are doing something about it.
ECCO introduces four new ways to upfit your work vehicle for safety
In a new year of recovery and growth, now is the time to upgrade fleets and work trucks with the latest safety equipment, just in time for the spring and summer surge. ECCO is introducing four powerful warning solutions that feature the most advanced LED and optics technology in the market today. The 12+ Pro Vantage lightbar is the ultimate dual-color warning solution. The ED3974 and ED5051VDL2 interior warning lights offer more low-profile options while delivering an exceptional visual warning. The UltraFlex is a unique warning light that bends up to 120° to accommodate a variety of vehicle surfaces. With flexible mounting and customized designs, owners and operators can get back on the road with minimal lead time to meet 2021’s workload head-on. The road-tested and reliable 12+ lightbar is getting an upgrade. The 12+ Pro Vantage series features dual-color LED light heads and rugged housing that ensures visibility and braves the harshest working conditions. Sophisticated ICE optics built into the light head efficiently focus the light output, which effectively produces 360° of advanced warning that can be seen from hundreds of feet away. Customize the lightbar with combinations of amber, white, red, blue, and green along with eight-length options (24- to 72-in.). Standing at only 2.5-in. high, this low-profile, aerodynamic lightbar is designed to maximize value while keeping work crews safe. The ED3974 and ED5051VDL2 are compact warning devices for operators seeking temporary mounting solutions or an even lower profile warning capability for work trucks and fleet vehicles. The dual-color ED3974 tightly mounts on the inside of vehicle windows with either suction cups or very-high bond (VHB) tape. The light heads can be adjusted 7.5° up or down to accommodate any angled window surface. The thin ED5051VDL2 is designed to provide forward or rear warning, mounting on the visor, deck, or dash. A removable shroud is included to eliminate distracting flashbacks. Each device produces up to 67 flash patterns and can be permanently or temporarily mounted (bracketry included). Finally, ECCO is excited to introduce the UltraFlex directional warning light. This versatile LED warning light can be mounted on flat surfaces, with an included bezel, or curved surfaces up to 120° with VHB tape. The silicone-based lens allows for maximum flexibility while resisting warping and yellowing. Its 12 LEDs can produce up to 69 flash patterns, delivering a brilliant warning capability on hard-to-mount surfaces. From top to bottom, front to rear, ECCO’s newest series of visual warning devices for work trucks and fleet vehicles are designed to protect workers throughout the shift and until the job is done. From the versatility of the UltraFlex to the attention-commanding power of the 12+ Pro Vantage, get your people back to work safely and confidently. Like all ECCO products, these new additions are backed by a no-hassle warranty along with the best customer and technical service support in the industry. Let us rebuild together.
Eye Protection workers won’t want to take off
Brass Knuckle® Spectrum™ has comfort, anti-fog for all-day wear We know that fogging lenses and an overall lack of comfort are the two main reasons that workers remove their eye protection. Brass Knuckle® Spectrum™ (BKFLEX-4040N) helps solve it by bringing together flexible comfort and peak anti-fog protection for safety eyewear they’ll never want to take off. In fact, lens fogging is the No. 1 challenge facing wearers of eye protection. It makes workers want to remove their safety glasses to wipe away the fog. That’s a hazard waiting to become an accident. Workers who aren’t wearing eye protection are out of compliance — and, in those vulnerable seconds or minutes that their eyes are exposed to potential impact or splash hazard, eye injuries can occur. Spectrum helps prevent this issue with BK-Anti-Fog™ anti-fog lens protection. It permanently bonds to the lens and will not wear off or wash off. Its anti-fog protection exceeds European EN 166/168, and in fact, lasts 15 times longer. (Unfortunately, there is no anti-fog standard in the U.S. for protective eyewear. The only anti-fog standard for safety glasses is the tough European EN 166/168.) For comfort, Spectrum features bowed, super-flex rubber temples that ratchet for a custom fit. They touch the wearer only behind the ears, eliminating all pressure points. These ratcheting flexible temples offer a true face-hugging design that inspires compliance. Capping it off, the second-generation PivotEase™ nosepiece slides up and down and pivots on a hinge for added secure fit. Spectrum brings all this to bear while also retaining its anti-scratch, anti-static, and UV protection properties. This collection also pops with color, inspiring the Spectrum name itself. Each lens color in the family sports a unique, corresponding temple color. A clear lens allows maximum light transmission without changing or distorting vision or colors. The smoke lens provides an all-over tint for normal outdoor conditions. Amber lens sharpens contrast and provides greater clarity in low-light conditions. Amber filters out blue light from computer screens and other electronic devices. There are also two mirror lens finishes available. Indoor/outdoor clear mirror lenses provide an all-around tint for protection from the glare of bright artificial lighting and sunlight, ideal for workers who change environments throughout the day. Blue mirror is a trendy and cool sunglasses style that reduces glare. (Note that the two mirror options do not include BK-Anti-Fog technology.)
TVH is awarded the Healthy KC Platinum Certificate
TVH in the Americas (TVH), a global provider of quality replacement parts and accessories for the material handling and industrial equipment industries, has recently been named one of Healthy KC’s Workplace Wellness Platinum Certified Companies by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. In the face of the pandemic, TVH has strived to keep its culture of employee wellbeing through the TVH Nudge classes and challenges put on by Health and Wellness Coach Lucy DelSarto. The TVH Nudge Program is designed to aid and encourage employees to lead healthy and productive lives. Employees can take part in wellness challenges and attend classes covering a variety of topics such as stress management, nutrition, fitness, and more. This is the fourth year in a row that TVH has been awarded the Platinum Level. The goal of Healthy KC is to establish a culture of wellbeing in the Greater Kansas City area. The KC Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KC, rates local businesses on their health and wellness culture based on the program’s five pillars. Healthy KC’s pillars are healthy eating, active living, tobacco cessation, work-life integration, and a design-built environment. Coach Lucy attributes TVH’s success with maintaining the Platinum Level to the employees. “The commitment to the Nudge classes and challenges by our employees is above and beyond what most companies see,” says Coach Lucy. “I have witnessed many coworkers choosing to improve their health and wellness during the pandemic, with great and inspiring success.” Coach Lucy knows that inspiration, encouragement, and leadership come in many forms. This is why she brings in speakers and activities that cover a wide range of topics. She stands behind the Nudge slogan, DCM = Daily Choices Matter, by helping employees at TVH find the resources they need to live their best possible life.
JLG Joins ALI’s Ladder Safety Month Initiatives
American Ladder Institute (ALI) hosts the 5th annual National Ladder Safety Month, February 22-March 31 JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company and global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers, announces its support of the American Ladder Institute’s (ALI) 5th annual National Ladder Safety Month, February 22 – March 31, 2021, to raise awareness of ladder safety. Joining ALI’s month-long efforts, JLG has published its new white paper “5 Steps to Reach Zero Falls From a Ladder at Work.” The whitepaper is now available for download on JLG® #DirectAccess. In its new white paper, JLG highlights how Oshkosh Corporation and its brands have been working towards eliminating falls from a ladder at work in its proactive pursuit of the highest level of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). This initiative closely aligns with the goals of ALI’s National Ladder Safety Month, the only movement dedicated exclusively to the promotion of ladder safety at home and work. “Let’s be honest, most companies don’t give much thought to the overarching cost of using a ladder,” said Jennifer Stiansen, director of marketing, JLG. “But ladders are a major source of expensive injuries — and not just from falls or falling objects either. Ladders can lead to other occupational hazards, including ergonomic and overexertion injuries from strenuous movements and the carrying of them between work locations. These injuries lead to lost time, reduced productivity, and costly workers compensation claims.” More details can be found in the JLG article “The Hidden Cost of Ladders.” According to Stiansen, a safer alternative and emerging category of solutions now exist that lower the risk of costly injuries: Low-level access products. These products deliver a maximum work height of 20-ft and weigh less than 2,000 lb. They are primarily used in applications where one would historically use a ladder or scaffolding, such as in fit-out and finish work like painting, installing fire alarm or sprinkler systems, putting in (or replacing) lighting and ceiling tiles, as well as other similar types of tasks. Stiansen continues: “Low-level access products minimize the risk of falls and overuse injuries by reducing unnecessary climbing. Safety-conscious companies, including JLG’s parent company Oshkosh, are committing more and more to the elimination of ladders where safer alternatives exist.” For companies looking to replace ladders and scaffolding with products that offer a safer way to work at height, JLG offers a suite of low-level access equipment, including the ES1330 and ES1530 scissor lifts, the EcoLift™ 50 and EcoLift 70 manually operated lifts, and the 830P and 1030P push-around lifts. In addition to the new “5 Steps to Reach Zero Falls From a Ladder at Work” white paper, JLG provides additional content related to ladder safety and low-level access alternatives on #DirectAccess (www.jlg.com/directaccess) and will continue to post new articles on these topics throughout National Ladder Safety Month. National Ladder Safety Month is sponsored each year by ALI, the only approved developer of safety standards for the U.S. ladder industry. The organization believes ladder accidents are preventable with better safety planning and training, as well as continuous innovation in product design. To learn more about National Ladder Safety Month, visit National Ladder Safety Month.
i-PRO AI-Driven capabilities make Intelligent System Solutions smarter
Enhanced Capabilities Transcend Security to Deliver Business Intelligence Panasonic i-PRO Sensing Solutions Corporation of America, a global provider of advanced sensing technologies, continues to expand its portfolio of AI-driven analytics that provide higher levels of intelligence to the company’s unique offering of holistic solutions. The addition of intelligent analytics continues to drive a shift in emphasis from conventional surveillance and security monitoring operations to proactive predictive analysis and business intelligence applications that further leverage the versatility of i-PRO system solutions. “New AI solutions provide the means to leverage organizations’ current investments in technology to further protect people, property, and assets from new and emerging threats,” said Bill Brennan, President, Panasonic i-PRO. “At the same time, these very same AI solutions enable users to go beyond traditional security to deliver insights and intelligence enabling them to improve their business operations.” While artificial intelligence offers the power to drive a vast array of analytics solutions, many of the newest technology developments have been driven by the security and health safety challenges faced by today’s businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Privacy concerns around facial recognition, detection and identification of individuals not complying with face mask mandates, and detecting when an individual has an elevated body temperature are among the many areas of focus for i-PRO AI solutions. Facial Recognition with Masks and Non-Mask Detection i-PRO FacePRO facial recognition analytics employ AI and deep learning to recognize and authenticate the identity of an individual. The powerful software can identify a person even if their face is partially covered, if they are at an obscure camera angle or if they have aged – even over a significant number of years. Panasonic i-PRO also offers new extension software for its AI network cameras to detect if an individual is not wearing a mask. This is a critical feature for facilities and businesses that require masks to be worn upon entry, and in many cases is mandated by local or regional law. Facial Recognition and Privacy Protection The advent of such powerful facial recognition has created more awareness around concern for the privacy of innocent individuals captured on video used for investigations and as evidence in public hearings or trials. To help protect an individual’s privacy, Panasonic i-PRO offers an AI-assisted redaction plug-in for the Video Insight video management system (VMS). This software enables automatic redaction of faces on video, which saves hours of time for security personnel and law enforcement agencies, schools, municipalities, correction facilities, and others in responding to FOIA or FERPA requests. Health Safety – Body Temperature Detection Through a partnership with MOBOTIX, i-PRO is now offering a new thermal camera solution to help organizations maintain the health safety of those entering their facilities. This solution combines MOBOTIX M16/S16 cameras with a new plug-in from Panasonic i-PRO’s Video Insight video management system to automatically detect when an individual’s body temperature exceeds a pre-set threshold and provides an alert to the appropriate personnel. This new solution offers businesses, schools, retail stores, and other public facilities another tool to keep their staff and guests safe. Intelligent Video Motion Detection (I-VMD) Panasonic i-PRO offers powerful and versatile AI-VMD extension software for a wide range of the company’s AI network cameras. Far beyond conventional motion detection analytics, I-VMD provides multiple modes to detect intruders, loitering, the direction of an object’s movement, if an individual has crossed a predetermined line, suspicious objects left behind, scene change if a camera is moved or covered, people counting, heat-mapping, and moving object remover to remove people from images and only show the background scene. This powerful suite of intelligent analytics adds further depth to any organization’s or municipality’s situational awareness, increasing security and safety, and providing new data sources for numerous business intelligence applications. Open Platform Sensor Integration New sensor technologies and solutions can provide a wealth of data, effectively increasing situational awareness through autonomous detection. Through integration with the open platform, Panasonic i-PRO Video Insight VMS and MonitorCast access control, and intelligent Panasonic i-PRO AI cameras, security professionals can benefit from audio analytics that detects screams, gunshots, explosions, and glass breaking, along with environmental sensors that detect noxious fumes and gasses, smoke, vibrations from explosions or earthquakes and more. “This is the future of systems technology as physical security continues to converge with and deliver business intelligence,” said Brennan. “Panasonic i-PRO will continue to support the development and integration of new AI-driven solutions to provide our customers around the world with the most advanced systems technology available.”
Rack supported Roly® Safety Gate model now available in a multiple pallet deep configuration
New configuration keeps employees safe in Cluster Picking Applications Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc., an innovator in the design and manufacturing of pallet drop safety gates that provide fall protection in material handling and manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and warehouses, has announced that it now offers a Rack Supported Roly® safety gate configured for multiple pallets deep. This new standard design is released on the heels of the Rack Supported Open Top safety gates which are configured to provide fall protection in pallet flow cluster picking applications. With the rapid growth of e-commerce in the last year, cluster picking operations are becoming more popular applications in material handling and warehousing facilities. Typically one or two flow lanes are located in a bay with an aisle between the lanes; employees on the platform then enter the lanes to pick from various pallets, putting items on a takeaway conveyor to be packaged and shipped. Often cluster picking operations are located in multi-level rack supported pick modules in which multiple deep pallets are pushed into the pallet flow systems. Rack-supported safety gates work well within-cluster picking applications in busy distribution centers or material handling facilities because of the limited space within the rack system. The Rack Supported Roly multiple pallet deep design is a dual-gate system that attaches directly to the rack uprights in rack systems or pick modules. Attaching to rack uprights maximizes space in the area and creates a secure connection without having to anchor the gate into the decking. The gate can be designed to match the depth of the pallet flow lane to capture multiple pallets. The extra-deep dual-gate system prevents pallets from holding the gates open when the lane is full and creates a completely enclosed workstation while providing fall protection for the workers in picking positions and around the empty pallet or tote return bays. “With so many material handling facilities working to increase their throughput, pick modules with cluster applications are becoming more popular,” said Aaron Conway, president of Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. “Many of these applications are using flow lanes to push multiple pallets through the system, and there is a need for a larger area of protection for employees working within the system. Our Roly gate design can be expanded to ensure it can protect workers that are picking from the multiple pallets.” The Rack Supported Roly pallet flow safety gate uses dual, counterbalanced gates to secure the ledge and keep employees out of the flow lanes while the lane is being replenished with pallets. When the ledge-side gate is open, allowing the material to be delivered to the pallet drop area, the rear-side gate is closed, protecting the worker from falling off the ledge. When the rear-side gate is raised to gain access to the pallets, the ledge-side gate closes and compacts into the rack bay, maintaining a safe environment during all stages of the operation. If the rack does not extend above the decking on the top level of the pick module or if it’s located on a work platform, the gate can be designed in a free-standing model. In addition to the Rack Supported Roly in a multiple pallet deep configuration, most of the safety gates from the company are offered in rack supported or free-standing configurations. The dual-gate design ensures OSHA, IBC, and ANSI fall protection compliance. The safety gates fit any manufacturer’s rack configuration and are available in powder-coated mild steel. Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, Inc. will be exhibiting at the ProMat DX Show online April 12-16, 2021. To learn more about the full line of safety gates from Mezzanine Safeti-Gates, visit the ProMat DX booth to book a meeting or view the product demo.
Episode 149 – Warehouse Theft with BSI
In this episode, I was joined by Jim Yarbrough of BSI. Jim is a Global Intelligence Manager for BSI or the British Standards Institute who focuses on security and risk within the supply chain. This can include anything from political upheaval to cargo theft. Previously on the show, I have spoken with other BSI representatives about porch pirates and supply chain theft. For this discussion, we focus on warehouse theft and how certain types of theft have been on the rise due to the pandemic. We also discuss how to prepare yourself for this type of theft and reduce the risk of it happening to your operation. Key Takeaways It is no news to anyone that 2020 was a wild ride and most of the things that Jim’s group at BSI focuses on actually happened in the last year so he is a good source to understand what increased types of theft are out there. One thing that has been on the rise is warehouse theft which has become more appealing to criminals during the pandemic. With warehouses not working and having days where no one is in or around the building it has made for opportunistic times to steal for thieves. Additionally, Jim points out that warehouse consolidation has also been a contributing factor to freight being stolen when it is on the move. I’m always interested in hearing everyone’s journey in our industry and Jim has a very interesting one which we get into. He actually has a warehouse operations background. Jim discusses how that experience has helped him to understand his work at BSI more and how to be able to relate to individuals who are on the floor. This is an important note that we have discussed multiple times on the podcast and really helps you progress in your career. It is so important to spend time on the floor and understand what people are really doing for the day to day. Since Jim and his team are able to review so many different security incidents they have a great basis from which to give recommendations to operations on how to be more secure. His biggest point in preparing yourself for any type of threat is creating awareness. By being aware of yourself and also making your team aware you’ll be able to know when others are stealing or where potential threats lie. Additionally, employees start to understand what to look for outside of the facility as well which can help you increase your security measures. Listen to the episode below and let us know how you are protecting your operation in the comments. The New Warehouse Podcast EP 149: Warehouse Theft with BSI
Netwatch Group announces two executive appointments
Justin Wilmas hired as President of Netwatch North America and Rochelle Thompson as CMO of the Netwatch Group Netwatch Group, a security leader comprised of NMC, CalAtlantic, and Netwatch; has announced the appointment of Justin Wilmas, President, Netwatch North America. In this role, Justin will be responsible for all video monitoring business from CalAtlantic and Netwatch in North America, as well as video monitoring from the NMC dealer channel. Netwatch has also announced the appointment of Rochelle Thompson as Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Rochelle will be responsible for overseeing marketing operations for all business units. Both Thompson and Wilmas recently served on the Executive Leadership Team at Pelco, where they held integral roles in the divesture from Schneider Electric to the Transom Capitol Group and in re-establishing the brand as a leader for video cameras and security solutions. “Justin has a proven track record of success. He has a passion for his people, customers, and dealers that is second to none. I look forward to having Justin build and grow the US business to new heights,” said Kurt Takahashi, recently appointed CEO for Netwatch Group. “Rochelle’s dedication and commitment to implementing best practices and bringing her wealth of marketing prowess to this role will ensure we are well-positioned for success.” A seasoned industry veteran, Wilmas most recently served as Vice President of Sales for North America, Pelco. With over 15 years of global security industry experience, he has been instrumental in creating and implementing strategies that generated double-digit growth years for products, software, and enterprise security solutions with the intent to minimize risk, achieve compliance and implement operational efficiencies. “I am truly looking forward to being a driving force in a company that brings innovative technology and a customer-centric approach to managing customers’ risk,” said Wilmas. In her most recent role as SVP Global Marketing at Pelco, Thompson was responsible for re-introducing Pelco to the marketplace and restoring the brand’s presence, in addition to a complete overhaul of the demand generation engine – from the lead lifecycle through customer acquisition. With 20+ years of experience, she brings a keen focus on the customer experience to all facets of marketing. “I am incredibly honored and excited to be a part of the Netwatch Group,” said Thompson. “I’m looking forward to building our brand presence as a corporation and working with our executive team to ensure each of our business divisions continues to see growth.”
Quantum Storage Systems develops Airport Security Nesting bins
Quantum Storage Systems has recently announced the development of their Airport Security Nesting Bins. These polypropylene bins are engineered for rigorous and continuous usage. These bins are often seen used at airport security stations, being loaded and unloaded with personal items that run through airport x-ray machines. The ergonomic built-in handles are designed for easy and comfortable griping. The bins are dishwasher safe and easy to clean with just soap and water. The bins are available in two sizes and are available in Black, Blue, Brown, and Gray. A lid for the FSB-20155R bin can be purchased separately. Bin Model FSB-20155R: 20” x 15” x 5” Bin Model FSB-22177R: 21-1/2” x 17” x 7” Lid Model FSB-L2216 Fits the FSB-20155R only
The Crosby Group launches Global Vaccine Support Program
The program allows for team members to take time away from work to get vaccinated against COVID-19 without impacting their paychecks The Crosby Group, a global provider in lifting, rigging, and load securement hardware, announced its Vaccine Support Program to facilitate the ability of its team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Available to all employees globally, the program provides team members with four additional hours of sick leave, paid time off, or equivalent to offset any work time missed after completion of the COVID-19 vaccine. Local site leadership will also work with team members to accommodate and support individuals experiencing post-vaccine side-effects that may impact their ability to safely come to work. Robert Desel, CEO of The Crosby Group, said: “Safety is core to who we are, and we don’t want our employees choosing between getting the vaccine and earning a full paycheck. Our Vaccine Support Program removes that barrier and supports our team of essential workers. Throughout the pandemic, we have been committed to our core value of safety, both for our employees and our customers. This program is the next logical step in doing our part to keep our team members, their families, and the communities in which we operate safe.” At the onset of the pandemic, The Crosby Group formed a Pandemic Safety Council with internal leadership and outside medical experts to monitor and advise on best practices. This led to a multifaceted safety program to stop the spread of COVID-19 including work from home, travel restrictions, and guidelines, site health screening procedures, social distancing policies, increased cleaning protocols, virtual customer support and training, modified and flexible work schedules, and other mitigation measures consistent with the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO). “A safe and healthy team is critical to our mission of supplying lifting, rigging, and securement products that are used in manufacturing, defense, and infrastructure development,” continued Desel. “As an essential business, we are proud to support the safety of our team, communities, and customers.”
Graphic Products Inc. expands PathFinder Crosswalk options
Basic, Premium, and Deluxe floor tape bundles provide a quick, easy way to improve facility traffic management Graphic Products, a global leader in visual communication solutions for compliance and safety, introduces its PathFinder Crosswalks. These premade walkway bundles increase efficiency by protecting pedestrians from a dangerous forklift, equipment, and automation traffic. “In hustling facilities, pedestrians need pathways to cross in a safe and efficient manner without interrupting workflow,” said Nicole Noble, a product manager at Graphic Products. “Our PathFinder Crosswalk bundles are the easiest, quickest, and most durable tools for any facility. They are easy to order and install, making facility traffic management one less thing to worry about.” Made with industrial-grade adhesive and vinyl materials, Graphic Products’ Pathfinder Crosswalk bundles each come in lengths between 6 feet and 14 feet to create highly visible lines that separate traffic types. Facilities can improve pedestrian awareness with any of the three product combinations: Pedestrian accidents in the workplace have been increasing. There were 341 work-related deaths and 5,910 injuries in 2019, according to data from the National Safety Council. Basic: Comes with a red “Proceed with Caution” boundary tape and individual 36″ yellow adhesive crosswalk marking strips. Premium: Comes with a red “Proceed with Caution” boundary tape, individual 36″ yellow adhesive crosswalk marking strips, and 2 “Caution Forklift Traffic” floor signs to notify pedestrians of forklift hazards. Deluxe: Comes with a red “Proceed with Caution” boundary tape, individual 36″ yellow adhesive crosswalk marking strips, 2 “Caution Forklift Traffic” floor signs to notify pedestrians of forklift hazards, packs of red floor tape dashes, and “Stop” floor signs to instruct forklift operators to stop before reaching the crosswalk. “We wanted to help warehouses and other facilities improve efficiency and correct existing hazards using cost-effective solutions,” Noble said. “We’re proud to help facilities designate non-driving locations, walkways, crosswalks, speed limits, and other safe driving elements using PathFinder Crosswalk bundles.” Workplaces can take continuous action to improve productivity while helping to prevent future employee injuries or fatalities using PathFinder Crosswalk bundles.
The less lead you start with, the less lead you have to clean up!
Li-ion batteries became widespread not only in personal electronics, medical devices, aerospace, and automotive but also in heavy industrial applications like electric forklifts in the Material Handling industry, and even mining. Nevertheless, many industries continue to rely on a lead-acid battery pack, including electric forklifts applications. Are you using traditional lead-acid forklift batteries in your operations? If yes, this article is a must-read! You need to learn what lead decontamination measures are mandated at the place of production (spoiler alert: Pandemic precautions are a joke compared to what you have to do to stop lead poisoning of workers and their families). Whether you have all the safety protocols in place to prevent lead poisoning and decontaminate before going home to protect your family, the main question is, “Why should you continue using lead?” Dan Askin, a Speaker at a recent BCI event “Worker Decontamination: Preventing Take-Home Lead” says it best: “The less lead you start with, the less lead you have to clean up.” Why Manufacturers of Lead-Acid Batteries Take Workers’ Lead Decontamination Seriously, and Why You Should Too On November 4, 2020, I participated in a webinar titled “Worker Decontamination: Preventing Take-Home Lead & The Role of Operations and Supervisors in Lead Health Programs” organized by Battery Council International. I have full respect for the organizers of this education effort aimed at reducing the harm. I was quite impressed with the mandated lead decontamination measures to prevent spreading lead dust (and consequent lead poisoning) outside of a workplace. The health risks discussed were mainly those for the families of employees of lead-containing product manufacturers. Today, 75 percent of lead used in industrial manufacturing goes into lead-acid batteries, so we are talking about manufacturers and users of lead-acid batteries here. Lead Poisoning Since lead is a dangerous neurotoxin, especially dangerous for children, a safe level of lead dust on the floor is defined at below 10 micrograms (one-millionth of a gram) per square foot. According to Dan Askin, the first speaker at the event and the president and technical director of ESCA Tech, a company developing blood lead level reduction programs, If a worker takes 1 milligram (one-thousandth of a gram) of lead home, that is enough to cover 100 square feet at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum safe level. Askin provided an example of a one-week test of a battery plant air-shower. At the entry to the men’s locker room, they recovered 108 milligrams of dust per person who walked through the air-shower. This dust was typically 60 to 70 percent lead. That means we are starting with more than 70 milligrams of lead to be removed before a worker leaves the plant. If this much lead from one person was uniformly dispersed throughout the locker room, the result would be 700 square feet of space at 100 micrograms per square foot. How Can a Worker Take Lead Home? How can one take lead home? Multiple ways: Lead dust is transmitted on shoes, clothes, skin, hair, fingernails, phones, keys, wallets, coins, tobacco, cosmetics and toiletries, socks, underwear, glasses, watch, rings, jewelry, and of course, cars. It can even be carried in your sweat. To prevent lead from being carried over to homes, companies should install advanced filters in their air conditioning systems throughout the facility, not only in the working areas but also in corridors, meeting rooms, and offices. Enter and exit routes must not cross. A policy of no street clothes or shoes inside must be enforced. If you touch your shoes, re-wash your hands. And wash your car before driving home every day. Battery manufacturing plants must check daily whether training rooms and chairs are used by people in both street clothes and work clothes. Are the training room chairs cleanable? Where are the socks washed? If the socks are washed at home, the lead will collect in the recirculation tank of a home washer and be re-suspended in the rinse water in every load. And so on. In a nutshell, if your operations involve lead products, the rules of personal protection from lead poisoning and decontamination before you leave the facility to go home must be very strict. And the punishment for not following these rules needs to be quite severe. When I asked if these measures apply to workplaces that use the lead-acid technology, not manufacture them, Askin mentioned battery distribution centers and industrial batteries charging stations, with which they “had issues in the past.” He could not give more details because there is simply not enough data. These facilities are not regulated and measured in the same way as production areas, and the blood lead levels of workers and their families are simply unknown. Askin finished his presentation with a very clear message: “The less lead you start with, the less lead you have to clean up!” Leave the lead dust behind The next two speakers, Carl Raycroft, vice president, EHS compliance, at RSR/ECOBAT, and Pedro Chacon, senior director of manufacturing at Trojan Batteries, both presented examples of policies and best practices at their organizations aimed at mitigating the risk of lead poisoning. Rigorous testing and reporting of the lead blood level test results, investments in lead decontamination equipment and employee education, and hygiene improvements of workplaces, offices, and lunchrooms all lead to reduced lead levels in the blood. And this has also become an important KPI of the management’s performance. Now, “thanks” to COVID-19, we all know very well what life in a respirator feels like. And I can truly appreciate the difficulty of this and all the other efforts necessary to keep the risk of lead poisoning at an acceptable level. But listening to the presentations, I kept asking myself, “What is this level of acceptable risk and why do we need to put up with this risk at all?” In my previous article on some obvious problems with lead-acid batteries recycling called “The New Merchants of Death: Why Lead Acid Batteries Manufacturers Are Increasing Production Volume?” I wrote about