Safety & Security
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How to Seed a Safety-First Culture
By Kelly Bladow From the driver’s seat to the dock, and whether you’re a gas producer, hardgoods retailer or product manufacturer, there’s no getting away from the necessity of putting safety first in all aspects of welding supplies and gases distribution industry operations. If you haven’t already established a complete safety program within your company, you [...] -
A Huge CGA Knowledge Base is Available
By Rich Craig The Gases and Welding Distributors Association (GAWDA) and the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) both work to promote safety and safe operations in the welding and gases industry. We do this to ensure we are protecting the public, our employees and our facilities from the inherent hazards of our industry. Every aspect of our [...] -
Safety Programs: Investments, Not Costs
By Richard P. Schweitzer, Esq. Sometimes distributors say they cannot afford the cost of a safety compliance program, or they defer sending employees to training programs because of the expense. Some owners do not see safety as necessary to improving the company’s bottom line – saying that if it does not generate revenue or reduce costs, [...] -
GAWDA Resources Make Safety Front And Center
By Charles McChesney Safety is at the center of the Gases and Welding Distributors Association’s existence. The Association’s mission statement literally puts safety first – “The GAWDA mission is to promote the safe operation and economic vitality of distributors of industrial gases and related welding equipment and supplies” – and safety is woven throughout its operations. “You [...] -
Safety & Compliance
MFMCSA Releases Final Rule on ELD and HOS Supporting Documents The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released its final rule on Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service Supporting Documents. 80 Fed. Reg. 78291 (December 16, 2015). The final rule mandates that within two years, all drivers of commercial motor vehicles who are subject to the [...] -
Distributors Challenged to Reduce Lost Time Injury Rate
It’s good for your bottom line. As a GAWDA distributor member, you are undoubtedly aware of the benefit included as part of your GAWDA membership that provides your organization with free access to CGA safety publications. This is a huge savings if you need access to safety information. However, if you are like the majority of [...] -
Safety & Compliance Updates
FMCSA Publishes Updated List of Hazmat Routes FMCSA published an updated listing of all designated and restricted road and highway routes for transportation of highway route controlled quantities (HRCQ) of Class 7 (radioactive) materials and nonradioactive hazardous materials (NRHMs) transportation. 80 Fed. Reg. 23859 (April 29, 2015). The new listing supersedes the prior notice published on [...] -
Safety First!
Resources for safe operations In 2013, GAWDA entered its second year in a partnership with the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) that allows GAWDA distributor members to have free access to CGA electronic publications as well as discounts to CGA’s videos and the CGA Handbook of Compressed Gases. Currently, 73 GAWDA member companies have completed the registration [...] -
Incident Sharing Is For Those Who Want To Do Better
There are many compelling reasons to join the ranks of those companies that are sharing safety incidents. Beginning last year, GAWDA’s Safety Committee rolled out an incident sharing program to help member companies improve safety and reduce the expense and down-time that go hand in hand with many accidents. Through the program, members can share accidents [...] -
Got Oxygen?
With roads closed and no power, General Welding Supply Corp. supplied medical oxygen to nearly every hospital on Long Island for five days during Hurricane Sandy. They had a plan. -
DOT Training Requirements
I have written several articles and Traffic Bulletins on training and there is good reason. It consistently ranks as the number one inquiry from members and it continues to be one of the most cited issues by DOT inspectors who visit our members. I want to touch on the high points of the main training [...] -
Ten Reasons Why GAWDA Membership Is A Home Run
The business world is changing, and the rules seem to change at the same rate. By Jim Herring and Kelly Bladow -
Recognize The Threat
Customer qualification helps ensure legitimate transactions involving your products. By Lawrence J. Piotti -
An Incident Shared Is An Injury Spared
The GAWDA Safety Committee is rolling out a new initiative aimed at improving safety procedures at member operations. The initiative is called Accident and Incident Sharing and is an information source about real-world accidents and incidents that have happened to GAWDA members. By Kelly Bladow. -
Weathering The Storms
An emergency action plan can save the life of your business. For a business hit by a disaster, be it natural or man-made, preparation and response can be the difference between failure and survival. -
Fright Night
Safety scares and frightful regulations to make hardened tricksters gulp. -
GAWDA’s Guardians Of Safety
GAWDA's Safety Committee works to ensure that members and end-users are operating in the safest manner possible. -
Storm Warning
Key considerations for creating a disaster and emergency recovery plan. -
Developing A Safety Program
Management commitment, OSHA partnership, positive rewards, case management, training and education, and engineering designs are key to a successful safety program. By Jennifer Ewing. -
Do’s And Don’ts of Efficient (And Safe) Warehouse Operations
When reviewing your operational performance, take some time to grade yourself on how your business rates in the following best practice areas. By Dan Belanger. -
Breaking The Counterfeit Cycle
You can take steps to protect your company and it's revenue against counterfeit products. By David S. Pearl, II. -
Counterfeit Industrial Products
Beware of counterfeit products that may be low quality and cause serious harm. By Michael A. Tarala. -
Security Assessment And Response
In the wake of 9/11, facilities that store or produce large quantities of high-pressure gases must develop measures of protection. By William Koch. -
Quit Your Whining And Learn To Deal With It!
Internet sales are here to stay and gases and welding distributors can take advantage of sales opportunities on the internet by using internet sales techniques to sell gases and welding equipment. By Wally Brant. -
Security: Getting Ahead Of The Problem
The three standards that address potential security threats are security recommendations, transportation protection and protecting against unauthorized procurement of compressed gases. By Marc Meteyer. -
Cultivating Safety
Safety and compliance officers may be the unsung heroes of the welding and gases industry. -
Emergency Planning for Businesses
Forty percent of all businesses hit by a disaster close within five years, so it is imperative that gases and welding companies have an emergency plan if they want to sustain business. -
Walking Safely
In our 60-year history, GAWDA has been and will remain at the forefront, pushing for the solutions that protect the livelihood of its members, Distributors and Manufacturers.
