Safety & Personnel

The January 2010 issue of EHS Today, a magazine for Environment, Health, and Safety Leaders, featured a three part series focusing on the importance of a lockout/tagout (LOTO)

Most food processing facilities these days have metal detection equipment in place.  It is designed to detect contaminants from a variety of sources and prevent them from entering the finished food product.  Current hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) programs place emphasis on assuring that no contaminants reach the end user. There are numerous contaminants that can be detected by metal detectors, but one that most people wouldn’t think of is disposable gloves.

Disposable gloves are used in food processing facilities every day, and the risk of a piece tearing off or even an entire glove getting into the product can be a major concern. There are no detectors for your average vinyl, nitrile or even latex gloves when they are used in food processing facilities and get into the product. One way of combating the risk of harming your product and in turn losing both time and money is to use metal detectable gloves, along with some sort of metal detection equipment that your product goes through.

Food safety is EVERYONE’S responsibility - we are all in this together.  As a distributor, we take that job very seriously, and we know you do too.  With the numerous recalls we have been experiencing lately there is a continuous need to be more diligent in regards to food safety.  

Our role at Nelson-Jameson is to help provide you with the items you need to ensure your processing facilities are compliant, providing safe, quality food to all. Nelson-Jameson knows food safety, and offers a wealth of products and solutions that can help your facility reduce the risk of food-borne illness and contamination. See our product solutions below for more information.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) revised the standard relating to first aid kits in the workplace. ANSI Z308.1-2003 has been replaced by ANSI Z308.1-2009. There are a few changes that our customers should pay attention to. The old standard listed eight items that were required as minimum fill for workplace first aid kits. The new standard brings the required item total to ten.  The other notable change is that latex is to be eliminated from first aid altogether.

The new required items are:
(1) First Aid Guide
(1) Absorbent Compress 4″ X 8″ minimum
(16) 1″ X 3″ Adhesive Bandages
(1) Adhesive Tape 2.5 yard roll
(10) Antiseptic Treatment Applications 0.9 Gram each
(6) Burn Treatment Applications 0.9 Gram each
(4) 3″ X 3″ Sterile Gauze Pads
(2) Pair Medical Exam Gloves
(1) Triangular Bandage 40″ X 40″ X 56″ min
(6) Antibiotic Ointment  Applications  0.5 Gram each.

There are also now ten items listed as Recommended Supplies.

Does

According to statistics found on the glove manufacturing website AnsellPro.com:

• The average indemnity compensation for an OSHA recordable hand/finger injury is approximately $3,846.00
• The average medical payment is approximately $2,600.00
• There are approximately 439,000 disabling yearly hand and finger injuries which equates to a cumulative cost into the millions each year.

Isn’t that worth the cost of a pair of cut-resistant gloves?

Although there are no OSHA regulations specific to cut-resistant gloves, OSHA 1910.138(a) and (b) do pertain to hand protection.

• 1910.138(a) General  Requirements.  Employers shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees’ hands are exposed to hazards from skin absorption of harmful substances; severe cuts or lacerations; severe abrasions: