In this podcast, we discuss how the industrial hygiene professional has evolved over the years as well as AIHA’s rebranding, and even AI as it relates to safety.

Investors will have to be careful next year as potential stalling economies in the U.S. and China, along with rising global inflation and tighter monetary policy, could make for a “tricky” 2018, according to Morgan Stanley.

The Fenix brand has successfully entered the major outdoor/military/law enforcement markets, and is sold to more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. With manufacturing based in Shenzhen, China, Fenix creates unique products in a company-owned facility, and exceeds industry standards with additional in-house testing protocols.

ISEA 121, Dropped Object Prevention Solutions will circulate for consensus approval and public review by end of 2017 with expected publication of a final, approved standard at end of 1Q 2018.

Save the date for the International Safety Equipment Association’s (ISEA) 2018 Executive Summit, May 6 – 8 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Pentagon City, within the Washington DC Metro Area.

The economy rolled on in the third quarter of 2017, growing by 3%, despite the hurricanes that battered the United States during the quarter.

The largest annual global survey of environment, health and safety directors says that EHS budgets will increase by an average of 5.4% in 2018. This is according to a survey of 382 EHS directors by independent research firm Verdantix in 31 countries and 25 industries worldwide.

QSSP increases the knowledge and competency of safety sales professionals, which in turn, builds trust and credibility in the customer relationship. The resulting partnership can be instrumental in reducing injury and illness in the workplace.

For the 1st time since the middle of 2014, the U.S. economy has sustained 3% growth for two consecutive quarters, providing strong momentum into next year. The current Conference Board forecast calls for 2.8 percent growth during the final quarter of 2017 and 2.5% growth in 2018.

Grainger welcomed more than 12,000 attendees in February to its annual Grainger Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. “An event like this for Grainger showcases the types of products, solutions, services and expertise we offer customers,” said Deb Oler, Grainger senior vice president and president, North American Sales and Services.

Fastenal Company announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017. Net sales increased 108% for the year, and 14.8% in the fourth quarter. Gross profit for the year was 10.1%.

Like many of the readers of this article, for more than 25 years now I have been working with and struggling with sales leads.

From February 7-9, 2018, AD hosted its second annual eCommerce Summit at the Westin in Denver, CO. More than 250 AD independent distributors across six industries and three countries attended.

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.

Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated reported results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2017.

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has announced two new online training programs for safety sales and marketing professionals. The new courses are part of ISEA’s strategic initiative to provide quality professional development programs to broaden knowledge and competency in occupational health and safety.

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.

These five key elements are emerging as the foundation for omnichannel excellence and should be executed by distributors, according to NAW – the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

No doubt the U.S. economy is in a boom, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Conference Board reports the highest levels of job satisfaction in more than a decade. The ratio between the unemployment level and the number of job vacancies is at its lowest level in a half-century

We are a family-owned business based in Goteberg, Sweden and founded in 1959 as a Trading Company for Technical Fibers. Eureka Safety is the PPE division of Y. Berger & Co AB launched in 2009 as a logical extension of our expertise in technical materials and technical knowledge and history of glovemaking.

The agency remains in a state of flux as of mid-October. Scott Mugno, the nominee to be OSHA’s top boss, still has not been confirmed. The chief of staff position is vacant. There are no senior advisors. One of two deputies is missing. Four regional administrators are in temporary “acting” roles. 

We always hear the call from management, “We need more sales!” The call from the marketing team: “Sales needs to do better with the leads, they don’t close enough.” The sales team complaining that “these leads from marketing are horrible.” Same story, new year.

OSHA cited Cedar Fair LP – which operates as Cedar Point – for failing to protect workers from fall hazards after an employee suffered serious injuries at its Sandusky, Ohio, amusement park. The company faces proposed penalties of $142,270 for one willful and one serious safety violation, the maximum penalties allowed under the law.

Many distributors looking for ways to fend off disruption (read Amazon) are considering how to repurpose legacy brick-and-mortar facilities, according to NAW – the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

Two-thirds of business economists in the U.S. expect a recession to begin by the end of 2020, with trade policy presenting the greatest risk to the expansion, according to a new survey reported by Bloomberg. So you can keep the panic button under lock and key.

AD, the contractor and industrial products wholesale buying / marketing group, announced the completion of the transition of ownership from AD’s long-time Chairman & CEO, Bill Weisberg, to the buying group’s distributor members.

Headquartered in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, BlackHawk is a leading distributor of cutting tools, abrasives and industrial MRO products used in manufacturing, aerospace & defense, energy, auto aftermarket, construction, general industrial, medical and agriculture applications. 

Motion Industries, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, announced that it acquired Hydraulic Supply Company (HSC). Execution of the transaction was completed on October 1, 2018. 

Telling employees to watch their step isn’t enough to eliminate slip, trip and fall injuries in production areas. Like other safety hazards, slip, trip and fall hazards can be identified and in many cases eliminated.

The DPA Buying Group is pleased to welcome twenty new distributor members to its safety & public safety product divisions.

What are the hazards workers are most exposed to in the workplace? Environmental considerations are also crucial to mark.

Connected Hydration is a sweat-sensing wearable biosensor and cloud analytics solution that measures sweat loss, sodium loss, skin temperature, and movement to provide actionable rehydration strategies in real time to industrial workers ahead of adverse dehydration events. 

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. 

Allegations of using drones for unfair advantage during the Tokyo 2020 Games raise serious ethical concerns and underscore the need for responsible technology use in the Olympics.

Workplace violence and harassment disproportionately harms women from underserved and historically marginalized communities, including women of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, women with disabilities and women affected by persistent poverty and inequality. 

The new index advances safety management by providing a scalable, actionable framework based on leading indicators to enhance safety outcomes across global supply chains.

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

Human competencies that will always be valued include understanding visual inputs, understanding meaning, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving and empathy and caring for others.

Prioritizing routine maintenance helps businesses keep operations safe, efficient and cost-effective in the long run.

Free webcast scheduled on October 3 to hear firsthand accounts of the three top outstanding safety professionals. 

The theme of this year’s event was “Shared Vigilance” focusing on how everyone can contribute to lowering risks and maintaining a safe workplace by staying alert. 

Lone workers are defined as employees who work without close contact or supervision from other colleagues.

The improper handling of hazardous waste brings many potential dangers, from health hazards to environmental damage, in both the short and long term.

AI's potential in safety is vast, but how can businesses effectively leverage it without getting lost in the noise?

A high priority for the manufacturing sector has been managing hazardous waste and reducing the annual levels created.

Adopting a more personalized design approach to cleaning equipment will help facility maintenance teams build operational resilience, deliver better and safer cleaning outcomes and protect employees.

Requests to ship hazardous and perishable goods across greater distances are increasing in frequency. With the surge of globalization, companies must contend with how to get fragile or potentially dangerous items to suppliers and end-users a world away.

Not only does OSHA have regulations for the forklifts themselves, they also have specific requirements for forklift operators. The Powered Industrial Truck Standard outlines the topics that must be included during training, as well as requirements for refresher trainings.

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.

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.