Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) magazine is the premier workplace health and safety publication in Canada. We cover a wide range of topics ranging from office to heavy industry, and from general safety management to specific workplace hazards.
Issue link: https://digital.thesafetymag.com/i/358700
26 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com TOOLS OF THE TRADE ERGONOMICS HEARING PROTECTION ROLLER MOUSE The RollerMouse Re:d from Contour Design is the latest member of the Roller- Mouse family of central pointing devices. It has the most signifi cant changes made to the RollerMouse design so far: sleek alu- minum housing that is solid and sturdy; a newly redesigned rollerbar with added thickness and texture; and a completely dif- ferent tracking technology from that used in previous models, according to the manufacturer. The new model eliminates overreaching for a traditional mouse, relieving neck, shoulder and elbow pain. It also prevents static grip of the mouse. The RollerMouse Re:d is controlled with an open relaxed hand and slightly curled fi ngers, with no possibility of clutching or holding the device to effect cursor control. Fingertips roll the thick rollerbar both up and down and from side to side simultaneously to navigate the cursor over the entire screen, with very little friction or resistance. The elimination of fl exing your fi ngers to grip the mouse avoids compression through the carpal tunnel. The RollerMouse also boasts ambidextrous cursor control. By centrally locating the mouse buttons beneath the keyboard home keys, mouse control is equidistant from either hand. http://ergo.contour-design.com. SMART CHAIR Humanscale's new Diffrient Smart chair uses form- sensing mesh technology to provide a tri-panel backrest that has a fi t much like a custom-tailored shirt, providing instant lumbar support. Featuring Humanscale's weight-sensitive, mechanism-free recline, the chair automatically adjusts to the body weight of each sitter to provide perfect recline sup- port, says the manufacturer. The pivoting backrest adjusts to the changing needs of the spine and the shaped seat cushions are carefully sculpted to fi t the body's contours to enhance ergonomic com- fort, says Humanscale. Further maximizing the ergonomic range of motion, Diffrient Smart's high- performance armrests allow users to move their arms backward and forward, as well as inward and outward. www.humanscale.com. PEN-STYLE CUTTER This auto-retractable pen-style cutter with replaceable ceramic blade by Slice Products has a patent-pending handle with a rubber- ized slider button that limits the amount of exposed ceramic-blade to further reduce injuries. It automatically retracts back into the housing for added safety when slider button is released. The double-sided ceramic blade is hand sharpened and designed to reduce injuries by incorporating a safer rounded-tip. The chemically inert blade never rusts and stays sharper 10 times longer than steel, says Slice. www.sliceproducts.com. SCREW EXTRACTORS KNIPEX Tools has introduced a new, extensive line of double-edged bolt and screw extractors. The Rennsteig double-edged bolt extractors represent a new generation of tools for easily removing damaged screws and bolts. The key feature of the new extractors is four, double- edged cutting and gripping edges that equal eight points of contact. Designed for both left- and right-hand threaded screws, the extractor's cutting edges provide non-slip engagement allowing users to remove the toughest, frozen bolts, says KNIPEX. The new extractors feature a center point so no additional tools are required to mark the center point for the drill hole. Along with eight points of contact, the high-alloy, German chrome vanadium steel extractors feature a hexagonal driving fl at that provides optimum torque and a 58 per cent larger size for a better wrench grip compared to square- head styles, according to KNIPEX. www.knipex-tools.com. WIRELESS ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE MONITOR The EM2010 Wireless Noise Monitor is designed for medium- and long-term environmental noise moni- toring. This unit — manufactured by NoiseMeters — is ideal for any noise monitoring applications that demand a unit that meets IEC 61672 to Class 2 and require access to the noise measurements through a stan- dard web browser. It is ideal for the medium- and long-term noise monitoring of construction sites, mixed industrial and residential areas, road and rail noise, airports and airfi elds and outside entertainment venues. The noise monitor con- sists of an outdoor microphone, a small box with the processing unit and a power supply. It can be powered up in minutes by just connecting the microphone and power supply to the processor, says the manufacturer. It comes as a complete package with mobile phone connection already active. The unit will automati- cally measure the periodic Leq and L90, storing the results internally for up to one year and uploading them to the web server each day. The noise reports are viewed by logging in to a website and selecting the days of interest. The results can be viewed in a tabular or graphical format, or they can be downloaded to Excel (or similar spreadsheet program) to create personalized reports. www.noisemeters.ca. EARPLUG TWO-WAY RADIO HEADSET Sensear's earplug-style two-way radio headset allows us ers to have a clear two-way radio communication even-in 120dB noise. The two-way radio headset has built in hearing protection and noise suppression tech- nology that enables users to remain aware of their surroundings, communicate in noisy environments and protect their hearing from harmful noise. It enhances speech while suppressing background noise to a safe level, says Sensear. The earplug headset also limits "in-ear" noise exposure to 82dB and has up to 31dB NRR (noise reduction rating). It connects to all industry leading two-way radios (wired or Bluetooth) and has a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers 12 plus hours of talk time. www.sensear.com. VENTED EAR PLUG Custom Protect Ear's dB Blockers are vented and fi ltered hearing protectors for situations where interpersonal conversation in noise is required. They are made to fi t the individual's ear exactly, which gives the worker custom earplugs that they can wear all day. The custom molded hearing protectors are made from the Skinsoft blend of medical grade silicones, which is as soft and fl exible as your own skin, says the manufacturer. Compliance is easier because the coloured exterior of the earplug makes it simple for safety offi cers to check that workers are wearing them. The proprietary frequency tuned fi lter allows communication without removal. People can communicate in noise better while wearing their dB Blockers than if they were to remove them, says the manufac- turer. It also allows employees to hear warning sounds. www.protectear.com. ADVERTISERS' DIRECTORY COMPANY PAGE WEBSITE Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals 18, 25 www.bcrsp.ca Brock University 8 www.adulted@brocku.ca Carswell 13, 27 www.carswell.com Compass Health & Safety Ltd. 27 www.compasshealthandsafety.com Dentec Safety Specialists Inc. 21 www.dentecsafety.com Dentec Safety Specialists Inc. 21 www.dentecsafety.com/campaign.htm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP 11 +1 416 868 7824 Impacto Protective Products Inc. 8 www.impacto.ca Impacto Protective Products Inc. 10 www.impacto.ca Miller by Honeywell 28 www.millerfallprotection.com Mine Safety Appliances Company 2 www.MSAsafety.com Taeki5, Hand Arm Body Protection 23 www.taeki5.net YOW Canada Inc. 9 www.yowcanada.com