Archive for June, 2010
Visit Process Expo for Free!
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010EPA Extends Lead RRP Deadline
Monday, June 21st, 2010Well, after much debate, the EPA announced this weekend that they are delaying the enforcement of the Lead RRP until after October 1st, and allowing contractors until December 31st to complete training. The extension comes after heavy lobbying from remodeling associations like NAHB and NARI, who argued the shortage of trainers, along with other factors, made the intial April 22nd deadline unrealistic.
Although this sounds like good news for contractors standing in line to get certified, industrial legal consultants are warning remodelers to proceed with caution. Regardless of the RRP, contractors are still supposed to practice lead-safe work, and can still be held accountable by the homeowner.
Say hello to the future of industrial vacuums!
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010This is big. This week, we started telling people about our NEW industrial vacuums, the S2 and S3. So what, you say? Well, the S2 and S3 are literally the next generation of industrial vacuums, superseding the bread and butter of our single-phase industrial line. While they have the same great power, durable construction, and reliability our customers have come to know us for, the S2 (50 liter) and S3 (50 liter or 100 liter) are also jam-packed with cutting edge innovations, user-friendly features, and the option of LOTS of options. Here are some highlights:
- Electronic control panel with LED indicators that monitor the performance of main and HEPA filters (no need to guess when the filter is clogged or needs to be replaced)
- Steel and polypropylene construction (also available in stainless steel)
- Manual filter shaker to quickly clean the main filter from outside the vacuum (automatic filter shaker or automatic reverse purge cartridge also available)
- Oversized handle for easy push/pull transport, plus an accessory storage tray and cable holder
- Options include liquid and/or solid level sensors (on 100-liter S3) that automatically shut-off the vacuum when maximum capacity is achieved, a Longopac collection system that uses a continuous bag you can fill, cut, seal dispose and restore for a new use, dozens of filters (eg. HEPA, Nomex, antistatic and food-grade, just to name a few), hose and accessories!
For more information, visit www.nilfiskcfm.com.
OSHA Hosting Virtual Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meeting
Thursday, June 10th, 2010Are you a manufacturer concerned about forthcoming combustible dust regulations? Have you shared your throughts with OSHA yet? If not, then be sure to sign up for their upcoming virtual stakeholder meeting (the agency’s first web-based stakeholder meeting ever!) on Monday, June 28th at 1pm.
OSHA says the chat will focus on major issues such as the proposed standard’s scope; the balance between performance- and specification-based requirements; economic impacts; and definitions.
Register here http://www.dol.gov/dol/chat.htm. The site will remain open for feedback through July 7th.
Online Lead RRP Training Program Gives Contractors the Ability to Comply with Convenience
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010Check out the article below. Thanks to Contractor Supply magazine for the Online Exclusive! http://www.contractorsupplymagazine.com/pages/News—20100608-Online-Exclusive-Online-Lead-RRP-Training-Program.php
More than 80 million homes in the United States contain traces of lead, a deadly element that if exposed to, even in small amounts, can cause serious effects on the brain, nervous, reproduction, cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, renal, and blood systems.
Lead is often absorbed through contaminated dust in older buildings and through paint chips easily ingested by small children, putting them at high risk for lead poisoning. In 2008, in order to curb the occurrence of lead-related diseases, the EPA issued 40 CR, Part 745, Subpart E, also known as the Lead RRP.
In effect since April 22, 2010, the new rule requires contractors who perform renovations, repair or painting projects on homes or schools built before 1978- the year lead paint was banned- to be licensed and become “EPA Lead–Safe Certified” in order to prevent lead contamination.
As a result, the RRP has sparked a fury amongst contractors to hurry up and fulfill the new requirements, or pay a hefty fine; and while there are approximately 240 EPA-accredited training providers across the country offering the certification, which includes 6 hours of class time and a 2-hour hands-on skills assessment, the number of firms seeking certification is well over 200,000.
To help alleviate the long lines of contractors waiting to be certified, the State of Kansas approached ComplyAbility (Work Comp Associates, LLC), a non-profit web-based human resources, regulatory compliance, training, testing and performance tracking software company to develop a program that addressed the Lead RRP requirements.
Lemonade Days at Nilfisk!! Alex’s Lemonade Stand!
Monday, June 7th, 2010It’s that time of year again!! This week marks the 10th anniversary since 4-year old Alex Scott held her first lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money for “her doctors,” to find a cure for childhood cancer. Sadly, Alex passed away at the age of 7, but not before raising 1 MILLION dollars for her cause.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) was formed to honor Alex’s memory. The organization holds many different fundraisers, including Lemonade Days, three designated days in June where people across the globe are encouraged to host their own lemonade stand. Since it’s inception 10 years ago, ALSF has raised 30 million dollars, with 12 million coming from Lemonade Days alone!
Nilfisk CFM will once again hold our annual “Lemon Days,” a slight (lemon) twist on the annual Lemonade Days, but we’ve ”upped the ante” this year, securing a lemonade stand at The Great Valley Farmer’s Market on Thursday, June 10th from 11am-2pm!!!!
In addition to the farmer’s market, we’ll also raise money through some internal events in our office, including a silent auction. And of course, they’ll be tons of yummy lemon treats, including Rita’s water ice (430 Lancaster Pike, Malvern, PA)!
So, while many of you live too far away to visit our lemonade stand, we hope you’ll visit one near you….or host your own!!! Take a stand for hope. And turn lemons into lemonade…
Stay Safe! In and Out of Work!
Thursday, June 3rd, 2010It’s National Safety Month! Yes, safety is ALWAYS important, but during the month of June the National Safety Council (NSC), which sponsors the initiative, is putting in extra effort to remind people to live and work safely. The organization has identified weekly safety-themes and is encouraging companies to spend some time this month focusing on safe practices in the workplace. You can see the full list of weekly themes as well as posters, tip sheets and other materials you can use for your own safety events here.
Many of the topics chosen by the NSC for this year’s National Safety Month are not necessarily related to workplace safety. They are topics like teen driving, prescription overdose prevention, summer safety, etc.
And as Christie (blogger on Online Safety Community), points out, out-of work safety is also important, which even we tend to forget (as an industrial manufacturer). But after all, if your employees aren’t safe outside of work, their unsafe habits can easily be brought into the workplace through sickness, lack of sleep, or just plain bad decisions that impair abilities.
“Encouraging your employees not only to be safe at work, but at home too, is great way to help ensure you have happy, healthy employees in the workplace each day.”
Source: Online Safety Community, http://www.safetycommunity.com/profiles/blogs/june-is-national-safety-month-2
Stay safe with Industrial Vacuum Cleaners!
- A clean plant makes clean air, which equals healthy employees (no silicosis)…and better products for happy customers!
- Industrial vacuums can easily and efficiently minimize dust accumulations on overhead pipes, machinery, etc. to reduce the risk of combustible dust fires and explosions
- Integrated into food processing lines, industrial vacuums prevent cross-contamination of bacteria and allergens (ultimately keeping the end-user safe).
-Reduce falls by vacuuming up dust and debris on walking working surfaces
- Industrial vacuums are user-friendly and way more efficient than brooms, etc. Not only can employees clean faster, they also can eliminate injuries caused by repetitious movements.
- Reduce occurrence of lead poisoning (and meet the Lead RRP) by using a HEPA filter vacuum when renovating homes or schools built before 1978!
Want to know more about industrial vacuums and safety, visist www.nilfiskcfm.com or call us!