Saf-T-Gard International, Inc. started out in Chicago in 1936 as The Latex Glove Co. Leo and Lillian Rivkin purchased equipment from a balloon company to make waterproof gloves by dipping them in latex rubber.

The company grew with the country's need for safety during World War II by providing gloves to military manufacturing firms. Leo and Lillian's son, Norman Rivkin, purchased a leather palm glove company to add to the family's business.

As the nation's recognition of safety issues increased and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was formed, The Latex Glove Co. expanded its product lines and expertise, becoming a distributor of a wide range of personal protective equipment.

In 1970, Norman's son, Richard, completed his graduate degree and joined the company full time. It moved into its fourth generation in 1999, when Richard's son, Loren, came aboard as marketing manager.

While Richard assumed operating control of Saf-T-Gard in 1994, Norman retains the title of Chairman and CEO. He plays an active consulting role in the firm. "Through the years, we have tried to stay true to our mission of protecting workers from the hazards of their jobs," Richard says. "We also strive to protect products and processes from contamination from workers."

Over the past 20 years, there has been incredible growth in the telecomm and utility markets. Voltgard, a division of Saf-T-Gard, has grown with the industry by providing for the safety of workers who are subjected to the hazards of working with or near high-voltage electric sources.

The regulations created for the safety of cable television, telephone and electric utility employees, and other workers facing these hazards, have become stricter and require better protective equipment. The situation calls for recurrent testing of the insulative dielectric properties of safety gear.

Rivkin says the company responded to that need by developing its Voltgard division to deliver products and services to those industries that require high voltage protection in addition to general industrial safety products. The company, headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., is now the country's largest independent high-voltage testing facility, he adds.

"The major electrical utility companies have their own labs," Rivkin says. "Cable TV and telecomm companies and electrical utility contractors have smaller workforces and maintaining their own test facilities isn't practical."

Voltgard cleans, inspects and tests high-voltage protection equipment and certifies that it meets OSHA standards.

"Twenty-three years ago, we recognized that this was an underserved market," says Rivkin. "We were able to bring our high levels of customer service and expertise that we had learned from industrial safety and apply it to this market."

Things now have come full circle with increasing safety regulations like the NFPA 70E standards requiring improved protection from incidental electric shock for industrial workers, he says. Saf-T-Gard and its Voltgard division are ready to service this growing need.

"There has always been a synergy between our industrial product and Voltgard divisions because of the similar personal protection equipment requirements," says Rivkin. "That synergy is enhanced by the need for Voltgard's high voltage protection equipment for industrial maintenance personnel."

Voltgard is an important partner to W.H. Salisbury & Co., says vice president of sales and marketing Jeff Morris. Skokie, Ill.-based W.H. Salisbury produces rubber protective equipment, Hot Line brand tools and Salvar^® polymer insulators.

"It is rare to see a distributor willing to invest so much in serving its customers," says Morris. "As utilities try to become leaner, they can rely on Voltgard to handle their testing needs."

Morris points out that Saf-T-Gard is in a great position to capitalize on industrial compliance with the new OSHA and NFPA regulations with its strong PPE sales in the industrial MRO market.

While Voltgard is an important part of Saf-T-Gard's value to W.H. Salisbury, it sells more of its product internationally through Saf-T-Gard, Morris says. Especially with the weak telecomm marketplace, sales in developing economies are increasingly important to W.H. Salisbury.

While primarily operating in the Midwest, Saf-T-Gard has a strong national account and global sales program, Rivkin says. The company has accounts in all 50 states and more than 50 nations around the world.

More than 15 percent of Saf-T-Gard's business is with international accounts, says Rivkin. He expects that business to continue to grow as the developing markets recognize the need for worker safety.

In 2000, for recognition of Saf-T-Gard's international business success, the company received the presidential "E" Award for Export Excellence. Secretary of Commerce William Daley went to Saf-T-Gard's headquarters to present the award.

Safeco Safety Industrial Equipment Ltd. is a safety distributor based in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. The company serves the wide diversity of Israeli industry with a full line of safety solutions. The company imports many of its product lines from Europe and the United States.

"Rather than deal directly with the many American manufacturers we represent, we prefer to work with Saf-T-Gard," says Safeco marketing manager Reuben Fichman. "With their wide range of products and error-free service delivery, it is more efficient for us and we are able to concentrate on serving our customers.

"The distance is unimportant because we get good, quick and loyal service."

The Internet has made it even easier to do business and to get needed product information, says Fichman.

One of the formulas for success at Saf-T-Gard is getting actively involved in business organizations and the community. On a local level, Saf-T-Gard is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce.

The Rivkins are founding members of the National Industrial Glove Distributors Assn., which recently merged with the International Hand Protection Assn. to form the International Glove Assn.

"In addition to being members of the Safety Equipment Distributors Assn., I am currently first vice president," says Richard. "This provides not only a forum for members, but a unified voice for the safety industry."

The company also is a member of the Safety Marketing Group, a buying and marketing group of independently owned distributors in the Western hemisphere. "SMG membership helps with marketing and developing programs with SMG's manufacturer members," says Richard.

The company's online newletter, the Saf-T-Gardian, offers OSHA updates, safety tips, and new product information.

One thing that sets Saf-T-Gard apart for Blackhawk Steel in Chicago is the distributor's understanding of its business and willingness to customize to fit the steel processing plant's needs, says purchasing agent Chris Chocholek. The producer of steel flat stock needs to protect its workers from a variety of hazards.

"The Kevlar^® arm guards required to protect against high temperature were not adequate to protect against cuts," says Chocholek. "Saf-T-Gard added elastic for a comfortable and secure fit and leather on the wrists for added protection."

Cuts and abrasions of the forearm have been reduced from 30-40 to only three or four per year, says Chocholek.

Saf-T-Gard's strength goes beyond supplying gloves and electrical protection. It's more than just delivering the products, says Loren Rivken.

"We provide real value through our level of training. We have International Safety Equipment Assn. and SEDA Qualified Safety Sales Professional certified sales associates," says vice president of industrial sales Daniel McGivern.

Finally, to meet its customers' needs, Saf-T-Gard custom designs products that no other source offers.

"For instance, we make our own line of stainless steel mesh gloves for the meat handling industry where hygiene of the product is as large a concern as protecting the workers from cuts," says Richard. "We also market gloves with a Bio-Gard^™ antibacterial and anti-fungal treatment for hygienic food handling."

As safety distribution and the requirements of industry evolve over time, Saf-T-Gard is sure to keep developing high-powered solutions to address industrial safety issues.