Occupational Training & Supply, Inc.

Tornado Recovery: Safety First in the Workplace 🌪️⚠️ After a tornado, the real work begins—assessing damage, cleaning up debris, and restoring operations. But without the right safety measures, recovery efforts can put workers at serious risk. At OTS, we emphasize the importance of proper training and protective equipment to keep teams safe during disaster response. OSHA’s Tornado Response guide highlights key precautions: ✔ Inspect Structures Before Entering – Unstable buildings pose collapse risks. ✔ Be Aware of Electrical Hazards – Treat all downed power lines as live. ✔ Use the Right PPE – Hard hats, gloves, and protective boots are a must. ✔ Prevent Heat Stress – Hydration and rest breaks save lives. ✔ Know Emergency Procedures – Quick action prevents further injuries. Having the right safety knowledge and equipment is essential for tornado recovery. OTS offers training programs and high-quality PPE to support workplace safety during emergency response. Let’s work together to keep recovery efforts safe and effective. 🔗 Learn more about OSHA’s tornado safety guidelines: OSHA Tornado Response #WorkplaceSafety #TornadoResponse #SafetyTraining #PPE #OSHA #OTS #DisasterRecovery

Efficiency Meets Power: The Workhorse 1000e Battery Ride-On Floor Scraper by @OEMfloorscrapers When it comes to floor removal, power and precision matter. The Workhorse 1000e is redefining efficiency with its 48V Lithium ION Battery System, delivering 8 to 16 hours of runtime on a full charge—without the noise and fumes of traditional machines. ✅ Compact Yet Mighty – Fits through 30” doorways and small elevators, making it ideal for tight job sites. ✅ Versatile & Effective – Removes VCT, carpet, ceramic, hardwood, roofing material, sports courts, glue, and mastic with ease. ✅ Heavy-Duty Performance – Weighs 1,560 lbs (unloaded) and up to 3,250 lbs (fully loaded) for superior scraping power. ✅ Long Battery Life – 10+ years design life with up to 6,000 cycles, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. If you're looking for a self-propelled ride-on floor scraper that’s built for performance and longevity, the Workhorse 1000e delivers. Watch as the Workhorse rips through carpet at @KinsaleContracting Would this machine be a game-changer for your projects? Let’s discuss! 👇 #FloorScraper #Workhorse1000e #Construction #FlooringRemoval #Innovation

🌸 Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸 Today, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere. As a small, family-owned, women-led business, Occupational Training and Supply is proud to support and empower women in the workplace and beyond. We believe in breaking barriers, fostering opportunities, and ensuring that every woman has the tools she needs to succeed. Thank you to all the incredible women making a difference every day especially the women in our workplace, from left to right: Kristina, Jennifer, Sheila, Brooke, Kathy, Socorro, Lara, Amanda, Fabiola and not pictured here Sherry. ! 💪✨ Shout out to @bloom_bond_social for providing the beautiful succulent arrangements! 🪴 #IWD #WomenOwnedBusiness #WBE #Empowerment #InternationalWomensDay

Our March Employee Spotlight is on Amanda, one of our newest employees. Find out more about her below! How many years have you worked at OTS? I just celebrated my 1-year anniversary on February 5th! Tell us about a recent accomplishment, goal, or hobby. Recently I started listening to the Bible on Audible, I have always wanted to read the Bible, but just never had the time. How do you typically spend your weekends? The weekends are my family’s time to relax and recharge. We usually just spend time together with the whole family and chill. Sometimes my kids have friend’s birthday parties we attend. Tell us something about your family, pets, or both! My cat died a few months ago, so no pets at the moment, but I would really love to get a dog if I can convince my husband to conquer his fear of dogs! What is something you cannot live without? I cannot live without caffeine...especially my little Mio energy squeezies! Tell us something we might not know about you. I’m an open book so there’s not much people don’t already know about me. I am very sentimental and sensitive deep down inside so that may surprise a few people. Also, I am afraid of spiders but think everyone knows that by now. LOL What is your favorite part about working at OTS? My favorite part about working at OTS is the people...the banter and laughter every day is just the best.

Last week we were able to meet with @OEMfloorscrapers for an amazing tour of their facility! Not only did our gracious hosts spoil us with a sweet Dunkin Donuts spread, but they also sent us home with a swag bag filled with all sorts of goodies. The best part of the whole day was getting to try out each floor scaping machine to get a feel for all the amazing features and benefits. Onsite Equipment Manufacturing has been an innovator in the flooring industry for decades and we're extremely excited to continue this partnership and offer our customers top of the line products! #otssupply #safetysupplies #flooring #equipment

And the spotlight is on....Paul! How many years have you worked at OTS? 28 Years. Started on January 7, 1997 We had maybe eight people in Alsip, Illinois. Small warehouse, no truck. Big ideas and a great and patient boss. Tell us about a recent accomplishment, goal or hobby. I started reading books in the past two years. It started with rock history and rock and roll artists biographies then moved on to Grisham, Archer, The Killings and anything in Kathy’s “library”. I have a goal in 2025 to read 35 books. Goodreads app helps with searching and keeping track of books. I have read 5 already in January so I think I’m on track. How do you typically spend your weekends? Mostly with family. Watching the grandkids. (I love bragging about having seven and we’re probably not done!) Weekends in Michigan boating, golfing and sitting around the fire, commiserating with family and friends. And board games. In Illinois we have many family parties that include friends of family too. Everyone gets along so well, even all the in-laws! Tell us something about your family, pets or both! My only pet ever was a boxer named Gracie. Tyler and Danielle picked her. If we didn’t let her sleep in our bedroom, she left a little moist or smelly substance beyond the last stair. Of course, guess who found it first in the morning with my foot. I do miss her; she had such a personality. What is something you cannot live without? Could not live without my wife. She does so much for us but most of all I’m happy just being with her. Could not have made it through lockdown with anyone else. We actually had a blast together. We like to take off on an impromptu and drive to Starved Rock or somewhere in Michigan without a chosen route, finding antique stores or little towns in the middle of nowhere. Tell us something we might not know about you Well, my wife says I’m very transparent so there isn’t much you don’t know about me. I like to play the drums, but I’ve never been in a band. Small room in the basement. I just put on a song I like and my headphones. You always sound better with good headphones on (ha) What is your favorite part about working at OTS? OTS is an incredible group of people. I really like how we help each other as well as our clients. It gives me great pleasure to see employees grow as well as the company. We are a very knowledgeable and caring group. And that is what life is all about…helping everyone.

The Department of Labor has finalized a rule that requires construction employers to ensure that all personal protective equipment (PPE) fits properly. This important change aligns the construction industry with the general industry standard, which has been in place for many years. This rule will help to ensure that workers are better protected from hazards on the job site. Properly fitting PPE, such as hard hats, safety glasses, and hearing protection, is crucial for preventing injuries and illnesses. Discover a diverse range of sizes and styles, including our dedicated Women's PPE section, on our supply site. Need help finding the perfect fit? Our knowledgeable team is ready to provide a free quote tailored to your unique requirements.

Happy Holidays from the entire OTS team! 🎄🎁 We are filled with festive cheer and would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones during this holiday season. As we celebrate this special time of year, please note that our office will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, December 25th, in observance of the Christmas holiday. We will resume our regular business hours on Thursday, December 26th. As we look forward to the new year, all of us at OTS wish you not only a joyous holiday season but also a prosperous and fulfilling year ahead. May the coming year bring new opportunities, success, and abundant happiness. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we are excited to continue working with you in the future. Here's to a bright and promising New Year!

Did you know? Most arc flash burn injuries occur due to the ignition of flammable clothing, not direct contact with the arc itself. Protect your workforce from flash fire and arc flash hazards with our Protective Clothing Section online or contact us today for a free consultation! In the meantime, check out this video on why wearing PPE is so important.

Happy Thanksgiving! We are incredibly grateful for our customers!! Our office will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday and will reopen on Monday. Thank you for your continued support, we're grateful for you!