The first “P” in “PPE” stands for “Personal”, and never before has safety been more personal with the Omicron variant having reached unprecedented levels.

Hospitalizations soared to a record high in January 2022. While the numbers are starting to decline, we must remain hyper vigilant about safety, as prevention through the use of PPE is one of the best ways to continue to protect you and your workers.

Rest assured, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. has the essential safety supplies on hand (and with added savings) to help prevent the spread and support you and your employees during the Coronavirus outbreak, including the following:

• N95 Respirators
• KN95 Respirators
• Face Masks
• Splash Shield
• Disinfectants
• Antimicrobial Wipes
• Disposable Gloves
• Boots and Shoe Covers
• UV Light Sanitizing Wand
• Touchless Thermometer
• COVID-19 Safety Signs
• COVID-19 Floor Signs
• Workplace Partitions
• And so much more

Click here to shop our selection of COVID-19 Safety Essentials, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order or with any additional questions on how we can assist you in your worker safety program.

Tested, arc-rated, shock protection, class, AC, DC, ASTM, OSHA, and more – what do they all mean?

Live-line working at distribution voltages up to 34.5 kV AC requires the finest-quality protective equipment to keep the line worker safe. In the United States, OSHA specifically mandates the use of rubber insulating products and related tools and equipment that has been manufactured and tested to specifications developed by ASTM International, a consensus standards organization. Many ASTM standards have also been approved as American National Standards and covered products are often marked with a dual ANSI/ASTM label.

Users of rubber insulating gloves, for example, are accustomed to seeing a color-coded label indicating a voltage class (00 – 4) and a maximum usage voltage when working on AC equipment. The specifications driving that class and voltage data provide for a significant margin of safety. For example, gloves rated class 2 for working voltages up to 17,000 volts AC are 100% proof tested at 20,000 volts AC and samples of each production batch are tested to withstand at least 30,000 volts AC.

AC vs. DC – A deep dive into the ASTM standards shows test voltages and maximum use voltages for both AC and DC. While there is no fixed formula relating the AC test and working voltage levels to DC test and working voltage levels, users can choose either. The reasons for having both AC and DC testing are complex. AC testing is both an electrical test and a physical test since the current is passing through the material back-and-forth 60 times per second. This also creates a corona generating ozone which is harmful to natural rubber. Among the benefits of AC testing is that manufacturers all test their products using AC and, most importantly, distribution voltages are AC so “test it as you use it” makes sense.

Some engineers postulate that DC testing of rubber insulating products is a purer test because the DC will find the weakest spot in the rubber exclusive of the physical effects of AC testing (above). In addition, DC testing does not create ozone thus eliminating a source of potential damage to natural rubber products. Of increasing interest is the “test it as you use it” approach to wearing rubber insulating gloves (and other products) for protection against DC energized circuits and equipment found in EV (electric vehicles including hybrid), public transit systems, and renewable power generation.

But what about those arc-rated gloves? Back in 2013 ASTM approved a test method for determining arc ratings of gloves used for electrical arc flash protection. Anywhere from 5 to 10 arc explosions occur every day in the United States, and as many as 10 workers are killed or injured per day according to some past research. Arc flash events are a clear and present danger. Exposure to their intense heat for 1/10 of a second can cause a 2nd-degree burn. Temperatures of 205⁰ F will cause a 3rd-degree burn, leading to complete skin loss in the exposed areas. A pressure wave blast from a high-amperage arc can travel several feet with a force of up to 1,000 lbs. That’s enough to toss a victim backwards, causing injury from falls and impact; it can also cause hearing loss. Most often, when there is an arc flash hazard there is also a shock hazard.

About 75% of arc flash incidents occur when a worker is near the equipment. NFPA reports 2/3 of workers involved in arc flash incidents were injured when companies failed to conduct an arc flash analysis for selecting PPE. A separate study found 40% of electrical incidents involved 250 volts or less, so it isn’t only high voltage that causes injuries. NFPA 70E details areas of protective clothing sometimes neglected by electrical workers. Jackets and rainwear, worn over arc-rated clothing should also be arc-rated. Underwear comprised of meltable fibers such as polyester, nylon and spandex should not be worn. Sleeves should be fastened at the wrists and shirts tucked into pants. The legs of pants and sleeves of shirts should come completely down to the ankle and wrist, forming total coverage when combined with voltage-rated gloves, protective footwear, safety glasses, hearing protection and hardhats.

OSHA has required compliance with arc protection standards since 2015. Employers must calculate the incident heat energy of any potential electrical-arc hazard exposures to employees and implement programs and systems based on the risk assessment. NFPA 70E requires specific levels of PPE for various types and ratings of electrical equipment. OSHA estimates that 80% of electrically-related accidents and fatalities involving "Qualified Persons" are caused by arc flash/ arc blast. NFPA 70E is updated every 2 years (2021 is the latest edition).

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Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. Celebrated 85^th Anniversary of Bringing Workers Home Safety

2021 marked the 85^th anniversary for Saf-T-Gard International, Inc., a family owned and operated global supplier of industrial safety products now in its 4^th generation of ownership. The first "P" in "PPE" stands for "Personal", and never before has safety been more personal than it is nowadays with the outbreak of COVID-19 affecting the lives and livelihoods of everyone. No one understands this better than Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. Since its establishment in 1936, Saf-T-Gard has enabled on-the-job safety, compliance and peace of mind for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families by delivering superior safety products and solutions that protect against work-related hazards and prevent serious injuries. 

Saf-T-Gard has grown significantly since its humble, two-person factory loft beginnings. Founded as Latex Glove Manufacturing Company by Leo and Lillian Rivkin, the company began its operations in Chicago when the Rivkins acquired equipment from a balloon company and used it to produce waterproof, rubber-coated cotton gloves. They purchased cotton gloves, dipped them in the latex rubber tanks, let them dry overnight, and sold them the next day. In the 1940s, as Chicago manufacturers geared up to support the American war efforts, Latex Glove Company expanded its product offering as a full-line industrial glove distributor. 

The focus on occupational safety and health in the 1960s and 1970s lead to an increased emphasis on providing a full line of personal protective equipment. As such, Latex Glove Company began supplementing its legacy of hand protection with industrial safety products from global suppliers, including protective eyewear, respirators, hard hats, protective clothing and footwear, and first aid kits and supplies to meet OSHA’s requirements. In 1979, Latex Glove Company purchased a larger industrial building in Northbrook, Illinois, to position the company for further growth and better customer service.  

In the early 1980s, the Voltgard^® project was launched as a small test lab with the mission to develop the electrical testing and utility industry business by providing the testing of rubber insulating products to complement the sales of new products. Saf-T-Gard’s Voltgard^® Test Lab has grown to be the largest, independent, NAIL4PET accredited test lab for rubber insulating products in the United States and offers complete retesting and certification of rubber gloves, sleeves, blankets, line hose, covers, dielectric footwear, jumper cables, grounding sets, plastic guards, hot sticks, matting, hoods and hand tools – all to applicable standards. Moreover, the Voltgard^® Test Lab developed the Original Rubber Goods Change-Out Program^® – the industry’s first managed rubber goods change-out program designed to minimize out-of-service time and save money by offering customers complete solutions from start to finish. No other test lab offers the Voltgard level of service. Having experienced significant business growth, Saf-T-Gard moved to its current location on Huehl Road in 1986. The new building was nearly double in size with plenty of room for even greater expansion.

By 1989, the company's direction as a full-line, quality-oriented supplier of safety products was clear, and therefore, Latex Glove Company changed its name to Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. to reflect its dedication to a complete line of worker safety products and personal protective equipment. Today, Saf-T-Gard offers tens of thousands of products spanning the full range of personal protective equipment and facility safety from the world’s leading manufacturers in addition to Saf‑T‑Gard’s exclusive brands. Saf-T-Gard serves customers in all 50 states and in more than 50 countries around the world. The company has received numerous awards, including Illinois Family Business of the Year, United States Department of Commerce President’s “E” Award for Export Excellence, AD Safety Network Gold Star Distributor Award, and AD Safety Network Peak Performance Distributor Award. Saf-T-Gard is an active member of the National Safety Council (NSC), the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) Worker Safety Committee, the North American Independent Laboratories for Protective Equipment Testing (NAIL4PET), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and AD Safety Network. 

“Saf-T-Gard is 85 years strong, and our solid history is a testament to our dedication, commitment and stability as a company,” said Richard Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. Loren Rivkin, President and COO continues, “My great-grandparents started our company just after the Great Depression. World War II ensued and my grandfather went off to war, returning home with a Purple Heart and Silver Star, and then rejoined his parents’ company. Now we finish our 85^th year, hopefully seeing the end of a two-year global pandemic, and Saf-T-Gard is still here and strong, bringing workers home safely.”

Saf-T-Gard has expanded its Voltgard line of electrical safety products with the arrival of the Saf-T-Gard^® Voltgard^® V-APR0 1000 Volt (Class 0) Insulating Apron. Designed to provide workers with an additional layer of protection from low voltage electrical hazards, the Saf-T-Gard^® Voltgard^® V-APR0 1000 Volt (Class 0) Insulating Apron is ideal for use where there is a possibility of accidental contact with energized equipment or lines.

Additional features and benefits include the following:

• Made from a high-strength reinforced Type II rubber material
• Includes two (2) Kevlar^® bib straps and two (2) Kevlar^® waist straps with nonmetallic buckles
• Adjustable straps can be buckled around the back and around the neck which gives wearers a comfortable and supportive fit
• All the straps are attached with reinforced stitching and Kevlar^® thread
• Good for up to 1000 VAC
• Easy to identify yellow color is highly visible in the work area
• Designed for situations where there is a possibility of accidental contact with energized equipment or lines
• Meets ASTM F2320 standards
• Measures 42” from the top of the bib and has a full width of 30” to wrap around the front
• One size fits more wearers
• Sold individually

As a leading manufacturer and distributor of rubber insulating products, arc flash safety clothing and kits, grounding equipment and testing services, the Voltgard^® division of Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. is dedicated to serving those where worker safety and protection from electrical current are critically important. Click here to shop the Saf-T-Gard^® Voltgard^® V-APR0 1000 Volt (Class 0) Insulating Apron online, or call customer service at 1-800-548-GARD (4273) today for more information or to place an order.

Join Dave Larimer and Justin Ladd from Radians as they walk you through how to keep your hands safe in a variety of different situations. Choosing the right protection for your hands is usually driven by 5 attributes: fit and comfort, protection, grip, dexterity, and durability useful life. If all workers, from medical to industrial and everything in between, would just wear gloves, then more than 1 million hospital emergency visits by U.S. workers per year could be avoided.

The key challenges discussed during this session include:

• Fit / Comfort – Improper fit causes additional hazards
• Protection / Cut Level – Too much? Not enough? Do you know how much you need?
• Grip / Dexterity – Does the task you’re doing require just a little more?
• Durability / Useful Life – Is your team throwing away gloves after every shift? Why?
• Cost – Total Cost of Ownership – The full picture

Click here to register, and watch the FREE webinar ON DEMAND today.