Inform, Protect and Motivate

On April 23, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the final rule requiring demolition and underground construction to follow the same requirements established by the final rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction, published in August 2010.

Previously, OSHA had separate standards for underground and demolition work involving cranes and derricks.

Now, those standards have been eliminated, and the same rules applying to other crane and derrick construction sectors are now the same for underground construction and demolition.

Common Hazards and Signage Solutions

The hazards associated with cranes and derricks in construction can range from tipping caused by unstable loads to encountering buried electrical cables. Both the operators as well as the ground workers nearby can be affected by these risks.

• For ground workers, Crane Overhead and Swing Radius signs can help remind them to stay clear and be alert that cranes and derricks are operating nearby.
• For operators, High Voltage signs and markings alerting them to stay at least 20 feet away from power lines can help them adhere to regulations and operate at a safe working distance.
• For both ground workers and operators, Crane Hand Signal wallet cards can provide immediate reminders for standard communication signals.

For More Information

If you want to learn more about cranes and derricks, associated hazards and solutions, and OSHA regulations, please visit the following:

• OSHA's web page on Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety
• The OSHA Construction eTool on Cranes and Derricks
• The August 2010 Final Rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction
• The OSHA news release announcing the latest ruling
• The final rule for Cranes and Derricks in Construction: Underground Construction and Demolition

The final rule takes effect May 23, 2013.

About Accuform Signs

 Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

It’s important to eat healthy and exercise regularly, but some people find it hard to do so while on a tight budget. Finding the right item in the produce aisle for your grocery list can be difficult if you are looking for things like ripeness, flavor and affordability. But, it can be done.

When making out your grocery list, be sure to include produce that are currently “IN SEASON”. Every produce aisle contains products that may or may not be in season so the prices can vary considerably if they aren’t.  

So, here is a guide to help you find the healthiest produce for you and your family this summer at the right price.

Apricots – harvested in late Spring, this sweet fruit contains carotenes to help prevent cancer and also contains hefty amounts of Vitamin A & C.

Blueberries – low in saturated fat, these berries are a great topping for waffles, cheesecakes and also used for jellies and jams.

Cantaloupes – very low in calories and contains Vitamins A & C. Slice up this melon and include it in a fruit salad for your summer get together.

Corn – popular in the summer, this yellow veggie contains B Vitamins, folate, beta-carotene and fiber. Try it out as a topping for a homemade pizza or grill out with corn on the cob for the 4^th of July.

Mangoes – this super fruit contains a large amount of Vitamin C. Cut up a fresh mango and sprinkle it over a nice chicken salad.

Peaches – rich in anti-oxidants, this delicious fruit has large amounts of Vitamin A, which is vital to our vision. It’s available all year round, but is freshest from May until October.

Tomatoes – raw or cooked, this delicious citrus fruit helps prevent DNA damage, reduces the risk for heart disease and also helps to reduce inflammation in the body. Be sure to check out your local farmers market for some fresh tomatoes this summer.

Watermelon – rich in electrolytes and low in calories, indulge in this tasty melon to keep cool on a hot summer day.

Zucchini – no fats or cholesterol, this veggie is also low in calories. Zucchini is great on the grill or steamed. Zucchini is also a great source of fiber and folate.

Exercise and diet are a huge part of our lives, and Accuform Signs is here to help make it easier with our WorkHealthy™ line of products. And make sure to update your Digi-Day™ with a new face this summer to keep things fresh in your facility.

Health Disclaimer

The information contained in this blog is presented in summary form only and intended to provide a basic understanding and knowledge of healthcare topics. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation, or advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. WorkHealthy does not recommend the self-management of health problems. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or other healthcare provider promptly.

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Are we addicted to information?

Back in January, I wrote a post called The Downside to the “Instant Everything” Culture of Our Day. Yesterday, I was out shopping and pulled out my phone only to discover that my email connection had stopped working. I found myself frustrated by the inconvenience.

Really?

Mobile devices not only go everywhere with us, but they also let us take everything with us. In doing so, they blur the boundaries between work and leisure, business and family time, common sense and safety.

Yes, common sense and safety. The words texting and driving do not belong in the same sentence, and yet, texting at the wheel is becoming a problem perhaps more pervasive than drinking and driving.

Clifford Nass is a communication professor at Stanford, and he made this observation. “We’ve got a large and growing group of people who think the slightest hint that something interesting might be going on is like catnip. They can’t ignore it.”

We have to retrain our thinking.

Some campaigns are trying to help.

AT&T encourages drivers to take their pledge to never text and drive. The company launched its “It Can Wait” campaign in 2009 and encourages customers to download their free DriveMode® app. When you are driving faster than 25 mph, this app will send an automatic reply to incoming texts to notify your friends that you are driving and won’t reply until you can safely do so. Check out the “It Can Wait” YouTube video on this campaign.

Allstate launched their X the TXT program as a national movement to stop texting and driving. The program encourages drivers to take the pledge to X the TXT and like the campaign on Facebook.

Perhaps the most recent campaign is one launched by CBS Radio’s AMP 97.1 on April 23. It’s a zombie-themed campaign called DriveAlive which asks drivers to sign an online Facebook pledge in exchange for contest giveaways.  

We have to take ownership.

Campaigns are fine, but ultimately, each of us has to make the decision …

… to leave our phone alone or turn it off when driving

… to ignore the simple notification that teases our curiosity

… to keep our eyes on the road and off our screens

Self-restraint is all that's required. But if you don’t trust yourself, try locking your phone in your trunk or glove compartment where it’s out of sight and out of mind.

We certainly can’t blame the bad choice to text and drive on a lack of information. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) keeps an updated list of Distracted Driving Laws by state on their website.  

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers a wealth of information, including a Distracted Driving Information Clearinghouse webpage that lists firms and organizations that are committed to consumer education and outreach.

Texting and driving... It can wait. This shouldn't just be an AT&T slogan. It should be something we tell ourselves every time we are tempted to take our eyes off the road.

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Well, this is my 2^nd year attending Social Fresh East at the Tampa Doubletree Hotel. I live just an hour north of Tampa, and I’m blessed to have been a part of this conference both times.

I mention the Doubletree because they had us attendees promote their world-famous cookies; we tweeted a picture of their cookies, and we as a conference caused a temporary power failure which just added to the content being tweeted.   

This two-day occasion brings us some of the biggest names in social media and yep, you guessed it, freshest faces, too. Why our MC’s were none other than Sebastian Rusk of Social Buzz TV and Stephanie Wonderlin (now Wonderlin-Carls) of Tweetheart TV. Watch their intro of Jason Keath and Social Fresh East 2013.

But what’s most impressed me both years is the practical application information provided.

We, as social media specialists, marketing managers, brand managers, lobbyists, tech and Twitter nerds (in general) have been deluged over the past 5 years with theory – with terms like humanization, content, conversation and high-level ideas of what we’re supposed to be doing to help our brand succeed in social. We’ve been overrun with platforms that purport to help us produce results; tools that we can use to manage our time better and courses and consulting that we can purchase to get the job accomplished.

But in all of the webinars I’ve sat in on, all of the blog posts written by self-proclaimed gurus and rockstars, I was never really able to put together the answers to these $64,000 questions:

• How do I get in front of my audience?
• How can I get this all accomplished as efficiently as possible?
• What gives my offer value?

Well, I think Jason Keath, the founder of Social Fresh and the speakers that have graced us in Tampa have really finally answered those questions. Or maybe I’m just finally getting it.

1. How do I get in front of my audience? Well, first I have to define my audience and decide what it means to get in front of them. Is a blog the way to go? What channels do they congregate in? Who do they listen to? What are they following? When I can safely answer these questions, I can decide which content to post where and when. How can I serve them?
2. How can I get this all accomplished as efficiently as possible? We’ve learned over time where our audience congregates, but I’ve learned over time that it’s not about finding my audience and chucking up my junk for all to see. One by one, we have to establish relationships. If one marketer pushes their stuff on another marketer, and the other marketer responds likewise, they can friend, like or follow each other until the end of the age and never have accomplished a thing. So I think this question needs to be changed to a statement. Engage, one-by-one, with your audience and;
3. Offer them value. Jay Baer of Convince and Convert is calling it “Youtility” in his new book coming out in June. Chris Brogan calls it simply “Be Nice.” Don’t tell them about your product offering, but see what you can do for them – how you can serve your fellow man.

These ideas are timeless; they are biblical; they are karmic; they’re in every great piece of wisdom literature, including “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

Read my Social Fresh East Wrap-Up from February 2012.

Bummed I missed Chris Penn this year. He's always good for an overwhelming presentation and topic.

So what does it mean to be social? What do and don’t we teach our children? Be nice. Don’t push. But do talk to strangers when it comes to social media. And add a smiley face. :)

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Have you heard about Google’s augmented reality glasses, the Google Glass? Google has finally invented the future – the future we’ve been ready and waiting for.   

At the Glass homepage, click into either:

How it Feels With a virtual screen in front of you, and operating on voice activation, Glass can show you the time and temperature, record a video (as you’ll see in the video), pull-up images, take pictures and send messages. There’s even a Face-Time player (for lack of a better term) where people can see what you see when they’re not even there. Watch the cool action video.

What it Does Click into this portion to see what I wrote under “How it Feels” in a PDF slide-show presentation. Here, they also promote a GPS-type function and really harp on the “ask whatever’s on your mind” in a very Google-type fashion. How about a translator and arrival/departure schedule “…without having to ask.”

How to Get One Glass comes in 5 different colors - Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton, Sky, but as you’ll see when you click the link, applications are now closed. If you decide to register for information, Google wants to know what you’ll be using it for; personal use, as a developer, industrial/business, research or other.

At Google’s Glass FAQ page, you’ll learn that:

• Glass is not indestructible – and you should try to keep it/them dry.
• Noise, bright days and sensitive areas or people may affect use-ability (and video monitoring).
• Glass could be distracting while driving a car or bike.
• “Glass isn’t for everyone.” Consult your doctor first.
• Glass isn’t PPE. It’s not made to protect your eyes.

Tech specs include:

• Adjustable nosepad and frame
• 5MP camera and 720p video
• Wifi enabled
• Bluetooth enabled
• 12 GB of storage and battery for a day

Want to know more, like how much they’re expected to cost? Gotta Be Mobile says that Google Glass cost $1,500 to new developers. An article in the Washington Post states “from around $250 to $600” for consumers - but that was prior to the end of 2012. If it’s true, I’ll be receiving mine once they start shipping.

Check out this article (and videos) from The Verge for documentation for the Mirror API for developers.

And yes, they will be available with prescriptions as well.

So, will you go Google Glass?

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Vitamins and minerals are similar to carbohydrates, protein and fats; they're all essential for your body to function properly. They help repair and grow cells in the body which allow you to perform daily tasks efficiently. Since the body doesn’t produce vitamins or minerals naturally, you need to acquire them from food, liquids and the other things in the environment.

There are two types of vitamins; fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are absorbed into the tissues of the body and stored until they are needed. Water soluble vitamins can dissolve in water and help with metabolization. They are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and then excreted in the urine.  

Minerals are inorganic substances that compose about 4% of the human body. They help in cellular function which allows your body to move and grow.

In this blog, I am going to give you a general guide to some of the vitamins & minerals your body needs, what each of them do for you and where you can find them.

Vitamins & Minerals recommended from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (USFDA)

Calcium: a mineral that helps develop and maintain healthy bones and teeth. Also helps reduce blood pressure, and aids in hormone secretion. Found in milk and other dairy products like cheese and yogurt.

Folic Acid: a water soluble vitamin that helps aid in proper development during pregnancy and reduces the risk of heart disease. Found in fortified grains, asparagus, spinach, orange juice and lentils.

Iodine: this mineral is a crucial component of thyroid hormones and helps regulate body temperature, nerve and muscle function. Iodine is found in table salt, baked potatoes and canned tuna. Too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism, goiters and GI complications.

Iron: you should only take iron supplements if you have been diagnosed with an iron deficiency. Iron is a mineral that carries oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our body. It can be found in papaya, oysters, kale, and cashews. See more on Iron.

Potassium: a macro-mineral and electrolyte that assists in heartbeat stabilization, and muscle function. It also helps to lower blood pressure, and helps with hydration. You can find potassium in bananas,  carrot juice, and yogurt.

Vitamin A: this vitamin is known to help with good vision. It encourages white & red blood cell activity and helps rebuild bones as well. This vitamin can be found in kale, eggs, raw carrots, and vanilla ice cream. Yes, that rights – ICE CREAM.

Vitamin B: there are two major B vitamins; B6 & B12. Show your employees how easy it is to get your B vitamins with our WorkHealthy banner.

• Vitamin B6 is a water soluble vitamin that aids in the sleeping process. It helps produce serotonin and also enhances cognitive and immune functions. This can be found in salmon, hazelnuts, cottage cheese and onions and apples.
• Vitamin B12 is also a water soluble vitamin that plays a role in metabolizing fatty and amino acids. As you get older, Vitamin B12 will become more important to you as it helps reduce memory loss, dementia, and anemia. You can find this vitamin in mussels, salmon, apples, skim milk, and poached eggs.

Vitamin C: This cancer reducing vitamin helps make collagen. It has lots of antioxidants and other immune boosting agents that help your body perform properly. This helpful vitamin can be found in citrus products like orange juice and red peppers. Accuform offers a WorkHealthy poster that stresses the importance of Orange Juice in your daily diet.

Vitamin D: Do you like fun in the sun? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is activated by sunlight but be sure to wear your sunscreen. You can also find Vitamin D in salmon and egg yolks.

Vitamin E: is a fat soluble vitamin that helps with cell signaling, gene expression and metabolic processes. It’s found in sunflower seeds, almonds, broccoli, and tomato.

Vitamin K: this fat soluble vitamin helps with wound repair and bone development. It helps with blood clotting and can be found in parsley, kale, and collards.

Zinc: is an essential mineral that is involved with numerous aspects of cellular metabolism. It plays a role in protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, cell division and also helps with your taste buds and sense of smell.

I hope you've gained some helpful information. For more information on daily intake of vitamins and minerals, please feel free to visit CDC or consult your doctor.

Health Disclaimer

The information contained in this blog is presented in summary form only and intended to provide a basic understanding and knowledge of healthcare topics. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation, or advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. WorkHealthy does not recommend the self-management of health problems. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or other healthcare provider promptly.

References:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/271425-why-are-vitamins-important-to-your-body/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/70232-vitamins-apple/

http://greatist.com/health/ultimate-guide-vitamins-and-minerals

http://www.fda.gov/

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) celebrated the 35-year anniversary of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. This act came in response to tragic mining accidents and demanded more protection for mining workers.

Thirty-five years later, a decrease in mining-related deaths speaks to the impact this legislation has made. MSHA statistics show that 273 mining deaths occurred in 1977. Last year, there were 35.

How can signage contribute to mine safety?

Mines present numerous hazards, especially from smoking and open flames. Related hazards include spillage, combustible materials and flammable liquids.

MSHA’s web page on warning signs identifies the types of signs that should be posted in mining areas and what provisions they must meet. The web page offers the following checklist to determine sign placement and help ensure compliance.

• Are warning signs posted near storage and dispensing areas for flammable or combustible liquids?
• Are warning signs posted near storage and dispensing areas for grease?  Although greases may be more difficult to ignite than flammable liquids, once ignited they burn intensely and are difficult to extinguish.
• Are warning signs posted near storage areas for flammable gases?
• Are warning signs posted near areas where flammable or combustible liquids or flammable gases are used or transported in a manner that could create a fire hazard?
• Are signs posted in vehicles transporting flammable liquids, for persons who smoke, that such transport could create a fire or explosion hazard? 
• Are the signs readily visible to all persons in the area and adequate to warn persons of the hazardous area?

Accuform Signs offers flammable warning signs, as well as no smoking signs, to assist with compliance. For more information, visit our website at accuform.com.

Thanks to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the number of mine-related deaths has decreased dramatically. However, one death is one too many. Choose safety signage to help identify mine safety hazards and help prevent unnecessary injuries.

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Innovation: the act or process of inventing or introducing something new

We Are ALL Innovators!

Accuform has 300 employees. So, we have 300 innovators. Yes, YOU are an innovator. Sure, your job description may be “Purchasing Agent” or “Finisher”, or “Shipping Clerk”… but that doesn’t change the fact that you are a force of innovation, change, and progress.

As human beings, we have been created to be creative. Everyone, and again, I stress - EVERYONE is creative. Some of us are more creative than others, just as some of us are better with numbers, machines, or people.

Nevertheless, human beings are natural problem solvers. Throughout our history we have designed tools and systems that have made our lives more productive, safer, and more enriched.

When we are talking about New Product Innovation, what we’re talking about is the art of being human.

As you go about your day, think about ways in which a process can be made smoother. Can this save money? Will this make my job easier? Also, you can think of ways our products can be improved. Could we make this product in a less costly way? Is there something we could do to enrich the customer’s job, or even make their life easier? If you figure that out, then you’ve got a golden goose!

It’s not JUST about making money, though – it’s about making the world a better, safer place.

The Economics of Innovation

While our mission is to Inform, Protect, and Motivate the global workforce, we recognize that if we are going to accomplish that mission – particularly the “global” aspect – we must be about the business of making new products, selling those products, manufacturing those products, and ultimately turning a profit!

A profit is like a dirty word, isn’t it? Nobody likes to talk about it. We tend to associate it with corporate power and uncharitable shareholders who like to hoard their vast wealth. 

I can assure that’s not the case with Accuform. In fact, profit should be our FAVORITE word, because the owners of Accuform have consistently (and often extravagantly) invested their profits BACK INTO the company.

This means two things that are AWESOME for us… (1) More Jobs for our local community, and (2) Better jobs, better benefits, and a better place to work!

Profits are what keep this ship afloat, and they continue to fund our journey to becoming to the world’s greatest safety identification supplier.

Profits from increased sales and increased production have allowed us to be generous in our community. They have also afforded us the opportunity to build a state-of-the-art, 280,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and world headquarters – scheduled to break ground this year!

It’s very exciting to think about how ALL of our jobs and lives will be enriched by the formation of this new building. New products (created by you) will help fund this venture. The profits gained are invested back into the company. That’s why it’s OUR responsibility to keep the engine of innovation turning.

The Temptation to Stall

The mission is clear – make new products that Inform, Protect, and Motivate the global workforce – and in turn, make the world a better, safer place. However, there is a very real temptation that awaits us.

You see, we’ve had a little success. We’ve won some awards. We’ve grown a lot. At this point, we might begin to think that we’ve pretty much got this whole “safety sign thing” down.

I would encourage us to never lose the competitive spirit. Every sign we ship put of this building with Accuform’s trademark customer service and attention-to-detail production quality, is a sign of our own job security. It means that nobody else is going to do it like us. But there are other company’s out there waiting for us to slip (some are ankle biters and some are real threats)… waiting for our shipping time to sink… waiting for our quality to become rushed and flawed… waiting for our customer service to become impatient and rude.

Those are obvious temptations and I’m sure we think about them every day. However, less obvious temptations would be to assume that every new idea has been explored… every new product has been tried… every new process has been examined. We must not hesitate to speak-up when inspiration strikes. We must press-on and continue to be the leaders in innovation that our customers have expected from us for more than 30 years.

In closing, I just want to remind that you that many of our most-popular products were at one time just ideas scribbled on a piece of paper, by people just like you. In fact, sometimes the ones who are closest to the products have the best ideas.

Maybe you’ve seen a special order that you think could be sold in the catalog. Maybe you were asked to quote a special material or custom project that could be turned into a new product. Maybe a customer has asked you for something, but you had to say, “sorry, we do not make/sell those”.

There are new product ideas all around us. Often though, we get so wrapped up in our day-to-day tasks that we forget to make a note or pass along this information to the people who can run with it. If you are unsure how to share your idea, here are a couple of tips:

1. Write it down. Post-It note. Email to someone. Describe your new idea in a few words.
2. Draw it, sketch it, photograph it, whatever… as they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words”
3. Drop your idea into the Accuform “feedback” box.
4. I promise that these boxes are checked frequently. Your recommendations are taken seriously and get sent to the right people. If the idea is for a new product, that person will be me. You can also call, email, or visit me in person and we can sketch your idea on the white board in my office.

Thanks for reading. Remember, when it comes to innovation… YES WE CAN!

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Many cognitive biases can interfere with the ability to scan and see workplace hazards and safety signage. Here are some to consider:

Anchoring: the tendency to rely too heavily, or “anchor” perceptions on past experience.

Attentional bias: the tendency to pay attention to emotionally dominant stimuli in one’s environment at the expense of neglecting other important information or visual inputs. (Note: Signs and posters can be “emotionally dominant.”)

Confirmation bias: the tendency to search for, scan or see in a way that confirms one’s preconceptions, usually based on past experiences.

Curse of knowledge: when mastery of a topic or work task diminishes one’s ability to think and “see” in objective, non-biased terms.

Illusion of control: overestimating one’s degree of control over external events such as job tasks. (Signage can remind people otherwise.)

Just-world hypothesis: the belief that the world is just and bad things only happen to people who deserve it, such as the careless or accident-prone – but never oneself.

Normalcy bias: refusing to plan for, or react to, a disaster or other sudden crisis or dangerous change in working conditions that has never before happened. (One more reason for emergency signage.)

Optimism bias: overestimating positive outcomes; a form of wishful thinking that interferes with objective scanning and seeing “the outside world.”

Ostrich effect: denying or ignoring dangerous cues picked up while scanning and seeing the workplace

Planning fallacy: underestimating the time it will take to complete a task, leading to rushing, short-cuts, and inadequate scanning and seeing.

Recency bias: if you haven’t experienced an accident in a long period of time, you let your guard down, you are insufficiently vigilant, overconfident, complacent, and not apt to effectively scan and see. (Here signage serves as reminders.)

Risk compensation: when accident-free experience makes you complacent and over-confident, you take increased risks.

Self-serving bias: the tendency to evaluate input derived from scanning and seeing the workplace in a way that is not objective or non-judgmental, but rather in your best interests.  You don’t want to take the time to report a hazard or potential hazard you have seen or identified, or fix it yourself, so you consciously downgrade its risk.

Placement bias: you think of yourself as better than your co-workers at tasks you rate yourself as above average. This over-confidence can cause you to forego scanning and seeing your work area, or give it short-shrift.

Do you know of any other psychological barriers to identifying signage? We'd love to hear from you!

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Twenty-five percent of forklift-related deaths result from forklift overturns, according to OSHA. Other forklift injuries occur when:

1. Operators inadvertently drive forklifts off loading docks
2. Lifts fall between docks and unsecured trailers
3. Lift trucks strike pedestrians
4. Workers fall from elevated pallets and tines

So what are some procedures and housekeeping rules employers can implement to create a safer workplace?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published an alert on Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Workers Who Operate or Work Near Forklifts. In it, NIOSH offers some suggestions for controlling this occupational hazard from several angles which include the following.

For the work environment:

• Do regular safety inspections to identify potential hazards
• Distance workstations and equipment as far away from aisles as possible, and keep aisles clear
• Enforce safe facility traffic rules, such as speed limits and stop signs
• Keep loading docks, aisles and operating surfaces well maintained

For workers on foot:

• Where possible, keep forklift traffic and foot workers separate
• Designate some aisles for foot workers or forklifts only
• Keep employee high traffic areas – such as time clocks and break rooms – off limits to forklifts
• Identify blind corners and intersections where mirrors might improve visibility
• Use horns, alarms and flashing lights to alert workers when forklifts are present

For forklift operators:

• Only operate a forklift if you are trained and licensed to do so
• Use your seatbelt if available
• If your forklift is damaged, report it immediately
• Never jump from an overturning forklift, but hold on firmly, leaning in the opposite direction of the overturn
• Always use extreme caution on ramps and inclines
• Visit NIOSH’s website for more information

More resources are also available on OSHA’s Powered Industrial Trucks page. In conjunction with the Industrial Trucking Association (ITA), OSHA has published Sample Daily Checklists for Powered Industrial Trucks to help with training and maintenance.

What are some ways your facility promotes forklift safety?

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Step into most industrial facilities, and you will see signage, floor signs and even banners that alert you to the presence of forklift traffic. Additional warnings are posted for forklift operators to be on the alert for pedestrian traffic.

Why is this signage so important? Surely pedestrians will see – or at least hear – when forklifts are coming. And surely forklift drivers will know pedestrians are present, right?

Not necessarily.

OSHA has published case studies that report on fatal occupational injuries associated with forklifts. A few are listed below.

• Fatal Accident Summary Report: Struck and Crushed By a Backing Forklift…
• Press Operator Dies After Forklift Rams Scrap Bin…
• Supply Motorman Killed by Load Falling from a Forklift

Clearly, forklift operation demands safe work practices. In 29 CFR 1910.178, OSHA outlines general requirements for powered industrial trucks. Additional standards by industry group are listed in Frequently Cited OSHA Standards.

OSHA has also published a Safety and Health Information Bulletin that discusses the issue of young workers and forklift operation. Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts is designed to help employers ensure a safe workplace. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees under 18 years of age are prohibited from operating forklifts in most circumstances. For more information, review the Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet #43 which outlines youth employment provisions.

Regardless of age, workers must be trained and certified. 29 CFR 1910.178(I)1)(i) states:

“The employer shall ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation…”

The right people with the right training make the difference in busy industrial facilities where pedestrians move about and forklifts operate.

When you see forklift or pedestrian signage in your facility, pay attention. It’s there for a reason, and that reason may be you.

Next time, we’ll look into the potential hazards associated with forklifts in work environments and what employers and employees can do to help ensure a safe workplace.

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

You and your friends walk into the old high school stadium. It’s Friday Night Lights. Time for some good old rock ‘em sock ‘em football.

You take your seats and it’s not long before you’re thinking, “Something’s not right.” The bands are cooking. The cheerleaders are chanting. But… you look around the stadium. Where’s the scoreboard? There’s no scoreboard.

Both teams come flying out of opposite ends of the field and jam the brakes on before they get to the 20 yard lines. The players look around. Where’s the scoreboard? The coaches stalk after the refs.

“How can you play a game without knowing the score?” yells one coach at a ref.

The scoreboard battery blew out, explains the ref. “So we’ll keep score on the field,” he says.

“Great,” says the coach, “keep the score to yourself.”

By the second quarter, half of the fans have gone home. “How can you get excited and into the game when you don’t know the score?” grumbled one fan on his way out.

The play on the field is sluggish. The game has no juice. Some of the players appear apathetic or lost.

The coaches argue with each other. How do you call plays, make decisions, when you don’t know the down, the distance for a first down, the time remaining, and you need to keep checking with the ref for the score update?

When there is no safety score updates

This is like employees having to check in with the safety department for updates on accidents and injuries. This is because there’s no scoreboard out on the shop floor, or by the front gate.

“How long have we gone, how many days, without an accident?” one worker asks the safety director.

“When was we the last time we had a lost-time injury?” asks another. “I know we had a good record. I was proud of it. But you need a reminder.”

“What’s the countdown? How many days until we achieve our zero incident goal?” asks an employee. “This isn’t too smart. You want us to stay motivated, focused and informed about safety. But you keep all the information locked in the safety department. I see guys losing interest every day. We’re not communicating well.”

“We need to know the safety score out there to stay sharp, to be thinking about safety, to be aware. You can’t be aware if you don’t know the score,” says another employee. “Makes me wonder how much this company cares about safety. They say safety first. Yeah, they say the right things. But don’t keep us in the dark about something as important as safety.”

Says another worker: “There should be scoreboard displays inside and outside the plant. Everywhere you turn you should be reminded of how the team, the squad, the workforce is doing with safety. Visitors, clients, contractors, the public, they all should see the safety record to know how important safety is around here. “

The safety director listens and nods her head. “You’re right. I get it. I can’t keep employees engaged and motivated when they don’t know how they’re doing. We need our safety performance posted 24/7/365. I can’t promise you a scoreboard the length of a football field like the Dallas Cowboys have, I’m not Jerry Jones, but come next Monday we’ll have the score up in lights.”

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

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According to OSHA, 15% of all accidental deaths and the majority of general industry accidents result from slips, trips and falls. In fact, OSHA describes slips, trips and falls as the leading cause of fatalities, “second only to motor vehicles.”

Putting one foot in front of the other does not seem like a dangerous process; but in busy industrial settings, sometimes crowded workspaces and cluttered aisles, the reality is that it can be.

Be aware of common hazards

The causes of slips, trips and falls are so basic that employees might be tempted to ignore them. However, employers should train employees on common pitfalls and enforce housekeeping protocols to prevent unnecessary injuries.

OSHA identifies several common culprits that contribute to slips, trips and falls:

• Ice and wet spots
• Grease
• Polished floors
• Loose flooring or carpeting
• Uneven walking surfaces
• Clutter
• Electrical cords
• Open desk drawers and filing cabinets
• Damaged ladder steps

Read that list again, and realize just how little “common sense” is needed to avoid these hazards.

As OSHA states:

“The controls needed to prevent these hazards are usually obvious, but too often ignored, such as keeping walkways and stairs clear of scrap and debris; coiling up extension cords, lines, and hoses when not in use; keeping electrical and other wires out of the way; wearing lug soles in icy weather; clearing parking lots, stairs, and walkways in snowy weather; and using salt/sand as needed.”

29 CFR 1910.21 to 1910.30 address Walking/Working Surfaces, and OSHA even offers a 10-hour training outreach for workers. For more information, visit OSHA’s safety and health topics page on Walking/Working Surfaces.

Identify floor marking solutions

Employers and supervisors should recognize hazards in their workplaces and determine what best practices to apply and what product solutions to use.

Some popular floor marking solutions include:

• Fold-Ups® Signs: Portable, free-standing signs identify temporary hazardous conditions and display messages quickly and easily. High-impact plastic signs feature the same message on both sides for maximum visibility.
• Slip-Gard™ Floor Signs: Non-slip, vinyl floor signs apply directly to the floor and feature a pebble-textured surface for slip resistance. Bold, graphic messages alert of specific hazards, provide safety reminders or identify equipment and locations in your facility.
• Floor Marking Tapes: Accuform Signs offer a variety of floor marking tapes – from Slip-Gard™ textured marking tapes to grit tapes to message tapes and more. Contact us to find a solution for your unique environment.

 Which floor marking products do you use at your facility?

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Over the last few months the following question has come up repeatedly; “How does a customer document GHS Training?” Well, quite simply, or not so simply, GHS Training just like many other training documentation required by OSHA. Documentation may not be required.

Essentially the company would keep a record of employee training sessions, either electronically or on paper, which shows that on X day those employees attended a particular training. Part of almost any OSHA inspection is a records review.

There is no one OSHA requirement for training records that applies in all situations. Recordkeeping requirements for training sessions vary from regulation to regulation. In some cases, OSHA sets a record retention time or specifies requirements for the contents of training records, but this is not always the case. The HazCom standard does not specify how training records are to be maintained or for how long.

Deliverables on things like our GHS Training DVD Program, or GHS Webinar, would be minimal in terms of documentation for recordkeeping purposes, but in this specific instance, there’s not much more you need.

Documentation, or certification of training, is required on these standards:

• Lockout/Tagout, 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(7)(iv)
• Process Safety Management, 29 CFR 1910.119(g)(3)
• Hazardous Waste Operations (HAZWOPER), 29 CFR 1910.120(p)(8)(iii)(C)
• Personal Protective Equipment, 29 CFR 1910.132(f)(4)
• Respiratory Protection, 29 CFR 1910.134(m), which does not specifically use the word "training," but refers to "written information regarding medical evaluations, fit testing, and the respirator program."
• Permit-Required Confined Spaces, 29 CFR 1910.146(g)(4)
• Powered Industrial Trucks, 29 CFR 1910.178(l)(6)

By far, the best policy is to document all formal safety training for each of your employees, regardless of whether or not it’s required, it’s just good practice. You can also document additional information not required by OSHA. For example, it might be useful to keep track of the following safety training data:

• Past training on the same safety topic
• Content summary
• Safety orientation dates for new employees and orientation program content
• Future training schedule

For additional information, contact your Accuform Signs Regional Sales Manager or call 1.800.237.1001. You can also find other materials on our GHS web page.

About Accuform Signs

Accuform Signs, located in Brooksville, FL, is the leading manufacturer of facility safety identification products. Founded in 1976, Accuform Signs sells products to a network of distributors throughout North America, South America and Asia. From personalized safety signs, safety tags and safety labels, to traffic safety and lockout/tag out products, Accuform Signs provides the products and sales support for the distributors that define the safety industry.

Hand sanitizer is used by thousands of people throughout the country each day to try and help protect against germs and the flu. You can walk down the cleaning isle in your local supermarket and find dozens of disinfecting products including wipes, scrubs, and soaps. The effectiveness of these products is due to the large amount of ethyl alcohol contained in the mixture, but other ingredients include water, fragrance and glycerin which do not protect against germs. Alcohols such as ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol) are used to protect against microbial germs such as the flu by denaturing the proteins within the bacteria’s cell membrane which destroys it.

A recent article published by The New York Times shows that hand sanitizer helps against some germs but not ALL germs. Many people now-a-days carry hand sanitizer in their pocketbook, car, and/or briefcase (as do I) but we need to be sure to practice all forms of proper hygiene as well.

Whether at home, at work, or at school, you should be sure to clean your workspace daily, wash your hands frequently, clean up after yourself when you eat and be sure to take your vitamins. Accuform offers the WorkHealthy™ line of products so you can keep your employees in the know. Check out our WorkHealthy™ awareness sets to help reinforce a WorkHealthy™ attitude in your workplace.

Effective as they may be, hand sanitizer does not protect against non-enveloped viruses such as a norovirus. Noroviruses cause stomach and intestine illnesses and is a common cause of gastroenteritis in the US. Anyone can be infected and you can get it more than once. Bleach is an effective product that can protect against a norovirus by decontaminating countertops and other surfaces that may be infected. Washing your hands with soap and water also help protect against a norovirus. Symptoms of norovirus infection usually include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramping. The infection is usually gone in 1-3 days and doesn’t require medication.

Here are 5 recommendations from the CDC to help stop spread of a norovirus.

1. Practice proper hand hygiene – wash your hands with soap and water.
2. Take care in the kitchen – wash fruits and vegetables carefully, and cook foods thoroughly before consuming.
3. Do Not Prepare food while infected – If you are sick, you shouldn’t prepare food for others. If you must, proper good hand hygiene and cover your mouth and nose with a guard.
4. Clean and disinfect surfaces – any surfaces that may be contaminated need to be decontaminated and cleaned right away. Be thorough and use appropriate cleaning products.
5. Washing Laundry thoroughly – any linens or clothing that are contaminated should be handled carefully and washed separately.

What other methods do you use to inform your employees about the daily risks and the importance of keeping your hands clean?

Here at Accuform Signs, we partner with industry-leading distributors who supply safety products that work hand in hand with our facility identification solutions.

Why is this so important? Let's discuss an example. Many of our safety distributors offer PPE (personal protective equipment) such as earmuffs and earplugs to protect workers from noise exposure, while Accuform provides the warning signage to identify and alert employees of high noise environments where PPE is required.

You can’t have one without the other.

OSHA on Hearing PPE

Noise, or unwanted sound, is a pervasive occupational health problem, a by-product of many industrial processes. According to OSHA, hazardous noise affects 30 million people each year.

Exposure to high levels of noise causes hearing loss and may cause other harmful health effects as well. The extent of damage depends primarily on the intensity of the noise and the duration of the exposure.

OSHA 29 § 1910.95 requires employers to have a hearing conservation program and provide hearing protectors to employees when noise hazards are present.

“The employer shall administer a continuing, effective hearing conservation program … whenever employee noise exposures equal or exceed an 8-hour time-weighted average sound level (TWA) of 85 decibels measured on the A scale (slow response) or, equivalently, a dose of fifty percent.”

For more information, visit www.osha.gov and the page on Occupational Noise Exposure.

Through hearing conservation programs, employers provide the training and tools to help create safe workplaces. Not surprisingly, these programs include provisions for the identification of noise sources.

OSHA on Warning Signage

Everyone needs reminders. The best-trained worker may be running late and leave behind his earmuffs. The work environment may be hot and stuffy, and a worker may be tempted to remove hearing protection.

In these situations, what provides the reminder to retrieve - or the warning not to remove - hearing protection?

The answer is facility signage.

OSHA provides a Sample Hearing Conservation Program that includes “Identification of Noise Sources” as part of the plan. The sample program states:

“Equipment or areas with noise levels equal to or exceeding 85 dBA will be identified with labels or signs, which will be posted on the individual pieces of equipment (whether owned and leased) or at the entrance to noisy areas.

“The sign or label will state either “Hearing Protection Is Required While the Equipment Is Operating” or “Hearing Protection Is Required While Working in the Area” or similar wording, as appropriate.”

Noise-induced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Temporary hearing loss results from short-term exposures to noise, with normal hearing returning after period of rest. Generally, prolonged exposure to high noise levels over a period of time gradually causes permanent damage.

Together, Accuform Signs and our distributor partners provide the PPE and signage to help employers inform and protect workers - and comply with regulations.

GHS (Globally Harmonized System) is a worldwide program developed by the United Nations which strives to provide a consistent, globally harmonized system of classifying chemical hazards on labels and safety data sheets through standardizing:

• How hazards are classified
• Hazard statements
• Hazard symbols
• Hazard signal words

GHS is important because a consistent system for classifying chemicals in the workplace promotes worker safety and understanding. The shift toward standardized classification, labeling and safety data sheets provides a more uniform, user-friendly approach to hazard communication. In addition, a worldwide, harmonized system helps promote safe and efficient chemical handling and trade on a global level.

The UN’s GHS lays out the standardization practices for participating countries but does not enforce compliance. Each country is responsible for adopting and implementing the GHS through their enforcement agencies, like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). On March 26, 2012, OSHA published the final rule to revise the Hazard Communication                       UN Purple Book           Standard §1910.1200 to align with the GHS.

The first step towards compliance with the revised Hazard Communication Standard is to educate and train employees on new GHS label elements and safety data sheet (SDS) format. Now is the time to start preparing for new requirements. The compliance date to have all employees trained is December 1, 2013.

GHS has been a super-hot topic for more than a year now, and Accuform Signs has a wealth of information and educational material including downloadable PDF's, OSHA SDS resource (quick card), a Key Points slide presentation, whitepaper and even product videos to help you stay on track with the timeline.

Contact your regional sales manager or customer service representative today to find out how Accuform can further help you stay in compliance with OSHA concerning the GHS.

Social media is about sharing and awareness, and so is representing/dedicating a calendar month for a cause or an organization. 

Depending on what calendar you’re looking at, February has been coined or nicknamed National Time Management Month, Black History Month, Burn Awareness Month, Aggressive Driving Month, Parent and Youth Leadership Month, Marfan Syndrome Month (also called Marfan's Syndrome, which is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue), Library Lover’s Month, even Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month.

       Geno Truman, Machine Operator

For the safety industry, the two most important titles for this month would have to be American Heart Month and Workplace Eye Safety Month.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease is our nation’s number one cause of death. Apparently, 75% of Americans show traces of dangerous fat in their arteries prior to going into cardiac arrest, and it’s deemed that most heart attacks are almost entirely preventable. Because of these alarming statistics, since 1963, Congress has required the president to proclaim February “American Heart Month.” The American Heart Association teams up with thousands of volunteers nationwide to inform the public about this deadly disease. Their goal is to increase knowledge of the illness, and raise funds for further research and education. You can find the American Heart Association on:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Google+

Here at Accuform Signs, eye safety and preventing eye injury is taken very seriously. One could argue that every month is Workplace Eye Safety Month here. All employees, contractors and visitors are required to wear eye protection once they pass a designated floor marking tape. Have you scoped out potential dangers that could cause temporary or permanent eye impairment at your facility?

Eye problems are more prevalent these days even if you work in front of the computer all day. Some common causes of eye injury or eye strain, exposure to excessive bright lighting, and Computer Vision Syndrome. Both workers and employers can take the proper steps to reduce the risk of eye problems. Doing eye relief exercises, using proper lighting, minimizing glare, and upgrading your computer display/monitor are just some steps that can be taken to prevent eye strain and fatigue to decrease work errors and increase productivity. The American Optometric Association has a robust AOAConnect page, or you can connect on:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube

What’s your focus on safety this month?

Millions of people run each day, but do you know why? Well, maybe because it’s a healthy exercise for you mentally, physically and socially. So, running may not be your favorite exercise, but it works!

There are numerous benefits to running. It doesn't require a lot of personal or gym equipment, and it can easily be incorporated into any WorkHealthy routine, during breaks or even at lunch.

Many people run to lose weight. Some run to be social. And, others run to relieve stress. For whatever the reason, you are healthier because of it.

Running has so many benefits to us as individuals; it would be too difficult to list them all in a blog. So, I’m going to hit some of my favorite things about running and also give you a few other sources for you to learn more.

Physical Benefits of running

• Strengthen and tones muscle
• Lowers blood pressure
• Prevents disease (osteoporosis, cancer)
• Burns calories which help with weight loss
• Increase metabolism

Mental Benefits

• Stress reliever
• Reduces risk of depression
• Releases endorphins which can help you live happier
• Relieves anxiety

Social Benefits

• Running with a partner or in a group can help you get to know other runners
• Give back to your community by participating in running events near you
• Run outdoors to view beautiful scenery and meet new people along the way

 Running works, but not everyone can run immediately. The key to getting started is to walk, A LOT. Start off easy and work your way up to jogging. Running long distances will come after you are comfortable. There are several important factors that you should consider looking into if you are new to running:

1. Visit your doctor and get a complete physical exam first
2. Visit a running store; Fit 2 Run or FITniche to have someone fit you to a good running shoe
3. Be sure to stretch before and after every run
4. Use a heart rate monitor to access your intensity
5. Wear breathable active wear like Nike or Under Armour to make sure you are staying as cool as possible
6. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated. See Accuform's WorkHealthy poster to help you determine if you are properly hydrated
7. Be sure to eat a properly balanced diet including carbohydrates, vegetables, protein, fats & sugars
8. Most of all, Have fun!

New to running? Here's some additional tips to get started.

Runners World, a great source of information.

Training tips, nutrition & more - for women.

Various helpful running articles.

Do you run? Do you WorkHealthy? Why or why not?

Health Disclaimer

The information contained in this blog is presented in summary form only and intended to provide a basic understanding and knowledge of healthcare topics. The information should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation, or advice of your physician or other healthcare provider. WorkHealthy does not recommend the self-management of health problems. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or other healthcare provider promptly.

Works Cited:

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/running-basics.html

http://www.runningbenefits.org/

http://www.active.com/running/Articles/6-Benefits-of-Running

As Accuform's Catalog Manager, I work closely with our products and product management team. As a result, our sales team sometimes comes to me for product support information - and I'm happy to assist.

Not long ago, someone sent me a question, requesting a safety tag that would "last outdoors in extended sun exposure." I recommended our most durable tag material, HS-Laminate, but I also suggested that for more permanet marking, another type of identification product might be more appropriate.

Let's take a step back. As a general rule, are safety tags designed for "extended exposure"? What is the purpose of a safety tag?

Don’t roll your eyes just yet at what may seem like a redundant question. How would you answer? Maybe you would say something like:

• Tags provide short-term identification for product or equipment status.
• Tags are frequently updated and replaced.
• Tags call out temporary hazards.

Did you notice a common thread among these descriptions? Tags are for short-term, temporary use – not for long-term marking purposes.

Accuform’s Stock Tag Materials

Maybe you’re not sure which tag material is right for your situation. Let’s break down our stock materials using a good/better/best approach. (Additional materials are available for custom tag requests.)

PF-CARDSTOCK (good)

• Economical tags for indoor and temporary outdoor use
• 10-mil pulp-free tags have no wood pulp or paper content
• Pliable, poly-based tags are waterproof and tear resistant
• Write-on, scuff-resistant, matte surface
• 3/8” plain hole

RS-FLEXCARD (better – flexible, synthetic card tag)

• 10-mil, rip-resistant, synthetic card tag for indoor and short-term outdoor use
• Withstands wide temperature ranges with UV-inhibitors for weather resistance
• Moisture, chemical and oil resistant
• Write-on, scuff-resistant, gloss surface
• 3/8” hole with pull-proof metal grommet

RP-PLASTIC (better – semi-flexible, rigid plastic tag)

• 15-mil rigid plastic tags for indoor and short-term outdoor use
• Withstands pulls, tears and temperatures in dirty and greasy environments
• Moisture, chemical and abrasion resistant
• Write-on, scuff-resistant, matte surface
• 3/8” hole with pull-proof metal grommet

HS-LAMINATE (best)

• 24-mil laminated tag for tough, abusive conditions – indoors and out
• 10-mil card tag is hard-sealed by a thick, 7-mil laminate on both sides to protect the printed image
• Tear-proof, weatherproof and chemical resistant
• Write-on, matte-finish, laminate surface
• 3/8” hole with pull-proof metal grommet

For more information on safety tags and materials, contact us today, or search our Virtual Catalog.

When choosing your safety tag material, think about where you will be placing the tag and what demands it will need to withstand for the duration of the hazard, maintenance or inspection period.