Not too long ago, an employee of mine was calling prospective customers to tell them about the latest and greatest in electrical safety devices. In the midst of typical calls, the employee encountered a man with an interesting perspective. The man, a manager of an engineering company, didn't think electrical safety devices were important. He said, "If someone is stupid enough to go into a hot panel, well, then that just makes the human race stronger."
While I hope not all people share his sentiment, it does bring up a thought-provoking question. Is the function of electrical safety devices solely to keep people safe? One may think so, I mean, they are called electrical safety devices for a reason. But, as you may have suspected, it is a trick question. The truth of the matter is these devices, while the key objective is to keep people safe, really do a lot more. Not only can these devices help with following NFPA guidelines, but they can increase employee productivity. With the weakening dollar and the faltering economy, increasing productivity can be the difference between a successful quarter and going in the red.
As the owner of a company that manufactures products, I know manufacturers are either making money or losing money every minute of every day. When their machines are up and running, the company makes money. When they are down, they lose money. Incorporating devices that reduce the number of minutes machines are down just makes good business sense. Using devices that increase safety and productivity is a smart thing to do. And, as that manager pointed out, being smart does make the human race stronger. It just so happens it makes a profit, too.
-Phil Allen, President
Grace Engineered Products
philallen@grace-eng.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Back to Basics
There is a book called Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community by Robert Putnam. It is a horrendously long book chalk full of statistics, but an interesting read nonetheless. The gist of his book is this: Before cars were common, people walked everywhere and when they did they ran into their neighbors and talked. Before television was common, people would sit on the front porch after dinner and when they did the neighbors would join them. Now, we drive by our neighbors and at most wave hello and no one is on the porch after dinner anymore because we are in our homes watching television or on the computer. Basically, the author puts forth the theory that technology has eroded human interaction, or what he calls social capital, and it is having a devastating effect on our communities.
As summer approaches and the uncertainty of the economy lingers, maybe you are like some of us and you’re looking for a less expensive version of your life. We thought it might be fun (and cheap) to take a cue from Robert Putnam. We've comprised a list of 25 things to do this summer that will help you save a buck while investing in your social capital. Just remember to add the words, “and invite your neighbors” to the end of each suggestion! Let us know how it works out!
1. Get a ball and play Spud with your kids!
2. Invite some friends over and have a pot-luck.
3. Get out a deck of cards or a board game.
4. Build a fire in the back yard and roast marshmallows.
5. Go hiking in a park.
6. Have water balloon fights (or squirt gun fights) with the kids.
7. Organize a scavenger hunt.
8. Go on a picnic.
9. Go to the library.
10. Check out a community calendar and attend free events.
11. Learn how to juggle (or teach someone).
12. Try a new recipe.
13. Play kickball with the neighborhood kids.
14. Start a compost bin.
15. Have a yard sale.
16. Make homemade greeting cards (Birthday, Christmas, etc)
17. Turn on the water sprinkler!
18. Start a book club.
19. Volunteer on a political campaign.
20. Go disc golfing.
21. Attend a free community class.
22. Do amateur star gazing.
23. Ride a bicycle.
24. Help some kids start a lemonade stand.
25. Sit on the porch after dinner.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Question and Answer with OSHA
Many people have questioned whether or not TempCovers are "approved" by OSHA. Please see this response as found in the Letter of Interpretation, which you can read in it's entirety by clicking here.
Question: Does the TempCover product, when used in conjunction with manufacturer recommended procedures, comply with the requirement in 29 CFR 1926.405(d) to limit the accessibility of live electrical parts to qualified persons?
Answer: As we have stated previously,1 OSHA is generally precluded from approving or endorsing specific products. The variable working conditions at job sites and possible alteration or misapplication of an otherwise safe piece of equipment could easily create a hazardous condition beyond the control of the equipment manufacturer. However, where appropriate, we try to give some guidance to help employers assess whether products are appropriate to use in light of particular OSHA requirements. If used in accordance with the manufacturer recommended procedures for use, use of this product would not violate the limited accessibility provision in 1926.405(d). That provision states:
Switchboards that have any exposed live parts shall be located in permanently dry locations and accessible only to qualified persons. Panelboards shall be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons. Exposed blades of knife switches shall be dead when open.(Emphasis added). The applicable part of the manufacturer recommended procedures states:
2) TempCovers are intended to be used only for a period of a work shift or consecutive multiple work shifts that are manned by a qualified and/or licensed persons. 3) Qualified person and/or persons shall be properly trained as per all applicable OSHA Standards and NFPA 70E. 4) The use of proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and the additional use of a barrier is the responsibility of the user/user's employer. Refer to applicable OSHA Standards and NFPA 70E.(Emphasis added). The combination of the three instructions/procedures listed above, which includes an instruction to use a barrier in conjunction with the panel, is designed to ensure that the live electrical parts are "accessible only to qualified persons." If a TempCover is used in accordance with these instruction/procedures, the requirement in 29 CFR 1926.405(d) regarding accessibility would be met. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.
Question: Does the TempCover product, when used in conjunction with manufacturer recommended procedures, comply with the requirement in 29 CFR 1926.405(d) to limit the accessibility of live electrical parts to qualified persons?
Answer: As we have stated previously,1 OSHA is generally precluded from approving or endorsing specific products. The variable working conditions at job sites and possible alteration or misapplication of an otherwise safe piece of equipment could easily create a hazardous condition beyond the control of the equipment manufacturer. However, where appropriate, we try to give some guidance to help employers assess whether products are appropriate to use in light of particular OSHA requirements. If used in accordance with the manufacturer recommended procedures for use, use of this product would not violate the limited accessibility provision in 1926.405(d). That provision states:
Switchboards that have any exposed live parts shall be located in permanently dry locations and accessible only to qualified persons. Panelboards shall be mounted in cabinets, cutout boxes, or enclosures designed for the purpose and shall be dead front. However, panelboards other than the dead front externally-operable type are permitted where accessible only to qualified persons. Exposed blades of knife switches shall be dead when open.(Emphasis added). The applicable part of the manufacturer recommended procedures states:
2) TempCovers are intended to be used only for a period of a work shift or consecutive multiple work shifts that are manned by a qualified and/or licensed persons. 3) Qualified person and/or persons shall be properly trained as per all applicable OSHA Standards and NFPA 70E. 4) The use of proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and the additional use of a barrier is the responsibility of the user/user's employer. Refer to applicable OSHA Standards and NFPA 70E.(Emphasis added). The combination of the three instructions/procedures listed above, which includes an instruction to use a barrier in conjunction with the panel, is designed to ensure that the live electrical parts are "accessible only to qualified persons." If a TempCover is used in accordance with these instruction/procedures, the requirement in 29 CFR 1926.405(d) regarding accessibility would be met. If you need additional information, please contact us by fax at: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA, Directorate of Construction, Office of Construction Standards and Guidance, fax # 202-693-1689. You can also contact us by mail at the above office, Room N3468, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, although there will be a delay in our receiving correspondence by mail.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
May is Electrical Safety Month – Embrace Safety to Increase Profits
Every year since 2004 when the US Senate unanimously passed Resolution 334 deeming May National Electrical Safety Month, emphasis has been placed on educating the American people about the “importance of respecting electricity and practicing electrical safety in the home, school, and workplace”.
According to the Senate Resolution, thousands of deaths and injuries can be prevented each year by following basic electrical safety precautions. Additionally, companies can reduce some of the 1.6 billion dollars of property damage incurred each year by incorporating electrical safety practices and devices into their procedures. While some companies are slowly seeing the financial benefits of investing in safety, other companies view safety as an encumbering and expensive task. This view exists despite the ample evidence in recent years suggesting that by making safety a priority, companies will not only reduce expenditures but they will actually increase sales and profits.
One example exists in a study done by The Department of Labor and Industry Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that was published in 2007. The study focused on a multi-national company with more than 100 employees that manufactures press-sensitive films and labels for the automotive, health, beauty, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The study found that investments in safety not only decreased expenditures but it also improved the bottom line for this Minnesota company. The benefits were seen in increased employee productivity, improved product quality, and lower workers’ compensation premiums. The company began this venture in 1999 by implementing a new health and safety program. From the years 2001 through 2005, the company experienced a 7.5% increase in sales and reduced manufacturing defects and waste expenditures by more than 83% (from $2.7M in 2001 to $435K in 2005).
In addition to the financial benefits, the company also experienced a reduction in OSHA citations. In 1997, the company was given 14 citations. After approximately two years of the new health and safety program, the company was revisited by two OSHA auditors for a period of five days in 2002. The auditors issued no citations. These financial and procedural accomplishments were attributed to the proactive stance the company took toward safety.
“While the tide is turning on how companies view safety,” says Phil Allen, “it is important to remember – especially during National Electrical Safety Month - that incorporating safety is necessary because there are people involved. I heard someone put it this way: ‘People who come to work should go home to their families and loved ones in the same condition as when they arrived.’ That is the real value to companies, I think, when they can return husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, to their loved ones in the same condition as when they arrived. Improving the bottom line is just a bonus."
In these times of uncertainty, one thing is clear. Electrical safety is here to stay. Thankfully, so are we.
Every year since 2004 when the US Senate unanimously passed Resolution 334 deeming May National Electrical Safety Month, emphasis has been placed on educating the American people about the “importance of respecting electricity and practicing electrical safety in the home, school, and workplace”.
According to the Senate Resolution, thousands of deaths and injuries can be prevented each year by following basic electrical safety precautions. Additionally, companies can reduce some of the 1.6 billion dollars of property damage incurred each year by incorporating electrical safety practices and devices into their procedures. While some companies are slowly seeing the financial benefits of investing in safety, other companies view safety as an encumbering and expensive task. This view exists despite the ample evidence in recent years suggesting that by making safety a priority, companies will not only reduce expenditures but they will actually increase sales and profits.
One example exists in a study done by The Department of Labor and Industry Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that was published in 2007. The study focused on a multi-national company with more than 100 employees that manufactures press-sensitive films and labels for the automotive, health, beauty, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The study found that investments in safety not only decreased expenditures but it also improved the bottom line for this Minnesota company. The benefits were seen in increased employee productivity, improved product quality, and lower workers’ compensation premiums. The company began this venture in 1999 by implementing a new health and safety program. From the years 2001 through 2005, the company experienced a 7.5% increase in sales and reduced manufacturing defects and waste expenditures by more than 83% (from $2.7M in 2001 to $435K in 2005).
In addition to the financial benefits, the company also experienced a reduction in OSHA citations. In 1997, the company was given 14 citations. After approximately two years of the new health and safety program, the company was revisited by two OSHA auditors for a period of five days in 2002. The auditors issued no citations. These financial and procedural accomplishments were attributed to the proactive stance the company took toward safety.
“While the tide is turning on how companies view safety,” says Phil Allen, “it is important to remember – especially during National Electrical Safety Month - that incorporating safety is necessary because there are people involved. I heard someone put it this way: ‘People who come to work should go home to their families and loved ones in the same condition as when they arrived.’ That is the real value to companies, I think, when they can return husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, to their loved ones in the same condition as when they arrived. Improving the bottom line is just a bonus."
In these times of uncertainty, one thing is clear. Electrical safety is here to stay. Thankfully, so are we.
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