Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

 Step One – Before Work – Products with BLUE labels

Protect your skin by applying a barrier cream

• Protects skin from contamination and allows for easier cleaning
• Oil based for Grease and Oil - Travabon
• Water based for Oils and General Grime – Stokoderm

Step Two –Cleaning after work - Products with GREEN labels 

Clean your skin after work is performed and skin is soiled

• Use product to clean hands – apply to dry hands, add water and wash hands
• Select appropriate product to do the job
  • Light duty cleaners & Sanitizers – Refresh Foam, Estesol
    • Light to moderate dirt and grime
  • Industrial – Solopol, BlueForce
    • General soil levels to moderate oils
  • Heavy duty cleaners – Kresto, Kwik Wipes
    • Heavy amounts of soil oils & greases
  • Specialty for Paint, inks and dyes – Cupran & Reduran

 Step Three – Conditioning – Products with RED labels

Condition your skin after cleaning to prevent chapping, chafing and eczema

• Keep skin in tact by rehydrating and repairing after cleaning – Stokolan,
• Heal the hands with medicated conditioners

 How to decide which system to use?

1. What are the skin care circumstances and do I need all the steps or only parts
   1. Incidents of skin irritation, eczema and dermatitis in the plant will indicate requirements
2. What soil and conditions are in the plant
   1. Choose the product in each of the categories above that best fit the amount and type of soil
   2. D’limonene cleaners may be a natural solvent but they are a skin irritant
      1. Read the MSDS Section V Health Hazards reads… “May be irritating to skin and eyes. Skin contact may cause slight redness.  Contains a potential skin sensitizer.”  The MSDS goes on to instruct if there is contact with the skin, “wash affected area with copious amounts of soap and water.”
3. Cost in Use of the soap system
   1. Cost per ML
   2. Usable ml per container – Container ml less waste Left in the container that cannot be dispensed due to dispenser system efficiency
   3. Refill time per unit – How long does it take to refill the dispenser
   4. ML of product dispensed per push
   5. The average number of pushes per hand wash is 2 times
4. Are there GREEN alternatives

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WORKER SAFETY: LEAD YOUR EMPLOYEES TO WATER AND URGE THEM TO DRINK!

WHILE IT MAY HAVE NO IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE OUTWARD SIGNS, DEHYDRATION CONTRIBUTES TO LOWER PERFORMANCE AND DECREASED WORKPLACE SAFETY.

 Some days are just better than others… you feel better, have more energy, think more clearly and you just don’t sweat the small stuff. We’ve all had days like that and we’d like to have more. What creates the positive feeling that leads to a super day? It’s probably mostly our attitude, maybe a good night’s sleep or a positive occurrence early in the day that sets the tone for the ensuing hours. You feel like you can conquer the world… and, generally you can! Enhanced performance comes easy on those days.

 There’s a growing body of evidence that strongly suggests that one of the more significant contributors to our “good days” is our personal state of hydration. When the human body is properly hydrated, mental acuity, focus and energy levels are all at optimal levels. Our challenge as managers is to understand that dehydration has few apparent symptoms. Diminished performance may be the first clue of dehydration, but it might be attributed to other causes.

 Assuring that you and your employees understand the personal signs of dehydration and the effects it can have on performance and safety is vital to maintaining a productive workforce. By making hydration facilities accessible to everyone during their workday, you are providing an essential tool for health maintenance. To paraphrase an old saying, “Lead your employees to water and urge them to drink!”

 WHAT IS DEHYDRATION?

The human body is nearly 60% water by weight. That means a 180-pound person would consist of 108 pounds in water weight alone. This is a remarkable amount of water and losing just a small amount can have devastating effects. Dehydration occurs when a person takes in substantially less fluid than they have lost. An average of 2.5 liters of water is lost each day just through normal body processes.

Typically water is lost through urination, respiration and sweating. Fluid loss can be amplified significantly if health issues result in vomiting or diarrhea. In these cases dehydration is likely to occur because fluids are usually not replenished right away. A big problem with dehydration is that it can occur without us being aware. If you are feeling thirsty, you are likely already in some state of dehydration. The thirst sensation often presents after you have reached a dehydrated condition. So while thirst is an indicator that you need to drink something, it is likely you are already somewhat dehydrated.

What happens when we become dehydrated?

Studies have shown that dehydration can have a major impact on physical and mental performance. There is substantial data that suggests even mild cases of dehydration can have a significant impact on cognitive and physical ability. It is believed that a loss of 2-3% of total body water can result in as much as a 20% decrease in energy levels. It has also been shown that dehydration can be directly correlated to a diminished ability to concentrate.

 WHILE IT MAY HAVE NO IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE OUTWARD SIGNS, DEHYDRATION CONTRIBUTES TO LOWER PERFORMANCE AND DECREASED WORKPLACE SAFETY.

 Concentration in the workplace is paramount, especially in jobs where people are working in dangerous environments, or with potentially dangerous tools. Recent studies have shown that as we become dehydrated our ability to focus diminishes, memorization becomes more difficult and hand-eye coordination decreases. It is not difficult to see how debilitating dehydration can be on workers. Another detrimental effect of dehydration is that of perceived effort. Perceived effort is the effort that a worker feels it takes to perform a given task. In states of dehydration, perceived effort increases. This means that two workers can perform the same tasks, but the one who is dehydrated will perceive the work to be much more arduous than the person that is well hydrated.

This perceived effort could lead to over-exertion and in thermally challenging environments possible heat related illness. This can have significant implications in the workplace. It is imperative that we safeguard our employees by giving them adequate access to clean, pure water. The signs of dehydration can be fairly evident, if we know what we are looking for and which questions to ask.

 Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

• Headaches
• Becoming easily irritated
• Feeling fatigued
• Having a dry mouth or feeling thirsty
• Dry or cracked lips
• Feeling intolerant of heat
• Having flushed skin
• Medium to dark urination
• Feeling light-headed
• Dry skin

 What if a worker is found to be dehydrated in the field?

The first thing is to get the worker water immediately and then seek professional help. In severe cases, oral rehydration therapy (ORT ) and intravenous fluids are used in rehydrating patients. A medical practitioner must perform this treatment. The medical treatment for rehydration is very individual and specific to the person being treated. It is best to give the dehydrated person some water to quench thirst and then seek a medical professional to determine the proper course of action.

What are some potential long-term health effects of chronic dehydration?

There is emerging research in this area as more and more is learned about the acute health effects of dehydration. Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, an alternative health care practitioner, believed dehydration can lead to an increased risk of chronic health problems including:

• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Gallstones
• Kidney and bladder stone
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Thrombosis
• Urinary tract infections
• Periodontal diseases

 There is no question that water is essential for life. There are a great many doctors that will tell you that drinking enough water is not only good for your health, but has other ancillary benefits as well. As they say, “An ounce of prevention goes a long way.”

 Prevention is the best medicine

Giving employees ready access to water is the key to keeping them hydrated. If water is plentiful and accessible, they will be more likely to utilize the resources and stay hydrated. Off-site workers or those in remote locations need not go thirsty. There are many opportunities for offering a continual water source that these employees will utilize. Here is a set of best practices you may consider:

1. Keep large jugs of water and ice readily available.
2. Ensure that the water is fresh, well-filtered and tastes good.
3. Ensure that water jugs are cleaned often to prevent bacterial growth.
4. Advise employees to drink water often, before work shifts, during breaks and whenever thirsty.
5. Encourage employees to bring their own water bottle to work, or provide them with one.
6. Provide ample restroom facilities to encourage continual hydration.
7. Create an education plan to remind your employees to get hydrated and stay hydrated. Inform personnel of the danger signs of dehydration and have them work in a “Buddy System” in order to provide support.
8. Make it a habit and lead by example.

It’s estimated that 80% of the adult population in the U.S. go through their day somewhat dehydrated. One can assume that any decrease in performance related to dehydration is proportionate to the degree of dehydration. An investment of time in education and providing adequate drinking facilities is an inexpensive way to enhance the performance of your team!

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Industrial Supplies Michigan – Amerisource Industrial Supply
Natural Rubber & Nitrile Raw Material Trends

Both materials are key components in the manufactur of unsupported, dipped and coated liquid and chemical resistent gloves.  These trends will affect the pricing of those categories of gloves. 

Natural Rubber: Since January, raw material costs have increased by 60%, due to high demand for rubber in the global vehicle industry, particularly in China, as well as reduced production levels. Raw material costs are 22.5% higher as compared to November 2008.A December 1 (2009) report indicated rubber output in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia had dropped more than 6% in 2009 after unusually heavy rains caused flooding. Some reports peg the decrease at more than 10%, causing speculation on a possible shortage in the early months of 2010, which could drive costs up by as much as another 20-30%. Supplies are likely to shrink further early next year during the dry wintering season in Thailand, the world’s largest producer, as trees shed leaves and latex output falls.

Source: Malaysian Rubber Board’s Price Index report (http://www2.lgm.gov.my/mre/YearlyAvg.aspx) average Dry Kg Bulk Latex, converted to USD

NITRILE Butadiene NBR: The cost of nitrile latex is mainly driven by the increase in butadiene, an important industrial chemical used as a monomer in the production of synthetic rubber. It makes up approximately 70% of the total materials cost of nitrile latex. The cost of butadiene has increased by 221% from January to October (2009), and with the weakened dollar, the increase has been dramatically exacerbated. According to ICIS, the butadiene market shows no indications of making a recovery in the near future.

Below please find a chart to visually depict this increase. Source: ICIS

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Industrial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin Dipped Gloves – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Dipped Glove Selection Guide

Flat Nitrile Coated

• Strength – Non-porous high chemical resistance; high abrasion resistance; great for dry applications
• Weakness – Poor wet grip; no coating breathability; slightly stiff; low cust and heat resistance
• Applications – Automotive assembly, food packaging, furniture mfg, electronics, pesticides, oil refining

Foam Nitrile Coated

• Strengths – Flexible; porous; tacky coating for better grip; water permeable; excellent grip in all applications; excellent breathability
• Weakness – Will abrade faster than flat nitrile; low cut and heat resistance
• Applications – Automotive, construction, material handling, engineering, assembly, inspection

Lunar Foam Coated

• Strengths – Good grip; water permeable
• Weakness – Will abrade faster than flat nitrile
• Applications – Automotive, construction, material handling, engineering, assembly, inspection

Latex Coated

• Strengths – Flexible; comfortable; good tensile strength
• Weakness – May cause allergic reaction; low heat protection; does not provide adequate protection from oils or fules
• Applications – Agriculture, material handling, packing, construction, furniture mfg, glass handling, bottling operations

Urethane Coated

• Strengths – Strong; durable; lightweight; thin; flexible; can be silicone and DMF free; high resistance to abrasion; breathable; excellent grip in all applications: wet, oily, and dry
• Weakness – Porous coating makes it highly permeable; very low cut resistance
• Applications – Detailed assembly, inspection, light fabrication and small parts handling, dirt barrier

Bi-Polymer Coated

• Strengths – Good flexibility; breathable; good grip
• Weakness – Low abrasion resistance; high permeability
• Applications – Automotive, engineering, electronices, inspection, packaging

Air Infused PVC

• Strengths – Excellent wet and dry grip; good abrasion resistance
• Weakness – Permeable; low cut resisitance; no heat resistance
• Applications – Bottling, canning, recycling, manufacturing, assembly

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 Industrial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin Safety Products Gloves – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Frequently Asked Questions for Dipped Gloves

1. What are the benefits of a nylon shell glove?

a. Nylon gloves are preferred for many reasons. They provide excellent strength, flexibility, toughness, elasticity, abrasion resistance, washability, and ease of drying.

2. What are the benefits of a poly/cotton shell glove?

a. Poly/cotton shell gloves offer flexibility along with comfort allowing for high dexterity without hand fatigue. The poly/cotton yarn reduces shrinkage allowing the glove to fit correctly longer.

3. What type of coating is the best to use for dry and oil grip applications?

a. Polyurethane and Nitrile offer the best options when you need both dry and oil grip applications. Both polyurethane and nitrile allow flexibility which means an easier grip and dexterity during use. Nitrile has good water permeability that absorbs liquids in just seconds to provide better grip in wet applications.

4. What’s the difference between foam nitrile and sponge nitrile?

a. Foam nitrile is a very thin coating while sponge nitrile is slightly thicker. Both offer a tacky coating and good durability. Less abrasion resistance than flat nitrile coating. Foam and sponge nitrile coating offer excellent grip with dry, wet and oily applications. Both are flexible and porous. Foam nitrile will channel oil and water away from surface quickly (within 10 seconds) and sponge nitrile will also channel oil and water away but will take much longer.

5. Why use flat nitrile vs. polyurethane coating?

a. If you need a glove that has high resistance to abrasion and high resistance to chemicals and solvents, then flat nitrile is the type of glove to use. A flat nitrile coated glove is non-porous, less flexible and not breathable. If you need a glove that has an excellent dry, wet & oil grip with a flexible, breathable coating, then a polyurethane coated glove is the best choice. It is also porous and has high resistance to abrasion.

6. What is a bi-polymer coating?

a. A bi-polymer coating is a nitrile and polyurethane blend. The benefits of a bi-polymer coating is that it is flexible, thin, smooth, light-weight and porous. It has good oil & water grip and offers the best flexibility of all coating types. However, it has a low resistance to abrasion.

7. What are the benefits of a latex coating?

a. Latex coating is the most inexpensive coating type. Some of its strengths are that it offers good flexibility and tensile strength. Tensile strength is the resistance to stretch or deformation of glove over time. Latex is non-porous but offers good elasticity and comfort. On the downside, latex can be sensitive to heat and is not good for oily applications. Can cause allergic reactions to some. Less abrasion resistance than PU and nitrile.

8. What are the benefits of a Kevlar® shell glove?

a. Kevlar® is a good selection of a shell if you are looking for a glove that provides good cut resistance. Kevlar gloves easily reach EN388 cut level 3 but heavyweight products can achieve a cut level 4. Kevlar also offers the addition of heat resistance.

9. What are the benefits of a Dyneema® shell glove?

a. Dyneema® is one of the strongest fibers available in gloves. It offers exceptional protection against cuts and abrasion, as well as being light weight and comfortable. Dyneema yarns can provide cut resistance levels up to 3 or 4 (EN388). Other benefits of a Dyneema shell are that it is chemical resistant to both acid and alkaline chemicals therefore can be laundered many times without adversely affecting its performance and it also has the ability to disperse body heat quickly keeping hands cool and dry. And finally, Dyneema offers high dexterity due to the smoothness of the yarns surface.

10. Why is cut level important?

a. Cut level indicates the cut-resistance which determines how well a glove protects hands from direct contact with sharp edges such as glass, metal or other materials. Cut resistance can increase by increasing the material weight or buy using high-performance materials such as Spectra®, Kevlar® or Dyneema® among others.

11. What fibers or materials are cut resistant?

a. West Chester has cut resistant gloves available in Kevlar®, Dyneema® and Taeki 5™. Each of these cut resistant fibers is available with palm coatings including nitrile, latex and polyurethane.

12. I’ve seen gloves that say they are antibacterial or contain Actifresh®. What is Actifresh®?

a. Actifresh treatment guards against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, fungi and mildew. It prevents the development of bacteria and guards against the development of odors.

13. How long does Actifresh® last on a glove?

a. The Actifresh® treatment withstands repeated washings and is permanent in rubber and plastics.

Frequently Asked Questions for Dipped Gloves cont.

14. What does it mean to be “silicone free”?

a. Silicon compounds are classified as Organic and Inorganic. Organic silicones include compounds called Siloxanes which are oils that can cause problems in metal processing – leaving a “fingerprint”. This causes paint to improperly adhere to metal. Inorganic silicon compounds do not possess this undesirable property so do not have the effects as described above. Our new dipped gloves do not contain the problem-causing Siloxane oils therefore, they are “Silicone Free”.

15. What does DMF-free mean?

a. Dimethylformamide is a common solvent for chemical reactions. DMF has been linked to cancer in humans, and it is thought to cause birth defects. Our new dipped gloves do not contain DMF and therefore are DMF Free.

16. Why does a white foam-like substance come from my nitrile glove when I first get it wet?

a. During the process of manufacturing these gloves, washing them will increase their permeability. If they are not washed and only leached then a salt residue will be present on the surface which will hinder water permeability. With repeated washings, this residue should dissipate and the gloves should become even more permeable.

17. What are the applications where polyurethane coated gloves can be used?

a. Detailed assembly, inspection, light fabrication and small parts handling. Safe for food contact but porous properties will allow bacteria to develop.

18. What are the applications where bi-polymer coated gloves can be used?

a. Automotive, engineering, electronics, maintenance, inspection, packaging. Safe for food contact but porous properties will allow bacteria to develop.

19. What are the applications where flat/non-foam nitrile coated gloves can be used?

a. Automotive, assembly, food packing, furniture manufacturing, electronics, pesticides, oil refining. Safe for food contact.

20. What are the applications where foam/sponge nitrile coated gloves can be used?

a. Automotive, construction, material handling, engineering, assembly, inspection/examination. Safe for food contact but porous properties will allow bacteria to develop.

21. What are the applications where latex coated gloves can be used?

a. Agriculture, material handling, packing, construction, furniture manufacturing, glass handling, bottling operations. Safe for food contact.

22. What is the best covering for chemical resistance?

a. Flat/non-foam nitrile offers the highest resistance to chemicals and solvents compared to other coatings.

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Aerosol Flammability Explanation

One issue that we are often asked to explain is aerosol flammability. The following was taken from a white paper we published a number of years ago.

Aerosol flammability is something of a difficult and quirky subject to discuss. The easiest and most accurate statement that can be made is that the more flammable an aerosol formulation is, the greater the propensity for an issue to occur relating to a fire event. Aerosol products have their flammability rated on a zero to four scale with zero being the least flammable and four being the highest flammable rating. Products with a zero rating generally contain no flammable ingredients, while those with a four rating are required to utilize an “Extremely Flammable” warning and designation.

The flammability rating for an aerosol product is determined by a simple test named the Aerosol Flame Projection Test. This test has the spray from an aerosol directed at the base of a lit paraffin candle from a distance of 6 inches. The length of any subsequent flame extension is then measured. That extension length then determines the flammability level for that particular product. The generally accepted scale is:

• 0 – will not burn (contains no flammable ingredients)
• 1 – possible to burn (contains flammable ingredients but no flame extension)
• 2 – burns if heated (contains flammable ingredients but less than 18 inch flame extension)
• 3 – easily burns (contains flammable ingredients with a flame extension greater than 18 inches)
• 4 – very easily burns (contains flammable ingredients and flame draws back toward the aerosol can)

Only aerosol products with a flame extension greater than 18 inches long are required to be labeled as “Flammable”. And only those aerosol products that have a flame extension that moves backwards up the spray toward the aerosol can are required to be labeled as “Extremely Flammable”.

An “Extremely Flammable” aerosol product is inherently more dangerous since that flame extension has the ability to move back up toward the can and the operator spraying the product. It is conceivable that the flame could potentially move up the spray pattern and even back into the aerosol can, causing a catastrophic can failure and dangerous situation. This is true only for cans labeled as “Extremely Flammable” and having the 4 designation for flammability on the HMIS warning section of the MSDS.

One more word about flammability; any aerosol product, no matter how flammable, can safely be used as long as there is no ignition source present. But any ignition source (open flame, welding spark, static discharge, etc.) needs be to considered and properly managed when using any aerosol formulation, especially those rated as “Extremely Flammable” and having the propensity for a flame to travel backup toward the can and operator.

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Hand Injury Facts

–        Nearly one-fourth of work injuries involve the hands or fingers
–        70% of workers sustaining hand injuries were not wearing gloves
–        30% of workers sustaining hand injuries were wearing improper
            or damaged gloves
–        Wearing proper gloves in good condition prevents hand injuries

Hand Hazards

–        Skin absorption of harmful substances
–        Severe cuts or lacerations
–        Severe abrasions
–        Pinches and crushes
–        Punctures
–        Chemical burns
–        Thermal burns
–        Extreme cold

Skin Absorption of Harmful Substances

–        Solvents
–        Harmful dusts
–        Pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers

Severe Cuts or Lacerations

–        Presses or shears
–        Saws
–        Hand tools
–        Straps, wires
–        Sheet Metals 

Severe Abrasions

–        Sanders or grinders
–        Conveyor belts
–        Rotating shafts
–        Scrap metal or broken glass 

Pinches and Crushes

–        Most common type of severe hand/finger injury
–        Machine guard disabled or bypassed
–        Material handling
–        Doors 

Punctures

–        Drill press
–        Nail gun
–        Hand tools
–        Metal or wood slivers 

Chemical Burns

–        Acids
–        Caustics
–        Cleaning chemicals 
–        Solvents

Thermal Burns

–        Welding and cutting
–        Steam operations
–        Molten metal
–        Ovens 

Cold and Frostbite

–        Outdoor construction work in cold weather
–        Refrigerated rooms or containers
–        Working with cold chemicals
–        Unheated warehouses in cold climates 

Other hand hazards

–        Carpal tunnel syndrome
–        Vibration
–        Fractures or compression 

Evaluate and Select Hand Protection

–        Tasks to be performed
–        Conditions present
–        Duration of use
–        Hazards and potential hazards identified 

Selecting Chemical-Resistant Gloves

–        Type of chemical – See chart for compatibility
–        Length of time for chemical contact
–        Amount of abrasion & cut resistance required
–        Length and cuff requirements
–        Dexterity and grip
–        Thermal protection 

Chemical-Resistant Glove Materials

–        PVC  (Polyvinyl chloride)
–        Rubber
–        Neoprene
–        Nitrile

Chemical-Resistant Glove Materials Specialty

–        Butyl
–        PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol)
–        Viton
–        Silver shield

Selecting Cut & Abrasion Resistant Gloves

–        Understand the complete hazard
–        Length and cuff requirements
–        Review dexterity and grip requirements
–        Heat Exposure
–        Metal mesh, steel core, Kevlar®, Dyneema®

Selecting Disposable Gloves

–        Protection against bloodborne pathogens
–        Latex allergy or sensitivity
–        Nitrile gloves comparable to latex
–        Protection against some chemicals
–        Easily rip, tear, puncture
–        Correct size 

Selecting Electrically Insulated Gloves

–        Handling live wires or energized electrical equipment
–        Electrically tested every 6 months
–        Cannot be used if not tested in past 12 months
–        Inspect for signs of wear or holes 

General Glove Use and Care

–        Gloves must fit properly
–        Hands should be clean
–        Clean fabric and leather gloves regularly
–        Inspect gloves for damage and replace if necessary
–        Gloves should be the right length
–        Do not use fabric or leather gloves with liquid chemicals 

Contaminated Glove Removal

–        Bare hands should not touch the outside of your gloves
–        Grasp outside of one glove with other gloved hand and pull off
–        Insert fingers of ungloved hand under cuff of glove on other hand
–        Pull glove off hand by pulling on inside surface of the glove 

Key Points to Remember

–        Know the hand hazards in your workplace
–        Understand the types of gloves needed to protect against the hazard
–        Wear cut-resistant gloves when using knives or around sharp
           objects and metals
–        Keep hands out of a machine’s danger zone
–        Exercise EXTREME CAUTION wearing gloves around machinery
           with moving parts

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Hazardous & Non-Hazardous Protective Apparel

There are a number of types of outer clothing including non-hazardous apparel (for use in oil, dirt and grime where the wearer does not want to get clothes soiled), and hazardous apparel, including toxic waste, fire retardant and chemical apparel.

The non-hazardous apparel is usually called “Limited Use and/or Disposable.” This type of clothing comes in a variety of styles. The wearer can have items by the piece; pants, jacket, sleeves, boots, apron, hood and full face hood and shield or he can wear One-Piece Coveralls that can come with elastic wrist/ankle bands for a tighter fit. The coveralls can come with boots, hoods and complete hood w/face shield.

Lakeland makes their disposable garments from two types of material, MicroMAX, which is general purpose protective material that can be used in any non-hazardous environment. MicroMAX is comprised of a microporous film with a nylon scrim between the film and the sub-strate, this gives the material added strength. The other material is “Tyvek”.

There are different types of MicroMAX clothing signified by the type of use, seam joints and composition. They are HBF, NS and NS Cool Suit.

HBF utilizes the fabric structure to limit challenge material penetration through the fabric. The same fabric structure, when combined with the physical properties of the melt-blown layer, promotes the exchange of air and moisture between the inside of the fabric and the exterior. The result is outstanding barrier and comfort. NS features high MVTR’s and is breathable for worker comfort. MicroMAX® NS is strong, wet or dry. NS Cool Suit is made with the same material with an added spunbond polypropylene back panel. This give the suit added breathability.

The different types of stitching used in the clothing are Serged Seams, Sewn and Bound Seams and Heat Sealed Seams. A serged seam joins two pieces of material with a thread that interlocks. This is an economical stitching method for general applications. It is more commonly found on limited use clothing where dry particles are of a concern. 

A sewn and bound seam joins two pieces of material with an overlay of similar material and is chain stitched through all of the layers for a clean finished edge. This provides increased holdout of liquids and dry particulates.

 A heat sealed seam is sewn and then sealed with a heat activated tape. This method provides liquid proof seams, and is especially useful for Level A and B chemical protective clothing.

The basic OSHA Standard calls for 4 levels of protection, A – D and it also specifies in detail the equipment and clothing required to protect the wearer. Lakeland makes Level A and Level B apparel.

 Level A represents the greatest danger to respiratory, eye and/or skin damage from hazardous vapors, gases, particulates, sudden splash, immersion or contact with haz-mat. It calls for total Encapsulation in a vapor tight chemical suit with self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or supplied air.

 Level B situations calls for the highest degree of respiratory protection but a lesser degree of skin protection. It calls for SCBA or positive pressure supplied air with escape SCBA. Level B suits can be fully encapsulated or pieced together in various garments.

Lakeland Industries is a licensed manufacturer of quality Tyvek® Protective Wear™ products. Lakeland is a registered company manufacturing to ISO 9001 specifications. Additionally, our Tyvek® Protective Wear™ meets or exceeds ANSI 101-1996 sizing requirements, and are required to pass dynamic fit tests to minimize rips and tears. All Tyvek® Protective Wear™ garments are clearly marked with a blue label to distinguish them from others which may have not been manufactured from Tyvek® or under the entire quality system. It’s your assurance of quality manufacturing that strengthens your safety combination.

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To detemine which glove is best suited to protect against any given chemical the following test are conducted.

Glove Permeation Testing

Permeation testing is goverened by ASTM Method F739 standards. A specimen membrane is cut from the glove and clamped accross a  test cell as a barrier. One side of the barrier is exposed to a hazardous chemical.  In intervals, the unexposed side of the test cell is checked for evidence of the permeated hazardous chemical.  The extent to which it may have permeated the glove material is also measured.

This standard allows a variety of options in analytical technique and collection media.  Dry nitrogen is the most common medium and gas chromatography with FID detection is the most common analytical technique. The most common collecting media liquids are distilled water and hexane, and techniques such as conductivity, colorimetry, and liquid chromatography for analysis of the collecting liquid.

Glove Degradation Testing

The glove material is stretch accross a vessel.  The glove material barrier is weighed and measured.  It is then completely immersed in the test chemical for 30 minutes.  Key measurements are the percentage of change in size, and the percentage of weight change. The material is dried to determine weight change. Observed physical changes are also reported and a ratings is given based on the combined data.

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Protective Apparel Training

There are 4 main types material of poly protective apparel

SBP Fabric

• Spunbond Polypropylene
• Most Comfortable
• Least Protection
• Keeps large particulates out

SMMMS Fabric

• Spunbond, Meltblown, Spunbond
• Increased barrier protection vs. SMS.  Dry particulate holdout. .25 micrometers
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Breathable and comfortable for all day wear
• Antistatic NFPA 99

Microporous Fabric

• Spunbond with film laminate
• Splash Resistant.
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Lightweight, breathable and comfortable Antistatic NFPA 99
• Low Lint
• Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670)

Barrier Fabric

• 2 layer construction using Spunbond and laminates
• High barrier protection.  Spray, Splash and Chemical Resistant.
• Durable and abrasion resistant
• Antistatic NFPA 99
• Low Lint
• Blood Barrier (ASTM F1670 and 1671)

BASIC SEAMS CONSTRUCTION

1. SERGED:  A Serged seam is generally used in light protection disposable garments and consist of using an interlock stitch where the two ends of the fabric meet producing a hardy and durable garment. POSIWEAR, Tyvek®, Kleenguard® A20,30,40, all SMS, SPS
2. BOUND:   A bound seam builds upon the construction of the Serged seam then reinforces the surged seam with an additional piece of like material sewn on top, resulting in increase particulate holdout and increased strength. TyChem® QC, KGA70, A80
3. TAPED:  Used in chemical barrier application, the taped seam is sewn then taped melted together by heat sealing. TyChem® SL, TyChem BR, LV, CPF 4, TK, KGA80
4. ULTRASONIC:   Thermally welded seams

STYLES

• Coveralls
• Lab coats & Shirts
• Bouffants
• Hoods
• Shoe & Boot Covers
• Pants
• Sleeves
• Aprons

Questions to get to the right product for the job!

• What are you trying to keep off ?
  • Dry particulates, light spray, liquid splash, chemicals, hazardous chemical
• What is the concentration level?
• Describe the size of the particulate/liquid.
  • Bigger or smaller than a grain of sand
• If chemical, what chemical?
• Environmental conditions
• What size do you need?
  • Select one size larger than actual size

Once you have identified the use, potential hazards and the consequences of exposure, select a fabric based on the innate characteristics of the fabric

Dry Particulate/Liquid Spray

• Use SBPP, SMS, SMMS,SMMMS, Coated SB Laminates
• Applications/Industries
  • Asbestos removal
  • Dry/Hazardous Chemicals
  • Cleanroom
  • General clean up
  • Food industry
  • Maintenance
  • Laboratories
  • Nuclear/Radioactive Equipment
  • Paint and Paint Spray
  • Waste Recycling/Collection
  • Hazardous material remediation
  • Foundries Metalworking
  • Construction/Building
  • Utilities
  • Mining

Liquid Splash

• Use Coated, SB Laminates
• Applications/Industries

• Acid Handling
• Bio-Hazard Exposure
• Chemical Mid Range Light Splash
• Chemical Increased Hazard/splash
• Construction/Building
• Flammable Materials
• Foundries/Metalworking/Mining
• Hazmat Response
• Hazardous Material Remediation
• Laboratories
• Maintenance
• PCB Remediation
• Refineries – Petro Chemical
• Warfare Agents/Chemical Materials
• Tank Cleaning/Maintenance

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