Monthly Archives: September 2022

Keeping Employee Safety Front of Mind

In April of this year, OSHA – Region V – WI published a Local Emphasis Program (LEP) established for the purpose of scheduling and conducting inspections within the Food Manufacturing Industry (click here for full details.)

The launch of the LEP allows for greater “outreach, education, training, and enforcement activities.” For many reading this, this specific LEP may not pertain to your facility. However, the rationale behind this special program is something that we can appreciate across the food industry. Reminders like this in our busy, hectic schedules can do a lot “to encourage employers to take steps to identify, reduce, and eliminate hazards associated with exposure to machine hazards during production activities, and off-shift sanitation, service, and maintenance tasks.”

Let’s face it, a food processing environment is a tough environment! Between assuring the quality and safety of products, keeping the pumps pumping, the conveyors conveying, and every other facet of running a food plant, another topic centrally unites everything we do—employee safety! This perpetual concern is one that doesn’t take any time off, doesn’t care if we’re having good or bad days, or if turnover has been tough. It’s there, it’s absolutely central, and it’s about actively protecting our people.

When it comes to manufacturing, the US Department of Labor/OSHA cites: “…that food manufacturing injury rates were consistently elevated when compared to the averages for all private Wisconsin companies engaged in manufacturing, with NAICS codes between 311xxx-339xxx.”

Though Wisconsin focused, familiarizing yourself with this LEP is a great opportunity to pause and think about safety in your own facility. What have you seen? Where can you apply more proactive solutions? Do your records reveal gaps that can be filled?

As you negotiate this persistent and central demand, know that we’re here to help.  We understand the challenges food manufacturers face, and have a selection of products and services to specifically address those needs. Worker safety is an area that we know well—From Lockout/Tagout products to dust mitigation, and PPE we’re here to be your partner in ensuring worker safety and well-being.


Whirl-Pak® Bags vs Rigid Plastic Containers

Benefits of Converting to Whirl-Pak® Bags

Incorporating sample bags into your sample collecting and storage process has many advantages that benefit not just your bottom line but the environment as well. Sustainably and effectively collecting and storing samples across many applications has been shown to be attainable. Below are the main reasons why you should consider implementing these changes today.

Top benefits include:

  • Reduce plastic media waste by 95%.*
  • Reduce GHG emissions.*
  • Reduce water in the manufacturing process.*
  • Reduce overall hands-on-time by 76%.*
  • Reduce storage space.
  • Lower shipping costs.
  • Save on disposal cost.
  • Puncture-proof, leak-proof closure tabs.
  • Guaranteed sterility.
  • Easy identification.

*Case study: April 2022 – Nasco Sampling LLC.

Implementing the Switch to Whirl-Pak® Bags:

Not sure where to begin with implementing this whole new system into your daily process? Proper installation and implementation is critical to the success of your process. Following these steps will help serve as your guide to the best possible solution to your implementation pain points.

Step 1—Map out a list of raw material and finished product testing.
• List your current inventory of bottles or bag sizes.

Step 2—Inform purchasing and services of charge.
• Provide a Whirl-Pak product list to your purchasing agent.
• Notify disposal services of changes—frequency and volume will be reduced.

Step 3—Meet with your teams to capture concerns.
• Potential questions might include: Will this take more time? How does this impact other portions of my job? We’ve always done it this way, why change now?

Step 4—Set up product and testing stations.
• Troubleshooting with your team to address challenges before full implementation.

Federal regulations met: R-Nase, D-Nase, Pyrogen and BPH free and complies with FDA, USDA, HACCP, and EPA.

For more information or assistance in making the switch to Whirl-Pak® Bags, contact our Product Specialists today!