The Sam Carbis Solutions Group Safety Blog

Taking a proactive approach to marine safety not only protects your workers from potentially serious accidents, but it also reduces risks for your company, protecting you from costly damages and penalties. Here’s just one example of how a lack of appropriate safety equipment contributed to a tragic accident: A group of four employees was unloading scrap steel from a barge, and needed to release the mooring lines and reposition the vessel to complete the task. One worker climbed up a concrete barricade on the floating dock and attempted to mount the barge. She was halfway across when the barge drifted away from the dock, creating a gap. Her coworkers tried to catch her, but she fell headfirst into the water. The worker was wearing a personal flotation device when she fell into the water. But before she could be rescued, the barge drifted back against the dock, crushing and killing her. According to the OSHA report, the employer was responsible for several factors that contributed to ...

As the innovator of unique safety solutions across a host of industries, Sam Carbis Solutions Group is well versed in tackling complex safety challenges. A construction company was doing routine maintenance work on railroad trestles and found that a steep embankment was creating a safety hazard for workers. They came to Sam Carbis Solutions Group seeking a solution that would allow workers to safely move up or down the embankment as they performed their work. To further complicate the challenge, the embankment and angle of the slope varied in height. In addition, the company needed to be able to move heavy equipment from one location to another along the embankment, requiring a flexible solution. The team assessed the situation and came up with a custom solution, an Embankment Ladder. The ladder’s treads can be articulated to a flat position, providing a safer path up and down the embankment. The self-leveling stair is highly versatile and can be used on very steep or very shallo...

There's more than one way to load and unload products. The two most popular options for tank trucks and rail cars are hoses and loading arms. Each option has its own purpose as far as moving product, ease of use, and increased throughput. There are three basic types of hoses – vapor recovery, steel braided, and composite. • Vapor recovery hoses  are used when lightweight and flexibility are needed. These hoses are appropriate for diesel, gasoline, and lubricating oils. • Steel braided hoses  are ideal for hydraulic situations that use the dreaded combo of high heat and high temperature. They have good corrosion resistance as well as resistance to fire and abrasions. These types of hoses have to be durable and reliable, with a high degree of safety. For really high-pressure applications, two or three layers of braiding may be added. Still, the braiding is flexible and able to follow the hose’s movement. • Composite hoses  are compatible with the widest range of chemica...

A well-designed flatbed fall protection solution helps your drivers feel safer on the job – without costing them valuable time. In fact, many of the injuries and fatalities in OSHA’s flatbed truck accident reports  could have been prevented with adequate fall protection. Here’s just one example: A subcontractor for a construction company was doing concrete work at a residential building in California, when two of the employees tried to move a piece of machinery from the back of a flatbed trailer to the front. The machinery was a tamper: a jackhammer with a flat attachment for compacting soil. But the flatbed also held a pile of lumber, and one of the workers stepped onto this unstable surface while trying to move the tamper. The worker slipped on the lumber and fell off the bed of the truck, striking his head on a concrete Jersey barrier and landing on the ground. He sustained a fractured neck vertebra, spinal injury and a laceration on his head, and was hospitalized for six days...

Turnaround time is always important when you’re working with commercial or military aircraft. A commercial plane that’s not in the air isn’t making money. A military helicopter that isn’t combat-ready could jeopardize a mission. At the same time, aviation sites require specialized safety equipment and fall prevention to protect the crew, maintenance personnel and the aircraft itself. This combination of safety challenges and time pressure makes it particularly important to choose safety solutions designed to also support efficiency. Any equipment you introduce must help workers to complete their tasks safely, without getting in their way. Choosing The Right Aviation Safety Equipment Every airport performs some level of maintenance, but these services vary depending on the site’s equipment and capabilities. Typically, a large international airport (such as LAX or JFK) is prepared to perform more complex maintenance tasks than a smaller, regional airport. Since each aviation site has di...

Providing a safe work site is critical for protecting your employees against accidents that may cause serious injuries. For rail sites in particular, fall prevention measures – such as safe access platforms – are viable safety solutions that may reduce the risk of preventable accidents, such as falls. However, you may not have the time to install a traditional access system. If you find that you need more flexibility, a portable platform might be beneficial for your work site. Portable platforms are suitable for rail car loading and unloading when installing permanent equipment simply isn’t feasible. Learn more about how to determine whether portable platforms are right for your rail site. How Portable Platforms Are Used Portable platforms designed specifically for rail cars are lightweight, low-cost safety solutions suitable for fall prevention during loading and unloading. Typically, a portable platform has wheels that make transporting the equipment more efficient. Many different ...

Diesel Exhaust Fluid, also referred to as DEF, is a clear, non-flammable liquid made using a solution of 32.5% high-purity urea in 67.5% de-mineralized water. DEF is non-hazardous and is neither a fuel nor a fuel additive. If Diesel Exhaust Fluid comes into contact with skin or clothing, no worries, it can be washed off with water. The urea used in DEF is created synthetically from ammonia and carbon dioxide (CO2) and is often found in products we use every day including cosmetics, hair conditioner, and adhesives. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is used in combination with a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from a diesel-fueled vehicle’s exhaust system. The DEF is sprayed into the exhaust where it works with the catalyst to break down NOx into nitrogen and water rendering it harmless. In diesel powered vehicles there is a dedicated Diesel Exhaust Fluid tank that is refilled in a similar way to the diesel tank. Diesel Exhaust Fluid ...

  If you work in a chemical plant, you may be aware of the risks chemical plants pose to employees and the bottom line of the company. Workers must encounter potentially dangerous chemicals to process the products. But managers also need to keep the materials coming in and the products moving out. In this case, a truck loading rack can prove to be an invaluable safety tool. If you are looking for an innovative way to safely transport materials, check out the RediRack from Carbis Solutions. Designing your ideal loading rack solution is often a challenging and tedious task. What types of vehicles will be loading or unloading there? Who will operate the equipment? What challenges exist at the site such as piping obstructions, traffic flow issues, and safety requirements? Before long even simple solutions can get overwhelming. That is why Sam Carbis Solutions Group designed RediRack. The RediRack Component System The RediRack System begins with a standard 4’ x 6’ pedestal support...