E-Newsletter

Savings / Safety Tips for August 2016 from All Safety Products, Inc.

Work Shoes That Give You Super Powers!

Work Shoe Symbols

It sounds like a plot line for a super spy flick. An arbor press relentlessly presses down on a shoe, applying thousands of pounds of pressure until . . . nothing happens.

This was the test in an episode of the television show, Mythbusters. The experimenters were trying to see how much abuse a steel-toe boot could take as opposed to a regular boot. One of the tests involved pressure from a press. Another test employed impact from a guillotine blade.

It seems there was an urban myth making the rounds that a steel-toe boot put the wearer at a higher risk of amputation. The Mythbusters showed that steel-toe boots, took more pressure without harm to the wearer -- 6,000 pounds as opposed to 1,200 pounds for a regular boot. The safety boots also fended off impact from a guillotine from 3 feet at 75 pounds pressure.

In fact, the Mythbusters had to set up an extreme test, dropping a shearing blade from six feet at 400 pounds to cause the steel-toe boot to fail. Myth busted.

Today, although there are many types of safety toe boots on the market, composite work boots are replacing steel as the industry norm, according to Magnum Boots. Non-metal materials such as Kevlar, plastic or fiberglass are replacing steel, which can be hot -- and set off metal detectors. These materials are also lighter weight than steel and don't conduct electricity. However, composite materials can be more expensive. Some work boots take protection a bit further, and build shielding into the upper material of the boot as well, to protect the top of the foot as well. Steel-toed boots have entered the sporting world, too, as protective boots are now being made for athletics, such as skiing. Although some manufacturers might add their own identifying symbols to their work shoes, these are the basic symbols to look for (although you might find more letters and symbols added):

Green triangle, heavy construction or machine shop work, sharp object protection, Grade 1 toe cap with puncture resistant sole.

Yellow triangle, light industrial, sole puncture protection with a Grade 2 protective toe.

Orange Omega, electrical conditions, electric shock resistance.

Red with a black letter C, low-power electrical charge hazards.

Fir tree symbol, forestry and chainsaw workers.

All Safety Products provides a wide variety of protective foot wear.

First Aid Tips

Treating a broken toe

In non-work situations, you might find yourself coping with a broken toe, but ignore the common wisdom that broken toes can't be treated. Each toe is made up of multiple bones, each of which can be broken. A broken toe can be painful, and in some cases, require surgery to heal. A doctor can diagnose a broken toe through a physical examination and radiographs, according to American Family Physician.

Dr. Robert L. Hatch and Dr. Scott Hacking wrote that while fractures of the toe are one of the most common fractures of the lower extremities, they are most often caused by a crushing injury or caused by force. Joint hyperextension and stress fractures are less common, they wrote.

Medline Plus, a medical encyclopedia maintained by the National Institutes of Health, notes that a broken toe can be treated at home unless the big toe is involved or the injury is severe enough to create an open wound. See a doctor if the injury causes the toe to be crooked. The medical encyclopedia offers these self-care tips:

• Keep the foot still, and raised, to minimize swelling.
• Apply ice for 20 minutes each hour in the first day after the injury, then 2-3 times a day afterward.
• Wrap the affected toe and the toe next to it. This treatment is called "buddy wrapping" and can help immobilize the toe.
• Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with a physician.

Delicious Recipe

Tamale Joe Casserole: Grandma's charm for modern tastes!

This is the sort of dish you expect to find bubbling in grandma's oven.

Tamale Joe Casserole combines the charm of a good tamale in a one-pot family dish that is quick and easy to make. It's good for the church potluck, fantastic for Saturday afternoon with the grandkids, and like all good casseroles, you can change it to suit the tastes of the diners.

Tamales can be traced back as far as 5000 BC to ancient civilizations, like the Aztec, Maya, Olmeca and Tolteca. The ingredients are usually wrapped in a spongy masa harina dough and covered with a corn husk. The technique makes a typical tamale easy to take with you. Soldiers took tamales with them on marches. Families still use them to serve large gatherings.

Inside the dough, you can find anything from seafood to rice to beans and meat. When you think about it, the humble casserole dish is much the same; why shouldn't it be like a tamale? This recipe can be altered to suit the audience. An adult crowd might like onion mixed in with the meat. Smoked paprika can take the place of chili powder if chili is too spicy. You can use pork, chicken or lamb to change up the taste in this dish, which is hard to ruin.

Tamale Joe Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound sliced link sausage
• 1-1/2 pound ground beef
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pitted sliced olives
• 1 8-ounce can of corn, drained
• 16 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup yellow corn meal
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

• Before you start working, set your oven to 350 to let it preheat.
• Cook the ground beef and sausage.
• Once the meat has fully cooked and has browned, drain off excess fat. Add all ingredients, except cheese and olives.
• Stir until well mixed.
• Spray a baking dish and pour ingredients in.
• Even the casserole out by running the back of a serving spoon over the top to create a flat top, then cover with grated cheese and add sliced olives. For a saltier dish, sprinkle coarse sea salt over the top before adding cheese and olives.
• Bake in a 325 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes, until cheese has melted.

About All Safety Products

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