Monthly Archives: April 2017

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

How to safely handle chemicals?

How to safely handle chemicals?

Keeping your workers safe inside your facility should always be your number one priority, especially when it comes to dealing with chemical products. We all know that these products have to be handled and stored cautiously. Therefore, if you want your employees to work in good and safe conditions, here are a few tips that may be of some use to you:

First of all it is important that all your personnel wear the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment); glasses, gloves, protective helmets, masks, and so on. Some chemicals can be toxic or corrosive, it is thus compulsory for your workers to be protected from the potential dangers related to their handling, not only from a safety point of view but also from a legislative point of view.

Never skip on the training. You have to teach your employees how to react in case of emergency, what kind of action should be taken in case of spill, or if a product or a part of the facility catches fire. Indeed, chemical incidents can happen very fast and it is necessary to be able to react quickly in order to prevent the situation from getting worse. This article (http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2017-03-18/leisure-centre-staff-created-gas-cloud-as-they-tried-to-mix-chlorine/) tells us how a gas cloud was created after two chemicals were mixed together in a swimming pool. Thankfully the employees were able to take the right decision, and immediately evacuated and closed the leisure center. This goes to show us how important it is for the personnel to be aware of the measures that have to be taken in case of emergency.

Also, make sure that all your chemical products are properly labelled so that your employees get all the information needed when they are handling them. A label usually specifies the name of the product, the risks and the safety measures linked to its use, as well as the name and contact details of the manufacturer. This information will allow your workers to quickly understand what type of product they are dealing with, which will help them handle them the proper way.

We could not end this post without talking about the fact that all chemicals cannot and should not be stored together. They all have their special features; this is why an explosive product should never be kept in the same place as a flammable product. There is no need to be a scientist to know what kind of reaction would occur if these two products were to come into contact. Moreover, some chemicals have to be kept in specific conditions; in a cold or in a well-ventilated place, and so on… Make sure you are abreast with such requirements so that the security in your workplace is optimal. Also, if you know your facility does not own the infrastructure necessary to the storage of chemicals, you can hire the services of specialized companies such as Barnastock (http://www.barnastock.com/en) which warehouses were designed in order to safely store all types of chemical products.

 

 

General Safety Issues

Common Office Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Common Office Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Construction sites and factories seem more dangerous than other workplaces and this is why they have such strict safety protocols. However, just because an office environment is safer doesn’t mean that it is completely safe.

Office workers face a distinctive set of potential injuries than do those in other fields. For example, remaining seated indoors, while talking on the phone or using a computer means the top injuries experienced by office workers are vision strain, pain in the wrists and hands, and neck and back pain.

Nevertheless, the most frequent cause of injury is one that people in any workplace suffer: slips and falls. People in an office workplace, however, are two times more likely to injure themselves in a fall than those in any other work environment.

It is, therefore, critical that people employed in an office remain alert, use common sense, and think ahead.

Falls

Not only are falls the most common type of office injury, they are also the cause of the most disabling injuries experienced by these workers. Falls result in disabling injuries for those in offices two to two-and-a-half times more frequently than they do for workers in other settings.

Falls are most frequently caused by:

·        Using a chair as a substitute for a ladder

·        Stumbling over loose cords or electrical wires, open file or desk drawers, objects in walkways/hallways, or loose carpeting

·        Slipping on a wet floor

·        Reaching for something or bending while seated on a wobbly chair

·        Insufficient lighting

As you can see from the list of causes, falls are preventable. Employees should:

·        Get up when trying to reach something instead of stretching while they remain seated

·        Look ahead before walking and avoid moving forward until their path is clear

·        Close drawers immediately after they are done using it

·        Use a stepladder to reach things overhead, rather than a chair

·        Report all fall hazards, like loose carpeting or electrical cords

·        Try to reduce fall hazards by cleaning up spills and picking up objects that could lead to injuries

Lifting Injuries

People who work in offices often find themselves lifting heavy items, even though that doesn’t seem like it should be such a frequent part of the job. But, workers nonetheless find themselves moving computers, monitors, stacks of files, reams of paper, etc.

If the lifting is done without proper precautions, it can lead to injury, especially for employees that tend to have minimal physical exertion during their workday. If an item feels too heavy to lift, employees need to ask for help or have another person do the lifting for them, as improper technique often leads to injury of the back, neck, and shoulders.

When lifting an item in the office, employees need to:

·        Lower their body by squatting

·        Using their legs to return to standing

·        Keep their back straight

·        Use the entire hand to secure the object, rather than the tips of the fingers

·        Hold the item close to their body, rather than extended

·        Avoid twisting

When they are prepared to set the item down, they need, again, to use their legs (instead of their back) for strength.

Struck by Objects

It sounds funny, but office workers are frequently injured when they are struck by objects, bump into objects, or find themselves caught between objects. Object injuries include:

·        Catching fingers in drawers

·        Catching fingers in windows

·        Catching fingers in paper cutters

·        Catching hair or jewelry in office machinery

·        Bumping into desks

·        Getting hit by falling objects from cabinet tops

·        Having items cropped on feet

·        Being hit by a falling cabinet

·        Being struck by an opening drawer

These injuries can be avoided by remaining alert to the surrounding. Employees should concentrate on what they are doing and be mindful of the placement of their feet, hair, jewelry, and fingers. All materials should also be safely stored away, and equipment should have proper safety guards.

 

Jean Machado is a human resources specialist, head of an office safety team at her company, and a writer. She does freelance work for several trade publications targeted at executives and office workers. She’s also an expert health blogger specializing in behavior problems, addiction, recovery, treatment such as <a href=”https://www.addictions.com/marijuana-addiction-treatment/” target=”_blank” rel=”dofollow”>treatment for marijuana addiction</a>.

Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety

Securing Life While Working On the Roads

Securing Life While Working On the Roads

Roads are amongst the most dangerous places for anyone to work. It is unfortunate that every now and then, there are significant accidents on areas where highway construction is taking place. These accidents often lead to severe injury and sometimes death. Road worker have a responsibility to ensure they are safe as they work on the highway. They need to be well equipped with the gear as well as information that could help them stay safe while they put their skills to work. Here are some safety tips for highway workers.

Most road workers will be wearing industrial ear plugs for the protection of their eardrums, however whilst minimizing their hearing they must ensure that they are still well informed about the area they’re working on. They must know the dangers and precautions to take into consideration before they begin their work and during work. In so doing, it becomes easier for them to see the danger beforehand and keep it at bay.

While working on the roads, the employees need the correct safety tools to carry out their work effectively. The equipment must also be up to standards to make the job quick and easy. After all, no one wants to be on the road longer than they need to be. A faster-working pace reduces traffic build up and keeps the risk of accidents at a minimum.

It is also very important for highway workers to keep the drivers and motorists informed and alerted in construction areas. They need to make sure the motorists are aware of uneven lanes or where traffic merges so that they can slow down.

When they have to work at night, road construction workers need to be appropriately suited with reflectors. They also need to ascertain that they are evidently visible to drivers to reduce the chances of injury.

Road workers must also make sure they take personal care of themselves by always staying hydrated. Doing this helps avoid dizzy spells that can make them less alert and hence prone to accidents.

It is also essential for road workers to work as a team to ensure they keep one another safe. One of the individuals ought to be on the look-out and even direct traffic to make sure that no driver blindly speeds into the site injuring the busy workers.

The road constructors must make sure they use a safety program daily. Before any work shift begins, they need to familiarize themselves with the communication signs that are likely to be used between workers who operate equipment and those on foot.
The road workers also need to have the correct traffic safety supply tools and protective gear such as gloves, footwear, and clothing that is weather proof in case the sun is too hot or it rains heavily. Safety goggles are also needed to keep the eyes safe from debris, therefore keeping their eyesight at the peak.

Road engineers also need always to place barrels or cones well. They also need to make sure these safety equipment are placed securely for them to withstand harsh weather conditions.
As a road worker, you should always put caution at the top of the list of everything that you do. Whether you are working on minor streets or super highways you need to be careful as they are always risky to be around. As an employer, ensure that your team is well equipped with traffic safety supply tools to use. Additionally, arm them with the necessary knowledge to make sure the dangers that lurk around their work areas are well laid out for them.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized, Weather Protection

ROAD SAFETY AND THE EFFECTS OF VMS AND DRIVER FEEDBACK SIGNS

ROAD SAFETY AND THE EFFECTS OF VMS AND DRIVER FEEDBACK SIGNS

Ever since the coming of motor vehicles, transportation has taken a turn to more accidents and gruesome deaths by accidents over the past few years. Two wheelers and four wheelers along with HLVs have been experiencing rash driving due to the lack of road rules and safety measures. World over, accident rates have shown that measures need to be taken to provide safety or at least warn the drivers of possible dangers and remind them to stick to the traffic rules. VMS, Variable Message Signs have been introduced to update the drivers of multiple road rules and warnings that can be read with ease while driving.

What Are Variable Message Signs

Dynamic or Variable Message Signs refer to electronic traffic message signs used on the roadways to keep the travelers informed about the route or about any warnings in their journey. These could be to inform the passengers as well as the drivers about any traffic congestions, roadwork zone diversions, accidents ahead, speed limits or speed breakers. But in Urban areas, the VMS is covered only for parking guidance along with information systems that update the drivers about parking spaces and other instructions.

These message signs can be easily programmed and controlled wirelessly via a cellphone or wireless network. Some of the message types that VMS include are:

  • VMS can be used to display promotional messages about any services that the road authority might be providing such as carpooling.
  • It could warn the passengers about any crashes. It could also specify if it was a rollover or a spin out crash.
  • Inform about any road-works in process
  • Updating traffic congestions and other situations.
  • Road deviations and exit ramp closures.
  • Any fire emergency or vehicle on fire.
  • Weather warnings and AMBER, SILVER and BLUE alerts
  • Travel time limits for HLVs into city and city load limits
  • Speed limits within and outside city
  • Car parking bay availability

What Are Driver Feedback Signs

These signs are placed only to inform and keep the driver alert about the road safety rules in and around the city. They include:

  • Speed awareness for residential communities
  • Silence and speed awareness in school zones and educational areas.
  • Warning for jaywalking and pedestrian crossing in hospitals, etc.

These signs have proven highly effective over time in aiding traffic slowing. It also allows planned planning of traffic enforcements with access to timely data. It allows a pre-programmed automatic generation of reports giving engineers an uncomplicated view of speed data and comparative analysis. The benefits of having Driver Feedback Signs are:

  • High contrasting resolution LED design board for both day and night visibility
  • Additional features of emoticons in addition to speed limit display
  • Reasonable pricing
  • Easy statistical data collection
  • Easy to install and function
  • Easy maintenance and tough resistance to weathering.

The application and use of these sign boards have vastly improved driver-traffic communication and given the community more confidence and lesser accidents. With continued use of these signs we can assure 100% safety to drivers and pedestrians.

 

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety

5+ safety tips for construction workers!

5+ safety tips for construction workers!

The construction job is one of the greatest and, at the same time, one of the riskiest jobs in the world. When you are constructing buildings, you are probably helping thousands of dreams to realize or you are just becoming the reason for providing someone’s haven. This is the part construction become a humane job, a great one. But at the same time, you are probably risking your life every moment you are on the job. Accidents, injuries and stress – you will frequently come across these words if you are in the construction job. And if you are unlucky enough, death is another word that you probably had to hear. It is needless to say that you must take all and every step that ensures your safety – EVRERYDAY!

Your safety precaution should encompass everything that you need to protect your body from – from the tools you work with, the scaffolding, the chemicals, and the piles of construction garbage to your habit of drinking! Here are a few tips that you might start with –

Tip 1: Learn!

Yes – that’s the first and most important things you can do to ensure your safety. And I am not just talking about what safety steps you should take – I am also talking about the escape and exit routes at your workplace; the location of the fire extinguisher and how to use one; the use of first aid kit. Ask your employer to do training if s/he hasn’t yet done one. Ask them to point out places that pose the greatest risk for the workers.

Tip 2: Have a look around

That’s the first rule of safety. As you reach your workplace, just take five minutes and look for any possible sign of danger – check the scaffolding, make sure the ladders are strong enough, test the equipments you work with. If you find something wonky, just inform your employer. Keep your eyes open. You might save yourself and a lot of lives too. Look for any

Tip 3: Wear the right clothes  

And the right gears too! The safety clothing and equipments you put on are known as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the construction business.  The reflective vest, helmet and safety shoes save you from falling objects and sharp tools decreasing the risks of injury to the largest extent. Safety glasses and face masks protect you from hazardous and chemical substances.

Tip 4: Clean the garbage

As soon as you have finished the day’s work, do not make any delay to remove the refuse. Stack of construction garbage increases the risks of injury and if it contains any chemical or hazardous waste, it might set off big accidents.

Tip 5: Do have a lot of water and nutritious food too

That’s the basic rule to protect your health. This might sound like a lame tip. But trust me – if you start consuming more water, you will feel less tired than earlier as you finish your job for the day.

Tip 6: Talk to your workmates

Yes – talk to your workmates, make plans what you would do if someone faces an accident or injury and vice versa. Think of all the possible things you could do if someone gets into an accident – what your immediate action would be, who to inform, which immediate care you could provide. This would have two effects – the more you talk, the better prepared you would be and the less worried you would get if you face such situations. And second, you know you have a person you can lean on in your bad time!

Tip 7: Carry a First Aid Kit with you

You can provide emergency care service if you carry one. And who knows you might even save a life!

And last, but the best piece of advice – make a checklist of your personal safety rules.  Follow it religiously. No one but you can care best for yourself and for your workmates too!

Ergonomics, Hearing Protection

The Best Noise-Cancelling in Ear Headphones

The Best Noise-Cancelling in Ear Headphones

Now a day many people use mobile phone in their day to day activities that is much useful for them. It also used for many purpose like entertainment, games, apps and educational purpose etc. Some of the people use mobile phone only for hearing songs because they like to do that. But the sound of songs disturbs others and if the person is in happy mode then they like to hear the song loudly which creates disturbance to others. So ear phones are introduced for hearing songs without disturbing to others. It not only used for hearing songs can also useful for make communication with other person secretly.

 

Way for removing unwanted noise

Using ear headphones is a way to hear audio without cause any disturbance to other people. But it causes some ear diseases to the user who hears songs in high volume. Due to the high volume of song it affects the ear by produce some unwanted sounds which is called as noise. So it is necessary to remove noise from ear headphones and protect the ear. There is lots of methods are available used to remove the noise:

  • One of the best ways is use the Bose quietcomfort 20 which is best ear headphones for removing the noise. It is selected as a best noise removal ear headphone by the experts who conducts many experiments and compare qualities of ear headphones with each other. The sound quality of that ear headphone is much better than others and has a great battery life which is over 17 hours.
  • A later version of best noise cancelling ear headphone is Bose quietcontrol 30 that gives better noise cancellation without wire from ear to the phone. It is a wireless technology because there is no wired connection between the mobile devices and ear. It is based on the Bluetooth version which is used for establish connection between two sources and also comfortable to use by everyone.
  • Another technology for removing the noise from the ear headphone is called as budget wired noise canceller which based on the wired medium but it does not reduce more noise than other ear headphones.

Features of the noise cancelling ear headphones

Generally the noise cancelling ear headphones can be categorized into two types that are wired and wireless. The best example for the wireless ear headphones is Bose quietcontrol and example for wired ear headphone is budget wired noise canceller. The Bose ear pair provides a good sound effect without affecting the ear of a person. The cost is also based on the usage of ear headphones which is used at the different environment includes at flight and train. Because the frequency can be changed for every place in which the ear headphones are used. The noise cancelling ear headphones can used 15 hours in flights and 12 hours in train travelling. The quietcontrol 20 noise cancelling ear headphone can be handled lower frequency range and quietcontrol 25 which is the later version of the quietcontrol 20 deals with both lower and higher frequency ranges.

The design of ear headphone is most important factor because it is not only for removing the noise from the headphones and give comfortableness to the users. In some situation the user sleeps with the ear headphones that do not affect the comfortable sleeping of the user. The noise created by the ear headphones which contain 75decibels of pink noise and the circuit of the noise can be measured further. Anything below 75 decibels in noise indicates the noise cancelling or noise reduction from the overall noise creation and in the modern technology there is an app to remove noise from the ear headphones before using of that app must be installed on their mobile devices, but it is not easy to implement.

The ear headphones can be work based on the frequency of an audio which is to be heard. The noise cancelling is the based on the factors like type of mobile phone which indicates android phone, keypad phones. The noise is not an analog signal and it is a digital signal because it is used in the digital device.

Author Bio:

Tom Berdinger has written about headphones, earphones, and other topics for many websites. Having more than three years of experience in earphones and headphones, we can say that he is a true audioholic. .