tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35759045608944224932024-02-19T09:57:22.294-05:00Accuform SignsAccuform is the leader in Facility Identification and OSHA Safety Signs, Safety Tags, labels, motivational banners and other safety and product related topics.Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-89533096887618523982014-04-23T11:53:00.001-04:002014-04-23T11:53:17.447-04:00Earth Day 2014 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdGHqqEAjGLLgMB3RHNqndH-SAOmPdOfoz3Puf-t7GXcwPuqfiJVQsl6pIH1GYwd91J-eSjhfXnbHKlouTuTqv68cQevMDUIP1vHRByZt7kr9l3fyJpZ0f2mZjdFZD94l0glgIWDhzB8/s1600/PWG219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdGHqqEAjGLLgMB3RHNqndH-SAOmPdOfoz3Puf-t7GXcwPuqfiJVQsl6pIH1GYwd91J-eSjhfXnbHKlouTuTqv68cQevMDUIP1vHRByZt7kr9l3fyJpZ0f2mZjdFZD94l0glgIWDhzB8/s1600/PWG219.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
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Did you celebrate <a href="http://www.earthday.org/" target="_blank">Earth Day</a>? </div>
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We did.<br />
We always do, and provide the solutions for you to do it as well.</div>
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while many of us recycle at home,
the workplace provides many opportunities for improvement. Creating a workplace
program starts with one person. So why not be that person at your workplace?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Get started with these five easy steps:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Follow
the leader</b> – Identify a recycling champion to lead your efforts and communicate
with co-workers, building managers, custodial staff and more.</li>
<li><b>Know the
do's and don'ts</b> – Your Recycling Specialist will work with you to identify things
that can and cannot be recycled in your workplace.</li>
<li><b>Make it
easy</b> – Order free recycling boxes and make them as easily accessible as your
workplace garbage cans. Provide <a href="http://www.accuform.com/search/results/green-posters" target="_blank">posters</a> and instructions on what can be
recycled, and where.</li>
<li><b>Train
your team</b> – At least once a year, review your business recycling strategy and
requirements with your co-workers.</li>
<li><b>Curb your
trash</b> – Look for ways to consume less in your workplace, including double-sided
copying, reusable dishware and managing projects online, rather than with
printed materials.</li>
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<b>Accuform Offers a
Huge Variety of “Green-Themed” Products</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Our “Green-Themed” <a href="http://www.accuform.com/search/results/think-green-signs" target="_blank">signs</a>,<a href="http://www.accuform.com/search/results/think-green-banners-" target="_blank"> banners</a>, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/search/results/think-green-labels" target="_blank">labels</a> and more can be
essential to a successful green marketing campaign at your workplace. Our signs
help inform people what materials can be recycled, and what bins they go in.
Posters and banners can further promote the program throughout your facility.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>FACT:</b> Did You Know that Accuform’s <a href="http://accuform.com/marketing/Sign-Materials-Plastic-VP" target="_blank">Plastic</a> & <a href="http://accuform.com/marketing/Sign-Materials-Aluminum" target="_blank">Aluminum</a>
Contain <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Recycling">Recycled Materials</a>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<b>FACT:</b> Accuform’s Aluminum Contains Well-Over 50% Recycled Content<br />
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Accuform’s plastic contains 50% post-consumer recycled
content, and carries a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_symbol" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Recycling symbol">recycle symbol</a> of 2 – which makes it readily acceptable
for recycling. It’s also durable and long-lasting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Other sign manufacturers may provide a plastic called
Styrene or <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polystyrene" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Polystyrene">Polystyrene</a> (but may call it something else). Polystyrene is usually
made with hydro-fluorocarbons, which have global warming potentials of
approximately 1000–1300 times that of carbon dioxide. Polystyrene has long been
on environmentalists' hit lists for dispersing widely across the landscape, and
for being notoriously difficult to recycle. Most places still don't accept it,
though the ability to recycle this material is gradually gaining traction. It’s
a lesser material with greater environmental impact.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://accuform.com/marketing/about-Accuform-safety-signs" target="_blank">Accuform</a> – The First, and Leading Printer, using Digital
Equipment<o:p></o:p></div>
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The benefits of using digital printing are too numerous to
list in one email, but Accuform was the first to do it, and continues to lead
the way in digital printing technology. We are proud to print digitally! It’s
less wasteful and better for the environment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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° No harsh solvents
or chemicals<o:p></o:p></div>
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° No special chemical
disposal needed<o:p></o:p></div>
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° Much less
production waste<o:p></o:p></div>
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° Reduced risk of
employee injury<o:p></o:p></div>
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Check out the new <a href="http://accuform.com/">Accuform.com</a> and see all of our green offerings on Earth Day and every day!<br />
See our <a href="http://images.perf-mail.com/common/accuform/2014/22avril/web.html" target="_blank">latest email newsletter!</a><br />
<a href="http://accuform.com/" target="_blank">Sign up for our email newsletter!</a> Look for the "Motivate" box to win a chance at $50!</div>
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Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-19852587898056522392012-01-06T16:08:00.000-05:002012-01-06T16:08:30.792-05:00The New Accuform Blog<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.accuform.com/blog/index.cfm?&track=Social_accuformblog" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLzhJS0aROAH_Lo5wAz8mDV8djNEBWLpXgqYTBQcd19U4oykD3mxhVPEIVX-gDpNj-5R_5Bpa5tlAemv9WQBa8m_KMaN_nJMOOSMQL9zXIl0k8Uh321SYzzJMqo2UKnF9aekBNDcbg3g/s320/Accuform+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm" target="_blank">Accuform Signs</a> has been blogging about products, services, regulations, industry information and other timely material for over two years now. We've attempted to lead the way technologically and socially in the safety industry, adopting best practices along the way and plotting the course to providing our customers with the solutions they need not only for their plant and facilities, but for how their businesses can run more efficiently. We look at ourselves as early adopters if not innovators, and believe that working on the cutting-edge is essential to growing our business and yours.<br />
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All that said, we've raised the bar again in 2012 and elevated our blogging to a whole new level. The <a href="http://www.accuform.com/blog/" target="_blank">New Accuform Blog</a> is made up of a team of 15 Accuform employees from different departments willing to share a little about what makes us tick, what we've found works and what doesn't. After all, we are a B2B company, supplying not only solutions to the safety industry that Inform Protect and Motivate™ your workforce, but also<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_marketingcenter" target="_blank"> marketing materials</a> and general industry insights whenever and wherever possible.<br />
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Often, early adoption starts at the top, and that’s what we have here at Accuform; buy-in from the top level, as shown in CEO Wayne Johnson’s blog, <a href="http://blog.accuform.com/blog/view-from-the-top" target="_blank">“View from the Top.”</a> Mitch Fein, VP of Sales, will provide insights on “Growing Your Sales” and Marketing Director Brad Montgomery talks “Marketing Trends.” But we don’t focus only on the front of the house, as you’ll see after perusing Fred Bohinski’s “Production and Materials” or Merchandising’s Kristen Hogrefe on <a href="http://blog.accuform.com/blog/notable-safety-regulations" target="_blank">“Notable Safety Regulations.”</a><br />
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Keep coming back to the new Accuform Blog, subscribe to the feeds and leave us your feedback. We want to continue to be your source for relevant business and manufacturing insights in the safety and signage industries. And if you like this one, don't worry, it isn't going anywhere!<br />
<br />Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-7890676783727021882011-12-01T09:34:00.001-05:002011-12-01T10:20:19.565-05:00Accuform at the NSC 2011 Congress and Expo<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=events" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 216px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 289px;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsICfDPraLMeTRrtthMt099q4jYwLGiNTgKopxa-0Be4y8ZJGGwIDW5jPyfe0uAIYs4kUwE7cJVSxskY4GEmrqQKEIBm4taYRqdwqdaR1uqzfu8uXJDX_hVAPdI6pOek3Xb3idViveNY/s320/photo+12.JPG" width="320" /></a>The <a href="http://www.nsc.org/Pages/Home.aspx">National Safety Council</a> saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads through leadership, research, education and advocacy. </div>
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By 2014, the council will save an additional 10,000 lives and prevent 1 million injuries. To achieve this goal, the <a href="http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/DefensiveDriving/Pages/defensive_driving.aspx">NSC</a> continues to partner with businesses, elected officials and the public to make an impact in areas such as distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, and safety in the home and community.</div>
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<a href="http://www.nsc.org/safety_work/Pages/Home.aspx">Workplace safety</a> and transportation have been critical areas of focus to the council since its inception in 1913. Over the years, increases in unintentional injury and death rates in the homes and communities have resulted in the council expanding its focus to include safety in homes and communities.</div>
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The <a href="http://www.congress.nsc.org/nsc2012/public/enter.aspx">NSC Congress and Expo</a> is one of Accuform’s biggest tradeshows of the year. With a huge 20’ x 40’ booth showcasing our newest and latest products, we “WOWed!” attendees and fellow exhibitors with a dazzling booth that drew over 1,000 leads! </div>
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“The show had a fantastic turnout,” said <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=teammember&uID=7E524144">Brad Montgomery</a>, Accuform’s Communications and Marketing Director. “Workplace safety is always a fundamental message here, along with the unveiling of <a href="http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/handbook/index.html">OSHA’s 2011 top 10 recordable incident categories</a>, new innovations in safety on the road and so on. </div>
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“It was truly a team effort to bring a concept like this to life,” Montgomery continued. “From our <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards">Store-boards™</a> to the cool booth graphics, the new case study, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=stopout">STOPOUT™</a> demo center and of course, R and D of all of our new products. The team on the show floor was totally engaging, and they worked tirelessly to capture the attention of all the attendees. It was a true win for the entire organization.”</div>
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<br /></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-38895410115297789312011-11-11T15:03:00.001-05:002011-11-14T14:26:00.048-05:00NFPA 70E® 2012 Edition: Equipment Labeling Requirements<a href="http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1">The National Fire Protection Agency</a> (NFPA) has released the 2012 Edition of the NFPA 70E® Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. Article 130.5(C) outlines the requirements for Equipment Labeling, effective September 30, 2011.<br />
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The standard states: Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are in other than dwelling units, and are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, shall be field marked with a label containing all the following information:<br />
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1. At least one of the following:<br />
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<li>Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance</li>
<li>Minimum arc rating of clothing</li>
<li>Required level of PPE</li>
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<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Highest Hard/Risk Category (HRC) for the equipment</li>
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2. Nominal system voltage<br />
3. Arc flash boundary<br />
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Labels applied prior to September 30, 2011 are considered acceptable if they contain the available incident energy or required level of PPE.<br />
Accuform offers several arc flash labels that comply with new equipment labeling requirements.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C53404648177B55&skuID=7A53434041147955" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N1l-qsS320LY-iZTRDb3r-2ObZ-UR3Du9aenImivEAhofOI7ec0nuvA8GeGYZe6jrzskgHBn9fU_PNvHQ1CaAiWkNCBe_OE5s30MENBZbd7JE6Fk7TgItJfzKuWN6RE7WeovaplBAaE/s200/LELC333.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C53404648167856&skuID=7A53434041117C50" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKQ441T5A0gjIM7_qZCyIRMiVNZA3eGlY-F2ZIEXsPr3062c_e5S9Dm0mBkocHdtYxAzhr0Rh6WRr5_GVLXbbiNGl5rdauPptGF1XnY0_8pqklttRUBl9JBxazZUYjZ6vcBQ0BU-wXLSM/s200/LELC336.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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For our full selection of general safety arc flash equipment labels, as well as arc flash signs, click <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=Arc+Flash">here</a>.</div>
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For more information on the revised labeling requirements, refer to the official NFPA 70E® Standard, available at <a href="http://www.nfpa.org/catalog/product.asp?pid=70E12&order%5Fsrc=B484&cookie%5Ftest=1">NFPA® Catalog</a>.</div>
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</div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-72191416592061456072011-10-11T09:22:00.000-04:002011-10-11T09:22:51.805-04:00Seahorses and Safety<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1100839314" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzz42n7RczwAdWqZ03ebaWOj0L79GwO40j60qGNu3xtWlNzR9wn3PhK7SFGifnKHnug5PisHI80IftRK3O0vW8cKHCsjLS51MhqI9qqJd5-ZZ5_WKcE-l_fFPVCGMdJuzkGSynFBVlHY/s320/booth+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm">Accuform Signs</a> has spent part of 2011 introducing its facility identification solutions to new markets, now including parks and zoos to its repertoire. Recently, Accuform helped the <a href="http://www.flaquarium.org/">Florida Aquarium</a> and <a href="http://www.lowryparkzoo.com/">Lowry Park Zoo</a> earn accreditation with the <a href="http://www.aza.org/">Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a> (AZA) by supplying them with over 300 exhibit signs in a very short amount of time. Accuform’s proprietary material, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=accushield&track=mktAccushield">Accu-Shield™</a>, is a big hit in these Tampa parks, and was equally well received at the AZA 2011 Annual Conference two weeks ago in Atlanta. </div>
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Working on a budget? We digitally print on over 30 different materials. Digital printing is also better for the environment and so is <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?perPage=28&pagenum=1&view=detailed&mOnly=0">RE-Plastic™</a>, a material made from 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material.</div>
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“The CEO of the Lowry Park Zoo, Craig Pugh, was our biggest fan at AZA,” said Jim Redmile, Accuform’s representative at this year’s conference. “Mr. Pugh was instrumental in sending many qualified leads to our booth, including other zoo CEO’s, purchasing managers, zookeepers, and facility operations officers.” </div>
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“At a smaller, niche-type of show like AZA, most of the attendees are already well-qualified leads, so creating personal relationships with attendees and other exhibitors, as well as consistency in attendance, becomes vital to creating new business,” Redmile explained. “It’s an aspect of sales and marketing that Accuform is extremely good at.” </div>
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The <a href="http://www.livingdesert.org/">2012 AZA Annual Conference</a> will be held next September in Phoenix, Arizona.</div>
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You can see some examples of the signs Accuform created at <a href="http://www.accuform.com/zoo">www.accuform.com/zoo</a>. </div>
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For more information on how to get started with your zoo and aquarium signs, you can contact a <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/forms/contact.cfm">customer service agent.</a></div>
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Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-6190639110886302432011-09-23T12:57:00.000-04:002011-09-23T12:57:19.497-04:00October Webinar Cancelled<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=visualedge&track=mktVisualEdge" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hca="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ky-mgQHJA3os55lpBQHgxfEJQekXwGb-t_bkbi9pzUSWM7nathcyIQC7Ab11-VJkjOu9GO1vaMY3rpYoKX2QrByETrBkK5grAtmYA9QiPhO1P6MBYy3jnafyMyUIlk7pEhKjWtpZRu0/s400/visual+edge.jpg" width="400" /></a>The Visual Edge™ webinar by <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm">Accuform Signs</a>, set for Monday, October, 3rd, has been cancelled. As an alternative you can watch the product video and learn more about Visual Edge™ by clicking <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=visualedge&track=mktVisualEdge">here.</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1st. We appreciate your support through our first year’s webinar series, and hope that our webinars have been educational and a value-added service for you to take to your customers. We hope that you will join us November 1st as we finalize our 2011 Webinar Series by presenting <a href="https://accuform-events.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=accuform-events">“Facility Identification Services by Accuform Signs.” </a><br />
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About <a href="https://accuform-events.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=accuform-events">November’s Webinar:</a> Get your facility(s) in compliance with <a href="http://www.osha.gov/">OSHA</a> and <a href="http://www.ansi.org/">ANSI</a> standards. Let our Facility Identification Service survey your facility to help you comply with OSHA regulations. Learn more this November.<br />
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Go to our <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_webinars">Webinars page</a> to review our 2011 series, and download the webinar you want in the format you want, including transcripts, MP3, WMV, MOV and PDF. You can also subscribe to our podcast on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accuform-podcast/id415338316">iTunes. </a></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-84943838977396333802011-09-20T15:29:00.000-04:002011-09-20T15:29:11.629-04:00Custom Sign Solutions and Accushield™<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=accushield&track=mktAccushield" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV1y2dUI7d0lZMsdyEnzwpErTlz7cLKYpD8xSZNf8DW6357dI1nFX8xmY1Qo3NS08kd7o9KheXjEenfoYI2Syb1McN2iZyTta0_wD9YXC-I32JkIPsgNLdWbVsKUD1hTMyTykD-to1z4/s400/Featured_Brands_AccuShield.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The following Q & A came from our September 6, 2011 webinar featuring Accuform's Todd Guenther, Business Development Specialist, and 18-year veteran of the safety industry. Attendees from around the country asked questions pertaining to Accuform's Personalization efforts, custom sign solutions and our proprietary, 15-year guaranteed material, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=accushield&track=mktAccushield">Accu-shield™</a>.<br />
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<strong>Q:</strong> Do you manufacture more custom signs than stock or off-the-shelf?<br />
<strong>A:</strong> About 80% of our business is custom, but we also have a complete line of stock signs, tags, labels, pipe markers and other facility identification solutions available.<br />
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<strong>Q:</strong> How much does a custom sign cost?<br />
<strong>A:</strong> A good sign means it’s well-designed and professionally produced. Qualify where the message is being applied, the life span you expect the sign to last and shop around for price last. Other factors will include the amount of custom work needed and the quality of the material that is chosen. One study found that on average for every dollar spent on safety there was an average of three dollars returned from the investment. Keep that in mind when estimating a sign budget. Good signs, like good employees or good equipment, don’t create added cost; they pay a premium return on the investment.<br />
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<strong>Q:</strong> Is the<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/news.cfm?nType=Custom Sign of The Day"> "Custom Sign of the Day"</a> sold at the normal price of a sign that size or the custom sign price?<br />
<strong>A:</strong> The custom sign of the day is one of the features we use to showcase unique ideas we’ve seen from one company which might get the creative wheels going for others. Sharing ideas helps communicate new ideas for safety compliance. The signs are custom priced, however, Accuform has no minimum orders, no set-up fees, unlimited colors, unlimited photos, and unlimited logos.<br />
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<strong>Q:</strong> how do I tell a good sign maker from an average one?<br />
<strong>A:</strong> It’s not always simple. The competition is huge, as there are over <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=33%2C000+sign+companies&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=#pq=33%2C000+sign+companies&hl=en&cp=9&gs_id=s&xhr=t&q=accuform+signs&qe=YWNjdWZvcm0g&qesig=FAbXLGqONFafPUatUWvVFQ&pkc=AFgZ2tlK-7YH2YCx3zVjQQ8-ss-y4ictVqQONxJELFuIIrHDuACy1gOPHEJ0L3PXG-QyCgSB74Wh0Mi6Q9Z4F_Hq8jfspBdnAQ&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&rls=com.microsoft:en-us%3AIE-SearchBox&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=accuform+&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=65172413619ff571&biw=1280&bih=851">33,000 sign companies</a> in the United States. Differences between one sign shop and another can separate one from another in their abilities, equipment, technical advancements and experience. Ask questions like, "Do they have access to specialized equipment for expanded production, personal preferences or styles, and what is their skill in interpreting your specific, custom and personalized needs?"<br />
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Here are some ways to make the task of chhosing a signmaker a little less daunting:<br />
<strong>1)</strong> Do your homework. Gather some facts before you make contact will be well worth the effort. Look at the website to identify if what they make is similar to what you’re looking for. Research if they are experts with <a href="http://www.osha.gov/">OSHA</a> or <a href="http://www.ansi.org/">ANSI</a> compliance issues and proper facility identification.<br />
<strong>2)</strong> I have known absolutely brilliant and visionary sign makers who were downright terrible at safety compliance, customer relations, time frames, communicating and the like. Conversely, some perfectly professional, reliable, successful shops lack the digital advances in their technical equipment, with very little imagination and creativity.<br />
<strong>3)</strong> Have a budget, quantity and size of the sign you need in mind. If you’re using your logo make sure the artwork is clean and crisp; have colors in mind and maybe even a drawing of how you imagine your sign looking. Right there is a great jumping off point to efficiently and effectively help narrow down your variables.<br />
<strong>4)</strong> The final choice is mostly an emotional one. If you are comfortable with the variety, creativity, portfolio, samples, professionalism of the company and the quality of work done to your satisfaction, then it’s probably right.<br />
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<strong>Q:</strong> What other variables are involved when choosing a sign?<br />
<strong>A:</strong> Signs can be made using about any type of material. In addition to the time you expect to get out of your sign ask yourself:<br />
<ul><li>Does it need to be illuminated?</li>
<li>Does it need special mounting?</li>
<li>Is it for an interior or exterior application?</li>
<li>Does the information on the sign need to change at regular intervals? </li>
</ul>All of these variables and more should be considered when looking at customizing signs around your facility.<br />
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For more information regarding any of the questions and answers found here, or to contact Todd, please email him at: <a href="mailto:webinars@accuform.com">webinars@accuform.com</a> or call 800.237.1001<br />
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<div></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-17189569514872721072011-09-12T11:23:00.000-04:002011-09-12T11:23:39.530-04:00Proposed Rule to Cancel MUTCD Street Sign Compliance Dates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?superCatOn=7A564544" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" nba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03bzJjDrlTE751ycf_cc4j415cH0o_BlBr_VyLgNiGGgtLrrGaPFK_uIqmtqqthus_VnuNRaUvo9P7VpVXqK5A0FKhNfbk2wGSmMR23BhhqSBL2bhXgvAdDD-oZcizX4enAWXomym08c/s320/HOV+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Last November, the <a href="http://www.dot.gov/">U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)</a> requested additional public comment on street sign reflectivity and lettering requirements after state and local governments raised concerns about the cost of compliance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Nearly a year later on August 30, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the DOT’s proposal to cancel 46 deadlines established in the <a href="http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/">Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)</a>. On the chopping block are the regulations requiring street signs to be replaced by 2018 to meet minimum retroreflectivity standards and the regulations to increase the font size on traffic signs. </div><br />
Instead of following all the original MUTCD deadlines, the notice proposes that local and state transportation agencies decide on their own when to replace signs – with the exception of a few select compliance dates deemed critically important to public safety.<br />
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“Local and state transportation agencies are best-equipped to determine when they need to replace signs and other items in the course of their daily work,” said <a href="http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/">FHWA</a> Administrator Victor Mendez. “We are proposing these changes to give them the flexibility they need to balance their many responsibilities and make the best use of taxpayer dollars.”<br />
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A good example of this flexibility is how the proposal recommends handling retroreflectivity requirements. <br />
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The MUTCD originally set three deadlines:<br />
• By January 22, 2012 – Implement an assessment method to maintain traffic sign retroreflectivity at/above minimum levels.<br />
• By January 22, 2015 – Replace regulatory, warning and post-mounted signs that fail to meet minimum levels.<br />
• By January 22, 2018 – Replace street name signs and overhead signs that fail to meet minimum levels.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) now proposes to extend the first compliance date of January 22, 2012. The proposed extension would give highway agencies two years (after the effective date of the Final Rule for this proposed MUTCD revision) to implement an assessment method for meeting retroreflectivity standards – It would not require any signs to be replaced by a given date. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The proposal also calls for the elimination of the second two existing target dates (2015 and 2018). In the absence of target compliance deadlines, highway agencies would be expected to systematically update existing non-MUTCD compliant signs as required by 23 CFR 655.603(d)(1). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Notice of Proposed Amendments to revise the target compliance dates for upgrading traffic signs was published August 31 and will be open for public comment until October 31, 2011. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-31/pdf/2011-22006.pdf">View the FHWA’s Proposed Rule.</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Article written by guest blogger Kristen Hogrefe, Product Manager, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm">Accuform Signs</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For more information, contact Kristen Hogrefe at 1.800.237.1001 x-180 or email <a href="mailto:kristen.hogrefe@accuform.com">kristen.hogrefe@accuform.com</a>. </div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-62639720367120885912011-08-09T11:33:00.001-04:002011-08-09T11:43:15.230-04:005S and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Q & A Part 1<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_webinars" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0rUPWj4LFESSyGvXmkiQ6gc1ajP5WHK-kkEcaevLZeudT7YhskE4uxUzVEG7wMaUSpMN1Qf1XBAefGxAVzXQy_UWL3X-jZ2K5FTo_CXMyn5h0Gu60wThEwXBSX_GywwDoVFd4e1tgAA/s200/5S+methodology.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>August 2, 2011 Q & A and Chat listener feedback</strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Webinar objectives: We’ll examine the<a href="http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/fsma/default.htm"> FSMA Act</a>, the implications it may have on the food industry and provide solutions for your facility regarding 5S to help build a visual workplace and keep you in compliance with the new Food Safety Modernization Act.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Q:</strong> <strong>Why is the FSMA law needed?</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>A:</strong> Looking at the history of food borne illnesses, studies have shown that they are largely preventable. The <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/">CDC</a> and the FDA realize that very step in today’s global food chain should have measures for controlling hazards that could cause potential for illness.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Under the new law, the FDA will now have the tools and a clear regulatory framework to help make improvements. For example, for the first time, the FDA has a legislative mandate to require comprehensive, preventive-based controls across the food supply chain.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Preventive controls include steps that a food facility would take to prevent or significantly minimize the likelihood of problems occurring. The new law also significantly enhances FDA’s ability to achieve greater oversight of the millions of food products coming into the United States from other countries each year. </div><br />
<strong>Q:</strong> <strong>What are the major elements of the FSMA law?</strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/default.htm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU94BbbI3U6BeaCVekUWv0jMej-Q5Wff6hZHIq7u_g5wlsmmvZy9dDLC61sieOT5AmkZGakDPoaV6DkxO-aQFAUu0yR9_jTN0Opo8IsmIV0UmSPCfp5V4R-grePF2jD1c8jSdCyxfirXY/s200/FDA.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>A:</strong> The elements of the FSMA law can be divided into five key areas: </div><strong>1)</strong> <strong>Preventive controls -</strong> for the first time, FDA has a legislative mandate to require comprehensive, prevention-based controls across the food supply.<br />
<strong>2)</strong> <strong>Inspection and Compliance -</strong> the legislation recognizes that inspection is an important means of holding industry accountable for its responsibility to produce safe food; thus, the law specifies how often FDA should inspect food producers. FDA is committed to applying its inspection resources in a risk-based manner and adopting innovative inspection approaches.<br />
<strong>3)</strong> <strong>Imported Food Safety -</strong> the FDA has new tools to ensure that those imported foods meet US standards and are safe for our consumers. For example, for the first time, importers must verify that their foreign suppliers have adequate preventive controls in place to ensure safety and the FDA will be able to accredit qualified third party auditors to certify that foreign food facilities are complying with U.S. food safety standards.<br />
<strong>4) Response -</strong> for the first time, the FDA will have mandatory recall authority for all food products. FDA expects that it will only need to invoke this authority infrequently since the food industry largely honors our requests for voluntary recalls.<br />
<strong>5) Enhanced Partnerships -</strong> the legislation recognizes the importance of strengthening existing collaboration among all food safety agencies, U.S. federal, state, local, territorial, tribal and foreign, to achieve our public health goals. For example, it directs FDA to improve training of state, local, territorial and tribal food safety officials. <br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_webinars">Go to Accuform's webinars page to see the webinar and learn more about our other webinars!</a><br />
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Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-18014208574152072422011-07-13T10:43:00.000-04:002011-07-13T10:43:19.110-04:007 Questions from the Digi-Day Webinar<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dbmBRbV9erE" width="400"></iframe><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The webinar we hosted on July 6, 2011, focusing on a Digi-Day<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span>solution for any budget garnered several good questions. You can read the answers below, listen on<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accuform-podcast/id415338316"> iTunes</a> or go to </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/webinars"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.accuform.com/webinars</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> Do you have these in 220 volt for cruise lines? 2:16:42 PM from John</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> At this time we do not currently offer 220-volt version signs. Also, we do not recommend hard-wiring the units.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> Is there a solar panel option? 2:20:01 PM from Julia </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> For our electronic scoreboards, the short answer is yes, there is. The long answer however, is that the panels are very large, the batteries are large and the cost is typically large. The solar-powered unit requires a custom quote depending on the number and type of components. New LED technology allows for minimal electrical power draw, but again, if no electrical source is available, we can quote a solar-powered unit for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> On the outdoor Digi-Day<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span>Plus signs, how well do they hold up to UV light? Does the sign have a life-expectancy? 2:21:39 PM from Larry </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> Our aluminum is guaranteed for 5 years. And the digital display is under warranty for 1 year (we do have an extended warranty available). The digital unit also has UV protection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> Since it is 120V it must be CSA approved. Have you shipped to Canada yet? 2:22:27 PM from Raymond</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> Yes, my preliminary estimates show 91 Digi-Days<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span>have been shipped to Canada since 2010.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> Is there literature available? I have some companies who may be interested in this product. 2:25:43 PM from Tony </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> Yes, we have several pages in our BEC-11 catalog: pages 16-17 and pages 820-833. We also have a </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_marketingcenter&content=digiday"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mini webisode.</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We also have another web page devoted completely to the </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_digiday"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Digi-Day series.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> How do the boards get serviced if needed? 2:25:54 PM from Dolly </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> There is a one-year warranty on the board. If it’s a single digital unit and they have the ability to replace it in the field, we would send them a new unit and let them install. If the unit does not need to be replaced but just fixed or if there are several units on one board, we would usually issue an RMA and bring back here to work on it. If it’s outside of one year we would usually offer to sell them a new board at a special price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Q:</strong> What's the typical lead time on these signs? from Susanne</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>A:</strong> Usually 3-4 days following art approval. Stock signs ship out the same day in most cases. Then depending on the complexity of electronic components and the level of customization, it could take up to a week in some cases. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for all of your questions. We hope you enjoyes the Digi-Day<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span>webinar and hope you'll join us next month for <a href="https://accuform-events.webex.com/mw0306ld/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=accuform-events">5S and Food Safety</a> (formelry known as PPE-ID Charts).</span>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-69033542309949345302011-07-11T13:47:00.002-04:002011-07-11T15:33:58.528-04:005 Ways to Motivate Your Employees to Work Safely<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_K1tUiXoqI4" width="400"></iframe><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keeping in tune with motivation and safety awareness often takes creativity, ingenuity and know-how, and Accuform's 2011 safety awareness campaign, Safety Rocks! has all of those attributes. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Here's 5 ways to implement safety awareness at your facility:</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>1. Choose a theme -</strong> A theme is a great way to incorporate several aspects of safety and motivational awareness and tie them all in, creating a diverse campaign that will be better remembered. Our Safety Rocks! campaign is a variation of the video game Guitar Hero. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>2. Front Gate to Back Dock -</strong> Once you have your theme, utilize different solutions such as scoreboards, posters, banners and labels. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Safety Rocks! campaign not only includes a Really Big Scoreboard at the front gate, but utilizes other Accuform solutions such as Changeable Face Digi-Days®, motivational banners, safety posters and labels, all of the way to the back dock. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>3. Incorporate Training -</strong> Safety and training go together like peanut butter and jelly, so incorporate it also into your theme. With Safety Rocks!, Accuform was able to put key safety issues on the table and make the training fun at the same time. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>4. </strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Utilize the talents of your employees -</strong> There are some really talented people out there that aren't utilizing their talent for profit. For example, we have an in-house business development specialist who also happens to be a motivational speaker and actor, so who better to take the message to the masses!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>5. Make it fun -</strong> Accuform has annual fun days scheduled where everyone, from accounting, to marketing, to the production floor, take an afternoon off to play some games and eat some good food - right here at work. It's just one way the company gets to say, "Thank you" for taking safety so seriously at Accuform. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our annual fun day was coordinated to include our safety theme and featured a Guitar Hero-type battle of the bands. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year, we strive to impress upon our employees that working safely not only helps Accuform achieve its goals, but its also the main reason workers can get home safely at the end of the day to those that matter most, their family and loved ones. </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what motivates your workers to work safely? What programs have you implemented at your facility, and what safety and motivational solutions are you utilizing to promote awareness? Take a minute and email me at social@accuform.com. We'd love to hear about your program and your ideas for promoting safety awareness. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-89504222643017678612011-06-22T16:10:00.000-04:002011-06-22T16:10:04.333-04:00Redefining Kaizen<object style="height: 300px; width: 300px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jRdTFis4-3Q?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jRdTFis4-3Q?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="400" height="300"></object><br />
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Masaaki Imai is the Founder of the <a href="http://www.kaizen.com/">Kaizen Institute</a>. MR. Imai, in this short video, defines Kaizen as the combination of two japanese terms: <br />
<strong>Kai - change</strong><br />
<strong>Zen - for the better</strong><br />
<strong>Kaizen - change for the better</strong><br />
He then translates this combination into continuous, or continual improvement. but Mr. Imai does not think this is a good enough translation because it inherently leaves out the self-discpline and commitment needed by the individual. Later, he re-defines it:<br />
<strong>Kaizen - Everyday, Everybody, Everywhere improvement</strong><br />
<strong>Everyday -</strong> when project ends, another should immediately begin for continuous challenge <br />
<strong>Everybody -</strong> Kaizen should start at the top, with upper-level management practicing and displaying commitment, determination and guidance<br />
<strong>Everywhere -</strong> Kaizen is not to be practiced only on the production floor, but in product development, sales and markting, and all other front office departments as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards">Accuform Signs</a> can help you create your visual workplace including solutions for your <a href="http://www.accuform.com/assets/design/accuform/images/landingpage/storeboards/5S%20Products%20from%20Accuform%20Brochure%20-%20MKTFS11.pdf">5S program</a>, with the goal of continually improving your entire facility from the front gate to the back dock. We make products that Inform, Protect and Motivate<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">™ </span></span>the global workforce.Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-33413218002127554862011-06-22T16:02:00.000-04:002011-06-22T16:02:59.089-04:00The Perfect Tweet: A Twitter Crash Course by Odd Todd<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="236" id="flashObj" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1009761507001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fvideo%2Fplayer%2F0%2C32068%2C1009761507001_2079025%2C00.html&playerID=42806370001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAABGEUMg~,hNlIXLTZFZk45NBFzfXjH_fcV1fGMncy&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1009761507001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fvideo%2Fplayer%2F0%2C32068%2C1009761507001_2079025%2C00.html&playerID=42806370001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAABGEUMg~,hNlIXLTZFZk45NBFzfXjH_fcV1fGMncy&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="400" height="236" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br />
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I came across this great video about the perfect tweet, where else, but on Twitter, <a href="http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1009761507001_2079025,00.html">@time</a> magazine. The great thing is, the information is true and relevant to lingo usage on Twitter, and explains the use of:<br />
<strong>RT - retweet -</strong> a forwarded tweet by someone else - allow you to be charitable to someone else and gives them credit<br />
<strong>MT - modified tweet -</strong> since twitter only allows 140 characters, to forward someone else's tweet you often have to condense the original message<br />
<strong>HT - hat tip - or via -</strong> tipping your hat to credit another person as the source of your information<br />
<strong>Hastag - # - pound symbol -</strong> flags any word as a keyword, and allows your tweet to enter a completely different timeline based on that keyword<br />
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And remember, there's no untweets! But don't just read my recap, watch the video! <strong><em>HT to Odd Todd!</em></strong>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-13008459833511423462011-06-21T12:22:00.007-04:002011-06-21T12:32:52.367-04:005 Easy ways to Create a Zone of Safety<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ji7mQq-bZfc" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?catID=7F584A404E19" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbBEjlbMtYMvwuzEIbAkh6cZCKvCNts1UjbtR1fE4Leb-S03RRdMasNUT2nSohXQUTbukPbtpr3G4LuJqWFJo0u4pHzkvhzs2fJH_YqLDMyCI-u-0CWI6svN0rJBypnkJRB4t6pX9pq0/s1600/Barricades_Barriers_And_Fencing_2.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Creating A Zone of Safety consists of setting a range of posts, tapes, signs or even interlocking components that, when combined together, provide a visual perimeter that directs the flow of people and equipment traffic.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Within industrial safety applications, the idea is to enable anyone to quickly setup a warning against spills, accidents or hazards or to provide a safe distance from potentially hazardous areas. Depending on the type of hazard, a zone of safety can be temporary, like in a spill situation, or marking a pathway around a new piece of equipment as it is being installed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are five ways you can denote a perimeter quickly, either temporarily or permanently, to create a Zone of Safety in your facility, with the </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=blockade"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blockade brand of products from Accuform.</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1.<strong> Barricades</strong> - The </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=Blockade+X-Barricade+&submit=processing"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blockade X-Barricade</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is more convenient, a bigger value and costs much less than other barricades. When several X-Barricades are fit together, they form a zigzag shape to unmistakably prohibit entry or identify potentially hazardous areas. The x-shape design and bright yellow color gets people’s attention quickly, and visually blocks off an area from pedestrian traffic. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <strong>Stanchion Posts</strong> - The </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C50454C4A107457"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blockade Stanchion Post and Base</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a robust 36-inch tall post and includes a sturdy 16-inch wide base. The bright yellow color is easily recognized; the stanchion base is low-profile and designed with purpose. The base can be filled with your standard range of weights such as water, sand, bricks or gravel - virtually whatever material you choose. </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <strong>Retractable Belts</strong> - </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=Retractable+belt+tapes+&submit=processing"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Retractable belt tapes</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> are 2 inches wide and extend up to 8 feet with straight tension without sag or slack, and the belt tape will retract smoothly back into the head unit for storage. A safety mechanism in the spring-tension reduces the whip-action of the belt as it retracts, in case of accidental release.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. <strong>Barricade Tapes</strong> - </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/productlist.cfm?catID=7F584B4C4811"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barricade tapes</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> are highly-visible and provide a quick, temporary, but effective way to surround or section-off hazardous areas. They are also customizable for your unique situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <strong>Floor Marking Tapes</strong> - </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/productlist.cfm?catID=7E5344424E13"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Slip-Gard™ Message Floor Tapes</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> allow you to identify hazards on the floor with a non-slip safety warning message tape. These tapes have pebble-textured, poly-plastic surface for a safe step-on surface. Backside has self-adhesive with peel-off liner to adhere permanently into place.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Accuform Signs</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> can address all of your Zone of Safety needs and more. We make products that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inform, Protect and Motivate<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">™ </span>the global workforce.</span>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-28680923606183108372011-05-03T10:26:00.000-04:002011-05-03T10:26:15.775-04:00The Benefits of an Effective Lockout Tagout Program <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C51434641177853" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="135" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR1wyfLGiCDRn5X3dYvg1SfmI3sdHOCVcUX7FCSbpCIobI8wXNdjn_SsHdEhB_oQXnifnwaI9Gvm3i2gncdqXz8kBry9Lpa6fGiN5O2lz4u61kYqtTitetbmJwa-5lBF_ITIf0NNFYHkU/s200/stop+plug+-+KDD230.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">StopPlug™</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We’ve all heard stories of catastrophic injuries on the job, even fatalities. According to<a href="http://www.osha.gov/"> OSHA</a> statistics, approximately 60,000 injuries and more than 100 fatalities occur every year. It’s estimated that 10 percent of industrial accidents are lockout/tagout related. These statistics represent accidents resulting specifically from a failure to de-energize and follow a lockout/tagout program when performing service and maintenance work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Studies have shown that an effective lockout/tagout program can reduce accidents by 30-50 % and some insurance companies even offer lower premiums to companies with demonstrated, effective, lockout programs. Effective lockout/tagout procedures can also dramatically increase your company’s productivity by making lockout activities more efficient, reducing downtime. Unfortunately in many companies, the procedures for individual machines are inconsistent or unclear from using varied software programs and formats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s even worse is that many companies simply don’t have a formal energy control program at all; which leaves many workers without the necessary guidance, certification or compliance training they need to perform essential lockout/tagout procedures efficiently and effectively. The results of this approach can be disastrous:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>In June of 2001, a worker in </strong></em><a href="http://www.mariettaga.gov/"><em><strong>Marietta, Georgia</strong></em></a><em><strong> was tamping down cardboard inside a compactor when his feet became caught in the cardboard. Pinned inside the machine, both of his legs were severed above the knee when the machine unexpectedly restarted.</strong></em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This man’s tragedy is one of many, because of the frequency and seriousness of these accidents, OSHA inspectors are specifically instructed to look for documented procedures during lo/to inspections. OSHA standard 1910.147 is one of the most frequently cited violations, leading to costly fines for many companies and that’s even without the lost productivity, health care costs, and potential litigation of a work-related injury or fatality.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the case cited above, the company was fined $140,000, including $70,000 for failure to use documented lockout procedures to render the compactor inoperable while the employee was in the machine’s chamber. Costs for one catastrophic accident can spiral into millions of dollars.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm">Accuform Signs</a>, we make safety the first priority. We have just introduced a new line of lockout/tagout solutions called <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/productlist.cfm?catID=7F5744454C1575">STOPOUT<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">™</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> that can keep you employees safe in your workplace.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-58761207515986317872011-04-11T08:22:00.000-04:002011-04-11T08:22:20.403-04:00How Can You Get Started with Your WorkHealthy™ Program?<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categoryList.cfm?catID=7F5347424F137D" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzzbXaM4mI4hrt5GuwV_dr2zkGPyfZzkeQrI75amxJu817WzfsmGQnBo5emA_KZeTU1HOQK95mZ9HyeQZl4FkeiEjGzOf7gvRAZ20Wy_zJ_qXmwh5vAFRrBtGI9HjNthyHFPb_8OFqA8/s1600/MSK470.jpg" /></a>Accuform can help with unique twists from familiar products towards promoting your WorkHealthy™ program.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/productlist.cfm?catID=7F534743491779&view=detailed">WorkHealthy™</a> line of products from Accuform features ready-to-use and personalized scoreboards, banners, posters and table-top signs. The program was actually conceived from one of our customers. They chose to apply different themes to our Changeable Face Digi-Day® Electronic Scoreboard. </div><br />
Over the course of several months they were able to track the amount of pounds their employees were losing. For example, instead of taking the elevator they tracked the flights of stairs the employees climbed (compared to the number of flights in buildings such as the empire state building or the Sears Tower). They also tracked the number of miles employees walked along the path around a local park down the street during their breaks – again comparing it to walking across a great length (like across the country). <br />
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Over time they ultimately created their own “Biggest Loser” campaign, and, as a result, the employees were more motivated and social among each of the competing departments. Even employees who chose not to take an active role in the campaign still cheered their co-workers on. <br />
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Within the first six months – the company saw improvements in morale, reduced injuries and increased production rates. After a year the program’s momentum translated into a significant rebate towards the company’s overall health insurance rates. <br />
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Here are WorkHealthy™ ideas that companies from coast to coast – just like yours – have found helpful: <br />
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Promote positive thinking through personalized and motivational banners and posters. Our banners are double-stitched with heavy-duty brass grommets that withstand the elements to deliver your WorkHealthy™ campaign. Posters are a great way to carry your message across, both economical and efficient. Choose from a variety of pre-made ideas or submit your own concept for quick turnaround. <br />
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There are complete sets of ready-to-use products available such as scoreboards, banners, posters and table top signs. These can be placed in high-traffic locations throughout your facility or direct your employees attention within the cafeteria or mess hall. <br />
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And you can Personalize your WorkHealthy™ program with any of our customized facility identification solutions! Our only limitation is your imagination! <br />
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So let’s wrap it up! Health management initiatives, including workplace health promotion/wellness programs, help employees live healthier lives, while at the same time improving your bottom line through reduced health costs and increased productivity. <br />
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Employee health promotion programs should be viewed and managed as a strategic investment to be maximized, rather than an expense to be minimized. <br />
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Start now. Plan, implement and promote a comprehensive health promotion program aimed at improving employee health and safety, and business growth. <br />
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More than ever, now is the time to WorkHealthy™! Creating health and wellness programs can benefit your workplace, reduce the cost of health insurance and increase the motivation and overall safety culture of the company. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Everyone wins when we all work together to build a WorkHealthy™ program! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is our mission to provide you with the necessary tools and training skills to identify your specific needs and increase your revenue, backed by our 100% “Yes We Can” customer service attitude! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.accuform.com/webinars">www.accuform.com/webinars</a> for further information on how you can get started! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-79397334157233373212011-03-21T14:55:00.000-04:002011-03-21T14:55:45.176-04:00WorkHealthy™ Part 2: The Benefits of a Healthy WorkplaceThis is the second part of our series on the benefits of working healthy at your workplace.<br />
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The WorkHealthy™ program communicates an important message – and is designed to help promote a healthy workplace at your location. You can do this through ways such as encouragement, reminders, education and wellness programs. Ask your health care provider if they have recently sponsored wellness and health fairs for other businesses in your community and work together to organize your event. Develop and recognize participation in exercise and activities that increase and promote health and wellness in your work environment. <br />
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Ms. Claussen’s article references additional research showing a connection between high levels of workplace stress and chronic health conditions – including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and musculo-skeletal disorders. These conditions may make workers more susceptible to accidents and injuries. <br />
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To combat stress in the workplace, employers should assess their employees to find out what the common stressors are and work toward mitigating stressful elements of the workplace. <br />
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Here are some ways to plan, implement and promote a company-wide comprehensive and <strong>WorkHealthy™</strong> initiative at your facility. <br />
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<strong>Share the Big Picture</strong>. Help people see how their individual role supports the work of your department, your division and ultimately the goals of the company. Let them know how their contribution makes a difference. Share information across other departments or satellite facilities about what’s happening that will help others understand why your company is such an exciting and healthy place to work! <br />
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<strong>Have a Plan and Communicate</strong>. A clear plan that outlines specific and reachable goals, objectives and priorities will help people make the right choices when they can’t do it alone. Measurable outcomes and progress monitoring helps people know when they are on track and when they need to adjust their course of action, environments, habits or activity. Let people know when they are doing well and hold them accountable for their part of the overall goals and efforts of the team; and celebrate successes! <br />
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<strong>Engage People</strong>. Create opportunities for conversations about successes and what is working well within your facility and/or other facilities in your company. Create opportunities for people to collaborate and work on ideas and projects together. Invite people to share their perspectives and welcome their ideas about how to do things even better. Be available to your colleagues – encourage feedback and keep channels of communication wide open. <br />
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<strong>Use People’s Talents</strong>. Tapping into your colleagues’ strengths – and the skills they most enjoy using – will improve motivation, raise an individual’s self-esteem and create an interest in learning – resulting in overall satisfaction. It also maximizes the collective potential of a team. <br />
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<strong>Provide Tools</strong>. Streamline processes and procedures wherever possible. This improves employee efficiency, time and effort. Ensure people have the tools and information that will support their productivity. Link them to the resources they need to be effective in their position – including where to get information and advice on how to work healthy. <br />
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<strong>Provide Support</strong>. Connect new employees with veteran workers who can be an advisor, mentor, trainer or coach, then track their progress through a particular project. Connect them to people or resources that can assist them in dealing with professional and personal issues that could affect them in the workplace. In cases where it works for the operational needs of the department – employ flexible work schedules to help people fit exercise into their day or other things that promote a healthy balance between the work site and their personal time away from work. <br />
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<strong>Provide Development</strong>. Provide encouragement and support for your colleagues to work on their professional development goals. Be creative with various development approaches – as well as creating time to attend online or classroom training. Give support for the learning process and practice and help people make the connection from what they are learning to actual challenges or problem-solving they face in their work. Find ways to make development collaborative and share with each other what you are learning. <br />
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<strong>Promote Safety and Health</strong>. Continue to provide training and safeguards that address workplace safety and security issues. Encourage exercise – healthy eating and other beneficial health habits. Remind people of the benefits of taking breaks with healthy practices that help them “re-charge their batteries” to improve concentration, focus, mood and energy. Create opportunities for colleagues to walk or do athletic activities together. <br />
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<strong>Tend to Relationships</strong>. Creating healthy work relationships and collaborative partnerships requires attention and positive intention, careful listening, speaking up in appropriate ways, healthy and creative resolution of conflicts and reinforcement for respectful behavior and mutual support for learning and growth. <br />
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<strong>Express Appreciation</strong>. Find creative ways to recognize people’s contributions. Take advantage of every opportunity to express your appreciation – it doesn’t take long and it can have a big impact. <br />
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<strong>Encourage Ways to Have Fun at Work</strong>. We can be productive and have fun at the same time! Having a sense of play relieves stress, promotes a positive outlook and increases creativity. <br />
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<strong>Be a Good Role Model</strong>. Sometimes our own example is the most powerful means of influence. Be aware of and intentional about how you “walk the talk.” Honor the power and leadership that you have to make a difference in the lives of those working around you. It’s not just workers, even contractors watch the company bosses to see what’s acceptable and appropriate. Show that you care as much about the health of each employee as you do about their safety – more than ever, the time to <strong>WorkHealthy™</strong> starts now.Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-10268020325419279702011-03-10T15:15:00.003-05:002011-03-11T11:45:10.343-05:00WorkHealthy™What comes to mind when you hear the term – <strong>WorkHealthy™</strong>? <br />
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For some it means the opportunity to work in an environment that will not make them sick. For others, it means being protected from the effects of chemicals and other hazards with proper PPE. And still a few will say it means ensuring the health and safety of each employee by any means necessary. And they would <em><strong>all</strong></em> be correct. What we’ll uncover today is another answer; one that involves making healthy choices that can impact and affect safety as a whole – as a culture. It’s called <strong>WorkHealthy™</strong>. <br />
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The following is Part 1 of a 3 part webinar sponsored by <strong>Accuform Signs</strong>. If you'd like to watch the video, in either .wmv or .mov format, get the powerpoint, read the transcript, or hear the mp3, go to <a href="http://www.accuform.com/webinars">www.accuform.com/webinars</a>. You can also listen to the podcast on <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accuform-podcast/id415338316">iTunes</a>. <br />
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<strong>Part 1: What is a WorkHealthy™ Environment? </strong><br />
Every day you work hard to promote a safe workplace – but what about promoting a healthy one? While studies are few, and data is sparse, the weight of the evidence links both stress and illness with workplace injury. And it’s definitely something that shouldn’t be overlooked. NIOSH calls for more research, yet cites “growing concern” that stress can lead to incidents by interfering with safe work practices. In a recent survey of nurses conducted by the American Nurses Association, 80% said on-the-job stress levels impact workplace safety, and 59% of nurses said when they feel pressured they are more inclined to work faster and take shortcuts. We believe it’s safe to assume that this is likely the case in the industrial world as well. <em>Accident levels can go up dramatically when stress climbs</em>. <br />
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Workplace wellness programs are becoming increasingly popular. More and more companies are developing programs to provide resources for the health and well being of their workers including full-time staff, temporary workers and on-site contractors. <br />
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Companies who have instilled a culture of safety are also implementing ways that employees throughout the entire facility can participate in wellness activities. Healthy activities and education programs within the workplace provide employees with the capacity to achieve greater levels of performance. From this focus on wellness, workers can strengthen themselves physically, mentally and emotionally. <br />
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Research shows chronic diseases are on the rise and can attribute significantly to the cost of health care. Health management initiatives, including workplace health and wellness programs, help employees live healthier, energetic and more productive lives, at the same time improving your bottom line through increased productivity and reduced costs. <br />
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Improving our everyday lifestyle habits and practices is the best way to stay healthy, have more energy, handle stress, manage conflict, build collaboration and teamwork – and get better results. <br />
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In today’s challenging times, taking care of ourselves and taking care of each other are more important than ever. <br />
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<strong>WorkHealthy™</strong> in the workplace leads to being resilient in the face of constant change – developing a program creates sustainability, for each individual and for the company as a whole. <br />
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Education programs and health fairs can inform and motivate employees to make healthy choices. For some, making a healthy choice is easy. But for others, this can be very difficult. Temptations and vices are not habits easily cast to the side. Poor eating habits, smoking and lack of exercise can have serious complications in the long run leading to the increase risk of stroke or heart attack. It’s scary to think about. <br />
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Choosing to work safely goes beyond simply getting the ladder out when it’s time to change a light bulb. Instead of taking shortcuts like standing on the chair that’s balanced on the table – it means making positive changes happen inside our bodies too. <br />
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So where do you start? Seeing a doctor is one way; participating in a company-wide health fair is another. Making <em>the</em> healthy choice is not easy; it’s important to support people who are making life-changing choices to be at their best – living – learning – working. <br />
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And this is not something to tackle alone. It’s being able to provide motivational support in the workplace. <br />
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We can create the supportive environment if we do it together. <br />
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I just received the March issue of <a href="http://www.nsc.org/safetyhealth/Pages/home.aspx">Safety & Health Magazine</a> published by the National Safety Council. The front page cover story is all about <a href="http://www.accuform.com/stress">Stress in the Workplace</a>. It’s interesting to note that the author, Lauretta Claussen, points out why keeping stress in check could create a healthier and safer workplace. In her article, Ms. Claussen references a 2008 study that found people with severe levels of job stress had a 68% higher risk of developing heart disease. Another study by the American Institute of Stress determined that stress costs American businesses an estimated $300 billion dollars annually. <br />
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A <strong>WorkHealthy™</strong> program aims at helping your overall employee health and wellness – while also improving teamwork and business growth.Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-74144820918771049442011-02-16T15:16:00.000-05:002011-02-16T15:16:46.243-05:005S Shadow-Style Store-Boards™<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KRzB86eIslWEOiEvA3DHKCKTwNoIwAnPuXiSEEYMkj0wdChkxFje5-EXg9_AUVUAumpRaMeGsKOr7TP-oyxPMsY2nTOEB75DhvvZtS-Wrd5j5Hw8UyV9kLjcrzlSc_XwZGj0ZWRMWIk/s200/3+storeboards.jpg" width="200" /></a>Shadow boards, or <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards">Store-Boards™</a> as we call them, are used during the 5S process and other lean initiatives to organize tools, equipment and materials. <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/news.cfm?nID=7951424348">Store-Boards™</a> provide a striking visual cue that helps workers account for all tools and equipment in their area. With outline graphics and words or part numbers for each item, it's easy for any employee to keep all equipment in its proper place, ensuring it'savailable the next time it's needed. </div><br />
At the end of a shift, employees can quickly see what items have not been returned, to avoid lost and forgotten items. This visual workplace is also key for training and multi-lingual workers. And color-coding shadows is a great way to keep tools for different uses separated - such as food processing or special chemical tools - to help avoid cross-contamination. <br />
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Visit <a href="http://accuform.com/storeboards">accuform.com/storeboards</a> to see our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/accuformsignsmanuf#p/u/0/mjysKUVckiA">Store-Boards™ video</a>, and for links to related items like the <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C51434148127550">Glove Board™</a>, <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/productlist.cfm?catID=7F5347424D1075&view=detailed">5S banners and posters</a>, and other supporting literature.<br />
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You can also download our <a href="http://www.accuform.com/assets/design/accuform/images/landingpage/storeboards/5S%20Products%20from%20Accuform%20Brochure%20-%20MKTFS11.pdf">16-page 5S Brochure</a> with our complete line of <a href="http://www.ishn.com/Articles/Article_Rotation/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000987707">5S solutions for the visual workplace</a>, or download our <a href="http://www.accuform.com/assets/design/accuform/images/landingpage/storeboards/storeboards.pdf">Store-Boards™ Brochure</a> for great information on personalizing your Store-Boards™. <br />
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Missed our live webinar? Watch the <a href="https://accuform-events.webex.com/mw0306lc/mywebex/default.do?siteurl=accuform-events">WebEx™</a> recording of our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/accuformsignsmanuf#p/u/0/mjysKUVckiA">5S webinar</a>, or take it with you using your preferred download including: PowerPoint, MP3 audio, WMV and MOV. Or subscribe to the <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/accuform-podcast/id415338316">Accuform Podcast on iTunes.</a>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-32310634165810983022011-02-16T09:58:00.000-05:002011-02-16T09:58:53.311-05:00Identification Products that…MOTIVATE Your Workforce<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/virtual_catalog/catalog_small.cfm?printPageOn=15&vcID=11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zj32DGK9DBQzkmqbDMgLJgGXyLYk4FOyaHfUhIVXhRInCaHtITaf16QklICddh7fRORvieKKG1oqnayl9yb_qFQ6PusFuMS5SAWNFzmxlhlxKv0DhECTACJxAmuq84OrwJikGjfAplw/s200/motivate.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We've focused on INFORMing and PROTECTing your workforce. Finally, let's highlight a few products that help you MOTIVATE your workforce. Moving forward, we'll dig a little deeper and look at some 5S and lean solutions for your facility.<br />
<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=digiday">Digi-Day®</a><br />
Because Every Day Counts! Signal your safety status while digitally keeping track of safe days at your facility with our family of Digi-Day® Scoreboards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=workhealthy">WorkHealthy™</a><br />
Promote Healthy Behaviors at Work! Employee health promotion programs should be viewed and managed as a motivational tool and investment in your company.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=banners">Banners and Posters</a> <br />
These daily, visual reminders are fully customizable, help motivate employees, and promote safe work environments in key spots around your facility! <br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=visualedge">Visual Edge™ Signs</a><br />
Deliver the "WOW" Factor! The added depth provides extra visibility and awareness, getting your sign noticed in more ways than one, and leading to a safer, increasingly motivated workplace.Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-55071114352630436342011-01-25T14:36:00.001-05:002011-01-25T14:59:17.773-05:00Identification Products that…PROTECT Your Workforce<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/virtual_catalog/catalog_small.cfm?printPageOn=10&vcID=11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFDd0JE3CfsBFfsHousP6JqySA2PV96KPXSRz4Ip4oiQqVswIWF7z6xlrxZ1arDrWDEqCVSkCI9k-TIceVlEqY7xA23e6fGnkzE28_wSAI-QPripPHXZpIN-C-UE3OPVqtLj-86qZu44/s200/Protect.jpg" width="200" /></a>It’s our goal to help you Inform, Protect, and Motivate™ North America's workforce. Last week, we touched on several products that help <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/virtual_catalog/catalog_small.cfm?printPageOn=7&vcID=11">INFORM</a> workers, but this week, let’s look at a few products (of many) that <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/virtual_catalog/catalog_small.cfm?printPageOn=9&vcID=11">PROTECT</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categoryList.cfm?catID=7F5844434913">StopOut™ Line of Lockout Products</a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lockout/Tagout continues to be one of the most challenging aspects of workplace safety for many organizations. We provide a comprehensive offering of Lockout/Tagout products and training solutions. Our NEW StopOut™ line of Lockout/Tagout products, like the unique <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=7C51434641177853">StopPlug™</a> make the challenge of Lockout/Tagout compliance a little easier.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=Steering+Wheel+Message+Cover&submit=processing">Steering Wheel Message Cover</a></div>Ever wonder how to help prevent someone from driving a vehicle that is disabled or being worked on? Steering Wheel Message Covers do just that - by covering, and locking, to a steering wheel! When the operator sits in the driver’s seat, they can’t miss the bold message which covers the entire steering wheel – warning of the potential dangers of moving the vehicle, and protecting those in harm’s way.<br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=Fold-Ups%C2%AE&submit=processing">Fold-Ups®</a><br />
Fold-Ups®, Accuform’s exclusive line of fold-up style signs, are not made to just warn of wet floors. Protect workers from confined spaces, high voltage areas, hazardous work zones, spill areas and more!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?catID=7F5847454D19">Safety Signs</a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Safety Signs are the protecting element of any good facility safety identification program. With thousands upon thousands of stock legends and custom solutions, we have the sign that protects from identified hazards.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?catID=7F584A464C17">Safety Tags</a><br />
Made for Lockout/Tagout, inspections, blind installs, cylinder use and more, safety tags help protect workers as they lockout equipment, inspect vehicles, service complicated machinery and more. Look to us as your source for safety tags, both stock and custom. <br />
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<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?catID=7E5145404E10">Safety Labels</a><br />
Marking electrical panels is just one of hundreds of uses for our safety labels that are intended to protect your workforce. While we offer some of the most unique identification solutions available, sometimes a label does the trick. We’re your source when it comes to safety labels!Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-62731754539084675842011-01-19T14:19:00.000-05:002011-01-19T14:19:07.739-05:00Identification Products that…INFORM Your Workforce<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeVW_rYgLfUhIVJNoUzWcEIR0jiP6yxjl7hBzKoOEjapoeNUvSindEOPFJIXu3UBfutX3TdbRUfuA-rCprcwIkx2HkLxBEzAT-TZ3X7PO6HHb_LPBYQfuTZbk2qI12lPI7-iPqLY4b0Q/s200/inform.png" width="200" /></span></a><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">By now, you’ve probably seen the </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/catalog_request.cfm?CFID=15953451&CFTOKEN=67050855"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">NEW 2011 Accuform Signs Catalog</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. In it, you'll find thousands of products that <b>Inform, Protect, and Motivate™</b> North America’s workforce, but this week, let’s dive in a little deeper and focus on the products that <b>INFORM</b>.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5S Boards for the Visual Workplace</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> - Our new line of 5S visual workplace solutions, like our new Store-Boards™ are made to fit your specific 5S or HACCP requirements. In addition to Store-Boards™, we now offer a full line of other key 5S products like red tags, 5S banners and posters and floor marking solutions.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=ppeidcharts"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">PPE-ID™ Charts</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> - You've seen them before, but it's a product that continues to grow. From custom to stock solutions, PPE-ID™ Charts help demonstrate what a traditional safety sign can't... images that visualize which PPE should be worn within a specific area.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/search_quick.cfm?searchkeyword=braille"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Stock & Custom ADA Braille Signs</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> - Did you know Accuform Signs produces attractive, stock and custom Braille signs that meet ADA requirements? Check out Pages 782-785 of the new Accuform Signs Catalog to learn more.</span></div><br />
<a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/product.cfm?pID=75534745491779"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lumi-Glow™ Severe Weather Plan Holders</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> - Like the popular evacuation map holders, our severe weather plan holders are completely customizable and now available in Lumi-Glow ™ as well as the standard version. </span>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-10551584298986143182011-01-10T20:15:00.001-05:002011-01-10T20:21:04.167-05:00The BEC11 Catalog is Here!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.partnumberlocator.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71AHvnIO5PjGepFB3ZEoUTDCvXELBZI_d5oFTuf8gCCnPleFj6_Ncu2kcCEK_JA8696WeTF_AvXeiLvZtThAGORLx4aujH_DVYeCyj4OddMEaTxxYkjHdvkFhBmg7HZNXC6M1VphwI48/s400/untitled+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a>The <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/catalog_request.cfm?CFID=51488682&CFTOKEN=82898717">BEC11</a> (Accuform's Best Ever Catalog 2011) is here and it's bigger, better and faster (well not really faster) than ever before. It is easier to manage if that's what you want to call faster, and it has some really new cool features.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We've placed a tabs page at the front of the catalog so you can mark the features of the catalog that you reference most. Some are marked for your convenience and we've left some blank so you can mark the pages, products, or OSHA and ANSI standards that you frequent the most. Oh, you didn't realize we put standards throughout the catalog to better serve your need for quick reference? Well we did, for ease of use. We want you to use our catalog as a reference guide.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What's better than a really useful catalog with easy to read text, thousands of solutions to keep you and your workforce safe and newly featured brands? <a href="http://www.accuform.com/files/vc/11/pdf/5.pdf">QR codes</a> that direct you to cool videos featuring our resident thespian and 15-year safety industry expert, Todd Guenther. Not familiar with QR codes? QR stands for "Quick Reference", and you'll find these codes everywhere products are offered these days linking to things like technical specs or warranty information - and they're in our catalog, too. All you need is three minutes and a smart phone with a QR scanner, and your ready to go. Happy scanning! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A third cool feature of our newest catalog isn't even IN the catalog. Keeping in tune with our commitment to the enviroment, we've also introduced our new digital part number locator, located at <a href="http://partnumberlocator.com/">partnumberlocator.com</a>. Just key in the part number you're looking for, and be immediately directed to the appropriate page number(s). You can also download our traditional <a href="http://www.partnumberlocator.com/files/BEC11_Part_No_Locator_US_v1.pdf">Part Number Locator for future off-line use via in PDF format</a>.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you don't have your own copy of <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/catalog_request.cfm?CFID=51488682&CFTOKEN=82898717">BEC11</a>, click here and order it now. We'll also send you a case of catalogs if you need them. The Accuform <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/catalog_request.cfm?CFID=51488682&CFTOKEN=82898717">BEC11</a> catalog is just one of the many exciting tools we plan to utilize this new year so stay tuned. We've had a great 2010 and wish you a safe, happy and prosperous 2011!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/virtual_catalog/catalog_small.cfm?printPageOn=10&vcID=11" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DpuZGMVzQI3Txw38uN2CKMSVyN907E9OBm7KPWEBRePye-9LEUoK_ITsCGnLgy2HfNFcl8PYXZkblFs-gUT5czvN7YRA9KHUuEUWVcljqJPcQd-vPUVJkdY6wUQwzk-Oz84IlALtWoM/s400/stopout+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-32953961032036902002011-01-05T15:43:00.004-05:002011-01-05T15:48:01.392-05:00Our First Webinar was a HUGE Success!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=mkt_webinars" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbeWvrcmpGzFdWKJ_ZyAkmRIu_WS6N65AJ60LtNtniVkRZrbdX_FOzjaClN8L9oZidU8QYTVvNRrKN1-OWCZ48Cd98NOKWaO1rVW-9hXpHGVTfyHGpz5IKknIs5L09mw0FBiTxLb4GnQ/s200/becky+on+the+Monitor.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2011 will be an exciting year here at </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/index.cfm"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Accuform</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, and we want you to share in, and be a part of all that's going on here in our Marketing Department. Yesterday marked new territory for us, as we launched our first webinar in the 2011 series, covering our newest, biggest and best catalog to date, BEC11. We overviewed new aspects of the catalog, and launched the series (one per month) focused on solutions that Inform, Protect and Motivate™ your workforce.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you were able to join us yesterday, fantastic! Remember, if you ever have a question, bring it with you to the live recording and IM (chat) with us - we'll try and answer you at the end of the session. Worst case scenario, we'll get back with you within 24 hours. If you registered for the session but caught up with a customer, that's fine, you still have a couple of options of viewing the webinar, hearing it, or both at the same time. You can visit </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/webinars"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">www.accuform.com/webinars</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> for a transcript, slidedeck, .wmv file, .mov file, .pdf file or .mp3 file. Need another form of media, just let us know, and we'll try to accomodate your needs. </span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We hope you'll join us again, or for the first time, next month, on February the 2nd - <span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;">2/2/2011. The primary focus will center on Accuform's ability to produce eye-catching, vivid <a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/page.cfm?page=storeboards">5-S StoreBoards™</a>, Accuform's brand of shadow boards, and 5S or lean manufacturing solutions in general.</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Below are the questions and answers from our first, live webinar, covering our newest catalog BEC11. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">David asks: How can I get some samples if I need them? </span>Thanks for asking David. Samples are readily available at </span><a href="mailto:samples@accuform.com"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">samples@accuform.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> – we look at each request and try to best suit your needs.</span></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bruce asks: “Is there one area where you expect the most growth from within Accuform?”</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Bruce, yes, we expect most of our growth from one are – 5S or lean manufacturing, which will be next month’s webinar topic - 2/2/2011 - Storeboards™ and 5S in general.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kaytie comments: “Great job. Very informative. I can't wait until the next one. Thanks!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank you Kaytie, for the kind words. We had a blast and the first webinar was a huge success, thanks to partners like you!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The recording of each webinar will be available in a variety of formats 24 hours after, so if you missed it live, you can still download or link via your favorite format at accuform.com/webinar. Upcoming topics include:</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2/2/2011 - Storeboards™ and 5S in general<br />
3/2/2011 - StopOut™ Lockout Products<br />
4/1/2011 - WorkHealthy™<br />
5/3/2011 - Traffic & Roadway<br />
6/1/2011 - Blockade™<br />
7/6/2011 - Digi-Day®<br />
8/2/2011 - Stock & Custom PPE-ID™ Charts<br />
9/1/2011 - Custom Solutions – with an emphasis on Accu-Shield™<br />
10/3/2011 - Visual Edge™ Solutions<br />
11/1/2011 - Inform, Protect & Motivate™ - A Re-Cap<br />
December starts the new marketing calendar – stay tuned</span><span style="color: red;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">Shawn from Canada asks: “Are the products in the American and Canadian catalogues identical?”</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Shawn, we have a specific Canadian catalogue and hundreds of products specifically for the Canadian marketplace. If you don’t yet have your Canadian Catalogue, </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/catalog_request.cfm?CFID=15953451&CFTOKEN=67050855"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Or you can call 800.237.1001 and speak to a customer service representative.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Charlene's chat reads: “My customers always want to see the signs, etc. and in the past I was able to copy off the site the picture paste it to a quote and I was on my way. I am unable to do this now and it takes longer of my time requesting a picture. Need an easier way.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks Charlene for the question. You still have access to do just that, you just need to log in under the member login area of </span><a href="http://www.accuform.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">accuform</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and you'll be able to access the images exactly as you did before, once you’re logged in. if you do not yet have an accuform.com distributor account, let us know and we’ll get one set up for you.</span>Accuform Signshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10801025420850542972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3575904560894422493.post-56961158027491668662010-10-22T13:00:00.000-04:002010-10-22T13:00:02.825-04:00Traffic Signs<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/custom/street.cfm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="47" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0xv8yxxhnTGUjgEejqRUTOQw9bQf0ww_qZPJ1ZfvqRLsU-RLsndkh458rdBdAcjcR3BrhMdo-D_rFUHgpiMFVxp_BJlWex4DYa17ZQjdtnPcg9TsNvefT6QANQ28DnLXFYn1QBTMyKk/s200/accuform-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.accuform.com/store/categorylist.cfm?catID=7E5142454D14" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="46" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGyIImm5Kz8UuHO-aJ8NJ4cCUxehAWvVEKlTSfUOWER_VVzuuqo5ciejIvvP6c94zFPrkkzPL3TBqTghOSK7isuRuMwf5Tte7q3-uoHPcLmGTCmB6rvuDkmHV3UariICPOUuxwyG4sB4/s200/accuform+-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) standard on street signs dictates that Street Name signs should be <strong>installed in urban areas at all street intersections</strong> regardless of other route signs that might be present and should be installed in rural areas to identify important roads that are not otherwise signed. It also states that the lettering for names of streets and highways on Street Name signs <strong>shall be composed of a combination of lower-case letters with initial upper-case letters.</strong> This is the new aspect of the standard that will force many municipalities to change from all capital letter signs.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009/part2/part2d.htm#table2D02" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFq8OhyphenhyphenuXzPej0F0RS9-frgGSuuQrwcsRWD3A69eJMedn1OAsPJbppCfdXDeb4F0jFtVhLW27ofGEqKLJeieLiXXBILGwIWDxJGSrNF8kbVcv_L_eLQFLG6bM63WnhVc6b9TqcrTvc5_E/s400/post-mounted-table.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>COMPLIANCE DATES</strong></div><ul><li>Ground-mounted on local two-lane streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less, 4-inch initial upper-case letters with 3-inch lower-case letters may be used - Millennium Edition-January 9, 2012. (assumed)</li>
<li>Ground-mounted Street Name signs on roads that are not multi-lane streets with speed limits greater than 60 km/h (40 mph), other new provisions of Millennium Edition-January 9, 2012.</li>
<li>Ground-mounted signs on multi-lane streets with speed limits greater than 60 km/h (40 mph) and letter sizes on overhead-mounted signs-15 years from the effective date of the Final Rule of the 2003 MUTCD = Dec. 22, 2018.</li>
</ul>Additionally, the use of Clearview font letters has an <strong>interim approval</strong> by the MUTCD since research shows:<br />
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<ul><li>16 percent improvement in recognition by older drivers for equal size footprint for SHS Alphabet Series D letters and Clearview-Condensed with little change in overall sign size.</li>
<li>12 percent increase in legibility for overhead and shoulder-mounted guide signs.</li>
<li><strong>The use of Clearview is not in the 2009 MUTCD, although 27 states have adopted it.</strong></li>
</ul><a href="http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/nyc/Thousands-Of-Street-Signs-To-Be-Replaced-NYC-20100930-apx">Read about the changes in this FOX News article.</a><br />
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-10-21-road-signs-all-caps-lowercase_N.htm?csp=usat.me">Read about the changes in this USA Today article.</a><br />
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