Open wide for some alphabet soup: NIOSH has helped NFPA create new standards for certifying PPE for EMS use by EMTs and others.

Whew! Translation key:

NIOSH = National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NFPA = National Fire Protection Association
PPE = Personal Protective Equipment
EMS = Emergency Medical Service
EMT = Emergency Medical Technician

Here’s the deal: Emergency responders can put maximum confidence in clothing and equipment that meets standards based on rigorous testing and user input. The accepted standard is NFPA 1999, which has just been updated and expanded. Additions include certain gloves, footwear covers, respiratory protection, eye/face wear and head protection not previously addressed.

At last count, 26 manufacturers were offering 82 products certified to NFPA 1999, 2008 edition, and more products are on the way. EMS responders, watch for this important certification when you choose PPE from newpig.com and other suppliers.

We don’t sell this Maintenance Schedule Whiteboard (at least not yet), but it’s earned some nice praise:

Much easier to keep track of what everyone is doing
“It’s much easier to use than our old spreadsheet. Now everyone can see our maintenance schedule and what’s coming up and it’s much easier to keep track of what everyone is doing.”
Director of Maintenance, Rubber roller manufacturer, Moonachie NJ

Saves hundreds of production hours a year
“We keep track of preventative maintenance on 50 machines. They are always breaking down due to lack of PM and this board saves hundreds of production hours a year by having maintenance activity displayed 24/7.”
Lean Production Consultant, Tool manufacturer, Latrobe PA

Responders keep discarded oil from reaching lake.

Click to see Map-A-Spill

Click to see products for emergency spill response

We don’t sell this safety switch (at least not yet), but it might be a valuable addition to your bulk storage tanks.

The maker says it can help you meet the American Petroleum Institute’s 2350 Recommended Practice (RP) for overfill and spill protection. You can see recent updates to API 2350 here.

Something may be lost in translation from this article published in the United Arab Emirates, but apparently more people are drilling holes in oil pipelines.

“Tractor drivers” do it (tractor-trailer drivers?). “These drivers drill a hole in the pipe, extract the amount of oil that they need and leave. Thereafter, oil keeps gushing out of the pipe.”

Even if entire oil tankers are filling up, the wasted oil must dwarf the pirated oil.

The bulk of the story is actually about cleaning up oily marine spills, often using skimming absorbents.

Image © AlienCat – Fotolia.com

A sod roof at a Ford plant? Yep, in Dearborn, Michigan since 2004.

Green roofs are way cool–literally. They reduce summer temps that reduce cooling costs and help roof surfaces last. Other potential benefits include:

• Cut heat loss—save on insulation
• Effectively block sound
• Dramatic good looks—see the Ford plant below
• Reduce or eliminate roof drains—reduce local stormwater charges and/or stormwater collection areas
• Meet stormwater regulations
• Improve community acceptance for development
• Gain recreation space
• Increase property value
• Snag grants related to energy efficiency or the environment
• Reduce green space requirements
• Gain greenhouse gas emissions trading credits
• Grow usable stuff! A hotel in Vancouver saved $30K per year on herbs, flowers, and vegetables

Get the full details on green roofs here. I just wanted you to know some options to consider along with our own storm water control products.

Anyone surprised at another change in SPCC compliance deadlines? Some have been pushed back to 2013.

The link above is to an article at Pollution Engineering, which gives lots more information on the twists and turns of SPCC. Don’t miss this helpful summary of who needs to comply and (at least theoretically) when.

This thoughtful article suggests complying NOW. Regardless of the status of proposed laws, a business needs to prepare to prevent and control oil spills for a host of reasons, including the environment, public image, and cleanup costs.

You’ll find lots more SPCC info here and Stormwater and SPCC solutions here.

Image © erbephoto – Fotolia.com

I always loved the game “Pass the Pigs.” You use pigs as dice! I always gave mine names: Snake and Eyes.

Now I’m playing on my iPhone! Only $2.99 at the iTunes app store.

Snake! Eyes! Let’s do this thing!

Danger of fuel spill after Hudson River plane crash.

Click to see Map-A-Spill

Click to see products for emergency spill response

The scene: The supermarket checkout line.

The activity: I’m browsing People magazine.

I happened across the story about Jeremy Piven dropping out of a Broadway show … due to mercury poisoning … due to eating sushi twice a day … for 20 years.

That sounds funny, but the symptoms weren’t. Piven had problems with balance, memory, vision and breathing. He faced fatigue, fainting and risk of heart attack. Mercury can also cause kidney failure and psychiatric problems.

Yikes. Be careful. We carry a nice line of items for mercury testing and cleanup.

Today, I came across this article that reminded me that fluorescent bulbs require special disposal because they contain mercury. It also mentions a special EPA reduce-and-recycle effort, the Mercury Challenge (cool name).

We have stuff for fluorescent bulb recycling and other responsible disposal. Check it out. Use it. Do it for Piven.