Safety Guides

Practical guides to the standards behind the equipment we sell — what the markings mean, how the ratings are tested, and how to match a product to the hazard in front of you. Every figure on these pages is sourced from the standards bodies and manufacturers, and we leave out anything we could not verify.

• ANSI Z87.1 Safety Glasses Markings Explained
  Decode ANSI Z87.1 safety eyewear markings: Z87 vs Z87+, D3, D4 and D5 codes, U, R, L and W scale numbers, and when to choose goggles or a face shield.
• ANSI/ISEA 105 Cut Levels Explained (A1-A9)
  What ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels A1-A9 mean in grams, how TDM cut testing works, how they compare to the old 0-5 scale and EN 388, and how to pick a level.
• ANSI/ISEA 107 High-Visibility Classes Explained
  Class 1, 2 or 3? Compare ANSI/ISEA 107 Type O, R and P hi-vis garments, the square inches each class requires, and what the FHWA worker rule mandates.
• Fire Extinguisher Classes and Ratings Explained
  What does 2A:10B:C mean? Learn fire extinguisher Classes A, B, C, D and K, what the numbers measure, and how NFPA 10 governs selection, placement and service.
• How Many Fire Extinguishers Does My Facility Need? (With the Math Done for You)
  How to work out how many fire extinguishers you need under NFPA 10 and the fire code, with worked examples for a shop, warehouse, hangar and marina.
• Understanding NRR: How to Choose Hearing Protection
  Learn what the NRR means, how OSHA's derating method works, and how to match earplugs, earmuffs or dual protection to a measured noise level on the job.
• NIOSH Respirator Filter Classes: N95, R95, P100 and Beyond
  What N, R and P mean, how the 95/99/100 efficiency ratings work, plus cartridge color codes and the OSHA fit testing rules that come with respirator use.
• Choosing the Right Sorbent: Universal, Oil-Only and HazMat
  Universal, oil-only and hazmat sorbents compared: what each one absorbs, what it must never touch, pads vs socks vs booms, and how to size a spill kit.
• Lockout/Tagout Basics: What OSHA 1910.147 Requires
  A plain-language guide to OSHA 1910.147: energy control programs, lockout vs tagout, employee roles, the lockout sequence, group lockout and inspections.

Safety Equipment by Industry

• Aviation Safety Equipment: What Ramp, Hangar and Maintenance Crews Need
  Safety equipment for airport ramps, hangars and aircraft maintenance: hearing, hi-vis, eye, glove, fall and respiratory rules, compared and explained.
• Fuel Storage Safety Equipment: What Bulk Plant, Tank Farm and Fueling Crews Need
  Safety equipment for bulk plants, tank farms and fleet fueling: bonding, benzene, gloves, safety cans, cabinets, tank entry and spill rules, explained.
• Marina Safety Equipment: What Marinas, Boatyards and Fuel Docks Need
  Safety equipment for marinas and boatyards: ring buoys, life jackets, shock drowning rules, fuel dock spills, bottom paint dust and CO, explained.
• Oil and Gas Safety Equipment: What Drilling, Servicing and Production Crews Need
  Safety equipment for oil and gas crews: H2S monitors, FRC, tank gauging hazards, silica, fall protection and the OSHA exemptions that apply, explained.

Fire Protection by Industry

• Aviation Fire Extinguisher Requirements: NFPA 407, 409 and 410 Explained
  Which fire extinguishers airport ramps, fuel trucks and hangars need under NFPA 407, 409 and 410, why ABC is kept off the flight line, and how agents compare.
• Fuel Storage Fire Extinguisher Requirements: IFC, NFPA 10 and NFPA 30 Explained
  Fire extinguisher requirements for pumps, tank farms, loading racks and fuel trucks under the IFC, NFPA 10, NFPA 30 and 49 CFR 393.95, with agent comparisons.
• Marina and Fuel Dock Fire Extinguisher Requirements Explained
  Fire extinguisher rules for marinas, fuel docks and piers under the International Fire Code and NFPA 303, boat carriage requirements and salt-air construction.
• High-Flow Fire Extinguishers for Oil and Gas: NFPA 10 Requirements Explained
  Why oil and gas sites need high-flow extinguishers under NFPA 10, rig and offshore platform rules, and how Purple K, offshore and cartridge units compare.

Reference

• Workplace Safety Glossary
  60 defined terms, from ANSI Z87.1 to sorbent socks, each traced to an authoritative source.