Blog

1. Implementing a Fall Prevention Program for Your Company

   May 16, 2012

   When setting up a fall prevention program for your business, first you should make yourself aware of OSHA rules regarding working at heights, as well as identifying problem spots within work areas before you create a written program.

2. Debating Hydrofracking in New York State

   May 15, 2012

   If you ever want to start a heated debate, bring up the subject of hydrofracking. It’s sure to get people talking.

3. A Well Executed Job Leads to More Work

   May 13, 2012

   Sometimes it can help put equipment functions into perspective when you read about its use in real world situations. That’s why today’s blog focuses on a couple examples that illustrate how companies have used fall prevention to improve conditions for their workers.

4. Gangway Accessories – An Extra Layer of Prevention

   Apr 30, 2012

   Workers use gangways to gain safe passage from a loading rack or platform to rail car or truck hatches. Adding accessories to gangways can augment fall prevention as well as increasing throughput.

5. Stay Safe with Rail Car Safety Cages

   Apr 13, 2012

   It’s possible to increase productivity at your company’s loading rack simply by adding proper fall prevention made to suit your business’s needs. Whether it’s a rail safety cage or rail enclosure, fall dangers will be minimized in the workplace when the facility’s unique requirements are taken into account.

6. Fall Prevention Solutions for Tank Trucks

   Apr 11, 2012

   If your company is looking for ways to keep drivers safer and as an added bonus make their workday more efficient by increasing throughput, it’s time you check out a few types of truck enclosures.

7. Fall Protection Works

   Apr 03, 2012

   Used properly, fall protection and fall prevention can really make a difference in saving lives on the job. Just ask the 2% of workers who were not involved in fatal falls on the job in 2010. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) fatal work injuries involving falls decreased 2% in 2010 (from 645 in 2009 to 635 in 2010). Looking back to 2007, fatal falls are down 25% from the 847 that were reported that year.

8. Proper Bonding & Grounding Protects Workers

   Mar 28, 2012

   It’s impossible to completely eradicate static electricity – it’s everywhere. And when your job is dealing with flammable liquids one tiny spark can cause a whole lot of damage. Before a driver begins pouring, filtering, pumping, or mixing any flammable liquids, proper bonding and grounding must take place.

9. Survival of the Fittest – Portable Platforms Help Your Business Adapt

   Mar 26, 2012

   Portable platforms with their versatility and flexibility not only provide safe access, they also create a more streamlined workflow. Because there are no standard configurations for tank truck and rail car hatches they can all be a bit different making it difficult for certain fall prevention equipment to work properly when loading and unloading. However, if your company uses portable access platforms that are height adjustable and easy to maneuver around the workplace, daily tasks go much more smoothly and falls are prevented.

10. Keep On Truckin’ - Flatbed Safety!

    Mar 22, 2012

    Companies that ship product using flatbed trucks need to establish a fall prevention policy and ensure that all employees are trained and know how to use the equipment properly.

11. Armed with Safety and Efficiency

    Mar 22, 2012

    Okay, you’ve purchased loading arms for your company so workers don’t have to lug around heavy hoses causing injury and creating trip and fall hazards. But now what? In order to make the most of your new loading arms as far as efficiency and safety are concerned you may want to look at some accessories that can help.

12. Pipe Racks Offer Heavy-Duty Stability

    Mar 02, 2012

    Pipe racks are made to bear the load of the heavy industrial pipes they support. Because they do hold such incredibly large loads of weight, there need to be special considerations taken when building and using pipe racks.

13. Loading Rack Canopies

    Mar 01, 2012

    Canopies are a simple addition to a loading rack yet they bring multiple benefits. For workers, canopies protect from glaring sun and dehydrating heat. They also protect workers and product from rain, sleet and snow.

14. Platforms and Catwalks

    Feb 29, 2012

    Platforms and catwalks allow employees safe and easy access to critical areas involving height without restricting movement. When working at heights, safety on the job should always be a company’s first priority.

15. Stair Towers

    Feb 28, 2012

    Stair towers are fall prevention for workers who needs to access levels where a ladder can’t reach. Whether it’s a ship, a multiple story building, bridge or other tall structure, stair towers are excellent fall prevention and are built to withstand the elements.

16. The Importance of Structural Fall Prevention

    Feb 27, 2012

    Structural equipment, made to fit certain job tasks and particular OSHA guidelines, is what allows workers to safely perform their job. This equipment is termed fall prevention and works as “gravity resistance” to keep workers from falling to their death.

17. Fall Prevention Checklist

    Feb 24, 2012

    Every workplace has its hazards. When it comes to tanker truck, rail car, aviation and marine environments the hazards have a tendency to be more life threatening than the average office. In order to keep workers safe, OSHA has done a lot of the work for you by setting standards that should be employed in every workplace.

18. Renewable Natural Gas

    Feb 23, 2012

    Biogas goes by several names including biomethane, digester gas, landfill gas or swamp gas. It doesn’t sound appealing no matter what you call it. Biogas is the product of decomposition of organic matter without oxygen – a.k.a. anaerobic decomposition.

19. Focus on Alternative Fuels – Methanol

    Feb 22, 2012

    Methanol is considered an alternative fuel by the U.S. government under its Energy Policy Act of 1992. Also known as wood alcohol, methanol has chemical and physical fuel properties similar to ethanol.

20. LPG - The Least “Alternative” Alternative Fuel

    Feb 21, 2012

    In America’s never-ending search for alternative fuel sources there are several that seem promising – solar, wind, biofuels, water, ethanol, natural gas and LPG or liquefied petroleum gas. LPG is widely available so it’s often referred to as the least “alternative” of the alternative fuels.

21. Biodiesel Fuels – A Suitable Alternative

    Feb 20, 2012

    Biodiesel fuels are getting a lot of buzz because they are a renewable, clean-burning diesel fuel replacement that could help reduce America’s dependence on foreign petroleum, create green jobs and be less destructive to the environment.

22. Cooling Pump Systems

    Feb 17, 2012

    Cooling pump systems can be used for a number of reasons. Whether you need to keep equipment at a specific temperature or you need to cool liquid or air, a well-designed cooling pump system can be energy efficient and cost effective.

23. Chemical Feed Systems

    Feb 16, 2012

    A chemical feed system is a sizeable investment for any business. So make sure that the company you choose can help you design and build a system that works accurately for your unique business. Inferior products can wreak havoc on throughput, budgets, product quality and more.

24. Skid Systems

    Feb 15, 2012

    Skid mounted systems keep everything you need for pumping or metering chemicals contained in one place. These systems can be integrated into existing or newly designed loading rack systems. This integrated set-up creates a more cost-effective, safe and efficient workplace.

25. Carbis Announces a New Website

    Feb 14, 2012

    “New” is always exciting and full of possibilities. Carbis launches a brand new website for a venture into fluid handling.

26. Barge Gangways Create Safe Passage

    Feb 13, 2012

    Gangways provide safe transit from dock to ship and back, so make sure your barge has an updated gangway with guardrails and non-slip steps for workers and visitors.

27. A Call to Loading Arms

    Feb 10, 2012

    Employees who work on a ship are subject to a few more hazards than the rest of us. If a worker takes a tumble into the water from several stories high it could be quite dangerous. Also, the weight of the products being loaded/unloaded can crush anything, or anyone, underneath. Consequently extra safety measures such as marine loading arms make sense when loading/unloading a ship.

28. Ship Towers For All Level Access

    Feb 09, 2012

    A fall off the side of a ship from several stories high can do great damage to the body even when falling into water. At those heights water will not welcome anyone with open arms. Depending on how the body lands is another factor. If the body is lateral when it hits the water, the deceleration force will be worse than if a person falls feet first. Either way there’s probably going to be some injury. Avoid falls with safe, all-level access using ship towers.

29. Are Chemicals in Hydraulic Fracturing Poisoning Our Drinking Water?

    Feb 08, 2012

    There is more than one way of doing things. Looking for untapped energy sources at home means evaluating and employing all the possibilities that make sense: natural gas, solar, wind or water (hydro) power. There will be proponents and naysayers on both sides of every issue so take what you hear and read with a grain of salt.

30. Hydraulic Fracturing – Concern Over Chemicals

    Feb 07, 2012

    What chemicals are used for hydraulic fracturing and what happens to the used water and chemicals after the fracking process is complete? The Interior Department will soon require that chemicals be identified and each well must guarantee that no fluids escape during the horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes.

31. Hydraulic Fracturing Gets Thumbs Up from President Obama

    Feb 06, 2012

    Now it seems even the President is on the hydraulic fracturing bandwagon. While everyone may not agree with the process of hydraulic fracturing as “clean” we can certainly all agree that the United States must become less dependent on foreign countries for its oil.

32. Military Aircraft Systems

    Feb 03, 2012

    Military aircraft systems are versatile enough to replace many of the ladders and stands that have been used as access in the past. With an onboard motor and steering, this steel constructed system is easy to maneuver and has adjustable height platforms that can provide safe and effective access to a number of aircraft systems.

33. Helicopter Maintenance Stands

    Feb 02, 2012

    Having the proper tools is vital to performing an excellent and thorough job in any industry. When maintaining helicopters it’s very important - especially to the people flying in them. Ensure that your company’s maintenance crew has exactly what they need to properly maintain your helicopter fleet.

34. Crew Access Stands

    Feb 01, 2012

    Aircraft maintenance crews need love, too. So make them feel special by employing appropriate fall prevention and that includes a versatile crew access stand. These types of stands provide safe and easy access to different size aircraft and arc openings.

35. Crush Syndrome

    Jan 31, 2012

    Crush Syndrome is a life-threatening situation that occurs often in earthquakes, climbing accidents and on industrial job sites. It happens when there is a consistent force applied to the body – most often the lower extremities. If a person is left in this position for four hours or more, crush syndrome can take place.

36. Fall Arrest and Flammable Liquids – The Recipe for Disaster

    Jan 30, 2012

    Fall arrest and flammable liquids together are an accident waiting to happen. Wearing fall arrest gear, a worker may not be able to escape a fire or explosion should one occur. This is where another look at fall prevention can save the day and employees.

37. Loading Arm and Fall Protection Integration

    Jan 27, 2012

    If your company decides to invest in one or more loading arms, be sure to address integration with your fall protection first. This way the company can avoid a lot of future headaches.

38. Multi-Access Systems

    Jan 26, 2012

    If your business needs a versatile piece of equipment that can be transformed to meet all sorts of safety and space requirements, a multi-access system may be just what you need. A platform, stairs and handrails can be mixed and matched to fit into myriad spaces with just the tightening of a few bolts.

39. Spill Containment

    Jan 25, 2012

    OSHA and the EPA have rules pertaining to rail cars and tank trucks that transport harmful chemicals and fuels. Companies must be prepared for accidental spills, drips and overfilling that could seep into the ground or leak into a water supply. That’s where spill containment comes in.

40. Fracking, Oil Extraction and Transporting

    Jan 24, 2012

    What do you do when you’ve struck huge amounts of oil but there’s no pipeline around for miles? After doing a happy dance you need to figure out how to transport this black gold to a refinery hundreds, maybe thousands, of miles away. If you had made this sort of discovery fifty years ago there wasn’t a lot you could do about it, but these days it is possible to extract crude oil from a shale deposit out in the middle of nowhere and transport it through several steps to a refinery.

41. Tracking Gangways

    Jan 23, 2012

    Perfect for loading a variety of truck and rail car hatch configurations, tracking gangways are heavy-duty and maintenance-free making them an ideal part of your company’s fall prevention plan.

42. The Advantages of Loading Skids

    Jan 20, 2012

    Loading skids have several advantages. For one thing, they make it safer for workers who handle hazardous liquids. Also, loading skids can provide a more accurate reading of the amount of transloaded product, which is beneficial for both the seller and the buyer because it eliminates guesswork and creates less product waste.

43. The Importance of Proper Bonding & Grounding

    Jan 19, 2012

    Static electricity is everywhere and while it can never be totally eliminated, it can be controlled with proper bonding and grounding – emphasis on the word “proper”. One little spark is all it takes to create a disaster of gigantic proportions.

44. Flatbed Fall Prevention

    Jan 18, 2012

    Often truck drivers think nothing of walking all over their load to spread a protective tarp, but depending on the load there are often uneven or unsteady walking surfaces. So here is another example where fall prevention can come into play.

45. Fall Protection vs Fall Prevention

    Jan 17, 2012

    Getting the job done while simultaneously keeping workers safe is the goal of every company. However when job duties require working at heights each task should be evaluated for its risk and how that risk of injury can be decreased or eliminated altogether.

46. Shale Oil Plays

    Jan 16, 2012

    As crude oil costs continue to rise by leaps and bounds and because America depends so heavily on this oil, more US companies are looking for sources at home to lessen our grip of dependence on foreign countries.

47. Hoses vs Loading Arms

    Jan 12, 2012

    There’s more than one way to load and unload product. The two most popular options for tank truck and rail cars are hoses and loading arms. Each option has its own purpose as far as moving product, ease of use and increased throughput.

48. What is Fracking?

    Jan 12, 2012

    Due to the ever-increasing price of crude oil, Americans have been forced to search for new oil sources at home. It has become much easier to reach the oil deposits now than in the past thanks to two fairly new processes – horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

49. What is Transloading?

    Jan 11, 2012

    What if you just found crude oil but were hundreds of miles away from any refineries or pipelines? If you’re able to get the product out of the ground it won’t be worth anything if you can’t transport it to a specific location to be refined. And if the location crosses rivers, mountains or other barriers you may need more than one form of transportation. That’s where transloading comes in.

50. Harness Hang Syndrome

    Jan 10, 2012

    People who work at heights wear a harness on the job to stay safe in case of a fall but sometimes the harness could be the very thing that kills a worker, especially if he/she is knocked unconscious. If conscious, a worker should pump their legs to keep the blood flowing, if unconscious other workers need to know how to get the person down in a hurry!

51. Hierarchy of Fall Protection

    Jan 09, 2012

    In a perfect world no one would ever fall from great heights and be killed. But as we all know this is not a perfect world and gravity never takes a holiday.

52. Finding New Ways To Extract and Transport Crude Oil in America

    Jan 04, 2012

    America is number ten on the list of top ten countries in the world with the most oil reserves – right behind Mexico and Libya. So why aren’t we producing more crude oil?