Yearly Archives: 2013

General Safety Issues

TWENTY-FIVE BLOGS TO KEEP YOUR STAIRS SAFE FOR VISITORS (GUEST POST)

Submitted by Jeralyn Nelson of Housesittingjobs.com

The last thing any homeowner would want is for someone to get hurt coming up to or into their home.  Not only is there a chance that someone might sue you, but no one wants a friend to get hurt coming for a visit.  There are lots of things you can do that will keep your stairway safe.  Many are routine maintenance types of things, some are weather related and others have more to do with construction.  To learn more about how to keep your outside stairway safe for visitors you can check out these 25 blog entries.

Preventative Stuff

Make sure that you take a look at your front entryway and try to see it as a visitor would.  Can you easily get to the door or are there pots and decorations everywhere?  Check to make sure the light outside isn’t burnt out and other routine things.  These five blog posts will get into preventative things you can do to keep your front stairway safe.

During the Winter

Outdoor stairs can get slippery in the winter with all of the ice and snow that pile up there.  Slippery stairs are a danger for anyone trying to enter your home.  To avoid falls you need to take care of your outside steps.  These five blog articles will give you some tips to accomplish that task.

When Considering Construction

Are you tired of that old stoop and considering having a new set of stairs installed?  There are many things to consider when you are making such an improvement on your home.  You will need to make sure that the stairs are safe once they are built. Here are five blog entries that will help you make some decisions that will keep your family safe.

All About Railings

One of the most important safety features on any type of stair is the handrail.  There are many attractive options in railings on the market.  These five blog entries will show you what types of railing are available.

Hedges and Bushes

Have you ever walked up to someone’s door and had trouble finding the doorbell because there were plants and bushes hanging all over it?  Planting a bush on either side of your door is a common landscape choice, but if you don’t keep the bushes trimmed they may encroach on the walkway up to the door.  For these tips and more check out these next five blog entries.

Thanks, Jeralyn, for sharing these important tips. We all need to ensure that our steps are safe for our families as well as visitors. pb

General Safety Issues

AIR CONDITIONING SAFETY (GUEST POST)

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Last summer, a window air conditioning unit in a New York apartment fell 20 stories onto a playground at a nursery school. No children were injured, but the incident garnered public attention to A/C safety concerns.

According to the maintenance staff at the complex, it was the tenants’ responsibility to buy the window unit and install it themselves. Many tenants never knew how to properly install or maintain their air conditioners. They received no assistance from maintenance workers.

It is important to understand the safety precautions for installing and maintaining your air conditioner. While it protects us from heat-related illness and death, it can also be hazardous and, in some cases, fatal. Listed below are some helpful tips on how to properly purchase, install, and maintain your air conditioner.

Shopping

When looking for an air conditioner, check for the UL Mark. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is responsible for analyzing the safety of wire and cable, as well as electrical and electronic products in North America.

Decide whether your home requires a window unit or central air conditioner. Window units work best for small spaces. If you only occupy one room at night, you only have to use one unit. Central air works better for larger homes and costs more to install. The type of cooling system depends on your behavior and what works best for you.

Installation

When installing a window unit, mount it far away from any heat sources. Avoid damp locations and areas where furniture or curtains could restrict air flow. Also, don’t install a window unit on top of a surface that is unable to support the weight of it.

You should have a professional install your central air conditioner. While you can begin the installation process yourself, there are laws regarding refrigerant handling, so have a contractor finish the job. Be sure that the contractor is licensed and get estimates from a few companies. Check the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation before contacting anyone.

You can try to camouflage the outside unit, but keep all plants and shrubs at least two feet away from it.

Maintenance

Have your air conditioner inspected and cleaned before every summer. If you don’t know how to properly clean it, call an expert. If cleaning the units yourself, be absolutely sure that the power is turned off and refer to your owner’s manual.

Change out filters on a monthly basis during the months of heavy-use (April through August).

Don’t allow your space to become hot and then set the A/C on maximum power; instead, run the unit early in the day and allow it to gradually cool your space.

Other Tips

Use your exhaust fans in the kitchen to avoid adding unnecessary moisture and heat. Your air conditioner doesn’t just cool your space, it also dehumidifies.

Keep your attic well-ventilated. During the summer, temperatures can reach up to 140 degrees in the attic.

If using a window unit, don’t connect it to an extension cord. The power strip cannot handle the heavy flow of electricity.

 

 Marie Ortiz
Staff Writer
http://www.diymother.org

General Safety Issues

ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AT WORK (GUEST POST)

By Maire Hunter

Every day, the modern office buzzes with thousands of volts of electricity from the computers, lights, fax machines and host of other electrical equipment we use to accomplish the work required. It’s a marvel how quickly we’ve equipped the workplace with technology. But we’ve also created the potential for electrical disaster if not prevented. Working at an office might feel safer than working with heavy equipment like bulldozers, boats or forklifts, but with the amount of electricity moving inches into our walls, it’s important to recognize, prepare for and prevent electrical hazards.

Here are a few crucial reminders when creating an electrically safe office environment.

Don’t Piggyback Power Points

Especially when working at an office where several desks and computers are collected in a single room, it’s tempting to overload power points by using double adaptors. This is extremely dangerous. Doing this, you run the risk of electrical surges that can lead to electrocution or fire. Instead, make common use of power strips, which are safer and prevent power surges.

A Tidy Office Is a Safe Office

Here’s a good rule of thumb: wires should touch walls. When using extension cords or power cords, make sure you run the wire along walls, on the floor. This averts people from tripping over wires that are exposed. And this also reduces the amount of wear the wires are exposed to, like walkways and opening doors, which will prevent any direct exposure to electricity.

Keep Electrical Equipment Updated And Evaluated

Immediately dispose and replace any wires that show signs of wear. You should also frequently check circuit breakers, as this is your primary defense against dangerous power surges. Ballasts limit the amount of electricity lights are exposed to, which is helpful for using power efficiently. But these should be checked and replaced often to ensure that worn ballasts don’t go out when you need lights the most.  

Always Turn Off the Power

When working to fix a computer or when replacing a light bulb, it’s important to turn off the power beforehand. A good habit to form is turning off the power whenever you aren’t using a device. That way you reduce the danger of ever forgetting an appliance is live.

Water and Power—Not Even Once
Many accidents involving water and electricity occur in unsuspecting ways. An employee has wet hands while working with an electrical tool, or an electrical device gets plugged in and forgotten when near a faucet or drink. Keep an eye out for any potential exposure. Employees can work together to make sure there’s never a slip-up and that water is always kept far away from any electrical power source. Furthermore, remember that you should never use water to extinguish electrical fires, and should have fire extinguishers on hand for such an event.

By keeping a vigilant eye for potential electrical hazards, you are keeping your co-workers and yourself safe. By reviewing these steps and others with your co-workers, you greatly reduce an accident from ever occurring. Stay safe. Stay aware.

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

TOP SEVEN ESSENTIAL TRAVEL SAFETY TIPS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (GUEST POST)

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By Rebecca Jones

Traveling is a phenomenon which can act as a great stress buster and provide an enjoyable experience to nurture for life. While traveling is a great experience in itself, senior citizens and older people must make sure that they are covering all aspects of travel and safety before embarking on any tour. Here are the top seven tips that can bring an added sense of security in the traveling plans of senior citizens that can help enjoy their trip without any mental worries in case of any emergencies.  

Health Checkup before Travel: Getting a proper health checkup is recommended for all travelers especially senior citizens to avoid any hassles while traveling. Before embarking on your journey, consult your physician for all wide-ranging medical investigations including any pre existing diseases or old age related potential diseases that may occur. Senior citizens are advised to check with their physicians about potential change of dietary habits while traveling depending on the area of travel as diet has a direct impact on health aspects of senior citizens. If you are traveling to a tropical country it is advises to avoid regular water and opt for bottled water to avoid any water borne diseases that can impact the stomach and hurt potential travel plans.  
 
Carry Adequate Medication: It is advised to carry adequate medication before embarking on any travel or tour. As a safety measure it is helpful to carry medication with a cushion of an extra week to ten days to avoid any shortages due to emergency situations or potential extension of the trip due to any reason. Also medications are pretty unique for each country and all medications may not be as freely available in foreign nations. Apart from carrying disease specific medicines, it is advised to carry general purpose medication that can be useful in case of an unwanted emergency. Taking hand sanitizer along can help when water for washing hands isn’t available.  Germs abound on planes, elevator buttons, etc. Senior citizens traveling to cold countries are also recommended to carry an extra protection of clothing to avoid any cold related diseases that affect the children and older people much more than young adults.  
 
Get Travel Insurance: Getting travel insurance is one of the most useful tips for all travelers’ especially senior citizens. Getting a travel insurance not only adds a comfort level mentally to the immediate family but also allows a peaceful journey knowing that the worst case scenarios are fully protected. While most people consider travel insurance as an unwanted expenses, it is a wonderful protective tool that must be incorporated in all travel plans to avoid any untoward incident while traveling be it while flying across various airlines or traveling locally in foreign countries. With many tourist specific places usually also have a high rate of crime, it is an essential tool for the older people to counter any bad situation.  
 
Carry Medical Prescription for Pre Existing Diseases: All senior citizens must carry their original medical prescriptions for any existing diseases to help them avail medical help in case of an emergency. If god forbid any health issues occur during travel, local doctors or local physicians can understand the case history and the pre existing diseases and the current medications being taken by the person to quickly diagnose any medical problems. Also medical prescriptions an make sure that one can procure medications from any chemist store across the world which cuts out the risk of running out of medications being carried in person.  
 
Update Information on Mobile Networks: Mobile phones are a marvelous helpful tool for tourists especially the senior citizens. A mobile phone can make sure that a senior is connected to his immediate family and loved ones at all times. It is recommended to check the availability of mobile networks in the area one is traveling to. Also while traveling to foreign countries, a tour guide must be involved which can have a local contact number for the family to contact to in case of an emergency of networks of the old age traveler not working in alien conditions or foreign countries. Updating as much information for mobile networks, availability of local mobile numbers or other contact numbers must be shared with the folks back home to avoid any communication gap in case of any untoward incident.  
 
Travel in a Group: Older people are advised to plan their travel in group which can have immense benefits. While at the one hand, traveling in a group of known people is much more enjoyable and fun, it also makes sure that there are people to take care of the individual in case of any medical or local emergency. Traveling in a group also allows for far better discount rates on various travel itineraries plus providing a comfortable cushion of having people with the same understanding around the seniors at all times.  
 
Avoid Hectic Itinerary: Prevention is better than cure it is said. The saying is much more apt for older travelers and senior citizens. Traveling can be a hectic experience both mentally and physically. While young adults may have no problems in planning a hectic travel plan, older people must make sure that they cater for adequate rest between travels especially after long flights to avoid any travel related tiredness that can be potentially fatal in some cases. Traveling a travel schedule must cater for rest days between travel even if that means adding a couple of more days in the overall itinerary. Also senior citizens must avoid hectic adventure activities while traveling so that they remain safe and secure at all times. 

About the author: Rebecca is a blogger by profession. She loves writing, reading and travelling. Besides this she is fond of luxury cars and wishes to own a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 one day.

General Safety Issues

WHY SAFETY COMPLIANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

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Compliance training and safety should are the priority of a conscientious business owner. Without meeting safety standards, you should not be running a business, because you are risking the welfare of your employees and your company too. You can consult with a company like Safetrac about training your employees to acceptable standards, and exactly what you should be doing in your industry to make sure you are running a safe business. Complying with these standards will make your company a friendly and hospitable (and safe!) company to work for, and will also make you seem legitimate and ‘above board’ to all of your clients and the rest of your industry.

As a business owner or manager, you have to think of things like safety training and safety equipment as an investment rather than as an expense, because using it promotes the longevity and legitimacy of your business and also prevents expensive distractions from business such as legal action from employees. If your company happens to undergo a government audit, failure to have complied with safety standards leaves you vulnerable to serious legal consequences as well as expensive fines. By complying with standards and training all of your employees in industry standards you give them all the tools to be responsible for their own safety, which takes the pressure off management.  To ensure compliance with the standards applicable to their risk assessments, companies must furnish the correct OSHA safety supplies to protect their workers.  This is another area that they must be trained on the use of such equipment, how to take care of it, and know when to replace it.

So what can safety compliance strategies do for you? The benefits of maintaining a safe work environment are many, safety is about what managers and employers can do to protect their workers. Employers should send their workers home in the same condition they came in. No one can argue with the fact that workplace safety is important, yet it’s often overlooked sometimes unintentionally leaving workers exposed to risk. 

Ivy Delfin is a copywriter working with Safetrac who offer compliance training programs providing businesses with an opportunity to improve employee performance and business operations. When Ivy’s not writing content she enjoys cooking, swimming and walking her Great Dane.

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety, Weather Protection

WORKING BY THE WATER: FIVE RIGHTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOU HAVE (GUEST POST)

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Working By The Water: 5 Rights You May Not Know You Have

Working on the water can be fun, adventurous and lucrative, but it can also be dangerous. As a result, the Merchant Marine Act, also known as the Jones Act, was established in 1920 to protect seamen from negligent and dangerous practices. Today, the Act still stands to guarantee rights for those who work in maritime industries. The following are five things that maritime workers need to be aware of:
1. Defining Seamen

To be covered under the rights offered by the Jones Act, an individual must meet certain criteria, including being considered a seaman. Such individuals must work maritime positions in which they are working on a dock, an offshore oil rig, or a seaworthy vessel. Employers who employ such individuals must be considered to work within the maritime industry, and each employee who qualifies must meet certain standards to be considered under the Jones Act, including the standard that each qualifying worker be working aboard a vessel or in a position that directly impacts vessels. This definition may change depending upon the individual’s involvement with the operation of a vessel.

2. Defective Equipment

In cases where a vessel, a vessel’s equipment, or safety precautions are not considered to be seaworthy, an injured seaman may be able to sue with the help of Jones Act attorneys. Essentially, each seaman is afforded the right to safe operation within the limits of the task or tasks at hand, and if a maritime employer fails to provide such safe operations and precautions, a seaman may have a legitimate reason to sue.

3. Maintenance and Cure

The Jones Act also provides provisions for seamen to be offered maintenance and cure, meaning food, shelter, and medical reimbursement. If an accident occurs aboard a vessel that falls under the Jones Act, a worker may sue if he or she is not provided adequate food, shelter, and medical cost reimbursement should an accident occur.

4. Death

If a seamen dies during the course of his or her duties, the Jones Act also provides for death benefits to be paid to the deceased seaman’s family or willed individual or individuals.

5. History

If you’re a maritime employee or employer who qualifies under the Jones Act, it’s also important for you to be able to prove a history of good or bad behavior. As an employer, if it can be proven in court that you have a history of negligent behavior that may result in injuries or death, you may want to think about revising your practices. As an employee, you may also need to prove a history of negligent and illegal behavior in order for your case to proceed and be successful.

Finally, if you or a loved one have been the victim of a qualifying maritime accident that has resulted in an injury or death, it’s important for you to know that a maritime lawyer can help. While personal injury attorneys may seem like a good idea to seek compensation, few have the knowledge and experience of a maritime lawyer when facing such circumstances. A maritime lawyer will have intimate knowledge regarding the Jones Act and other laws that govern work on the water, and by partnering with such professionals, you’ll often stand a better chance of gaining the compensation that is deserved.


Saam Banai is a freelance writer and editor and certified sailor.  If you work on a seaworthy vessel, dock, or offshore oil rig and are injured on the job, contact one of the Jones Act attorneys from the firm Doyle Raizner LLP. Admiralty and maritime law can be extremely difficult to understand, because it is governed by a variety of federal statutes. That’s why it’s important to employ the services of an experienced attorney that can properly evaluate your maritime injury claim.
 
Thanks, Sam, for this maritime information.  You’ll also notice these workers are required to wear the same Industrial Safety Supplies as those who work on land.  Pat
General Safety Issues

POP QUIZ: HOW CAN YOU PREVENT CHOKING IN CHILDREN? (GUEST POST)

 

 Submitted by Sonny Giffin of nannywebsites.com.
 
 This is an excellent quiz for parents, especially new parents, as well as caregivers and grandparents to take:

1.) What is the most common cause of non-fatal choking incidents among young children?

A)   Food
B)   Toys
C)   Household Items
D)   Office Supplies

2.) When serving hot dogs to young children, how should they be sliced to best prevent the possibility of choking?

A)   Sliced into “coins”
B)   Cut length-wise and then sliced into “half-moons”
C)   Shredded
D)   It doesn’t matter; hot dogs are soft enough that they don’t present a choking hazard

3.) You’re in a hurry and your toddler is still having lunch. How do you handle the situation?

A)   Rush him to finish so you can get on the road
B)   Leave him to eat while you get ready
C)   Give him the food to eat in the car on the way to your destination
D)   Make it known that you’re running late and wait for your child to finish eating at a relaxed, unhurried pace

4.) You’re at the park and a balloon vendor offers your child a helium balloon. Your child is entranced with it, so you make the purchase. How do you proceed?

A)   Treat it like any other toy, letting him take it to his room to play privately
B)   Play with the balloon together
C)   Supervise him as he plays, then take the balloon away when he’s lost interest
D)   Make a production of letting the balloon go together

5.) You want your child to have healthy eating habits, so you avoid candies and processed sugars in favor of fruit. Which of these fruits poses the greatest choking risk?

A)   Sliced apples
B)   Orange segments
C)   Whole grapes
D)   Sliced peaches

6.) When is it safe to introduce hard, smooth foods like peanuts and raw vegetables into a child’s diet?

A)   As soon as he has teeth
B)   When he’s mastered the motion of lifting food to his mouth himself
C)   By the age of two
D)   Four years of age or older

7.) Your toddler wants nothing more than to play in his older brother’s room, but there are toys that have small pieces and aren’t age-appropriate. What do you do?

A)   Let him play with his brother, trusting the older child to monitor the situation
B)   Insist that the door stay open while they play together
C)   Help your older child “baby-proof” his room, putting small pieces away
D)   Offer to play with your children so that your older child isn’t solely responsible for his little brother’s safety

8.) Your child is running through the house and playing, and wants a snack. What is the safest way to handle the situation?

A)   Give him a snack so that he continues to enjoy himself
B)   Tell him that he can only have a snack if he takes a break from playing to eat it
C)   Prepare the snack for him and watch him while he eats and plays
D)   Ignore his requests in hopes that he’ll become distracted

9.) You’re at the grocery store with your toddler when he spots a vending machine full of tiny toys. He desperately wants to buy one of these toys for himself; how do you handle the situation?

A)   Give him a quarter so he can buy the toy for himself without a second thought
B)   Redirect his attention to get away from the vending machine
C)   Let him buy the toy, under the condition that he will surrender it if it’s too small and unsafe
D)   Ignore his pleas and leave when he has a tantrum

Answers:

1.) A. Food is the most common cause of non-fatal choking incidents among young children.
2.) B. Hot dogs are a common choking hazard, and are safest when served to children after being cut both length-wise and width-wise.
3.) D. A child who is feeling rushed to eat is more likely to choke because his chewing and swallowing skills are still developing.
4.) C. Balloons pieces are the leading non-food cause of choking incidents among children.
5.) C. Whole grapes are smooth and round and can easily slip into a child’s throat to obstruct his airways.
6.) D. Kids’ ability to chew in a grinding motion doesn’t develop properly until around four years of age.
7.) D. Your older child may not have the CPR skills or the emotional maturity to use them in an emergency choking situation, therefore he shouldn’t be completely responsible for keeping his younger sibling safe.
8.) B. Running, jumping and other physical activity can increase the likelihood of your child choking on the food he’s eating.
9.) B. The toys in a vending machine have to be small in order to fit through the mechanisms of the machine, and are not safe for young children.

How did you do? 100%?

General Safety Issues

SAFETY TIPS FOR NANNIES (GUEST POST)

 
When your employers extended an offer of employment, they were also entrusting you with the safety of the most vulnerable, treasured members of their family. As a nanny, it’s absolutely imperative that you take that trust seriously, making every effort to ensure that your charges are protected to the best of your ability at all times. While you may not be able to prevent everything that could potentially befall your charges, it’s essential that you make a concerted effort to try. The following safety tips can help you to make sure that your little charges are protected and as safe as you can make them.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

One of the most effective ways to ensure that your charges aren’t wandering into trouble, being approached by potential predators or engaging in unsafe play activities is to simply be aware of your surroundings, and observant of what’s going on. If you go to the same playground on a regular basis and notice a suspicious stranger, be sure that your attention doesn’t waver. Know where potential safety hazards lie at any given location and be prepared to intervene if kids are approaching them. Simply being aware of where you are and what’s going on around you can prevent many dangerous situations from coming to unfortunate fruition.

Follow Safety Guidelines to the Letter

If you’re taking your charges on an outing or playing together, be sure that you’re following the rules without exception. Don’t let older kids talk you into skipping their car booster seat “just this once,” make sure that everyone is wearing plenty of sunscreen before venturing out into the sun’s rays and that you treat potentially risky activities with the proper respect. Swimming, for instance, is a great way to cool off and have fun with your charges on a summer day, but you need to make sure that you will be able to keep an eye on everyone and that you’re aware of the potential risks inherent in the activity. Allowing yourself to be swayed into neglecting a “little” safety rule can have disastrous consequences, so it’s best to establish a policy of never deviating from those guidelines.

Be Attentive and Engaged With Your Charges

Looking after children and managing the demands of a bustling household is exhausting. Still, the safety of your charges depends largely upon your ability to maintain active attention, to never ignore your charges or leave them unsupervised. There are so many things that can go wrong in relatively short time, that it’s just not safe to turn your back on the children you’re caring for, even for a moment. Be sure that you’re always giving your charges the attention that they need, and that you’re actively engaged with them to be sure that they’re not finding their way into a dangerous situation while your back is turned.

Avoid Unfamiliar Areas Whenever Possible

Outings are a great part of being a nanny, and can have many benefits. It’s wise, though, to make sure that you schedule your outings in a familiar area, and that you avoid venturing too far beyond your comfort zone when your charges are in tow. Getting lost searching for and address, finding yourself in an undesirable area or simply not being able to apprise yourself of potential safety risks at a new place can be a bit reckless, and could even be dangerous. If you’re determined to bring your charges somewhere new and exciting, you can help to stave off some of the risks by making sure that you schedule a visit of your own before the big day, so that you’re sure of where you’re going and have an idea of what your charges need to avoid.

Keep Safety Information On Hand at All Times

Because even the most dedicated, attentive and distraction-proof nannies can’t prevent all incidents, it’s important to have all of your charges’ information on hand when you’re working. The contact numbers for your employers, your charges’ pediatricians and other medical professionals and an authorization to treat a minor form can help you to keep a simple mishap from becoming a major situation, so it’s important that you never greet a day of work without having that information somewhere it can be easily accessed and referenced whenever the need arises.

Keeping your charges safe is a big job, but it is the one that you’re most responsible for. The health, happiness and safety of your charges rests in your hands, which is why it’s necessary for you to be vigilant about their protection.

General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

ASBESTOS AWARENESS TRAINING (GUEST POST)

In the last few days, the Daily Mail in Great Britain has reported on the heart-breaking story of a Cardiff housewife who contracted a type of cancer called mesothelioma from washing both her husband’s and son’s work overalls when they were working at a local power station.  Their overalls were covered in asbestos fibres and a verdict of death by industrial disease was returned at an inquest into her death.  The couple received a small sum in compensation that was donated to charity.  Whilst this case highlights the horrific unforeseen consequences of the use of asbestos in building in the 20th century, and the way the damage lurks unseen for possibly decades, we are much more aware of the dangers today.  However, as an employer or person working with asbestos, it takes more than just awareness that it is a dangerous material to operate with truly safe procedures.  

Awareness of the Problem 

In the UK, they have the highest incidents of mesothelioma in the world and the use of asbestos was only officially banned in 1999; any buildings built or renovated before 2000 have the potential for asbestos contamination.  In America, asbestos use was similarly not banned until the late 90s; the grave repercussions of its potential handing means any company accountable for people working with it needs to be fully aware of their responsibilities.  Adequate training for management and employees should always be a priority.  

Categories of Asbestos handling 

In the UK, they have two types of asbestos handling, classified as non-licensable and licensable (in which a government permit is required).  In the USA, there are four classes of scheduled asbestos handling work relating to how much the material might be disturbed.  It is obviously a complex matter and if you are a building manager/owner or employee you need to know what is expected of you. 

Training and Help

 Training is not just about being aware of the dangers posed by asbestos, but also making sure the exact problems posed by your specific work and environment might pose.  Good training should give you knowledge about every step, and provide you with expert advice.  Whilst it is an important process, it does not have to cost you or your business too much time or money.  There are many experienced companies offering asbestos awareness training online you can consult.  Initially any good firm can assist you with a risk assessment, but any training should also cover (but not restricted to): 

  • Safe work practises and methods and explanation of safety gear
  • Selecting appropriate protective clothing
  • Waste handling and waste disposal
  • Emergency procedures
  • Legal requirements, permits etc.
  • Refresher training where needed 

As an employer, you need to ensure that all relevant employees undergo the necessary training and that all managers and supervisor understand their duties.  Make sure your training provider is competent and reputable and that your staff subsequently follows appropriate and safe work methods. It is a hazard we have all heard of due to tragic deaths like the housewife in Cardiff, however, the correct asbestos awareness training can help you as an employer avoid many more hazards.

Author bio: Inguinn Bjøru sent this very informative article.  Asbestos Awareness Training online  is more easily accessible than regular training courses and can be accessed from anywhere at any time.

 

General Safety Issues

TEN REASONS TO NEVER LEAVE A CHILD IN THE CAR FOR EVEN ONE MINUTE! (GUEST POST)

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By Carrie Dotson

Whether you’re running into a convenience store to pay for your gasoline or stepping away for a moment while your child is strapped snugly into her car seat, it’s never safe to leave your child alone in a vehicle. Regardless of the circumstances, your child simply is not safe in the car alone. Here are 10 of the reasons why you should think twice before leaving your little one unattended in a vehicle.

  1. Temperature Concerns – Because kids’ bodies are different from those of their adult counterparts, even relatively mild temperatures can become unbearable for a child in a vehicle. There’s a reason why news outlets flood their followers with advice to never leave a child in the car during the summer months. According to kidsandcars.org, an average of 38 children per year die because of heat-related deaths.
  2. Potential Car Theft – It may not be common for cars to be stolen with children inside them, but that doesn’t mean it never happens. Making sure that you’re never a fluke statistic on a list is often as simple as taking your child with you each and every time you get out of the car. Remember that a car is replaceable, but your little one is not.
  3. Stranger Danger – The likelihood of a child being kidnapped by a stranger is far lower than his chances of being snatched by someone he knows and trusts, but stranger abductions do happen. If a car door is all that’s standing between your child and a potential kidnapper, the odds may not be in your favor.
  4. Legal Issues – In many states, the act of leaving your child in the car is illegal. You may be charged with counts of child neglect or abuse, even if your intentions are good. Rather than taking the risk of criminal charges or even the loss of your children, make the wise choice and take them in with you when you leave the car.
  5. The Danger of a Rolling Car – A child who can climb out of his car seat can also knock the car into gear inadvertently, causing it to roll away. A child that’s not left in the car unattended, however, doesn’t face that risk.
  6. Suffocation Risks – If your car has backseat access to the trunk, inquisitive kids can make their way into the trunk and accidentally become trapped, running the risk of suffocation or severe injury.
  7. Causing Your Child to Feel Fear – Even if he never touches a gear shift and is never confronted by a stranger or left to suffer extreme temperatures, your child may still be frightened and feel abandoned when he’s left in the car alone.
  8. Strangulation Concerns – When a young toddler is learning to escape from his car seat and harness, he may try several methods before he finds the one that works. He may also become entangled in the very harness that’s meant to keep him safe, putting his safety in grave danger.
  9. Your Child Can Wander Away – Older kids may think that they’re looking for you or simply exploring their surroundings, when their undeveloped sense of direction is actually leading them away from you and everything familiar. Making the decision not to leave your little one in the car alone will eliminate his urge to go looking for you, and can keep him from getting lost in the process.
  10. The Inherent Risks That Threaten Unsupervised Children – Every parent knows that kids are intensely creative when it comes to finding new and potentially dangerous activities. Your child can injure himself in ways that neither of you have ever imagined when there’s no one there to watch him, so it’s important that you never leave him in the car without supervision.

Taking your child out of a complicated harness and juggling him while trying to complete a task as quick and simple as paying for fuel or grabbing a single item from the store may seem like a waste of time an energy, but there are simply too many things that can go wrong when a child is left in the car alone. A decision made in the blink of an eye can change your life forever, so be sure that you’re always aware of the risks you face when you leave a little one in a vehicle without supervision and don’t do it.

All too often we hear of incidents such as this, where a child dies from being left unattended in a car, especially during hot weather.  Take the time to unhook the child from the car seat and take him with you, regardless of how quickly you plan to be inside the building.  Please, also, consider not leaving animals in cars when you have errands to do that cause you to leave the vehicle. Pat