EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACCESSORIZING VERTEX AND STRATO HELMETS

Professionals who work at height or on the ground understand that head protection goes well beyond simply wearing a helmet. This is why Petzl has developed a full line of modular accessories for you to customize your helmet for the specific needs of the task at hand. Eye shields, face shields, nametag holders, neck protectors, headlamps, etc. These accessories are now compatible with all VERTEX and STRATO helmets (VENT, HI-VIZ…) and take just a few seconds to install!

The general rule for filter replacement is to leave the contaminated area and dispose of the filter if it becomes damaged, soiled, or breathing becomes difficult. Even if none of these things happen, it's recommended to dispose of filters after 40 hours of use or 30 days, whichever comes first.

Commission publishes guidance on export requirements for personal protective equipment

On 15 March, the Commission introduced export authorisation requirements for exports of personal protective equipment outside of the European Union. This is a measure of temporary nature and not an export ban and is in line with all of the EU’s international obligations.

Given the evolving nature of the COVID-19 situation, the Commission has continued to keep its comprehensive response under review. In this respect, the Commission has reviewed various aspects of the new export authorisation measure to ensure that it fully meets its objective and operates in as effective a manner as possible.

Reflecting the integrated nature of the production value chains and distribution networks for medical and personal protective equipment beyond the boundaries of the European Union, especially in the four Member States of the European Free Trade Association – Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland – the Commission has now decided to exempt exports to those countries from the export authorisation requirements. A similar exemption is being granted to Andorra, the Faroe Islands, San Marino and the Vatican, as well as the associated countries and territories that have special relations with Denmark, France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (so-called Annex II countries). This change will be effective as of 21 March 2020.

This new regulation will likely impact brands like Petzl, IKAR and Skylotec's ability to supply certain Personal Protective Equipment sourced from their manufacturing operations in the European Union to customers in non-European Union countries.

3M Technical Bulletin

Filtering facepiece respirators (FFR), which are sometimes called disposable respirators, are subject to various regulatory standards around the world. These standards specify certain required physical properties and performance characteristics in order for respirators to claim compliance with the particular standard. During pandemic or emergency situations, health authorities often reference these standards when making respirator recommendations, stating, for example, that certain populations should use an "N95, FFP2, or equivalent" respirator.

This document is only intended to help clarify some key similarities between such references, specifically to the following FFR performance standards:

“From the Deep: The Petzl Adventure”

Download for free the history of Petzl from the very beginning

For the past 50 years, Petzl has played its part in the history of adventures in the mountains. Descendants from caving’s golden age, we have explored every facet of the vertical world from rock, to ice, to snow, to the dark of the night… We have also transferred our expertise to more professional applications, such as search and rescue, tree care, and work-at-height.

From the Deep: the Petzl adventure, tells the story of a company and its environment, the story about the women and men committed to the vertical world, to exploring the unknown.
Have you ever wondered:

• How the first battery-powered headlamps were developed?

• Where the names of some of our products like the GRIGRI come from?

• How Petzl transformed from a small workshop to an international company with more than 1000 people working worldwide?

Download this fascinating book for free to learn the answers to all of these questions and more. Read it to keep you busy and your mind occupied during this challenging period of time that we are all currently enduring.

Download the book

Eye Protection

The portfolio of 3M™ Eye Protection products promises quality eyewear that provides an optimal balance of comfort, protection and design. 3M™’s Engineers have worked hard to ensure that the level of comfort and style matches the standard of protection offered. The 3M™ portfolio offers the highest level of optical class. A broad range of eyewear products include durable anti-scratch and convenient anti-fog coatings.

About the range

Eye Protection products are used in many industries to protect against fl ying particles, liquids, chemicals, molten metals, radiated head and glare. The 3M™ range of safety spectacles and goggles off er the user protection from eye hazards including medium impact flying fragments. Our 3M™ safety spectacles and goggles can be used in conjunction with other Personal Protective Equipment products to give you added protection in diff erent situations. The 3M™ eye protection portfolio off ers an unrivalled range of products for companies looking for comfortable and high-quality solutions to meet a variety of industrial applications.

Differential Permeation. Applied to returning you home safely.

Science has the power to change the world, solve the toughest problems and shape the future. But science is just science, until you apply it to something. Make it do something, change something. No one knows this better than 3M. The average person uses 3M science many times a day and doesn’t even know it. But it is everywhere, supporting 46 separate technology platforms and continuously driving our innovations. No other company uses science like we do. That’s 3M Science. Applied to life.™

At 3M we have a select and high quality range of Coveralls, which provide protection against many hazards. The 3M range of Protective Apparel offers a variety of features, from the use of fabrics with specialist treatments for enhanced wear and added protection, to breathable back panels for increased comfort. Our experts can work closely with you, to help you identify hazards and best protect your workers against them.

Using proper cleaning and storage practices ensures that respirators remain effective and uncontaminated.

Common mistakes that limit the effectiveness of respirators.

1. Upon returning from the field on a hot and humid day, a worker haphazardly removes the personal protective clothing. The worker pulls off the respirator and hangs it on a nail in the barn, next to a pesticide container.
2. Rather than taking the time to put the respirator away, a worker tosses it on the dashboard of the truck. The truck is parked in a very sunny spot.
3. A respirator is in an enclosed cab. The cartridge is inside the sleeve of a plastic glove. The respirator has been there for two months.

Respirators should be stored away from dust, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, excessive moisture and damaging chemicals. Respirators, a piece of personal protective equipment (PPE), must be stored away from personal clothing and pesticide-contaminated areas.

People often ask how long a respirator cartridge lasts. The answer is significantly less if they are not properly cared for. I'll admit in the past I have not been kind to my respirator cartridges. I haven't treated them well. I've finished my work and shoved them in the shed with the other painting supplies, or worse left them on the work bench in an the area I just finished painting. As a result, they haven't lasted very long. It's a waste of money, it adds plastic trash to the landfill, and it's just plain irresponsible. I'm sorry.

Understanding the different types of particulate filters and gas and vapour cartridges will help you select the right one.

As per AS/NZS 1715 there are 3 different classes of particulate filters, P1, P2 and P3.

The negative pressure particulate categories are based facepiece coverage. All particulate filtering facepieces that cover the nose and mouth area only can achieve only a P1 or P2 classification. A P3 classification can ONLY be achieved when worn with a full facepiece.

• Class P1 particulate filters are used against mechanically generated particulates e.g. silica and wood dust.
• Class P2 particulate filters are used for protection against mechanically and thermally generated particulates or both e.g. metal fumes.
• Class P3 particulate filters are used for protection against highly toxic or highly irritant particulates e.g. beryllium (when worn with a full facepiece).
• NOTE: certain contaminants may have specific respiratory selection criteria outside this guide e.g. asbestos.
• Gas and vapour cartridges categories are distinguished by their filter type and class. Refer to AS/NZS 1715 for the complete list of filter types and what they are used for. Some commonly used filter types are:
• Filter type A = Certain organic vapours (boiling point above 65⁰C) from solvents such as those in paints and thinners (cartridge label colour = brown)
• Filter type B = Acid gases such as chlorine, hydrogen sulfide (sulphide) and sulfur dioxide (cartridge label colour = grey)
• Filter type E = Vapours from sulfur dioxide (cartridge colour = yellow)
• Filter type ABE = are suitable for both certain organic vapours/acid gases and sulfur dioxide e.g. solvents, chlorine and sulfur dioxide (cartridge label colour = brown, grey and yellow)
• Filter type K = ammonia gas (cartridge label colour = green)
• Filter type ABEK = are suitable for both certain organic vapours/acid gases, sulfur dioxide and ammonia (cartridge label colour = brown, grey, yellow and green)