Slips and Falls

According to the National Safety Council, slips and falls are the leading cause of death in the workplace and the source of more than 20 percent of disabling injuries - resulting in more than 1,500 fatalities and more than 564,000 disabling injuries annually.

Slips and falls cost American businesses a fortune in lost productivity, workers' compensation insurance, and other expenses. Health care costs alone amount to more than $37 billion each year. The psychological damage in pain, anguish, and the loss of worker morale are beyond measure. With this notorious record, slips and falls have to be considered the number one enemy of work place safety.

Because slips and falls are so common, they are often thought to be inevitable - a cost of doing business. Sometimes they are dismissed as unpredictable accident.

Slips and falls are not accidents, they are the opposite.  Slips and falls are the predictable consequence of foot traffic on smooth, contaminated surfaces.  When contaminants combine with a naturally smooth, non-porous surface such as steel, concrete- especially coated concrete-diamond plate, or tile, slips and falls are inevitable. 

Costs the Same as Paint, Lasts Five Times Longer

Sand thrown into ordinary floor paint
has been the most common treatment
against slips and falls, but the protection
is short lived. The sand crystals soon begin to break off and
lay on top of the surface, exposing you to further slip and
fall danger. Continually replacing these worn sand-in-paint
surfaces is a hassle and expensive. As any plant manager
can tell you, the expense of the prep work far exceeds the
cost of the product. Not to mention the several days of downtime
you’ll suffer during application, after application,
after application. AST Anti-Slip Coatings can change all that. They last over
5 times longer than sand-in-paint and other broadcast
systems, even when subjected to the most punishing
environments. And five times more durability means five
times fewer applications, downtime, and expense, as well
as five times fewer headaches for you.
How much does this ease and durability cost you?
Probably not a penny more than what you’re currently
paying. At only $2 to $3/sq. ft., AST
Anti-Slip Coatings cost the same as
ordinary industrial floor paints.

Slipping in the Work Place

EVERY PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER

IN AMERICA CAN!

Slips and falls are the Number One workplace killer and
cause of disabling injury in the workplace. With contaminants
like chemicals, water, food scraps, rain or snow,
it’s only a matter of time until somebody slips and falls.
If someone slips and falls in your facility you’re going to
get the call, and you’re going to pay. Protect yourself
and your coworkers with American Safety Technologies’
proven anti-slip solutions.

Identifying and Choosing the Proper Coating System

Identifying and Choosing the Proper Coating System

Selecting a coating system that will perform well over time in a given environment is not always a clear cut decision. The type of substrate, service environment, durability, abrasive resistance, and long term appearance are all important factors.

For selecting the most appropriate coating system, different criteria should be taken into consideration, such as:

    • Maintenance type and strategy (predictive or corrective)
    • Wear resistance and thickness of coatings
    • Mechanical properties of coatings (pressure, impact, temperature)
    • Corrosion resistance of coatings
    • Surface position during the coating procedure
    • Chemical resistance
    • Ease of application
    • Repairability of coatings

Price/efficiency ratio, economic priorities and specific needs are other important criteria for decision making.

B & W Distributors, Inc. consultants have been well trained in assisting you in the proper coating selection for you project.  With a combination of the different suppliers and wide range of product we offer, the consultant can work with you to ensure the success of your project.

An example of our products that meets most coating needs with its unique qualities is 3M Scotchkote Encapsulating Coating PolyNox 136.

PolyNox 136, a 3M Corrosion Protection System, is a high performance acrylic coating designed for use as a corrosion resistant and encapsulation system for metallic and cementitious surfaces.

What makes PolyNox 136 System is different

● PolyNox136 is based on a unique blend of flexible acrylic resins reinforced with inorganic fillers and pigments to produce a system with excellent elastomeric and corrosion resistant properties with optimum levels of UV resistance, adhesion and durability.

● PolyNox 136 is simple and easy to use and can be applied to any surface and ideal for the long term protection of tank exteriors, steel structures, metal roofs, concrete and masonary structures.

• PolyNox 136 has excellent adhesion to all metals and concrete.

• Resistant to a wide range of chemicals
• No environmental pollution
• Environmentally green with NO VOC's
• Cold Weather Flexibility
• High build coating systems

● PolyNox 136 has a field proven history of stopping corrosion. It has been successfully and economically used for more than 10 years for maintenance painting of steel structures; including bridges, buildings, cables, towers, and cranes, along with galvanized steel in industrial, commercial and marine environments.

● Cost Savings- Owners of structures can frequently cut project costs in half – and get a much longer coating service life. There can be substantial time and labor cost savings—since the PolyNox 136 system is a one-coat system.

Painters go to any area only once, and there will be no delays normally expected between applications of the layers of a 2 and 3 coat system.

Painters can be more productive because the materials are one-component materials have a very short minimum over coating of only 30 - 90 minutes, eliminating wait time.
   

Michigan DOT in Port Huron has been using 3M’s PolyNox 136 since April of 2006 after a previous coating system failed.

• They like the ease of use.
• It is applied by brush, roll, or spray on manually prepared surfaces.
• It extends their painting season because it can be applied in cold temperatures or high humidity levels.
• It does not chip or flake off in cold weather with 160% elongation at 0F.

Surface Preparation: All surfaces should be clean, dry, and free from oils, grease, loose material, standing water and any other contaminants.

Concrete Surfaces: All concrete to be coated should either be lightly abrasive blast cleaned using wet or dry abrasive techniques or alternatively high pressure water jetting.

Metal Surfaces: Surfaces should be prepared by mechanical wire brushing, grinding, or high pressure water jetting (typically 3500psi)

Previously Coated Surface: Any loose/flaking material must be removed. Surfaces should then be thoroughly cleaned and abraded.

Mixing: PolyNox 136 is a single component material and should only require stirring with a slow speed mechanical mixer prior to use to incorporate any slight separation.

Application: PolyNox 136 can be applied by brush, roller, or spray. It should be applied to achieve a minimum dry film thickness of 14 mils either as a single coat by spray or two coats by brush. For brush application, the first coat should be allowed to dry to the touch (approximately 1 hour depending on weather conditions) prior to the second coat being applied.
All equipment should be cleaned immediately after use with clean water; any stubborn deposits can be removed with 3M Universal Cleaner.

For more information on how PolyNox 136 can solve your coating needs please contact your local B&W Sales representative or contact B&W Distributors, Inc. directly at 480-924-8883

Corrosion Control Inside a Casing System

VISCOTAQ® CASING END SEAL APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The VISCOTAQ® Casing End Seal System is based upon the use of ViscoPaste in combination with Viscotaq ViscoWrap and a Viscotaq Composite Wrap(C-Wrap). VISCOTAQ® is a viscous elastic synthetic material that remains flexible and tacky during its entire life. The VISCOTAQ® Casing End Seal System is used to prevent water infiltration and corrosion where the carrier pipe enters the casing.  The VISCOTAQ® Casing End Seal System can be installed on new and existing casings.

1) Surface preparationClean surface to a Minimum SP2 and preferable power brush cleaning. Degrease the surface and remove all loose sand, dust and dirt; this process can be done by using a solvent such as industrial alcohol.

Clean SP2, remove loose parts/coating 

Surface of casing and carrier pipe

2) Application VISCOTAQ® ViscoPaste
Apply ViscoPaste a minimum of 1½”- 2” inside of casing between the casing and carrier pipe; taper ViscoPaste at a 30 degree angle from the casing pipe to the carrier pipe.    ViscoPaste should be packed into the casing void with as few air pockets as possible. 

Apply 1 ½ inch deep

 Angle at 30 degree

 Finish smooth

    
3) Application VISCOTAQ® ViscoWrap

Apply the VISCOTAQ® ViscoWrap over entire casing end seal area by starting 8 inches from the casing end.  Wrap VISCOTAQ® ViscoWrap with a 50% overlap from casing pipe to carrier pipe, wrapping at an angle with slight tension to create a smooth overlap. Ensure no air pockets are formed during wrapping. (see: VISCOTAQ® ViscoWrap Instruction Manual). During transition to the carrier pipe, ensure the last full wrap during transition overlaps the casing by1 inch min. Follow through with wrapping 10% overlap and continue 8 inches on the carrier pipe.
   
Ensure for a smooth transition and cover 8 inches

on carrier and casing

4) Application Viscotaq Composite Wrap
Preparation of Composite wrap:
a) wear plastic gloves during application.
b) have a spray bottle and sufficient water available
c) open & remove from aluminum pouch and plastic bag just before application

Remove aluminum pouch

Remove plastic pouch, wear gloves  

  

1. Wrap the composite wrap with 50% overlap, apply water with the spray bottle during wrapping and apply sufficient tension.
2. Apply Viscotaq composite wrap over the entire transitin area from carrier pipe to casing pipe for mechanical protection.
3. Start 10 inches from the end of the casing and end 10 inches onto the carrier pipe. Wrap two layers of Composite wrap during the process with 50% overlap.
4. Ensure the angled transition between casing end and carrier is completely covered with composite wrap.
5. After wrap has been applied lightly spray the complete application area with water.
6. Wrap entire area where C-Wrap has been applied with shrink wrap; wrap to ensure a smooth application.
7. Gently poke holes in plastic wrap for ventilation.  Holes should be every few inches around the circumference of the pipe.
8. Remove plastic wrap when C-Wrap has cured.   Average curing time 1-3 hours.
9. C-Wrap can be painted if desired.
10. System can be pressure tested at 5 psi.

Apply the Composite wrap with sufficient tension  

Start on casing 10 inches from end, 50% overlap 

Ensure Composite wrap covers 100%    

For more information about this product contact your local B&W Sales Representative or contact B&W Distributors, Inc. directly at 480-924-8883.

Welcome to B&W Distributors, Inc.

Since 1988, the goal of family-owned B & W DISTRIBUTORS has been simple: conquer downtime for companies by providing the best repair and protection products for commercial floors…roofs…and all the equipment in between!

From offices in Mesa, Arizona, B & W Distributors operates as the exclusive west coast distribution center of THORTEX SPECIALTY COATING AND REPAIR MATERIALS and SLADE’S PATENTED SEALING PRODUCTS. B & W Distributors has built a solid reputation by providing the best products and making sure they are installed correctly for hundreds of companies. B & W Distributors shares the client’s understanding that prudent maintenance and fast, reliable repairs are crucial to keeping operations humming.

B & W Distributors is committed to meeting clients’ needs on projects of all sizes. The company is big enough to handle any project from start to finish and smart enough to let clients decide how much help they want. B & W Distributors offers PROJECT CONSULTING, and assists in PROJECT MANAGEMENT, PROPER MATERIAL SPECIFICATION and MATERIAL SELECTION. The company offers CERTIFIED CONTRACTOR RECOMMENDATIONS, or will TRAIN A CLIENT’S PERSONNEL OR CONTRACTOR in the proper application of all products.