Monthly Archives: September 2013

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

PREVENTING ILLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Employee absenteeism is one of the major drains on organizational performance, with the flu costing U.S. businesses over $10.4b a year alone. In Britain, it is estimated that workers take almost double the number of sick days than the U.S., according to research by professional services firm, PwC.

Richard Phelps, HR consulting partner at PwC said, “With sickness accounting for the lion’s share of absence, the question for employers is what can be done to improve health, morale and motivation.”

While some of this can be attributed to employees taking “sickies” – days off taken despite being well and able to come to work – it can also be attributed to greater rates of illness. Sickness generally accounts for around 80% of absence, which also includes jury service and compassionate leave:

“You need clear policies in place to make it less appealing for people to take unwarranted leave, while protecting those people with genuine illness,” added Phelps.

In many circumstances, illness is picked up from the workplace, with members of staff passing on germs as a result of being in close proximity to their colleagues. 

To reduce the likelihood of contamination, your workplace can take a number of steps to prevent illness from spreading:

Step One: Identify sources of germs

Most cold and flu symptoms are passed directly from person-to-person through coughs and sneezes, which become air borne and inhaled. They can also be passed from hands to objects like telephones, computer mice, equipment and machinery handles, photocopy machines, door handles or desks.

Step Two: Reduce the spread of germs

You can stop germs from spreading by making staff more responsible for their daily behaviour. As a general rule, ask staff to wash their hands after using the toilet, smoking or eating, using an antibacterial soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Staff with colds should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, as this will increase the spread of germs. They should also cough or sneeze into tissue paper, covering their nose and mouth, before cleaning their hands.

Encourage your employees to clean their desks and personal items with disinfection wipes, particularly if they have recently been unwell.

Step Three: Clean areas which house bacteria

Kitchen

Workplace kitchens are a hive for bacteria so ensure that staff clean up after themselves when preparing food. Ensure that chopping boards, surfaces and utensils are washed with hot water and washing up liquid, particularly if they have been used for raw meats or fish.

Leftover food should be covered and put in the fridge, which should be monitored and cleaned out regularly; any leading brand of general purpose cleaner can be effective here – sites like Amazon.com stock a broad range of high-quality equipment.

Toilet

Toilets are another hive for bacteria and staff should be encouraged to keep them clean and tidy. Your cleaner should wash the floor and bowl with a disinfectant or general purpose cleaner, but also encourage staff to clean up their drips and spills and wash their hands after each visit.

You can visit clickcleaning.co.uk for a full range of high-quality cleaning products.

Step Four: Encourage sick staff to go home

Encourage staff with viruses to go home; having one member of staff off sick for two days is better than three members of staff being away for a total of six days.

If staff insist on working, let them work from home; otherwise encourage them to think carefully about how they interact with other team members, so to avoid cross-contamination.

Step Five: Encourage staff to practise healthy habits

Staff can avoid picking up viruses by leading healthy lifestyles, which means:

  • Getting plenty of sleep
  • Keeping physically active
  • Eating a balanced diet with a multivitamin
  • Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water
  • Doing meditation or yoga
  • Drinking minimal alcohol or caffeine

Workplaces are shared environments, which mean responsibility for your wellbeing is collective too; encourage staff to keep your environment clean and germ-free and you will benefit from lower absenteeism and higher organizational productivity.

Author: Kate Southgate

 

General Safety Issues

WEARING YOUR INTERNET SEATBELT: HOW TO SURF SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

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Safety has occupied a continually increasing spot in the almost all aspects of our lives. We now have cars with a dozen air bags and sensors on all sides that indicate when an accident is imminent. It’s become so important to us in our driving lives, but why not in our digital lives? Why don’t more people nowadays know how to keep their computer and identity safe on the internet? 

The Internet Is a Dangerous Place 

Most internet surfers have no idea what potential dangers await them in the depths of the online world. It’s a large expanse full of all types of menacing creatures: spammers, hackers, and identity thieves. Being caught off guard online can cause you some serious harm. The least of your worries is that a virus or adware infects your system, but the greatest threats come from spyware.

 If spyware makes it onto your computer, it could easily scrape your credit card numbers from web forms that you fill out. After this, your card’s information will be sold on a black market chatroom. Once it’s in the hands of your new friend, they will try to rack up as much of a bill on it as they can before you or your bank notices. In even more extreme cases, hackers can use spyware to steal your identity and open new lines of credit in your name. While malware can ruin your computer system, spyware has the potential to cost you much more. Many lives have been ruined by it. 

Safe Technology You Must Have 

You need to have a firewall, and it needs to be enabled. Most users already have one, but sometimes, they disable it in order to allow certain programs to function. Don’t ever do this. Instead, go into your firewall settings and give a program special approval to bypass the firewall. Always keep your firewall active. 

You must have a good antivirus program as well. This will regularly scan your computer for trojans, viruses, and other kinds of malware and spyware. It’s an incredibly important tool in the war on the dangers of the digital world, and you don’t have to spend big bucks for it either. Many people are surprised to learn that there are several free antiviruses available. Don’t let their lack of a price tag discourage you. They are robust, and if you can’t afford a more premium version, one of those free programs will be more than enough for you. 

Safe Practices To Follow 

Some of the best practices for internet safety should come as common sense. If anyone emails you claiming to be the prince of Nigeria and asking for any kind of financial transaction, send it straight to the trash bin. This might seem so obvious that it doesn’t even merit mentioning, but there’s a reason these spammers continue to do this. It’s because it, surprisingly, works on some people. Sometimes scammers are a bit more clever though. They might try to disguise themselves as a bank or other official institution. Always be careful about giving out your information through email, even you are corresponding with what seems like a legitimate organization. 

You always have to exercise extreme caution with the sites you visit, especially when you’re at work. Don’t give your information to any site that you don’t trust, but beware of phishing as well. That’s when an illegitimate site is disguised as an official one. This is often used with social networking sites like Facebook in an effort to get your profile’s password and spam your friends with advertising links. 

The digital world is full of dangers, and most of its citizens don’t even know it. Their computer can be ruined as a result, or their identity and money could be stolen. At any given moment, you are only a few clicks away from the digital equivalent of being in a dark alley surrounded by thugs. Take the proper precautions and follow best practices. Don’t be the next victim to fall prey to armchair hackers and internet thieves. 

Author bio

This is a guest post by Marianne Ross, a freelance writer mostly blogging about tech&gadgets. Marianne is currently working on behalf of 1&1 Internet, complex tech company where you can find more information about how to make a website safely on your own.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection

SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN THE WORKPLACE: KNOWING THE RULES WHEN WORKING WITH DANGEROUS MACHINERY (GUEST POST)

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Compliance with health and safety regulations will not only help protect you, the employer, from liability concerns but will also help keep your workers safe and machines in good working order.

The Workplace Regulations 1992 cover the majority of health and safety issues that can occur in the workplace.  These regulations are split up into three different sections: health, safety and welfare. Each of these sections is especially relevant to a workplace where dangerous machinery is used on a daily basis. 

Health 

This section relates to ensuring that your workplace isn’t set up in a way that will give your employees health issues in the short or long term.  Referring to specific key areas, here is a rundown of how the regulations apply to working with dangerous machinery:

Ventilation:

When materials are cut noxious gases or fine dust particles are often given off. This can lead to lung problems if your workers are exposed to this without adequate ventilation.   Installing mechanical ventilation will ensure that there is a supply of fresh air. Windows may provide enough ventilation, but well maintained mechanical ventilation will always be more efficient. 

Temperature:

Ambient temperature can be affected by machinery running in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have air conditioning then temperatures can become too uncomfortable to work in.  Temperature also refers to humidity in the workplace.  Having your workplace at an uncomfortable temperature can lead to stress and loss of concentration. This is especially relevant if your employees are working with machinery as any mistakes can lead to accidents. 

Lighting:

Your workspace should be contain adequate lighting. This is especially important for workspaces using machinery. safety precautions should also be in place incase of sudden loss of light. this means that backup systems are a must if sudden loss of light could lead to accidents.

Cleanliness:

Workspaces should be kept clear of rubbish that could pose a tripping hazard or fire risk. Provide an appropriate means of waste disposal and ensure it is removed regularly. 

Safety 

This second section deals with day to day measures that must be put into place in order to protect the wellbeing of employees. The headings that safety regulations deal with are: 

Equipment Maintenance:

Keeping your machinery well maintained will help prevent accidents that arise from faults and breakages. Likewise, keeping your devices such ventilation systems in good order will help prevent complications from arising further down the line. 

Floor Traffic:

Keeping the areas of your workplace which encounter high foot traffic clear of tripping hazards is very important. This is especially important for workers who are using machinery as a trip or fall can result in serious accidents. 

Windows:

When windows in the workplace are open, they shouldn’t pose as risk to anyone.



Welfare

The welfare aspect of health and safety compliance in the workplace relates directly to the conditions experienced by employees and maintaining their mental and physical health.  Your workplace is only as efficient as the people who are running it, and ensuring your employees are in good health will enable them to focus more and work more efficiently.   This is done by providing suitable sanitation facilities, access to clean water and regular breaks. 

By following these guidelines, your workplace will be a safer and more efficient place. 

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk/, Yorkshire Profiles, a laser cutting, water cutting and fabrication provider. 

General Safety Issues

AIR CONDITIONING SAFETY TIPS (GUEST POST)

Air conditioning units are one of the most commonly used appliances across the world. In the UK, thousands of air conditioning units are sold each year for use in businesses and homes, while in America, approximately 90% of homes have an air conditioning units. Air conditioners are incredibly important in the fight against heat-related disease, too – according to the CDC, A/Cs are the number one tool for preventing heat-related disease and death. But these appliances must be used safely in order for them to be useful, so follow the safety tips below before use. 

  • Choose the right size air conditioning unit for your room. Generally, a room that is 10 feet by 12 feet will require an air conditioning unit that puts out 5000 Btu/per hour, while a room that is 20 by 20 feet will require an A/C that puts out 10,000 Btu/per hour.  Smaller units work best in average-sized family homes in terms of both energy usage and energy conservation.
  • Check the wiring within the home to make sure that the electrical circuit is suitable for use with the air conditioning unit. If you’re ever unsure, call in a professional electrician to test the circuit for you. You also need to make sure that the plug fits the socket – don’t alter the plug to fit the socket. If the plug does not fit correctly, don’t try to force it. Instead, get an electrician to replace the socket.
  • Make sure that the plug reaches the plug socket and if it does not reach, consider moving the air conditioning unit to a different place or use an extension cord specifically designed for use with an A/C. Stretching the cord could cause outages while using a non-approved extension cord could well increase the risk of fires within the home. Before you use extension cords, be sure that they are not damaged.
  • Regularly check the unit and filters and clean or replace the filters as needed. Clogged filters mean that the air conditioning unit will not work as efficiently as needed and you’ll use more energy. Clogged filters could also cause the machine to overheat.
  • Get a maintenance check every year from a qualified electrician. Get them to check over all of the ins and outs of the machine – the outer casing, inner casing, wiring, ducts, filters and more. If there are any issues with any parts of the machine, get them replaced and note down the date of the replacement and the name of the contractor so that you can contact them again if there are any issues.
  • Never, ever run a cord or extension cord underneath the carpet. This drastically increases the risk of a fire, as the heat from the cord gets trapped underneath the carpet fibres. Run cords across the top of carpets or hardwood floors and check them for signs of damage before use.

By Richard Rhodes. 

For more information on keeping safe while using your air conditioning unit and to look at a range of A/C units for all uses, take a look at Andrews Air Conditioning Services.

 
General Safety Issues

SIMPLE DO’S AND DON’TS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

There are some rules of etiquette that are necessary in every workplace. In a professional setting or any other work environment, there are behaviors that can be socially acceptable but can land you in serious problems if practiced in a work setting. Unnecessary actions or behavior can garner you ire of your fellow workers and most of all it can cost you your job. That is why it is important to understand Do’s and Don’ts in a work place. This knowledge will not only keep you out of trouble from your bosses but will also give you admiration and respect from other workers.

The Do’s

Dressing appropriately- workplaces have a prescribed dress code concerning office and other work stations attire. It’s not a must that you wear a suit every day, all you need is to ensure that whatever you wear is professional and in line with companies rules and regulations. It’s okay to go slightly below or above the set dress code requirement but always make sure you dress somehow like your co-workers.

 Observe personal and organizational hygiene- no one would wish to stay or work close to a person who is unclean. Make a habit of taking a shower and brushing your teeth daily before reporting to work. When it comes to organizational hygiene, avoid dirtying the compound or leaving washrooms unclean after use.

 Keep away from conflicts and arguments- try your best to maintain friendly working relationships with co-workers. A healthy relationship makes it easy to clock in and clock out.  Conflicts can cause you to be:

  •        Fired
  •        Be sent to unpaid leave
  •        Suspension
  •        Be included in company’s redundancy program

         Respect workplace hierarchy- it’s good to respect and recognize the chain of command.  In every workplace there are those in command and every employee is expected to obey them. By so doing an individual will be out of trouble.

 Keep time- it’s good to arrive in time but reporting earlier portrays your passion for the job as well as the company.

Don’ts

Don’t be late- don’t make a habit of coming to work late. If possible be getting to work place 15 minutes before time. Lateness can cost you your job since no employer can tolerate tardiness.

 Don’t go waltzing in the workplace at your own time- don’t let your boss get you loitering around the workplace when you are expected to be working if you are doing unimportant things. Bosses expect you to be productive; when you loiter around shooting the breeze with your colleagues,  you are dragging behind company’s performance.

 Don’t play loud music on your computer or radio- people have different tastes and preferences when it comes to songs. One may think that the songs they love listening to are the best for all only to realize that you are only boring and irritating them. If one needs to listen to music it’s good to use headphones.

 Don’t act like a “know it all”- doing it all doesn’t mean you know it all.  Give room for other people’s opinions. 

 Don’t take advantage of company’s resources- most employees think that because certain things are purchased to cater for their needs they are theirs. No! Company’s resources are to be used where necessary but not taking them home for your personal use.

  In conclusion, it’s always good to portray the best behavior while at work. This is beneficial in helping you create a healthy relationship between you and your colleagues and also between you and your employer. However, even as people strive to portray the best behavior it’s also good to be competitive and effective in their line of work. For example, individuals working in companies dealing with motor vehicle number plates need to have DVLA contact number for any inquiry regarding the plates. They will be able to consult and deliver outstanding services where needed. With appropriate behavior and productivity your stay in the organization is guaranteed.

Submitted by Maria Mcquire

 

General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing

FACTS THAT MANY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT: HOUSE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS (GUEST POST)

Fire is that element which destroys everything including the source and origin. Along with this, those who investigate the scene also work under extreme risk. It is important to ensure their safety before doing anything. The officer who receives the call and arrives at the scene before everyone, works under pressure of making sure that everyone is safe and the injured are getting proper treatment.

The investigation begins right from the call for help. The officer, who gets the call, makes sure to get the name and number of the caller. Once this is done the officer gets the address of the location where the outbreak has occurred.

Arriving at the Scene

This is a critical task. To respond successfully is being observant of everything. The officer will have to keep an wary eye everywhere. From a passing car to a harmless looking person standing at the side of the road can be important. Due to this the officers are trained to be watchful.

The first thing the investigators ensure while investigating house fire is that everyone is out of the proximity of the flame. In case of an injury or death, the investigation takes a complicated turn. However, before the process begins, it is important to determine whether the insurance agency will take the responsibility of the investigation or the crime department.

Different Evidence

The investigators look for some specific evidence. Blood stain is vital evidence. It is not easy to lift blood samples. In case of fire, these stains get erased and due to that evidence collection gets even more difficult. However, to lift the stains, the investigators need to identify the areas where the stain could be found.

The specialist working on the scene need to ensure that the contamination of the scene is prevented. However, this is not an easy task. To prevent contamination, the investigators need to employ less manpower. Crime scenes get sabotaged with people walking around and touching things. The scenes of fire suffer such a fate even before the investigators arrive at the scene. To defuse the flame, fighters contaminate the scene.

Location from where the evidence is found plays an important role. The investigators document each location while they collect the pieces. They even sketch images for later use. Photographing the scene is another way of documenting the location.

Once the pieces are collected, they place them inside different jars and bottles. These bottles are labeled with the names of the locations and other important details.

Fire Behavior

Behavior of the flame is essential and the investigator needs to read this. Flames spread at a certain pace. If this pace differs, the investigation takes another turn. The arson specialists need to read the behavior of the flame step by step. For this they receive special training.

Once everything is done, they let go of the scene and turn it over to the police officers. However, before releasing the scene, they need to recheck whether everything is properly done and all the areas are rightly covered. After this they submit everything to the lab.

 

Author Bio – George Steven is a freelance writer and his area of interests and expertise lies in forensic science and accident or crime scene investigation related matters. George has his own blogs and websites where he discusses about various aspects of the house fire.  

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR NEW ENERGY SOURCES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (GUEST POST)

The two most popular methods of powering a domestic home with renewable energy are solar panels and wind turbines. Both of these methods produce pollution, can lessen the owners reliance on the national grid and can save on energy bills.

However, they both deal with electrical currents and as a result must be installed correctly and safely to ensure they do not become a safety hazard.

In this post I am going to outline some of the typical hazards associated with domestic energy production and what you can do to prevent them.

Solar panels:

To start with, the weight of solar panels means that they are not suitable for every building. Before you even start installing them you should have your roof surveyed to make sure that it can hold the weight of the panels and the people who will be installing them.

Attaching the solar panels to the buildings electrical systems should only be done by a qualified electrician, and should include fuse set ups and grounding.

Solar panels can become extremely hot during use. This can pose a fire risk if they are installed incorrectly. There is also a risk of burns to people performing maintenance work on them, so ensure they are properly insulated.

When installing or maintaining the panel, a full risk assessment should be carried out and all standard safety procedures for working at height should be followed.

Wind turbines

Micro wind turbines are subject to all of the safety concerns associated with their larger counterparts. The stresses placed on the system during high winds can cause a lot of problems. It is important that an isolator switch be fitted to the turbine setup and that the owner know exactly where this is located.

The size of the wind turbine means that there is a risk posed by it falling over. Installations should be fitted by a trained professional and maintained regularly to lessen the risk of this happening.  

Renewable energy for domestic use is still in its infancy, but systems are improving all the time. With expert fitting and regular maintenance a method of generating clean energy in your own home can help save the environment and save you money.

This peice was written by Mark Enright a writer for http://www.enviko.com/Enviko, the renewable energy experts.

Note: As you can see, those involved in these types of work need to wear the proper protective gear, such as safety glasses, hardhats, gloves, and fall protection. pb

General Safety Issues

SEVEN COMMANDMENTS OF SAFE DRIVING FOR TEENAGERS (GUEST POST)

Calling the lawyer at 3 in the morning every other week because your teenager got involved in a car accident (yet again), is not an admirable scenario. This can be fatal in the long run. 

You may have probably lost more sleep than any people worrying about car accidents that your teenagers might get into. You should not blame yourself for paying for the license and the car. 

When you give them the car keys, do not bid farewell to control. They must understand the responsibilities that go with that new kind of freedom. Create a teenage driving contract with defined rules. 

These seven commandments for teenage safe driving will instill the sense of responsibility that comes with the privilege of having a car (and might also improve your sleeping habits). 

Commandment #1: If you can’t resist texting, turn your cellphone off. Minimize distractions when driving as much as possible. Teenagers could not keep their hands off their smartphones. Have them turn off their phones and gadgets while on the road. 

If they are expecting important an important message, provide them with a wireless headset so they could still make or take a call without taking their hands off the steering wheel and eyes on the traffic. 

Commandment #2: No after-party driving. No drunk driving.  Aside from setting a curfew, teenagers should not be allowed to drive whenever they go to late-night parties. Drop them off and pick them up after. Drunk driving, even for adults, is not safe. 

Tiredness and fatigue can also be a contributor too poor driving judgment, especially for inexperienced teenagers. You must also watch out for signs of alcohol and drugs whenever they come home. 

Commandment #3: Practice defensive driving.  Staying one car distance behind the car in front of you is a good practice for neophyte teenage drivers. They must also drive in slower speeds. If they want to pick up the rate, they must maintain a fairly large buffer zone. 

Commandment #4: Obey speed limits.  Nearly half of car accidents that teenager get into nowadays are linked to beating speed limits. The youngsters tend to be carefree and go beyond what is just necessary.  Every ticket for speed limit violations should be equivalent to one month of going back to public commuting. 

Commandment #5: Drive solo.  After building up certain months of guided driving experience, teenagers can now be independent. However, this does not necessarily mean that they can already have passengers, even dogs.  Until such time that they become responsible of their own lives, teenagers should drive solo.  This rule is also tantamount to saying “no carpool” yet. 

Commandment #6: Get to know thy car.  Teenagers will not pass the licensing evaluation if they don’t know the basics of driving. But, they must also get acquainted to the car that they will be using in the next two to three years.  Teenagers won’t have any problem getting accustomed to using a smart or connected car. They must learn the capacity of the vehicle, what to do when tires blow up or engines fail them in the middle of the road, what kind of fuel the car is compatible with and more.  

 Commandment #7: Pay proper dues.  Inculcate sense of responsibility and accountability early in the game. Make them pay for car damages or insurance costs whenever they get involved  in minor accidents or sanctioned for violating traffic rules. Deduct the entire cost from their regular allowance.

Parents will play the biggest part in ensuring that their teens will turn out to be safe drivers in the near future. What to do? 

  •        Provide a safe car for teens – easy to maneuver, good tires and with air bags
  •        Determine which car/s are allowed for your teens to drive
  •        Provide “passenger seat” supervision even if they don’t want to
  •        Give your teens gentle critique of their driving
  •        Set a good example – this is the most important of all 

Picking up from the last bullet, parents will have to make sure that they practice what they preach. If you beat the red signal, run 75 MPH, weave in and out of traffic, scream at other drivers, tailgate and show signs of road rage – do not expect the young fellas to be safe drivers. Avoid showing them the rules that don’t count. 

Your Thoughts Matter

Have you been involved in car accidents when you were a teenager? What driving lessons have you imparted to your kids so far?  Let’s create a safer driving environment for the young ones. Share with us your experience and stories. 

About the Author: 

A seasoned blogger and educator, Adam Prattler shares anything and everything that matter at the moment. He makes the public aware of local current events, prevalence of automobile accident in St. Petersburg, political milestones and latest technological innovations.  

Photos from State Farm Insurance

 

 

General Safety Issues

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: FARM SAFETY WEEK – SEPTEMBER 15 – 21

As we come to the end of the week, we want to salute America’s farmers by sharing this safety information.  Farmers know all the hazards of farming; however, this tip is for drivers that are traveling down rural roads, (two-lane), rather than freeways.  We must watch for farmers driving equipment that may take up a lot of the road; of course, they can’t drive at the speed of a car, so think about these things the next time you see one of our nation’s farmers going about his daily routine, driving from one location to another, and causing you to slow down.

We want to focus on Rural Roadway Safety issues for farmers and all people driving on America’s rural roadways. Today’s busy lifestyles seem to have people on the road, in a hurry to get at super-highway speed, but America’s rural roadways cannot compete for that type of speed and therefore present several safety hazards to contend with.

On rural roads, drivers will come up on large farm equipment moving slowly from field to field and taking up a large portion of roadway.  Roads that were designed decades ago can be narrow and winding, constructed of gravel, and have unguarded intersections and railroad crossings.

Taking the attention of the driver off the roadway and diverting it to other items is dangerous on four lane roadways, and it can be just as deadly on rural roads.  People can be too easily distracted from the main responsibility of driving while texting or using hand-held and wireless phones, operating laptop computers, reading, or visiting with passengers in the vehicle.

Farm equipment needs to be checked on a regular basis to ensure that all lighting and markings are in working order and visible to the motoring public. Their equipment should have a SMV sign on the back, designating a Slow Moving Vehicle.  Farm equipment operators need to be cautious when making left turns into fields and farmsteads. Farmers should also use turn signals when a tractor or combine is so equipped or use hand signals for older equipment.

Operators of farm equipment should always check behind before attempting a left-hand turn to be certain no vehicles are trying to pass them.  The motoring public needs to be aware that farm machinery will turn left into fields or farmsteads and to drive defensively when attempting to pass farm equipment.  Remember: drivers may only pass farm equipment in designated “passing” zones; it is illegal to pass farm equipment in “no passing” zones. It may be difficult for farmers making a left-hand turn to see passing vehicles in their rear view mirrors if those following vehicles are too close. Taking time to pass safely can be the difference between life and death.  (Just thinking about running into that equipment gives one the shivers.)

Leaving home a little earlier and allowing more time to make it to a destination can allow for a more pleasant drive that will be safer for drivers, passengers, and other vehicle operators who share the road.

Instead of complaining that you have to slow down, give that farmer a friendly wave and remember if it were not for him, you might not have that bowl of cereal for breakfast, (or ham and eggs), or that favorite cotton shirt you enjoy wearing.

Source: National Education Center for Agricultural Safety

General Safety Issues

KNOWING YOUR STRUCTURES: THE NECESSITY OF SUPPORT BEAMS WHEN REDEVELOPING A PROPERTY (GUEST POST)

When redeveloping a property, removing internal walls can open up your rooms, providing you with more space. However, removing a wall isn’t as easy as just knocking it down. First, you need to find out if the wall is load bearing. A simple partition wall can be knocked down with no effect on the structure of your home. They are purely cosmetic and do nothing except divide two rooms.
A load bearing wall is different. Supporting the weight of whatever is above it, a load bearing wall must be replaced by a beam if it is removed.
To find out if your wall is load bearing or not, do not believe myths such as “if you tap the wall and it sounds hollow, then it isn’t load bearing”. Some walls are semi-load bearing and may have hollow spots within them.  Hire a competent structural engineer to fully assess your redevelopment plans. The last thing you want is to compromise the structure of your home through bad planning.
If the engineers’ report does discover that the wall you intend to remove is loadbearing, this is not the end of the world. Replacing a wall with a support beam is a relatively simple job that can be done in a day or less.

When removing a load bearing wall, the first thing to do is get all plumbing and electrics removed. This will most likely require the help of a trained professional. It is worth remembering that you could need to get planning permission for any work you are about to undertake. This depends entirely on your local council and the rules they have in place.

When fitting your beam it is important that the beam rests either on another support beam or upon a foundation. This will make sure your beam is supporting the weight above it that the wall was previously supporting.
 
Removing a wall from your home seems like a large task, but with a little technical knowhow it isn’t all that difficult. Just make sure that before you undertake any work, you plan properly and get advice from trained professionals.

  This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.subconlaser.co.uk Subcon Laser Cutting,  leading UK based subcontract manufacturing service provider.