Facility Safety 4 | Spill Containment Blog

Don’t Fall For It: Prevent Slip-and-Fall Injuries with Stair Treads

January 13, 2016 by Travis Zdrazil

Stair treads add grip to help prevent slip and falls

You want your workers to be safe — of course you do. But it isn’t just compassion that makes workplace safety important. Non-fatal workplace injuries hurt your business and your bottom line, too. In fact, it’s been estimated that employers pay out almost $1 billion per week for workers’ compensation costs alone.

And that’s not even the whole cost of injury — there are indirect costs, too, such as training replacement employees, accident investigation, implementation of corrective measures, productivity loss, repairs to damaged equipment and property, and even the costs associated with lowered morale and absenteeism. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics show that there are over 25,000 slip-and-fall injuries in the workplace every day. And even worse, studies show that the rate of falls among industrial employees is rising.

So how can you avoid “falling” into the same traps as other businesses? The most common locations for falls are doorways, ramps, uneven surfaces, ladders, stairs, and any place prone to wetness or spills. Armed with the knowledge of your most dangerous areas, you can use good housekeeping best practices and safety stair treads to stop falls before they happen.

We have a variety of non-slip products to meet your facility’s specific needs.

1. Non-Slip Tapes and Treads

Perfect for indoor or outdoor use, these tapes have an anti-slip grit surface for traction and can be easily applied with peel-and-stick adhesive backing. They come in a variety of colors, widths, and slogans and can be used on steps, ladders, inclines, ramps, or surfaces that are often wet. We even carry a line of extreme tapes for harsh environments.

2. Fiberglass Stair Treads

For use at the primary point of contact on stairs or landings for maximum pedestrian safety, the strong, mineral-abrasive epoxy grit coating on safety stair treads is cost-effective and can be used on wood, concrete, or metal.

3. Aluminum Stair Nosings and Treads

For use on worn steps, new construction, or renovations, these aluminum treads are strong enough for industrial use but attractive enough to be used residentially. They are available in seven standard colors, made from corrosive-resistant extruded aluminum, and utilize a blend of abrasive grit and epoxy filler for a super strong non-slip surface.

All of our anti-slip treads are easy to install, allowing you to make your facility safer immediately.

Want to learn more about tapes, nosings, and treads? AbsorbentsOnline can help. Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

With Industrial Floor Mats, You Can Keep Trucking Along

July 10, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

A mat is a mat — right? Wrong!

Although we rarely pay much attention to the mats scattered around our homes and our workplaces, each performs a particular function to make the facility safer.

Industrial floor mats are one of the easier ways to keep floors dry and conditions tidy. In fact, OSHA 1910.22 dictates good floor housekeeping around the workplace. Including the requirements that:

“the floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, a dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry standing places should be provided where practicable.”

How to choose the right industrial floor mat

Take a look around your facility and seek out places where floors may be accident prone. Then, review this handy guide to find the perfect mat for every problem.

For vehicle parking: The Forklift mat will protect your flooring from damage by oils or battery acids. And, as a bonus, it is excellent at preventing slips and falls!
Catch drips and leaks: The Oil drip mat is super absorbent and will absorb oil, coolants, solvents, and water. This mat is also good at preventing slips and falls.Alternatively, the Survivor mat is a universal absorbent and can take the punishment of everyday wear and tear. It’s camo patterning is also a great way to disguise dirt and grime.
Hide grime: For high-traffic areas, try the Rag rug industrial absorbent floor mat. Made from recycled material, this mat can absorb grunge without looking dirty.
For heavy-duty oil drips: For the machinery that will deal out major oil drips, the Railroad containment absorbent track mat will serve nicely. This is the heaviest, thickest, and most absorbent barrier mat available.

No matter what your needs, industrial floor mats are one of the most inexpensive solutions for keeping floors clean and safe. And the best part? No assembly required!

Want to learn more about absorbents or industrial floor mats? AbsorbentsOnline can help. Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Relieve Standing Pain with Anti-fatigue Floor Mats

July 10, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

worker standing on the assembly line When you and your workers leave to go home each day, is there pep in your step … or a pain in your back? For workers who have to stand all day long, foot, knee, and back pain can be serious problems. To counter the effects of standing for extended periods during work, anti-fatigue floor mats might be the solution you’ve been looking for.

You’ve probably heard the much-repeated health mantra, “sitting will kill you.” But even though standing for extended periods throughout the day is better for your health than sitting for the same amount of time, standing can put a strain on your health as well if you are not careful. When you’re standing up, your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your body — not to mention that you’re putting extra weight and pressure on your joints.

Are anti-fatigue mats a good investment?

So anti-fatigue mats will make you and your workers more comfortable. And make your work environment healthier. But is there a downside?

Actuallly … no! They have a long life expectancy (3-8 years), so you won’t need to worry about frequently replacing them. They’re strong and easy to clean, so they won’t add undue extra work for you. They’re National Floor Safety Institute Approved for non-slip so they won’t solve one health risk while introducing another. Plus they have beveled sides for safety and ease of cart traffic, so they won’t get in the way of your work.

Indoor anti-fatigue mats

anti-fatigue kitchen floor mat AbsorbentsOnline offers two types of indoor anti-fatigue floor mats to increase worker productivity and keep you feeling great all day long: Anti-fatigue floor mats and anti-fatigue kitchen mats.

Whatever your criteria, our mats can meet it:

Size — We offer our anti-fatigue mats in sixteen different sizes, so you can find the right size for your work area no matter what.
Thickness — Most anti-fatigue mats are only 3/8″ thick — and some are as thin as 5/8″! Our 3/4″ mats offer the best cushion and comfort.
Density — Unlike the heavy mats from our competitors, our mats are lightweight and easy to move.
Wet or Dry — Our mats function equally well in wet and dry environments.

Outdoor anti-fatigue mats

Do your workers spend long periods of time standing outdoors? Good news — there’s an anti-fatigue mat for them, too!

These specialty outdoor mats use a heavy-duty vulcanized rubber construction with a textured surface for extra grip. It’s an excellent way to improve the standing comfort of your road work crew, like flaggers.

As well as being purpose-built to withstand hot or cold weather conditions, it’s portable and lightweight enough to easily fit in your truck cab at the end of the day.

If you’re looking to boost productivity and comfort and increase the health and safety of your workplace, you don’t have to look any further than anti-fatigue floor mats. Durable, long-lived, easy to clean, and affordable — what more do you need? If you still want to learn more, then check out Benefits of Using Anti-Fatigue Mats In The Workplace.

Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or call (800) 869-9633.

3 Ways to Stop Moving Machinery Accidents Before They Happen

April 8, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

How your facility can benefit from these pieces of workplace safety equipment

Loader in modern storehouse

Equipped with essential moving machinery such as forklifts or other large vehicles, your facility is ready to handle many different jobs. However, with increased efficiency comes increased risk of accidents or injury.

As facility or safety manager, it’s your job not only to assess the potential for extreme consequences to workers or the facility. But also to implement precautions to minimize damage.

One solution is simple: utilizing proper safety equipment helps you avoid machinery accidents. Not only that, it aids compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.

Here are three tools you may want to add to your workplace to reduce potential damage associated with moving machinery.

1. Safety guards

Barriers such as steel bollard posts, and machine safety guards serve multiple purposes. They can be used both indoors and out, and not only block off areas where moving vehicles are not permitted, but also protect pedestrians and other equipment from damage if an operator loses control.

Whether they are used to prevent structural damage near racks and machines, or to direct general traffic, these guards offer extra protection for your facility and employees.

2. Facility protectors safety equipment

column protector facility safety equipment Column protectors, corner protectors, and wall protectors are used to draw attention to architectural features to help vehicle operators safely navigate difficult infrastructure.

Their bright colors offer visual cues to drivers, while their ability to absorb impact ensures that your structure, vehicle, and operator take the minimal amount of damage.

3. Forklift mat

Safely storing moving machinery is just as important as safely operating it. Forklifts and other vehicles are prone to damaging floors with oil and battery acid drips. Besides their aesthetic unpleasantness, oil spills can make floors hazardously slippery, and uncontained battery acid can be dangerous for workers. Using a forklift mat to absorb dripping fluids can make the area safer and prevent concrete stains.

Remember, if you operate vehicles or moving machinery at your facility, take preventative measures against potentially dangerous and damaging accidents.

AbsorbentsOnline is here to help. Feel free to contact us by email or call toll free at (800) 869-9633.

3 Best Practices for Chemical Containment

January 28, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

Safety is essential when it comes to chemical containment in your workplace

Fuels and chemicals are common and necessary tools in factories, shops, labs, warehouses, and construction sites. While some of these substances — such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and other combustible oils — are familiar and seemingly harmless materials to handle, safety is essential when dealing with any kind of fuel or chemical, especially in the workplace.

You can help keep your workers and business safe by using the following three-step approach for hazardous chemical spill containment.

1. Train your employees

Giving your employees the proper training for handling hazardous materials can greatly reduce the risk of injury caused by these substances. Training is also important to ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.

Employees must also understand which tools to use with the specific material they’re handling. Including wearing the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) when dealing with a chemical containment or spill issue.

2. Choose the right container

Your choice of safety container material depends on the type of chemical you need to store inside it:

Galvanized steel — Use when chemical purity is not essential. Some chemicals may adversely affect paint.
Polyethylene — Use to store acids, caustics, or other corrosive substances.
Stainless steel — Use when chemical purity is necessary.

The size of container you’ll need depends on how frequently the chemical is used, its applications, and where it is being used. Smaller-sized containers are recommended for a workstation, whereas larger, five-gallon containers are ideal in a field or warehouse.

3. Keep containers organized

Mixing up fuels or chemicals or accidently using the wrong substances can have catastrophic consequences. Many businesses use a container color-coding system to avoid chemical mix-ups.

In general, flammable liquids are organized and stored according to the following scheme:

Safety cans for chemical containment come in different colors, materials and sizes to safely store and dispense contents

Gasoline is stored in red containers.
Diesel is stored in yellow containers.
Kerosene is stored in blue containers.
Oil combustibles are stored in green containers.

Most business will need to use several different types and sizes of containers to safely handle and store flammables and combustibles.

AbsorbentsOnline.com offers top-quality Eagle Safety Cans to help meet your safety compliance needs. Many of the hazardous chemical spill containment products available meet OSHA standards or NFPA Code 30 requirements, are UI and ULC listed, or are FM Approved.

By employing these three practices and using safety cans or other containers approved for chemical storage, you’ll keep your employees and worksite safer, neater, and legally compliant.

AbsorbentsOnline is here to help. Feel free to contact us by email or call toll free at (800) 869-9633.

Keep Forklift Accidents at Bay with Safety Barriers

January 19, 2015 by Travis Zdrazil

Here’s a sobering fact: Every year, 20,000 U.S. employees are seriously injured and 100 are killed in warehouse accidents involving forklifts.

Forklifts are among the leading causes of workplace injuries in warehouses. These accidents usually include overturned forklifts and collisions with pedestrians, pallets, or other equipment. Not to mention that these accidents can cause costly damage to your equipment.

That’s why it’s important that forklift operators be trained to operate forklifts safely. But beyond ensuring safe operation, what can you do to reduce the chances of forklifts causing accidents and damage in your workplace?

A barrier to collisions
Luckily, there’s a simple solution: safety barrier products. These durable, fixed objects prevent entry of forklifts and other vehicles, allowing you to protect dangerous or vulnerable areas and make safe areas for pedestrians. And as a bonus, they’re incredibly easy to install.

There are many types of safety barriers that can be used to reduce the risk of accidents when using forklifts or other powered industrial trucks:

Guard rails — These rail assemblies are used to protect large areas against vehicle collisions, provide pedestrian walkways, and protect buildings from damage.

Machine safety guards and rack guards — These high-visibility yellow steel safety rails are easily installed with steel plates. They are maintenance free and will provide years of protection for your equipment and employees.

Steel bollard posts — These sturdy steel posts are an easy way to prevent property damage. They can be filled with cement, if desired.

Column protectors — Make sure your columns and beams are both visible and protected with impact-absorbing, high-density polyethylene column protectors.

Wall protectors — These energy-absorbing wall protectors can be installed at any height to prevent damage to your concrete, drywall, or block walls.

Forklift mats — This super-absorbent polypropylene mat protects your floors from spills and equipment, and your employees from slips and falls. It is sold in rolls, so you can cut the mats to suit your space.

Safety barriers are a low-tech, economical workplace safety product. They’re so easy to implement, there’s no excuse for any business that uses powered industrial trucks to be without them.

Have questions about which absorbents are right for your needs? Contact Travis Zdrazil at travis@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

AbsorbentsOnline.com offers these safety barrier products:

Keep Your Facility Safe and Neat with Cigarette Butt Receptacles

November 5, 2014 by Travis Zdrazil

Discarded cigarette butts. They’re an ugly nuisance that pose a fire hazard for your workplace and are environmentally unfriendly, too. Even if your employees, and possibly your customers, are smoking outside, their improperly discarded butts still present those problems. That’s why it is important to provide the proper receptacles for extinguishing and discarding cigar and cigarette butts at your place of business.

Having cigarette receptacles on your workplace premises decreases litter and improves the overall safety of your facility — for example, by reducing the risk of fires in trash cans or chemical fires caused by still-lit cigarettes or sparks. AbsorbentsOnline offers cigarette receptacles that provide a safe, clean way to dispose of butts. The receptacles have long necks that restrict oxygen, to reduce smoke and burn time, and sand at the bottom of the unit that prevents the butts from being blown by the wind. The receptacle’s top is covered so that moisture cannot get in — inhibiting unpleasant wet tobacco odors.

Choose from a variety of receptacles
Both metal and polyethylene cigarette receptacles are available. The metal outdoor cigarette receptacles are made of galvanized steel in yellow and beige and are durable enough to provide many years of service. The polyethylene cigarette butt receptacles come in an array of colors and designs to match your building’s aesthetics. Anchor tabs on the receptacle’s base provide secure mounting and wind protection.

If you’re worried about an outdoor cigarette ashtray negatively affecting your building’s appearance, AbsorbentsOnline has a solution for that as well. Decorative outdoor ashtrays are available in three colors and three styles to blend seamlessly with your building’s design. Choose from a classic fluted model, a hitching post design, or even a golf ball style!

You can accommodating smokers without the hassle. Provide safe and clean disposal of cigarette butts by adding one or more cigarette receptacles to your work area.

AbsorbentsOnline is here to help. Feel free to contact us by email or call toll free at (800) 869-9633.

4 Risky Flammables Storage Practices and How to Avoid Them

October 8, 2014 by Travis Zdrazil

Yellow cabinet for flammable liquids.

In the midst of daily routine, safety may not always be at the forefront of your mind. It can be easy to overlook potentially dangerous materials in your workplace environment, but doing so poses a great threat to workers’ well-being. Although OSHA and local fire codes define clear storage requirements for flammables, too many workplaces don’t comply with these rules. Need proof? It only takes a quick Internet search to find examples of safety violations or even accidents resulting from improper storage of flammable liquids or other hazardous materials.

Flammable hazards
If you’re unsure whether your workplace’s flammables storage practices are safe, review this checklist of potential hazards:

Flammable materials are stored too close to ignition or heat sources or are in areas that are not adequately ventilated.

Workers don’t follow handling or storage instructions on the flammables’ labels or material safety data sheets (MSDS).

Spills of flammable liquids are not cleaned up promptly (including spills inside a safety storage cabinet).

And finally, one of the greatest hazards is not storing flammable materials in the correct containers or storage cabinets. For example, a flammable liquid material should be stored in a safety can that is OSHA or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) approved and has a spring-closing lid/spout cover and flame arrestors. Multiple containers of flammables should be stored in flammable storage safety cabinets that meet OSHA requirements and are clearly labeled “Flammable – Keep Fire Away.”

Safe flammables practices and products
Fortunately, it is not difficult to properly store flammable materials. Safe flammables storage practices require three essential elements:

a culture of commitment to safety at all levels of a company,
clear, OSHA-compliant safety procedures that all company employees follow, and
the right safety products.

AbsorbentsOnline offers products that can make your workplace safer, including safety storage cabinets (such as Eagle flammable liquid storage cabinets) and safety cans. With the right tools, you can store flammable materials correctly and keep your employees safe.

Want more ideas to help you improve flammables safety in your workplace? OSHA and AbsorbentsOnline.com provide helpful resources, including detailed workplace safety checklists and an OSHA Cabinet Regulation Guide for Flammables.

AbsorbentsOnline is here to help. Feel free to contact us by email or call toll free at (800) 869-9633.

Make Safety a Way of Life in Your Workplace

September 5, 2014 by Travis Zdrazil

Is safety a key value and essential part of day-to-day life in your workplace — part of your company’s culture? It should be.

Why build a culture of safety? For two reasons: productivity and profitability. A safe organization will run more productively, with fewer employee injuries (and associated absences) and fewer safety infractions that interrupt work. A safety culture can make your organization more profitable for the same reasons; a fully staffed, healthy workforce means the work gets done without costly injuries that impact your bottom line.

Building a strong safety culture starts with these three best practices:

1. Secure a strong buy-in from key influencers.

The 80/20 rule applies to an organization’s culture: 20% of staff set the culture, and the other 80% follow it. The 20% who really influence your company’s culture — typically, highly respected mid-level managers and senior employees at all levels — must be on board with the safety standards and policies. This means involving those staff members early on in the process of planning and forming safety policies.

The other benefit of involving these influencers is they have intimate knowledge of the day-to-day job. Recall from this article that the primary reason employees don’t follow safety procedures is because of discomfort or frustration with their personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment. Influencers are working in the trenches with the rest of the team, so they’re in an ideal position to explain why following the correct procedures and using safety equipment is important.

2. Set clear goals, standards, and consequences.

Management must define easy-to-understand safety standards and communicate them clearly. With clear standards in place, management should also clearly communicate the consequences of not following safety standards, enforce those standards, and provide both corrective measures and incentives or rewards, as appropriate.

You also need metrics that assess your organization’s safety program. In addition to tracking incident rates, consider using proactive metrics such as the number of infractions cited, safety meeting attendance, and safety pop quiz results. Another way to gauge the effectiveness of your safety program is to rate staff members for their role in promoting safety either quarterly or at an annual review.

Additionally, managers and their teams must have the tools they need to be safe. Such tools include PPE as well as other safety products that are relevant to the job and work materials: for example, fall protection, absorbent mats, and absorbent pads and rolls that reduce risk of slip, trip, and fall accidents.

3. Constantly improve your process.

Safety policies and standards should not be a “set-and-forget” idea. Teams should conduct regular safety meetings to discuss how the equipment and policies are working. Company leadership should provide opportunities for employees to suggest ways that the company can be more productive and make better equipment investments. Make safety a way of life for your organization, not just an ideal or something only taken seriously when someone is watching.

Do you have the right safety products on hand for your workplace? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.

Make Personal Protective Equipment a Priority

July 7, 2014 by Travis Zdrazil

Workplace injuries and deaths in the U.S. cost a total of $198.2 billion in 2012, according to the National Safety Council. But despite the enormous cost of accidents and other workplace safety incidents, too many workers are risking on-the-job injuries because they are not using personal protective equipment (PPE) consistently.

According to a Kimberly-Clark Professional survey, 82% of safety professionals had observed staff in their organization failing to wear the appropriate PPE. Additionally, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 84% of on-the-job head and face injuries are sustained by employees not wearing the proper PPE.

OSHA defines PPE as “equipment worn to minimize exposure to serious workplace injuries and illnesses” that can come from contact with chemical, physical, or mechanical hazards. Examples of PPE include gloves, hearing protection, eye and face protection, head protection (hard hats), protective clothing, and respirators.

Reasons for noncompliance

Kimberly-Clark’s survey provides a number of reasons why workers are not using PPE at all appropriate times. The single greatest reason, according to safety professionals, is that workers perceive that PPE is unnecessary. Other reasons cited are that the equipment is uncomfortable, it’s too hot, or it impedes productivity (e.g., not easily available, ill fitting).

Fortunately, businesses can overcome many of these causes for noncompliance by educating employees, changing workplace behaviors, and possibly upgrading equipment.

Practical steps to increase PPE usage

Improving PPE compliance in your organization can reduce medical expenses, staffing losses resulting from employee injuries, and costs associated with OSHA noncompliance. Here are some steps you can take to help instill the habit of using PPE in your employees:

Educate workers about the dangers of noncompliance. The primary reason workers aren’t using PPE is that they don’t perceive a task or work environment as dangerous. Having honest discussions with employees about the dangers of noncompliance, as well as the more intangible or long-term dangers (such as exposure to heavy metals), is the first step in promoting proper PPE use.
Have clear policies and enforce them. Supervisors should communicate PPE policies to employees and post policies at worksites to serve as a regular reminder. Managers should address noncompliance incidents quickly to maintain a high standard of safety.
Encourage correct PPE maintenance. Survey data shows that many employees don’t understand the importance of properly maintaining PPE. Supervisors should make sure employees understand how to clean, store, and maintain safety equipment and why doing so is important for overall safety.
Lead by example. Managers and supervisors need to reinforce the importance of using PPE correctly and consistently — and that includes always using PPE when their own jobs require it.
Solicit feedback. Give employees an opportunity to discuss the specific challenges they have with using PPE.
Consider equipment upgrades. Innovative safety equipment, such as a helmet that can serve as a traditional hard hat or convert to a helmet with face protection, could make PPE use easier and more convenient for employees. Or, try investing in more comfortable full-body suits or gloves with a roughened surface for a proper grip.

PPE is a critical part of workplace safety, and it’s also mandated by law. By paying attention to workers’ PPE usage and enforcing your organization’s PPE policies, you’ll help to keep down injury-related costs and most important, keep your employees and workplace safe.

Do you have the right products on hand to keep your workers safe? To find out, contact Angie Meza at angie@absorbentsonline.com or (800) 869-9633.