Rock Products

JUL 2017

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56 • ROCK products • July 2017 www.rockproducts.com FOCUS ON HEALTH & SAFETY Workers can be exposed to heat stress when their deep internal core tempera- ture rises higher than 100.4 F (38 C). In addition to high air temperatures, culprits for inducing heat stress can include high humidity, radiant heat sources, direct physical contact with hot objects or strenuous physical activities. Vortec Personal Air Conditioning Vests (PACs) circulate cool air to minimize temperature-related stress and fatigue, thus improving com- fort and productivity. Heat stress, though often considered during the summer months, is problematic in some indus- tries throughout the year. Indoor operations where problems can occur year-round include foundries, paint and welding shops, electrical utilities (especially boiler rooms), chemical plants, mining sites, smelters, steam tunnels and other loca- tions where full body Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be worn. Outdoor operations conducted in hot weather are also likely to cause heat stress among exposed workers, includ- ing aggregates operations, construction, refining, asbestos removal, hazardous waste site activities, emergency response operations and workers who wear semi-permeable or impermeable protective clothing. Several types of PPE are effective in minimizing heat stress, among them: • Reflective clothing. • Auxiliary body cooling ice vests. • Wetted clothing. • Water-cooled garments. • Circulating air. Circulating air is the most highly effective personal cooling system. Vortec PACs use a vortex tube to reduce the tempera- ture of the air circulating through their vests, which diffuses the air-lows around the worker's torso. The circulating air is up to 60 F cooler than ambient, keep- ing workers cool even in oppressive environments. Durable, plasticized vests are available in three sizes and provide con- tinuous cooled or warmed air through its perforated lining. They do not restrict movement, do not absorb sweat or other contaminants, and can be worn under other protective cloth- ing. Dual action PACs can easily switch from cold to hot, to provide comfort in all seasons, and amortize the investment in this proven PPE. Vortec, www.vortec.com Vortec Personal Air Conditioning Vests Help Workers Avoid Heat Stress The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) endorsed the Safety Certification for Transportation Project Profession- als (SCTPP) program and plans to urge its member firms and their employees to earn the credential beginning this year. Launched in late 2016 and administered by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association's Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF), the SCTTP's vision is to "ensure the safety and well-being of construction workers, motorists, truck drivers, pedestrians and cyclists and their families by making transportation project sites world-wide zero safety incident zones." As part of a strategic partnership, ARTBA and NAPA will jointly develop and implement online asphalt paving-/ milling-specific safety training modules that industry pro- fessionals can use to prepare for the certification exam or to earn Professional Development Hours and build their skill sets. NAPA will also help recruit asphalt paving/milling pro- fessionals to join the SCTPP "Subject Matter Experts" team that plays a critical role in developing exam questions. "We are excited to partner with ARTBA to develop and promote training tools that will aid companies in imple- menting best practices proven to help eliminate work zone incidents," said NAPA President Mike Acott. "Because of the unique nature of asphalt road construction work, there was a clear need for asphalt paving-/milling-specific modules within the SCTPP. We look forward to working with ARTBA and our nationally recognized experts to create the mod- ules needed to address safe work zone and asphalt road construction practices." "The goal with the certification program is to help cause a demonstrable reduction in the number of deaths and inju- ries that occur on and around transportation project sites each year," ARTBA President Pete Ruane said. "Our partner- ship with NAPA moves us closer toward that goal because it allows us to reach a wider audience of key decision makers who are in the position to improve jobsite safety." The SCTPP program is aimed at the thousands of transpor- tation project workers, supervisors, foremen, inspectors, managers, manufacturers and materials suppliers, design- ers, equipment operators and owners who could make a huge, industry-wide safety impact by learning core com- petencies necessary to identify and mitigate potentially life-threatening on-site risks. An independent, nine-member Certification Commission established the program's governing and operational poli- cies, and provides on-going oversight. Additional information about the certification program can be found on its compre- hensive website: www.puttingsafetyfirst.org. NAPA Endorses ARTBA Safety Certification Program

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