The Panda Post is brought to you by veteran safety reporter Bamboo Buchwald, a proud member of the AP (Associated Panda). Through intrepid reporting (which is pretty easy even for a cartoon since it takes little more than checking the websites of actual, reputable news outlets) I bring you the exciting, the not so exciting, and offbeat news from the Safety Industry.

Good information about what’s going on in the industry is priceless. What I offer might provide some value as well—hardly priceless, but at least worth a look.

Panda Group’s New Digs, Panda Post 20

Sorry that it’s taken so long for another Panda Post. But we’ve been busy here.

On September 1, we at Panda officially moved our world headquarters a few miles down the road to a nicer, newer office. The arduous process (packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, repeat) was largely carried out by company VP Todd Hoffmeister and his pickup truck. We’ve still got a few odds and ends to tidy up, but we’re settling in nicely.

We brought everything but the kitchen sink, largely because we didn’t have one at the old space and the new spot comes with one, which was a big deal for the Panda staff. The new office doesn’t come with the poor ventilation system that routinely made us sick at the old location (black lung shouldn’t be a hazard in the safety marketing industry).

Feel free to stop by and we’ll give you the tour, highlighted of course by our shiny new sink.

We have one of those addresses that just boggles the mind... here goes:

Panda Group Inc.

N56W16743 Ridgewood Drive, Suite 300
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(Me-No-Money) as Todd likes to say.

Jobs Recovery: Slow but Steady

We all want new jobs to come flooding in and make recession recovery nice and easy (yeah, and I want to win the lottery and date Betty Boop). But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and to add another cliche...slow but steady wins the race. An article by CNN says jobs recovery is slowly happening. Patience is a virtue (cliché no. 3).

National Safety Congress

Do you really need an excuse to head to San Diego in early October? If you do, then this year’s National Safety Congress & Expo from October 3-8 is it. Learn about sun tan safety, yachting safety, safely observing perfect weather, etc. I’m kidding of course. The yearly event is a perfect place to learn about the latest in safety (but the fact that it’s being held in lovely San Diego doesn’t hurt).

Is Your Workplace as Safe as These? Not Likely.

NSA announced a few Safety Leadership Awards in August. Getting on the list doesn’t require bribery…it’s much more difficult. Those recognized have amassed five consecutive years without an occupational injury or illness resulting in lost employee work days or death. Five years?! I can’t go a day without stubbing my toe. Hats off to these companies and their employees. And man, Steris Corporation is one safe place to work.

Safe Driving Means No Texting

Some people are lousy drivers even when their full attention is on the road, but most of us become lousy drivers when we’re distracted by a using a cell phone or the greasy cheeseburger we have to eat while on the road. According to Occupational Health & Safety, OSHA is mounting an anti-texting initiative. Keep an eye on the road and save the texting for the boring weekly meeting.

Green News

Is helping the environment as easy as painting your roof? Maybe. Get into the roof painting business. It just might be an up and coming industry.

From Panda Black and White to Green

One of our favorite Panda alums ventured off into the world to follow her lifelong calling of installing wind turbines. Maureen Faller, and husband Randy, traded in desks and computers for scaffolding and turbine blades and founded Kettle View Renewable Energy in 2009.

Kettle View has been busy, putting up 20 turbines for everyone from private users to schools. Stimulus dollars, and excellent climbing ability, have been helpful to the Fallers.

“The 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit is one of the available incentives that ‘make’ a sale,” says Maureen. “The Investment Tax Credit makes renewable energy projects financially feasible by lowering the payback on the system by as much as 10 or more years. Energy independence becomes a reality, not an unattainable goal we may not live long enough to see.”

The Wisconsin landscape is becoming increasingly dotted with Kettle View turbines. While, we’d rather still have Maureen at Panda, we’re glad she’s out there doing something for the environment. I’m afraid of heights so there’s no way in heck I’d climb on a 100- or 200-foot turbine. I’ll watch and applaud the efforts of the Fallers safely from the ground.

A Urine-Powered Battery?

Sometimes it’s not such a good thing when things get too green (and I’m not talking about cheese or when white bread turns to greenish mold). This comical list shows some green inventions that might be a bit much. I personally prefer the urine-powered battery.

Made in the USA Focus

Air Systems International,
Chesapeake Virginia

It ain’t true that all things are made in China, in fact this supplier is clearly superior in this category and employs people right here in the good ole US of A.

In the late 1980s, Ray Ellis was using his ’76 Ford Econoline van to deliver portable Breather Boxes from a small company called Air Systems. Two decades later, Ellis is the vice president of Air Systems International, a manufacturer of confined space and breathing air filtration equipment with over 900 distributors worldwide (Econoline delivery vans are strictly optional for distributors).

Air Systems was founded in 1984 by Dave Angelico and Dwayne King. Since then, they’ve been manufacturing products in Virginia. They’ve grown from a small storefront in a business park, to a 22,000-square-foot headquarters with an air conditioned shop. 26 years later, Angelico is the company president, and King serves as the vice president of production. Air Systems now employees 42 people.

The company makes quality equipment, and doesn’t go overseas to do it.

“(Made in the USA) is important to a lot of blue collar workers,” says Ellis. “It’s important to the federal government. From an export standpoint we’re still respected.”

The Breather Box, Air Systems’ first product, is still a staple of the business (sadly the Econoline has been retired). The product list also consists of Saddle Vents, blowers, and portable lighting. Air Systems assumed the Saddle Vent patent in 1989 and is the sole manufacturer of the product, even private labeling it for several other companies. It is just one of the 11 patents that Air Systems holds.

“We do compete with imports,” explains Ellis. “Our products are better, of higher quality, and they last longer.”

eProduct Spotlight

Old man winter is peeking around the corner. The Icon 3.1 Jacket is a great way to keep him at a distance. It’s breathable, it’s warm, it’s waterproof, it’s ANSI Class 3. Quite simply, it’s cool (in a good way, not in the “icicles on the nose” kind of way). And it comes with a nifty 300g black fleece liner that zips in or out (depending upon just how close the chilly old man is). You can even wear the fleece on its own at events (like everywhere but the jobsite) that don’t require you to be reflective. Zip in a Phase 3 Jacket and create a multi-season system.

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.