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Safer America Newsletter

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Your safety supply retailer since 2002                                    GSA award # GS-07F-5804R

 

 

NEW – You missed one of our issues? Forgot which one contained some information you needed?

Our past issues are now available via our Newsletter Archives! Check it out to review Safety Preparedness Tips relevant to you in no time!

 

 

Dear Friends,

An explosion and fire that killed 15 workers and injured 180 others at the giant BP oil refinery in Texas City two years ago was caused by company deficiencies "at all levels," an American safety panel said on Tuesday.

 

Concluding its investigation of the disaster, which sent 43,000 people fleeing to indoor shelters and cost more than $1.5 billion in financial losses, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board found that safety measures at the plant repeatedly fell victim to cost-cutting — even after 23 accidental deaths at the plant in the 30 years before the explosion on March 23, 2005.

 

"They cut costs that affected maintenance and safety," Carolyn Merritt, the safety board's chairwoman and chief executive said. "They ignored the implications of previous accidents that were red warning flags. There was a broken safety culture at BP."

 

The board's 335-page report plus supporting documents stated that BP supervisors were aware that vital safety instruments were malfunctioning. The chemical safety board also strongly criticized the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), accusing it of critical lapses in its role as an investigator, most notably failing to follow up earlier accidents at the plant.

 

In the 30 years before the 2005 explosion, it said, 23 people had died in accidents involving "many hazardous material releases," but "BP did not take effective steps to stem the growing risk of a catastrophic event."

 

The U.S. Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation separate from the board's safety inquiry, Merritt said, adding that U.S. prosecutors had been provided advance copies of the board's report. 

 

Safer America brings you the best in personal safety products.

 

The Safer America Team

http://www.saferamerica.com

 

 

Highlighted products                                       

To view a complete list of our products, click here

All the products presented on our website and in this newsletter are in stock.

Discount price for the newsletter highlighted products are valid until broadcast of the preceding newsletter.

 

                                                                         

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Demron - Torso vest

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Discounts                                               

 

March Discounts:

·         Free UPS ground shipping for orders over $300!

·         $7 OFF Duram mask!

To receive the discount for those items, you only need to refer to this newsletter when placing your order!

·         You represent a Governmental Agency? We’ll give you GSA prices! When placing your order, just ask our representative or notify us of your agency status.

 

 

Safety Tip                          

 

Safety Preparedness – Dirty Bombs

 

What is a Dirty Bomb?

A dirty bomb is also known as a "radiological dispersion device," or RDD. An RDD is a standard explosive device packed with radioactive material. This material scatters in the air when the bomb explodes. These bombs could be suitcase-sized devices or as big as a truck. Radioactive contamination is left in the immediate area of the explosion site, but contamination may also be spread from the site by wind or by people.

 

If you are in the area of a “Dirty Bomb” explosion you should:

  1. Take cover behind a substantial object to decrease the chance of being hit by flying debris. Make sure to stay clear of glass windows which may be above you, since they could become a source of dangerous secondary debris. If cover is not available lay flat on the ground.
  2. Try to stay away from vehicles in the immediate area of the blast. Terrorists have been known to detonate secondary explosions in vehicles in order to increase the number of injuries.
  3. As soon as debris has stopped falling move away from the location of the blast.
  4. Get a medical evaluation from emergency responders.
  5. If you witnessed the blast tell law enforcement what you saw.

 

If you believe you have been exposed to radiological material from a "dirty bomb" you should:

 

  1. As soon as debris has stopped falling move away from the area of the blast and stay away from the debris cloud. A debris cloud could contain radioactive particles.
  2. If you cannot avoid the debris cloud, use clothing to cover your skin. Clothing will give you some protection from particles.
  3. Cover your nose and mouth with a folded cloth, breathe through the cloth and exit the cloud as soon as possible.
  4. Once you are out of the debris cloud and a safe distance from the initial explosion remove your clothing, because it may have trapped radioactive particle.
  5. Then, first wash body parts which were not covered with clothing, and then wash your entire body with soap and cool water. If soap is not available wash your entire body with cool water.
  6. Get a medical evaluation from emergency responders.
  7. If you witnessed the blast tell law enforcement what you saw.

 

If a dirty bomb were to explode, most injuries would result from the initial explosion and not from contamination of radioactive material. This is because it is very difficult to disperse radiological material, with a bomb, in amounts sufficient to cause a significant health impact. For those who take proper immediate steps to protect themselves after such an explosion, the chance of a significant health impact is diminished even further.

In many cases you will be at greater risk of injury in a rush to evacuate than you will be from an attack itself. Accordingly, in any emergency, try to stay calm, keep those around you calm and follow the appropriate steps noted above.

 

To view Safer America’s selection of Radiation Protective Equipment – Click Here

To view Safer America’s selection of Gas Masks – Click Here

 

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It Happened 30 years ago…

March 9-11th 1977: The Hanafi Muslim Hostage Siege in Washington D.C

 

On March 9th 1977 at approximately 11AM, seven members of the Hanafis sect, led by Khalifa Hamaas Abdul Khaalis, burst into the headquarters of B'nai B'rith, just a few miles south of the Hanafis headquarters, and took over 100 hostages. Less than an hour later, three terrorists entered the Islamic Center, and took eleven hostages.

At 2:20PM, two Hanafis entered the District Building (Washington D.C City Hall), two blocks from the White House. They went to the fifth floor looking for important hostages. When an elevator opened the terrorists thought they were under assault and fired, killing Maurice Williams, a radio reporter, and injuring security guard Mack Cantrell who died a few days later in hospital. Then-D.C. council member, later mayor Marion Barry, was struck by a ricochet in the chest, and two other people were lightly wounded.

 

The gunmen had several demands. They "wanted the government to hand over a group of men who had been convicted of killing seven relatives -- mostly children -- of takeover leader Hamaas Abdul Khaalis. They also demanded that the movie Mohammad, Messenger of God be destroyed because they considered it sacrilegious."

 

After a 39 hour standoff all remaining hostages were released: following negotiations held with the help of Iran, Egypt and Pakistan ambassadors to the US, Khaalis and the other involved in the hostage taking at the two sites where no one was killed were allowed to be charged and then freed on their own recognizance.

 

Nevertheless, they were convicted later and received serious time: Khaalis was sentenced to 21 to 120 years for his role.

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Today, we live surrounded by safety items and devices; such apparels are becoming part of our everyday urban landscape. Nobody wishes to ever having to use any of those protection products – but to know they are there “just in case”, that should be everyone’s concern.

 

Have a good week,

 

The Safer America Team

http://www.saferamerica.com

Toll Free: 1-866-SAFER-99

Fax: 1-425-660-7779