We would like to welcome John Gresham to our league of housekeeping experts. John joined the Nilfisk team last month and will be supporting customers in Tennessee, Kentucky, N. Alabamba and N. Mississippi with their dust and debris challenges.

John holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from Middle Tennesse State University and has a strong background in Industrial Tool Sales. John has lived in the Nashville area for 18 years and enjoys the outdoors including golf, fishing, canoeing, camping, and snow skiing.  He also enjoys spending time with family and watching live music (he does live in Music City, after all).

John can be reached on his cell phone at 770-289-1220 or by email at John.Gresham@nilfisk.com

We want to help you keep your beloved Nilfisk vacuum around for a long time. Let Frank, our technical service rep, show you how to change the paper bag, microfilter, main filter, and exhaust filter on your GM80 in these three new videos:

Time to purchase replacement accessories and/or filters? Visit our website or call our Customer Service department at (800)645-3475.

Before recommending a Nilfisk solution fit for your facility, John is dedicated to understanding your “scope of work.” He often asks customers about their current housekeeping practices and the manufacturing process but also offers a free facility assessment and vacuum demonstration. He wants to know the nitty-gritty on what you’re trying to clean up! Source capture with vacuum assisted hand tools, central vacuum systems and explosion-proof vacuums are just a few of the products he has extensive knowledge in. He also has a decade of industrial application experience!

Every Spring, you can find John at the Ohio Safety Congress & Expo and Michigan Safety Conference (check out our trade show schedule to find out which booth he is in!). Don’t be discouraged if you miss him at one of these regional shows, you can always contact John via email at john.vielhaber@nilfisk.com or phone at (419)957-1749!

Everyday we receive calls from customers who are looking for replacement accessories and filters to keep their beloved Nilfisk GS90 or one of our other allergy vacuum cleaners running like the day they purchased it. While our vacuums require little maintenance and upkeep, a little attention once in a while will keep the relationship lasting for years. All Nilfisk industrial vacuums feature multistage filtration, so each level of filtration protects the next level. If you’re diligent about replacing your paperbags and microfilters, you’ll easily extend the life of the larger, more expensive filters…and even the life of the vacuum.

Karri from our Customer Service Department is an expert on maintaining our home and allergy vacuums and we were finally able to get her to spill the beans on what you need to do to keep your Nilfisk GS90 around for a very long time. Check out three new videos on how to change the paper bag, microfilter, main filter, and exhaust filter on the GS90.

Photo Courtesy, Ultimate Garage

The Ultimate Sump Pump Vacuum!  Our Attix 19 Flood Sucker from Nilfisk-ALTO picks up nearly one gallon of water per second and has a built-in, automatic discharge that operates simultaneously with the vacuum. It is ideal for flood restoration companies, abatement contractors, fire departments and municipalities.

This sump pump vacuum separates solids into a stainless-steel basket inside the canister while liquids are simultaneously discharged through a standard 1.5-inch fire hose. The powerful discharge pump is capable of pumping water up to 30 feet vertically and 150 feet horizontally.

Where ordinary sump pumps leave up to 1.5 inches of liquid on the ground, the Flood Sucker completely removes liquids, leaving a dry surface behind. It is effective in helping flood-stricken customers clean and dry their damaged carpets, floors, basements and more. It cuts man hours by eliminating the time-consuming task of manually dumping the vacuum canister.

This machine can be operated in three modes–vacuum only, pump only (which allows you to trap liquids and pump them separately), or simultaneous vacuum and pump.

• Beryllium, delayed 9 years
• Diacetyl, delayed 4 years, 1 month
• Silica dust, delayed 8 years, 1 month
• Confined Spaces in Construction, delayed 31 years, 8 months
• Fall Prevention (Walking/Working Surfaces) delayed 21 years, 7 months

While these numbers may be startling, what’s really scary is the estimated number of health effect cases documented over these delayed time periods. Ready for it… 160,507 serious cases, ranging from lung cancer, chronic beryllium disease, silicosis, to serious nonfatal and fatal injuries.

OSHA has not given much of an explanation regarding their reasoning for moving combustible dust onto the list of long-term agenda items, other than to say, the agency continues to develop the rules, and preventing worker injuries and deaths remains a priority.

Depsite the rulemaking delay, manufacturers need to know that OSHA’s Combustible Duts NEP remains active, and OSHA inspectors are still knocking on manufacturers’ doors citing them for improper housekeeping and a plethora of other combustible dust violations. A delay in the rule process does NOT mean facilities are off the hook. At the end of the day, combustible dust remains a real worker safety threat, and companies are obligated to provide their workers with a safe working environment by ensuring dust accumulations are eliminated or kept to a minimum and that the proper, safe equipment is used to achieve this goal.

After all, a delay in the rule does not delay another accident, another injury, another death.

Constructed to the highest level of operational safety, the Nilfisk CFM 118/50EXP is completely grounded, composed of non-sparking 304 stainless steel, and equipped with conductive hose and accessories to eliminate percussion arcing and static charge. The Nilfisk CFM 118/50 EXP also features:

• 13.2-gallon collection container that is easy to remove, lift, carry, and empty.
• Antistatic filter with large surface area that guarantees high filtration efficiency and prevents premature clogging.
• Downstream HEPA filter to capture 99.97% of debris, down to and including 0.3 microns; Optional upstream HEPA/ULPA filtration is also available.

The launch of the Nilfisk CFM 118/50 EXP enhances our current explosion-proof vacuum offerings, which already include the 118EXP, a smaller, dry-only unit, and the 118EXPW, a wet/dry unit. We also offer a pneumatic line of hazardous location vacuums. For more information, visit www.explosionproof-vacuum.com.

The 15-gallon VT60CR contains critical cleanroom features, such as a unique four-stage filtration system, that allows it to meet cleanroom standards up to and including Class 10.  The water-, rot-, mildew- and corrosion-resistant main filter captures particles down to 1 micron and is covered by an exclusive splash guard to protect against excessive moisture and further extend the life of the HEPA filter. For added protection in the cleanroom environment, the optional ULPA exhaust filter prevents toxic particles from becoming airborne. 

Other features and benefits include: 

• Multiple collection and disposal options,including a polyliner or 5-gallon disposable pail for bulk nuisance or hazardous material.
• Detachable trolley features sturdy polyethylene construction and large, smooth wheels for easy decontamination and added maneuverability.
• Pliable rubber inlet tube is designed to relieve caking and clogging caused by the collection of damp or sticky material. 

For more information on this cleanroom vac and pharmaceutical contamination control,  visit our pharma focus site at  www.pharmaceuticalvacuum.com!

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently concluded their investigation and released this 14-minute safety video depicting each incident. The video is called “Iron in the Fire” and features computer animation that displays how fine metal particles were ignited in two of the incidents, as well as the hydrogen explosion and flash fire that resulted in the fatalities and injuries.

1. Perform a facility assessment. Walk through your plant or shop and look for hazards like electrical issues, slip, trip and fall hazards, faulty equipment, and accumulations of dust (remember, a layer of dust the thickness of a paperclip can get you cited AND add to a deadly accident).

2. EDUCATE.  There are so many resources available to you from government agencies and private companies that there is now NO excuse for saying you didn’t know.  Educate yourself on OSHA regulations, NFPA codes, and EPA laws.  Also, don’t forget to check with your local authorities for safe-manufacturing policies.  People like your building inspectors and fire marshalls can be a wealth of knowledge. Once you’ve educated yourself, educate the rest of your team.  Plant Managers can be a walking safety encyclopedia, but it does nothing if this knowledge isn’t passed on to the machine operators and folks on the floor. Be sure to communicate the information to them in clear, simple terms.

3. Invest in the proper equipment.  Don’t try to cut corners and cents…because it most likely will cost you more in the long run.  Choose high-quality equipment that will allow you to operate an efficient process.  Don’t forget that you often “get what you pay for,” so the cheapest quote isn’t always the right one. When it comes to specialty equipment for hazardous locations, make sure they carry proper certifications, etc. and are built to the highest level of operational safety.

4. Set Goals. Whether its marking on a chalkboard the number of days you’ve gone without an injury or simply crossing things off your to-do list (eg. vacuum dust off overhead pipes and beams), setting goals will allow you to see the small successes and motivate everyone to be involved.

5. Start today. It only takes one spark, one trip, or one broken piece of machinery to cause an injury. Not to mention, OSHA can knock on your door this afternoon.  Put safety practices into action today…and follow them every day.