Month: August 2022

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How to Get the Most Out of This Year’s NSC Safety Congress & Expo

This year’s National Safety Council (NSC) Safety Congress and Expo will be at the San Diego Convention Center, September 16-22. It’s one of the leading tradeshows in the industry and one the team at Liberty Safety has  been attending every year for over a few decades and counting.

Each time we go, we learn a little bit more about the ins and outs of this amazing event. And this year, we have put together some tips on how you can get the most out of it and offer you some suggestions on what not to miss while you are there.

We are also excited to announce we will be entering four new products into the New Product Showcase Awards. We are hoping, of course, that you will vote for the one that impresses you the most!

Look for the Liberty Safety lineup when online voting starts on August 16th – you can find more info here.

So, whether it’s your first time or your tenth time, you are sure to benefit from the before, during, and after the Expo tips we are sharing below.

Before the Expo

Brace yourself, because there is going to be a lot to see. “It’s the one tradeshow that manages to meet the demands of a huge variety of safety professionals and industry experts all under one roof,” said Jenny Ko, Marketing Manager at Liberty Safety.

Because there will be so many people and lots of events too, you will want a plan of action before you even step out onto the Expo floor.

It’s a good idea to create a list of the companies and products that are of interest to you that will be at the show. You can ensure you know where to find them by downloading the Expo map on the official Expo website where you will also be able to get a list of all the exhibitors.

The next decision you will want to make before you go is to decide what events you want to attend. There will be keynote speakers, education, training, and coaching sessions available each day of the Expo.

 

And, in some cases, by attending the 2022 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, you are eligible to earn Continuing Education Units, Continuance of Certification, and Certification Maintenance Credits.

One more tip before you go — look carefully at the fine details in the information provided for each event. Some of them require you to register prior to the start of the Expo.

During the Expo

Regardless of your plan of action, you will not want to miss out on what is sure to be an exciting lineup of events and speakers.

Here are the ones you will want to know about:

  • Keynotes: The keynotes are always an impressive lineup of professionals. This year’s opening keynote speaker is former NASA Astronaut, Mike Massimino. He will be discussing resilience and adaptability in times of change and uncertainty.

 

  • Technology Pavilion: The NSC is launching an all-new Innovation and Technology Experience, which will allow Expo attendees to engage directly with the most promising solutions on issues ranging from ergonomics to workplace fatality prevention. Jump into one of the tech talks for lots of insight and industry knowledge.

 

  • Division/Section Meetings: Learn about the latest and emerging industry news and issues when you attend one of these meetings. If you are already an NSC member it’s included in your membership. If you are not a member you can register for any meeting for an additional fee. The agendas will be posted during the Expo. View the lineup here.

 

  • Networking opportunities: The Expo is a prime place to build business relationships. Where else can you meet so many safety professionals all under one roof? Be sure to visit the “Time Out Lounge” while you are there so you can not only mingle but also get a quick refreshment. You will find TVs with live sports streaming there too so you catch up on the latest scores too.

 

  • The Campbell Institute Forum: As the leader in “helping organizations achieve and sustain EHS excellence” the Campbell Institute forums are not to be missed. This year they are hosting two workplace safety forums during the Expo. Join the conversation and hear c-suite leaders provide advice and insights for organizations like yours.

 

  • Professional Development Seminars: Choose a one or multiple day immersive workshop that can prepare you for a variety of safety professional exams or just ensure you are up on the latest industry focus. Keep in mind that each Professional Development Seminar (PDS) requires a separate registration fee.

 

  • The New Product Showcase

The New Product Showcase is your opportunity to see some exciting new products, services, and technologies. Now in its 8th year, it gives all Expo attendees the opportunity to vote for the best new products in the safety industry. It’s a highly visible and well visited site that you will find located centrally on the Expo floor.

Speaking of the New Product Showcase . . . Take a Sneak Peek at Our Entries

An innovative collection of rugged, cut resistant gloves, offering light to heavy-duty cut resistance, will be our entries into this year’s New Product Showcase. The four products we have chosen represent the type of products that keep us inline with the market trends and its technological advances.

“This year, Liberty Safety embraced a new name and brand image, so we chose the best of the best,” Jenny Ko said. “Our team is very excited to present them to the professionals they were designed specifically for.”

Liberty Safety will be entering the following products:

The FROGRIP® I-GRIP™ A3 Cut – 21 Gauge Cut Resistant Gloves is the first of its kind for Liberty Safety. These gloves feature a foam nitrile palm coating that provides excellent grip in wet and oily conditions. With a state-of-the-art knitted shell, it allows maximum breathability, meaning improved comfort for working hands similar to a bare-hand feel. Without compromising durability, the I-Grip™ Cut Resistant Gloves provide a strong grip plus touchscreen compatibility.

Introducing the FROGRIP® Ultra-Y™ Grip A5 Cut Resistant Gloves with Nitrile Coating and reinforced thumb crotch. Made with a proprietary engineered yarn shell, these double-dipped sandy foam nitrile palm coated gloves are suitable for wet and dry environments. With excellent abrasion resistance and durable grip, these gloves are form-fitted to reduce hand fatigue, provide touchscreen compatibility, and increase all-day comfort.

Meet our new and revolutionary FROGRIP® Ultra-Y™ Grip A5 Cut Resistant Gloves with Proprietary Foam Coating providing the dexterity needed for hard-working hands. Form fitted with excellent tactility, they have excellent grip, and are touchscreen compatible. Now, you do not have to compromise hand protection to connect with touchscreen devices or machines.

Take a look at the DayBreaker® Charger FLX™ A5 Impact Work Gloves. With a hi-vis green/orange ergonomic TPR on the back of the hand and fingers, these dark blue engineered yarn shell gloves provide a comfortable and flexible fit. With ultimate durability and increased grip, these touchscreen compatible gloves provide all-around hand protection needed in working environments.

After the Expo

Remember all those business cards you collected at the show? After the Expo is the time to follow up with those people you exchanged cards with. Many of them you will also probably find on LinkedIn so do not forget to grow your network online too!

Now, it’s time to explore and sort through that bag of goodies you came home with. Immediately after the show is the best time to weed through all of it and save what you think you will want to reference later. Keep your mind open to new possibilities as you review all the information you received. There could be opportunities in there that you had not considered during the show.

Now, take a deep breath and decompress from all the hustle and bustle of the past few days. And once your head has stopped spinning, it’s time to start thinking about next year!

Keep an eye out for the Liberty Safety team. You’ll see us on the floor wearing branded polos and lanyards or at booth #2517. And if you have any questions about the new or existing products, stop by our booth and we’d be happy to give you answers. Lastly, don’t forget to vote for any one of our new cut-resistant gloves! We are sure once you see them, you’ll know they are winners!

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Worksite Heat Stress: What to Look for, What to Do and Products that Help

Once again, it’s a hotter-than-usual summer. While many of us can seek shelter from the intense heat, outdoor workers like those working in agriculture, construction, or utilities endure the brunt of it. These workers are not only constantly exposed to high temperatures for long hours but also often perform physically demanding work. It’s the type of environment that can lead to a higher risk of heat stress.

Heat stress creates a series of conditions where the body is under stress from overheating. Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, and heat stroke.

It’s critical to educate yourself and your crew on the symptoms, preventative measures, and products to help minimize the dangers. Using a trusted heat index chart is the first step in calculating and managing your workers’ heat stress risk.

The National Weather Service provides a heat index chart to accurately measure how hot it feels when the effects of humidity are added to high temperatures.

Besides the NWS heat index chart, you can also download OSHA-NIOSH’s app that works on most smartphones and gives you the current heat index, precautions, and recommendations. Worksite safety professionals can use the app to recognize when additional preventive options should be implemented quickly. For example, as the heat index increases, more water and rest breaks may become necessary.

Heat stress symptoms

Heat stress happens when the body is exposed to excess heat and reaches a point where the average body temperature is not attainable in response to the current weather.

Outdoor workers often overlook the signs of heat stress. It can start with a feeling of confusion or difficulty concentrating, then may progress to more severe heat stroke symptoms, like fainting or collapsing. The type of health effects that can occur are:

Heat Exhaustion signs and symptoms include headache, nausea, vertigo, weakness, thirst, and giddiness. Fortunately, this condition responds readily to prompt treatment.

Heat Cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that appear to be from a lack of water replenishment caused by excessive sweating and an electrolyte imbalance.

Heat Rashes occur as red bumps that create a prickling sensation, usually in areas where the clothing is restrictive. Those bumps may become infected if they are not treated.

Heat Fatigue signs include an unusual impairment in work performance. There is no treatment for heat fatigue except removing heat stress before a more serious heat-related condition develops.

Workplace heat stress prevention

OSHA recommends the following administrative or work practice controls to prevent and manage heat stress.

Acclimatize workers by exposing them to work in a hot environment for more extended periods. NIOSH suggests that workers with previous experience with high heat levels are high enough to produce heat stress may acclimatize with a regimen of 50% exposure on day one, 60% on day two, 80% on day three, and 100% on day four. For new workers, it should be 20% on day one, with a 20% increase each additional day.

Replace Fluids by providing cool (50°-60°F) water or any cool liquid (except alcoholic beverages) to workers and encourage them to drink small amounts frequently, e.g., one cup every 20 minutes. Ample supplies of fluids should be available in the work area.

Reduce the physical demands by minimizing physically exerting tasks such as heavy lifting, digging, climbing, etc. Spread work out over more individuals, use relief workers or assign extra workers. Provide external pacing to minimize overexertion.

Provide recovery areas such as air-conditioned enclosures, rooms, and intermittent rest periods with water breaks.

Reschedule hot jobs for the cooler part of the day, and routine maintenance and repair work in hot areas should be scheduled for the year’s cooler seasons.

Monitor workers at risk of heat stress, such as those wearing semi-permeable or impermeable clothing when the temperature exceeds 70°F while working at high metabolic loads (greater than 500 kcal/hour).

Furthermore, OSHA suggests wearing lightweight clothing for better ventilation and less strain on an individual’s body. Reflective clothing can also help cool workers by reducing the radiant heat reaching their bodies. Other cooling products like wetted clothing and water-cooled garments are also effective in bringing temperatures down.

Heat stress products

Liberty Safety’s line of cooling products provides the cooling relief you are looking for in a variety of ways. Each garment can help your workers maintain a healthy body temperature when used during their workday.

HiVizGard™ Full Brim Neck Shade

Because the sun cannot always be avoided, managing your exposure to it is made a lot easier when you can shield your face and neck area. The HiVizGard™ Full Brim with Neck Shade will keep you covered while you work outside.

The hi-vis material of this cooling product provides great visibility and fits on most outside cap-style and full-brim hard hats. It can also be folded into a pouch which makes it portable and convenient. It comes in several fluorescent colors to enhance outdoor worker visibility.

DuraWear™ Cooling Towel

When it is extra hot outside, it feels good to be able to reach for a towel that will not only mop the sweat from your brow but also bring your temperature down. The DuraWear™ Cooling Towel is made to do just that. It is designed with an advanced Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) material that is also antimicrobial-treated to prevent mold build-up.

You can activate the cooling effect by soaking it in water for 2 to 3 minutes, wringing out excess water, and wrapping it around your head or neck for an instant feeling of refreshment. Some workers find it effective to wipe it on the pulse points of their body as well.

HiVizGard™ Evaporative Cooling Safety Vest

Like our other cooling products, you can easily activate the cooling relief of this Class 2 certified antimicrobial safety vest by soaking it in cold water for 2-5 minutes. Then just gently wring it out, and it is ready to wear.

Even when the lightweight quilted nylon material is wet, it was designed to keep you dry. By using an evaporative cooling process, the chance of heat exhaustion and heat-related fatigue is greatly reduced.

DuraWear™ Cooling Bandana

Attack the summer heat with a bandana that holds its cool. Soak the DuraWear™ Cooling Bandana in water and use it as an evaporative cooler. Made of polyvinyl alcohol material, it is quickly activated and can cool you down when you need it most.

This universal-sized bandana can be tied around the neck or worn like a headband, and it is machine washable too. When properly maintained, you can use it over and over again.

Stay safe from heat stress

By using the right cooling gear and also putting into practice practical worksite protocols, you can provide relief to your outdoor workers throughout the hot summer season.

Visit the National Emphasis Program on Outdoor and Indoor Heat Hazards (NEP), a website recently established by OSHA, for more information and reminders on the risks of heat stress and how to help workers avoid it.

And if you’d like to learn more about the products mentioned in this post along with all your summertime PPE options, give us a call at 800-327-8333 or check them out for yourself on our website.

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