Traffic Cone Safety

You're driving home from a hectic trip to the grocery store, the kids are giggling and screaming in the back seat, and you've got groceries piled to your ears. You reach the road to your house and find it's under construction yet again. Distracted and frustrated, you're alarmed when you hear a big plunk under the car. With your heart in your throat, you stop and get out, hoping you haven't run over the neighbors beloved cat, Bruno.

A quick glance under the front tire reveals that you thankfully haven't hit Bruno, but you've crumpled a safety cone under your tire, and wedged it into your wheel well. The kids and neighbors have formed a small crowd to watch as you, with red face and all, tug the cone out of your wheel well. You toss it to the side, wondering in your head if there are fines for that sort of thing.

You pile the curious kids back into the car with the loads of groceries, wave to the neighbors, and drive home.

Although stories like the one above are usually minor bumps in the road, they can be prevented by keeping your eye out for bright orange and yellow traffic cones. Just imagine, on the other side of that set of cones, there could be a growing sink hole or other major obstacle that could do serious damage to your car or family. Traffic cones come in a number of colors including day glow orange. They can even be purchased with or without reflective striping.

Distractions happen, especially when you've got 3 six-year-olds in the back seat, and groceries rolling out of your shopping bags. That's one of many reasons traffic cones are placed around potentially hazardous road marks and construction zones. They're used in a number of sizes. And, on the topic of road safety, barricade tape serves the same purpose in many instances and can be customized with any company name or logo.

So, cut back on your distractions while behind the wheel, and watch out for those brightly colored cones. You could avoid potentially dangerous instances, and the embarrassment of tugging a cone out of your wheel well.

Custom Silk Screening

One color, two color, three color- whichever will you choose? No matter your decision, Utility Safeguard will print the color and design you want in a fast, inexpensive way.

There's no better way to represent your company than by wearing a quality constructed, custom printed safety vest. Starting at prices as low as $2.49, you're guaranteed to find the vest to suit your needs. You can also step it up a notch, and go with custom embroidery.

Safety and style go hand in hand at Utility Safeguard. With low prices and a wide array of options, we'll represent your company well. See the custom silk screening and embroidery services we offer.

Spring is here, are you ready?

Have the cold temperatures made you blue? Admittedly, we've all let things slide, including our homes and yards. There's no better time than spring to get motivated. Spread a new coat of paint on those faded shutters. Get back to gardening. Get out the tools and equipment you've left sitting in your shed since last summer. They undoubtedly need a dose of WD-40. With such a tough cold and flu season, it's important to stock back up on your favorite disinfectant products like Purell and Gojo.

Spring time doesn't just make for better working conditions, it's also the best incentive to get out and soak up the sun! Bring your radio and plenty of batteries and head the beach, or your favorite park. However, don't forget the old saying "April showers bring May flowers." Without a little rain, we wouldn't appreciate the sunshine, so arm yourself with a poncho or rain coat and go about your day.

Most would agree, spring is the happiest time of year. It's time to do away with the old and bring in the new. Time to spread on a fresh coat of paint, and plant new flowers. Everything is brighter this time of year, why not make your home match? Prepare yourself for these jobs with the best safety supplies.

A Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide Protection

You can't see it, smell it, or feel it, but carbon monoxide is deadly if breathed in high enough concentration. It is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal are burned. This potentially deadly gas is also produced by idling cars and unfortunately claims many lives.

The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can feel much like the flu. With shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness, most wouldn't know they were experiencing the effects of this dangerous gas.

It is important to know the symptoms, but more important to have the proper equipment in your home or office. Carbon monoxide alarms are available at low prices and can save lives by alerting you when CO levels are even at a minimal level. Many models continue to monitor CO levels during power outages.

Carbon monoxide is dangerous, but can can be monitored and controlled with the right safety equipment. With carbon monoxide alarms in a variety of models and prices, staying safe is much more convenient and inexpensive.

Your Ears Pay the Cost: Protect Them.

Whether you worship rock-n-roll music, or are forced to work in a noisy environment everyday, your ears are paying the cost!

As we've all heard, exposure to harmful levels of noise causes hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to high levels of noise results in damage to the hair cells in the cochlea and brings on permanent hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss usually develops gradually and painlessly. It can also occur as a result of an acoustic trauma, or a single exposure, or very few exposures to high sound levels.

It's your job to protect your ears, and hearing protection comes in several options. Ear plugs, ear muffs and banded caps reduce noise to healthier level.

Ear plugs come in a number of shapes and sizes and they're placed directly in the ear canal. They can reduce noise 15-30 dB depending on how they are made and fit.

Ear muffs fit entirely over both ears and can also reduce noise by 15-30 dB depending on the make and model.

Banded caps are ear plugs mounted on a head band. Many times they're preferred over ear plugs and ear muffs because they can be removed and replaced more easily.

Hearing loss can set on slowly over time, so it's important to keep in mind on a daily basis. From the loud music you play in your car, to the noisy environment you work in, sound takes its toll on your ears. Protect them.

Fight Fire With This!

"Death by fire" - run it through your favorite search engine, and you'll see the alarming statistics of just how many lives fire claims each year, each month, each day. Whether the numbers surprise you or not, the sad truth is that many of these lives could have been saved through proper precaution.

When fire breaks, the earlier you know about it, the earlier you can exit to safety. That's why smoke alarms are a key addition to any home or office. Kidde, for instance, has been making them for 90 years. They're an industry leader, and they make everything from battery powered smoke alarms to photoelectric smoke alarms. Their battery powered smoke alarms provide notification even when your household electricity is out, and one model costs a mere six dollars!

When flames break loose, it's important to have a fire extinguisher to keep them within control. In a worst case scenario, an extinguisher can be used to clear doorways and other exits, so that you can make it out safely. Life-saving items like these can be found at prices of less than thirty five dollars! This is a small price to pay if even one life is saved.

Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms and fire extinguishers can drastically drop the number of lives claimed by fire. Don't let statistics continue as they are, take part in changing them. Add the right safety supplies to your home or office.

Eagle Containers

Paints, inks, flammable chemicals, and corrosive chemicals are often the key to getting certain jobs done. And, as long as you store them correctly, they make for safe and efficient tools in a variety of applications. The problem is, many don't know, or simply don't adhere to, the rules set aside by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. Before you work with potentially poisonous or hazardous chemicals, Google these regulations, and find the right storage container for your purposes.

Eagle cabinets, for instance, have been a great source for the storage of flammables and other liquids for over 40 years. Whether you're working with pesticides, corrosive chemicals or paints, Eagle makes a container that's designed specifically for these potentially dangerous substances.

Eagle pest cabinets provide needed protection for companies who specialize in lawn care, golf course management, agricultural interests or who handle and store pesticides and poisons. These pest containers vary in options, from the 12 gallon with self closing door, to the 22 gallon under counter storage cabinet.

If you're working with paints and inks, Eagle has designed (among many others) the red 30 gallon manual closing door aerosol paint storage cabinet. The fact that it meets OSHA and NFPA code 30 specifications is its hottest selling point for those shopping for safety.

Many times, people forget how dangerous chemicals can be when exposed to the wrong temperatures and conditions. They're vital for many applications, but when mistreated or ignored, they can present major safety and health concerns. Contribute to a safer environment, and protect people and animals from chemical hazards by using the proper storage container and technique.

Don't Rely on Luck

Friday afternoon, 4 o'clock, Jeff can hardly wait to get off work and rush home for a holiday weekend with his family. It's Fourth of July and they always do it up big - a cookout, fireworks. His wife of five years, Debbie, calls to tell him she's starting dinner, and she can't wait to have him home. He can hear the kids laughing and playing in the background. "Dad, hurry up and come home!", they scream as they run through the sprinkler over and over. Debbie and Jeff laugh, and he tells her he's getting off early, and he'll see her in a little while.

Jeff, one of the top supervisors at his construction site, considers himself a lucky guy. He's got it all - a beautiful wife, two great kids and a healthy pay check - what more could he ask for? He also admits he's a little stubborn, because he relies on his good luck to keep him safe on a potentially dangerous construction job. He knows the statistics about injury and even death on job sites like his, but he still risks everything. Luck plays its card once again, and Jeff gets home safely to enjoy a long weekend with his family.

Unfortunately, too many workers are like Jeff. They don't imagine that at any minute on the job, a hammer could drop, debris could fall - that luck could stop playing on their side.

A hard hat or even the minimal bump cap can drastically reduce the risk for guys like Jeff. The proper head protection isn't costly, especially compared to what could be lost for going without it.

The North Safety brand has been considered a leader in head protection for years, and with prices starting at under five dollars, why would anyone continue to risk their safety? Some of these hard hats even come with universal slots, so workers can add accessories that optimize their safety and comfort.

So what excuse could a risk taker like Jeff have now for not wearing the proper head protection? Don't rely on luck, rely on the right safety gear.

Head Protection: Use Your Head

Despite efforts at increasing the use of proper head protection in the workplace, injuries and fatalities persist. And, according to a study by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, forty percent of injured workers WERE wearing head protection that was simply inadequate. Regardless of numbers and statistics, most employers and employees know they need proper head protection, but fail or simply refuse to wear it. Even the most seasoned construction types are vulnerable to hazards, and too many of them are still risking their safety.



Before you turn your head away from hard hats and proper head protection, know your options. Top notch protective gear that stands up against dirt and falling debris doesn't necessarily cost an arm and a leg.



Fibre-Metal has long been the acknowledged leader in protective cap quality. The experts behind this trusted name keep up with the needs of today's evolving workplace. The SUPEREIGHT hard hat, for instance, features a sophisticated impact energy control system that flexes on impact to absorb and dissipate the energy of falling objects. Its smooth dome design gives the wearer optimal protection because it doesn't allow objects to become trapped in ridges or slots. Its unique design also adds to its aesthetic quality, which is also important to workers' acceptance to wearing the proper protection.



Don't contribute to statistics, avoid injury and even death, by wearing the hard hat that's most appropriate for your job.