Industrial and Manufacturing Labeling

MSHA encourages miners to Check The Ribs!

2011-08-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

Roof and rib collapses are the leading cause of accidents and injuries in underground coal mines. In 2010 alone, six coal miners were killed and 415 more were injured due to falling roofs and ribs.

To build awareness and increase precautionary measures regarding roof and rib maintenance and safety, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has launched a new outreach program entitled "Check The Ribs." Ribs refer to the travelways, walls and supports that keep roof portions secure. Rib integrity can be compromised by geologic features such as seams, shelves and rock partings. Rib failure is also more likely to occur when forward mining teams are constructing new pathways or retreating from depleted areas of the mine.

The MSHA "Check The Ribs" awareness campaign includes brochures, posters, best practices guides, safety initiatives and other visual materials to encourage regular, close inspection of all underground mining areas. All of the information is available through a single-source web page from MSHA.

RELATED LINKS: MSHA Impact Inspections / Miner Safety & Health Act / Mining World Article

Solar could produce most of world's electricity in 50 years

2011-08-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

A new projection by the International Energy Agency (IEA) proclaims that solar generators could produce the majority of the world's power by 2060. According to Cedric Philibert, senior analyst for the agency, "photovoltaic and concentrated power together can become the major source for electricity."

IEA's previous forecast predicted solar producing about 21 percent of the world's electricity by 2050. This new projection estimates that carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels in the energy sector would fall to approximately 3 gigatons annually compared to the more than 30 gigatons presently released per year.

RELATED LINKS: Tidal Energy / Promise & Pitfalls of Wind

DuraLabel Toro features Smart Chip Technology

2011-08-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Toro, DuraLabel's new stand-alone thermal transfer printer has enjoyed impressive sales. Its portability, network independence and battery power give facility managers and safety officers the freedom to print vinyl labels anywhere.

The Toro also features DuraLabel's Smart Chip Technology. When a new supply roll is loaded into the Toro, it knows exactly what the supply is: color, width, length. It then automatically calibrates its printer driver and prompts you to make sure you have the correct ribbon loaded. A smart Toro makes label printing that much faster and easier.... and that's no bull.

RELATED LINKS: 5-year Vinyl Guarantee / Custom Label Design

Crude oil down for third consecutive month

2011-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Crude oil prices dropped for the third straight month in August. Weakened oil demand due to slow economic growth and debt concerns in the United States and Europe are contributing factors.

Perceived wisdom is that weaker demand will continue for some time. This comes at the same time that global supplies have been bolstered by OPEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

That could change quickly, though. A relatively benign hurricane season was disrupted by Irene which skirted the Eastern seaboard. The next one could disrupt oil resources in the Gulf of Mexico. Unresolved political issues in Libya may also have an impact.

Related Links: Wind & Solar in the West / Future of LNG

OSHA launches new website for recordkeeping help

2011-07-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has announced the launch of a new, interactive website designed to assist employers in recordkeeping practices that meet OSHA compliance. The "OSHA Recordkeeping Advisor" is an interactive site that steps employers through potential scenarios to help them define whether injuries are work related and what provisions and/or regulations may apply should a work-related injury or illness claim be submitted.

Scenarios entered into The Recordkeeping Advisor are completely confidential. The service exists merely as a guide for employers to determine for themselves what steps are appropriate and necessary when considering reporting and recording work-related illnesses or injuries.

You may access the site by clicking on this link.

DuraLabel rolls out Tough Tested brand

2011-06-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel, one of the world's fastest growing manufacturers of vinyl supplies and printers, has rolled out a new graphic icon to promote the durability of their products.

More specifically, the new icon promotes DuraLabel's recently announced, unprecedented warranty on any vinyl label or sign that breaks down in the field within five years no matter how tough the conditions.

The warranty simply states that "if labels made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl fail within five years of purchase, we will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply."

RELATED LINKS: Anatomy of a Label / Crooked Labels

New Duralabel warranty backed by extensive testing

2011-06-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel has announced a new, bold warranty backing up their premium vinyl. The warranty states that, "if labels made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl fail within five years of purchase, we will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply."

DuraLabel is confident about backing up this bold promise largely due to the extensive amount of testing the DuraLabel Quality Control Team puts DuraLabel supplies through. Extreme weather, abrasion and chemical exposure are just a few of the endurance tests DuraLabel's vinyl supply are put through.

So, when DuraLabel offers up such a strong warranty especially when compared with other vinyl supply providers, DuraLabel is confident about backing it up. It is just another component of DuraLabel's commitment to exceed our customers' expectations when it comes to quality and service.

New DuraLabel warranty guarantees vinyl for five years

2011-06-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel is offering an unprecedented new warranty on its vinyl supplies. Simply stated, DuraLabel's new warranty states that, "If labels are made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl within five years of purchase, we will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply."

The label is stated very simply. That was intentional by DuraLabel. There are no strings attached, no fine print. If a DuraLabel vinyl label or sign fails no matter the conditions DuraLabel will replace it no questions asked.

DuraLabel's confidence in this new warranty speaks to the level of quality control DuraLabel has implemented since day one. DuraLabel offers more than 50 different specialty supplies for its line of thermal transfer printers.

DuraLabel labels good for five years no matter the conditions

2011-06-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

This picture of snow-covered pipes in Alaska was sent to DuraLabel by a client. The yellow pipe markers shown in the image are DuraLabel vinyl labels printed on a DuraLabel label printer.

This image does show DuraLabel labels doing their job in an extreme environment, but how long do you think these labels can last in sub-zero temperatures, wind and snow? DuraLabel is positive they can last at least five years. That's the length of DuraLabel's new Premium Vinyl Warranty.

"If labels made with DuraLabel Premium Vinyl fail within five years of purchase, we will provide a one-time replacement roll of the same supply."

So, even if your DuraLabel labels are wrapped around a rusty pipe in frigid cold Alaska DuraLabel has you covered... for five full years.

Here's the takeaway on the DuraLabel Toro

2011-06-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here's DuraLabel Toro's takeaway.... literally. Toro's engineers designed in these convenient, ergonomic hand wells on the bottom of the machine for easy transport.

Initial response from our customers is that the DuraLabel Toro is making the rounds throughout facilities, printing labels where they're needed. That was the intention of DuraLabel's design team.

Toro comes complete with a full size keyboard, a 9" touch screen and software for OSHA-ANSI compiance, barcoding and facility identification. Get the optional battery package and chances are you're going to be using Toro's handy handles quite a bit.

RELATED LINKS: Toro a Game Changer

DuraLabel Toro portable integrated printer goes anywhere

2011-05-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

Take your DuraLabel Toro on the go. Its rugged, lightweight design and labeling software give you the flexibility to take your Toro anywhere in your facility, or to a different location.

Toro also has a battery option, so access to a wall plug isn't even an issue. You can take Toro to the most remote sites and still get all of your label and sign requirements taken care of. Other Toro options for mobility including soft shell and hard shell cases and a 12 volt power adapter for use in a vehicle.

For more information on this innovative new Toro label printer from DuraLabel go to www.duralabeltoro.com.

DuraLabel Toro portable integrated printer screen easy to read

2011-05-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

The new DuraLabel Toro features a large, nine-inch diameter touch screen which tilts up for easy viewing and access. The Toro touch screen is easily navigated with the Toro stylus conveniently seated in a customized slot in Toro's full-sized keyboard. For more information on DuraLabel's latest, most innovative entry into the label printer market, go to www.duralabeltoro.com.

New DuraLabel Toro Portable Integrated Printer is a game changer

2011-05-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel, the recognized leader in safety label makers has just announced the release of its latest label printer, the DuraLabel Toro portable integrated printer.

Toro is like nothing else on the market for a number of reasons. First of all, Toro is a complete printing system including keyboard, touch screen, 4-inch printer and software. No network is needed. With the optional battery, no external power is needed either.

The DuraLabel Toro portable integrated printer has all the mobility of a smaller portable printer combined with a full suite of OSHA-ANSI software and capability to print up to 4 inches.

Check out the new DuraLabel Toro at www.duralabeltoro.com.

Google and Facebook set up shop in central Oregon

2011-04-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

Two of the world's largest online presences, Google and Facebook have recently built large data centers near each other in what at first glance seems an unlikely location, the sparsely populated high desert of central Oregon.

Google's facility is located in The Dalles on the Columbia River; the Facebook facility is less than 100 miles south in Prineville. Why have these two global internet leaders decided to set up shop in these two small, rural Oregon towns? Cheap land and tax breaks are likely motivations. Both of these communities have endured severe economic downturns for years. The Dalles experienced the closing of a major aluminum manufacturing plant and Prineville has experienced a dramatic decrease in demand for Oregon wood products.

But beyond the real estate investment incentives, what else might draw Google and Facebook to central Oregon... could it be proximity to renewable energy resources? The Columbia River is one of the largest sources of hydroelectric power generation in the United States. Both The Dalles and Prineville are close to major interstate transmission lines connecting the entire West Coast power grid. And then, there's the wind.

Central Oregon has also been identified as a prime region for wind power development. In fact, Google recently invested $100 million in the Sheperd's Flat Wind Farm being built near Arlington, Oregon, just east of The Dalles. When completed, the Sheperd's Flat Wind Farm will occupy a 30 square mile area and will be the largest producer of wind power in the country.

Central Oregon has always been known for its outstanding fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. Now, it's also becoming known for its world-class server farms.

RELATED LINKS: Wind Turbine Colors / Wind Power in Europe

OSHA is 40

2011-04-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is marking its 40th anniversary. The administration was formed April 28, 1971 as a result of the Occupational Safety and Health Act which was signed into law by President Nixon December 29, 1970.

When Congress was first debating the Act, as many as 14,000 work-related fatalities and 2.5 million disabilities were being reported annually. Since then reported workplace fatalities have been reduced by approximately 67%.

Five industries were initially identified by OSHA that reflected inordinate numbers of occurrences: marine cargo handling, roofing and sheet metal, meat and meat products, transportation equipment and lumber and wood products. Additionally, five health hazards were identified: asbestos, lead, silica, carbon monoxide and cotton dust.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA & Worker Texting / Department of Labor Fatal Statistics

Industrial tragedy sparked formation of now 100-year-old ASSE

2011-04-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

The American Society of Safety Engineers is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The formation of this important safety organization with more than 33,000 members can be linked back to a singular tragic event, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company occupied the top three floors of the 10-story Asch Building in Manhattan. The company employed about 500 workers who typically labored more than 50 hours over a six-day workweek sewing blouses. The garment workers were mostly young, European immigrant women. On March 25, 1911, fire broke out on the eighth floor and quickly spread due to the huge amount of fabric scraps around work spaces.

There was access to two freight elevators, two stairways and a fire escape but flames stopped workers from descending one stairway and the door to the other stairway was locked by managers to prevent theft. The two elevator operators saved many lives by quickly returning to the flame-engulfed floors but were forced to abandon their efforts when the elevators became inoperable from the fire's heat.

The fire department arrived quickly, but the ladders could only reach the sixth floor. All firemen could do was use their hoses from the street. By now the workers still trapped were forced to the windows. Some climbed onto the iron fire escape which quickly twisted and collapsed from the heat plunging victims 100 feet to their death. Others climbed onto the window sills, only to look down, pause for a moment and jump. Those who hesitated too long plummeted to the sidewalk in flames. The few life nets the firemen had were immediately torn through by the impact of falling bodies. As workers continued to jump to their deaths policemen, firemen and bystanders could only watch helplessly in horror. By the time the fire was extinguished 129 women and 17 men had perished.

In response to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, the state legislature created the Factory Investigating Committee which identified more than 200 factories in New York with similar conditions. The committee's report helped to standardize and modernize the state's labor and safety laws. As a result, the American Society of Safety Engineers was founded in New York City October, 14, 1911.

RELATED LINKS: Safety Hazards Guide / ASSE Zombie Project

Superhero cited by OHSA

2011-03-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

If you are even remotely interested in live theater, you've heard about the ongoing problems behind the production of the Broadway musical, "Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark." Now, OSHA has fined the production.

The three citations from OSHA were issued to the show's production company, 8 Legged Productions and stem from four different occurrences last year that involved injuries. The most serious involved actor Christopher Tierney who plunged from a stage platform sustaining broken ribs and a skull fracture.

The production relies heavily on choreographed flying sequences using acrobats in harnesses and cables to mimic the aerial movements of the comic book webslinger. To date, the production has delayed its premiere date four times largely due to the technical challenges of the flying sequences.

OSHA stated that employees were "exposed to the hazards of falls or being struck during flying routines because of improperly adjusted or unsecured safety harnesses." OSHA's fine of $12,600 is a drop in the bucket considering the production's $65 million budget.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA & Texting / OSHA Guidelines for Everyday Injuries

Emergency in Japan reveals nuclear dangers

2011-03-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Nuclear power is still a part of America's clean energy future, despite the unfolding events at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Nuclear power is categorized as clean because it does not use fossil fuels for power generation and its output does not contribute to greenhouse gasses.

The uncertain outcome of the tragedy in Japan is sparking conversations about the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine and we are reminded that nuclear power is clean and safe as long as nothing goes wrong. When failure does occur the impact can be deadly and the environmental damage can last for decades.

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an exclusion zone eighteen miles in radius around Chernobyl was closed off. 347,000 residents were permanently relocated. 137 workers suffered from acute radiation sickness; 28 of them eventually died. 5,000 cases of thyroid cancer from radioactive iodine have been recorded in the vicinity of Chernobyl as of 2006.

Today, approximately 20% of America's electricity is generated by nuclear power.

RELATED LINKS: Mars Solar / Western States' Fuel Cost

ANSI 2011 World Standards Day announces paper competition

2011-02-28T11:14:00.000-08:00

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced its competition for essay submissions in coordination with 2011 World Standards Day.

The theme for this year's paper competition is, "Advancing Safety and Sustainability Standards Worldwide." This theme recognizes the valuable roles codes, conformity and standardization play by accelerating innovation, creating harmonized communication for trade and developing solutions for critical challenges worldwide.

Cash prizes of $2,500 will be awarded to the top three submissions. Winners will be announced at the World Standards Day celebration which will take place at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. October 13, 2011. Entries must be received by midnight, August 12, 2011 at the home office if The Society for Standards Professionals.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI Social Networks / GHS White Paper

OSHA Announces Top 10 Safety Violations for 2010

2011-02-25T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has released its top 10 safety violations for 2010. OSHA issued a total of 94,000 citations during the year. The list is in descending order from most citations to least.

#1. Scaffolding, 9,093 violations.

#2. Fall Protection: 6,771 violations.

#3. Hazard Communication: 6,378 violations.

#4. Respiratory Protection: 3,803 violations.

#5. Ladders: 3,072 violations.

#6. Control of Hazardous Energy - Lockout/Tagout: 3,321 violations.

#7. Electrical - Wiring Methods: 3,079 violations.

#8. Powered Industrial Trucks - Forklifts: 2,993 violations.

#9. Electrical - General: 2,556 violations.

#10. Machine Guarding: 2,364 violations.

RELATED POSTS: OSHA Severe Violators / Lockout/Tagout Graphics

MSHA announces results from Impact Inspections

2011-02-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

Federal inspectors from the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) have issued 377 citations to 22 mining operations as a result of special "Impact" inspections. These inspections were initiated in April 2010 in response to the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. An explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia on April 5 killed 29 miners. It was the worst mining accident in the United States since 1970.

According to Joseph Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, "Some mine operators have begun to show signs of improvement, while others continue to demonstrate poor compliance with safety and health laws."

These impact inspections focused on mines that merited increased agency scrutiny due to poor compliance history or specific compliance concerns including high violation numbers, questionable operator tactics like notifying workers in advance of inspections, injuries or illnesses, hotline calls and inadequate ventilation.

RELATED LINKS: Miner's Rights / Mine Rescues

China emerging as solar leader

2011-01-17T08:29:00.000-08:00

China has passed the West to become the the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels. The Chinese government's investment includes subsidizing higher costs of this renewable energy. It charges a fee to all electricity customers to make up the cost difference between renewable energy and coal-fired energy.

China's assertive strategic development of renewable energies may place the West in the tenuous position of moving from current reliance on oil-producing countries to future reliance on China for emerging energy technologies.

With continued technology and manufacturing improvements, the cost of solar is coming down but it is still at least twice as expensive as coal.

RELATED LINKS: Where's Nuclear / Solar NEC Labeling

Two mining equipment giants to become one

2010-12-28T09:52:00.000-08:00

Caterpillar, the world's largest manufacturer of construction equipment has entered into a buyout agreement with Bucyrus a major manufacturer of mining equipment including draglines, excavators, dump trucks, and long-wall chocks. Bucyrus has been a leader in excavators for more than 100 years. Seventy-seven of the 102 steam shovels used to build the Panama Canal were Bucyrus.

Although Caterpillar currently manufactures mining-specific heavy equipment, this acquisition will significantly boost the company's offerings within the mining industry. With continued globalization of industries and growing demand for minerals Caterpillar will be well-positioned moving forward by offering products for every stage of the mining process from drills to dump trucks.

Mining industry trends point toward continued growth for the foreseeable future. China is beginning to limit its exports of precious minerals used in electronics which will lead to new mining opportunities in other parts of the world. Gold, silver and copper are trading for record prices, and coal, despite the current buzz around renewable energy generation will continue to serve as a primary energy source for a long time to come.

RELATED LINKS: Mine Safety and the NFL / MSHA Miner's Rights

Department of Labor announces web chat schedule

2010-12-27T07:18:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a series of live web chats on regulatory agendas January 4-7, 2011. These events are open to the public and media. The web chat schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, January 4, 2-3 p.m. - Employee Benefits Security Administration.

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2:30-3:30 p.m. - OSHA.

Thursday, Jan. 6, 12-1 p.m. - Employment and Training Administration.

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2-3 p.m. - Wage and Hour Division.

Friday, Jan. 7, 12-1 p.m. - Office of Labor Management Standards.

Friday, Jan. 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

To participate in the web chats, visit http://www.dol.gov/regulations

RELATED LINKS: Ongoing OSHA Compliance / Risk Management

OSHA releases lists for most frequent citations and highest penalties

2010-12-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has released its lists for most frequently cited violations and the highest assessed penalties for fiscal year 2010.

Here are the 10 most frequently cited violations:

1. Scaffolding general requirements and construction.
2. Fall protection.
3. Hazard communication standards for general industry.
4. Ladders.
5. Respiratory protection.
6. Hazardous energy control / lockout - tagout.
7. Electrical wiring methods.
8. Powered industrial trucks.
9. Electrical systems design.
10. General machine requirements.

The 10 highest penalties assessed include the following:

1. Fall Protection.
2. General electrical requirements.
3. Safety training and education.
4. Hazardous energy control.
5. General machine requirements.
6. General duty clause.
7. Protective systems for excavation.
8. Lead exposure.
9. Grain handling.
10. Ladders.

The 2010 fiscal year ran from October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010.

RELATED LINKS: Workers Don't Always Speak Up / Free OSHA Best Practices

ANSI standards used for NYC holiday tree

2010-12-01T16:00:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Tree in New York's Rockefeller Center is a twelve-ton, 75-year-old spruce. It is strung with 30,000 lights on five miles of electrical wire. That's a lot of infrastructure for a holiday decoration which is why there are ANSI standards written specifically for tree care operations including planting, display and maintenance. It is known as the ANSI A300 series of standards.

A new addition to the standard series is currently under review. A300-Part 9 covers risk assessment performance for consumers, federal, state, municipal and private institutions. With an estimated 750,000 people passing through Rockefeller Center daily during the holiday season it becomes easy to see why this gigantic display requires safety standards.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI Social Networks / Safety Sign Condition

Department of Labor worker days away numbers down in 2009

2010-11-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

US Department of Labor statistics have been published regarding reported nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring work time off for 2009. The number is down 9% from 2008 numbers, reflects private industry, and for the first time state and local government.

The state and local government incident rates were significantly higher than the private industry numbers. Half of the government workers are employed in state where there is no OSHA coverage. Highest occurrences among public employees included transit bus drivers, law enforcement officers, emergency response workers and nursing aids with musculoskeletal disorders comprising almost 30%.

At first glance, the overall decrease would reflect a positive trend. However, this measurement period was tabulated during a dramatic economic downturn when there have been fewer workers exposed to safety and health hazards, especially in construction and manufacturing.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Safety Poster / 2009 Mining Deaths

Workers sidelined and production derailed thanks to a bug

2010-11-23T14:52:00.000-08:00

It's cold and flu season again and hundreds of thousands of productivity hours will be lost to employee absenteeism. Twenty percent of the American population will catch the flu this season and more than 200,000 people will be hospitalized.

Ironically, controlling the spread of germs in the workplace and the impact on productivity can be accomplished with a few relatively simple actions. The challenge is convincing workers to adopt these simple steps, the easiest of them being the washing of hands. Soap, warm water and 15-20 seconds of scrubbing can disrupt and remove germs. Although air dryers have become more prevalent in many workplace washrooms due to cost savings, paper towels are more effective in removing bacteria from wet hands. Some studies have even shown that air dryers can add bacteria to skin surface.

Instant hand sanitizers can be placed throughout work areas where workers can continuously cleanse their hands without making special trips to the washroom. Labeling and signage can be strategically placed throughout work areas during the season reminding workers to "wash up" hands as well as common work surfaces.

RELATED LINKS: Safety Label Comprehension / Risk Management / Holiday Safety Standards

New hydrokinetic power leverages dam water hydraulics

2010-11-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

Since 1998, a company called Hydro Green Energy has been operating the first hydrokinetic power project in the United States outside of Hastings, Minnesota. Hydrokinetic power generation creates more energy from existing dam energy in an environmentally responsible manner.

It is a similar system to the tidal turbines being used in Europe, only the turbine is designed to turn one way. The turbine is placed underwater, downstream from the high-velocity water channels rushing from the hydroelectric dam. The rushing water from the dam gates, turns the turbine, and the benefit of the hydro power produced by the dam is magnified with minimal environmental impact.

Because the hydrokinetic system is in close proximity of the dam, it is easy to tap into the existing power grid. The lack of access to a power grid is a big challenge with many prime locations for maximizing green energy like solar and wind.

RELATED LINKS: Strained Energy Grids / Tidal Energy

Offshore wind development sputtering through growth cycles

2010-11-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

Offshore wind farm development in Northern Europe is falling short of the initial promise due to supply and demand issues and price in-elasticity. The challenge begins with logistics. Manufacturers are having trouble keeping parts and component supplies in line with demand which is keeping their prices high.

Wind turbine companies are holding back on adding production capability because of those high costs, and shortage of agreements with utility companies and developers, who are reluctant because of the considerable costs incurred with offshore installations.

It's a common cycle of industry-specific interdependence when an industry is in its infancy. It is yet to be seen if competition and customer demand will slingshot offshore wind generation into explosive growth, or if the industry sputters through start-stop cycles on its way to large-scale wind generation and economic impact.

RELATED LINKS: Wind Power Promise / Rated 2nd New Power Source

Biogas is for the birds... chickens to be exact

2010-11-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

The Olivera Egg Ranch in French Camp, California is having a fuel cell CHP power plant installed by G3 Power Systems. The system will take waste from the ranch's 650,000 chickens and convert it into electricity and heat.

Olivera Egg Ranch has been in the news lately, raising the ire of neighbors for the disgusting and unrelenting oder emanating from the pond that holds the significant amount of chicken waste. It had gotten so bad, nearby residents had the Humane Society of the United States file a lawsuit on their behalf.

The fuel cell power plant will generate enough power to meet all the needs of the ranch. By-product heat from the energy conversion will then be channeled to an anaerobic digester for fermentation and consumption as CHP fuel.

RELATED LINKS: European Wind Power / Where's Nuclear

OSHA promotes holiday crowd management controls to major retailers

2010-11-08T11:01:00.001-08:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has notified the CEOs of 14 retailers encouraging them to implement crowd management procedures for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year.

Crowd-related injuries from heavily promoted retail sales events have been on the rise. A store worker was trampled to death in 2008 by shoppers rushing through the doors of a large store for a Black Friday sales event. OSHA's crowd management plan includes on-site safety personnel, barricades and rope lines, and a public address system for directions and announcements.

The retailer list includes Dillards, Target, Macys, Wal-Mart, JC Penny, Sears, Costco, TJX, Kohls, Best Buy, BJ's, Toys "R" Us, Apple and IKEA.

RELATED LINKS: Everyday Injuries / OSHA Accident Report

New XPressPeel Premium Vinyl makes label application a cinch

2010-10-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel's new XPressPeel Premium Vinyl makes label application quick and easy. The XPressPeel label backing is scored down the center, so when it's time to remove the backing from your label all you have to do is bend the label between your fingers and thumbs like the illustration shown.

XPressPeel is available in all of the standard DuraLabel supply colors including black, blue, clear, green, orange, red, white and yellow. Label widths include 1/2", 1", 2", 3", and 4" and are resistant to alcohol solvents, cleaning agents, UV light/sunlight, humidity, water and oil.

XPressPeel Premium Vinyl can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments for pipe marking, OSHA compliance, safety labeling, arc-flash labeling, lean manufacturing and general signage.

RELATED LINKS: Supplies & Weather / Premium Supplies

DuraLabel now has more than 50 supplies

2010-10-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel now carries more than 50 different specialty supplies for their DuraLabel printers: fifty unique solutions for any environment where tough, durable, legible, long-lasting visual safety communication is required.

DuraLabel has taken their tried-and-true supplies typically used for arc flash, pipe marking, right-to-know, lean manufacturing, OSHA and ANSI compliance and over time, grown their supply inventory to cover an amazing range of visual communication challenges.

Just a sampling of the unique supplies now offered include cold storage tape, phosphorescent tape, embossable poly tape, oily surface tape, tamper-evident tape, marine labels, metalized poly tape, high-tack tapes, floor marking tape and much, much more.

The DuraLabel research lab has an array of test equipment that can recreate the harshest environments Mother Nature and industry can dish out. In a matter of hours, the lab can age a label as if it were in the Sahara for three years.

Supplies are constantly tested against extreme temperature, ultraviolet exposure, chemical exposure and abrasion. We put our supplies through these extremes so you can be confident they will not fail you when it matters most in the field.

RELATED LINKS: BoldGlo / Right-To-Know

Wind turbine color may impact wildlife fatalities

2010-10-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

One of the negative blow backs of wind turbine technology is bird and bat fatalities caused by the rotating turbines. This unfortunate technology side effect can be political hot button in geographic areas where endangered species are implicated.

Scientists have ascertained that the fatalities may be caused due to the neutral colors of the turbines which are most commonly gray and white. Now, recent research shows that it actually may be the insects that are the food source of these animals that are attracted to the turbine colors. The birds and bats are flying into the turbines chasing down their dinner.

To validate this theory, researchers exposed insects to a range of colors at both day and night to observe their attraction behavior for each color. One did stand out. In order for the birds and bats to survive turbine tragedy we need to live with purple turbines.

RELATED LINKS: Offshore Wind Farm / Western Wind & Solar

Demonstration to pitch Welsh tidal farm

2010-10-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

A new tidal farm demonstration project is underway in Wales. The exhibit, put together by Marine Current Turbines and RWE npower, is designed to garner public and political support for moving ahead with a seven tidal generation terminals. The 10 megawatt tidal farm needs to be approved by the Welsh Assembly Government before commissioning which is forecast for 2013-14.

Historically, tidal power generation comes with a high capital start up cost that requires years of investment before significant returns can be realized. Tidal power is gaining momentum, though. It is a more consistent power source than solar or wind, and technological advances are making generators more efficient and cost effective.

RELATED LINKS: Cape Cod Wind / OSHA Marine Labels

DURALABEL TEST LAB SERIES: DuraLabel weathers tougher weather than Emedco

2010-10-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

The DuraLabel Test Lab continues to put our label and sign supplies through extreme conditions that represent the harshest environments our planet can produce.

Their latest test pits our DuraLabel Premium Continuous Vinyl against a pre-printed Emedco hazard label. Both labels were placed in our Atlas Weathering Machine for an accelerated weathering durability test equal to three consecutive years of outdoor exposure.

After 1,800 accelerated hours of exposure, the DuraLabel labels faded slightly while the Emedco label literally and completely vanished. The test results can be seen on our DuraLabel.com site.

RELATED LINKS: Graphic Products Warehouse / Free Anatomy of a Label Guide

U.K. hydrogen fuel plant planned

2010-10-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

A triad of U.K. energy companies has announced plans to build a 300-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell power plant in Ireland. B9 Coal Limited, Powerfuel Power Limited and AFC Energy have all signed a letter of intent to develop the plant.

The project will include a combined-cycle gas turbine optimized for "syngas" conversion. Syngas is a gas mixture that contains carbon monoxide that has less than half the energy density of natural gas.

Hydrogen energy technology is still more future opportunity driven than market driven at this time. Once the hydrogen has been produced it's waste byproducts of greenhouse gasses is significantly less than gasoline. However, hydrogen fuel generation still requires the consumption of a "carrier" fuel like oil, coal or natural gas.

The use of syngas is a positive step, until other energies are further developed. Nuclear energy has been used as a carrier energy for hydrogen generation in Denmark and Iceland, but as of now, nuclear generates less than 20% of U.K. power. Other, more exotic hydrogen production catalysts are further out on the development horizon including microbe electrolysis and biological fermentation.

RELATED LINKS: Tidal Energy / Promise of Wind Power

DOE FutureGen 2.0 raises questions

2010-09-30T18:00:00.000-07:00

The Department of Energy (DOE) has set aside $1 billion for FutureGen 2.0, a program designed to develop full carbon capture from coal-fired electricity plants.

The technology, called oxy-combustion burns coal with a mixture of oxygen and CO2 that produces concentrated, near-zero emissions without mercury and other harmful particulate pollutants and greenhouse gases. The DOE's National Energy Technology Lab has tagged oxy-combustion as a major, least-cost strategy for future clean up of existing coal-fired electrical plants.

The program is not without its detractors in the blogosphere. Many are questioning its shortsightedness. Should the DOE be investing so much in creating a zero-emission program for a dirty, non-renewable fuel resource that will eventually run out, or would that investment be better served moving renewable energy technologies forward.

RELATED LINKS: China's Coal Dependence / Combustible Dust Standards / OilCoalGas.com

OSHA steps up push against worker texting

2010-09-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has partnered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to lessen the impact of distracted driving, more specifically, text messaging or "texting."

The leading cause of worker fatalities is motor vehicle crashes. While there are no specific metrics on how many worker crashes are caused by texting, a recent study sponsored by the American Journal of Public Health sites more than 16,000 fatalities caused by distracted driving between 2002 and 2007.

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis has stated that, "It is well recognized that texting while driving dramatically increases the risk of a motor vehicle injury or fatality." Last year, President Obama signed an executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving.

The OSHA-DOT initiative will focus on building awareness, primarily through education. Employers will be encouraged to discourage employee texting while driving. Examples of this may include delivery people or salespeople who are often required to access or update information as they go about their jobs behind the wheel. Younger workers will also be targeted, since their demographic is the primary user group with the medium of texting.

The campaign will launch during "Drive Safely Work Week" in early October.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Everyday Injuries / Injury Under-reporting

World's largest offshore wind farm goes online

2010-09-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

There is a new record holder for the world's largest offshore wind farm. Located off the southeast coast of the United Kingdom near Kent, the 100-turbine Thanet Offshore Wind Farm goes online today and begins generating 300 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 200,000 homes a year.

The farm covers a 13.5 square mile area, about the size of 4,000 football fields. The turbine closest to land is 7.4 miles, an important distance since a major public relations challenge with wind turbines is their visual intrusion on the landscape. Folks seem to be more accepting of wind energy when they don't have to look at the turbines.

The U.K. coastline of is proving to be an outstanding energy source for wind power, especially the eastern seaboard exposure to the North Sea. A U.K. based wind turbine can produce up to 50% more power than a similar turbine based in Germany. Half of the 16 offshore wind farms currently under development throughout Europe are located off U.K. shores.

The Thanet farm will not be the biggest for long. Scheduled to go online in 2013, a 300-turbine farm off the Essex coast is projected to be the first 1-gigawatt wind generation farm.

RELATED LINKS: Cape Cod Wind / Marine Pipe Markers

Landfill methane profitable as electrical generation source

2010-09-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

As a greenhouse gas, methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Thankfully, there is just not as much of it released into the atmosphere as other greenhouse gases. Landfills are the largest methane emitters in the United States, releasing up to 70 million tons each year. Many landfills are releasing much less, though and making money doing it... through electrical generation.

Methane is generated in landfills through the natural decomposition of organic materials, like kitchen scraps or yard debris. The most common way for landfills to release pent up methane is to burn it off through relief pipes, a process called flaring. Now, more and more landfills are recovering that methane and using it as fuel to generate electrical power which is then sold back to the local energy grids. It's a win-win; the environment absorbs less greenhouse gas and landfill management makes money by selling power back to the grid.

If this sounds like a feel-good publicity stunt by the landfill companies to show what good stewards of the planet they can be, it isn't. There's serious money to be made through this gas-to-energy strategy. Since 2004, Waste Management's El Sobrante Landfill in Southern California has operated three gas-to-energy generators that have sold back enough electricity to power 3,800 homes per day.

RELATED LINKS: Money In Your Pipes / Western Wind & Solar

Chinese economic growth precariously dependent on coal

2010-09-10T09:56:00.001-07:00

With an annual growth in gross domestic product of 8-9%, China's emergence as a world power has been a popular water cooler topic, especially in light of the United States' recent economic woes.

China's economic engine is largely powered by one fuel source, coal. By a wide margin, China is the biggest producer and consumer of coal in the world. However, China is anemic when it comes to other fuel sources like oil and gas. Coal accounts for 70%+ of China's overall energy consumption. Despite China's impressive sources for domestic coal, it's not enough. China is also a coal net importer taking in more than 60 million tons of foreign coal in the first half of 2010.

China understands the predicament of its heavy-handed dependence on coal. Which is why China has also become a world power in renewable energy, strategically referred to as "energy security." China operates the most hydroelectric and wind generators in the world. Some forecasts claim that China may meet all of its electricity requirements by 2030. China also happens to be the world leader in wind turbine and solar panel production.

China understands there will be a sunset for fossil fuels and is proactively readying itself. Is the United States doing all we can to reposition our energy consumption for the future?

RELATED LINKS: Tidal Energy / Senate Energy Extension

Natural gas futures set by pipeline, not economists

2010-09-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Pricing for the natural gas market in North America is not set by a team of economists behind closed doors crunching complex formulas and numbers. It's actually set by a pipeline connection in Erath, Louisiana. That's right, New York Mercantile Exchange pricing for natural gas is set by pipeline.

It's called Henry Hub, and it's a point on the natural gas pipeline system that interconnects four intrastate and nine interstate NG pipelines: Acadian, Gulf South, Sea Robin, Southern Natural, Jefferson Island, Sabine, Trunkline, Columbia Gulf Transmission, Bridgeline, Texas Gas and NGPL.

Henry Hub an obvious measure for setting gas price futures because of the sheer volume of natural gas that passes through its compressors. Hub capacity is 1.8 Bcf (billion cubic feet and is measured in dollars per millions of British thermal units (MMBtu).

RELATED LINKS: LNG Futures

Wind power expands in Europe despite economy

2010-09-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Despite challenging financing opportunities, offshore wind generation development has had a very good 2010 so far in Europe. European electrical grids were connected to 118 new offshore wind turbines in the first half of the year according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA). An additional 151 turbines are installed but have yet to be connected to the grid.

Currently, there are 948 operational turbines in 43 wind farms throughout Europe with a generating capacity of 2396 megawatts.

One of the primary reasons for continuing growth in the wind power industry is the ability of utilities to fund their own investments rather than having to pursue loan funding which is the most viable option for independent developers.

Will U.S. energy be at a future disadvantage down the road by not being as aggressive in alternative energy development today as Europe?

RELATED LINKS: Cape Cod NIMBYisms / Wind Savings in the West

For safety message comprehension, bigger is better

2010-09-01T02:00:00.000-07:00

Three simple metrics are commonly used to calculate the readability and comprehension of label or signs: letter height, distance between viewer and the message, and the time needed to understand the message and act accordingly. In the case of OSHA/ANSI safety labels and signs, bigger can be better in reading and understanding safety labels, but there are some standards that define the readability and comprehension of a safety message.

In the field, the most common safety label is 4" wide. For pipe markers with a single line of type, 3" letters on a 4" label can be legible up to 75' away. That's great. However, if we're talking about a 4" wide arc flash label, the "Warning" or "Danger" banner action word only takes up the top portion of the label. At 1" or so, the action word may only be legible at 25' or less.

DuraLabel's DL9000 wide format printer prints safety labels and signs up to 9" wide, and that means a readability distance up to 200'. I don't know about you, but identifying a hazard from 200' away sounds a lot safer than 25' away.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Fines / OSHA Best Practice

ANSI launches pilot accreditation for ENERGY STAR Program

2010-08-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has launched a pilot accreditation program for organizations seeking to certify ENERGY STAR products.

The ENERGY STAR Program is jointly run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The program was initiated in 1992 to identify energy-efficient products for consumers. ENERGY STAR has since grown to partner with more than 17,000 public and private sector organizations.

The ENERGY STAR label can be found on appliances, office equipment, home electronics, new homes, commercial and industrial buildings and more. A certified product boasting the ENERGY STAR brand offers energy efficiency savings without sacrificing convenience or quality.

Because of the overwhelming success and growth of the ENERGY STAR Program, this pilot accreditation program will create authorized certification entities that can approve ENERGY STAR accreditation on behalf of the EPA and DOE.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI Standardization Booklet / ANSI Social Media

Get your message across in low light

2010-08-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

Many industrial workplaces enjoy strong, focused lighting on critical areas, but the overall ambient lighting for peripheral areas can be subdued, especially when the facility has high ceilings.

DuraLabel reflective vinyl tapes can help label and sign identification stand out in these "corners" of the workplace. Reflective tape is made with high-performance vinyl that is chemical resistant and is backed with a strong, ultimate bond. It's integrated with retro-reflective film and meets or exceeds ASTM-D-4956-99 standards for reflectivity.

Make sure your message is seen with DuraLabel reflective vinyl tapes.

RELATED LINKS: DuraLabel BoldGlo / Multi-directional Placards

SeaWorld fined by OSHA after animal trainer's death

2010-08-25T21:00:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited SeaWorld of Florida for safety violations following the death of an animal trainer past February.

The trainer was attacked by a six-ton killer whale during a training session that was witnessed by park guests. OSHA's investigation revealed that this same whale had been involved in the death of another trainer at SeaLand of the Pacific, Vancouver, B.C. in 1991.

Les Grove, OSHA's Tampa area director stated that, "All employers are obligated to assess potential risks to the safety and health of their employees and take actions to mitigate those risks. In facilities that house wild animals, employers need to assess the animals under their care and to minimize human-animal interaction if there is no safe way to reliable predict animal behavior under all conditions."

Total violation penalty is $75,000. Seaworld has 15 business days starting August 23, 2010 to contest the citations before the OSHA Review Commission.

RELATED LINKS: Ongoing OSHA Compliance / Marine Label Tape

Mars missions inform new solar technology

2010-08-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

One-seventh of a single ounce of dust per square yard on a solar panel can cut that panel's efficiency by up to 40%. Sun-drenched regions where solar potential is greatest are often places where dry, arid weather and winds kick up lots of dust. On top of that, clean water for panel cleaning tends to be scarce and expensive in these areas.

Now a new technology first developed for Mars exploration missions is showing potential for keeping solar panels dust free without water or mechanical movement. It involves distributing electrically sensitive material across the panel surface through a glass or plastic sheeting.

Sensors track the dust build up. When the coating reaches a predetermined level, the material is activated with a charge that repels the dust keeping the panel clear and maximizing its power production.

It is estimated that if only four percent of the planet's desert regions were dedicated to solar energy production, power needs worldwide could be met.

RELATED LINKS: Electric Cars & Nasa Batteries / Earth Energies / Wind Power Promise

Department of Labor announces decline in fatal occupational injuries

2010-08-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

The Bureau of Labor released preliminary numbers for fatal occupational injuries in 2009 have gone down according to Bureau of Labor statistics. In 2009, 4,340 workers died from work-related injuries compared to 5,214 deaths in 2008.

Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis stated that, "while a decrease in the number of fatal work injuries is encouraging, we cannot and will not relent from our continued strong enforcement of workplace safety laws."

The Department of Labor is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations.

RELATED LINKS: Injury Prevention Guidelines / Workers Don't Speak Up

Guess what it is and you may win

2010-08-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Does this contraption look familiar to you? It's got a lot of big gears. This piece of equipment efficiently accomplishes a task in minutes what used to take hours and often require beasts of burden. Click here to take a guess. If you are correct, your name will be included in a drawing to win a free prize from Graphic Products. Good luck!

RELATED LINKS: Industrial Labeling Suite / Design Your Own Label

NFL player helps spread abandoned mine safety message

2010-08-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Kansas City Chiefs running back Thomas Jones is a professional football player. He is not a coal miner. His parents were, though. That's why Thomas Jones is a spokesperson for MSHA's "Stay Out-Stay Alive" mine safety campaign. Jones' stature as a professional athlete helps to convey important safety messaging to younger audiences who are often the ones involved in abandoned mine site accidents.

Each year, dozens of lives are lost needlessly in old mines and abandoned quarries. Underground mines have shafts that can drop hundreds of feet, and have the potential of collapsing. Open, water-filled quarries can be deep and cold. Additionally, abandoned mining equipment that could cause serious injury may be lurking just beneath the water's surface. Cliffs and ledges around open surface mines are often unstable.

In a series of recorded public address messages, Jones, the self-professed coal miners' son, tells us that nothing scares him when he steps on the football field, but seeing young people around abandoned mines and quarries does.

RELATED LINKS: Mine Rescue Capabilities / Mining Continuous Improvement

OSHA best practices guide available

2010-08-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Graphic Products' updated OSHA Best Practices Guide is available. The16-page guide summarizes the most up-to-date information on OSHA and ANSI safety signs including ANSI safety symbol compliance.

The guide also defines parameters for the four main types of safety signs: danger for potentially dangerous situations, warning for hazardous situations, caution for situations that could cause minor injury and notice for messages regarding personal safety or protection of property.

The Graphic Products OSHA Best Practices Guide is available online for free.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Accident Report Guide / Marine Safety Quick Cards

ANSI seeks nominees for Personal Certification Accreditation Committee

2010-08-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is seeking nominations for positions on its Personnel Certification Accreditation Committee. The committee creates and recommends policy for the ANSI Personnel Certification Accreditation Program. The program verifies compliance with ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 - General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification Systems of Persons.

Individuals experienced in certification and accreditation in construction, manufacturing and energy industries are encouraged to consider submitting an application or recommending a nominee. Terms are for three years beginning January 1, 2011. Nominations need to turned in by August 30, 2010.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI Social Networks / ISO and the Consumer

Proposed $16.6 million OSHA fine includes safety labeling

2010-08-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) has cited a group of construction companies and contractors with 371 alleged safety violations related to a deadly natural gas explosion in Middleton, Connecticut this past February. For those violations, OSHA is proposing a total of 16.6 million in fines.

The explosion occurred as part of a gas blow procedure at a power plant construction site. Citations included failure to install and use electrical equipment in accordance with labeling.

OSHA defines a willful violation as one that is committed with indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Graphic Products offers a complimentary OSHA Accident Report Guide that analyzes 12 fatal accidents, what went wrong and how to avoid them. All 12 accidents could have been prevented with proper safety training and identification.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Enforcement / National Emphasis Program

Don't get stuck with a crooked label

2010-07-29T20:00:00.000-07:00

Graphic Products has just announced a new product that makes sure your labels and signs are mounted straight without annoying wrinkles and air bubbles. It's EZ-ON, a specially formulated application solution that allows you to position your labels in place and flatten out any wrinkles before they stick.

After you've cleaned the surface where the label is going to be placed, peel the backing off your label and spray the adhesive surface with an even coating of EZ-ON, then place your label.

The label "floats" on the liquid EZ-ON layer allowing you to level it and squeegee all the wrinkles and bubbles out. The squeegee also pushes the EZ-ON out the edges of the label where you can wipe it with a clean towel or cloth. When there is no more EZ-ON to squeegee out, you're done. You've got a perfectly positioned, professional looking label.

RELATED LINKS: Marine Label Tape / Vertical Labels

House committee passes Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010

2010-07-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 passed through the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Labor, July 21. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis stated that, "the legislation passed today... represents an important step forward in strengthening safety laws for our nation's miners."

Solis invoked the memory of the late Senator Robert Byrd in encouraging the full House to pass the bill prior to August recess. Senator Byrd represented West Virginia, a state that relies heavily on the coal mining industry for jobs and revenue and is also home to the Upper Big Branch Mine, where an explosion on April 5, 2010 killed twenty-nine coal miners.

RELATED LINKS: Miner's Rights & Responsibilities / MHSA Rules To Live By

In this economy, work smarter not harder with 5S

2010-07-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

In today’s challenging business environment lean manufacturing practices can improve your bottom line without requiring major capital investment. The 5S program is a good first step.

Studies show that workplace personnel can waste up to two hours a day on unnecessary motion like looking for tools or parts or waiting for information or approval. The 5S pillars of Sorting, Setting in order, Shining, Standardizing and Sustaining can quickly create efficiencies and savings by streamlining work processes and workplaces.

The key to 5S success is visual communication. Clear and accurate identification of inventories, locations, procedures, hazards, equipment and tools eliminates wasted motion, improves safety, extends equipment life and boosts morale.

Click here for a free 5S guide from Graphic Products and start working smarter now.

RELATED LINKS: Six Sigma / Common Lean Stumbling Blocks / The Lean Blog

Arc flash injuries devastating

2010-07-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Arc Flash accidents can cause devastating workplace injuries, emotionally and financially. Every day in America up to ten arc flash accidents result in serious injuries or fatalities. If the event is survived, the incredible amount of energy released often causes extremely severe burns that likely will require months of painful rehabilitation or even amputation.

Average financial costs to employers and insurance providers from a single arc flash accident can run into the millions of dollars, with the majority of legal settlements being based on deficiencies in the employer's safety program.

ANSI compliant arc flash safety labeling is the first line of defense against incidents along with PPE and lockout-tagout procedures. Get the Graphic Products Arc Flash Labeling Guide and take a close look at your arc flash safety program.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Safety Poster / Seen To Be Safe

Electric cars learning from NASA battery technology

2010-07-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory isn't just taking a page from the NASA battery technology program, they're taking an engineer.

Eric Darcy, battery group leader at NASA's Johnson Space Center knows the challenges of designing powerful lithium battery packs for confined spaces. He's on loan from NASA to the NREL Labs for nine months to research car battery feasibility. According to Darcy, whether it's "manned space travel or manned automobiles," the challenges are the same regarding battery size and weight. Lithium ion batteries have become the preferred technology because of high power densities.

With battery-powered cars expecting to take more and more of the automobile market share, this next-generation battery technology will prove valuable in meeting future demands.

RELATED LINKS: Wind Power Potential / Green Non-potable Water

Graphic Products' new MSDS guide available

2010-07-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

Graphic Products has just reprinted their guide for reading material safety data sheets (MSDS). MSDS are required for all chemicals in work settings. They detail and describe the hazards and necessary safety precautions required for working with specific chemicals.

The sheets include information on a chemical's toxicity, health effects, reactivity, storage, disposal, and the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be worn while working with that chemical.

OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard 1910.1200 does not have a standardized format for availability and dissemination of sheets to workers, but MSDS must be available to employees at all times during their work shifts. Many facilities bind their MSDS together in a well-identified, centralized location.

For a copy of the latest edition of the Graphic Products MSDS reading guide, click this link or call 1-800-788-5572.

RELATED LINKS: New DuraLabel Printer / Hazard Communications tops OSHA List

Lockout-Tagout safety enhanced with graphical procedures

2010-07-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

OSHA 1910.147 lockout-tagout procedures are designed to ensure that hazardous power sources can be rendered inoperative, or "locked out" to all workers except authorized personnel. When locked out, the power access point is "tagged" identifying the lock out.

Many organizations are taking their lockout-tagout programs one step further with detailed, visually instructive graphical signs. They can be sturdy quick-reference cards or sheets printed on UV-resistant or chemical-resistant laminated stock and attached to the machine at the point of lockout.

These graphical cards can be safer; workers know they have located the correct disconnect. They are faster; quick-reference cards are easier to access and understand than large text documents or manuals. These easy to follow, easy to read graphical interfaces standardize instructions for everyone in the facility.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Top 10 Violations / OSHA Everyday Safety

Risk management defined

2010-07-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

Risk management has achieved almost buzzword status in the business world. Aside from those who are charged with qualifying and quantifying risk management metrics within an organization, for the majority of workers, risk management is a talking point at a employee safety meeting. Risk management defined is identification, prioritization and measurement of risks, defined being the key word here.

The definition of risk assessment in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 31000 as "the effect of uncertainty on objectives." Once risks have been identified and assessed techniques for managing and measuring those risks most likely fall into one of four major categories: avoidance, reduction, sharing and retention.

ISO 31000 goes on to identify 11 principles of risk management including creating value, addressing uncertainty, accounting for human factors and encouraging transparency and inclusiveness.

Resources can be wasted in dealing with perceived risks that are not likely to occur. Managing risk too tightly can drive a process toward entropy. A key to successful risk management is to clarify the distinction between risk and uncertainty. Risk can be managed, uncertainty cannot.

Depending on the industry or the business channel, risk can be identified, assessed, and as a result, managed for finances, engineering, warehouse operations, food service or any other professional discipline.

With all the renewable energy talk, where's tidal?

2010-07-08T13:44:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of chatter lately regarding renewable energy resources like wind and solar. The conversation hasn't included much about tidal power even though it can be a more consistent resource than both wind and solar.

Basically, tidal energy is generated by the tidal action of estuaries and river mouths. Rotor blades submerged in the water rotate with the tidal ebb and flow much like wind generators do with the air. Those blades drive turbines that generate the power.

Tidal power is the most predictable renewable energy technology. Tidal energy is generated by water motion caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon. It's an energy source that is inexhaustible and predictable. Visit any coastal community bait shop or sporting goods store and you can likely find a free tide chart that forecasts tidal movement at least a full year out... that's pretty predictable.

The technology is not new. Tide mills were used by the Romans and throughout the Middle Ages. The first large-scale tidal power plant, the Rance Tidal Power Station in Brittany, France has been operating since 1966 and has paid for itself several times over while continuing to contribute power to France's energy grid.

Until recently, global tidal power development has been constrained by prohibitive construction costs and by the limited number of global locations with sufficiently robust tidal flow velocity. However, design improvements and advanced materials have created efficiencies in turbine technology that now make tidal power generation as viable a candidate for renewable energy as its more popular cousins, solar and wind.

RELATED LINKS: Renewable Energy in the West / Solar NEC Labeling

OSHA to award safety and health training grants

2010-07-06T14:38:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has earmarked $2.75 million in training grants to provide programming on safety and health for employers and workers.

The program offers 28 targeted topics including combustible dust, oil and gas, eye safety, crane safety and maritime safety.

Solicitation materials are available at Grants.gov. Grants can be submitted online. It is recommended that interested applicants apply as soon as possible as the submission itself will likely take several days to complete.

Grants will be awarded for a performance period of 12 months. Grant applications are due by end of day, August 6, 2010.

DuraLabel 4000 makes a perfect spare

2010-06-23T21:00:00.000-07:00

The new DuraLabel 4000 printer is so economical, you can justify using it as a spare printer. If you already have a safety labeling system, the DuraLabel 4000 makes a great backup system.

For many facility safety managers, the label printer is a keystone of their workload. Aside from the planned safety label projects such as pipe marking, there are many unplanned needs for labeling that come up fast and need to be resolved faster. The DuraLabel 4000 can serve as a backup if the primary labeling system has to go offline for repairs, or can be put to use when workloads or deadlines require two printers.

The DuraLabel 4000 is a medium-duty printer that prints labels up to 4" wide at 3" per second, and comes with DuraSuite software that includes OSHA templates, ANSI symbol library and a custom label designer. The DuraLabel 4000 also comes with lifetime technical support from the highly-qualified DuraLabel team.

RELATED LINKS: DuraSuite Software / Humorous Safety Message

New DuraLabel 4000 quickly pays for itself

2010-06-23T07:50:00.000-07:00

If you order your facility safety signs online or from a catalog you should consider the new DuraLabel 4000 printer. This versatile, medium duty printer can quickly pay for itself if you're outsourcing your labels.

With a starting price of just $899.00, the DuraLabel 4000 may even cost less than your latest label order. Of course, the ongoing benefit is that once you have fulfilled your requirement for OSHA safety labels, the DuraLabel 4000 will continue to work for you, printing out quality signs and labels for new projects.

Use it to build that 5S program you've always wanted to implement or to improve your facility's directional signage. In fact, labels produced by the DuraLabel 4000 are so cost effective, you'll customize new uses for labeling that you never thought were possible.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Injury Guidelines / DuraLabel Supply Catalog

How the science of surface energy affects safety labels

2010-06-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Safety Label adhesive is a liquid. Not as liquid as the low viscosity of water, but it does flow. When a label is placed on a surface whether it's copper, stainless steel, PVC or glass, the effectiveness of the adhesion depends on how effectively the adhesive "wets" into the entire surface to be bonded including fissures, pits and scratches. Here's an easy to understand illustration.

Water has low surface energy and will "wet out" across an unwaxed car hood which has a higher surface energy. Waxing the same car hood will cause its surface to have a lower energy than the water, which will now bead up and roll off.

There's an actual formula called Zisman's Equation which identifies the relationship between the energy of the surface and the energy of the liquid by measuring the contact angle of a bead of the liquid on the surface.

RELATED LINKS: Anatomy of a Label / DuraLabel Test Labs

OSHA severe violators enforcement now in effect

2010-06-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

OSHA implemented its Severe Violators Enforcement Program June 18. The goal of the program is to shine a brighter light on employers who repeatedly and purposely expose their workers to serious hazards.

The program defines employer violation intent into one or more of these situations: fatality of catastrophic situation, operations or processes that expose workers to severe occupational hazards, exposure to hazardous chemicals and egregious enforcement actions.

Punitive actions can include mandatory follow-up inspections and inspections of other same-company facilities.

Employers are tasked with providing safe and healthful workplaces for employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

RELATED LINKS: Ongoing Compliance / National OSHA Emphasis

June DuraNews now available

2010-06-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

The June issue of DuraLabel's popular monthly eNewsletter is available online. This issue compares cost between printed safety labels and pre-printed retail labels.

The "Ask The Experts" link shares insight on how to print over-sized labels. There is also an offer for a complimentary Facility Identification Evaluation Guide and links to the DuraLabel Twitter, YouTube and Facebook pages.

RELATED LINKS: Custom Labels / Label Torture Chamber

Senate proposes extension for renewable energy developers

2010-06-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators has proposed extending a renewable energy grant program that provides cash grants to renewable energy developers. The program was created by the 2008 Recovery Act and is credited with keeping the renewable energy market moving forward during the recent financial downturn.

Industry experts have stated that the cash grant program is vital to continuing commercial wind, solar and geothermal development. Initially scheduled to expire in 2010, the program would be extended through 2012 and could generate tens of thousands of renewable energy jobs.

The amendment would also allow municipal utilities and non-profit power organizations to apply for the grant program.

RELATED LINKS: Cape Cod Wind Energy / NEC Labeling for Solar

Under-reporting of workplace injuries common

2010-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

A large steel company recently reported an annual reduction in workplace injuries by 96% from 1994 to 2009. Sound too good to be true? Maybe. Especially when ten workers died at that company's plants between 1993 and 1996.

The Government Accountability Office has identified a troubling trend in workplace safety reporting. Some employers are under-reporting injuries to reduce insurance premiums and the risk for OSHA fines. Additionally, workers may be under-reporting their injuries for fear of disciplinary action, especially if safety rules may have been bypassed.

This Catch-22 of injury reporting has prompted OSHA to launch a National Emphasis Program targeted at companies in high-injury industries.

RELATED LINKS: Everyday Injuries / Ongoing OSHA Compliance

Miners' Rights & Responsibilities Guide Available

2010-06-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) has published its 2010 revision of the Miners' Rights and Responsibilities Guide. It is provided to educate miners on their rights at mining worksites and how they can play an active role in mine safety and health issues.

The Guide outlines miner's rights under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, MSHA 3116 (OT 2). Topics include how to file safety complaints and health violations, medical evaluation rights such as chest x-rays and examinations for black lung disease, and statutory rights.

RELATED LINKS: Continuous Improvement / Speaking Up at the Workplace

ANSI Internet Resource page links to trade group universe

2010-05-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

The ANSI Internet Resource page has become a portal to an amazing array of professional associations, societies, committees, groups and institutions. It's an incredible one-shop stop for trade group links.

The more well-known associations are listed here including the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the American Dental Association (ADA). You can also find less famous, yet just as important professional groups like the Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE), the MedBiquitous Consortium and my favorite, the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). I wouldn't mind attending their conventions every year.

This "Powered by ANSI" site, with its more than 250 links should be in your resource toolkit. If your trade is not represented, ANSI is always open to requests for links.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI Social Network Links / OSHA/ANSI Poster

MSHA opens dialogue with industry on mine rescue capabilities

2010-05-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

There is no such thing as being too prepared! That was the overarching message MSHA officials shared at the Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beckley, West Virginia May 11. MSHA's goal is to review mine rescue capabilities, address gaps in mine rescue procedures and share its plans for improvements in the way the agency interacts with industry stakeholders.

This initial meeting kicked off what will be a series of regional focus groups starting with the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association Meeting in Virginia Beach, June 10. Other group meetings will be announced on the MSHA website.

This process is designed to be open and organic. MSHA is encouraging participation and suggestions from anyone interested in moving mine emergency response and preparedness best practices forward. A copy of the MHSA " Are You Prepared" PowerPoint presentation is available here.

RELATED LINKS: MSHA Rules To Live By / S.L.A.M. Program

OSHA publishes guidelines for preventing everyday injuries

2010-05-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published proposed rulemaking for common workplace injuries. The information is available at the Federal Register.

Seemingly simple accidents such as trips, slips and falls are a leading cause of work-related injuries, even deaths. The NPRM outlines revisions for Walking-Working Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment standards. The goal is to raise awareness in the workplace with respect to injuries that are often the the easiest to reduce and avoid.

A public hearing on the revisions will be held after the comment period has expired for the NPRM.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Safety Signs / OSHA Chemical ID

Wind and solar could reduce Western US fuel costs by 40%

2010-05-20T10:45:00.000-07:00

A study from GE Energy claims that the western United States could grow wind power generation by 30% and solar power generation by 5% by year 2017.

The "Western Wind and Solar Integration Study" was prepared for the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and the Department of Energy (DOE) and covers the WestConnect group of utilities located primarily in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. These impressive numbers do come with a caveat; utilities need to increase coordination of operations and power distribution scheduling to achieve these forecasts.

Carbon emissions would potentially be reduced by 25-45%. Also, wind and solar facilities could reduce utility operating costs by 14%.

RELATED LINKS: Solar Safety Signs / Weather-tough labels

Grilling season prompts safety reminders from NFPA

2010-05-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) is urging outdoor cooks to be mindful of grilling safety as the peak season for grill fires approaches. Between 2003-2006, gas-fueled grills caused 81% of all grill fires, causing 6,400 home fires. The leading cause was leaky or ruptured hoses.

NFPA urges you to pay attention to the following tips when grilling:

Use grills in outdoor areas only.
Place the grill away from homes, deck railing and out from under eaves and branches.
Monitor a three-foot "kid free zone" around the grill.
Use long-handled grilling tools to stay away from flame and heat.
Remove grease and fat build ups.
Never leave the grill unattended.

For more information visit http://www.nfpa.org/grilling.

RELATED LINKS: Spring Pipe Marking / NFPA Gas Pipe Rules

OSHA oil spill website focuses on worker safety training

2010-05-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has set up a separate official site to provide updates on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The site provides the latest infomation and incident updates regarding both the plugging of the well, and the controls in place for cleaning up oil waste that may wash along the shores of the southern states that face the gulf.

In addition to status updates on the spill, the site provides valuable safety information and links. Workers cleaning up spill sites need to be aware of working near water, in swamps, using watercraft, even the threat of insects, rodents and reptiles.

In addition, raw crude oil itself is hazardous to humans. Workers can experience irritation from getting the oil on their skin or near their eyes. There is also danger of inhaling oil particles that can become airborne during cleanup operations.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as boots, coveralls, safety glasses and oil-resistant gloves should be available for all spill response and cleanup workers.

It is ultimately up to the safety managers to determine the level of training and safety equipment their workers need as this oil cleanup moves forward.

RELATED LINKS: Spill Containment / OSHA Marine Safety

Anatomy of a Label

2010-05-12T08:26:00.000-07:00

At Graphic Products, labels are what we do. Our goal has been to be experts in everything related to safety labels and adhesives. We have developed more than 50 unique types of supplies from cold storage, high-temp, oily surface, polyimide, electrostatic dissipative, marine, fluorescent, phosphorescent, reflective, to high-tack, ultra-aggressive, tamper-evident, ultraviolet watermark, chemical resistant and clear poly.

The technology and materials available for safety label development have allowed us to design supplies that can withstand any condition, challenge, surface and environment.

RELATED LINKS: Arc Flash / Label Torture Chamber

Are you celebrating NAOSH Week

2010-05-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) are celebrating North American Occupational Saefety Week and Health Week May 2-8, 2010 with May 5 designated as Safety and Health Professional's Day.

NAOSH Week brings awareness to and celebrates the more than 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professionals who work daily to live by and promote the short-term and long-term benefits of workplace safety and health.

For more information, visit the NAOSH newsroom.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Best Practice Guide / ASSE Zombie Game

New DuraLabel 4000 makes labels quick and easy

2010-05-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

DuraLabel's new model 4000 makes safety labels quick and easy. The 4000's top-loading design lets you change supplies fast. And, with DuraLabel's huge selection of supplies, the 4000 gives you endless options for making your facility's visual communications compliant and clear.

RELATED LINKS: OSHA Compliance Guide / Label Torture Chamber

DuraLabel launches new versatile printer

2010-05-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

The DuraLabel family of safety label printers has a new member, the DuraLabel 4000. The DuraLabel 4000 offers great value without sacrificing quality.

Print pipe markers, arc flash labels, OSHA labels and more up to 4" wide at high-quality 203 dot-per-inch resolution.

The DuraLabel 4000 conveniently connects to your PC and comes with DuraLabel's DuraSuite software with more than 650 templates and standardized industrial graphics. Or, you can use Microsoft Word, Excel or OpenOffice to customize your own templates.

RELATED LINKS: Free DuraLabel Catalog / Bigger, Better DuraLabel 9000

Oil rig explosion highlights danger of all spills

2010-04-23T11:03:00.000-07:00

Last week's oil rig explosion off the coast of New Orleans has left an uncapped well that is currently leaking up to 42,000 gallons per day into the Gulf of Mexico. The environmental impact is a real threat, and the gulf coast wetlands are a sensitive ecosystem which includes several endangered species.

Disasters like these draw a great deal of public attention through the media, but there's a cumulative effect of tens of thousands of clandestine and accidental leaks and spills that go undetected daily. When added all together, these "under the radar" spills potentially do as much environmental damage as the larger events that get everyone's attention.

Make sure you're doing your part to contain potential spills at your worksite. Spill containment kits have become much more portable and more effective. Consider keeping a kit on-site much like you would an extinguisher or first aid kit.

RELATED LINKS: Hazard Communications Violations / Green Non-potable Water

Six Sigma losing momentum to Lean Manufacturing

2010-04-22T13:57:00.000-07:00

Six Sigma, the manufacturing and business improvement system developed by Motorola in 1986 and popularized by General Electric under Jack Welch in the 1990's may be losing some of its initial momentum to Lean Manufacturing practices like Kaizen, Kanban and 5S.

Six Sigma follows two methodologies inspired by quality management theories developed by W. Edwards Deming, the American statistician who revolutionized post-war Japanese manufacturing processes.

DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control.

DMADV: Define Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify.

The extremely profitable General Electric Six Sigma DNA spread to Home Depot, 3M and Young & Rubicam Advertising through G.E. executive migration, where its success ranged from stuttering starts to downright failure. Why wasn't Six Sigma's resounding success at G.E. easily replicated at these other companies?

Six Sigma implementation requires strong executive buy-in and constant data measurement of all process steps. Over-analysis of Six Sigma metrics however, can stifle innovation and impact morale. Too much focus on increased profit through metrics can override creative ideas which may not be easy to measure. With the G.E. model of Six Sigma, Home Depot realized soaring profits at the same time the company dropped from first to worst for retailers on the 2005 American Satisfaction Index. If the executive authority in an Sic Sigma system is too single-minded, organizational culture and customer service may suffer regardless of greater returns for stockholders.

Lean Manufacturing systems rely so much on empowerment of all players as a team for bottom-up feedback, autocratic top-down management would render Lean inoperable. The holistic approach of Lean Manufacturing looks at processes as open systems that encourage and rely upon input from all participants for successful measurement, assessment and improvement.

RELATED LINKS: A Lean New Year / Go Lean In Hard Times

Cape Cod provides perfect storm for wind energy NIMBYism

2010-04-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

What's NIMBYism? It's an acronym for not in my backyard. Wind energy is a great idea, as long as I don't have to see it. The NIMBY outcry over offshore wind farms is becoming a powerful line in the sand as the debate on wind energy moves forward, and nowhere is the outcry louder than in the picture postcard setting of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Between Martha's Vineyard and Hyannis, Horseshoe Shoal is a shallows where the island of Nantucket provides a barrier from ocean waves and the winds are consistent. Despite the near-perfect conditions for an offshore wind farm, the Cape Wind project is a perfect storm of politics, pitting wealthy landowners, Native American tribes, the Interior Department and the project developer in a political tug-of-war that has been blowing for nine years.

The 130 turbine farm would cover about 25 of the 500 square miles that make up Nantucket Sound. It would provide hundreds of jobs and generate about 75% of the power for the cape and the islands according to Cape Wind, the project developer.

The well-to-do residents, many of whom are recreational sailors do not want to pollute their pristine panorama with a complex of towers, each 40 stories tall. The Native American constituency cites Horseshoe Shoal as a sacred ancestral ground and the turbines would interfere with sunrise ceremonies dating back centuries.

The Energy Department, Federal Aviation Administration, Coast Guard and 14 other state and federal agencies have green-lighted the project which has also survived nine years of public hearings and court challenges. It's now up to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to decide if the project moves forward. The decision is expected by the end of this month.

RELATED LINKS: Wind 2nd Largest Power Source / Wind's Promise / Supplies Weathering the Weather

April 30 deadline for ANSI World Accreditation Day essay contest

2010-04-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

ANSI is accepting essay entries for the 2010 U.S. Celebration of World Accreditation Day. The winning paper will be awarded a $1,000 prize and be published on the ANSI website.

The paper should be no more than 2,000 words and should focus on the value of accreditation in facilitating acceptance of products, services and professional credentials internationally. Examples on how globally-accepted conformity solutions have encouraged new markets and improved trade should be cited.

Submissions will be judged by the members of the ANSI Comformity Assessment Policy Committee. Entries should be sent to Elizabeth Neiman, ANSI director of communications and public relations at eneiman@ansi.org. The deadline is April 30, 2010.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI social networks / Globally Harmonized System whitepaper

Graphic Products warehouse is huge for a reason

2010-04-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

You can't promise same day shipping in most cases unless you have an awful lot of inventory within reach. Well, we do. Our warehouse is five bays full of printers and supplies for all of the brands we carry including Varitronics, K-Sun and Kroy.

Of course, we carry the entire line of printers and supplies for our popular DuraLabel brand. So, not only can we meet your "just in time" delivery requirements, we can also quickly take care of you if you encounter a problem or need a unique specialty supply in a hurry. Give us a call and get it on your doorstep tomorrow.

RELATED LINKS: M&Ms with each order / DuraLabel 7000 drum labels / Safety labels in the lab

New ANSI U.S. Standardization System Booklet now available

2010-04-03T13:00:00.000-07:00

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has released its Overview of the U.S. Standardization System. The booklet, now in it's third publication year outlines and describes the largely voluntary nature of the U.S. standards and conformity. Standards history and the impact of standards on products and services are also addressed.

Booklet chapters include: background, reflection of American values, strength through history, harmonizing government and private sectors, the global stage and conformity assessment.
The booklet can be downloaded here.

RELATED LINKS: ANSI World Standards Day / ANSI on Facebook & Twitter

Marine pipe markers critical to safety at sea

2010-04-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Pipe marking aboard seagoing ships carrying corrosive or flammable cargo is a critical key for maritime safety. At sea, crew members cannot seek safety beyond the confines of their vessel. Also, because of the corrosive nature of ocean environments, pipe markers need to be durable enough to provide the necessary information to act quickly in case of spills, fires or emergencies.

International Organization for Standardization ISO14726-1 defines the colors required for pipeline identification aboard ships. Vinyl label supply used with a DuraLabel thermal transfer printer produces the tough, weather-resistant pipe markers that can stand up to the tough environments out at sea.

Graphic Products, the home of DuraLabel printers offers a complimentary Sea Vessel & Marine Pipe Marking Quick Reference Guide. Click here to get yours.

RELATED LINKS: Pipe marking colors / OSHA marine safety

Recent flooding prompts OSHA safety reminders

2010-04-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Recent severe flooding taking place in the Northeast has prompted the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to release safety and health tips on filling, carrying and moving sandbags.

An OSHA Quick Card highlights the risks involved with this physically demanding disaster work and what participants can do to minimize chances of exposure to contaminants as well as back and other injuries.

Sandbags may be chemically treated and there may be contaminants in the sand and the floodwaters. Gloves, boots and protective clothing are recommended along with frequent washing of hands.

Back injuries are especially common with this emergency activity. Try to alternate positions, minimize heavy lifting whenever possible and lift with the legs.

These tips are especially important to share because many people involved in this disaster work are volunteers who may not be familiar with the safety procedures OSHA is identifying. These activities are also often unfolding in hectic, emergency situations where adrenalin and expediency may need to be tempered with calm procedural safety management.

Get the OSHA Quick Card by clicking here.

DuraLabel printer inoperable due to M&M shortage

2010-03-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

It's not unusual for us at DuraLabel to receive comments from our customers. The majority of them refer to our above average customer service which is nice considering that outstanding customer service is our primary goal. Now and then, though we do get a quirky comment that stands out. Here's one referring to our policy of sending M&Ms with every order.

"Unfortunately our new DLP300 appears to have ceased printing labels! We have performed extensive troubleshooting and diagnostics and have determined that the operator has used the entire supply of M&Ms that were sent with the unit. The operator says that no printing is possible without a reliable M&M supply! As we have several large jobs for the DLP300 in the near future, please send a recharge of our M&M supply as soon as possible."

Needless to say, we shipped them more M&Ms immediately.

RELATED LINK: Another quirky comment

Continuous Improvement makes mining safer, more efficient

2010-03-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Continuous Improvement (CI) is an operational management philosophy that has been embraced throughout the mining industry for the results it delivers in safety, efficiency and profit.

Continuous Improvement was first developed in the 1940s by Dr. W. Edwards Deming, an American statistician who was interested in making manufacturing processes more efficient.

CI principles encourage feedback from all contributors to the system: employees, managers and leaders. This holistic approach to improvement has proven to be especially valuable in mining where safety is so important. It makes sense that those who are working closest to the danger points would potentially have the best insight on how to improve safety practices.

Graphic Products, the makers of DuraLabel safety printers and supplies for the mining industry is offering a free guide outlining continuous improvement practices. Click here to get your copy.

RELATED LINKS: Gold prices reopen mines / MHSA black lung awareness campaign / Record low for mining deaths

Spring good time to check pipe markers

2010-03-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Spring is here. Be sure to include an assessment of your facility pipe marking program in your spring cleaning ritual. Even the most durable pipe marking labels can loose their effectiveness over time depending on the temperature of the pipe contents and the conditions of environment whether it's interior or exterior.

While you're checking the condition of your pipe markers, make sure that your pipe marking program is meeting current ANSI / ASME A13.1 2007 standards.

Graphic Products, the makers of DuraLabel printers and vinyl supplies is offering a full-color, laminated pipe marking reference guide free. Take advantage of this great offer from an industry leader in safety labels and signs.

RELATED LINKS: Weathering the weather / Safety label condition / Ammonia pipe marking

Graphic Products offers OSHA Accident Report Guide

2010-03-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Graphic Products has compiled an OSHA Accident Report Guide that is available at no charge.

The guide describes 12 fatal accidents: Fall from a Different Level, Struck by a Nail, Explosion, Struck by Collapsing Crane Boom, Caught In or Between, Trench Cave-in, Electrocution, Caught by Rotating Part, Caught in Machinery, Asphyxiation, Death Due to Burns and Crushed by Falling Machinery.

The purpose of the report is to emphasize the need for posting clear, visible, OSHA-compliant safety labels and signs. Many of the fatal accidents may have been prevented if workers had been exposed to visible, compliant safety messaging at the point of need.

Click here to get your copy, or call Graphic Products at 1-888-326-9244.

RELATED LINKS: Safety Label Conditions / OSHA Compliance Ongoing

MPS 150 offers freedom from IT restraints

2010-03-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

IT managers can get a bit antsy when a department wants to introduce a new device to their company's computer system... a safety label printer for instance. At DuraLabel we listened to our customers who were facing such a challenge and developed the Mobile Print Station (MPS) 150.

The MPS 150 is a stand-alone controller for DuraLabel printers. No set up is required. It comes loaded with DuraLabel's Industrial Labeling Suite software including templates for arc flash, right-to-know, pipe marking, a 450+ ANSI pictogram library and more.

The MPS 150 also provides portability. Many of our customers go mobile by placing their printer and MPS 150 on a cart so they can create labels anywhere in their facility. It's a great system for 5S lean manufacturing management.

RELATED LINKS: 5S Lean / DuraLabel Supply Catalog

Winner of DuraLabel photo contest will get an iPod Touch

2010-03-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

Graphic Products, the maker of DuraLabel safety label printers and supplies is having a photo contest with the winner getting an Apple iPod Touch. Here's how it works.

Just take a picture of the most unusual, most effective, most challenging, most clever use of a DuraLabel label. It could be on a conveyor or a coffeemaker. It could be on a forklift or a fishing boat. It may be in a mineshaft or on a microwave dish. You get the point... anything goes, within good taste of course.

One 8GB Apple iPod Touch will be awarded to the winner. The iPod touch is great for music, photos, games, apps and more. It's like having a computer that fits in your pocket.

Photos can be submitted electronically. The deadline is midnight, May 31, 2010. For contest rules or to enter a photo click on DuraLabel Photo Contest!

Many workers who see workplace risks do not speak up

2010-03-02T13:36:00.000-08:00

A new study has been released by a workplace consultant group called VitalSmarts identifying five threats to worker safety that are commonly not discussed, but could significantly impact workplace injuries, even fatalities.

The study, called "Silent Danger: The Five Crucial Conversations that Drive Workplace Safety" surveyed more than 1,600 front-line workers, managers and safety officers. The study states that three-out-of-four employees remain silent even though they notice hazards because of workplace cultures that don't encourage workers speaking up and holding one another accountable.

The study surmises that training and safety signage and identification alone will not eradicate preventable accidents until senior leadership works to eliminate cultures of silence.

RELATED LINKS: Safety Label Inspection / OSHA Compliance / OSHA Safety Poster

Healthcare is taking a cue from Lean Manufacturing

2010-02-26T10:36:00.000-08:00

With all the talk about skyrocketing healthcare costs, hospitals and clinics need to be operating as efficiently as possible. Many healthcare facilities are even turning to tried-and-true industrial efficiency systems like Lean Manufacturing.

Lean healthcare is becoming an important part of the efficiency revolution, adapting systems from auto manufacturing such as Kanban and 5S. Medical facility managers can use Lean visual communication to organize, inventory, identify, and direct.

The DuraLabel LabPRO medical label and sign printer was designed specifically for such applications. Plus, DuraLabel continues to develop application-specific supplies designed for the medical industry.

Some of the more popular supplies include: Glove-peel Vinyl Tape, Frozen Specimen Label Tape, SlideChem Label Tape, MedTag Tape, Tamper-evident Tape and much more.

RELATED LINKS: DuraLabel LabPRO / Medical Pipe Marking / Lean takes commitment