Welcome to the seventh Manufacturing Upgraded, where we help keep you up to date with changing regulations and innovative trends in the industry. This week we’re looking at different ways to protect employees, and what better time than Protect Your Hearing Month! But first, BASF has some news.

Protect your ears!

October is Protect Your Hearing Month, an important issue for those noisy workplaces where protective gear, reducing noise levels and exposure, and minute record keeping is crucial. It’s always a good time to step back and reevaluate the precautions in place, and this is the month to do so (even if maybe the only hearing protection you need is from that coworker who just doesn’t shut up)! EHS Daily Advisor covers the training basics for hearing conservation, equipment tips, and the importance of continuous testing. Have a peek, and keep it down!

Collaboration between BASF and ReAgent

BASF is teaming up with ReAgent to repack and distribute Elastopave®. This product reimagines sturdy surfaces, as it provides an alternative to tarmac and asphalt, among others. The material is more porous than traditional surface materials, which aids in water management. This is already shown in Hangzhou, China, where floods are no longer such a pressing problem thanks to this material. Of course, ReAgent is excited about this collaboration, so you can find the whole story, detailed by Lucy Bell-Young, on their website. Congrats, ReAgent!

(And as an aside: we believe congratulations are also in order for our compatriot, BASF’s Marc De Kerf for winning the European Maintenance Manager Award, amazing work!)

Ladder Safety: new standards

Not only are fall incidents still one of the biggest causes of accidents and deaths on the work floor, the ladder standards, and specifications have also been reviewed and adapted: all the more reason to shine a light on the importance of ladder safety. SHP Online gives us a few tips to consider when using a ladder and highlights the importance of ladder safety training. And SHP links you through to some great resources, so if you’re on the lookout for new ladders, take a peek at the new standards and purchasing tips they refer to. Go check it out!

Pregnancy precautions

More and more women join the manufacturing industry at all levels, but that also means some extra precautions have to be taken in case of pregnancy. Lead or radiation can be harmful to both expectant mother and child, but women shouldn’t just be removed from the workplace without their explicit agreement, or without finding a suitable alternative task. Avoid discrimination, and ensure all employees’ needs are met, men or women. Read more recommendations on EHS Today, where David Sparkman tells us what to keep in mind.

Keep an eye out for more news and tips, a new post in this series is here every other week, see you soon!