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Communications Solutions, Industrial Safety Service Centers, Industrial Safety Services & Equipment

H2WR, A Total Safety Company, Has Relocated

H2WR offers two-way radio sales, rental and repair, as well as many other communications solutions and services.H2WR, A Total Safety Company (formerly Houston 2-Way Radio) is now at a new sales, rental and service office location:

4100 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Suite 290 Houston, TX 77086

Business: 713.681.2525
Fax: 713.681.5940

H2WR offers two-way radio sales, rental and repair, as well as many other communications solutions and services. H2WR offers solutions for rugged computing, handheld scanning and data capture devices, area-wide private digital radio service, plant and municipal emergency notification systems, communications system design and consultation, and much more.

As always, look to our experts at H2WR for exceptional service, proven techniques and superior equipment that meet your needs.

Industrial Hygiene, Industrial Safety Service Centers, Occupational Health and Safety

ICU, a Total Safety Company, Has Relocated

ICU, Total Safety's Environment, Health and Safety Services Company, has relocated in Houston, Texas.ICU, A Total Safety Company will now offer environmental, health and safety services from a new location:

4100 N. Sam Houston Parkway W., Suite 290 Houston, TX 77086

Business: 281.363.9939
Fax: 281.363.4744

ICU’s professional experience and expertise provides customers with the resources necessary to complete  EHS projects successfully, within budget and on time, while reducing risk and liability. Continue to look to our experts for Occupational Health Services, Safety Services, Technical Training Services, Environmental Services and more, just from a new, centralized location.

Industrial Safety Service Centers

Total Safety Sulphur, Louisiana Office Awarded OSHA’s VPP Star Status

Total Safety's Suplphur, Louisiana location is awarded OSHA VPP Star StatusNot only does Total Safety promote a culture of safety to their clients, we strive for safety excellence within our own company. As a result, Total Safety is proud to announce that our Sulphur location has received OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status. Total Safety would not have been able to achieve this level of excellence without the commitment of our employees and the leadership of management.

We would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of our employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health in accordance with OSHA’s VPP and within our own mission to ensure the safe Wellbeing of Workers Worldwide (W3).

About OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)

The VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on:

  • Hazard prevention and control
  • Worksite analysis
  • Training
  • Management commitment and worker involvement

To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit. VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. VPP participants are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.

To learn more about OSHA’s VPP, please visit their website at:

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/
Fire Protection Service Solutions

Total Safety Acquires Oilfield Safety and Western Fire

Total Safety, the leading global provider of integrated safety services and compliance solutions, announced today it has acquired Oilfield Safety, Inc. (“OSI”) based in Williston, North Dakota and Western Fire & Safety, Inc. (“Western”) based in Dickinson, North Dakota.  With over twenty years of customer service each, the companies will add to Total Safety’s Williston Basin presence through additional air, gas, and fire services. OSI provides critical safety services to the upstream energy markets including air, gas, and fire services to complement their equipment rental fleet.  Western complements the portfolio with a focus on fire services (fixed and portable systems) and personal protective equipment to both the up- and midstream energy markets and various fire departments across North Dakota.

“We are excited to partner with the energetic and talented team at OSI and Western,” said David E. Fanta, Chief Executive Officer of Total Safety.  “The leadership teams have a commitment to safety and excellence that mirrors our own.  We are looking forward to extending our additional capabilities to their current customers, some of which we’ve been proud to serve elsewhere but simply didn’t have the strong local presence to meet their needs until now.  OSI’s office in Williston will provide an immediate footprint to expand our services further north from our geographic base while Western’s capabilities complement our current Dickinson office very well.”

Randy Jilek, President and CEO of Western and OSI, noted, “we are very eager to provide our clients with additional services now that we are part of the Total Safety family. We know this combination will be advantageous for our clients and our loyal employees.”  Randy Jilek will continue to manage the business in Dickinson while Ben Weltikol will continue his leadership in Williston; both will dedicate themselves to their continued high standard of customer service.

Fire Protection Service Solutions, Gas Detection Service Solutions, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health and Safety, Safety Equipment for Rent, Specialized Safety Personnel

Finding Safety Solutions that Work for the Midstream Industry

Total Safety provides a suite of safety services and equipment that can be mixed and matched to provide a customized solution for midstream projects that will improve worker safety, decrease project time and lower costs.With the growing energy demand, midstream infrastructure is under great pressure to be delivered on time and within budget. Such pressure allows for the temptation of shortcuts to be taken or inadequate processes to be implemented in order to meet that demand.

Having processes and controls in place specifically tailored for midstream operations, as opposed to relying on those used for upstream, will streamline projects and reduce costs overall.

Specialized Safety Personnel

Having a team of personnel experienced in midstream operations aids greatly in creating an environment of safety because the team is aware of what safety precautions should and need to be taken, and they will know how to respond in case of an injury or emergency.

Total Safety assigns safety consultants, field safety crews, medics and specialized safety staff to midstream projects, long- or short-term, with the goal of maintaining high standards of safety. With Total Safety’s Specialized Safety Personnel (SPP), the billing rates are more competitive than “craftsman” billing rates, and the number of multiple contractor employees is reduced by having a centralized pool of trained safety personnel that can be dispatched and assigned to all areas of the project, reducing the total man-hour costs of the project.

Fire Protection Engineering, Design and Installation

Fire monitoring and suppression systems are an integral part of any safety program, specifically in midstream operations, as the infrastructure is typically in a remote location, a good distance from any type of outside aide. Therefore, these systems are imperative to the safety of life, assets and the environment.

Total Safety specializes in fire protection services that include providing audits and design/engineering of water spray and foam systems, fire pumps, fire detection and alarm design packages for process units, and design and installation of fire protection systems, as well as the inspection testing and maintenance of those systems.

Industrial Hygiene

Potential occupational hazards may include exposures to acetone and alkylates, to benzene, butadiene, hydrogen sulfide and kerosene, depending on your operations. Exposures may be encountered during pipeline activities and by tanker, rail car, ship and barge operations.

A Work Place Exposure Assessment (WEA) is at the heart of any successful industrial hygiene program.  Total Safety’s comprehensive WEAs take a fresh look at tasks, materials, exposure potential and controls through a systematic approach and associated process. It results in a clearly prioritized list of actions that help ensure the well being of workers. Along with reducing incidents, benefits include reduced liability, increased productivity and safety awareness, and conformance with regulations and industry standards.

Communications

Pipeline operators constantly monitor pipelines for up-to-date measurements and leak detection and stay in touch with maintenance personnel spread over wide-areas. Operators monitoring storage tanks situated at the end of a pipeline, as well as in refineries and chemical plants, must be able to communicate around-the-clock with key personnel.

Total Safety’s communications solutions are designed to increase safety by providing immediate communication in emergency situations and maximizing productivity by allowing workers to communicate quickly.

Our top-of-the-line communications equipment, available for rent or purchase, is ideal for remote locations. Our fleet includes everything from two-way radios to mobile Internet hotspots and is backed by in-house certified technicians who maintain and upgrade the equipment.

Safety Equipment, For Rent or Purchase

Essential to any industrial operation, safety equipment is designed to protect workers and the environment; however, from personal protective equipment (PPE) to high-tech gas monitors, safety equipment only works when it is being used properly, in compliance with the manufacturer and other regulating bodies’ guidelines.

Total Safety offers a complete line of industrial safety equipment for rent or purchase. In fact, they house the world’s largest rental fleet of equipment manufactured by leaders in the industry. In addition, Total Safety employs in-house certified technicians to repair and maintain Total Safety or customer-owned equipment.

Emergency Response

What if the unthinkable were to happen, and a leak were to occur in the pipeline? A proactive plan should be in place that addresses the necessary steps and procurement channels that should be in place to streamline recovery and get the systems back online.

With quick response time, seasoned personnel and an integrated menu of support services, Total Safety aids companies when disaster strikes. Their start-to-finish solutions are designed to deliver on the high number of customer requests and respond to the customer’s needs by providing two-way radios, fall protection, fire extinguishers, gas detection instruments, as well as the calibration and bump testing of the monitors, respiratory equipment, fit-testing, PPE resale and management, and, most importantly, safety training.

There are many aspects of a midstream project that need to work together to make the project not only successful, but safe. To overcome undesirable project outcomes, ensure that key materials, labor and contractor capabilities are planned for and that the right processes and internal control support are delivered.

Industrial Safety Service Centers

Total Safety’s Valero St. Charles Refinery Location Achieves VPP Star Status

Total Safety's Valero St. Charles Refinery Location Achieves OSHA's VPP Star AwardNot only does Total Safety promote a culture of safety to their clients, we strive for safety excellence within our own company. As a result, Total Safety is proud to announce that our Valero St. Charles Refinery location has received OSHA’s Vomuntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status. Total Safety would not have been able to achieve this level of excellence without the commitment of our employees and the leadership of management.

We would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of our employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health in accordance with OSHA’s VPP and within our own mission to ensure the safe Wellbeing of Workers Worldwide (W3).

About OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)

The VPP recognizes employers and workers in the private industry and federal agencies who have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP, management, labor and OSHA work cooperatively and proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries and illnesses through a system focused on:

  • Hazard prevention and control
  • Worksite analysis
  • Training
  • Management commitment and worker involvement

To participate, employers must submit an application to OSHA and undergo a rigorous onsite evaluation by a team of safety and health professionals. Union support is required for applicants represented by a bargaining unit. VPP participants are re-evaluated every three to five years to remain in the programs. VPP participants are exempt from OSHA programmed inspections while they maintain their VPP status.

To learn more about OSHA’s VPP, please visit their website at:

http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/vpp/

 

Industrial Safety Services & Equipment, Specialized Safety Personnel

Total Safety Acquires S&H Services

Total Safety acquires S&H Services, safety consultant providersTotal Safety recently acquired S&H Services, providers of safety cosultants to the oil and gas industries, with a concentration in pipelines.

This acquisition allows Total Safety to provide high-quality safety solutions and products in a measurable, cost-effective manner, without compromise. Total Safety has the people and processes to ensure that only the highest caliber of Specialized Safety personnel (SSP) is assigned to each of your projects. Whether you rely on our Safety Attendant or Safety Technician services, you can trust that our high standards increase safety and efficiency and reduce your costs.

For more information on our Specialized Safety Personnel, visit our website at TotalSafety.com.

Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Health and Safety

Industrial Hygiene is a Must in Pipeline Operations

Accidents involving pipelines have jumped from 9 in 2008 to 22 in 2010
Accidents involving pipelines have jumped from 9 in 2008 to 22 in 2010

By Mandy Sunderland, Senior Industrial Hygienist

Pipeline accidents and fatalities have been on the rise, jumping from nine in 2008 to 22 in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.  There is a growing recognition that America’s aging oil and gas infrastructure may be playing a part in this increase.

Major overhauls may be required to prevent events such as the September 9, 2010, natural-gas explosion that devastated a neighborhood in Northern California. In this case, a 50 year old pipeline ruptured at a defective seam weld and the ensuing explosion killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced in early April 2011 an initiative to repair and replace the nation’s pipelines. Texas alone has about 16% of the nation’s gas transmission lines and more than half of these lines were laid more than 40 years ago, which makes them more vulnerable to failure. In Texas, there are roughly 46,000 miles of gas transmission lines that pipeline employees must cover on a regular basis. The increased activity to support the anticipated pipeline repair and replacement initiative will require a large number of people working together to conduct repairs that present significant exposure potential to hazardous activities not encountered during normal operations.

Given the nature of the business, exposure monitoring in pipeline operations presents some real logistical challenges, and it may be hard to conduct monitoring in a cost effective manner. As these projects become more numerous, the regular work force may be unable to handle the increased load, and thus, less experienced workers may be used, which presents additional hazard potential.

Potential risks may include exposures to acetone, and alkylates, to benzene, butadiene, hydrogen sulfide and kerosene depending on your operations.  Exposures may be encountered during pipeline activities and by tanker, rail car, ship and barge operations.

As we all know, a Work Place Exposure Assessment (WEA) is at the heart of any successful industrial hygiene program.  A comprehensive WEA takes a fresh look at tasks, materials, exposure potential and controls through a systematic approach and associated process. It results in a clearly prioritized list of actions that help ensure the well being of workers. Along with reducing incidents, benefits include reduced liability, increased productivity and safety awareness, and conformance with regulations and industry standards.

A facility without a current WEA may sample unnecessary materials, bringing with it a false sense of security. This can occur when changes in operations, processes or materials are not recognized and evaluated. A well conducted WEA will identify the necessary medical surveillance and training, as well as the specific control equipment and personal protective equipment that are suited to the specific pipeline maintenance task and the non-routine exposures that might occur during replacement or renovation. Most companies recognize the benefits of conducting WEAs, but when it comes to pipeline operations, completing the process sometimes slips off the radar, partially due to the highly mobile and dispersed work force. While it is tempting to put WEAs on ‘the back burner’ during business planning and budgeting, this can be a costly and even a deadly mistake.

Since 2002, the DOT has been required by law to identify the highest risk lines and mandate repairs.  So this might be you!  So hear it through the pipeline and complete your WEA ASAP to avoid potential risk, reduce your liability and increase employee safety and morale on the job!

If you would like additional information regarding Work Place Exposure Assessments or creating a custom industrial hygiene program, call us at 888.44.TOTAL or email us.

Total Safety – The Best Minds in the Business!

Communications Solutions

The FCC Narrowbanding Mandate

January 2, 2013, the FCC will require that all existing licenses in the Land Mobile Radio and UHF spectrum band use the 12.5 kHz or less.
Frequency Wave

There is a critically important Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate phasing in soon that can greatly affect your organization’s overall radio communications. The mandate is designed to benefit radio users in the VHF and UHF frequency bands. If your organization currently uses two-way radio communications, you must pay particular attention to narrowbanding. Failure to comply with the FCC’s Narrowbanding Mandate may result in loss of FCC license, or large fines.

The Narrowbanding Mandate refers to the requirement by the FCC that all existing licensees in the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) Part 90 VHF 150-170 Megahertz (MHz) and UHF 421-512 MHz spectrum band use equipment designed to operate on channel bandwidths of 12.5 kilohertz (kHz) or less or which meets a specific efficiency standard. 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands are not affected by this mandate. Licensees must convert their existing wideband (25 kHz) systems to narrowband (12.5 kHz) operation, and operate in a 12.5 KHz efficiency standard. Any equipment not capable of operating on channels of 12.5 kHz or less must be replaced. If FCC licenses are not modified for narrowband operation by the end of 2012, the license will expire.

Below are some myths and FAQs:

  • Does narrowbanding require me to implement digital equipment? No. Licensees can operate in either analog or digital formats as long as you operate at 12.5 kHz efficiency.
  • How do I upgrade my existing 12.5 kHz capable equipment? In most cases, radio programming software can be used to reprogram the subscriber and base station radios to operate at 12.5 kHz. Typically, infrastructure site equipment does not require any changes.
  • Will migration to 12.5 kHz change my system coverage area? Possibly — conduct tests during conversion to ensure your system continues to provide similar coverage.
  • Does narrowbanding require me to change frequencies or obtain new channels? No. Licensees migrating from 25 kHz channels to 12.5 kHz channels stay on the same channel centers. You only reduce the bandwidth of your current channel and change the emission designator on your license.
  • Will I receive two 12.5 kHz channels when I change from my currently licensed 25 kHz channel? No. As noted above, you remain on the same 25 kHz channel center, not splitting the channel into two 12.5 kHz channels. If you need additional capacity, you will need to apply for additional 12.5 kHz channels to the FCC through your frequency coordinator.
  • Has the FCC established a schedule for mandatory migration to 6.25 kHz efficiency? No. The FCC has not set any date by which licensees must operate in 6.25 kHz efficiency. The current mandate only requires users to migrate to 12.5 kHz efficiency by Jan. 1, 2013.

Now is the time to prepare to meet mandate

The deadline is approaching quickly — the mandate will be in effect at the end of next year. Your license must be modified for narrowband, and your equipment must meet the 12.5 KHz efficiency standard.

Please take these steps:

  • Complete an inventory of your radios to assess what equipment is capable of operating in 12.5 kHz and what equipment will need to be replaced. The FCC required all radios certified since 1997 to include a 12.5 kHz efficiency mode, so most new equipment likely is dual mode 25/12.5 kHz that can be converted via software. Radios may need to be reprogrammed. Others may need to be replaced.
  • Consider that operational coverage may diminish after analog narrowbanding. Conduct tests during conversion to ensure your system continues to provide similar coverage.
  • Establish a funding plan, as well as a conversion and implementation schedule.
  • Coordinate your conversion with neighboring agencies or facilities to facilitate continued interoperability if needed.

If you are unsure that your communications equipment will be compliant, contact us today at 888.44.TOTAL and schedule an assessment with our experts.

Total Safety – The Best Minds in the Business!