Hi-Vis Fashion, Green Rankings, and Germs - Panda Post, Volume 15
Greetings safety gurus. I'll start this Panda Post with comic relief courtesy of NBC’s The Office. After a short ad is a hilarious clip about how not to offer workplace safety training. If your company provides similar fire safety training, perhaps it’s time to put someone else in charge. Note: Real training can be found on the NFPA website.
Bonus video. I thought I’d provide two clips to start this issue of the Panda Post just because we here in the newsroom thought the video from the last issue was just so damn ridiculous. In case you were on vacation, here’s a decidedly unsafe manufacturing process.
Fluorescent Orange Will Be Even More Fashionable in 2010
I’m no fashion expert, but I do predict that in 2010 we’ll be seeing a lot more bright orange and fluorescent stripes. No, dayglow isn’t making a comeback (thankfully), but there’s an expansion of high-visibility apparel requirements on the horizon thanks to the MUTCD. That means traffic vests should be a hot item in the coming months. Add to your inventory of hi-viz vests and buy stock in 3M...Scotchlite will be in high demand.
Newsweek’s Green Rankings
Newsweek put together an impressive list ranking 500 companies based on their “green-ness” (that’s clearly not a real word but work with me). Peruse through to see who’s making an effort. I scoffed when McDonald’s replaced the styrofoam Big Mac container with cardboard, but that kind of thinking earned the fast food giant a ranking of 22. The Hamburglar and Grimace are clearly card-carrying members of Greenpeace. However, the folks at Peabody Energy need to clean things up. The coal company finished at No. 500.
Germ Freaks Unite!
The most hyped flu season in recent memory is enough to make even the moderate germaphobe crawl into a Purell bath and never get out. Such measures are over the top (and a little messy). It’s much easier to pick up the Germ Freaks Guide to Outwitting Colds & Flu. Keep it around the office (next to a bottle of hand sanitizer and a box of exam gloves) and make sure everyone reads it...especially the guy in accounting who uses his shirt as a napkin and smells like stale Funyuns.
If you’d rather not buy the book, Industrial Safety & Hygiene News offers this extensive overview of H1N1 preparedness. You can email it to the guy in accounting…and avoid any unpleasant odors.
Disclaimer: We don't recommend a Purell bath, it's best used on the hands only.
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Flu Season May Mean Learning a New Skill
Flu season might mean that a large part of your workforce misses work. This article from Environmental Protection suggests training workers for other tasks so they can pick up the slack for those at home with a fever, and make sure that compliance issues aren’t overlooked.
In layman’s terms. If Steve, who makes the coffee in the break room every morning, misses a week with H1N1 is there someone in the office that’s trained to make the coffee in his absence? See, this is a big deal. Without decent coffee in the morning, the whole operation can go south.
Sit Down and Learn About Slips and Falls
Slips and falls are a major cause of workplace injuries. You can learn how to prevent them from the safety and security of the chair at your desk. ASSE is hosting the online Slips, Trips and Falls Virtual Symposium on October 20-22. Don’t spend too much time at your keyboard, because the carpal tunnel symposium hasn’t been scheduled yet.
There’s Behavioral Science Behind Safety
EHS has an article about how psychology can be used to change workplace behavior. Positive reinforcement apparently works. So offer Bob the forklift driver an extra doughnut if he remembers his safety glasses every day of the week. You just might see results (and Bob will eventually need larger clothes).
Another NSC Expo
The NSC Congress and Expo is like Woodstock for the safety industry (without the LSD, live music, and tie dye t-shirts). If you haven’t already marked off October 25-30 on your calendar, do so now. And if you live in the northern reaches of country, note that this year’s show is in Orlando. Sitting poolside is one heck of a way to end a day of researching the latest earplug technology. Bring your water wings and noseplug.
For those that don't think there's any value going, think of the NSC as the ultimate change to be seen with the safety in-crowd. Besides, you might find an innovative product from an unknown entrepreneur that gives you a competitive edge when solving those pesky safety problems.
Across the Wire: Breaking News
Panda Communications has changed its name to Panda Group. Panda got tired of getting calls from people looking for a cell phone provider (Panda is not in the telecommunications business). Panda Group is more focused on its different services or divisions.
Panda Media – Content Services, Video Services and Webinar/Training Services, and Photography Services
Panda Systems – Ecommerce, Websites, E-Catalogs
Panda Project Services – Partnered Marketing Services located at distributors locations
Panda Publishing – Printed Catalogs and Collateral
Panda Expo – Tradeshow Coordination, Marketing and Promotions
They all make one group of marketing services, dedicated to the Safety, Janitorial and Industrial Markets. Check out Panda Group at www.pandagrp.com
Be sure to head to Kellie’s Korner for the latest marketing insight from the red-haired caped (safety) crusader.
eProduct Spotlight
With winter around the corner, we dig the 4-in-1 Bomber Jacket from OK-1 Safety. A coated polyester shell keeps bad weather out, and a fleece lining keeps heat in. And it's bright orange, which makes it perfect for wearing to Denver Broncos, University of Tennessee, or Syracuse University football games. Want to be seen in a cool jacket like this? That shouldn't be a problem considering it meets ANSI Class 3.
Note: The Panda Post does not officially endorse certain products. However, we like to show products we deem as "kind of cool" from time to time.
eProduct Release
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Expect more from this tireless cartoon reporter (sleep is difficult considering I wasn’t drawn with eyelids) in the weeks to come. We at The Panda Post are here to keep you (semi) informed.
Call us today and talk to Kellie Hoffmeister at ext.101 • Our number is 888-TO-PANDA
Fluorescent Orange Will Be Even More Fashionable in 2010 
Germ Freaks Unite!
With winter around the corner, we dig the 4-in-1 Bomber Jacket from 
