In a recent post I asked if anyone had pictures of New Pig products working hard in their places of employment. I was pleasantly surprised with some cultured photos of New Pig products from across the pond, as they say.

Below you will see some PIG® products doing what they do best at some of the most elite of locations. First, you will see two photos of a PIG® Absorbent Sock wetting its whistle at the Louvre in Paris. Aussi à France (in the third picture), the Palace of Versailles employs PIG® Absorbent Socks to protect against dampness and water damage.

Pretty fine swine, non?

Anyway, if you have more pictures of New Pig products doing what they do best at your workplace (it does not have to be the Louvre),  send ‘em to me!

One of our fabulous Piggers here in Customer Service, Cheri, has a “journal” full of funny quotes that were overheard. She inherited this journal from another fabulous Pigger, Leigh, who now works in another department. These are some of the tamer entries! Enjoy!

Pigger to dismayed Customer
“Fear not!”

Customer discussing a volume of liquid with a Tech Services Pigger
“You could pee more than we’re talking about.”

A shining example of our listening powers
Pigger: Did you say your name is Tom or John?”
Customer: “Charlie.”

Good stuff from customers
Customer: “We got them from your distributor—Sweat Hogs?”
Pigger: “Safety-Kleen?”
Customer: “Yeah!”

Exchanges related to promotional items
Pigger: “Do you want the Stress Balls?”
Customer: “No, I have bourbon for that.”

Pigger: “We have T-shirts, a Sporksball … That’s like a Nerf ball that looks like a pig.”
Customer: “A sports bra that looks like a Nerf ball?”

Pigger: “Just a minute, let me get out of the Shirt.” (meaning go to another part of the order system)
Customer:  (stunned silence)

Classic one liners from Pigger to Customer:
Discussing options for shipping some items: “They should be able to go postal.”

“Are you Rich?” (Yeah, how wealthy are you, anyway?)

“It has 2″ and 3/4″ bung holes for you to get in and out of the drum.”

“Let me grab Jennifer for you.”

“I don’t want to hold you any longer.”

The following is adapted from an article I wrote for the latest edition of OHS magazine. Used with permission.

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is among the most common safety citations in general industry, with over 4,000 violations annually. Hopefully, the following information will help you comply and have a safer workplace.

The HazCom Standard requires a written outline for a hazard communication program, proper employee training on workplace hazards, and documentation that each employee who could be exposed a hazard understands how to protect himself. This includes a process for proper container labeling—curled masking tape with smudged ink won’t satisfy a compliance officer.

Chemical manufacturer responsibilities

The manufacturer or importer of a chemical must determine its hazards [29 CFR 1910.1200(d)(1)]. OSHA lets employers treat this information as accurate.

A container of hazardous chemicals must have a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) listing hazardous components and describing health hazards, proper use, and emergency procedures. OSHA also requires thefollowing information on the container, label or tag [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(1)]:

• Identity of the chemical
• Appropriate hazard warnings
• Name and address of the manufacturer, importer, or other responsible party

If a chemical manufacturer or importer learns of a new hazard, labels and information must be revised within three months. Hazardous materials in transit must meet not only OSHA requirements but also those of the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Employer responsibilities

Creating an employer’s hazard communication plan will include the following steps:

• Create an inventory of hazardous chemicals on site
• Gather an MSDS for each
• Develop a program describing how a container will be marked so workers can easily identify the chemical and its hazards. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(5)]. OSHA requires that markings be legible, in English, and prominently displayed. The chemical’s identity may be a common or trade name or the actual chemical name. Hazard warnings may be words, pictures, symbols, numeric representations, or a combination.
• Document training plans, including schedules for refresher sessions.

Labeling requirements apply when a hazardous chemical is transferred to a smaller portable container unless the dispensing person immediately uses the chemical. [29 CFR 1910.1200(f) (5), 29 CFR 1910.1200(f) (7)]. Employees who do such dispensing must understand the requirements and know how to mark a portable container when needed, or how to get this done.

Facilities often use the labeling standards of the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) or HMIS (Hazardous Materials Information System). Both systems indicate hazard levels with a numeric scale. Using established systems like these aids labeling, training and compliance, as an MSDS will often include the NFPA and HMIS numeric values.

An employer should designate someone to ensure that container markings follow the established format and always have proper and current information. This includes documenting these duties and the review and updating process.

Training

OSHA requires that each employee receives information about:

• Any hazardous chemical exposure possible in his workplace
• How to protect against such exposure
• How to read container markings and MSDS
• Where MSDS are stored and how to get more information

Some employers give all workers the same HazCom training. Others tailor training to hazards in an employee’s main work area so training is more realistic. Proper signs help remind employees of hazards in areas they rarely visit.

Receiving crews should be trained to accept only properly labeled chemicals, perhaps only those on a specified inventory. Some facilities establish protocols for MSDS; for instance, requiring chemical suppliers to send them in advance and/or only to a safety officer.

Rounding out safety

The Hazard Communication Standard is far-reaching and sometimes overwhelming, but proper training helps employees understand how it improves safety and be better able to comply.

See these groups of labeling products at newpig.com:

Right-to-Know Signs and Labels

Hazardous Waste Labels

Portable Label Makers

Oscar Mayer, the third Oscar Mayer to head the famous meat products company, died at age 95 on Monday. Condolences to his family.

This brings to mind the jingle, of course (“My bologna has a first name …”), but also a little-known fact … so little-known that it will be news even to many New Piggers …

New Pig owns the toll-free number

1-800-HOT-DOGS

(1-800-468-3647)

Yes, with a “D” that goes with the number “3.”

Image © JLV Image Works – Fotolia.com

Mind you, the phone number that we promote everywhere (and have even registered as a trademark) is 1-800-HOT-HOGS® (1-800-468-4647), with an “H” that goes with the number “4.”

But it’s possible to mis-hear or mis-remember “HOT HOGS” as “HOT DOGS,” so years ago, after we became aware of this, we acquired the “HOT DOGS” phone number as well, so we would still get those calls.

By the way, I feel free to point out this tiny flaw in our timeless toll-free number (a) because 1-800-HOT-HOGS has generated countless laughs and smiles, and (b) because yours truly happens to be the Pigger who originally suggested 1-800-HOT-HOGS as a phone number just about 24 years ago (speaking of little-known facts!). I got a $200 prize for that! Nice money now and even better back then!

Anyway, our having 1-800-HOT-DOGS is all part of our customer service! If our customers encounter a common problem that we can fix, we’ll fix it!

We do get the occasional call over the HOT-DOGS number asking for hot dogs or hot dog vending equipment (and we try to be helpful with those as well), but …

Sorry, Oscar Mayer!

Sorry, Ballpark!

Sorry, Nathan’s and anyone else who might be interested in 1-800-HOT-DOGS …

… but we’re keeping it!

Imagine someone entering the workplace all bright-eyed and chipper …

Smiling at everyone …

And opening this to-do list:

Yeesh!

These are examples of email mistakes described in a recent survey. The main question asked of 250 professionals was: Have you ever mistakenly e-mailed someone the wrong message or copied someone on a message without intending to?

The replies:

Yes  78%
No  22%

So email mistakes happen a lot … so beware! You could create a mess that’s beyond the responding power of even the mightiest PIG® Spill Kit!

The company behind the survey gives these tips for avoiding email errors:

1. Don’t multitask when composing an important or sensitive email
2. Save selecting recipients until last
3. Be careful about who you copy
4. Review on a big screen vs. a handheld
5. Be careful with attachments
6. Don’t email when angry
7. Be professional

Image © Hao Wang – Fotolia.com

It’s always nice to see PIG® Mat on the job!

New Pig customer Sam Shon sent me a link to this article, which contains the picture below of PIG® Absorbent Mat in use.

Sam works in the gear lab at Ohio State, where they do research and experimental testing on gear vibration, gear dynamics, and other gear-related topics. For over two years, he’s been a member of the PIG® Panel, a group of customers who give us feedback about PIG® products and services. We can always count on Sam for great information that helps us be our best.

Our relationship with Sam actually began with a visit to his workplace in October 2006. It was the best visit ever for my fellow Pigger and blogger Chris Dilley, Ohio State’s #1 Fan! He was in Buckeye Heaven!

Happy 120th Birthday today, Wall Street Journal! If not for pigs, you wouldn’t exist.

Whoa, whoa, this isn’t a rant about capitalism. It’s about the origin of the name “Wall Street.”

By some accounts,* early settlers of Manhattan Island grew tired of free-roaming hogs trampling their grain fields and built a long wall to keep them out. The street that eventually bordered this wall became—you guessed it—Wall Street.

Whaddya think of that, Rupert Murdoch!

*Other accounts say the name comes from a stockade wall built as a defense against Native American tribes. Don’t believe ‘em.

Image © Albo – Fotolia.com

I was browsing the University of Virginia’s Environmental Health and Safety website recently for some safety-related info when some pictures started flashing by. Below them it said, “Images from around the University.”

Image used with permission from UVA

Those who know the mess, know the best! The folks at UVA know who to use!

Do you use New Pig? Are New Pig products around your facility? I would love to see some pics of New Pig products in action!

Email them to me

Who knew there actually are names for fireworks patterns?

I discovered this at How Stuff Works. Then I made a screen video using their nifty guide and embellished the video with … well, you’ll see. It involves the products listed below, each available at newpig.com.

Have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day. Happy Birthday, America!

Max Comfort Gloves

PIG® DRAINBLOCKER® Drain Cover

Lever Drum Ring

PIG® Universal Absorbent Pillow

Polyethylene Drum Dolly

Sand Sifter

Grease Gun

Classic® Control Post Rope

PIG® SPILLBLOCKER® Dike