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As reported by The Washington Post on August 23rd of this year, the discovery of a dead young family and their dog last month, along the Merced River in California, led to hiking trail and water access closures close to where the bodies were found. Efforts to discern the cause of death continue, although foul play has been ruled out. However, tests of the air, soil and water nearby revealed extremely high levels of toxins…

It may not have been marked on your calendar this year, but this week is Respiratory Protection Week. For the average person, it may not resonate as an important time, however once you learn that the standard N95 mask design that millions have been wearing during COVID-19 was created five decades ago, you may question how something has gone so long without a much innovation.

The reality is that innovation has occurred, but you just don’t yet know about it.

“Respiratory Protection Week 2021” promoted by The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) was created specifically to bring greater awareness to the importance of respiratory protection, specifically N95s, and to illuminate the research, and standards developments underway...

Before the onslaught of COVID-19, the term “face mask” was comfortably used to identify face coverings of different styles—from moisturizing and skin toning options and Halloween costumery to NIOSH-certified and medical-grade protections covering the nose and mouth. The pandemic has changed everything - the term face mask has undergone its own defining face lift...

What do motorcycles, reef tanks, and a good cup of coffee have in common? Ariel De La Rosa, our self-professed Technopreneur (but let’s face it, he wears many hats). 

Ariel works on the principle of finding and utilizing the right tool for the job. It’s not an intuitive process; it requires an understanding of the core of the options under consideration to address a specific issue to balance out the possible outcomes in the short and long term.

That, coupled with his passion for technology and how it leverages human efforts, while identifying and resolving business problems with software solutions, has made him a valuable team member at OCTO® Safety Devices.

Rescue crews searching for survivors of the deadly Surfside Condominium collapse in Miami were faced with many of the same risks as 9/11 first responders. Propane and gas leaks from pipelines within the building infrastructure, burning rubble, and various forms of building material debris has been carried, and in some cases fueled, by Florida’s ocean breezes and humidity, much to the detriment of crew members, nearby communities, and their residents...

The month of June is dubbed Great Outdoors Month. As we emerge from our COVID slumber, people are getting outside to reconnect with one another and with nature towards the goal of better health. But what happens when the fresh air you seek is polluted with particulates from nearby ranging wildfires or factory smog? This time of year is also riddled with natural disasters ranging from tornados and hurricanes to floods and wildfires...

Corner stores everywhere are flooded with seemingly inexpensive disposable masks. While we’re no longer experiencing a severe mask shortage similar to the onset of the pandemic, there’s still a major problem with mask accessibility.

Finding cost-effective (and eco-friendly) mask solutions is difficult among the sea of options available. Disposable N95s, surgical masks and fabric masks might seem like an easy short-term investment – but the cost per wear really adds up...

Fatigue is one of the most common COVID-19 side effects healthcare professionals have been able to document. What’s not as commonly tracked, but perhaps universally felt, is the fatigue we get from the amount of mask-wearing we’ve all done in the past year...