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I recently came across a set of graphic safety videos intended to scare the  holy bejeezus out of you, and they are pretty effective. And it being Halloween and all…

Now, I’m normally not a fan of seeing jacked up eyeballs, broken limbs, or serious burns… Actually, I’m still not.  Yet these videos are a chilling reminder to slow down, and pay attention.

They were released in Canada, and really do a fantastic job of hitting the point…  Again I want to warn you that these videos are a bit graphic and to watch at your own digression.  May not be suitable for children, Eskimos, and grandparents.  ENJOY!

Technorati Tags: public service announcements, safety, video

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As we’ve previously discussed here, every point you choose to put a fall protection anchor on must be able to support 5,000 lbs. of pressure.  Yes, even if you’ve got a couple of non-fatties on your crew.

What you may not realize is how many different places you can put an anchor.  And if you weren’t aware, manufacturers now offer anchors for wood roofs, concrete roofs, concrete columns, steel beams, metal roofs… Hell, you can even get an anchor for railroad track!

Some of you may be saying to yourself, “No duh!”  Well, not everyone reading this blog is as well informed as you… But keep reading, you may learn something.

For example, there is an anchor designed specifically for standing seam roofs… It’s called the uh… Standing Seam Roof Clamp.

Guardian offers an anchor that works with pre-cast hollow core concrete. That one would be referred to the Pre-Cast Concrete Anchor.

And that railcar anchor… It’s called the Railmaster Anchor.

We know it’s easy to get in an anchor rut.  We, understand.  But take a look at the wide variety of fall protection anchors that are available, one of them just may make your next job a hell of a lot easier.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, fall protection anchors, guardian fall protection

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It started with me watching Pimp My Ride, a MTV show where a team “pimps” (custom tailors) a participant’s car. They usually “pimp” a car according to the personality and interests of the car owner. For example, in one episode they added a bowling ball spinner in the truck of a bowling enthusiast. By the end of the show, the chosen vehicle is over-the-top rocking. I wonder what they could do with my Soccer Mom Mini-Van?

Then as I was searching on FlickR I found a picture of someone’s bedazzled safety glasses.

These two events prompted me to “pimp” my own safety glasses. I took my safety glasses (Don’t worry boss, I didn’t use the awesome Wiley X’s you gave me!) and put butterflies, hearts and diamonds on them. These are my subtle garden/yard pair.

Benefits: it’s obvious which ones are yours & reflects a little bit of you. Now I need to plan a wild pair for my sassy days. Any of you “pimp” out your safety glasses? Send me a picture and I will get the Big D to post it for me.

Disclaimer:  When “pimping your safety glasses” make sure that you do not obstruct the visibility of your safety glasses or compromise the structural integrity.

Technorati Tags: bedazzle, Safety Glasses

Posted in Safety Glasses by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Rescue Equipment has become a huge issue in the world of fall protection recently.  Yep, it’s apparently the most neglected area.  It’s like having the house built, and although the roof is there it doesn’t have the shingles.  So, it needs an upgrade and that’s exactly what manufacturers are doing.

One of the more unique items in the rescue line of fall equipment is the Thor Rescue 3D Retractable.  What make it so special?  It’s orange… And it’s perfectly suited for the laziest of jobsites.  Well, not exactly lazy, but it does take a huge amount of stress out of the situation.

How does it work?  How should I know.  I just think it has a cool name.  The Thor 3D.  Not only does it sound like a comic book, it sounds like a comic book I want to read.  Get on it Marvel!  I want a 3-D sledge hammer rocketing towards my face…

Actually, I do know how it works, and it’s awesome.  The Thor 3D works just like any other self retractable lanyard at first.  The only difference is after the fall, this handy retractable lowers the fallen worker to the ground.  Now, that is handy.  No one else needs to be involved in the rescue until the worker reaches the next ground level.  I like the idea of not having workers clumsily hanging over the edge trying to lift up another employee.  That spells disaster.

In a final bit of information for you anal retentive tech nuts, the retractable lowers the worker at the rate of 3 feet per second after the fall so there is no risk of suspension trauma.

If rescue equipment has been a concern for your company you might want to take a look at this retractable and keep an eye for the new Comic Book I’ll be submitting to Marvel. Oh, and if you’ve happened to use this retractable in the past let us know what you thought.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, self retracting lifeline, srl, thor 3d retractable

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When we talk about lanyard hooks, we’re basically referring to nerd speak.  This is a pretty weird topic, but let’s clear the air anyway.

First, by referring to lanyard hooks, I am referring to the hooks at the ends of your lanyard.  Second, there are two main varieties of lanyards hooks.  They are… Rebar hooks and snap hooks.

Onto the snap hooks… Snap hooks are your everyday run of the mill hooks.  These are standard, and consist of a dual or triple action release.  What does that mean?  It means that it’s pretty damn hard to accidentally unlock.  I’m fairly confident you know what I’m talking about here.

Moving on to the rebar hooks.  If you work in concrete with rebar construction, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  A rebar hook is a bit larger, and looks like Captain Hook’s hook.  These also come with a dual or triple lock, which prevents accidental opening.  So, what do they attach to?  Well… Rebar, and other anchor points that may be difficult to attach to.  These are very common in the dual leg variety of lanyard which allows a worker to be 100 percent tied off.

I hope we’ve shed a little bit of light on these doo-hickeys.  And if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to put them in the comments.  Talk to you later.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, lanyards, rebar hooks, snap hooks

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Hip Hip… Oh wait.  Recent statistics from 2007 reveal that workplace fatalities went down this past year.  Which is a good thing.

Unfortunately, fatal falls managed to increase… again.  Yep they shot up, when other workplace accidents went down.  So, what’s the deal?

I assume if you read our blog on any sort regular basis, you apparently have some regard for safety.  Thank you. You also probably haven’t been killed in a fatal fall either.  Congratulations.  Are there really that many people who don’t value their lives?  I’m just having trouble wrapping my brain around this mess, and I just can’t figure it out.  It’s almost like tracking Oprah’s weight… Nearly Impossible.

I suspect that too many construction workers are in a hurry.  Whether it’s to finish a project on a deadline or wanting to get home to family, workers need to slow down.

So let’s have that be a motto from now on along with “Illiteracy is Nothing to Laugh About.”  Let’s add this handy catch phrase… “Slow Down and Get the Job Done Properly, There is No Replacement for Your Life, Arms, Legs, or Any Appendage Really.  Just Don’t Be Stupid.”

P.S.  There was also an increase in workplace homicides.  I don’t know what that’s about, but just treat people nicer.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, fatal falls, safety

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Earlier this month John (who works with us) discovered another reason to wear Wiley X Climate Control safety glasses.

(Wiley X’s  Climate Control is intended to keep out things out – they have a removable Facial Cavity Seal that locks in the ANSI certified frames, to seal your eyes from anything the weather or road throws at people. Usually people who suffer from dry eyes or wear contacts love these safety glasses).

Back to John. He was doing yard work and decided to move one of his drainage hoses. To make the hose less conspicuous, he decided to put it under an evergreen. Apparently a bee hive also decided to be inconspicuous under the evergreen too and didn’t appreciate John disturbing them. They swarmed his head, stinging him at least 18-20 times around his face. He was so thankful for the Facial Cavity Seal that protected his eyes from getting stung. He was stung around his glasses but nothing near his eyes.

In October we are presenting a similar “climate control” offered by Elvex.  It’s a lower cost solution.  They were marketed for wood workers but really are ideal for anyone who wants that extra protection.

Last I heard, we can offer them starting October 6th. I have a pair in my office right now sitting in my fruit bowl. (I work at my kitchen island, a perk of having great bosses). They are comfy and perfect for people like me who deal with dry eyes.

Technorati Tags: eye protection, Safety Glasses, wiley x

Posted in Safety Glasses by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Rescuing fallen co-workers can be a pain in the ass.  Seriously, it’s hard work and it takes you away from your job.  There must be something you can do.

Solution:  Let those sad sacks rescue themselves.

It’s actually possible now with the U-Res-Q from French Creek.  The U-Res-Q is essentially a lanyard.  But in this case, a very special lanyard.  Why so special?  Well, this magical lanyard has a little sack on it.  And in that sack, nuts a collapsible ladder.

Yes, a collapsible ladder that allows the fallen worker to rescue themselves and relieve suspension trauma almost immediately.

As you can see this is pretty handy device, and a very economic solution.  Now if rescue is a concern for you, you may want to investigate this fall protection product.  It certainly provides a quick and convenient option.

We do have one disclaimer though.  Even with this product you sill need to have a rescue plan in place.  Why? Well, what happens if the fallen worker is knocked unconscious before or after the fall.  It’s pretty difficult for an unconscious man to rescue himself, even if he is really strong.  Just something to think about.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, french creek, rescu equipment

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What is the difference between active and passive fall protection?  You got me.  Actually, this is a fairly simple question to explain.  Let’s jump right into the bolts shall we?

Passive fall protection consists primarily of guardrails and warning lines.    What does that mean?  Well, it pretty much means that workers are prevented from reaching the working edge of construction.  Essentially, someone would have to jump over a guardrail to get near the edge, which is just stupid.

Active fall protection consists of the entire harness, lanyard, and anchor contraption.  You can work near the edge of construction, and there is serious risk that a worker could fall.

That is really about it.  I know it’s not super complicated, but it is an issue that comes up fairly frequently. And we certainly don’t want you to get caught off guard if it should reveal itself in conversation.  Knowledge is power… So blackmail away?  Maybe not.

Technorati Tags: active fall protection, fall protection, passive fall protection

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Here is what we here at the Snug Harness Blog call a quickie… The list of the top five best harnesses available…

5. Guardian Deluxe Seraph Harness
4. Safewaze AirFlex Harness
3. Miller Revolution Harness
2. Safewaze Elevation Harness
1. Guardian Edge Series Construction Harness

Technorati Tags: fall protection, guardian, safety harnesses

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