Protection Update: Fall 2004 · FP Stryder beam grip, which fea-tures single-hand, push-button...

News from the International Safety Equipment Association

ProtectionUPDATE

F A L L 2 0 0 4

By Janice Comer Bradley, CSPInternational Safety Equipment Association

You rely on safety equipment toprotect your eyes, face, head,lungs, hearing, hands and body

from injury or illness. But do you alwaysknow that you’re getting the correct pro-tective equipment for the hazard?

The best way to tell is tolook for evidence that theproduct complies with arecognized standard.Safety product standardsexist for virtually everyproduct that you may need.Products that meet thespecifications of that stan-dard are usually requiredto bear some marking,usually the standard num-ber, to signal to the userthat the product has beentested and evaluated tomeet all of the require-ments of the standard.

What does the markingof a standard on a safetyproduct indicate?

It shows that the producthas been designed, man-ufactured and tested tomeet certain performancecriteria. For example, hardhats tested to meet thecriteria in the ANSI Z89.1-2003 Standard forIndustrial Head Protectionare marked Z89.1-2003.Tests include impact, pen-etration, flammability andelectrical resistance. Safetyeyewear should meet stan-dards for impact resistance,lens retention and opticalcharacteristics found inANSI Z87.1-2003, andmarked accordingly.

It used to be enough totell users to look for themark on the product to

ensure that it meets the level of perfor-mance. This may no longer be enough.There are safety products available thatare marked with the citation of the stan-dard, but may never have been testedor evaluated to all the criteria in thestandard, and may not offer the samelevel of protection as products that domeet the standard.

Protection Updateis the newsletter for theISEA Partnership for WorkerProtection program. It isintended for anyone whospecifies, purchases or usespersonal protective equip-ment, and those who regu-late it. Protection Update isdistributed without charge,and also is available onISEA’s website www.safetye-quipment.org.

1901 North Moore StreetArlington, VA 22209-1762 USATelephone: (703) 525-1695Fax: (703) 528-2148Email: [email protected]

Daniel K. Shipp, [email protected]

Joseph L. Walker, [email protected]

2 New Protection forWorkers

8 Hearing Protection forConstructors

11 ISEA Updates High-Viz Apparel Standard

11 Eye and Face Standard Available

12 Making Workers Safer

17 Safety Equipment Use Trends Upward

i n t h i s i s s u e

a 16

ILLUSTRATIO

N BY

SAM

FERRO

Safety EquipmentPerformance:What to Look For;What to Ask For

FOR THE WHOLE PERSON…From AW Direct is a new High-Visibility Products catalog. The full-color, 68-page catalog covershundreds or products, includingANSI-compliant vests, outerwear,gloves, traffic cones, conspicuitytapes, work lights and warninglights. The catalog is effectivethrough Jan. 14, 2005. 800-

243-3194 or awdirect.com.From DuPont Personal Protection

(800-931-3456 or usadupont.com) are● NOMEX® AP (arc protection) workwear,which meets the arc rating required forHazard/Risk Category 2, as defined bythe 2000 edition of National Fire Protec-tion Association 70E standard, the com-pany reported. This new protective fabricprovides electricians flame-resistant pro-tection from the intense heat of electricarc hazards in a durable, single layer

garment, DuPont said.The product is specificallyengineered to minimizeburn injuries associatedwith electric arcs.● Tychem® ThermoProsingle-layer suit, whichprovides protection fromboth flash fire and chemi-cals, the company said,adding that its patented

Tychem barrier technology has beenintegrated with its Nomex® fabric, whichis inherently flame-resistant and helpsflash fire escape; the suit does not meltor drip.

From FSI North America is theDAT15T 19-foot, self-contained mobiledecontamination shower system, whichis fully capable of providing hot-watershowers and electricity in emergencysituations where permanent facilities arenot available, the company said. Theunit offers a two-line, two-person, pres-sure-regulated shower system with dirtyentry, clean exit doors, clean and brownwater holding tanks, detergent injection,on-demand hot water, generator, lights,and storage capabilities, using a patented

Protection UPDATE | FALL 20042

N E W P R OT E C T I O N F O R W O R K E R S

panel design system. 440-891-1523 orfsinorth.com.

From Magid Glove and SafetyManufacturing Co. LLC is three-piece,unlined rainwear, style 4521. This eco-nomical suit is made out of five-mil-thick,

yet light-weightvinyl material,according to thecompany, whichadded that the4521 style fea-tures waist pants,zipper jacket withside pockets,and detachablehood. Providingsuperior liquidresistance, thegarment is suit-able for all-pur-pose work invarious industriesincluding healthcare, utilities and

outdoors, and is U.S. Department ofAgriculture accepted. 800-444-8010 ormagidglove.com.

AGAINST FALLS (Look for fall protectionfrom ISEA members that meets ANSIZ359.1-1992 (R-1999) Safety Requirementsfor Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystemsand Components)…From the Miller Division of Bacou-Dalloz — 800-873-5242 or bacou-dalloz.com – are:● Titan T-Flex™stretchable harness,with webbing thatprovides added com-fort and increasedmobility, encouragingusers to wear theirharnesses correctly,resulting in greatersafety, the companysaid. Standard fea-tures, including thesub-pelvic strap andback strap, add sup-

Miller Titan T-Flex™Stretchable Harness

AW DirectHigh-VisibilityProducts Catalog

Unlined Rainwearfrom Magid Gloveand SafetyManufacturing Co. LLC

NOMEX® AP Workwear

port and provide increased safety in theevent of a fall; a non-slip, adjustablechest strap adapts to the user’s size toensure proper fit.● DuraHoist™ confined space systemsthat provide safe, light-weight and portablesolutions for a variety of confined spaceapplications, including confined-space

entry, res-cue, posi-tioning andpersonnel/materialhandling,the com-pany said.Two primarysystemscurrently areavailable:

(1) Four-piece with 50-foot winch, and (2)Portable fall-arrest anchor post with anoptional davit arm.● ShadowLite™ beam anchor that fea-tures a light-weight (three-pound) con-struction, innovative design and uniquepositive-locking engagement system forI-beam fall protection safety, the com-pany said. The ShadowLite anchor con-nects toflangedbeams

from three to 14 inches wide and up to1-1/4 inches thick, and can be installedeasily and quickly on the bottom flangeof an overhead horizontal I-beam, orwhen an overhead anchorage does notexist, attached to the top flange of ahorizontal I-beam at the worker’s feet.

From DBI/Sala and Protecta (800-328-1837 or dbisala.com) are:● Suspension Trauma Safety Strap, whichis designed to relieve the negative effectsof suspension trauma, which can occurwhen a person remains suspended in a

harness at height for a period of timeand blood pools in the veins of the legs.The Suspension Trauma Safety Strapallows the worker to stand up in the har-ness to relieve the pressure beingapplied to the arteries and veins aroundthe top of the legs, the company said.● Aerospace SRL, which is designedspecifically to protect personnel whenworking on or near flight hardware or inclean-room-type environments. TheAerospace SRL will not contaminate theflight hardware or surroundings withdangerous particles of zinc, cadmium oriron, the company said. Stainless steel,plastic, anodized aluminum and electro-less nickel-coated components are usedin place of typical zinc-plated, galva-nized or cadmium-coated components.● Protecta Cab Mount Bracket, which isdesigned for use when performing

Protection UPDATE | FALL 2004 3

ShadowLite™BeamAnchorageConnector

Aerospace SRL

DuraHoist™ ConfinedSpace Systems

Producers of Innovation and Value!

• Molded from high density polyethyl-ene for maximum protection andcomfort

• Accessory slots accommodate a widevariety of eye, face and hearing prod-ucts

• Cushioned brow pad absorbs moistureto help keep wearer cool and com-fortable

• Brow pad is removable, washable andreplaceable

• Comfortable, impact-absorbing, 6-point woven nylon suspension

• “Easy Quick-Slide” sizing adjusts sus-pension from head sizes 61/2 - 8

• New softer band material conforms towearer’s head for a more comfortablefit and allows for easier size adjust-

ERB INDUSTRIES, INC. – SAFETY DIVISION P.O. Box 1237 - #1 Safety Way - Woodstock, GA 30188-1237phone: 770-926-7944 - fax: 770-516-1980 - web: www.e-ERB.com - email: [email protected]

OMEGA II® Safety Helmet… engineered to provide the finest combination of safety,

personal comfort and value in head protection.

NEW AND IMPROVED

HI-VIZ COLORS!NEW AND IMPROVED

HI-VIZ COLORS!

OMEGA II®

● FP Pro construction harness, whichprovides comfortable protection, evenafter long hours of use in extreme condi-tions, due to its super light-weight fea-tures and durable webbing, accordingto the company. Additional featuresinclude six-inch integral back pad thatprovides additional comfort and supportfor work-positioning applications, 1-3/4-inch removable belt that allows foreasy attachment of tool pouches, andcovered label pack to protect labelsfrom the work environment.● FP Stryder beam grip, which fea-tures single-hand, push-buttonadjustment, teflon-coated glidepads for effort-less movementalong thebeam,and anintegralload indicator to alert the user of a fall.The FP Stryder can be attached over-head or at the user’s feet, and is avail-able in two models to fit beam flangewidths to 24 inches.● SkyLink stanchion, which MSA says isthe lightest horizontal lifeline stanchionon the market, with weights starting at17 pounds. It can be attached to theconcrete using a pour-in-place anchor orstandard Hilti anchors, and can be usedas a single-person anchor point whileinstalling the horizontal lifeline, and cansupport two workers per lifeline system.

FOR THE HEAD, FACE AND EYES (Lookfor products from ISEA members that aremarked and certified to the following applic-able standards: ANSI Z358.1-2004 Standardfor Emergency Eyewash and Shower Equipment,or ANSI Z87.1-2003 Practice for Occupationaland Educational Eye and Face Protection)…From Bradley Corporation (800-BRADLEY or bradleycorp.com) are:● The OneStep™ bottle eyewash, whichprovides immediate fist-aid relief withthe bottle ready to use in one motion,


warehousing, order picking and relatedwork activities. The device attaches to theoverhead guard of order pickers andprovides an ideal mounting location forthe Protecta Rebel Self-Retracting Lifeline,the company said. The cab mount bracketallows the 11-foot self-retracting lifelineto be mounted within the overhead cabguard, saving head room and providingimproved picking efficiency, added mobil-ity and overall improved safety for theoperator.● Delta Comfort Back Pad, which can beadded to a harness to provide ultimatecomfort and no-tangle donning, enhanc-ing worker satisfaction, productivity andcompliance, the company said. It can beattached to Delta No-Tangle® harnessesand most other harness brands usingbuilt-in Velcro fasteners.● SecuraSpan horizontal lifeline system,which the company said is the most eco-nomical temporary horizontal lifeline forsteel erection. The OSHA-compliantanchor point for the connection of a cablehorizontal lifeline system is lightweightand easy to adjust and clamp to beams.Depending on fall clearances, the newsystem is capable of spanning 60 feetbetween stanchions. For longer systems,a kit is available that turns the standardstanchion into one with bypass capabilities.The standard stanchion fits “I” beams thatare 2-1/4 inches thick and 12 inches wide;other clamps are available accommo-dating beams up to 36 inches wide.

From Mine Safety Appliances Co.(800-MSA-2222 or msanet.com) are:● Aptura™ LT30 self-retracting lanyard,with features including a field-replace-able lifeline option in the event the web-bing should become damaged, alight-weight design starting at 7.5pounds, a standard lifeline length of 30feet, a 400-pound working capacity asa standard feature, no annual factoryrecertification required, integral loadindicator, and a durable, engineered,high-impact thermoplastic housing, thecompany said.

N E W P R OT E C T I O N c o n t i n u e d

Aptura™ LT30Self-RetractingLanyard

Protecta Cab Mount Bracket

FP Stryder Beam Grip

the company reported. The patentedOneStep design allows the user to pullthe bottle from the wall-mounted stationand quickly rinse the affected area. Thebottle top is suspended from the holderand there is no turning, twisting orunscrewing required to open it. Bottleeyewash is intended as a quick flushbefore users reach an ANSI-complianteyewash station, according to Bradley.● Through-wall, combination emergencyfixture suited for applications inextremely hot or cold climates that donot have an underground water supply.The Bradley S19-310 TW features adrench shower and an eyewash unit onthe exterior of the wall, while the ballvalves are on the inside to prevent theflushing fluid from being exposed tooutside temperatures, the company said.● A new web toolto help usersspecify theappropriate ther-mostatic mixingvalve (TMV) forany Bradleyemergency fix-ture application –anytime, thecompany said. Inaddition, thebasic EmergencyTMV line hasbeen added tothe BradEx™ two-day shipprogram to provide a complete safetysystem installation.

From Direct Safety is K-GearEyewear, featuring a polycarbonate lenswith wrap-around design to fit close tothe face. The eyewear offers full browprotection, an unobstructed field ofvision, and meets the ANSI Z87.1-2003standard for high impact, the companysaid. This new eyewear heralds launchof the company’s line of K-Gear SafetyProducts, designed to bring quality at areasonable price. 800-528-7405 ordirectsafety.com.


FOR HEARING (Look for hearing protec-tion devices from ISEA members that arelabeled according to the U.S. EPA NoiseReduction Rating (NRR), 40 CFR, Part 211)…From Bacou-Dalloz’ Howard LeightDivision (800-327-1110 orhowardleight.com) are:● Improved MAX® earplugs, which havea modified design and new, softer mate-rial formulation making the plugs easierto insert and more comfortable to wear,the company said. The MAX earplugsretain their high noise reduction ratingof 33 decibels, as verified in indepen-dent tests. They are slightly longer thanthe original MAX plugs and the flange ofthe bell-shaped curve more closely followsthe contour of the ear canal entrance.● Matrix™ earplugs available in a cordedmodel, making them ideal for applicationsin a wide range of process industries.The newearplugscombine theadded secu-rity and con-venience of acorded prod-uct with theprotection,comfort andattenuationfeatures ofthe originalMatrix design,the companysaid. ThesefeaturesincludeMatrix’s uni-form attenua-tion profile,which filtersharmfulnoises outwhile allow-ing voicesand warningsignals topass through.

OneStep™ BottleEyewash

K-GearSpecs

SafetyClean™

Keep Them Clean, for Safety’s Sake!

Cleans Lens Prevents Fogging Reduces StataicNow Available.....

VisionAid RainbowII Liquid LenscleaningSolution in two convenient personal size

Take Anywhere Packs.

Pre-moistened Foil Packed towelettes are5”x8” each, and come 100 towelettes to a

dispenser box.

Pre-moistened Pop-UP tissues are 3 1⁄2” x 7” each and the Handi-Pak

contains 36 tissues.

Call Toll Free 1-800-426-1881

Local: 508-295-3300 Fax: 508-295-3521

Web http://www.hlbouton.com

e-mail: [email protected]

IDEAL FOR YOUR TOOL BOX, DESK DRAWER, GLOVE BOX,WORK STATION, HOME, OFFICE OR WORKSHOP, LAB, OR

INDUSTRIAL WORKPLACE, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVELENSCLEANERS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

H. L. Bouton Co., Inc.PO Box 840Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

Improved MAX® Earplugs

6

FOR BREATHING (Look for respiratorsfrom ISEA members that are marked with theNIOSH logo, 42 CFR, Part 84)…From AOSafety (Aearo Co.) is the newQuickFit™ air-purifying full facepiecerespirator. QuickFit offers a revolutionarydesign with its exclusive twist and sealharness system; twist the QuickDial and themask seals to the wearer’s face, with noclumsy straps or buckles, and no hairsnagging, the company says. QuickFitutilizes the full line of AOSafety 8000 Seriesbayonet-style cartridges and filters and

is available in sizes small/medium andlarge. 800-225-9038 or aearo.com.

From Bacou-Dalloz’ Biosystems is anew microphone sound detection system(SDS) as an option on new PosiChek3™computerized performance testers forair-supplied breathing apparatus.Designed to increase test precision byautomating the primary audible alarmtest, the SDS feature eliminates humanerror and makes the PosiChek easier touse, the company said. The SDS also isavailable as an upgrade for PosiChekusers who currently own manual testgauges. 800-711-6776 orbiosystems.com.

From Draeger Safety, Inc. (412-788-5671 or draeger-safety.com) are:● Panorama series masks for domesticpreparedness and other industrial situa-tions. A triple-sealing edge provides anexcellent fit for small, medium and largefaces, while providing comfort, andoffers clear person-to-person communi-cation and a wide field of vision, thecompany said. The centrally locatedcartridge connection allows the user tofreely move and to bring the equipmentneeded close to the face. A five-pointhead harness strap is infinitely adjustable.

● X-am 7000 portable multi-gas warninginstrument, which can be fitted withthree electrochemical and two infraredoptical or catalytic sensors, and cansimultaneously measure up to fivegases, the company said. The device isdust and splash-proof and water-resis-tant. It was developed for monitoringtasks in the water and wastewater, oiland gas, chemical and offshore indus-tries, and for use by fire departments.


QuickFitTM Air-Purifying Full Facepiece Respirator

X-am 7000Portable Multi-GasWarningInstrument


● CDS Kit, which uses specially devel-oped Draeger-Tubes in a quick andeasy-to-use kit. Two simultaneous test setsmeasure a wide range of chemical sub-stances, including nerve, blood, lung andblister agents, the company said. TheCDS Kit requires no calibration, no batterycharges or changes, and is simple to use.It can be combined with the DraegerHaz-Mat Simultest Kit for comprehensivedetection of chemical warfare agentsand toxic industrial chemicals.● CMS Emergency Response Kit, whichautomatically measures hazardousgases that may be present in any emer-gency. The CMS unit uses detector tubetechnology inside a small credit-card-sized chip and takes a precise air sam-ple of the chemical being measured, thecompany said. The color change is cal-culated with a photo-optical system,eliminating human interpretation. Gaslevels typically are analyzed in one totwo minutes, with the concentration indi-cated on the LDC display. CMS does notrequire gas calibration.● Draeger Voice hazardous substancesdatabase, whichoffers informationon more than1,600 hazardoussubstances andtheir physicochemi-cal characteristics,and recommenda-tions regardingproducts offered byDraeger to mea-sure thesesubstances andprotect againstthem, as well as references on handlingand usage of the recommended products.

From Mine Safety AppliancesCompany is the Ultima X Gas Monitorseries available for duct-mounted moni-

X-plore 3300 X-plore 3500 X-plore 5500

Introducing the new Dräger X-plore® series of half mask and full face mask respirators setting a higher standard in comfort, fit and use. X-plore is available in three versions with three sizes.

• X-plore 3300 is a limited use half mask for those needing an economical yet comfortable respirator.

• X-plore 3500 is a reusable, long-term wearable half mask.

• X-plore 5500 full face mask is for those requiring the highest level of respiratory and eye protection. Choose the X-plore respirator that best solves your industrial application, then call your Dräger representative today. You’ll discover the best solutions for greater comfort and fit in respiratory protection– Dräger X-plore.

Draeger Safety, Inc. • 101 Technology Drive • Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1057 • T:800-615-5503 • T: 412-787-8383

www.draeger-safety.comDraeger Canada Ltd. • 7555 Danbro Crescent • Mississauga, ON L5N 6P9 • T: 877-372-4371 • T: 905-821-8988

X-plore® your world more safely, more comfortably, every workday.

CDS Kit

Draeger Voice Hazardous Sub-stances Database

toring applications. The new duct-mountkit enables gas sampling even when theflow rate within the duct is at a high veloc-ity. Users can calibrate the sensor via acalibration port without disassemblingor removing the sensor from the duct.Applications include HVAC monitoringof carbon monoxide and carbon dioxidefor efficient building ventilation, area andprocess monitoring in chemical and adhe-sives/coating industries, and carbon diox-ide monitoring in blanketing applications.800-MSA-2222 or msanet.com. ●

By Bill SokolBacou-Dalloz Hearing Safety Group

If recent OSHA Stakeholder meetingsare any indication, developing effec-tive and enforceable hearing-protec-

tion standards for the construction indus-try will not be an easy task. The construc-tion industry is different from others inmany respects. Employee turnover is high,employment terms are generally shorter,the industry contains a large number ofsmall contractor and subcontractor busi-nesses, and noise levels on a typicalconstruction site are often unpredictableand constantly changing. As OSHA offi-cials heard during March meetings inChicago, all of these things impact theissue of hearing protection in one wayor another.

Culture, too, plays an important role.Construction traditionally is a ‘non-cor-porate’ industry. Workers tend to bemore individualistic and are more likelyto resist any new regulations. Many feelthat wearing hearing protection devices(HPDs) will limit their ability to hear otherthings on the job, like communicationfrom fellow workers, warning signals, andeven such things as the change in soundof a cement mixer when the mix is ready.Workers do not understand how hearingloss occurs, and there also exists a machis-mo among construction workers that tendsto accept hearing loss as part of the job.All these things add up to one of thehighest rates of noise-induced hearingloss (NIHL) in the country.

Clearly, OSHA has its work cut out forit in bringing workable regulation to thisindustry. So do safety professionals andHPD manufacturers if they are to helpsolve this problem. But the news is not allbad. While construction and construction

workers are different from other industries,they are also similar in many respects.And if there are elements of the culturethat work against hearing protection,there are also elements that work for it.

For example, construction workers aretool users by nature. They are not com-fortable on the job without their tool beltsand various other gear, including theirgloves, hard hats, steel-toed boots andother personal protective equipment. IfHPDs can be accepted as part of this mix,the battle will be more than half won.Several stakeholders in the OSHA meet-ings also stressed that once workers sawtheir hearing data in an audiogram andunderstood the nature of the risk, theybecame very willing participants in pro-tection programs.

The key, then, is to understand thehuman dimension of this problem andbring tools to bear on it — in terms ofpolicy, programs, and protection prod-ucts — that take into consideration howworkers view noise, how they need to func-tion, and how they can actually use hear-ing safety tools on the job. We call thesefactors the four “C’s” of hearing protec-tion — Caring, Comfort, Convenienceand Communication — and recommendsafety professionals use these as bench-marks both for developing hearing pro-tection programs and in providing HPDsto implement them. Indeed, many of theconcerns expressed in the OSHA meet-ings already are being addressed bynew HPD technology coming to market.

Caring is largely a job for education.We live in a culture that seems to increas-ingly accept noise as a fact of life, andmaking people understand when and hownoise can be dangerous requires mucheffort and iteration. But there are alsoother ways to make workers care about

Hearing Protection ForConstructors Requires MoreThan Sound Blocking



hearing protection. As ‘tool guys,’ construc-tion workers not only want to have andwear tools, they think tools are cool. Theyappreciate style and, as has been demon-strated with safety glasses, are much morelikely to use HPDs they feel are stylish.

As form follows function, design stylealso factors into the next two “Cs,” Comfortand Convenience. Studies have shownworkers will not wear hearing protectionif it is uncomfortable or inconvenient todo so. This is especially true on construc-tion sites, where workers are likely to bein a range of locales, and also are likelyto be encumbered or otherwise occu-pied when a noise event occurs.

Several new earmuff brands aredesigned to make hearing protectionmore comfortable and convenient. Newproducts are available (see About theAuthor) in a variety of styles that clip onto

hard hats, for example, or incorporateneckbands, rather than headbands, tofacilitate wear with welding shields, hardhats and other equipment. Workers aremuch more likely to use earmuffs thatcan easily fold down and snap aroundtheir ears when needed and fold up ontothe back of their hard hats when not. Ear-plugs can provide a comfortable alterna-tive on construction sites, especially wherework in confined spaces is involved.

The most common complaint workerseverywhere have about HPDs is that theyobstruct their hearing. This may seemironic, but it is also a major impedimentto use. Workers need to Communicateon the job and they need to hear thingslike warning signals. Providing HPDsthat can be donned and doffed easily isone solution, but new design and mate-rials technology is providing another. a

About the AuthorBill Sokol is vice president strate-gic marketing for the HearingSafety Group of Bacou-Dalloz.The ISEA member company,based in Smithfield, R.I., makesa variety of hearing-protectiondevices, including the Clarity™,Leightning® and Thunder® linesfrom Bilsom. Sokol is the authorof the training article “TheHuman Factor in HearingProtection” for The Grey HouseSafety & Security Directory 2004edition, and has written numerousarticles on hearing protection forleading trade publications.Reach him at 401-233-0333 [email protected]


For high-end applications, earmuffsare available with electronic communi-cations capability, and even with theability to block excessively loud soundswhile electronically amplifying voicesounds. And for normal, more everydayapplications, there are new productsdesigned to block out more low-frequency sounds (the preponderance ofhazardous noises) while allowing higherfrequency sounds, like human voices, tomore easily pass through.

The clearest message from the OSHAStakeholder meetings was that the prob-lem of developing effective regulationsfor the construction industry is a knottyone and it will likely to be some timebefore they are enacted. In the meantime,safety professionals can do no harm bydeveloping human-factors-based hearingprograms now. ●

Discounts on Standards for Protection Update ReadersProtection Update readers can save 15% off the cover price of the high-visibility safety apparel and eye and face protection standards througha limited-time offer from ISEA. Discount prices are:

● ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 American National Standard forHigh-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear, $51 plusshipping and handling, and

● ANSI Z87.1-2003 American National Standard forOccupational and Educational PersonalEye and Face Protection Devices, $45plus shipping and handling.

Take advantage by downloading andcompleting an order form from safetye-quipment.org; enter the discount code“PU-4-04” where indicated. This offer isgood through Jan. 31, 2005.


ISEA Updates Standardfor High-Visibility Safety Apparel

An updated American NationalStandard for high-visibility safetyapparel now is available from ISEA.

The American National Standard for HighVisibility Safety Products and Headwear(ANSI/ISEA 107-2004) is the authorita-tive guide for the design, performancespecifications, and use of high-visibilityand reflective apparel including vests,jackets, bib/jumpsuit coveralls, trousersand fall-protection harnesses.

Garments that meet this standard giveusers a high level of conspicuity round theclock, through the combined use of fluo-rescent and retroreflective materials, saidISEA Technical Director Janice ComerBradley. The standard establishes threePerformance Classes for high-visibilitysafety apparel based on the wearer’sactivities, and determined by the total area

Purchasers, UsersBenefit From Key Changesto High-VizStandardThe revised AmericanNational Standard forHigh-Visibility SafetyApparel and Headwearwill benefit purchasersand users because it:

● Gives minimum perfor-mance requirements andarea of materials forheadwear such as knitcaps, ball caps and otherhats that enhance thevisibility of the head; thestandard does notexclude hard hats.

● Prohibits any type ofsleeveless garment to beconsidered Class 3(highest visibility class)when worn alone.

● Emphasizes that gar-ment selection should bebased on the color andcomplexity of the workenvironment, task loadof the worker, separationof the worker and mov-ing equipment and vehi-cles, and other workenvironment variables.

● Requires manufacturersto provide documenta-tion that a garmentmeets all requirements ofthe standard.

● Gives expanded defini-tions that relate to prop-erties of high-visibilitygarments.

Eye and Face StandardNow Available from ISEA

The recently updated AmericanNational Standard for Occupationaland Educational Personal Eye and

Face Protection Devices, ANSI Z87.1-2003, is now available from theInternational Safety EquipmentAssociation (ISEA).

In May 2004, ISEA assumed Secretariatresponsibilities for the eye and face pro-tection standard after a transfer from theAmerican Society of Safety Engineers.The Z87 standard gives minimum per-formance requirements for spectacles,goggles, faceshields, welding helmets/handshields, and respirators. It alsoincludes selection, use and maintenanceguidance for these devices.

“All eye and face protectors bearingthe Z87 mark or represented in any wayas being in compliance with this standard

have to meet the standard’s exactingrequirements,” said ISEA Technical DirectorJanice Comer Bradley. “Moreover, all oftheir components have to comply withthe requirements as well. The Z87 desig-nation indicates that the product shouldhave been tested and evaluated for per-formance to all of the applicable require-ments of the standard. Purchasers shouldask their safety equipment suppliers fordocumentation that confirms producttesting to the standard.”

The 67-page standard features numer-ous illustrations, and includes a pull-out“Selection Chart” that can be posted inthe workplace to provide guidance forvarious hazard exposures that requireeye and face protection. A reproducible“Eye Injury Report Form” also is included.

Bradley added that it is incumbentupon eye and face protection users toselect a product tested to the hazard towhich he or she is being exposed. ●

of background and reflective materialsused, with Class 1 representing the lowestlevel of visibility and Class 3 the highest.

“The revision doesn’t change thebasic requirements such as garmentdimensions, color or retroreflective per-formance, with the exception of clearlyprohibiting any type of sleeveless gar-ment to be labeled Class 3 when wornalone.” Bradley explained. “The stan-dard has been expanded to keep up withthe state of the art in fabric technologyand design, and now provides users withdocumentation that a garment meets allthe requirements of the standard.”

All references to classes of garmentsand their use in specific environmentsbased on vehicle speeds have beenremoved. Rather, this version of thestandard emphasizes garment selectionon the basis of color and complexity ofthe work environment, the task load ofthe worker, separation of the worker frommoving equipment and vehicles, andother work environment variables. ●

12 Protection UPDATE | FALL 2004

From the U.S. OccupationalSafety and HealthAdministration (OSHA) —

osha.gov – are new safety and healthinformation bulletins concerning (1)anchorage connectors for fall protec-

M A K I N G W O R K E R S S A F E R A R O U N D T H E N AT I O N

tion, (2) de-watering pipelines, (3) haz-ards of improper elevator controllerwiring, and (4) hazards of unintendedrelease of buckets from quick couplerson hydraulic elevators.

The bulletin on anchorage connec-tors for fall protection details specifi-cations and limitations of the devices, listsrecommendations for the safe use of thedevices, and discusses the agency’s stan-dards for fall-protection system criteria.

The bulletin to prevent fatal acci-dents and injuries for workersinvolved in de-watering ofpipelines was designed to highlightpotential hazards associated with theoperations and to focus on work practicesthat will reduce the unexpected separa-tion of temporary de-watering pipes.

Hazards of Improper ElevatorController Wiring outlines recommen-dations regarding proper maintenanceand wiring procedures, and identifiespotential hazards associated with elevators.Hazards of Unintended Release ofBuckets form Quick Couplers onHydraulic Elevators alerts workersand employers about these hazards,describes a recent accident investigatedby OSHA’s Madison, Wis., Area Office,and offers detailed actions and safetymeasures to prevent such accidents.

Also new from OSHA are:● A revision to its RespiratoryProtection Standard that adds a newfit-testing procedure to help workersand employers select proper-fitting res-pirators. The new fit-testing protocol,known as Controlled Negative Pressure(CNP) REDON, requires three differenttest exercises followed by donning therespirator two times in succession.● Draft guidance to help hospitalsprepare for emergencies, especiallychemical or biological incidents. In short,OSHA recommends hospitals performhazard analysis, and includes informationabout emergency management planning,including victim decontamination, thepersonal protective equipment ensem-ble, and employee training.

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● Safety and Health Topics page high-lighting industry-specific safety andhealth information to thousandsof workers engaged in residentialconstruction. The page provides infor-mation and links to OSHA enforcementpolicies, including directives and inter-pretation letters, various electronic assis-tance tools, and training courses.

Publication to assist employers, safetyand health professionals, training direc-tors, and others in ensuring they areaware of the agency’s requirements foremergency action plans. PrincipalEmergency Response andPreparedness gives an overview ofOSHA standards for emergencies, andincludes requirements under both theHazardous Waste Operations andEmergency Response, and the ProcessSafety Management standards.● Fire Protection in ShipyardEmployment Rule, which providesshipyard workers the same level of pro-

tection against fire hazards as employ-ees in other industries. The final ruleincorporates 19 consensus standardsfrom the National Fire ProtectionAssociation and includes relevant infor-mation from other sources.● Ergonomic guidelines for thepoultry processing industry, whichoffer practical recommendations foremployers to reduce the number andseverity of musculoskeletal disordersthroughout the industry.● E-Tool for Ammonia RefrigerationSystems, which helps identify and con-trol hazards associated with the opera-tion and maintenance of ammoniarefrigeration systems, and includes twotutorials – ammonia receiving and stor-age, and emergency response.

From the U.S. Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention’s NationalInstitute for Occupational Safetyand Health (NIOSH) —cdc.gov/niosh — are: a 14


● Hearing Conservation ProgramChecklist that organizations can use toassess engineering controls, organiza-tional protocols, training and education,to accompany the Hearing ProtectorDevice Compendium.● The Sky is Falling video for surfaceminers and road construction workersexposed to the hazards of highwalls.Contact Elaine Cullen at [email protected].● New website topics pages onOccupational Respiratory DiseaseSurveillance and HexavalentChromium.● Communications products avail-able in Spanish as well as English,including (1) the Aggregate Training forthe Safety Impaired video (contactCandice Picket, [email protected]); (2)Injuries to Youth on Hispanic FarmOperations publication [DHHS (NIOSH)Pub. No. 2004-157], and (3) its alert,Preventing Deaths, Injuries and Illnessesof Young Workers.● Three publications to address the pre-vention of serious potential haz-ards in mining, including (1) An OralHistory Analysis of Mine EmergencyResponse ([DHHS (NIOSH) No. 2004-145], (2) Evaluation of InstrumentalCable bolts in Cement Group toDetermine Physical and NumericalModeling Properties [DHHS (NIOSH)No. 2004-140], and (3) Safety andHealth Training for an EvolvingWorkforce: An Overview of the MiningIndustry [DHHS (NIOSH) No. 2004-155].● An alert, Preventing Falls ofWorkers through Skylights andRoof and Floor Openings [DHHS(NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-156].● Conference Proceedings: Preventionof Musculoskeletal Disorders forChildren and Adolescents Workingin Agriculture [DHHS (NIOSHPublication no. 2004-119].

From the American IndustrialHygiene Association – aiha.org:● A continuing education coursefocused on “Building Science:Understanding and Controlling

M A K I N G W O R K E R S S A F E R c o n t i n u e d

Tell Us Your Story

Protection Update SeeksStories About Life- andCost-saving Programs

Protection Update seeksstories from safety special-ists giving examples abouthow their safety equipmentprograms have preventedinjuries, saved lives andsaved their organizations’money. If you have a storyto tell, contact Editor JoeWalker at 703-525-1695 [email protected] you send an email, pleaseprovide your telephonenumber. Protection Updatewill write the stories forfuture issues based uponyour experiences.

Moisture in Buildings,” Feb. 14-16,2005, in San Francisco.● A new guideline, “Assessment,Remediation, and Post-RemediationVerification of Mold in Buildings,”which describes the range of exposureassessment, hazard assessment and re-occupancy post-remediation verificationmethodologies and techniques currentlyaccepted and available to conductassessments of mold growth in residen-tial and commercial buildings.”

From the American Society ofSafety Engineers (ASSE) – “Newsroom”at asse.org – are:● Guidance to prevent injuries andreduce accidents on farms.Following the mining industry, agricul-ture is the second most dangerousoccupation in the United States with adeath rate of 22.7 people per 100,000workers, according to the U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics (BLS). ● Four construction standards cov-ering requirements for safety and healthprograms, work platforms suspendedfrom cranes and derricks, portableheating devices, and concrete andmasonry work.

From the Associated Builders andContractors (ABC) – 703-812-2000 orabc.org – is a book, ConstructionSafety Management: FundamentalComponents of Successful SafetyPrograms, that details the means,methods, policies and procedures usedby the safest companies in ABC’s SafetyTraining and Evaluation Process (STEP).

From J. J. Keller & Associates isWorkplace Safety Pro; Your A to ZGuide to a Complete Safety Program,a 500-page-plus manual that providesquick access to critical operational infor-mation that safety managers need todevelop and maintain an efficient, com-pliant workplace safety program. 800-327-6868 or jjkeller.com ●

OSHA $100,000 Club of Safety Citations


The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Admini-stration (OSHA) has proposed penalties of $100,000or more for the following recent alleged failures

to protect workers from potential hazards, includingmany that could have been avoided or mitigated bysafety equipment:● Fru-Con Construction Co., St. Louis, $280,000 follow-ing a crane collapse during the construction of a bridgein Toledo, Ohio, that resulted in four deaths. OSHA’sinvestigation found that Fru-Con failed to follow themanufacturers’ specifications by failing to sufficientlyanchor the crane.● AKJ, Inc. (doing business as Martin Enterprises, Inc.,Cleveland) and Marous Brothers, Willoughby, Ohio,$217,000 for hazards involving asbestos removal andother alleged safety and health violations identified ata construction site in Pittsburgh.● Roberto’s Steel Erectors Inc., Fitchburg, Mass.,$194,700 for failure to follow proper procedures andensure fall protection for its workers at a Merrimack,N.H., construction site.● Allen County Recyclers, Inc., (doing business as AllenCounty Pallet Co.), $179,700 for willful failures to lockout equipment before performing maintenance activi-ties and failure to provide adequate machine guard-ing at its facility in Lima, Ohio.● MC&O Construction Inc., Maspeth, N.Y.; Joy Construc-tion Corp., New York City, and New York Partition andDrywall Corp., Happauge, N.Y., $160,000 for failure toprovide employees with protection from falls and otherhazards at a Bronx, N.Y., construction site; lack of fallprotection led to the death of a worker last February.● Elberta Crate & Box Co., $159,000 for exposing work-ers to serious injuries from unguarded “points of opera-tion” on box-making machinery and uncovered, energizedelectrical connections at its plant in Bainbridge, Ga.● Stucco America, Lebanon, N.J., $147,000 for failureto provide: fall protection to employees working onscaffolds, protective helmets, and safe scaffold access,and for failure to properly brace the scaffolding at anAvenel, N.J., construction site.● Associated Contractor Group, Schaumburg, Ill.,$141,000 for willful, serious and repeated violationsrelating to fall hazards, accident prevention and headprotection at a warehouse project in Melrose Park, Ill.● Angelica Textile Service, Inc., $140,850 for willfuland serious failings to protect workers against expo-sure to bloodborne pathogens from soiled laundry,discarded sharp objects and contaminated workingservices at its laundry facility in Batavia, N.Y.● Mattress Giant Corp., Addison, Texas, $140,000 forrepeated failure to ensure quick emergency exit accessto workers at its warehouse facilities in New Hampshire,Massachusetts and Florida, and other violations that

included lack of personal protective equipment.● Field Container Co., L.P., Elk Grove Village, Ill.,$137,500 for serious and willful violations includingdeficiencies related to the storage of flammable liquidsand an inadequate flammable liquid storage room,and failing to train workers in hazard communicationat the company’s Marseilles, Ill., plant.● Quarra Stone Co., LLC, Madison, Wis., $135,600for serious and willful violations involving failure toprotect workers from hazards associated with silicadust and failure to protect their hearing.● Krehling Industries Inc., $135,000 for failing to pro-tect workers from “caught and crush” hazards at thecompany’s Naples, Fla., plant.● Plastics Components Inc., $123,450 for a variety ofworkplace safety violations, including absent machineguarding, operation of defective forklift trucks, andfailure to require and enforce the use of eye, face andhand protection at its plant in North Ridgeville, Ohio.● Lee Brass Co., Anniston, Ala., $122,000 for seriousviolations of safety and health standards, includingfailure to implement controls to reduce employeeexposure to silica and lead and failure to implementan adequate respiratory protection program.● Norse Dairy Systems, a division of Interbake FoodsInc., $122,000 following an investigation thatrevealed lack of machine guarding, failure to controlall energy sources during maintenance operations,failure to monitor lead exposure, and failure to pro-vide training on various workplace safety and healthissues at the company’s Columbus, Ohio, facility.● Colt Utilities Inc., $117,000 for failure to provideproper protection for employees working in a trench,and for a variety of other violations including lack ofpersonal protective equipment and fire protection at asite in Pearland, Texas.● MFC Construction Co. Inc., Dallas, following aninspection of an accident in which a carpenter waskilled; OSHA identified violations including permittingemployees to work at elevations without fall protection.● Irby Steel, a division of Struthers Industries, Inc.,$113,750 for exposing workers to serious safety andhealth violations at the company’s Gulfport, Miss.,facility; OSHA cited 30 serious safety violations andnine serious health violations.● Maine Contract Farming, PFS Loading Services, MaineAg, and Turner Maintenance and Services, Inc., whichtogether run the former Decoster Egg Farm, Turner,Maine, $108,500 for recurrence of fall hazards,unsafe electrical equipment, and defective manuretrucks at the facility.● Wadsworth-Phillips Contractors Inc., Montgomery, Ala.,$103,000 for exposing workers to willful and serioustrench safety violations at a Montgomery worksite. ●

16

There are hats available that lookmuch like a hard hat and bear the Z89mark, but do not offer the protection asindicated by the tests in the Z89 standard.Safety eyewear may be marked Z87, butfall far short of the required performance.

Another example is in the textile mar-ket. Some high-visibility safety garmentsare being labeled as meeting all of therequirements of ANSI/ISEA 107-1999/2004 Standard for High VisibilitySafety Apparel and Headwear to makethe user visible day and night at a dis-tance of 1,000 feet, but do not meet anyof the requirements, let alone all of them.

Keep in mind that to be marked ascomplying with a standard, a productmust meet all the relevant requirementsof that standard, not just some of them.This is to protect users.

This trend is alarming for many rea-sons, but the most troubling is that work-ers and their employers believe that a

level of protection is providedwhen products are marked thatthey meet a standard and areused and worn properly. In thescenarios that I have described,the misrepresented safetyequipment may not perform tothe level anticipated by the cri-teria in the standard, eventhough it is marked that it will.

Be an Informed PurchaserThe first step is to still look forthe required marking indicatingthat the product meets theindustry standard. For hardhats, it is the Z89.1-2003mark, usually on a label on theinside shell of the hat. The stan-dard also requires that the Type

and Class of hard hat be indicated aswell as manufacturer information. Foreyewear, the standard requires variousmarkings such as Z87 or Z87+, which

an employer can use in selecting theappropriate protective equipment for thehazard.

For high-visibility apparel, look for alabel that is permanently affixed to thegarment that states ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 or 107-2004, and identifies thelevel and class of garment.

Now you need to take an additionalstep to ensure that the marking on theproduct means that it has been testedand evaluated to all of the test criteria inthe standard. Manufacturers that test,evaluate and mark their products to theindustry standard have documentationthat confirms this. Ask for it! Inquire howthe products were tested, when theywere tested and where.

Buy from a manufacturer that is amember of International Safety EquipmentAssociation (ISEA) and has supportedand participated in the development ofthe standard. These reputable manufac-turers design and test their products toensure quality and performance to thecriteria in the standard. ISEA membersare leaders in safety equipment, andhave invested in the products and ser-vices that they provide their customers.Most have participated in the develop-ment of the standards that affect thedesign, selection, use, maintenance andperformance of the products that theymake. Their products are listed in theISEA Buyers Guide, available in print oronline at safetyequipment.org.

If you need additional assurance, lookfor products that are certified by a third-party testing organization, and carry thecertifier’s mark.

Manufacturing products that aredesigned to keep workers out of harm’sway is serious business. The stakes andexpectations for the products are highand often they represent the first line ofdefense to provide physical protectionfrom an impact hazard or enhancedvisibility to workers who must do theirjob in high traffic situations. Make surethat the safety equipment you purchasemeets the standards you expect. ●

SAFETY EQUIPMENTPERFORMANCEfrom page 1

About the AuthorJanice Comer Bradley is tech-nical director of InternationalSafety Equipment Association(ISEA), where she directs thevoluntary standards settingactivities. She works closelywith federal regulatory agen-cies and other organizationson activities that affect themanufacture, use and distrib-ution of safety equipment,and she represents the ISEAon numerous standards com-mittees and government pan-els. Ms. Bradley is anAmerican Society of SafetyEngineers Certified SafetyProfessional (CSP) and anadjunct professor atGeorgetown University, whereshe teaches an MBA coursethat introduces future businessleaders to workplace safetyand health issues. Contact herat 703-525-1695 [email protected].



worn regularly when needed by thesmallest percentages – about 45 percenteach. However, those three PPE types allshowed significant increases from theearlier studies.”

Safety Equipment UseTrends Upward inHeavy Construction

A new survey of construction safetyleaders shows that safety equip-ment use and awareness in heavy

construction continue to rise, eventhough many workers in dangerous jobsremain under-protected.

The findings come from the third studycommissioned by ISEA to track safetyequipment use and awareness levels. ISEAsponsored this research as part of its ini-tiative to prevent worker injuries throughincreased safety equipment usage.

Strategic Marketing Associates (SMA),a Stow, Ohio-based research firm thatspecializes in the construction industry,conducted all three studies through acombination of questionnaires and tele-phone interviews. The 2004 survey cov-ered 204 safety leaders in the privatesector (construction companies, labor,insurance underwriters, trade associa-tions, safety equipment manufacturers)and public sector (federal, state, countyand local officials). Respondents repre-sented 42 states, Washington, D.C., andPuerto Rico.

Responses indicated that between 2001and 2004, nine of 10 personal protectiveequipment (PPE) types (hard hats, safetyshoes/boots, protective eyewear, gloves,fall protection, hearing protection, respi-rators, protective coveralls and face shields)showed increases in the percentages ofworkers in heavy construction who arewearing them when needed. Accordingto the study, the safety vest was the onlytype of PPE that declined in use over thatthree-year period.

“Hard hats, safety vests and safetyshoes or boots continue to be the mostcommonly used types of PPE, with morethan two-thirds of construction workerswearing them when needed,” said SMAPresident Jim McKeen. “Face shields,protective coveralls, and respirators are

a 18

All three surveys also asked the safetyleaders to rate the value of PPE in mini-mizing the risk of accident or injury incomparison with five other protectivemeasures – (1) training and education,(2) OSHA compliance, (3) barriers &cones, (4) signs & lights, and (5) flagger.All six measures were considered highlyimportant, but only two – PPE andOSHA compliance – climbed inperceived importance relative to the2001 and 2002 investigations, and onlyone — PPE — showed an increase from2001 to 2002 and again from 2002 to2004, McKeen noted.

As in previous years, the 2004 surveyasked respondents to indicate the pri-mary reasons why construction workersdo not use PPE more regularly. For thethird time, the main reason cited by thesafety leaders is because “employers donot require or enforce use.” In 2004 itwas the number one or two reasongiven for eight of the 10 PPE types.

“’Equipment not available or not pro-vided’ also was shown to be a significantfactor for why PPE is not used more reg-ularly, emerging as the number onereason for three of the PPE types studied,”McKeen said. “’Expense of equipment to


employees’ continues to be seen as aninsignificant reason for non-use relativeto the three other factors under study –‘laborers aren’t informed on its impor-tance,’ ‘lacks style/comfort,’ and ‘ham-pers job performance.’ ”

Commenting on the findings, ISEAPresident Dan Shipp said: “We areencouraged by the upward trend in PPEuse in heavy construction, but we areconcerned that the level of use is stillbelow what it should be.”

With well over six million Americansemployed in dangerous constructionjobs and a workforce that grows contin-ually, the numbers indicate that therestill are hundreds of thousands of under-protected workers, Shipp noted. “Andthe ‘employers don’t require or enforceuse’ alarm now has sounded three sur-veys in a row. We will redouble ourefforts to increase safety equipment useand awareness in construction and themany other industries where hazardswarrant worker protection,” he said.

More information on the survey findingsis available by contacting Joe Walker,Protection Update editor, 703-525-1695or [email protected]. ●

Hispanic Safety SummitRepresentatives from the International Union ofOperating Engineers (IUOE) discuss ways toenhance safety among Hispanic workers at thefirst-ever Hispanic Safety and Health Summit. IUOEwas among 14 exhibitors, including ISEA member3M Co., at the Orlando, Fla., event. The Summitbrought together some 500 representatives fromgovernment, community and faith-based organiza-tions, non-profits, industry, academia and orga-nized labor to share practical safety and healthinformation and success stories and discuss gaps incommunication, training and outreach for Hispanicworkers in the United States. OSHA and the HispanicAlliance hosted the July event in partnership with theU.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Visit osha.gov.

PHOTO BY JOE WALKER/ISEA

Perecentage ofConstruction WorkersWho Regularly UsePPE When Needed

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ats

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■ 2004■ 2001

19

PPE Not ‘Tool of the Trade,’ISEA Tells OSHA

P ersonal protective equipment (PPE)should not be considered a “toolof the trade,” ISEA told the U.S.

Occupational Safety and Health Admini-stration (OSHA) in comments submittedon the proposed Employer Payment forPPE Rule. In July, OSHA solicited com-ments on the rule, asking if employersshould have to pay for PPE consideredto be a tool of the trade.

“ISEA believes that OSHA must differ-entiate between (PPE) and tools used byworkers on the job,” ISEA commented.“A tool enables a worker to perform atask. PPE protects the worker while usingthe tools… The Occupational Safety andHealth Act, and numerous OSHA stan-dards, make it clear that employers areresponsible for identifying and assessingrecognized hazards in their workplacesand protecting employees from suchhazards.”

ISEA noted that employers who pro-vide and pay for PPE demonstrate theircommitment to worker safety becausesuch a systematic PPE program, drivenby management through the organiza-tion, is an important factor in creating apositive safety culture.

“These employers recognize that theyare not simply incurring a cost for equip-ment, but rather making an investmentby valuing their employees and avoidingthe high direct and indirect costs ofinjury, illness and death,” ISEA said. Abrochure that makes the business casefor PPE is available from ISEA; find PPE:An Investment in Your Workers’ andCompany’s Future in the “Partnership forWorker Protection” section of safetye-quipment.org, or request a copy byemailing you ground-mail address [email protected].

OSHA is expected to issue a new ruleconcerning employer responsibilities and

PPE within the next year.ISEA’s full comments onthe Employer Paymentfor PPE Rule may befound on safetyequip-ment.org. ●


ISEA’s PPE: An Investmentin Your Workers’ andCompany’s Future brochure

20 Protection UPDATE | FALL 2004

Helmets Save Lives of Firefighter, Construction WorkerThe young firefighter lay in his hospital bed, recovering from a concussion that he suffered while on the

job. His doctor looked at his damaged fire helmet, which was hanging on his intravenous stand, and said, “You’rehere because of your helmet.” The full-time firefighter and his partner were pulling down ceilings in a buildingwhen a large piece of the ceiling came down on him. He had the helmet’s chinstrap on, and the helmet stayedon his head. Cairns® fire helmet by Mine Safety Appliances Co., msanet.com

Richard was helping position a prefabricated wall panel when the crane carrying the panel hit a steelbeam that had not been tacked into place, Compliance Magazine reported. Knocked loose, the beam swung

and struck Richard’s head and shoulder, injuring both his shoulder and arm. Spared head injuries, Richard wastold that he would have been killed had he not been wearing his hard hat. The next day, he was back at work.

Ironworker’s Clear Vision on Fall ProtectionThe day was hot as ironworker Todd laid and set metal decking about 14 feet off the ground for theceiling of a church in Winona, Minn.; perspiration kept building up on his safety glasses. He tied his

fall protection off to a cable attached to the building columns. With his vision blurred, Todd accidentallystepped off the edge of the structure, descending “like a dart” before the lanyard caught him several feetabove the floor, Contractor Tools & Supplies magazine reported. Another worker positioned a stepladder sothat Todd could climb down – shaky and with a bloody nose, but alive.

WorksforYou

SAFETY EQUIPMENTEditor’s Note: Protection Update welcomes contribu-tions from readers for our regular “Safety EquipmentWorks for You” feature. Email examples of where PPEhas saved workers’ lives or prevented injuries to EditorJoe Walker, [email protected], or mailthem to the Editor, Protection Update, InternationalSafety Equipment Association, 1901 N. Moore Street,Suite 808, Arlington, VA 22209. Photos are welcome.

1901 North Moore StreetArlington, VA 22209-1762 USA

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAlexandria, VA

PERMIT NO. 1490

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