When it comes to the newly revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the countdown is on to comply with a long list of important new requirements—which means, yes, more acronyms! The new requirements started with mandatory employee training that had to be completed in December 2013, and the remaining requirements will be phased in over the next several years with the final deadline in June 2016. OSHA has adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling Chemicals (GHS), and as a result there are significant changes that all employees need to know about. If you’ve missed the initial training deadline, don’t panic! Our EHS department has published a number of resources to assist members with complying, including a concise training video covering the topics required in the initial training and a customizable PowerPoint presentation for a more in-depth training session. To help make this a more streamlined process, we’ve put together the “Who, What, Why, When, and Where” of OSHA’s Hazard Communication requirements to give you a clear explanation of what you need to do and when to do it to remain in compliance. There is also a dedicated members-only webpage to help our industry members through this process. You’ll find a free online guide full of critical information, sample program material, forms, and more downloadable tools. Now is the time to prepare your operation and start making the required changes. For more information on the steps you need to take to remain in compliance, look at part two of this story...

When it comes to the newly revised Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the countdown is on to comply with a long list of important new requirements—which means, yes, more acronyms! The new requirements started with mandatory employee training that had to be completed in December 2013, and the remaining requirements will be phased in over the next several years with the final deadline in June 2016. OSHA has adopted the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling Chemicals (GHS), and as a result there are significant changes that all employees need to know about. If you’ve missed the initial training deadline, don’t panic! Our EHS department has published a number of resources to assist members with complying, including a concise training video covering the topics required in the initial training and a customizable PowerPoint presentation for a more in-depth training session. To help make this a more streamlined process, we’ve put together the “Who, What, Why, When, and Where” of OSHA’s Hazard Communication requirements to give you a clear explanation of what you need to do and when to do it to remain in compliance. There is also a dedicated members-only webpage to help our industry members through this process. You’ll find a free online guide full of critical information, sample program material, forms, and more downloadable tools. Now is the time to prepare your operation and start making the required changes. For more information on the steps you need to take to remain in compliance, look at part two of this story...

We extend a special thank-you to Leslie Groene, President, Groene Consulting, for contributing this information. Leslie is a keynote speaker at the 2014 Print Leadership Summit. “Treat others as you like to be treated.” This little piece of fundamental advice our mothers gave us can be a giant step to success, and it applies to the business world as well. Sales can pose a huge challenge to many printing and graphic arts companies whose best clients can easily take their business elsewhere. So what is a key way to make them stay? One answer is exceptional customer service. Offering engaging, customized service that focuses on the customer allows you to stand out from your competitors, gain your clients’ trust, and ultimately increase your sales.   Your sales team is one of the “necessary pillars” of the print business, as Leslie Groene explains in her keynote session, “Does Your Business Have the Right Pillars in Place?” at the first ever Print Leadership Summit, June 2–3, 2014. The job of your sales team is to prospect and develop and maintain profitable relationships with clients. Help them not only reach your top clients, but hold on to them with these 10 best practices: 1.     Do your daily and weekly homework and stay current on all aspects of your product or services. Stay one step (or more) ahead and anticipate your client’s needs. Read about their business, their industry, and their products and services. A great way to gain a client’s trust is to understand the challenges they face and the environment they live in. 2.    Go the extra mile in serving your client’s needs. To maintain or build stronger relationships with your clients, listen to their needs and follow through on all action items. Keep consistent communication and address any concerns the moment they arise. Best practices include sending handwritten thank-you notes and personally delivering proposals to your customers. 3.    Deal with the challenge of cold calling. First follow any regulations regarding who you may contact and when, but also keep looking for more opportunities to reach out to potential customers. Some great ways to accomplish this are: Send a company newsletter. Call clients who would benefit from the latest update or technology. Network within your industry and community. 4.    Determine who the real players are and find a way to get their attention. It may be easy to spot the movers and shakers in your industry, but how do you reach them? If you did your homework (see step 1), you can find the door to make a connection. What trade organizations are they involved in? Do they support any causes or groups? Find what interests them and place yourself in...

We extend a special thank-you to Leslie Groene, President, Groene Consulting, for contributing this information. Leslie is a keynote speaker at the 2014 Print Leadership Summit. “Treat others as you like to be treated.” This little piece of fundamental advice our mothers gave us can be a giant step to success, and it applies to the business world as well. Sales can pose a huge challenge to many printing and graphic arts companies whose best clients can easily take their business elsewhere. So what is a key way to make them stay? One answer is exceptional customer service. Offering engaging, customized service that focuses on the customer allows you to stand out from your competitors, gain your clients’ trust, and ultimately increase your sales.   Your sales team is one of the “necessary pillars” of the print business, as Leslie Groene explains in her keynote session, “Does Your Business Have the Right Pillars in Place?” at the first ever Print Leadership Summit, June 2–3, 2014. The job of your sales team is to prospect and develop and maintain profitable relationships with clients. Help them not only reach your top clients, but hold on to them with these 10 best practices: 1.     Do your daily and weekly homework and stay current on all aspects of your product or services. Stay one step (or more) ahead and anticipate your client’s needs. Read about their business, their industry, and their products and services. A great way to gain a client’s trust is to understand the challenges they face and the environment they live in. 2.    Go the extra mile in serving your client’s needs. To maintain or build stronger relationships with your clients, listen to their needs and follow through on all action items. Keep consistent communication and address any concerns the moment they arise. Best practices include sending handwritten thank-you notes and personally delivering proposals to your customers. 3.    Deal with the challenge of cold calling. First follow any regulations regarding who you may contact and when, but also keep looking for more opportunities to reach out to potential customers. Some great ways to accomplish this are: Send a company newsletter. Call clients who would benefit from the latest update or technology. Network within your industry and community. 4.    Determine who the real players are and find a way to get their attention. It may be easy to spot the movers and shakers in your industry, but how do you reach them? If you did your homework (see step 1), you can find the door to make a connection. What trade organizations are they involved in? Do they support any causes or groups? Find what interests them and place yourself in...

Look back at all of the great mentors who have influenced you—bosses, coaches, professors. Though sometimes challenging, they teach us to achieve higher, go further, and surpass our goals. True team leaders inspire us throughout our careers and throughout our lives. Anthony Griggs learned from some demanding coaches as an NFL professional. And it was these high standards that inspired him to become a leader as a Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now Griggs shares his most important lessons learned in leadership—foundations that apply everywhere from the playing field to the board room. Here he discusses some of his most inspiring mentors, the lessons he’s learned, and how business leaders can apply them. Inspiration: Coach Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia Eagles Lesson: Being a leader is about more than just working hard. When I was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, all of the team members were gathered at training camp. As we were seated in a room, theatre style, Coach Dick Vermeil entered the room and began to speak to us. I certainly anticipated a motivational speech filled with Coach Vermeil’s high expectations.  Notepad in hand, I was ready to jot down the list of things that I needed to do to stay on the team.  But I was unaware that I was about to learn a skill I would draw upon through my entire career. Vermeil began his speech by recognizing all of the past players. He painted a picture of their characters—their devotion to the fans and dedication to hard work. He highlighted plays that team members made and what their efforts meant to the team as a whole.  I remember him speaking of Bill Bergey, the great Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and, as we learned, a great inspiration to the team as well. Bill had a knack for communicating with people, Vermeil described. He was able to say things to the players that resonated with them. He could make that personal connection that rallied their spirits and motivated them to succeed.  Coach Vermeil talked for over an hour about former Eagles. The other players and I listened intently to so many uplifting stories, so many glorious moments. Then it hit me. All I needed to write down on that pad of paper was this one phrase: “Be a Leader in Every Way.”  That was just as important as me working hard, learning plays, and performing well on the field.  How can you be a positive influence? Look at each of your team members as an individual with their own different motivations. Recognize individual employee contributions and how each has benefitted your company. Determine what drives a person and use that drive to help them reach their...