The Q Source Resource

Friday, June 10, 2016

Make Common Home/Office Repairs w/Eclipse’s Household Tool Kit

Save 13% off the Q Source price of the Eclipse (PK-2028T) 13-Piece Household Tool Kit. Our FPF061016 Coupon Code is auto applied when you add a PK-2028T Tool Kit to your shopping cart. This Featured Product Friday (FPF) promo is valid from today, June 10, 2016 through Sunday, June 12, 2016 and the code is unlimited use.

This 13-piece tool kit features a versatile selection of tools for common, basic home and office maintenance. Includes a durable carrying case.

Follow our weekly FPF selection on The Q Source Resource Blog, via our email newsletter, or on our social media accounts. Please help us spread the word about Featured Product Friday by sharing the FPF code with your friends and colleagues.

For further questions about Featured Product Friday, please read our informational blog post, call us (800-966-6020), or send us an email. Please note: This promo is valid only at QSource.com and expires on June 12, 2016.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

What You Need to Know When Selecting ESD Flooring – Guest Blog

by Craig Zander, Transforming Technologies

Craig’s newest Guest Blog, for the Q Source Resource, provides valuable tips about selecting ESD flooring for your workplace

The use of ESD flooring and footwear is a popular way to ground people working with ESD-sensitive devices that cannot use a conventional wrist strap/cord system because they need to be mobile, or because they are working near equipment with moving parts that could pose a hazard. ESD footwear and flooring provide a convenient method to drain the charge from the operator to ground.

There are many options for ESD flooring that are “permanent” solutions, such as conductive tiles and epoxies. These products generally have very good durability and can last for many years. Unfortunately, they also present a few challenges.

PERMANENT ESD FLOOR CHALLENGES

Cost: ESD floor tiles and epoxies are an expensive option. The cost of the tiles or epoxy in combination with the conductive undercoat and installation expense makes permanent flooring one of the more expensive options.
Moisture: In some cases, the moisture content in the sub-floor is too high to allow successful or long-term adhesion. Hydrostatic pressure from floors can cause tile lifting or epoxy bubbles. Testing must be done prior to installation to be sure that the floor can be installed.
Installation: Installing an ESD tile or epoxy floor requires experienced installers. The conductive undercoat must be applied in a precise quantity and manner. Mistakes can lead to poor adhesion and poor electrical readings on the installed floor.
Maintenance: While new floors may look amazing shortly after installation, they must be maintained to keep their appearance and their electrical performance. Some floors require certain floor finishes, and some floors cannot be waxed or their electrical properties will become diminished.
Permanence: While a permanent floor can be an advantage, it may be a disadvantage to companies that occasionally change facility layouts or to companies that lease space.

TEMPORARY OR PORTABLE ESD FLOORING

There are a number of options for those that need to ground their operators through footwear and flooring, but do not want a permanent ESD floor.

ESD Mats

ESD mats come in a variety of options including size, thickness, contour, and conductivity. ESD mats are generally placed in front of standing operations and provide a path to ground for the operator and, possibly, a more ergonomic standing surface than the standard floor.

Floor mats may be offered in specific sizes (i.e., 2’ x 3’, 3’ x 4’, etc.), or may be offered with interlock to provide a variety of lengths. They are easy to relocate should production equipment need to be moved.

ESD Runners

ESD floor runners offer a solution in front of long assembly lines, or areas where mobile equipment is being used and needs to be grounded.

ESD floor runners are generally smooth or slightly textured to allow mobile equipment to move, thus they offer less ergonomic benefit than mats.

Interlocking Tiles

ESD interlocking tiles provide an effective way to cover a larger area, or an entire floor, while still offering some portability. The tiles can be easily cut to fit an area and they are free floating on the floor so there are no moisture issues that come with permanent floors. Many of the interlocking tiles also provide ergonomic properties. Yellow safety edges are also available if the floor does not terminate at a wall.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOOR

Whether you select permanent flooring or temporary/portable ESD flooring, you need to verify that the electrical properties of the footwear and flooring combination will meet your requirements.

To be in compliance with ANSI/ESD S20.20 you must verify two specific measurements. First, you need to measure the resistance of the person, through the footwear, through the flooring and to ground (ANSI/ESD STM 97.1 Floor Materials and Footwear – Resistance Measurement in Combination with a Person). Second, you need to verify the voltage being generated by people using your selected footwear (shoes or foot grounders) and flooring (ANSI/ESD STM 97.2 – Floor Materials and Footwear – Voltage Measurement in Combination with a Person).

ANSI/ESD STM97.1 (Warmbier Metriso 3000 Resistance Meter)

ANSI/ESD STM97.2 (Warmbier WT-5000 Walking Test Kit)

We’ve briefly reviewed the factors to be considered when choosing ESD flooring. With these in mind, you can select the floor that meets your needs for ESD properties, overall cost, and ease of use.

Thanks, Craig! That’s excellent information to assist our readers in choosing the proper ESD flooring solution to meet their needs. We’re excited for the next time you share your expertise with our Q Source community.

For information about Transforming Technologies and their ESD control/monitoring products, please visit QSource.com. You may also contact us via email or phone at 800-966-6020 and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for reading. Please leave your comments, questions, and suggestions for us by clicking on “Post a Comment.” We also encourage you to share this post via the social media icons below.

Subscribe to our email newsletter for additional Q Source product information, reviews, how-to articles, and special offers.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Create a Proper Spill Control Plan w/Brady SPC Absorbents

Implementing a proper Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure plan (SPCC) helps create a safe and productive work environment for your employees. With that in mind, we’ve recently added a broad-reaching Brady Absorbents Department to QSource.com.

OSHA and EPA regulations (29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2), 40 CFR 112.7(c)(1)(vii), and 29 CFR 1910.120(j)(1)(vii)) require specific spill control and cleanup procedures to protect employees. The cost of non-compliance can be devastating in a number of ways. Brady’s SPC product line offers hundreds of spill control solutions for your workplace so you can avoid those costly cleanups.

Our new Brady SPC Absorbents Department features everything you need to create an effective SPCC plan with products in the following categories:

When creating your SPCC plan, you need to consider three main factors.

What Are You Absorbing?

Universal spills include coolants, solvents, gasoline, vegetable oil, kerosene, and other water-based fluids
Oil only spills include hydraulic oil, motor oil, brake fluid, cooking oil, turpentine, and other oil-based fluids
Chemical spills include aggressive chemicals, citric acid, sodium hydroxide, and other unknown chemicals

What Type of Absorbent Application?

Wiping, dripping or foot traffic applications use pads, rolls, SOCs, and pillows
Barrier-backed or heavy traffic applications use mats and rugs
Emergency spill response use spill containment and spill kits

What Size & Weight Do You Need?

Brady SPC products are available in a wide variety of sizes and absorbency weights in many categories

Visit QSource.com’s Absorbents Department to start building your SPCC plan. If you have questions about what your specific work area requires, you may contact us by phone (800-966-6020), email, or via our Web site. We also offer a complete line of Brady Labeling and Identification products.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

SCS’ New Air Ionizers Offer Reliable Static Control

These two reliable ionizers feature built-in automatic emitter point cleaners, adjustable fan speeds, and steady-state DC ionization. If you’re looking for a dependable solution for ionization, these units are a smart choice.

SCS 9110-NO - BENCHTOP AIR IONIZER

The SCS 9110-NO 100-240 VAC Benchtop Air Ionizer w/Power Source helps eliminate the build-up of static charges on insulative materials. It has an easy access cover for maintenance, a white powder-coated metal housing, and an illuminated power switch. In addition, it features the following specifications:

AC/DC Power Adapter Power Input: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz - Power Output: 24 VDC, 2.5A
Operating Voltage: 24 VDC, 1.8 A maximum
Power Consumption: 14 watts (normal operation) 42 watts (auto cleaning operation)
Fuse: 2 QA, 250V, 5.2 x 20 mm glass tube
Ion Emission: Steady-state DC
Balance Voltage: ± 15 volt (25 ± 5°C, 45 ± 10% RH)
Decay Time: ≤ 2 sec
Air Speed: 500' per min (152 m/min)
Audible Noise: High fan speed: 54 dB (sustained), 57 dB (auto cleaning)/Low fan speed: 48 dB (sustained), 55 dB (auto cleaning)
Ozone Level: < 0.05 ppm
Certifications & Approvals: cULus, CE, RoHS, WEEE

SCS 9310-NO - OVERHEAD AIR IONIZER

The SCS 9310-NO 100-240 VAC Overhead Air Ionizer w/Power Source includes most of the same features as the 9110-NO Benchtop unit. In addition, its specifications include:

Operating Voltage: 24 VDC, 2.5A maximum
Power Consumption: 43 watts (normal operation) 60 watts (auto cleaning operation)
Fuse: 5 A, 250V, 5.2 x 20 mm glass tube
Decay Time: ≤ 3.5 sec
Air Speed: 200' per min (61 m/min)
Audible Noise: High Fan Speed: 57 dB (sustained), 60 dB (auto cleaning)/Low Fan Speed: 46 dB (sustained), 51 dB (auto cleaning)

Please Note: Neither unit includes a power cord. The compatible SCS 770000 North America Power Cord is available separately.

Please visit QSource.com to purchase one of these new SCS Air Ionizers. You may also contact us by phone (800-966-6020), email, or via our Web site.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

GHS Chemical Labeling: When to Re-Label Existing Chemicals – Guest Blog

by Tom Smith, Product Manager, Brady Corporation

In Tom’s first Guest Blog for Q Source, he answers the question of GHS labeling for older chemicals.

Does your facility have chemicals that have been sitting on the shelf for a year or more? OSHA’s final Hazard Communication Standard deadline around the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals is quickly approaching. All customers must be fully compliant with the requirements, including those for Safety Data Sheets and chemical container labels, by June 1 of this year. Read on to learn if you need to re-label them with new GHS labels.

To answer this question, you first need to determine if you have chemicals on your shelves without GHS labels. Under GHS, OSHA required all chemical manufacturers to begin shipping their chemicals with compliant labels by June 1 of last year. OSHA also provided distributors with an additional six months (up to December 1, 2015) to make sure their inventories were updated and they were shipping chemicals with compliant labels. With this in mind, it’s entirely possible you may have ordered a chemical from your distributor before December of last year and received containers that have the previously used “right-to-know” or NFPA diamond labels.

Once you determine if you have older chemical containers without GHS labels in your facility, the next step is deciding whether you need to re-label them. The good news is that OSHA provides some guidance on this issue, explaining that “employers are not responsible for updating labels on shipped containers, even if the shipped containers are labeled under HazCom 1994.”

"To answer this question, you first need to determine if you have chemicals on your shelves without GHS labels."

Although you’re not responsible for updating older labels, you do have a responsibility when it comes to damaged labels or undisclosed hazards. OSHA explains that “the employer must re-label items if the labels are removed or defaced. However, if the employer is aware of newly identified hazards that are not disclosed on the label, the employer must ensure that the workers are aware of the hazards as discussed below under workplace labels.”

What sort of additional hazards may be undisclosed? NFPA 704 does not address hazards such as carcinogens (cancer causing) or mutagens (causing birth or genetic defects in the unborn child). However, the OSHA 2012 HazCom/GHS regulation does consider those hazards. Therefore, if you have an existing chemical that you know is a carcinogen, you also have to indicate that hazard and appropriate precautions on your label.

As with most regulations, the details are the key to understanding the appropriate actions to take. When it comes to employee safety, particularly with a new regulation, taking the conservative route with over-communication and thorough training is the ideal option. While you’re not required to re-label older chemicals, be sure the presence of the differing labels is made clear to employees to ensure they are safely handling all containers in your facility. As the full GHS implementation takes effect, these older containers will eventually be circulated out with future chemical orders and GHS-compliant labels will be used consistently.

Thanks, Tom! Your valuable information is extremely useful for making educated chemical safety decisions. We look forward to your future contributions to the Q Source Resource.

Pages