IEN (Industrial Equipment News) is the leading resource for industrial professionals, providing product technology, trends and solutions impacting the industrial market. IEN reaches manufacturers, designers, distributors & supply chain professionals.
Issue link: http://ien.epubxp.com/i/643812
24 IEN / FEB '16 www.ien.com T he Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) will reap the benefi ts of a New Year's resolution by Congress – in this case, one permitting the agency to raise fi nes on offending organizations, by as much as 82 percent, for the fi rst time since 1990. According to the National Law Review, Congressional approval for the increase was contained in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, a deal this fall that authorizes funding for federal agencies through September 30, 2017. It allows OSHA and most other federal agencies to raise monetary penalties by an amount pegged to the Consumer Price Index. "In addition," says the article, "Congress is allowing OSHA fi nes to be automatically adjusted for infl ation going forward." The impact for manufacturers will depend, as traditionally, on the consistency and severity of the violations. Civil penalties for serious and non-serious violations could climb to about $12,700, from the current $7,000 maximum, while those for willful and repeat violations could go to approximately $127,000, from the current $70,000 maximum. On the heels of this announcement, an agreement between the Departments of Labor and Justice will launch a "new world of worker safety" by holding managers and supervisors criminally accountable for violations of the law, agency offi cials announced Dec. 17. There's no question that this current status means safety programs for industrial companies are even more paramount. -Anna Wells Cross-Functional Protective Glove Safety Glasses Designed for Women Safety Today (Grove City, OH) introduces the new Brass Knuck- le SmartShell BKCR4499 gloves, a best-in-class solution, de- signed to provide high levels of cross-functional protection and a glove construction that utilizes the company's Fit, Form, and Function standard. The BKCR4499 begins with a machine-knit, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene shell that offers ANSI cut level 4 protection, which has a strength-to-weight ratio that's 8 to 15 times higher than steel. The glove's layered construction is designed to conform to the natural contours of the hand and includes fl ex points in the fi ngers, wrist and palm, helping to ensure maximum comfort and increase compliance. Thermoplastic rubber padding is sonically welded to the back of the glove and offers protection from contusions, smash injuries, punctures and object strikes, with pinch pro- tection extending to each fi ngertip. The sandy fi nish of the black nitrile palm coating offers excellent wet grip and slip resistance along with abrasion resistance. www.safetytoday.com; 800-837-5900 Gateway Safety (Cleveland, OH) has launched a family of safety glasses that are designed to appeal to women in style, and provide a better fi t than traditional options. Tailoring the design to improve the fi t of safety eyewear helps protect women better, oftentimes reducing gaps and increasing coverage around the eyes, where hazards may exist. Gateway Safety's GirlzGear collection includes several different styles of safety eyewear with features for the female worker: • Two styles – StarLite SM and Scorpion SM – are actually sized 10% smaller than their popular originals, making them ideal solutions for women with smaller profi les. • Metro safety glasses provide a full frame design, in four unique frame colors, to appeal to the trendy woman worker. • Parallax, the newest addition to the line, features patented temples that create exceptional comfort for long term wear, and is available in a clear lens or pink mirror lens. www.gatewaysafety.com; 800-822-5347 Product Spotlight