PKSafety.com Blog

One of the worst thing about most webbing harnesses on the market is the tangled mess they become when they have been stored in a bag or the back of a truck. Legs get flipped inside out, and 10 minutes can go by before you figure out just what goes where.

That specific problem must have made it to the ears of Delta Harness designers because the Delta No-Tangle system solves this problem no matter how you store your gear. The heart of this design is the pad which keeps the back cross-over webbing in place and makes it easy to see which end is up.

The pad is constructed of a polyethylene and vinyl acetate composite which makes it lightweight, flexible and tough. Harnesses like the Delta Vest Style Harness w/ Side D-Rings also provide a spring-loaded stand-up D-ring that makes safety lanyard connection a snap.

Smart design features and an economical price tag make the Delta No Tangle Harnesses some of the most popular on the market. For more information about our line of Delta Harnesses, please check them out online, or give our customer service folks a call at 800-829-9580.

Justin Fall Protection capital safety harness, delta harnesses, economy harness, Fall Protection, no tangle harness

The general rule for filter replacement is to leave the contaminated area and dispose of the filter if it becomes damaged, soiled, or breathing becomes difficult. Even if none of these things happen, it’s recommended to dispose of filters after 40 hours of use or 30 days, whichever comes first.

If you smell fumes or start tasting dirt through your mask, either your filter or cartridge has been degraded, it has a hole, or your mask is not fitting properly. Either way, leave the dangerous atmosphere to fix the mask or replace the cartridges and/or filters.

Did you know that OSHA now requires employers to provide a respirator cartridge change schedule?

Here are three ways to estimate a cartridge’s service life:

1. Experimental Tests. Locate a local certified analytical laboratory and have them test the cartridges along with the maximum relative humidity of the work environment. The lab will be able to determine how long it takes for the specific chemicals on your site to break through the cartridge. This will allow your company to make a very precise schedule for replacing spent cartridges.

2. Manufacturer Recommendations. Nobody is going to know the products better than the manufacturer. By contacting the company who produces them you may be able to get data related about how their cartridges react to the chemicals on your site. However, the specific information they provide may not match all aspects of your job site and therefore would create a less accurate estimation of cartridge life than experimental testing.

3. Math Model. This is inexpensive and relatively quick. OSHA has an Advisor Genius that calculates the estimated contaminant breakthrough time for an activated carbon respirator cartridge taking into consideration physical and environmental factors as well as temperatures.

The down-side to this is that, again, it’s not as accurate as experimental testing and may therefore result in answers that reflect shorter periods than actually needed because the Advisor Genius uses very conservative parameters for the equation.

If you have questions about respirators or their cartridges and filters, please give us a ring at 800-829-9580.

Justin Respiratory dirty filter, filter cartridge, filter changing, Respirator, respirator cartridge, respirator cartridge change schedule, respirator filter

There is an old saying when in comes to safety that “the best mask is one you’ll wear”. And we agree. However, if there are a couple of masks comfortable enough to keep on while you work, then you’ve got some choices to make.

For simple wood sanding, some folks recommend the old standard 3M 8210 particulate respirator. Lots of people would call this style a dust mask. Others would say that it’s barely better than nose hair. It’s an N95 which means it will filter out 95% of the particulate matter, which is certainly better than nothing. It’s also cost effective at $12.85 per box of 20.

If you plan on doing lots of sanding, or are releasing more toxic or harmful particles (fiberglass, Bondo, varnish, paint – pretty much anything other than bare wood) you will want to create a better seal around your face. We like the 3M 7500 series for any work that is going to take you more than an hour or so.

The soft silicon face piece is inert and won’t cause allergic reactions. It is also softer and more flexible than other masks making it ideal for jobs requiring you to wear it for long periods.

If you pair the 7500 series mask with the 3M 2091 P100 Particulate Filter you have a comfortable mask that is going to filter 99.9% of particulate matter down to 3 microns, which is darn small. In fact, this set-up will filter all sorts of stuff including the really dangerous sanded materials like lead and asbestos dust.

If you still have questions about dust masks and respirators, or are also trying to filter fumes or vapors, please don’t hesitate to call us. We love to talk about this stuff.

Justin Respiratory breathing protection, breathing respirator, Dust Mask, dust protection, lung protection, Respirator, Respirator Mask, sanding mask

The second in a two-part series on boatyard DIY protective equipment:

In this follow-up post, we will discuss respirators, ear protection, and boots for defense against harmful chemicals in the boatyard. To find out about eye protection, Tyvek suits and gloves for painting, click on Boatyard Protective Gear Pt. 1

Boat repair and maintenance requires working with some pretty toxic products. Even folks who are only working to get their boats ready for the sunny season will likely be exposed to rugged chemical agents. Here’s what you need to wear to help protect yourself from the harmful products used in boatyards.

Respirators:
Fiberglass and wood dust can be filtered with a standard 3M 2091 P100 Particulate Filter. However, if you are rolling bottom paint or nasty-but-effective two-part epoxy paints, as long as they aren’t urethane-based products, you will want to use something like the 3M 6001 Organic Vapor Cartridge preferably with a prefilter.

Lots of folks (this writer included) use the 3M 7500 half mask because it’s made of soft silicone and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. PK Safety has an excellent mask and filters kit for boat painters using this half mask.

If you are spraying paint, you are going to want to make sure you have adequate ventilation. Outdoor work shouldn’t pose a problem, but if you are inside doing cabinet or bilge work, make sure the area is properly ventilated by getting a fan to push fresh air into the space. Another option if you are going to be doing lots of spraying is getting some type of airline respirator system that will pump air to you from a clean area instead of trying to filter all of the harmful materials in the ambient air.

Another consideration for respirators is the full-face respirator option. We like the Moldex full-face respirator because of some clever design elements – incoming breath crosses the faceplate to reduce fogging – as well as the fact that the mucous membrane in your eyes is better protected with a full-face mask.

A note on respirator cartridge care. Cartridges that use carbon to absorb organic vapor will continue absorbing those vapors if you leave them in a toxic environment even if you aren’t breathing through them. Always store your respirator away from your work site, and if possible, keep cartridges in an airtight (Zip Lock) bag for maximum life.

Earplugs:
Earplugs are something not everyone thinks about when suiting up for boat work. However they can serve two useful purposes: First they protect your ears from noisy machinery such as grinders, drills and sanders. Secondly they keep material out of your ears. Everyone we talk to lately seems to love the Moldex Pura-Fit 6800 Foam Earplugs, and we can see why. They are really comfortable, and have the highest independently tested rating on the market.

Footwear:
Finally, lets talk about footwear. We notice lots of people using old tennis shoes for boat work. This is fine if you’re never planning on wearing those shoes again. Unfortunately, boat work inevitably takes longer than you imagine it’s going to. The guys we see in the yard often are wearing those old tennis shoes over and over, exposing their hands and feet (car, house, pets, family) to the toxic dust they carry away from the project with them. A simple and inexpensive solution are the Onguard PVC Boots.

The Onguard boots cost just over $16 and can be used for as long as it takes to get your boat project finished. They are easy to wash off, and they are surprisingly comfortable especially if you slip a cushion pad from the drug store in there. For another $2 you can upgrade to the Onguard PVC Steel Toe model. And once you are done with your work they will keep you protected and dry on a long crossing as well. No need for those expensive fancy boots!

We hope these tips clarify just what you should be wearing to protect yourself when doing boat repairs and maintenance. As always, if you have questions about any of the safety equipment we sell at PK Safety, or want to know how to protect yourself from chemicals in the boatyard, please call us.

Justin General Safety 3M respirator, boat maintenance, boat respirator, boatyard safety equipment, Moldex respirator

Customers occasionally send in reviews of the products they have purchased from PKSafety.com.  We appreciate hearing how our products hold up in the field, and what are the favorites, especially in a product like ear plugs where there are so many choices.

Jody in Los Angeles writes:

“These ear plugs work really well and are my favorite for comfort. I’ve been a heavy equipment operator for over 33 years, I’ve tried them all. They are definitely my favorite. ”

When asked about the pros of the Moldex Pura-Fit, he cited the comfort and the dB rating.

He’s got a good ear for protection (probably thanks to keeping his ears safe all these years).  In fact, the Pura-Fit 6800 Foam Earplugs have a noise reduction rating of NRR 33 – the highest independently tested rating on the market.  Moldex makes the Pura-Fit 6800s specifically for hearing protection focused on occupational noise exposure prevention.

Thanks for the review Jody.

Justin General Safety crane operator, ear protection, Earplugs, heavy machinery, Moldex, Pura Fit 6800

The first in a two-part series on boatyard DIY protective equipment:

The PK Safety offices are located near a boat repair facility in Alameda California. Each day we see boat owners and crew members working on their boats wearing substandard protective equipment. Sail or power, boat projects often involve coming into contact with some of the most toxic chemical and paint products on the market. From epoxy to bottom paint to varnish, almost everything that preserves a boat is potentially harmful to the person who applies it if they are not wearing protective equipment.

For the folks we see out our windows, and for any of you who might be working on your boat, here are a few items you’ll want to have and use to keep yourself protected:

Eye protection: Whether you are rolling on paint, varnishing, sanding or applying epoxy coats, eye protection is a must. The Pyramex Clear Face Shield Visor is a popular choice for folks doing bottom jobs where a pneumatic sander may be spraying water-encapsulated toxic bottom paint in every direction. It also helps to keep that stuff out of your mouth. Ingesting bottom paint can affect your central nervous system, and believe us, it tastes terrible.

With the face shield (since it is not considered primary eye protection) or for lighter jobs, folks wear basic safety glasses like the inexpensive Pyramex Ztek Safety Glasses ($2.40), but a better choice is something that has more of a seal and really protects your eyes from blowing dust and debris. We recommend the only slightly more expensive and pretty cool looking V2G Foam Seal Glasses ($6.50).

Tyvek Suits are Not Enough To Protect the Boat DIYer from Harmful Chemicals. It is also a really bad idea to eat with bottom paint on your hands.

To protect your skin, we recommend both a Tyvek suit and gloves. This video has a few great tips for Tyvek suits when working with toxic materials. Tyvek suits are great for boat work because they repels some water and most oil as well as dust and mist down to 1 micron.

Gloves should be neoprene or chemically resistant if you are applying bottom paint. We recommend the MCR Safety Neomax Neoprene. While they are a little clunky and can get hot, they provide a great barrier to those especially toxic paints. For regular varnish work or painting, the MicroFlex Nitron One Disposables ($14.20) or the MCR Nitrishield Powder Free Disposables ($10.65) both come in boxes of 100 and are an easy way to keep your hands out of the sticky stuff.

Stay tuned for the next boat maintenance DIY post which will cover respirators, boots and ear protection. As always, if you have questions about personal protective equipment, please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-800-829-9580 for more information.

Justin General Safety chemical protection, Goggles, neoprene gloves, protective clothing, Respirators, tyvek suits

Tyvek is a remarkably versatile product.  Over the years our customers have used these protective suits for a wide range of projects from removing asbestos siding to auto painting.

What we haven’t seen much of until we saw this photo was the fashion potential of the Tyvek suit.  Who knew they would look so fabulous when accentuated by a feather boa?!

The photo shows the group out skiing for Ladies Day at Holimont Ski Area in Ellicottville, NY.   They were happy to report that the suits held up well in the snow.  We are sure their fashion sense was greatly admired as well.

A big thanks to Katie, Carrie, Jen, Laura, Christina, Andrea, Claudia, Jen, Nancy, Kristina and Laura for  showing us the stylish possibilities of wearing Tyvek in social/sports settings!

Remember readers – next time you need a great looking protective outfit, think Tyvek!

Justin General Safety protective clothing, tyvek suits

If you use a hoist for confined space entry on a regular basis, the DBI-SALA 8518000 Advanced 5-Piece Hoist System, though more expensive, is so far superior to a standard tripod they are hardly in the same category.

The Advanced 5-Piece Hoist System is designed to make entry and exit of confined spaces quick and reliable.  This system is lightweight, modular, and can be adapted to many different entry scenarios.

Especially popular with municipalities, water districts and other industries that have lots of double-hatch doors as their entrance for confined space entry, the 8518000 is easily managed by two workers.  Because double-hatch entry points are generally much wider than the standard manhole, tripods are generally not capable of providing adequate access.

The DBI-SALA 8518000 Advanced 5 Piece Hoist System is made of aluminum, so it’s amazingly light.  Each piece of the system is easy to carry.  This mobility and ease of set-up is a major advantage over other similar products.  When broken down, the pieces are small enough to fit into the trunk of a mid-sized car, and certainly would fit into the back of a pick-up with room to spare.

No tools are required to assemble the hoist system.  Simply fit the pieces together using pin locks, adjust the leg heights to fit your specific site, and you’ll have a strong, basic structure up very quickly.

Your main winch can easily be attached to the vertical pole for simple lowering and retrieval.  In addition, a secondary winch can also be attached if you are going into a space that doesn’t have a ladder or other means of climbing support.  In that case you will need two winches – one for fall protection, and one for retrieval.  Both winches can fit easily onto this one unit.

One more advantage to the 5818000 over standard tripods or other hoist systems is the pivoting arm.  Even with several hundred pounds of weight, either from a person or a piece of equipment, the top section pivots easily and can move the load out and to the side of the entry point.

Tripods work fine when you only have to use them on the rare occasion, but if you need a dependable system that is a big step up from a standard tripod set-up, you can learn more about the Advanced 5-Piece Hoist System from the folks at PK Safety.

Justin Confined Space Confined Space Entry, confined space hoist, confined space winch, hoist, hoist system, OSHA standards, winch

Every once in a while there is an innovation in fall protection that changes the face of worker safety. The Nano-Lok self-retracting lifeline from Capital Safety is that kind of device.

If you had a choice of falling 15 feet or 20 inches, which would you prefer? We’ll go with the 20 inches, thanks. Take a look at our video showing the features of this new piece of fall protection. We think you’ll agree, the Nano-Lok is best thing to happen to fall protection in a long time.

We all agree that self-retracting lanyards provide superior fall protection. But until now, they have been prohibitively expensive. With the Nano-Lok, Capital Safety and DBI-SALA offer a retractable device for about the same price as a traditional shock-absorbing lanyard. Shop our selection now.

Video Transcript

00:24 Fall protection has come a long way. Hi I’m Justin from PK Safety, here to introduce you to the newest innovation in self-retracting lifeline technology, the Nano-lok from Capitol Safety and DBI SALA.

00:40 The Nano-lok SRL is compact and lightweight, it’s designed with multiple anchorage attachments and lifeline options and it can attach to the back of your harness, to a cab mounting in a vehicle, or to an overhead attachment point. The Nano-lok features an ergonomic design, the housing is impact resistant, and the attachment points are ideal for almost any type of harness. This versatile SRL can easily be used as a traditional lanyard replacement in either single or double leg configurations.

01:10 But above all else, the Nano-lok is safe. SRL technology keeps tension on the lifeline. This’ll help reduce snagging and trip falls from your lanyard. The automatic arrester stops falls far quicker than a traditional lanyard and reduces fall distance and fall clearance. Step up to the ultimate in fall protection safety, new Nano-lok SRL from Capitol Safety and DBI SALA, available from PK Safety.

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Your specific job in the oil industry is going to determine what features a harness needs to best suit your work.   However oil rig and derrick workers that live in their harnesses all day every day will also want certain features above and beyond the minimal requirements of safety.

First of all, make sure you have a harness that fits well.  It seems obvious, but good adjustment points allow for fine tuning.  Your harness should fit like a good pair of jeans – comfortable and not too tight. Every body is a little different so look for a harness that has adjustment on the legs, torso and across the chest so you can get just the right fit.

We also recommend harnesses that come with quick-connect buckles for the leg straps so that getting suited up doesn’t require re-adjustment each time.

If you wear your harness daily, look for a model that has padding on the shoulders, legs and hips to keep the pressure off and provide extra comfort while working.  These pads are often built-in to avoid slipping.  The best padding will have some type of breathable lining between you and the pad to keep moisture away from your body and allow you to stay dry.  In addition to the padding, the underlying webbing straps should also be of high quality and be flexible and softer while still being strong.

Derrick harnesses have 18 in. extensions to the dorsal D-ring, and a D-ring at the back of the derrick belt for monkey board work where fall restraint is needed when leaning over the abyss and tripping pipe.  Additionally, the derrick belt attachment also has a belly board with attachment rings for easy, hands-free positioning.

Another important harness option is the seat support offered by a sub-pelvic strap.  This nylon strap goes between the two leg straps giving your behind something to land on in case of a fall.  It helps you avoid a situation where the force of a fall pulls your legs up and apart.  This can be extremely uncomfortable and is known as the “wishbone”.

You also need to think about being able to wash your harness.  Oil rigs will make your gear filthy in no time flat.  Make sure you’ve got a harness that can be cleaned and possibly look for harness materials that are resistant to stain, dirt and grime.

At PK Safety we sell several different models of oil rig harnesses.  Check out our Offshore Oil Rig Safety Equipment page for more oil rig safety gear.

Justin Fall Protection Fall Protection, gas and oil industry, monkey boards, oil industry harness, oil rig, oil rig fall protection, OSHA harness, tripping pipe