Two Greenville-based companies have announced a partnership that will further position them as industry leaders in the workplace safety and ergonomics space.
Modjoul and Life & Safety Consultants provide different but complementary safety solutions to a wide spectrum of industries and companies. Modjoul builds tailored solutions that marry state-of-the-art technology, including safety wearables, and data analysis to build safe workplaces. Life & Safety Consultants provides comprehensive workplace safety consulting services and expert environmental, health, and safety regulatory compliance, risk management, and comprehensive safety management systems.
By partnering, the two companies will be able to provide higher levels of service and value to clients across the country.
“Don Snizaski and his team at Life & Safety Consultants are the best at what they do, and their solutions and approach will perfectly complement Modjoul,” said Modjoul CEO and Co-Founder Eric Martinez. “They have a well-earned reputation for expertise and thoroughness, and I am extremely excited about this partnership’s potential to fuel our efforts.”
“We evaluate dozens of new solutions and technologies every year, but we are very selective about which ones we recommend,” said Snizaski, the founder and president of Life & Safety Consultants. “Modjoul’s solutions are backed up by rigorous data analysis and ergonomic expertise. I look forward to working with them for years to come.”
About Modjoul
Greenville, S.C.-based Modjoul (modjoul.com) provides workplace safety and inventory management solutions to companies and industries in the United States, Europe and Australia. Modjoul seamlessly integrates its solutions into workplaces to create safer working environments and lasting returns on investment.
About Life & Safety Consultants
Greenville, S.C.-based Life & Safety Consultants (lifeandsafety.com) provides companies with expert environmental, health, and safety regulatory compliance, risk management, and comprehensive safety management systems.
Although a safety culture may be difficult to implement, it is crucial to maintain. Because of this, we have developed a program that will keep employees continually motivated. By implementing a rewards program, an employee can be motivated through positive reinforcement. By providing a reason to complete safety measures, employees will be more likely to maintain the company’s safety guidelines.
The concept of applying an incentive to complete the task not new. Recognition in the form of a reward is a great motivator to get tasks completed in a timely fashion. Rewards are an effective means of creating motivation among employees and in the work environment. There is more to learn about the incentive and recognition program and if your company is keeping up with OSHA’s guidelines for properly implementing a recognition program. To learn about the benefits of such a program, join us for a webinar on March 17th, 2023.
The southeast United States manufacturing landscape has been transforming slightly for the past decade as more manufacturers choose this location for their EV battery market products. South Carolina and the greater southeast are a favorable location for these businesses due to tax incentives, labor force, and infrastructure for distribution. The southeast also holds deposits of lithium ore that is currently being extracted for Lithium battery production. The nickname “Lithium Belt” was given to the area for the pegmatite belt in the Kings Mountain NC area that contains the lithium we need to produce Lithium Polymer and Lithium-Ion batteries. The nickname is also fitting as we see more and more Lithium battery companies open or expand operations in the southeast.
Lithium Polymer and Lithium Ion are the 2 main designs being used in the construction of the cells comprising the battery used for most electric vehicles today. There are a few key differences between these 2 types of batteries, cost and lifespan being the biggest. Polymer batteries are more expensive to manufacture but have the benefits of being lighter, safer, and low self-discharge levels. Polymer batteries also have a lower charge capacity than their Ion counterpart. Lithium-ion batteries are more popular for EV use based on their higher capacity and lower cost to manufacture. There is also a higher risk factor with Lithium-Ion batteries. These cells are more prone to overheating than the Polytype.
A damaged or overheated Lithium cell has many dangers that can result in fires and other hazardous situations. Lithium fires hold 2 major problems. It is a metal fire and cannot be extinguished with water or smothered. Most often, Lithium fires must expend all their energy and die out from lack of fuel. Lithium-based batteries are also electrical fires that also need to expend their energy before dying out. There are only a handful of solutions for extinguishing or controlling a Lithium battery fire. More offerings will become available as the EV market grows. But for now, there is a lot of concern in the industry that uses and builds these batteries over how to fight Lithium fires and Lithium battery handling safety.
Lithium battery safety is a primary part of Life & Safety’s line-up of tools and services. We have a large team of industry experts at OSHA, NFPA, ANSI, and DOT regulations and standards. There are multiple angles of concern for battery manufacturers and distributors and the different agencies that can hold you responsible for a failure to provide a safe environment. Our team has extensive experience working with multiple Lithium battery companies in South Carolina the southeast area. Our work includes Electrical Safety Program review to include HV DC hazards and mitigation. We can also provide an Arc Flash hazard analysis of battery ESS (Electrical Storage Systems) and the equipment used to charge and test Lithium battery modules (cassettes). We offer training around arc flash, battery handling, runaway lithium battery procedures, and other custom training modules. We have skilled instructors that can come on-site and deliver professional advice and training. We also offer all our training online through our LMS. All L&S training modules can be customized for your process and include any steps of the process you desire. The regulations from NFPA and OSHA are difficult to navigate as our customers soon discover that there are more than 20 different standards and regulations that address Lithium batteries. We work together with these agencies to ensure that we are providing the most thorough and up-to-date compliance measures for our customers. Our team is comprised of former OSHA inspectors, Electrical Engineers, NFPA compliance officers, and ISO champions. We pride ourselves on our relationships with our clients and will make every effort to keep you safe and compliant.
Fall Protection – Training Requirements (1926.503): 1,556violations
Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment – Eye and Face Protection (1926.102): 1,401violations
Machine Guarding (1910.212): 1,370violations
Safety is important to the health and well being of your employees and for the continued success of your company. Though it may be easy to adopt a “we’ll get to it when we can” mentality or just let it slide because there isn’t enough time in the day, safety programs, training, and equipment inspections are absolutely necessary to build a safety mindset that is second nature to everyone in the whole company and creates a community of responsibility, accountability, and safety.
To take all the courses in OSHA’s top 10 and to help you maintain your training compliance we are offering all 10 of these courses, normally $50 each, for $199.00 total…that’s a savings of over 60% or $300. To receive this discount visit our training site and create an account for yourself or one of your employees, http://lms.lifeandsafety.com/login/304/OSHA2022Top10.aspx. Once you’ve successfully logged in go to the “Catalog” screen and purchase the training bundle to receive your discount.
Cybersecurity is a word we are hearing more often these days. This is because the number of threats to devices connected to the internet has grown. Grown right along with the enormous growth in the number of devices themselves. Cybersecurity is the only process that keeps these ongoing threats at bay and from becoming even worse.
Check out our webinar for an educational presentation by Alen Zilic, the founder and CEO of Stonebridge IT. Alen detailed what cybercrime is and how it can affect us all. He shared actionable steps and safe habits you can utilize to avoid becoming a victim of cyberattacks.
Use this checklist to determine if you need to explore additional security measures.
Alen Zilic – Founder and CEO of Stonebridge IT
Alen Zilic, is the founder and CEO of Stonebridge IT. He brings an extensive background in computer science engineering, system networking, cybersecurity, management, and consulting. He uses his expertise to plan, oversee, and implement large scale projects. Projects such as unifying technology for merging companies, as well as streamlining daily IT operations for existing companies.
In his 25+ of experience in the IT industry, Alen has helped lead many organizations through integrating technology solutions to fit their business goals. Alen and his team proudly serve industries from education, staffing, manufacturing, construction, entertainment, legal/financial/professional services and much more.
What is a company’s most valuable asset? The answer is simple, their employees! It is difficult for companies to truly understand how their employees are moving on any given day. Modjoul has the ability to provide data that not only allows companies to understand the body mechanics of their employees, but also reduces injuries within the workplace. The Modjoul solution has proven success by pairing our haptic response that serves as an on-the-fly reminder to employees when they take a risky bend; in-depth data that fully encompasses how the employees are moving; and the mitigation of MSD injuries in the lower lumbar region.
About Modjoul
Modjoul was founded in 2016 by our CEO Eric Martinez and COO Jen Thorson; both Eric and Jen were executives with AIG insurance and saw too many preventable workplace injuries and fatalities.
Modjoul was founded on the principle that employees are a company’s most valuable asset and that data drives great decisions. It is nearly impossible for employers to really understand the body mechanics of their employees or whether they are truly working safely without Modjoul’s solution. At Modjoul, we utilize and analyze data that will allow employers to provide a safer environment for their employees by reducing workplace injury. Here at Modjoul, we have got your back
The Future of Workplace Safety: Using Smart Technology to Reduce Ergonomic Injuries
Learning Objectives
Understand how smart technology can be used in your workplace safety planning (IoT, Wearables and RFID)
Learn the 6 benefits of data driven decisions
See several examples of how technology can be applied to improve safety and ergonomics
Description
Data analysis from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and National Academy of Social Insurance shows Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) represented more than one-third of all workplace injuries in the past 10 years. Additionally, the average cost of an ergonomic claim in the US is over $30,000, making ergonomic injuries a large employer expense.
Ergonomics is often described as a “war of inches” and even minor adjustments can result in major beneficial outcomes. Outfitting employees with a smart workplace allows a better risk understanding through data to help minimize MSDs.
A smart workplace serves as a central piece in today’s workplace strategy. Using technology, employees connect and engage with their work environment using a data-driven approach, through a connection of networked platforms, software, IoT, and wearable sensors. It allows organizations to use evidence-based data to identify workplace safety opportunities, improve operations efficiency, pursue business objectives, and achieve goals.
As organizations navigate beyond the pandemic, a people-first approach is more top-of-mind than ever. Technology can help remove barriers to employee risk and improve productivity for the whole business, and this session will provide an innovative approach to maintaining
Thank you to all of our clients and those who were able to attend our client appreciation event last Thursday the 10th of November. With your support we’ve made it to 25 years and look forward to the next 25.
Life and Safety Team
A special thank you to Brooks Wolfe for presenting the ever popular topic of OSHA recordkeeping. The information was relatable and very well received. Watch the YouTube video below or visit our YouTube channel for this and other safety content.
Life and Safety Consultants, Inc. 31 Boland Court Greenville, SC 29615 info@lifeandsafety.com (864)297-4521
Life and Safety is excited to welcome Jay Jordan as the newest member of our team. Jay is a graduate of the College of Charleston and comes to us with a background in automotive plant safety and commercial construction site management.
We’re excited to have Jay on our team helping our clients design, build, and and maintain their safety programs.
It’s hot out there and it’s only getting hotter. Are you and your employees safe in this heat?
Did you know that this year on April 8th OSHA implemented a new national emphasis program focused on heat?
National Emphasis Programs (NEPs) are temporary programs that focus OSHA’s resources on particular hazards and high-hazard industries. Existing and potential new emphasis programs are evaluated using inspection data, injury and illness data, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports, peer-reviewed literature, analysis of inspection findings, and other available information sources.
According to OSHA “most outdoor fatalities, 50% to 70%, occur in the first few days of working in warm or hot environments because the body needs to build a tolerance to the heat gradually over time. The process of building tolerance is called heat acclimatization. Lack of acclimatization represents a major risk factor for fatal outcomes.” (https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure)
The list of targeted industries is long and includes industries you probably thought of like construction, manufacturing, and farming. But also included on that list are bakeries, grocery, automobile dealers, nursing care facilities, and many more. The list contains well over 50 targeted industries. (Appendix A: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/directives/CPL_03-00-024.pdf).
General controls include training, personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering, work practice, and administrative controls, health screening, and heat alert programs
Training:
Hazards of heat-related illnesses.
How to avoid heat-related illnesses by recognizing and avoiding situations that can lead to heat-related illnesses.
Recognition of signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
First aid procedures.
Employer’s program to address heat-related illnesses.
Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment:
Hats for work outdoors in the sun.
For indoor work, loosely worn reflective clothing designed to deflect radiant heat, such as vests, aprons, or jackets.
Cooling vests and water-cooled/dampened garments may be effective under high temperature and low humidity conditions. However, be aware that cooling vests can become an insulator when they reach the body’s temperature.
In environments where respirator usage is necessary, consult with an industrial hygienist to determine the appropriate clothing to prevent heat stress while still protecting the workers.
Consider the use of dermal patches for monitoring core temperature to better identify when workers need to be removed from the work area.
Consider the use of heart rate monitoring to better identify when workers need to be removed from the work area. Both sustained (180 bpm minus age) and recovery (120 bpm after a peak work effort) heart rates are recommended guidelines for limiting heat strain
Engineering Practice Controls:
Use air conditioning
Increase general ventilation
Provide cooling fans
Run local exhaust ventilation where heat is produced (e.g., laundry vents)
Use reflective shields to block radiant heat
Insulate hot surfaces (e.g., furnace walls)
Stop leaking steam
Provide shade for outdoor work sites.
Administrative and Work Practice Controls:
Schedule hot jobs for cooler parts of the workday; schedule routine maintenance and repair work during cooler seasons of the year when possible.
Provide adequate, cool drinking water on the worksite that is easily accessible and permit employees to take frequent rest and water breaks.
Use relief workers and reduce physical demands of the job.
Use work/rest schedules.
Health Screening and Acclimatization:
Allow new workers to get used to hot working environments by using a staggered approach over 7-14 days. For example, new workers should begin work with 20% of the normal workload and time spent in the hot environment, and then gradually increase the time over a 7–14-day period. The same should be done for workers returning from an absence of three or more days, starting with 50% of the normal workload and time spent in the hot environment, then staging acclimatization over three consecutive days. Advise workers that certain medications can increase risk of heat stress. These include:
Amphetamines – sometimes prescribed for narcolepsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
Diuretics – water pills,
Antihypertensives – blood pressure medication,
Anticholinergics – for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
Antihistamines – allergy medications
In addition, alert workers to the dangers of using illegal drugs and alcohol in hot work environments. Illegal amphetamines, such as methamphetamine, are particularly hazardous when heat stress is present.
Some conditions, such as pregnancy, fever, gastrointestinal illness, heart disease, and obesity, may increase the risk of heat-related illness. Advise workers to check with their doctors if they have any questions. (Please note: the employer is NOT entitled to know whether workers have these conditions, but only whether workers have any health conditions that limit their ability to perform their job duties. In some instances, workers with chronic conditions may need extra time to become acclimatized or may need other accommodations, such as more frequent breaks or restricted work.)
Encourage workers to consult a doctor or pharmacist if they have questions about whether they are at increased risk for heat-related illness because of health conditions they have and/or medications they take.
If you’d like assistance in developing your company’s heat stress program, give us a call at 864.297.4521 or Email Us. We’d be happy to help in any way we can. Life and Safety can help you develop your program, select the right PPE, deliver training, or any other element of your heat safety program.
Our President and former OSHA inspector, Don Snizaski, will presented a What To Do When OSHA Shows Up.
How should your respond? Do you let them in, turn them away, give them full access to your documentation and employees…these and other questions were answered as well as what to do after OSHA leaves.
