Drowsy Driving Collisions

Statistic
“NHTSA estimates that approximately 100,000 crashes each year are caused primarily by driver drowsiness or fatigue. In 1998, drowsiness and fatigue contributed to 1,400 crash-related fatalities.” – US Dept. of Transportation


Introduction
Many studies have been done that show “fatigue” or driving while drowsy can play a major role in accidents.

Normal “tiredness” can be caused by three categories of stress factors:

1) physical environment – exposure to extreme temperatures and even vibration or noise
2) physical condition - poor or inadequate sleep, medications and alcohol, or medical conditions that interfere with sleep such as sleep apnea
3) prolonged periods of emotional upset (anger, fear, frustration, etc.)

Employees who drive as part of their job are exposed to many of these factors every day.

Avoiding “Fatigue”
Although getting a good night’s sleep on a regular basis is best and seems obvious, there are many things that keep us from ideal sleep patterns. Here are some tips that should help:

1. Proper Nutrition - Do your best to eat a well-balanced diet that includes a reasonable balance of the major food groups.
2. Adjust Your Sleep Environment - Check for noise, poor ventilation, high or low temperatures, and bedding firmness, etc.
3. Maintain Fitness - plan your exercise program to build your stamina. Trainers at your fitness center should be able to help you adjust your program.
4. Reduce Any Excess Weight – Any excess pounds can contribute to poor sleep quality or lack of sleep.
5. Adjust Your Sleep Pattern - Experiment by sleeping more or less, going to bed earlier or later, to discover proper sleep time.
6. Time Management and Relaxation – Planning your days and nights to avoid stress and rushing can be helpful.
7. Reduce Caffeine. Caffeine is a drug that may overstimulate the body and mind, interfering with sleep and increasing anxiety.
8. Quit Smoking and Avoid Alcohol – Both nicotine and alcohol can interfere with sleep, especially when consumed near bedtime.

Warning Signs
Most people cannot tell when they are falling asleep while driving. Recognizing the warning signs that sleepiness is overcoming you include:

• You find yourself drifting from your lane or tailgating
• You miss signs or drive past your exit
• You have trouble keeping your eyes open and focused
• You yawn frequently or rub your eyes repeatedly
• You can’t keep your head up
• You daydream or have wandering, disconnected thoughts
• You drift off the road and hit the rumble strips

If you recognize any of these symptoms, you could be in danger of falling asleep.

Coping with “Drowsiness”
If you must drive despite your best efforts to avoid drowsiness – what options do you have? Several research organizations have published tips on dealing with fatigue:

• www.sleepfoundation.org
• www.nhtsa.dot.gov
• www.aaafoundation.org

Here’s their advice:

1. Sleep – even a short nap can help (followed by exercise to wake up). Make sure you use a secure rest area – not the side of the road where another vehicle might collide with you.
2. Exercise – get out of the vehicle and walk, stretch and move your body to wake up. Take driving breaks to stretch your legs and get your blood moving, heart pumping, etc.
3. Caffeine – As a short-term fix, caffeine can help to wake you up, but don’t rely on it to get you through a long drive – its effects usually wear out after the first couple of cups of coffee.
4. Companions - When possible, travel with a companion who will stay awake with you to monitor your driving and talk to you.
5. Timing - Try to avoid “sleepy” times of the day – after dark and especially after midnight are peak times for your body to decide to sleep – and when most “drowsy driving” crashes occur.


Check out the web sites mentioned above for even more tips and helpful information. Have a good, safe night!

Drowsy Driving Is Dangerous!
• Prepare for night driving by getting enough sleep or by improving the quality and duration of your sleep patterns
• Recognize the warning signs of Drowsy Driving – nodding off, excessive yawning, etc.
• When you must drive, take naps, exercise and for short term use – some caffeine may help.


This information provided by B&B Ice, Inc, "The Clear Choice!" Please visit our website www.bnbice.com or call us at 409-727-5714. We only have Ice & Water for you!

Useful Water Facts

Here are the facts about the water crisis. Every day, thousands of people die from lack of access to clean water. The safe water issue is intimately linked to hygiene education and proper sanitation, which is why we take an integrated approach to bringing safe water to the world’s poor. This page is broken into the following sections:

1. Water
2. Sanitation
3. Impacts on Children
4. Impacts on Women
5. Impacts on Productivity
6. What Can You Do?
7. Water in the News
8. Lesson Plans
9. Resource Links

Water
• 3.575 million people die each year from water-related disease. (11)
• 43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea. (11)
• 84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 – 14. (11)
• 98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world. (11)
• 884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people. (5)
• The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. (1)
• At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease. (1)
• Less than 1% of the world’s fresh water (or about 0.007% of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct human use. (12)
• An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the typical person living in a developing country slum uses in a whole day. (1)
• About a third of people without access to an improved water source live on less than $1 a day. More than two thirds of people without an improved water source live on less than $2 a day. (1)
• Poor people living in the slums often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people living in the same city. (1)
• Without food a person can live for weeks, but without water you can expect to live only a few days. (4)
• The daily requirement for sanitation, bathing, and cooking needs, as well as for assuring survival, is about 13.2 gallons per person. (3)
• Over 50 percent of all water projects fail and less than five percent of projects are visited, and far less than one percent have any longer-term monitoring. (10)
Sanitation
• Only 62% of the world’s population has access to improved sanitation – defined as a sanitation facility that ensures hygienic separation of human excreta from human contact. (5)
• 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation, including 1.2 billion people who have no facilities at all. (5)
• The majority of the illness in the world is caused by fecal matter.(9)
• Lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection. (9)
• At any one time, more than half of the poor in the developing world are ill from causes related to hygiene, sanitation and water supply. (9)
• 88% of cases of diarrhea worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation or insufficient hygiene. (9)
• Of the 60 million people added to the world’s towns and cities every year, most occupy impoverished slums and shanty-towns with no sanitation facilities. (8)
• It is estimated that improved sanitation facilities could reduce diarrhea-related deaths in young children by more than one-third. If hygiene promotion is added, such as teaching proper hand washing, deaths could be reduced by two thirds. It would also help accelerate economic and social development in countries where sanitation is a major cause of lost work and school days because of illness. (6)

To learn more about the advantages and benefits of B&B's daily Ice-Water Delivery Service, please call today: 409-727-5714 or 337-433-7806 or visit us at www.bnbice.com.

OUTSIDE WORKERS: REDUCTION OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS

GENERAL

These procedures provide the minimal steps applicable to most outdoor work situations and essential to reducing the incidence of heat related illnesses. in working environments with a higher risk for heat illnesses (e.g., during a heat wave, or with severe working or environmental conditions), it is everyone's duty to exercise even greater caution and additional protective measures beyond what is listed in this document, as needed to protect employees. Additional protective measures include:

1. Increased employer vigilance for frequent water consumption and symptoms of heat illness for non- acclimatized employees or during the first 2 weeks on job, and for all employees during heat waves or prolonged high heat stress conditions.

2. Graduated work schedule and greater opportunities for cooled work breaks for first 2 weeks on job.

Replenishment Procedures

1. The Supervisor should ensure at least 2 quarts per employee at the start of the shift. Employees will replenish as needed by way of clean portable water at jobsites, service stations or other means.

2. The Supervisor should monitor water containers every 30 minutes and encourage employees to report to low water levels, warm or dirty water.

3. The Supervisor should remind employees to drink water prior to starting their shift and give reminders throughout the shift to drink water.

4. The Supervisor should hold meetings in the morning to remind workers about the importance of frequent water consumption.

5. Water containers should be placed close to or, where accessible in the immediate work area.

6. The Supervisor should retrain employees during a heat wave or if it is observed that employees are not drinking enough water.

ACCESS TO SHADE

Access to rest and shade are important preventive steps to minimize the risk of heat related illness.

1. Employees shiouldl have access to the office or construction trailer, or other building with air conditioning.

2. Vehicles with air conditioning are also acceptable for the purpose of providing shade.

ACCESS TO A PREVENTATIVE RECOVERY PERIOD

Every morning there should be a short meeting to remind workers about the importance of rest breaks and the location of shade.

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO SYMPTOMS OF POSSIBLE HEAT ILLNESS

Each employee should be informed that emergency medical services will be provided hould they become necessary. Procedures for contacting emergency medical services should be posted at the job site. If necessary employees should be transported to a point where they can be reached by an emergency medical service provider. Procedures should be posted at the job site. Clear and precise directions to the work site should be provided as needed to responders. Directions should be posted at the job site.

TRAINING

Training is critical to know how to respond to possible heat related illness and to assist with obtaining emergency assistance without delay. All employees should receive heat illness prevention training prior to working outdoors, particularly newly hired employees.

Supervisors should be trained prior to being assigned to supervise outdoor workers. On hot days, and during a heat wave, supervisors should hold short meetings to review this important information with workers.

For more about heat related illness visit our website or call 409-727-5714 for a safety presentation. Continue to follow us on facebook and twitter. We are "The Clear Choice!" B&B Ice & Water

B&B Ice & Water: "Our Story"

Clearly, the Bentons are doing something right. Forty years and three generations of Paul Roman Bentons have taken a dairy delivery business, founded on Procter Street in Port Arthur in 1969, and grown B&B Ice and Water, the largest independent distributor of Reddy Ice in the nation, and more recently, a water provider.

Roman, the third Paul Roman, son of “Paul” Roman, Jr., and father of Paul Roman, IV, age 5, met at the sales and marketing offices of the multi-facility operation at 5649 Gulfway Drive in Groves, dressed in his work clothes – shorts and pullover – to methodically talk about what’s most important at B&B – safety.

Before a question could be asked about the history of the company, Roman launched into the safety procedures B&B follows to ensure workers at industrial sites not only drink enough water but bacteria free water that is odorless and tasteless.

Providing water to industrial sites is a fairly new service for B&B and one might say Roman is excited about it. Each Paul Roman seems to have expanded the family owned and operated business to some extent appreciating year-after-year growth and the venture into water service is Roman’s project.

Reluctantly, Roman offers some information about the founding of his family’s business only with the promise that safety can also be woven in throughout the story.

First there was Paul Roman Benton who bought Townsend Dairy and began delivering products to mid-county residents. His son, “Paul” Roman Benton, Jr., joined forces with his dad, and they began manufacturing bagged ice in the 70s. By the time Paul, who was a state football player for Port Neches Groves High School, was a senior in high school, he was essentially running B&B. For a decade or so the company delivered both dairy and ice to schools, residents and local businesses “I think by the early 80s the dairy business got too competitive but the ice business continued to grow at a nice rate,” said Roman. “In 1985 Dad opened up a Reddy Ice distributorship in Florida, and we moved there. I was 8.”

It was at that time in the 80s that B&B in Mid-County stopped manufacturing ice and began distributing it for Reddy Ice. The company’s founder, Paul Roman, Sr., continued operating the Mid-County distributorship while Paul Roman, Jr. established the Tampa, Florida location where he still resides and manages that business.

Paul Roman, III, graduated from high school in Florida, attended classes at Florida State University and then went to work for Mutual of Omaha selling insurance. “Off and on I always thought about working in the family business,” said Roman. “Then when I went a couple of weeks without getting a commission check, I knew I wanted to go that route.”

Roman came on board with B&B in 1998. His grandfather had passed away two years previously and his father was managing both the Southeast Texas and Tampa businesses from Florida. The ice distributorship in the area had steadily expanded to cover Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana, east of Lake Charles to Kirbyville and Crystal Beach.

Satisfied that he has shared the history of the company, Roman again brings up the topic on the forefront of his mind – safety. “Throughout the history of our company it’s been our goal to try and bundle safety, convenience and cost savings,” says Roman. “That’s why on the two biggest projects in this area - Total and Motiva – every sip of water was from us.” Water? Thought B&B was in the ice business? Similarly to how the previous generation expanded services to include ice, Roman’s generation has remained flexible and vigilant in the marketplace realizing a need for water.

“In business, you’re only one event away from selling everything you have and one event away from someone doing it better,” said Roman. “There was an event in Arizona in 2002 that changed our business forever and put us in the water business.” That year there was an outbreak of a Norwalk-like virus at the Thunderbirds Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz. A total of 84 cases were connected to water jugs used at the course, resulting in the death of one teenage golfer. As a result more strident OSHA regulations were implemented requiring sanitization of water coolers in public locations like golf courses as well as businesses. B&B Ice, under Roman’s leadership, immediately saw the need to become B&B Ice and Water. Already established delivering ice to restaurants, grocery and convenience stores and petrochemical plants, B&B merely expanded its offering to include safe drinking water in spigot containers.

Now finally, Roman is allowed to talk about what he has wanted to talk about the entire interview. How B&B Ice and Water ensures safe drinking water to its customers including Valero, Chevron Philips, Kellogg Brown and Root, EnGlobal, Mason Construction, to name a few. “We have the whole process on our website,” said Roman. “We have an entire assembly line to wash and sterilize the water coolers every day, and we use a filtration system to make sure that the water is bacteria free.”

Roman walks through the day-to-day process. Around 4:30 a.m. crews meet to load water and ice for delivery. Water, of bottled water quality, and ice is put in yellow and red Igloo coolers and loaded on trailers. All deliveries are completed between 8:30 and 9 a.m. Crews return with coolers from the previous day and prepare for the next day’s water and ice delivery. They run the water cans through a Jackson 66-inch conveyor washer with 180 degree sanitizing rinse certified by the NSF guaranteed to kill bacteria. They then process water through a double filter to ensure it is bacteria free using a commercial 24- inch carbon filter for taste and a high intensity ultraviolet water purifier to kill bacteria.

Odorless and tasteless water is nearly as critical as bacteria-free water because workers won’t drink foul water, which can lead to another health issue – heat illnesses. “Because of our carbon filters no matter what type of fluctuations from the City, it doesn’t matter, we get a consistent taste-free water,” said Roman. “It could be technically bacteria-free but if the water has a bad taste, guys won’t drink it and it can become a serious health concern.”

According to OSHA every year thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat and some die. Therefore, B&B Ice and Water offers seven-day a week service with multiple cooler sizes and flexible ordering. The have no minimum order and don’t require long-term contracts. The company’s goal is simply to ensure sufficient coolers on site to keep workers hydrated.

Another health concern occurs when businesses try to provide water coolers independently. B&B’s Sales and Marketing Manager Eric Wright says they’ve seen all kinds of company efforts to provide employees with water but most are either unsafe or expensive or both. “We’ve seen buckets of water just sitting out in the open,” said Wright. “Some provide bottled water but that gets expensive and is not great for the environment. We not only remove the liability but offer a safer more economical alternative.”

B&B Ice and Water implements the same common-sense services to their water services as they have in their ice distribution for the past 40 years, daily timely delivery and cooler/freezer maintenance. Water services are offered at one flat rate per every cooler. In addition B&B owns, maintains and stores the coolers, as well as delivers and lifts the 80-pound water jugs; they have water tested on a regular basis by a third party.

Just as the previous generation of Bentons saw the ice business exceed the dairy business a few decades ago, this generation of Bentons has watched the water business surpass the ice business. “We’ve done nothing but grow year after year,” said Roman. “My first year here – 13 or 14 years ago - $750,000 in annual sales; this year sales are $6 million.”

What will the next generation of Paul Roman’s appreciate? Steam? Dry ice? The current regime says “fuel.” “We have contracts now with Sprint and Verizon to provide generator fuel for diesel generators,” said Roman. “We serve as an emergency response company during hurricanes, ice storms, blizzards, tornadoes, basically using our distribution system and being in the right place at the right time.”

The emergency response operation is primarily a venture of the Florida branch of B&B. Roman is content to grow the ice and water business right here in Southeast Texas. Benton success is as clear as B&B’s ice and water; Roman thinks the future is transparent, too. “Our water business is just beginning to catch on,” said Roman. “The future of B&B is expanding the water business and making sure it’s accepted widely.”

Contact B&B Ice and Water at 409-727-5714 or visit them on the web at www.bnbice.com. Be sure and note the tab on “safety.”

The Iceman Cometh....Part Four

Continued…..

The coolers that come off the line are sealed with Ultimate Safety seal tape so tampering can be detected prior to consumption. The spigots on the coolers are sealed with a shrink-wrap cover for additional protection.

In addition to clean, cool water, B&B provides multiple coolers that contain water or Gatorade. For those who want the electrolytes in Gatorade without the sugar, B&B also provides sugar-free water with electrolytes.

Benton is third generation operator in this family business, which is descended from the old Townsend Dairy on Proctor Street in Port Arthur. He has built this specialty water business over the past decade – one customer at a time.

To learn more about the advantages and benefits of B&B's daily Ice-Water delivery service, please call today: 409-727-5714 or 337-433-7806.

The Iceman Cometh....Part Three

Continued…..

Sanitary water provision is important, and not just because OSHA regulations require it. Contaminated water and sanitary conditions are both causes of the infection with E. Coli, Hepatitis A, Salmonella and Typhoid Fever.

The danger is illustrated by an outbreak of a Norwalk like virus at the Thunderbirds Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz., in 2002. A total of 84 cases were connected to water jugs used at the course, resulting in the death of one teenage golfer.

B&B Ice Owner Roman Benton stated “Our message to plant operators is that we will take the ice and water business off your hands. We tighten the process to reduce your liability.”

To be continued in next BLOG……

The Iceman Cometh....Part Two

Continued…..

Benton’s operation is a sophisticated one, with coolers moving down an assembly line where they are completely sanitized before moving on to be filled with ice and water. The water is treated with a carbon filtration process using ultraviolet light.

The ice is delivered daily from Reddy Ice, a member of the International Packaged Ice Association and largest producer and distributor of packaged ice in the United States. B&B in turn is the largest Reddy Ice distributor in the nation and serves retail clients in Florida, Texas and Louisiana.

Its operation supplying oil refineries and petrochemical plants in Southeast Texas is another example of the vast network of companies that dominate the economy of the region and serves as a clear reminder of the economic benefits that flow from their operations.

To be continued in next BLOG……

The Iceman Cometh....Part One

The sight is a familiar one to motorists along the highways leading to the refineries and construction projects throughout Jefferson County – large, flatbed trailers carrying dozens of yellow and red Igloo coolers in tight symmetrical rows.

Although massive amounts of water are used every day in the processes carried out in oil and petrochemical plants, that water is not recommended for human consumption. In fact, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has strict requirements that require potable water be provided in all places of employment and that it meets strict sanitary standards.

To relieve a plant operator of the obligation of meeting those OSHA standards while ensuring an adequate supply of safe, clean water for their employees, plant operators have increasingly turned to B&B Ice Inc, in Groves.

Owner, Roman Benton said his company can meet all the drinking water needs of an employer and eliminate the possibility of contamination while relieving the employer from having paid staff diverted from their real jobs to water duty.

To be continued in next BLOG……

WHY B&B ICE COMPANY ?

I – SAFETY

A. All our water cans are sanitized inside and out every day by a Jackson 66 inch conveyor washer with 180 degree sanitizing rinse certified by the NSF guaranteed to kill bacteria.

B. Our water is double filtered to insure it is bacteria free using a commercial 24 inch carbon filter for taste and a high intensity ultraviolet water purifier to kill bacteria

C. Our water is tested on a regular basis by us and an outside source

D. All liabilities regarding this job are our responsibilities

E. We have a written safety policy that our employees are required to read and sign prior to employment.

II-QUALITY

A. Our water is bottled water quality

B. Our service is unmatched in the Indury

C. References available

III-PERSONNEL

A. Our service eliminates the need for an onsite water crew

B. Good employees are becoming harder to find with all the competition

C. All of our delivery personnel are trained and ISTC certified

IV-CONVIENENCE

A. With all the planning involved in these major projects, this task is taken off your plate

B. No more calling for repairs when an ice machine breaks down

C. No more running out of ice

D. No more finding drinking water when the onsite service is interrupted

V- COST

A. We can actually save you money

B. No more lost production due to skilled labor having to stop what they are doing and prepare water coolers

C. Easy to accurately identify costs

In addition to out Water Coolers we also can provide bottled water to your job site. Call us today for pricing and more information on our products and services 409-727-5714. Visit our website for a complete overview of B&B Ice & Water!

The "Clean Cooler"

How many times will a cooler been touched each day?

“In an environment where inadequate hand-washing stations are present, or where these stations are not utilized properly, communicable diseases such as H1N1 and E. Coli can be spread from human hands onto other objects. The spread of these germs is even more dangerous in food and drink-process and/or food and drink consumption areas. B&B Ice has been setting the standard in industrial drinking ice-water safety for over half a decade. We offer more than ice-water and time-tested great service. Our customers enjoy the piece of mind that comes with knowing that our coolers are sanitized inside and out on a daily basis. While you can’t stop people from going to the coffee pot, you can at least make sure everything including the handle is brought to a clean, germ free, bacteria free state every 24 hours”.

For more on how we clean our coolers, view our video on our website or call us today! B&B Ice & Water is always "The Clear Choice!" (409) 727-5714

B&B Ice & Water Provides Cool, Clean Ice

Who’s hands bagged your ice? Are they clean? Do they wear gloves? Hair nets? When is the last time the ice machine was cleaned? No one regulates cleaning ice machines. Is it a generic bag with a drawstring? Anyone who opens the freezer has access to your ice. Is it marked with the International Packed Ice Association, IPIA, seal of approval? If not, it has no sanitary monitoring. Ice can go Bad. Because it’s a food, ice can become contaminated with bacteria and/or viruses that can cause illness. Many people believe mistakenly that because ice is a frozen product, that it can’t harbor bacteria...Not True! "Ice has been found to contain a wide spectrum of bacteria, from Salmonella and E. Coli to Hepatitis A.” – IPIA

We provide….. Advanced filtration and purification technology – food grade quality. Ice is Food – People consume more ice than they do bread per day. NSF inspected plants – more than 50 areas of operations inspected. (National Science Foundation) certifies drinking water. International Packaged Ice Association (IPIA) clearly marked on bag.

For more information on ice and our other products call 409- 727-5714 or click B&B Ice to visit our website.

Water & Ice: OSHA and FDA Regulations

OSHA REGULATIONS

29 C.F.R. § 1926.51 Sanitation.

Title 29 - Labor

Title 29: Labor
PART 1926—SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION
Subpart D—Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
Browse Previous | Browse Next

§ 1926.51 Sanitation.

(a) Potable water. (1) An adequate supply of potable water shall be provided in all places of employment.

(2) Portable containers used to dispense drinking water shall be capable of being tightly closed, and equipped with a tap. Water shall not be dipped from containers.

(3) Any container used to distribute drinking water shall be clearly marked as to the nature of its contents and not used for any other purpose.

(4) The common drinking cup is prohibited.

(5) Where single service cups (to be used but once) are supplied, both a sanitary container for the unused cups and a receptacle for disposing of the used cups shall be provided.

(6) Potable water means water which meets the quality standards prescribed in the U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards, published in 42 CFR part 72, or water which is approved for drinking purposes by the State or local authority having jurisdiction.

(b) Nonpotable water. (1) Outlets for nonpotable water, such as water for industrial or firefighting purposes only, shall be identified by signs meeting the requirements of subpart G of this part, to indicate clearly that the water is unsafe and is not to be used for drinking, washing, or cooking purposes.

(2) There shall be no cross-connection, open or potential, between a system furnishing potable water and a system furnishing nonpotable water.

The average American buys four bags of packaged ice each year, 80 percent of it between Memorial and Labor Day. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates packaged ice in interstate commerce as a food, just like other foods and like other foods, packaged ice must be produced according to FDA’s regulation for Current Good Manufacturing Practices in Manufacturing,Packing, or Holding Human Food. This means that ice manufacturers must produce, hold, and transport ice in clean and sanitary conditions,monitor the cleanliness and hygiene of employees, use properly cleaned and maintained equipment, and use water that is safe and sanitary.

FDA REGULATIONS

When FDA investigators inspect packaged ice manufacturing plants, they look at such things as:

• Whether the plumbing in the facility prevents contamination of the ice water supply or

stored ice,

• Whether the water supply is safe and sanitary (e.g., water that meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards for drinking water), and

• Whether the manufacturing facility and grounds are maintained in sanitary condition

Whether it's Water or Ice, B&B Ice & Water has the solution for your needs. For more information contact us at 409-727-5714 or visit our website www.bnbice.com.

We Take The Water and Ice Business Off of Your Hands!

B&B Ice provides water cooler service using filtered water and packaged Reddy Ice. Reddy Ice, a member of the International Packaged Ice Association, is the largest producer and distributor of packaged ice in the United States. Our coolers are sanitized inside and out prior to filling using NSF Certified processing. Coolers are systematically tested and verified to be bacteria free. We provide ice boxes and bag ice at your job site.

REDUCE your LIABILITY

All coolers will meet and exceed OSHA requirements which reduces possible contamination issues. Ultimate Safety seal tape is used so tampering can be recognized prior to consumption. The tape is dated and marked “Do Not Remove.” If seal tape is broken or removed the water cooler is not safe and should not be used. The employees and/or contractors can be educated on the safety of the seal tape. If the seal is broken it is not suitable for drinking and should not be utilized as potable water. Our newest safety measure is a shrink wrap cover on the spigot that is placed directly after the sanitizing process to keep airborne particles from entering during transportation of the coolers.

Reduction of:

• Liability Injury onsite while making water coolers
• Illness spread from cross contamination
• Issues associated with availability of water coolers, bottled water, ice, cups and sanitizing supplies

For more information or to schedule a presentation at your job site visit our website or call 409-727-5714.

A Tradition of Local Excellence

B & B Ice is the largest independent ice distributor in the country. We are committed to three principles: Safety, Cost Savings and Convenience.

Safety - There are major liability risks associated with handling of ice and water.

1. Unsanitary handling of ice and water can lead to E. Coli, Hepatitis A, Salmonella and Typhoid Fever

2. Poor cooler appearance and/or taste leads to decreased consumption by workers, which increases the risk of heat related illness

3. Insufficient amount of water on hand each day

4. Noncompliance with government health and safety regulations

B & B Ice is aware of these safety concerns and the effects on you and your employees. We have in place safety procedures and a process to ensure that;

1. The coolers are bacteria free

2. We meet and exceed OSHA requirements and FDA standards

3. We have a State of the Art water filtration and purification system and

sufficient coolers on site to keep workers hydrated for all you daily needs (planned or unplanned).

We also know that cost is very important to your companies survival. Therefore, we provide one low flat rate per cooler. You no longer need to worry about hidden cost of a in house operation. Such as; labor, ice, coolers, replacement parts, cleaning, increased risk of lifting injuries and storage space. A Project Manager from a local Petrochemical Plant said "...We've looked at every different scenario and we can't make our own water any better or cheaper."

We are very convenient; available seven day a week, flexible ordering system, 5 and 10 gallon size options, we offer Gatorade and Sugar-Free Sqwincher, hand held computer generated delivery tickets, professionally trained drivers, and excellent customer service.

Give us a try, you will not be disappointed! Remember - Safety, Cost Savings and Convenience. That's B & B Ice!

For more information call us at 409-727-5714 or visit our website http://www.bnbice.com/

The Clear Choice

The safety of your employees is a top priority at your firm. Considering the extreme heat we face each day, you should have enough ice cold water for your workers to drink daily.

Are you aware that OSHA's top priority this summer is a "campaign to prevent heat related illness in outdoor workers"? At B & B Ice & Water, we know how critical it is to treat ice and water as food, because they are. The FDA has regulations governing the proper handling of ice and water.

Since 1969, we have been in the ice business. In 2000 we began offering ice cold water to numerous businesses throughout our region and the intergrated refining services industry. We are often called on to speak at Safety meetings due to our expertise in preventing and treating heat related illness.

We would like to become your water provider. We offer seven (7) day a week service, multiple cooler sizes and flexible ordering. There is no minimum order and no long term contracts.

Contact us for any questions regarding the water cooler program. We are glad to assist you in providing ice & water for you and your employees. We are "The Clear Choice!"

For more information, contact us at 409-727-5714 or visit our website http://www.bnbice.com/

Hyperthermia: How to Prevent and Treat it

With temperatures rising above three digits and drought conditions worsening in the Southeast Texas area, the risk of heat related illness or hyperthermia in outside workers and athletes is more severe than ever. At B&B Ice, we understand these risks and the measures needed to be taken to prevent them. Here are some tips on how to prevent, recognize, and treat hyperthermia.


What is hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia is the overheating of the body. Hyperthermia or heat related illness occurs when our bodies can no longer transfer enough heat to keep us cool.


Prevention of Hyperthermia:
•Be aware of the National Weather Service “heat index” each day.  The “heat index” measures the risk of heat-related illness in relation to the air temperature and humidity.
•Practice heat safety measures.
•Drink plenty of water and isotonic drinks that replace electrolytes.

•Drink on a schedule. Two (2) hours before working in the heat, drink 24 oz.   of water. Drink 16 oz. of water 15 minutes before; continue drinking 8 oz. of fluids every 15 minutes while working.

•Check urine. Urine should be clear to pale yellow, and there should be a large amount if you are drinking adequately. You should urinate every 2 to 4 hours during an activity. If your output decreases, drink more fluids.

•If you must spend significant time in the sun, wear lightweight, light colored, loose fitting clothing. Wear a wide brimmed hat for shade.

•Stay as cool as possible. Take frequent breaks in the shade, by a fan , or in   air conditioning.  Cool your skin by spraying water over your body. Take a cool shower.

•If you have to stand for any length of time, flex your leg muscles often while   standing.

•Do not drink caffeine or alcohol. (Energy Drinks, Cokes, Tea, “Mountain Dew” are highest in caffeine.)

•Staying physically fit can help you acclimate to a hot environment.

Symptoms of Hyperthermia: 

•Heat Rash - Sweat ducts become blocked.

•Heat Cramps – Sweating causes loss of water, electrolytes, salt and minerals.

•Heat Edema – Swelling in legs and hands.
•Heat Stress – Dizziness, fainting.

•Heat Exhaustion – Working or exercising in hot weather and not drinking enough liquids.

•Heat Stroke – Body fails to regulate its own temperature. Body temperature rises often to 105 degrees.

Heat  stroke is a medical emergency, even with immediate treatment; it can be life threatening or cause serious long-term problems.


Treatment of Hyperthermia:
Emergency First Aid for heat stroke is needed immediately because this condition is life threatening.  After calling 911 or other emergency medical services, follow these First Aid steps:
•Stop your activity and rest.

•Move the person into a cool place, out of direct sunlight. 

•Remove unnecessary clothing and place the person on his/her side to expose as much skin surface to the air as possible.

•Cool the person’s entire body by sponge or spraying cool (not cold) water and fan the person to lower the person’s body temperature.

•Apply ice packs on the groin, neck and armpits.  Do not immerse the person in an ice bath.

•Drink lots of water.

•Rest for 24 hours.

As you can see, hyperthermia can lead to serious health issues or even death. By following these safety tips, hyperthermia can be prevented.


For more information on hyperthermia and heat related illness, or to request a free safety seminar at your company, visit the B&B Ice website or contact us at 409-727-5714.