Mechanix Wear Keeps You Covered

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Mechanix wear provides an array of protective gear to keep you covered. Mechanix wear includes more than just gloves. For comfort and protection from on the job tasks, you can choose from knee pads, aprons and heat sleeves. The Mechanix wear apron gives you an added layer of protection whether you’re working as part of the pit crew or at the shop. You’ll find details like a side pocket design that gives you easy access for storage, but keeps items out of the way while you’re working. For arm protection while you’re working on the engine or in other situations involving heat, Mechanix wear provides heat sleeves in a woven Kevlar to protect you from heat, as well as keep oil, fuel and other liquid products from your arms. Mechanix wear provides comfort when you have to work on your knees and you can choose from two versions of the knee pads. The standard knee pads come with a cordura outer fabric and a medium density foam core. For professional pit crews, Mechanix wear has a neoprene knee pad offering more support and protection.

Hard Hat Maintenance
Hard hats should be cleaned regularly in order to improve their length of service. Cleaning your hard hat and suspensions is pretty simple. The hard hats with or without logos can be cleaned with simple soap and water, or by using a damp towel. The plastic suspensions can be cleaned similarly; however, most modern suspensions some with a sweatband in the front or back of the hat. These sweatbands can be gently washed by hand, but they probably won ´t last as long as the hard hat. Several universal brow pads are available at an economical price.

Replace your hard hat when:
*Cracks appear in the shell.
*Shiny surface appears dull or chalky.
*Shell becomes brittle.
Replace your Suspension when:
*The suspensions become brittle
*One or more of the mounts break off
*The suspension will no longer hold securely to the head
*The cradling straps break or become worn

Inspect your hard hats before and after each use. Although there is no set service life for hard hats, manufacturers recommend replacement after no more than 5 years.

OSHA’s Recommendations For Safety Eyewear

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: When selecting safety eyewear, it’s important to choose the equipment that best suits the job. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, recommends that certain safety eyewear be used for various tasks.

• For handling chemicals, OSHA recommends the use of flexible fitting goggles with a hooded ventilation or a face shield.

• For welding, workers should use welding goggles or a welding helmet in combination with tinted spectacles.

• When working with a furnace, workers should use either eyecup welding goggles or coverspec welding goggles with tinted lenses.
• Working around machinery can call for a wide variety of safety eyewear, including flexible or cushioned fitting goggles, spectacles with side shields and face shields.

The Whistleblower Program
As the name implies, the “Whistleblower Program,” established by OSHA was setup to protect employees who complain to the OSHA about their working conditions, and the lack of safety in their workplace.

The “Whistleblower Program,” is mandated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and prohibits any employee from being fired or discriminated against, after filing an OSHA complaint. Based on the guidelines established for the “Whistleblower Program,” employees have a right to participate in inspections against their employer, submit complaints about OSHA violations, and be a witness in the OSHAs case against their employer. So if you have to make complaints about your workplace safety, know the “Whistleblower Program” is there to protect you.

Personal Protective Equipment For The Outdoors
T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Working for extended periods of time outdoors can mean that you’ll be exposed to a great deal of elements that can be detrimental to your skin. However, there’s no reason why you have to go through the day without personal protective equipment. Personal protective equipment comes in the form of compact and portable towelettes. Rather than dealing with the mess and bulk of sunscreen bottles, you can use sunscreen towelettes which give you an SPF protection of 15. If you’re working in areas where poison ivy can grow, protect your skin with poison ivy towelettes. Outdoor work that involves the possibility of tick, flea or deer fly bites call for a towelette with DEET to repel insect bites.

The American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) is a private facility, which publishes safety standards on the way industries and workplaces should conduct themselves and operate in a safe manner.

ANSI differs from OSHA in its standards of practice in regards to first aid kits. ANSI provides the exact requirements a first aid kit should contain, however this is in not in contrast to the OSHA standards on first aid kits, which gives out a more general statement on first aid kits.

The ANSI standard entitled, ANSI Z308.1-1998 – “Minimum Requirements For Workplace First-Aid Kits,” outlines the supplies and equipment, two be placed inside of a first aid kit. The ANSI standard Z308.1-1998 also provides a classification of first aid kits based on their intended use.

Tyvek Suits

T.A.S.C.O. Tip: Tyvek suits offer a solution to a variety of environments. Tyvek suits are appropriate for clean-up of asbestos, mold removal and food processing applications. Tyvek garments offer a number of features that make them an ideal choice for protective clothing.

• Tyvek suits allow freedom of movement to bend and stretch so you can get the job done in comfort.

• The Tyvek suits maintain their shape throughout movement like bending and stretching.

• This protective clothing garment has reinforcement in high stress areas to prevent unwanted tears.

• The Tyvek suits create a barrier to water from mild splash occurrences.

• This is a low-static suit which is not prone to scratches and tears.

Protective Equipment Training
Protective equipment training can occur in many forms. It can be carried out using a demonstrator, overheads, a presentation, or DVD video. Regardless of the method chosen, protective equipment training is something, which cannot be overlooked.

The basic components of protective equipment training include training employees to efficiently wear protective equipment, training employees to maintain protective equipment, and educating them on the ability to assess when protective equipment is necessary.

Personal protective equipment training should also be able to convince employees that they are not invincible while wearing protective equipment, and there are restrictions to the level of protection they possess.

OSHA Regulation Compliance
Compliance to OSHA regulations can be achieved by ensuring every person in your workplace is educated about the rules set forth by the OSHA. However, as an employer, it is your duty to ensure your workplace follows these regulations. There are various tips that can be adopted to help your workers comply.

The first tip an employer can adopt to ensure compliance is to have regularly scheduled discussions on how to make the workplace environment safer. During these seminars, OSHA regulations can be continually stated and reinforced.

Another tip to help ensure OSHA regulation compliance in your workplace is to send out memos or safety updates reminding employees of the proper protective equipment to use, and how to perform care and maintenance for them.

A third tip to implement within your workplace is the use of brochures and pamphlets highlighting specific job-related regulations.

With the use of these tips, noncompliance can be eradicated among your employees