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M A T T E R S Volume 19, Issue 4

T H E M A G I D S A F E T Y R E P O R T

L ifeline Foods is a corn-milling manufacturer that grinds corn to various textures as a food ingredient for other food

manufacturers. Unlike industrial plants that manufacture machine parts or build transportation vehicles, Lifeline Foods has to consider food safety as well as the day-to-day safety of its employees. The way that product is handled must comply with OSHA, as well as other regulatory guidelines such as the Food Safety Moderation Act.

Lifeline takes a multi-pronged approach to safety—while the company does not experience a high number of lost time injuries, it still has many hazards to consider.

“More than assuring that every worker has the best personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against cuts, lacerations, et cetera, we also have to assure that the product we produce will be safe and contaminate-free for end users,” explains Ric Smith, environmental, health and safety manager for Lifeline Foods. “We have a very supportive management team and if we have to stop production because of a safety issue, management and upper level team members understand. Safety is the top priority. They back us up, trust us and support the decisions we make.”

Since the company produces a food product that is widely consumed, Lifeline Foods must address each hazard by first consulting the guidelines and standards for food safety and then engineering a solution that protects both the worker and the product. For example, all Lifeline employees must wear hairnets and beard nets in the production area and cannot wear certain jewelry. Additionally, since Lifeline mills corn—an extremely volatile substance—the company must take precautions that go beyond conventional worker/food safety.

“We are working in a combustible environment. Everything we use must be food grade and explosion proof. We must take a lot of things into consideration every step of the way and everyone must be focused on safety all the time,” explains Smith.

To help increase awareness and adherence to regulations, Lifeline has created an incentive program called Safety Sightings. Employees are asked to report hazards and potential hazards as soon as they are aware of them. People are rewarded for participation in safety. The more individual reports of safety hazards and awareness workers report, the more rewards they earn. Each quarter, a new member is awarded a special parking spot and gift card based on their accumulated Safety Sightings. At the end of the fiscal year, a previously selected employee is eligible for an end-of-year larger prize.

Lifeline Depends on Top-Notch PPEWhile Lifeline has many safety programs in place within the company, it turns to Magid to address PPE needs and stay up-to-date with new products. Recently, Lifeline worked with its Magid rep to solve three specific safety challenges: respiratory

protection, visibility and hearing protection/communication tools.

“Magid has been key for safety success for me through several different jobs,” says Smith. “For example, if I have a hand protection issue, I won’t just start ordering a bunch of gloves. I go directly to my Magid rep, explain my hazard and discuss my options. They have a great sampling program and quick turnaround time. If it doesn’t work, Magid immediately gets me a different product that addresses my needs.”

Smith was searching for improved respiratory protection because his workers are dealing with a large quantity of combustible dust most of the day.

“I looked at respirators available, received samples from my Magid rep, had my employees try samples and tell me what they liked and didn’t like about the products. Once we settled on the right product, we quickly implemented them into regular purchases. It was painless and improved respiration for all the people on the floor,” adds Smith.

Lifeline Foods’ Multi-Dimensional Safety Programs Keep Both Product and Employees Safe

A Lifeline Foods employee, Nicole Hayes, with Smith as she receives a certificate of appreciation for safety participation.

Photos courtesy of Lifeline Foods

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Another important challenge for Lifeline Foods is improving employee visibility. Employees often work in the rail yard while trucks are coming and going at all times of the day. It is important to have high visibility jackets and outerwear, but the clothing must also protect workers from every day hazards and allow movement. Smith’s Magid rep is working side by side with Lifeline’s safety department to find the right products for this purpose.

Next up for Magid and Lifeline was how to best combine communication tools with hearing protection. The Lifeline facility is spread out across multiple buildings and levels which, in addition to a good deal of noise, make communication through two-way radios complex.

“I looked at different earmuffs and earplugs that would be compatible with a two-way radio because that is how the workers communicate throughout the plant,” explains Smith. “I didn’t

know where to start, but my Magid rep put me in contact with the right people to get this ball rolling.

I couldn’t have done it without him. He guided me in the right direction and was very supportive. We found one product where we can plug into the radio and have direct communication. It is clear, fits right over the ear and goes into the hearing protection device. They took this request and are doing everything they can to find something for us—even though it was a request they have probably never gotten before.”

Smith enjoys how dependable his Magid rep is: “I don’t want to have to go back and follow-up—I expect them to carry through for us and they do it all the time. They bring in experts from various specialties to identify what the issues are and how we can solve problems and improve working conditions for employees. Pricing, quality, service, turnaround time—all are the top reasons I love having a safety partner like Magid!”

Safety MilestonesThe safety programs Lifeline has implemented are working (see call out box). Lifeline’s total recordable incident rate in 2014 was under 2, which is the best this company has experienced.

“The original goal for 2014 was to be 3.7 or better and we achieved less than 2. This is huge in the type of industry that we are in. A lot of milling manufactures cannot report such low injury rates.”

Lifeline and Smith are not resting on their laurels; the company has set an ambitious goal of less than 1 for the coming year. “We can get there if we continue to stay vigilant about recording hazards, staying proactive as well as reactive, report near misses and address issues right away. The ultimate goal is to go a year plus without recordable injury time. While we aren’t there yet, we will be soon.”

Safety Tool Box TalksAnother way Lifeline Foods focuses on workplace safety are Safety Tool Box Talks. The company picks out several topics to talk about each week. Many topics are generated by their employees and their requests…maybe they had a close call and want to talk about how this can be prevented in the future or what saved this from being an injury. Lifeline also pulls information from outside the organization—new safety regulations or issues experienced by others in their industry—anything that can keep safety top-of-mind and help Lifeline anticipate safety challenges.

“We don’t reinvent the wheel during these talks—it is often common topics like fatigue, importance of a good diet, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, mental awareness and exercise,” explains Ric Smith, EHS manager for Lifeline Foods. “But these talks point out things workers should be doing and what they should be aware of and then hammer home these concepts to prevent hazards and injuries. It is more about communication than anything else. It is really working for us!”

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Lifeline Foods records the amount of days it has gone without an OSHA recordable injury.

Lifeline Foods has mandatory safety meetings for its employees.

The Key to Success for Lifeline Foods

Lifeline Foods has a number of simple, daily programs and safety checks in place that help keep the company’s injuries down and make sure safety is always in the forefront. Before employees at Lifeline Food start their shift, they run a SAFE check: Scan | Look over their work environment. Assess | Identify any hazards. Fix | Address any hazards, if they cannot fix the hazard on

their own, notify a manager. Execute | Now that the environment is safe, employees are able

to execute their job.

SAFE

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Advanced Disposal’s Approach to Safety Nets Results and Cost SavingsEmployees at Advanced Disposal, a

company that offers waste disposal, collection and recycling services for residential, commercial, industrial and construction customers, have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition to risks such as cuts or being stuck by needles, employees are often doing their jobs in active traffic areas. The risk of being hit by a moving vehicle is high. In order to keep these workers safe, Advanced Disposal requires that specific personal protective equipment (PPE) be worn at all times and that employees adhere to a specific list of safety guidelines.

“Employee safety is our number one priority,” says Mike Conley, driver trainer/supervisor at Advanced Disposal. “If even one of these rules is broken by an employee, they are immediately written up. It’s a no-tolerance program built entirely for their safety.”

Advanced Disposal also added safety measures built directly into the disposal vehicles. “The drive-cam looks out the windshield, records the drivers and workers to prevent accidents,” says Conley. “In addition, we require our workers to wear boots, gloves, vests and safety glasses at all times.”

Preventative Analysis & SARsDue to the dangerous nature of the job, Advanced Disposal must be on top of their game in all aspects of safety—this means being proactive. The company holds weekly safety meetings and uses preventative analysis to stay current with changes in the physical landscape of the job, within the company and within its industry as a whole. Advanced Disposal uses SARs

(Safety Action Reports) to address issues before they become an accident and indentify potential risks within the workplace and on-the-job.

“We have our drivers fill out SARs on a daily basis to prevent hazards on the job,” explains Conley. “If they see something that could potentially result in an accident or injury, they report it using these forms. Management can review the risk and decide what can be done to alleviate it. In addition, SARs are completed after incidents occur to allow management to learn and prevent the same incidents from happening in the future.”

Recently, Advanced Disposal has been using SARs to deal with issues like low hanging

trees or low hanging wires. On a bigger scale, drivers have brought dangerous traffic areas or intersections to the attention of management using SARs.

“There is one spot on a 55 MPH road that curves right at the place our truck needs to stop,” Conley explains. “Management worked with the companies near that stop to bring the cans off that particular place in the road which meant that the drivers were no longer in danger from cars speeding around the blind curve. It is important for us to listen to the drivers because they know their routes better than anyone.”

If the Glove Fits…In addition to the 10 primary safety rules (see pull out box), vehicle safety features and preventative analysis, Advanced Disposal relies heavily on Magid for safety equipment. Since the risks of the job are high, the requirements are demanding.

“All gloves must have a level 4 cut protection—no exceptions,” adds Conley. “While we are only a year into our glove program with Magid, we have seen many improvements. Now our gloves have more protection plus high visibility, which is key for our workers who work near fast-moving traffic and often at night.”

The original gloves Advanced Disposal was using weren’t durable enough and kept tearing at the thumb crotch. When Conley began his search for a replacement, he looked for gloves with dexterity and durability. He searched for a happy medium where workers could still move freely in their gloves, but the gloves would stand up to the work on a day-to-day basis. The company worked with over five different

The 10 Primary Safety Rules & Vehicle Safety FeaturesUnique to this industry, Advanced Disposal has developed 10 primary safety rules employees must follow at all times to ensure their safety. These rules focus on the following safety topics:

1. Using safety devices2. Utilizing container safety latches3. No zigzagging or double siding4. Vehicle backing5. Securing vehicles and equipment6. Wearing seat belts7. Following speed limits8. Dual drive truck safety9. Post collections safety10. Preventing rear-end collisions

and rollovers

“When I began working with Magid, our rep gave us three different types of gloves—all were great options but when we found a glove that provided flexibility and durability but also offered high visibility, I knew it was the perfect fit for what we do.”— Mike Conley, Advanced Disposal

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suppliers, but they all had the same result—not enough durability for the job.

“I was determined to find the right glove for my guys,” says Conley. “When I began working with Magid we found a glove that provided flexibility and durability but also offered high visibility, I knew it was the perfect fit for what we do.”

Specifically for workers in this industry, anything that improves visibility is a definite plus.

“We want them to feel good, look good and work better!” Conley explains. “The gloves we are using from Magid are durable, they look good, the guys like them and feel comfortable working in them—which is always the most important thing.”While the glove project was one of the

first for Conley and his company, he will continue to use Magid for other safety needs.

“The prices are very reasonable,” Conley adds. “Magid also supplies our safety glasses and lockout locks.”

Buy-in is KeyConley understands the importance of employee buy-in and places the emphasis on the needs of the people on the job.

“The workers are the ones out there on the job every day, so they should be the ones driving our policies and changes that need to be made to keep them safe. Until you get your employees to buy-in to what you are trying to accomplish, it is going to be a bumpy road!” Conley says. “I want to make

the transitions as smooth as possible and I can’t do that without open communication with my employees. I find that if I explain why I am doing what I’m doing, instead of just telling them what I want to do, it makes all the difference in the world.”

Protocols, products and safety equipment are ever-changing in this business and Conley is committed to keeping his workers involved and to listening to their point of view, concerns and suggestions.

“Don’t dictate,” notes Conley. “Be willing to explain why a policy is in place or why we are looking for new safety equipment. Also be willing to demonstrate its effectiveness. This gives workers the big picture and simply makes the work environment a better place.”

Every year there are more than 2,500 visibility-related accidentsand 1,000,000 workplace hand cuts and punctures and

90% of those hand injuries are preventable.

Magid® D-ROC® Work Gloves, hi-viz cut protection:GPD525HV (Cut Level 2) and GPD545HV (Cut Level 4)

An Advanced Disposal employee wearing high-viz gloves from Magid and Y90RBAFIO glasses before heading out on the job.

Five things you didn’t know about the 5th most dangerous job in America1. Sanitation workers have twice the fatality rates of police officers and almost seven times

the fatality rates of firefighters.2. There is an average of 90 deaths annually per 100,000 workers.3. This job is one of the most under appreciated jobs in the world.4. The most fatal accidents/injuries that occur are vehicle & traffic related.5. In some states, workers picking up trash run an average of 20 miles a day behind a garbage truck.

Photo courtesy of A

dvanced Disposal

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Item #TRX606

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Item #Y16

Item #GPD520B

Magid® T-REX® TRX606 Light Duty Mechanics Impact GloveThe ideal go-to glove for applications from material handling to construction, the TRX606 Light Duty Mechanics Impact Glove offers full impact protection that is affordable and long lasting.

• Versatile mechanics style in stealthy black for extended worker wear time• Soft, flexible TPR protects back of hand against impacts• Synthetic leather padded palm dampens shocks and impacts• Spandex/tricot back for great fit and comfort• Durable PU coated synthetic leather finger patches

(thumb, index and middle fingers)• Reflective finger tips for increased visibility (middle, ring and small fingers)• Neoprene cuff with hook and loop closure

Magid® Gemstone® Myst Y16 Featherweight Safety GlassesMagid® Gemstone® Myst Y16 Featherweight Safety Glasses are the lightest safety glasses on the market, providing high impact protection and outstanding comfort for all day wear. These safety spectacles provide 99.9% UV protection and are independently tested and compliant with ANSI Z87.1-2010 standards.

• Extremely lightweight at 16 grams (0.56 oz.)• Flexible temples for great comfort and fit• 9.5 base curve lens for high wraparound

protection• Scratch resistant anti-fog or hard coated

polycarbonate lenses• Provides 99.9% protection against

harmful ultraviolet light• Independently tested & compliant with

ANSI Z87.1-2010 standards

Magid® D-ROC® GPD520B Polyurethane Palm Coated Work GlovesFor jobs that involve handling sharp or rough materials, the GPD520B polyurethane palm coated cut 2 work glove is both affordable and one of the few available in all black, which hides dirt and extends the overall life of the glove.

• Black color hides dirt and extends worker wear time• Form-fitting DuraBlend™ shell delivers breathability, comfort and

360° cut protection • Polyurethane palm coating maintains dexterity while delivering an

excellent grip

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Magid® D-ROC® GPD750 Micro-Foam Nitrile Full Coat Work Gloves

For jobs that require protection from liquids, oils and sharp objects, the GPD750 Micro-Foam Nitrile Full Coat Work Glove offers a unique combination of 360° ANSI cut level 3 protection and liquid resistance extended through to the cuff.

• Micro-foam nitrile coating ensures grip in oily applications• Full dip through the wrist provides superior liquid resistance • 10-gauge HPPE blend machine knit shell• Slip-on cuff with elastic gusset provides secure fit with easy on-and-off

Item #GPD750

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The information contained in Safety Matters is based solely on opinion and/or recommendations of Magid and is not intended to represent and/or warrant compliance with official OSHA requirements. For complete OSHA Federal regulations, the Code of Federal Regulations; and specifically Title 29 C. F. R. Section 1910 for “general industry” and Section 1926 for “construction” are available for sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-4328.

© 2015 Magid. Safety Matters® is a registered trademark of Magid. This newsletter is printed on recycled paper.

View More Products Online at magidglove.com

Magid® AR Defense™ Base Layer Protective GarmentsTo coincide with the new NFPA 70E standards, Magid has added AR Defense base layer protective shirts and a balaclava to its expanding line of protective clothing. AR Defense undergarments contribute to a higher total system Arc rating with fewer layers and lower weight. The new standards state that AR/FR base layer garments should be worn for added protection and can contribute to the total system Arc rating. Both the new AR Defense base layer shirts and AR Defense balaclavas combine AR/FR protection with exceptional moisture wicking comfort and the innovative lightweight fabric is inherently flame resistant. The new items are perfect for utility workers, electricians, maintenance engineers and electrical contractors. Both items are available in charcoal grey. Shirt sizes S-5XL and the balaclava is one-size-fits-all.

Item #ARS

Item #ARH

Magid® Gemstone® Diamond Y22 OTG Visitor Safety GlassesMagid® Gemstone® Diamond Y22 OTG Visitor Safety Glasses are lightweight and feature modern styling. They fit comfortably over most prescription glasses and feature flexible temples for added comfort. These safety spectacles provide 99.9% UV protection and are independently tested and compliant with ANSI Z87.1-2010 standards.

• Versatile visitor specs that look good even when not worn over prescription glasses

• Lightweight design fits over most modern prescription glasses• Flexible temples for great comfort and fit• Scratch resistant anti-fog or hard coated polycarbonate lenses• Provides 99.9% protection against harmful ultraviolet light• Independently tested & compliant with ANSI Z87.1-2010 standard

Item #Y22