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Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

Electrical Safety Tips

There are many electrical appliances that are often used in everyday life or during construction efforts, so you will need to ensure you’re treating such electrical works with the respect and care they deserve so you can be safe from harm. Take your time to check the principles of safe operation of electrical devices ahead and make sure everyone both around your home and at your workplace or construction site is fully aware of them at all costs, as electricity is one force that should never be underestimated due to its lethal hazard and long-lasting effects on the human body after an accident. The following tips will give you more information you can use to deal with it:

Electrical Safety Tips

• If you want to be safe when using electrical appliances, light bulbs and other types of equipment, then you will need to be vigilant at all times to avoid burns, shocks and the threat of electrocution. Once again: keep your eyes open and be careful.

• You would do well to assume that all overhead wires are charged with lethal voltage, as well as any exposed wiring you see either around your home, office or other location such as a construction site. Avoid touching exposed wiring at all costs and use proper protection to stay safe, such as insulated gloves at the least with lower voltage wiring. Leave power lines to professional electricians and the company that employs them and stay away from them – a simple, common sense solution.

• You would do well to stay at least 10 feet away from any possible overhead wires during cleanup activities. If you’re working at certain heights or you need to handle longer objects, you would still do well to survey the place before you move on to working with overhead wires.

• If any overhead wires happen to fall on a vehicle, you should stay inside and drive away if possible. If your engine stalls you should stay inside and call the local electric company for assistance with this issue, as well as emergency services instead of trying to solve the problem yourself.

• You should never try to do any operations with electrical equipment while still standing in water. You should also do your best to avoid repairing any electrical cords or any equipment unless you happen to be authorized and qualified to do so. If you do need to do any repairs, you would do well to have a qualified electrician doing them instead of you, as they will have the necessary experience to do so.

Electrical Safety Tips2

• When you’re working in damp or wet locations, you need to ensure you have all electric cords and equipment fixed and in good condition, as well as using a ground fault circuit interrupter to keep them safe. Keep your eyes open when you’re doing any cleaning, especially during floor cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and so forth. A short circuit can become a fire hazard quickly if left alone, so if you smell the acrid smell of burning insulation, shut the power off and locate the issue before moving forward.

• Last, but not least: always be cautious when you work with electricity, no matter where you are and what you’re doing. It may seem like a simple thing to keep in mind but you should never feel safe just because you think you have things covered. Be vigilant, be safe.
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Respiratory Safety Tips and Guidelines

There are plenty of hazardous jobs out there, ranging from cutting materials and grinding them, producing dust in the process, to welding which produces toxic fumes, mixing chemicals and various other types of work during construction and other jobs that produce and use toxic substances. The side effects of working with such chemicals or in such conditions will often include a number of symptoms such as shortness of breath, burning sensations, dizziness, and in the worst case scenarios even unconsciousness and death. Keeping yourself safe when working in such conditions is a serious business, so you will need to ensure you know what you’re doing, lest you end up sick or worse.

Respiratory Safety Tips and Guidelines

• Ensure your equipment fits you, as there are different sizes available and you need to make sure yours is the right one, especially when you work with chemicals. There is a good reason why it’s a bad idea to have beards, sideburns, stubble or even moustaches, as they will be a problem when you’re using a respirator of any kind. You need to ensure you’ve tested the fit to verify the seal before entering a hazardous environment. Eye glasses may also affect the fit, so you may want to have corrective lenses on your eyes instead so they won’t get in the way. Cold temperatures will create valve sticking, fogging, and stiff rubber on masks and so on.

• Choosing the right respirator is up to you, as there are different ones used for different types of hazards. You need to make sure you use the right kind for the right situation. You need to ask yourself if any other ways of countering the hazard will work out first. Make sure you’re fully aware of what it is and how you can deal with it. You need to know that an unknown composition of the atmosphere you’re about to breathe can be extremely dangerous, flammable or even deadly. You can use disposable masks for dust such as sawdust and so on, but they will not work well with concrete dust and finer particles. They will work well when you need to do cleaning for construction, or maybe even simple house cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and so on if you’re allergic to dust. You need to make sure you always use a full gas mask for hazardous chemicals that may also act as eye irritants or worse. Always, absolutely always make sure you have a tight seal and you’ll do just fine.

Respiratory Safety Tips and Guidelines2

• Air purification devices are fairly common in the construction world, but they do possess their own limitations as well. They do not protect against oxygen deficient atmospheres, since they will require the resupply of air, they also cannot be used for entry into dangerous atmospheres such as those of hydrogen sulfide. You also cannot use them with substances with poor warning properties, such as those extremely dangerous, no odor, no eye irritation or respiratory irritation substances such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, which are fairly hard to detect by ordinary means. Be aware of what you’re dealing with as much as possible and use the right filters for the right situation.
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Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Home Safety Products, Respiratory Issues, Uncategorized

Protective Clothing and Work Safety during Plumbing

Before you begin working on any DIY projects or plumbing repairs, you would do well to review some of the simple basics concerning safety. By following certain methods you will spare yourself injury and failure as well as being able to complete your projects on time. The following safety tips should be followed no matter what type of project you’re after:

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• Stay informed
You need to check the local building and plumbing codes before you start working on your project. Knowing what you can do to make things work that way will keep things professional and safe when you need to be careful.

• Eye protection
Work only with safety glasses if you need to do any plumbing work done, especially if you suspect you may have anything that could potentially endanger your eyes. Any work that involves using a drill, snaking a drain, hammering, working under a sink or using a reciprocating saw will pose a danger and potential hazard for the eyes. Sometimes small objects, droplets of sewer water and so on may fly into your eyes if you lack proper protection, so make sure that never happens.

• Hand protection
You would do well to focus on wearing proper protection for your hands at all times when you work. Hands will often come into contact with different chemicals, sewer water and more when you work on plumbing. If your hands have any scratches you may risk infection, not to mention handling things that way is simply unsanitary. Whenever you use a drain machine of any sort, you would do well to use leather or latex gloves to protect yourself from the germs of your drain lines. Good drain gloves will not only protect your hands, but it will also become a good habit to handle tools with them for added safety.

Protective Clothing and Work Safety during Plumbing

• Lung protection
You will need to work with a face mask if you want to protect your lungs. Sanding, sawing and more are sometimes needed when you work on some plumbing projects, not to mention the unpleasant smell of sewer gases that would be filtered through a mask so you won’t have to inhale it.

• Being careful
You would do well to be extra careful whenever you’re handling any tools, as you will need to follow the manufacturer’s suggestions if you want to succeed. Many people are often injured when they don’t keep both hands on the power tools they use, not staying vigilant as they work and so forth. Don’t be one of them and keep your eyes open and your hands steady.

• Get some help
Having someone to give you a hand when you need it will make completing your tasks far easier to handle. Running a drain machine for example means you will need to have two hands on the cable, as well as someone else unplugging the machine when you’re done, not to mention other tasks that need more than a single pair of hands. This will be very useful whenever you deal with plumbing emergencies, as you never know what you may need.
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General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

Hand Protection Tips while Working

Hand injuries are extremely common on the job, no matter where you work, up to the point where nearly 80% of most common occupational injuries are hand injuries. There are hardly any jobs that don’t really use our hands in the process, so we need to take great care to avoid any accidents with our hands. There is much that can be done to avoid such issues, but for the most part common sense should be involved before you make any decisions. The following tips will give you more information you can count on to make a difference and protect your hands:

• Wearing gloves

This is the first line of defense against blisters, scrapes, burns, cuts and splinters you will have on the job, so look for several good pairs of work gloves you can count on to get you through your tasks without fail. Make sure you’ve chosen the right gloves and that they fit comfortably against your hands, allowing you to work with ease. You would do well to wear some chemical resistant gloves when you’re working with acids or caustics. There is no way to avoid things without proper protection, so never underestimate its importance. Always keep the insides of your gloves nice and clean, as any contaminants inside will only negate their protection. Make sure you replace your gloves as soon as you see any damage to their material. Always remember to use gloves when you’re using knives and box cutters and you need to do fine work with them and cut away from your body as you work.

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• Working with machines

Always stay vigilant so you can avoid the terrible danger posed by machines with exposed moving parts. You need to make sure you use the proper controls built into the machine to stay safe, especially when it comes to machine guards and the tool rests used. Under no circumstances should you try to reach inside the machine while it is powered and unless you possess the necessary technical expertise and credentials to do so. You would also do well to keep all watches, rings and bracelets off your person to ensure they will not get in the way while you work. If there are any shavings you need to get out of the way when cleaning, never use your hands to do so but use a brush or a scraper to do it so you will not get hurt while cleaning.

• Staying vigilant

Always keep an eye on what you’re doing and make simple and smart choices so you can avoid any injuries while working on the job. Know all your potential sources of hazards and stay vigilant. Inspect your protective equipment and gloves as well as your hands after you’re done working if you’re handling dangerous chemicals. Never allow carelessness to become a danger to your safety. You would do well to keep your eyes open when you clean your machines and workplace as well, as sometimes periodic cleaning may need to be completed by a professional cleaning company trained in dealing with hazardous chemicals and similar problems.

Hand Protection Tips while Working

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Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

DIY Construction Safety Tips and Guidelines

DIY construction efforts take quite a bit of effort, but they should never be hurried along at the expense of safety. You would do well to keep that in mind so you can prevent any accidents you may face. You can get things done even without hiring builders, a building team in most cases, such as bathroom and kitchen fitting, wallpapering, tiling and even brick work. Think ahead and use the following tips to get yourself prepared for the building jobs ahead in a productive and safe manner:

DIY Construction Safety Tips and Guidelines2

• If you use poorly designed tools and equipment of low quality, then chances are things WILL break at some point and you may get hurt in the process, not to mention the long term health hazards that may lead to. Carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis, white finger and so forth are something you do not want to deal with.

• You should never carry a tool by its cord or doing so with its hoses. Even though this may seem like a good idea at some point, you would do well to avoid it as much as possible. Keep the cords away from any oil, water, heat and sharp edges to avoid any damage. Look for power tools that have lower vibrations overall and make sure you protect your ears and eyes from harm by using goggles and ear protection.

• You must make sure you have tools that don’t conduct electricity or heat so you can do your job well.

• Make sure you maintain a good posture while you work and use the tools as intended to avoid accidents during your renovation or construction efforts.

• You need to make sure you keep people away from any areas where you operate machines, especially if they have no business there and it poses danger to yourself and them.

• You need to be constantly aware of your surroundings while you work, especially when it comes to low clearance areas, obstructions of all sorts and any obstacles that end up in your path so you won’t trip and hurt yourself or worse. This happens more often than you may think.

• You need to pay even more attention when you’re using scaffoldings, as this is a pretty dangerous place to be when you work, even on the best of days. Make sure its erected on a nice and solid surface and that the scaffolding itself is strong enough with more than sufficient weight capacity, at least four times the weight you believe it will need to take.

DIY Construction Safety Tips and Guidelines

• You must never support any scaffoldings or planks on an uneven surface or with uneven objects that simply don’t have a good footing.

• Keep scaffoldings away from any power lines to stay on the safe side during work, especially when you’re alone and you have no other builder present working along you.

• No matter what building service you do, never use a damaged scaffold, regardless of how much in a hurry you are or how small a job you feel you need to do. Make sure you have a good and solid footing on a sturdy scaffold and use the proper guardrails, mid rails and toe boards when you work.

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Eye Protection Safety Tips and Guidelines

Were you aware that each day the US there are more than 2000 eye injuries happening across the country? A lot of these accidents happen because of falling or flying objects, most of which are even smaller than a pin. You need to make sure you keep yourself safe whenever you work, so you would do well to keep a few things in mind as you go about your day. Most workplace injuries of this kind will happen whenever there is no need for safety eyewear or when its left to the individual workers to decide whether they need it or not. A lot of these injuries also happen due to poor cleaning practices in the workplace, especially when you’re handling dangerous chemicals. Cleaning services and professional cleaners in general will alleviate this type of issue up to a point, but vigilance is necessary in all situations regardless of that. The following checklist of tips will give you more information on what you can do to make accidents like that something easily avoided:

Eye Protection Safety Tips and Guidelines

• Creating a safe environment

You will need to focus on minimizing hazards from falling or unstable objects by securing all areas against such possibilities. Make sure you have your tools and safety features in place and secure at all times. You should also always ensure people know how to use their tools safely and properly to avoid accidents, as well as never allowing bystanders inside hazardous areas at all times.

Eye Protection Safety Tips and Guidelines2

• Using workplace safety practices

You should always remember to shake, brush and vacuum all dust from hardhats, your forehead or your hair before you remove your protective eyewear. This will help protect your eyes from dust when you remove them. You should also work on cleaning your eyewear on a regular basis as well as never rubbing your eyes with dirty hands.
No matter how much you fight against such issues, sometimes accidents do happen and you need to focus on dealing with the accidents as they happen:

• Specks on the retina

You should never rub the eye that was affected, as this would only make the problem worse. Flush it with lots of clean water instead and see a doctor if your problems persist and the speck doesn’t wash out.

• Dealing with foreign objects, punctures and cuts
Unlike the previous example, you should avoid washing the affected eye as you may worsen the situation. Avoid trying to remove the object and look for medical attention as soon as possible, since you will be in need of delicate medical help.

• Dealing with chemical burns

Flush the eye with water or some other drinkable liquid as soon as possible and open the eye as widely as you can. Keep flushing for the next 15 minutes even as you look for medical help. If you work in a location that handles dangerous chemicals, chances are there will be an eyewash station you can use to do this.
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Setting Up a Self Storage Business

People always need space to store their furniture and items for a variety of reasons, so a self storage business isn’t a bad idea. However, like any other type of business, there are a lot of things to consider before you finally go ahead and register your business. Here are some of the things that you’ll need to know and research beforehand.

1. Learn about tax
Any business needs to pay tax, but there are all kinds of rules and regulations surrounding this. Depending on which country/state you’re in, the rules may be different, which is why it’s so important that you research your individual location to find out more. Many businesses get a lot of tax relief because of business expenses, so if you’re not sure about this, talk to an accountant and see how things will work in terms of tax and expenses.

2. Do you need a license?
Certain types of businesses need a special type of license before they can start trading, and you might find that in your location, you need another type of license on top of the regular trading licenses which are available. Again, the best way to find out is to speak to an expert in your area who will be able to tell you more about what is required to set up a self storage business.

3. Research your competition
There are many self storage companies, such as safeselfstoragecalgary.ca, all over Canada and the USA, so it’s important that you find out which companies are the ones closest to you. Educating yourself about your competitors beforehand is excellent research for your business, since you can work out different ways to become a more appealing business than they are. When people choose a self storage business in the area, they’ll consider yours too, and if it’s better, they’ll undoubtedly choose it.

4. Keep it safe
One of the things which will attract new customers to your business is if it’s a safe place for them to keep their items. This is particularly true if your competitors don’t have a lot of security features. By installing extra security and safety features in your storage space, people will feel like it’s a lot safer to keep their furniture and goods with you. You can also charge a little bit more too, and people will pay the extra knowing that they’re getting added security.

5. Advertise
Don’t just advertise in your local area – advertise on the internet in as many different ways as possible. Use social networking websites to your advantage, and it might be worth hiring an online assistant to help you with the advertising of your new business if you’re too busy with other things.

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Staying Safe at Work

Health and safety are two vital factors to any business. Part of an employer’s legal obligation is to ensure that the working environment is kept safe and free from hazards for both his employees and the general public. Nevertheless, workers themselves can certainly take steps in order to ensure their own safety in the workplace.

Here are some of the ways that workers can stay safe while at work.

1. Get trained.
Nowadays, companies are paying more attention to workplace safety, and have thus started to pair up with companies and organizations that provide safety training to their employees. These trainings help workers in being able to identify risks, avoid hazards, and know what to do should untoward incidents happen that lead to injury or illnesses.

One of the leading occupational hazards, asbestos exposure, can be prevented by being informed. Employers whose workers have a high risk of being exposed to asbestos on a daily basis need to provide equipment and facilities designed to protect workers from exposure to the harmful substance. Knowing how to prevent bringing the substance out of the workplace and into the home will help protect the workers’ family members from second-hand exposure as well.

2. When in doubt, ask.
The need to do well and show off at work may arise in certain individuals, especially when a promotion is on the line. However, it is important to remember that doing a job incorrectly may not only mean losing a job, it could also cost a life. When in doubt about how to do any work correctly, it is best to check with co-workers, or better yet, a supervisor. Having a supervisor watch and check that a job is done the right way should be a priority especially when the job carries risks to health or life. When in doubt, always ask the right people.

3. Speak up on concerns regarding safety.
Safety concerns should not be kept to oneself. Rather, these should be aired out in order to avoid any job-related accidents. If a certain task is too dangerous or difficult to be handled alone, letting the supervisors know is a logical first step. Safety concerns are not to be taken lightly, and it is everyone’s job to see to it that any work hazards are reported to the right people in authority so that something can be done to prevent any mishaps from happening.

4. Know the safety rules and regulations.
Orienting oneself regarding safety rules and regulations in the workplace should be on top of any worker’s list of things to do at work. Know the rules designed to keep everyone free from harm before starting any job. Personal protective equipment and tools are there for a reason, and they’re meant to provide a net of protections to the person wearing them. Falls are common in the construction industry, and this makes it all the more important for safety rules and procedures to be followed in order to avoid any accidents.

5. Know who to call.
Aside from getting trained on identifying risks and keeping safe, knowing who to call or report to during emergencies is imperative in ensuring that help arrives in a timely manner. Report all injuries, no matter how small or minor they may be, as well as any near misses. Accidents that may not have caused physical injuries would still need to be reported in order for the safety team to check working conditions and ensure that such accidents don’t happen again. Know who to turn to or call when accidents requiring medical assistance do occur.

6. Be alert.
Feeling tired when working can lead to mistakes being made, which may or may not be dangerous to one’s life. Getting plenty of rest before heading to work will keep the mind clear and alert all throughout the shift and possibly keep costly mistakes at bay. However, being alert while at work does not only mean being attentive to the task at hand. It also means keeping an eye on co-workers – especially those new to the team – and offering a hand when necessary.

At the end of the day, being safe in the workplace is the responsibility of everyone in the company. Everyone has their own roles to play in order to ensure that the workplace is safe and kept free from unnecessary risks and dangers. Following the safety tips above may mean the difference between a freak accident and a life saved.

Angie Cole (angiecoledv@gmail.com) is a content specialist for The Asbestos Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. This comprehensive training center seeks to educate and protect clients through a diverse group of classes and training seminars.

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Protect Yourself with a Safety Workwear

Whether you are a mechanic, builder, regular worker or a handyman you need a workewear that will provide you with comfort and protection. The apparel should be created to last, without falling apart after several weeks. You can find everything on the market – from work clothing and footwear to accessories made from solid and high – quality materials. Since there are many options you should carefully decide what you need, depending on the type of work and the level of protection you require.

Materials
The material is what will distinguish the good workwear from the mediocre one. Usually the fabrics for workwear are more durable than the normal outwear and clothing. The material of the workwear will also determine the safety. There is high diversity that should fit a particular work environment and tasks.

• Cotton Duck
Cotton Duck is the most popular workwear material. This type of fabric is consisted by extremely durable woven canvas. It has smooth surface that is difficult to tear. Cotton duck is good at blocking the wind and it is resistant to high heat. Hot ashes and small sparks will not damage the clothing. It’s also light and comfortable material.
• Flannel
Flannel is typically made by 100% cotton. Because it’s medium – weight woven material, it’s good at protecting against the low temperatures. Flannel is frequently used to make long – sleeved shirts and flannel – lined jeans.
• Leather
The material is often used for accessories and footwear like boots, belts, jackets and working gloves. The most popular choices are deerskin, elk and full – grain cowhide and many more.
• Synthetics
Nylon and polyester are the most common materials. They are very durable and long – lasting.

Fit and Suitable
As mentioned earlier you need to pick your workwear according to the specific environment. For instance, the clothing that is appropriate for a mechanic will not be useful to a driver or a handyman. Different tasks and weather conditions require suitable workwear. Always purchase workwear that fits you. Baggy clothing might constitute danger while you are working. It doesn’t matter if you are dealing with home repairs or you are at your workplace. You need to feel comfortable and protected.

Safety Clothes
High – visibility apparel, waterproof and windproof wear are just a couple of things that you can pick. If you need to protect larger part of your body, consider buying an overall. Aprons are another way to ensure additional safety. PVC or fabric gloves are essential. If you are working with volatile ingredients, you should purchase a respirator. Face shields and goggles will keep you safe when mixing chemicals or spraying hazardous liquids.

Additional Protection
If you are working in windy, cold or snowy conditions, you might want your clothes with additional insulation. Built – in insulated linings are a popular way to ensure protection. Classic types of linings are blanket and flannel fabrics, quilted and fleece linings.
Don’t underestimate the comfort, flexibility and safety that the proper handyman workwear gives you.
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