OSHA
Targets Printers Again
OSHA is now targeting printers for
combustible dust. Within
the past month, Printing Industries of America has received multiple requests
for help from members who have received citations or warnings for excessive
combustible dust accumulation in their operations. While OSHA does not
have a specific standard for combustible dust, they are using a new compliance
directive and citing companies under several existing standards, including
general housekeeping, hazard communication, and hazardous locations.
OSHA is focusing on printing operations that exhibit dust accumulation
exceeding 1/32 of an inch (about the thickness of a paper clip). So far,
the national association's environmental health and safety team has been
successful in mitigating the inspections, but they have not all worked
their way through the process. Your firm needs to be vigilant and institute
a comprehensive cleaning program and be conscious of the dust accumulations
or face the risk of receiving a citation.
The
Impact of Social Media
Many people remain skeptical about the impact social media
is having on businesses, but social media IS affecting business and
its brands. Mind you, few of those skeptics are sales and marketing professionals.
Social media is the next step in the natural evolution of the Internet. First,
the Internet was able to make information available to anyone who had a computer
and a connection to the web. Then came the ability to conduct commerce — the
buying and selling of goods. For years now, the Internet and the smart minds
behind concepts like Facebook, YouTube and others, have connected people
who have similar interests. It is allowing consumers, clients and customers
to talk back. If you have five minutes to spare, check out this YouTube
video about
the impact and growing use of social media.
Freebie
of the Week: Report on Color
The measurement of color is critical
for process control, and is often an area of conflict with
customers, and when printing to standards and specifications.
The question arises in businesses of how this color is
communicated and transferred. Do all instruments give the
same numbers? Are there problem colors and papers? To help
address these questions, the Center for Technology and
Research has prepared a report that evaluates the influence
of using different instruments on the communication of
color and the effect of materials measured. The Spectrophotometer
Inter-Instrument Agreement on Standard Reference Materials
and Printed Samples report also includes a communication
checklist. Download the "Spectro
Study" from
the Members Only section under Special Reports. Login/password
required.
5
Sales Tips that Work
Sales consultant/trainer
Linda Bishop offers these common-sense tips that really can
help your Sales personnel to succeed:
1-Believe your customer is a likeable
person. If you don't like someone, you probably can't hide
it well enough to sell them.
2-Speak confidently, arranging sentences in a logical
order. Make it easy for listeners to follow and understand
your meaning.
3-Scan your own body language frequently.
Be sure it is congruent with the impression you want to make.
4-Ignore distractions--internal ones in your head and external
ones in the environment. Stay 100% focused on the conversation.
5-Don't interrupt. Easy to say. Hard to do!
Adobe's
Top 10 Shortcuts
In the September 3 issue of eNews, PGAMA
members were provided with a link to the Adobe
Shortcut App.
In case you have yet to see for yourself how handy this
application can be, here is a list of 10 favorite tricks
to try:
#10-Shift+Tab hides all the pallets except your toolbar.
#9-Hitting the "D" key resets your color
pallets to Black foreground, White Background.
#8-The "X" key will toggle your foreground and background
colors.
#7-Use CMD+Delete to fill your layer or selection with the current background
color.
#6-Option+Delete fills your layer or selection with the foreground color.
#5-Change your paintbrush circle into a crosshair for precise control by pressing
the Caps Lock key.
#4-Double-Click the ruler on the top or side of your document brings
up the Units & Ruler Dialogue box. (Handy if you work in
both print and web.)
#3-To quickly change the blend mode of a layer Shift+Option+(letter corresponding
to mode) ie: Shift+Option+M is Multiply. Shift+Option+V is Vivid Light.
#2- Using Shift+ the "+" or "-" will
toggle through the various blend modes one at a time.
#1-Hitting Tab hides all of your palettes.
Hitting Tab again brings them back.
Member
Anniversaries
Congratulations to the following companies,
marking major anniversaries as Association members this month:
40 Years
Howard G. Hoffman, Inc.
25 Years
Fuji Film
20 Years
Marriner Marketing Communications,
Inc.
15
Years
Coleman One, Inc.
10 Years
Broadway Transport Services, Inc.
Caskey Printing,
Inc.
Norasack Design
5 Years
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Member
News
Kudos to McArdle
Printing Co. in Upper Marlboro, MD on their winning
entry in Printing
Impressions Magazine's Gold Ink Awards. The firm won
a silver award in the category of Manuals.
Way to go Westland
Printers (formerly S&S
Graphics) in Laurel,
MD and Schmitz Press in Sparks, MD! Both
companies recently
received large jobs from the Government Printing Office.
Upcoming Events
| October 5 or November
9 |
Workshop:
Harnessing the Power of Green,
8:00am-4:00pm at CCBC Hunt Valley Center
(10111 McCormick Road/Hunt Valley, MD 21031). This
hands-on, day-long workshop, will guide participants
through an interactive process of (1) understanding
the value of going green to the bottom
line, (2) identifying quick wins for their organization,
and (3) learning how to create a “sustainable” organization.
Cost: $250 per person, which includes Continental Breakfast
and Lunch. At the close of class, participants will
receive a certificate of completion from the Community
College of Baltimore County. To Register: Call the
Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Registration
Center at 443.840.4700.
|
| October 6 |
Webinar:
GABC Health Plans 2010 (for
Employers in MD with 50 or less employees),
11:30am-12:30pm. Tune in to find out about the
advantages of GABC healthplans, what new benefits
are available, and how to enroll/renew as an insured
participant. Register online at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/356149489. |
| October 8 |
Webinar: GABC Health
Plans 2010 (for
Employers in MD with 51 or more employees, and
ALL employers in VA and DC), 11:30am-12:30pm.
Tune in to find out about the advantages of
GABC healthplans, what new benefits are available,
and how to enroll/renews as an insured participant.
Register online at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/895705456. |
| October 13-15 |
Employee Education
Event: Intro to Printing Class, at
PGAMA, 9685 Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046. Give
your CSRs or managers an understanding
of how the entire printing process works with
this 2-and-a-half day course. A great training
tool for new employees! Cost is $295 per person
for members/$495 for non-members. Includes all
course materials, lunch everyday, and a field trip
to a printing plant. MAGE members get a $100 discount
on fees! Sign up at pgama.com or call the office,
410-319-0900. |
| October 14 |
Dinner
Meeting: Social
Butterflies in Your Stomach,
5:30-8:30pm at the Admiral Fell Inn (888 S. Broadway,
Fells Point in Baltimore, MD.) Speaker Marci De
Vries will answer your questions about using social
media to support your sales efforts. Sponsored
by the Production Club of Baltimore. Cost is $20
for members (PCB members free) and includes dinner
and drinks. RSVP to events@productionclubofbaltimore.org. |
| October 14 |
FREE Seminar: Employers'
Rights in the Age of Social Networking &
Blogging, 6:00-7:00pm at Intelligent
Office (300 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.)
This seminar will give employers timely information
about their rights concerning employees online behavior,
policies related to social networking, and more. RSVP
to: coordinator@intelligentoffice.com.
Be sure to mention that you are a PGAMA member and
the $20 attendance fee will be waived. Light refreshments
and parking included. |
| October 22 |
FREE Seminar: Design
Your Pants Off, 8:30am-Noon at
PGAMA (9685 Gerwig Lane/Columbia, MD 21046.) Attend
this educational workshop, presented by Adobe
Certified trainers, to learn about benefits for
creatives and printers of Adobe Creative Suite
4 Design Premium. Speakers will go over enhancements
to their traditional print production tools as
well as their web and interactive design products. *Attend
for a chance to win a copy of Adobe 4 Design Premium!* FREE for
members! $50 for non-members. Limited Seating-sign
up by October 15, 410-319-0900 or online at www.pgama.com. |
| October 30 |
Special Event: ASI Advantages
Roadshow, 9:00am-1:00pm
at BWI Marriott (1743 W. Nursery Road, Baltimore,
MD 21090.) The Advantages Roadshow is a sales-building
experience like no other. Enjoy one-on-one conversations
with leading companies, attend FREE educational seminars,
and find hot new items to show your clients. Visit
www.advantagesroadshow.com for more details. |
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