No matter what type of trailer, proper ventilation is necessary for health, safety, and comfort. This can be effectively achieved by combining natural and mechanical ventilation methods.

Fresh air can flow through your trailer by natural ventilation methods such as windows, fixed vents, and skylights with built-in ventilation. Positioning windows on opposite sides is always a good idea for creating cross ventilation. Vents should be placed at both high and low points to take advantage of natural convection, where hot air rises and cooler air settles. It’s important always to be sure that vents are not blocked by an obstruction, which will mitigate effectiveness.

Installing roof and side vents is especially crucial for utility trailers transporting perishable goods.

In climates where natural ventilation is not enough, mechanical ventilation can be achieved via roof-mounted exhaust fans, air conditioning units, and portable fans. Individually or in combination, these methods can effectively remove hot air from the trailer and improve air circulation. When using a mechanical system such as air conditioning, schedule regular maintenance to clean vents and fans and replace air filters when needed.

Proper lighting and trailer lighting compliance are essential for the safe use of trailers on the road. This post will discuss the similarities and differences between trailer lighting requirements and those for cars and trucks.

National Safety Month Tips – Workplace Safety Starts with Commitment and the Right Equipment

Keeping our employees safe is a primary objective here at Austin Hardware, as we expect it to be with many companies. In recognition of June as National Safety Month, we will share some educational content to help you keep your employees safe.

Safety in the workplace starts with a commitment. That commitment must come from both leadership (management) and employees. Management should demonstrate its commitment to safety through its actions, allocating resources to safety training and equipment and encouraging employees to report potential safety issues without fear of reprisal.

Subsequently, employees need to show commitment through involvement. This includes forming committees to identify safety issues, volunteering for training, and helping to develop solutions.

Emergency preparedness requires planning, training, and practice. Companies need to identify potential risks, invest in training, create a communication plan, and practice their plan through regular drills such as fire drills.

Essential Products to Help Your Employees Stay Safe on the Job

Equipment is a major part of a management team’s commitment to providing a safe working environment for employees. Here is a partial list of common items needed for a safe manufacturing environment.

• - Anti-Slip Tape: Commercial grade, high-grit safety tapes for high traction that meet Prop 65, ADA, and OSHA standards.
• - Back-Up Alarms: To notify passersby when a vehicle is moving in reverse.
• - Conspicuity Tapes: Reflective conspicuity tapes for better nighttime visibility of your vehicle.
• - Emergency Reflector Kits: To keep your drivers safe in the event of a vehicle breakdown.
• - Fatigue-Reducing Floor Mat: A fatigue–reducing floor mat can relieve pressure on the knees and backs of your employees who stand for extended periods.
• - Fire Extinguishers
• - Safety Clothing: Gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, earplugs, and more to protect the personal safety of your employees.
• - Ventilators: To condition the air and keep air quality safe in vehicles for drivers in every condition.
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Our Paint Shop Catalog contains many of our Safety products and a full line of MRO consumables.

Fabricators that work with removable panels need an efficient and reliable way to install them. However, the processes and hardware used significantly impact the end product. This post explains how to install a removable panel and select the proper hardware.

Removable panels are used widely across many industries, including signage, marine, interior design, and public transportation. While these industries have unique application requirements, they do have one thing in common: By design, removable panels will be attached and reattached dozens or even hundreds of times. So, before you begin the installation, it’s crucial to identify hardware and mounting methods that are strong and durable enough to handle repeated installation.

Step #1: Select Your Hardware

When most people think of removable panels, the first thing that comes to mind is the panels themselves. But the signature feature of removable panels – the ability to remove them – comes from what you don’t see: the hardware.

The success of a removable panel relies heavily on the strength and quality of the fastening system. So, before you begin installation, it’s worth taking the time to understand the hardware that makes it all possible.

Plastic fasteners are most commonly used to mount removable panels. Their low price and availability have made them the go-to for this installation. However, several problems might occur with plastic fasteners. They offer low durability and will fatigue after prolonged use. Their longevity depends on the specific product, but as a rule, plastic fasteners will degrade, warp, or break after repeated removal of the panel. When this happens, the panels will be difficult to remove or reattach, and there’s a good chance all of the hardware will have to be replaced.

The biggest challenges facing the EMS industry include staffing (finding the next generation of employees and retaining existing employees) and reducing stress. A 2023 EMS Trend Survey of more than 3,100 paramedics, EMTs, and EMS leaders has shed more light on these topics that are most concerning to emergency service professionals.

The survey shows that EMS managers must prioritize their employees' mental and physical health and safety due to chronic understaffing and the demanding nature of the job, which are having a more significant impact than ever before.

While the nature of the job will always create a stressful environment, managers need to look for small ways to reduce their employees' physical and mental stress. Improving how these critical care providers go about their day and finding logistical improvements can help. In turn, this will help to address the industry’s retention challenge along with leading to better patient outcomes.

Looking for guidelines for selecting paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives in manufacturing processes?

Paints, coatings, sealants, and adhesives are often overlooked but critical components of many manufacturing processes. These products provide protection, aesthetics, and functionality.

Deciding which materials are appropriate for your application is vital to ensuring the quality and durability of your product while also complying with industry standards.

Original equipment manufacturers in every industry, from builders of truck bodies, trailers, and emergency and specialty vehicles, to industrial equipment, require chemical products such as sealants, adhesives, paints, and much more.

At Austin Hardware®, we offer these markets a wide selection and variety of options from leading brands. To help you make informed decisions, we've put together a FREE guide that outlines major considerations for chemical products.

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• They include:

OSHA requirement 1910.38 lays out a business’s obligations regarding emergency action plans. These plans must be in place to protect employees, including preparing for severe weather.

Every plan needs to be customized to suit an individual business's specific needs and circumstances. However, here is a general overview of what you may need to consider when developing a plan for your business.

One of the first things every business should do is form an emergency response team to be responsible for developing and implementing the company’s emergency action plan (EAP).

Once established, this team should assess the risk of different severe weather events that are likely to apply to your business’s location. Specifically, an evaluation of the level of vulnerability to various types of weather hazards, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and blizzards.

On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a ban on most uses of methylene chloride. The chemical has been found to cause various forms of cancer, including cancers of the liver, lungs, brain, and blood.

Blind rivets have several advantages over other permanently installed fasteners, such as solid or semi-tubular rivets, clinch fasteners, and traditional nuts and bolts. Because they can be installed from one side of the application, their use is paramount when the back side of an application is limited or non-existent. This also makes them more cost-efficient and versatile than other types of fasteners.

The Basic Elements of Blind Rivets

There are four basic elements to a blind rivet:

1. 1.  Material
2. 2. Diameter
3. 3. Grip Range
4. 4. Head Style
5.  

Blind rivets are available in a wide range of materials, diameters, grip ranges, and head styles, allowing them to be used in a wide array of applications. We will explore these elements further and discuss their significance in maximizing joint integrity.

MATERIAL

While most common blind rivets are available in aluminum, steel, and stainless steel, they are also available in copper, brass, and plastic. These softer rivets have become more common with the increased use of composite materials.

A good rule of thumb when selecting a blind rivet is to use the same material rivet as the substrate into which it is being installed. If you are riveting sheets of steel together, use a steel rivet. The same goes for aluminum and stainless steel. This is important because, depending on the environment, using dissimilar metals may result in galvanic corrosion. In cases where this rule cannot be followed, consider using Eck Complete Corrosion Control, which you can learn more about HERE.

Adhesives and sealants are indispensable in sign and display manufacturing for their bonding, sealing, and finishing capabilities, which contribute to the final products' structural integrity, aesthetic appeal, and durability.

Here are 6 reasons why Sign/Display manufacturers should use sealants and adhesives.

1. 1. Efficiency - When used to mount signs onto surfaces such as walls, windows, or vehicles, adhesives provide a reliable and permanent attachment method without the need for drilling or mechanical fasteners, which can damage the substrate or require additional finishing work.

2. 2. Prolonged Life - Often exposed to outdoor elements such as sunlight, rain, and temperature fluctuations, sign and display manufacturers benefit from the weather-resistant properties of sealants and adhesives. They help maintain the sign’s structural integrity, prevent deterioration, and prolong its lifespan. Another important benefit is sealing edges and gaps to protect against moisture, dirt, and other environmental contaminants. This also improves longevity while enhancing the finished product’s appearance.

3. 3. Design Flexibility - Adhesives allow for greater design flexibility by bonding dissimilar materials, including metals, plastics, glass, and composites, as well as complex shapes. This flexibility creates opportunities for innovative and unique designs that conventional fastening methods may not facilitate.