Observed the first Monday of September, Labor Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers. First held in 1885, the holiday has become a national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country; a ”working man’s/woman’s holiday.”

The Department of Labor’s website reads “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living (in the U.S.) and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”

So, with these powerful words, we think it is only right that we  also pause to reflect on the obligation we have to keep our workers safe and out of harm’s way. While there are many things our company cannot do to protect American workers, we take pride in the areas we have been able to help them. Here are just a few of the ways industrial vacuums have helped keep our workers safe:

- Minimized accumulations of combustible dust, safely.

-According to blood work, a Nilfisk industrial vacuum helped decrease lead levels by 60% in workers at a California foundry.

- Decreased harmful silica exposure in shipyards, construction sites, foundries and more.

-Removed hexavelent chromium at the source during MRO grinding/sanding processes.

- Eliminated mercury exposurevia spills at hospitals and manufacturing facilities (light bulbs).

More information on Labor Day and worker safety can be found here:

Labor Day is a memorial day if your loved one went to work, but never came home.

Labor Day Study: Workers rate safety most important workplace issue

Labor Day: Wikipedia

A carpet beater bar is essentially a floor nozzle for a vacuum equipped with a rotating beater bar that spins while the vacuum is in use.  By spinning, it agitates the carpet and loosens any lead dust that might be stuck in carpet fibers.

Nilfisk offers 2 versions of carpet beater bar floor tools for use with our HEPA filter vacuum cleaners, the Turbo Nozzle and Power Nozzle.

The Turbo Nozzle’s carpet beater bar is powered by the working air of the vacuum. This means that the air taken into the vacuum through the vacuum hose, spins the carpet beater bar. The turbo nozzle is available on several of Nilfisk HEPA Filter Vacuums, including the UZ 934, UZ 964, GD 930,  Eliminator I, Eliminator II, and  118. (Part numbers vary, ask our customer service department for more info!)  

 The Power Nozzle is very similiar, except it is plugged into the vacuum cleaner and powered by electricity. The Power Nozzle is only available on the GD 930 and GM 80.

So despite the differences, both the Turbo Nozzle and Power Nozzle when used with a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner are extremely effective in thoroughly cleaning the work area…and the Lead RRP requirements. Still have questions?  Ask us! 

The beater bar on the Turbo Nozzle is powered by the working air of the vacuum.