Prioritizing safety for essential workers in Oceanside, Lynbrook

Moe Hossain, owner of RLB Safety and Hardware stores, in Oceanside and Lynbrook, sees his business’ mission becoming more important than ever amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The hardware and supply shop is deemed an “essential business” in New York state because it provides vital equipment, such as masks, uniforms and signs, to essential workers, including construction workers, electricians, emergency medical technicians and other first responders.

Therefore, RLB Safety’s locations on Long Beach Road in Oceanside and Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook have remained open throughout the crisis. The shop opens seven days a week.

“We’re opening in the day and closing at night,” Hossain said. “We are showing the community that we are here for them.”

Hossain aims to provide a welcoming, friendly environment for workers to shop for their everyday necessities, from traffic cones to vests to Timberland boots. All products sold in the store meet national safety standards, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard.

Especially during the pandemic, many frontline workers are nervous about contracting Covid-19 and want to be sure they are wearing the correct safety gear. Hossain lends a hand and advises however he can. He has 20 years of experience running his own construction company, RLB Construction.

“In this moment, people see they don’t need to be depending on Chinese products,” Hossain explained. “We have great, American standards.”

During the pandemic, Hossain has also donated masks and other personal protective equipment, or PPE, to those who show a need for them. “We are just growing a small company,” he said. “We volunteer some gloves, some masks, whatever best support we can give. Police officers and EMTs come in for cones, I give them a discount.”

Workers in the community have written letters of support for Hossain’s business during this time. “He has gone above and beyond to keep this town supplied with the necessary healthcare equipment during the pandemic,” said Gregg Hacker, of Oceanside.

Vinny Ruggieri, service manager at Mercedes-Benz of Rockville Centre, agreed, noting that he exclusively buys from RLB for his staff’s masks, gloves and safety equipment.

“I feel like this is my moral responsibility to help the community,” Hossain said. “I try to help everybody.”