Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

At Nationwide Boiler, safety is more than just a set of protocols and is a core value that shapes our operations. As we continue to honor National Safety Month, our second weekly focus spotlights on Employee Engagement, an important part of building a strong, proactive safety culture that lasts.

Employee engagement in safety goes beyond just following the rules and is about making safety a mission. Engaged employees are empowered employees and when people are empowered, safety becomes second nature. It means encouraging team members to speak up, ask questions, offer feedback, take initiative, and look out for one another, knowing that safety is a team effort.
 
What are some ways you can engage employees?

Engaging employees in safety doesn’t have to be complicated and just takes consistency, communication, and a little creativity. Here are a few effective ways to get employees actively involved:

1. Safety Committee: Empower employees with regular, focused meetings to identify issues, track progress, and improve workplace safety.
2. Positive Reinforcement: Recognizing safe behavior builds trust and motivates employees. Simple praise or rewards make people feel valued and more engaged, reinforcing a strong safety culture over time.
3. Conflict Resolution Handling conflicts calmly, listening well, and communicating openly helps resolve differences and makes the workplace safer.
4. Harness Team Spirit: When employees feel connected to a bigger team, they’re more motivated. Creating a strong team identity, recognizing efforts, and focusing on shared goals helps boost that spirit.
5. Having Difficult Conversations: Having honest and respectful conversations about safety is important and becomes easier when done regularly, with clear goals, awareness of emotions, follow up, and a focus on learning rather than blame.

All these strategies work together to drive employee engagement by making safety personal, inclusive, and collaborative. Altogether, these efforts create a culture where employees are not just following rules but are actively contributing to a safer, more supportive workplace.

How is Nationwide Boiler Getting Employees Involved?

At Nationwide Boiler, we have a solid safety program that consists of a safety committee that meets quarterly, employee recognition for safe work practices, and continuous trainings to encourage a safety mindset. We are also proud to participate in National Safety Month by focusing on a different safety topic each week, following the National Safety Council’s weekly themes. Our planned employee activities are designed to raise awareness, strengthen our safety culture, and encourage employee engagement throughout the facility.

To raise employee engagement during Safety Month, we’ve added safety themed games to our weekly activities, making learning more interactive, fun, and memorable for everyone. Some of the games coordinated by our safety committee include:

1. What’s Wrong with the Picture?
2. Safety Charades
3. Safety Recognition Game
4. Safety Jeopardy

For more tools and insights on boosting employee engagement in safety, visit the National Safety Council’s website and explore their dedicated resources for National Safety Month. https://www.nsc.org/faforms/national-safety-month-materials. Stay tuned for another safety topic next week as we celebrate National Safety Month!

At Nationwide Boiler, safety is a core value that extends beyond our facilities and job sites—it also applies to the roadways we travel every day. This week, we’re emphasizing the importance of roadway safety, recognizing that whether delivering equipment, visiting customer sites, or commuting to and from work, our employees and partners spend a significant amount of time on the road. Roadways connect us to opportunity, but without vigilance and responsibility, they can pose serious risks. 

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 million people lose their lives in traffic-related incidents each year, with millions more injured. Many of these tragedies are preventable. By staying alert and committed to safe driving practices, we can help protect not only ourselves but everyone we share the road with.

Common Causes of Roadway Accidents

Understanding what leads to traffic-related accidents is the first step toward prevention. Most road incidents aren’t just random and are the result of preventable behaviors or conditions. Some common causes include:

1. Distracted driving: Using a phone, eating, or anything that diverts attention.
2. Speeding: Driving faster than the posted limit or too fast for conditions.
3. Driving under the influence: Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and reaction times.
4. Fatigue: Tired drivers are less alert and slower to respond.
5. Poor weather: Rain, fog, snow, and ice create hazardous conditions.
6. Ignoring traffic signals: Running red lights or stop signs.

Tips for Safer Roads

1. Know the Three Second Rule: The “three second-plus” rule means maintaining at least a three second following distance behind the vehicle in front when driving in ideal conditions. This distance gives you enough time to react and stop safely. However, when conditions worsen, bad weather, heavy traffic, or poor road surfaces, you should add extra seconds for each hazard.
    
2. Don’t Drive Drowsy: If you find yourself struggling to stay focused, forgetting parts of your drive, or missing signs, you may be driving drowsy. Watch warning signs like heavy eyelids, frequent yawning, drifting lanes, or inconsistent speeds. If you notice these, pull over safely to rest, stretch, or have some caffeine before continuing your trip.
    
3. Tire Safety: Check your tire pressure and tread at least once a month to stay safe on the road. Use the recommended PSI from your car’s door sticker or manual and make sure your tread depth isn’t worn below safe. Don’t forget to inspect your spare tire, rotate tires regularly, and watch out for damage after hitting curbs or potholes.
    
4. Obey Traffic Laws: Always obey traffic laws to help keep yourself and others safe on the road. This includes coming to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs, obeying posted speed limits, using turn signals before turning or changing lanes, and yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles when required.
    
5. Stay Focused and Buckled: Buckle up every time you drive and keep your phone out of reach. Seat belts are your first line of defense in a crash and significantly reduce the risk of injury or death. At the same time, distracted driving caused by phone use is one of the leading causes of roadway accidents. Make it a habit to buckle up, put the phone away, and protect yourself and everyone around you.
    
6. Clear Driver Policy: Create a clear driver safety policy that includes seat belt use, bans on cellphone and substance use, and crash reporting procedures no matter the severity. Always screen drivers for work purposes by checking licenses and driving records, even if they’re using personal vehicles for work.

Roadway safety is a shared responsibility that requires vigilance, respect, and care from every person on the road. By understanding common risks and following simple but effective safety tips, we can all help reduce accidents and save lives. To learn more about roadway safety and other important safety tips, visit the National Safety Council’s website at nsc.org.

Stay tuned for another safety topic next week as we celebrate National Safety Month!

June marks National Safety Month, and Nationwide Boiler is proud to participate by spotlighting key safety topics each week, in alignment with the National Safety Council’s official themes. We're kicking things off with a focus on Continuous Improvement—a core value that drives our safety culture forward every day.

At its heart, continuous improvement means never settling for "good enough" and always seeking ways to enhance processes, reduce risk, and ensure the well-being of every team member. Join us as we explore how small, consistent changes can lead to a safer, stronger workplace.

What is Continuous Improvement?

Continuous improvement is the ongoing effort to enhance processes, systems, and behaviors to achieve better outcomes. In the context of workplace safety, it involves regularly evaluating procedures, identifying potential hazards or inefficiencies, and implementing strategic solutions that reduce risk and promote employee well-being.

At Nationwide Boiler, we understand that safety is not a static goal, it’s a journey. A truly effective safety culture evolves over time through consistent reflection, innovation, and collaboration. We strive to create an environment where safety is always at the forefront, and where lessons learned lead to lasting, meaningful change.

Why Continuous Improvement Matters

Even the most comprehensive safety programs can become outdated if not reviewed and improved consistently. Hazards change, regulations are updated, and new technologies and best practices emerge. By adopting a mindset of continuous improvement, we ensure our safety protocols remain dynamic, relevant, and impactful.

Continuous improvement in safety leads to:

• Fewer incidents and injuries: By identifying risks early and addressing them proactively, we create a safer workplace for everyone.
• Higher employee engagement: When team members see that their feedback and observations are valued, they become more invested in maintaining a safe work environment.
• Boosted morale and efficiency: A safe workplace is a productive one. Confidence in safety measures allows employees to focus on their work without unnecessary worry.
• Stronger regulatory compliance: Staying aligned with evolving safety standards ensures we meet or exceed industry and legal requirements.

A Shared Responsibility

Continuous improvement only works when everyone is involved. From management to employees, each of us plays a vital role in maintaining a safe environment. When we remain curious, proactive, and open to change, we build a workplace where safety is second nature. To discover more about how Nationwide Boiler is dedicated to practicing safety, please read our detailed blog article here.

Celebrate National Safety Month with Nationwide Boiler, and stay tuned for another safety topic next week!

The 2025 Western Regional Boiler Association (WRBA) Conference, held March 25-27 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, brought together boiler industry professionals for a dynamic exchange of ideas, insights, and innovations. Scott Best, Sales Engineer at Nationwide Boiler, presented an insightful session on deaerators, emphasizing the critical role deaerators play in maintaining efficient boiler operations.

Spotlight on Scott Best’s Presentation: "A Deep Dive into Deaerators"

Best’s presentation provided a comprehensive overview of deaerators—essential yet often overlooked components of boiler systems. He emphasized their crucial role in emoving dissolved gases from boiler feedwater, helping to prevent corrosion and enhance overall system efficiency.

Deaerators play a vital role in removing dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide from boiler feedwater. This process prevents corrosion, improves heat transfer, and ensures the longevity of boilers and auxiliary equipment. 

Best explained the key principles of deaerator operation, including how pegging steam interacts with feedwater to effectively strip away dissolved gases. It is important to maintain pegging steam at the saturation point to maximize deaeration efficiency. Best also discussed the impact of high-pressure condensate on the deaerator’s energy balance and outlined strategies for recovering heat that would otherwise be wasted.

Proper sizing of feedwater pumps is crucial for ensuring sufficient Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH), which helps prevent cavitation and maintains pump efficiency. Best clarified the difference between overflow capacity and working capacity, helping operators understand how to size and operate deaerators within optimal ranges.

The session covered various types of deaerators, including tray-type and spray-type designs, and provided guidance on selecting the right type based on system requirements. Best offered practical tips on monitoring performance, conducting routine maintenance, and troubleshooting common issues to ensure long-term reliability.

Benefits of Optimized Deaerator Performance

By applying best practices for deaerator operation and maintenance, operators can significantly enhance boiler performance. Improved heat transfer and reduced energy consumption lead to increased efficiency, while minimizing corrosion-related damage extends the lifespan of equipment. Additionally, optimized deaerator performance enhances system responsiveness, ensuring greater operational reliability. These benefits not only improve daily operations but also help reduce downtime and lower long-term costs associated with repairs and replacements.  

Deaerators play a fundamental role in maintaining boiler system efficiency and reliability, yet they are often overlooked. As Best outlined, neglecting these components can lead to inefficiencies, reduced equipment lifespan, and costly repairs. By shedding light on this critical topic, we at Nationwide Boiler reinforce our commitment to industry education and providing customers with practical, effective solutions. 

Nationwide Boiler’s Continued Leadership

Nationwide Boiler’s participation at WRBA 2025 exemplifies our dedication to fostering education and innovation within the boiler industry. As a leader in providing reliable boiler solutions—from rental boiler equipment to custom control systems—we consistently demonstrate our expertise through thought leadership at key industry events.

By focusing on best practices for deaerator selection, operation, and maintenance, Nationwide Boiler aims to help customers optimize their steam systems for greater efficiency and sustainability. For more information on Nationwide Boiler's deaerator solutions and other boiler-related services, visit www.nationwideboiler.com or contact Scott Best at sbest@nationwideboiler.com.