ag

New age net-zero emerges from sustainable lifestyle

For decades, Janet Armstrong and Lloyd Davies have lived and breathed the sustainable lifestyle. Their way of life has ties to the example set by Janet’s father, who built the first solar house in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, way back in 1978.




ag

Code change prompts parking garage pipe replacement

Time savings, cleanliness and ease of installation — there were many advantages to CRW Mechanical’s use of Viega MegaPressG recently on a large project in Virginia.




ag

Manage expectations and avoid disappointment

A ‘differentiation standard’ can help you stand out from the rest as a top contractor.




ag

Marketing Magic: Digital marketing tips for enhancing your success

No longer an optional form of advertising, digital marketing has become the norm. 




ag

Marketing Magic: 8 local SEO tips for plumbing and mechanical contractors

Many plumbing contractors ask the question: “What is the best way to advertise my business locally?”




ag

Marketing Magic: How contractors can get the most out of their fleet graphics and branding

According to a white paper authored by venture capital firm ARD Ventures, each fleet vehicle, on average, receives between 30,000 -70,000 impressions daily. 




ag

Marketing Magic: Before you talk to the media, read this

One of the toughest calls I receive as the owner of a public relations agency specializing in the home services industry is from a plumbing or mechanical business owner asking for my help after they find themselves, or their business, in the middle of a crisis.




ag

Marketing Magic: Secure market dominance during a home improvement boom

There’s no question that the demand for home improvement projects is red hot. 




ag

Marketing Magic: Goodbye, Google Analytics; Hello, GA4

By now, you may have heard that by July 2023, Google Analytics is shutting down for good, as Google replaces the analytics service with GA4. Why is this happening, and what does it mean for tracking my website analytics?




ag

Marketing Magic: The secret to success may be a tool you're not using

Let me clue you in on a poorly kept secret: Traditional advertising is expensive. I know, this isn’t exactly shocking. Depending on your market, a month-long rental of a billboard could cost five figures. A week’s worth of 15-second radio ads can run up to $8,000 — and that doesn’t include the cost of producing them. And television? Forget it.




ag

Julius Ballanco: Plumbing for aging in place

The baby boomer generation is reaching retirement age, and many are planning to age in place. As the body ages, the use of plumbing fixtures changes. The aging body no longer has the strength and flexibility of the younger body.




ag

Dan Holohan: The magic of the simple air vent




ag

Dan Holohan: Diagnosing no heat over-the-phone

My iPhone pinged a text: “Hi, Dan. How are you and Marianne, and the family? I’m sorry to bother you. I can’t get my steam heat to go on. I can’t get a plumber to come quickly. I guess they’re busy with the weather. Can I call you later to ask you something about the burner?”




ag

Enhancing employee engagement and safety through targeted well-being programs

As we recognize the evolving landscape of employee engagement, it's clear that well-being initiatives play a crucial role in fostering this engagement. 




ag

Quest Diagnostics report shows alarming increase in workforce drug test cheating

The analysis of nearly 10 million drug tests reveals a surge in cheating, particularly related to marijuana.




ag

How to manage gas hazard risks in confined spaces

Confined space work is not limited to descending into compact areas, so it’s important to be prepared for safety both above and below ground.




ag

Wearable Mobile Solutions to Improve EHS & Performance Management

In 2016, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) empowered miners with a new wearable device according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NIOSH researchers have documented that a continual personal dust monitor has created a 90% decrease in dangerous levels of dust for miners reducing pneumoconiosis (black lung).




ag

How to Leverage Technology to Create a Culture of Safety

From wearable safety devices to machine learning to Big Data, companies now have more tools than ever to help push safety incidents down to zero.




ag

Business continuity and fire safety top of agenda for European chemicals giant

OXEA, part of the Oman Oil Company, is a leading chemicals manufacturer with operations around the globe. Its specialist products go towards making high-quality coatings, lubricants, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, printing inks and plastics.




ag

Taking safety to a new level — how supply chain risk management technology improves safety

Compared to 10-15 years ago, companies are safer. Whether it’s tighter regulations, more awareness, enhanced experience, technology improvements or other factors, companies are doing a better job keeping their employees safe at the workplace. However, that number has plateaued over the last couple of years—the total incident rate per 100 workers has not changed significantly since 2017.




ag

Chicago countertop manufacturer faces $1M in penalties for silica dust violations

The company is accused of failing to protect workers from dangerous silica dust, leading to serious health issues.




ag

How to Manage Cold Stress on the Job

Cold stress may not be as well-known as heat stress, but when the temperature drops, it can pose a significant danger.




ag

Scrap metal management: More than quality assurance

Metal stamping manufacturing processes can quickly and cleanly create solid metal parts for a wide range of needs and industries. Small metal parts make up some of the most important pieces when creating larger scale items.




ag

Magid and CarbonX partner to co-brand Line of FR garments introducing Magid® FR by CarbonX®

National PPE manufacturer and distributor Magid has partnered with flame-resistant (FR) PPE and apparel company CarbonX to co-brand a line of FR garments that they’re calling Magid® FR by CarbonX®.




ag

Magid Cool Powered by Mission® Cooling Flame-Resistant Technology

Flame-resistant cooling gaiter and towel.




ag

DragonWear tech shirt

DragonWear’s Pro Dry® Tech LS Shirt is designed to keep you protected from the sun while staying comfortable and dry.




ag

Magid softside safety goggles

A soft construction goggle for a comfortable fit. 




ag

KPA unveils contractor management to streamline third-party compliance and reduce risk

Contractor Management is a standalone solution that works within KPA’s Flex software suite for an all-in-one solution to manage compliance and workplace EHS.




ag

Magid Glove & Safety named a winner of The Chicagoland Top Workplaces Award

With close to 100,000 licensed businesses in the City of Chicago alone, Magid was one of only 196 businesses to make this list.




ag

2022 Top 10 OSHA Violations: Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) general industry

The OSHA standard on control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) general industry is one of the top 10 most frequently penalized OSHA standards for FY 2022.




ag

8 steps to a lockout-tagout procedure

The lockout-tagout process will keep workers safe when maintaining equipment in the field. Use these steps to develop the proper LOTO procedure for your worksite.




ag

Is your high-density storage compromising worker safety?

This strategy increases the value of each square foot with customizable racks, but do the pros outweigh the cons?




ag

Exploring chemical risk management and green chemistry

A recent webinar focuses on chemical risk management, with a particular emphasis on the role of approvals, green chemistry, and hazard communication.




ag

Supply chain security in a digital age

Supply chain businesses need to understand the current risks and establish protocols that reduce both digital and physical vulnerabilities. 




ag

Maintaining worker safety on the packaging line

 Protecting them from on-the-job injuries goes hand in hand with a facility’s success. To maintain productivity levels and revenue, you must minimize workplace hazards.




ag

Addressing challenges in lockout tagout implementation

This article discusses the most common challenges in lockout tagout implementation, from outdated practices to human behavior.




ag

Shutdown season: Essential maintenance for fall turnarounds and outages

In today’s dynamic work environments, an increasing number of employees find themselves working alone.




ag

Utilizing smart access management technology bolsters security

Construction site managers and safety managers bear the responsibility of helping to ensure the safety and security of a jobsite and its workers.




ag

Contractor again fails to protect workers from deadly fall hazards at construction sites

Wisconsin construction company has failed to correct multiple fall protection hazards, exposing workers to risk. 




ag

Process safety management - the business case

Simply stated, process safety is a management system implemented to prevent major incidents involving hazardous materials. It is necessary for managing complex process operations. An effective process safety management system focuses on three important aspects of your business:




ag

ISO 45001 safety and health management system standard

Experts say 45001 is not easy to apprehend when read as a normal book, especially if you are not familiar with the ISO framework of 9001 and 18001. You have to realize the interconnections between specific clauses. Experts advise finding a good training course to help realize the standard’s full potential. You may also want to consider employing consultancy services to assist.




ag

Worker engagement requires enabling workers to speak up

Most organizations, especially those that manage higher risks, have a “requirement” for the workforce to stop work and get help when they are “unsure.” When you talk to managers, they believe this empowerment is what is needed to get people to stop.




ag

High-Reliability Operations emphasize error management

What is a High Reliability Organization? The work is highly technical and complex, operators require a high level of technical training and certification, and the consequences of error can be catastrophic. Hence, “it has to be done right every time.”




ag

IoT resupply buttons benefit vendor-managed inventory programs

Jergens Industrial Supply recently teamed up with custom software development group MindHARBOR Inc. to solve a problem in their supply chain -- and in the process found a new line of Internet of Things (IoT) technology to market to other distributors.




ag

Klein Tools buys Ergodyne to take advantage of an evolving ecosystem

Klein Tools and Tenacious Holdings, the parent company of Ergodyne, announced in September a major deal in which Klein Tools acquired Ergodyne. The “Tenacious Nation” will remain tenacious, with Ergodyne operating as a separate business unit at its St. Paul, MN headquarters and Tom Votel staying on as Ergodyne president.




ag

Workplaces are often mismanaging mental health risk – here’s how

Managers may not always be in the best position to detect subtle signs of mental distress or provide immediate support for employees experiencing severe depression or anxiety. 




ag

ASSP unveils new membership model and management system

The Society’s membership model has been restructured to add key benefits while a new association management system is simplifying member engagements.




ag

Industrial waste management professionals can improve safety with IoT technology

Growing productivity has come with an increasing waste problem for manufacturing and heavy industry. The industrial sector produces more garbage than ever, and the task of disposing of it is often difficult, unsafe and inefficient. Failing to manage refuse properly can also come with significant consequences — fines, environmental damage and long-term health problems.




ag

How to maintain a warehouse traffic management plan

An efficient and functioning warehouse should run like a well-oiled machine. Everything should be in its place, and everyone should know where to go at all times. Of course, that only works on paper. Once we introduce humans and the problem of human error into the equation, things start to go awry.




ag

Whisleblower probe finds cargo firm retaliated against seaman who reported safety concerns to US Coast Guard

OSHA ordered the Maersk Line to reinstate the seaman and pay $457,759 in back wages, interest, compensatory damages and $250,000 in punitive damages.