The Finish Line Inc., an athletic footwear and apparel retailers, recently announced that through its "Sole Destination" program, approximately 92,500 pairs of gently used shoes will be donated to Soles4Souls, a charitable organization that distributes shoes free of charge to people in need throughout the world.
"For the companies, they have to be at this show if they want to be in the market," said Birgit Horn, A+A 2009 director.
Attendees from around the world are filling some of the lavish booths occupied by the largest PPE companies, including the Uvex unit of Sperian Protection, Honeywell Safety Products, MSA, Ansell, and more.
The Health and Safety Executive examined what footwear and flooring suppliers offer to end users in sales literature and online. No indication of slip resistance was given for 47 percent of the 1,304 footwear styles surveyed, and another 36 percent claimed to be slip resistant but provided no test data.
Today's protective footwear is fashionable, comfortable, and highly functional, with some lines offering anti-fatigue qualities plus protection against water, abrasion, slips, and oils. Still, the safety manager's educational role remains crucial in selecting the right boot or shoe for the hazard(s), Jim O'Connor, director of marketing for Timberland PRO, said in the following e-mail interview with the OH&S editor.
A follow-up OSHA visit found uninspected overhead cranes; uninspected lifting hooks; defective and unmarked lifting slings; unguarded live electrical parts; damaged electrode holders and insulation; incorrectly stored compressed gas cylinders; unmarked and unchecked fire extinguishers; and slipping hazards from an oil spill in a work area.
A newly posted Letter of Interpretation says the employer must provide it at no cost to employees who work with flammable liquids and products because the footwear provides additional protection and is designed for special use on the job.
The footwear was manufactured in Romania and sold by specialty outdoor retailers nationwide for between $140 and $400 (U.S.) and for between $200 and $500 (Canada) from December 2007 through June 2009.
A written and enforced floor safety policy and procedures guide will improve floor safety while demonstrating management's commitment to prevention. Slip-resistant footwear is part of the solution.
G4S Wackenhut tried out a new slip-resistant shoe with about 800 security officers at two offices in Cincinnati and Fort Myers, Fla., early this year. Asked April 28 how the trial was going, Director of Safety Frank Knapfel said the results were excellent at that point in the trial.
One of leadership's biggest blockages is failing to acknowledge real problems. It's easier for some to focus on issues of which they think they have control rather than tackle longstanding, seemingly insolvable, obstacles.
Britain's Health and Safety Executive set the record straight last month on the question of wearing flip-flops to work.
OSHA Publication 3252-05N, offers assistance with construction hazards of all kinds. Some of its contents concern protective footwear and the requirements for equipping workers properly when they may be exposed to hazards.
SMG's Preferred Supplier of the Year, Jon Cal Murray Distributor of the Year, and Rich Harper Commitment to Excellence Supplier and Distributor Award winners were announced April 9 at the organization's annual conference in Tampa, Fla.
Frost & Sullivan's Chemicals and Materials Research & Consulting practice predicts the country's demand for apparel, gloves, footwear, and head, vision, hearing, and respiratory protection will reach $1.7 billion in 2015.
Occupational foot protection is very often ignored until a serious injury occurs. Safety professionals should take the following steps to ensure their facilities and employees are following best practices when it comes to foot protection.
Stakeholders are asked to comment by April 20 on the plan, which anticipates an expanded role five years out and beyond.
Letters of intent to create the center are due by March 16. NIOSH expects to make one award of up to $5 million per year for five years to support the center, with the intention of making it a national information resource for all construction stakeholders.
The board of directors agreed March 3 that Brice de La Morandiere will be CEO as of April 14. This action splits Sperian's board chairman and CEO duties and completes a succession plan for Henri-Dominique Petit, who now holds both titles. He will continue as chairman.
Personal protective equipment is an acceptable and often required tool in many of today's workplaces, but this wasn't always so. The acceptance of PPE traveled down a long and perilous road that was paved with the toil and sacrifice of many workers.