All posts by pat brownlee

General Safety Issues

PRO TIPS: What Every College Freshman Should Know to Stay Safe (Guest Post)

You’ve been accepted into a college, picked out your dorm décor, selected your first major, and talked your mom out of crying…again. However, I need you to reserve one tiny piece of your brain for a matter that is often overlooked in all the excitement: personal safety. You’re going to college. You’re going to live on your own for the first time and with that freedom comes the responsibility of being responsible for your own personal safety on a whole ‘nother level.

Chief Yaniello of SUNY College at Old Westbury says that he tells all incoming freshmen that they should understand that their individual safety has as much to do with their individual decisions, observations and awareness as it does with the security provisions at their institutions. He says, “I tell all incoming freshmen that they should not try to live their entire four years in college during the first four weeks of classes and that their choice of college friendships and alliances are vitally important in that positive peer pressure is as potent a behavioral entity as negative peer pressure.”

These first four weeks of college are vitality important. Over these next four weeks the choices you make will impact your next four years. You will be making decisions that will impact your reputation and your personal safety. As you are forming new relationships on-campus, I ask that you remember these six tips.

1.       That guy that you met at freshmen orientation or that you saw one-time somewhere. That guy may be your friend someday but he isn’t a safe person yet. Most on-campus crimes are committed by your peers. This isn’t to say that you should lock yourself in your dorm room. It just means that you should build a group of friends and build relationships in group settings before isolating yourself with a man you’ve met once. Don’t accept rides home from class or from a bar with a person that you’ve “seen somewhere before”.

2.       Do not drink in excess. Do not drink and drive. Do not drink and walk home alone. Not only do crime rates increase when drugs and alcohol are involved but you are most likely to make bad decisions. The buddy system is just as important now as it was in grade school so work on forming strong relationships sober and if you do decide to have a drink stay with your friends (see #1 for definition of friends).

3.       The most common on-campus crime is burglary. You can protect yourself by locking your doors and making sure your roommate does the same. Don’t allow tailgating to be an acceptable practice in your residence quarters. This is not only for your own safety but for those that live around you.

4.       With that said, when you share a group living space you are unfortunately exposed by poor choices that other people make. Contribute to the solution. Form your own “neighborhood watch” with others that live in your building. Make sure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety and create a system for reporting suspicious activity. 

5.       It’s also important to take good care of your things. Do not leave your electronics unattended in the library, cafeteria, or other public areas. Not only are these areas that a would-be criminal might look but it contains your personal information by potentially allowing others access to your electronic devices.

6.       Expand your protective circle by providing your parents with emergency contact information. Make sure they have your roomate’s phone number along with contact information for your roomate’s parents. It’s okay to set ground rules with your parents. IE: This contact information is not backup contact information for me. It is for emergencies only. 

BIO:

Rose is the co-founder of SecurityGem.com, a site dedicated to home security as well as personal safety tips and information. She also serves as a researcher for new safety related technologies and has over 10 years of home technology related experience. In her spare time she likes playing video games, spending time with her family, working out, and smiling.   Thank you, Rose, for these safety tips for college freshmen.  It is very fitting at this time, as we have two grandchildren who are graduating this week.  These ideas, coming from someone other than their parents, (or grandparents) are seriously intended for their safety. pb

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

HAVE YOU MADE SAFE TRAVEL PLANS FOR THIS MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY?

If you are traveling for this holiday, it is important that you don’t just throw a few things in a suitcase, and head for the sunset!  Make your plans based on safety, no matter how you plan to travel.   

As service stations gear up by hiking their gas prices, airlines may have limited discount flights available, but highway traffic is a nightmare. Prepare for your trip by mapping your route and then using road services, travel associations, the internet, news and any other source you can find to get updates. Remember that traveling at off hours can save you both money and time, not to mention hassle. 

You’d love for your Memorial Day weekend trip to be fantastic with perfect weather, but we all know how Mother Nature loves to mess with vacation plans. Check out a reliable weather resource, and plan to pack the proper clothes. Just because it’s warming up in some areas, there may be need for a sweater for evenings, or other warm clothing for camping. 

You don’t need to have a specific budget, but it’s a good idea to know how much you can afford to spend for the weekend and to have a rough idea of how much your planned adventures will cost. Understanding the price of travel, lodging and activities is a great start. Then you’ll have a better idea of how much to spend on meals and incidentals. (Especially if you plan to frequent a casino, make up your mind how much you can afford to gamble, and if you lose, stop; don’t try to catch up!) 

When driving, leave early enough to arrive at your destination in plenty of time. Remember, you state law enforcement officers will be working extra personnel in order to ensure your safety, by seeing that you don’t speed. Don’t drink and drive, or you could possible wind up with different accommodations than you had planned! Also, don’t text and drive. 

If traveling by car, be sure to notify family members or friends of your planned destination, and when you plan to arrive.  If you find you may be late, be sure to let them know where you are and not to send out the Mounties, that you should be there within a certain time.

Take a survival kit along, just in case: a first-aid kit, plenty of water, some non-perishable foods and snacks, your cell phone, a blanket, and pet food if your four-legged friends are traveling with you. Whether you are flying or driving this holiday, stock up with hand sanitizer, as many surfaces will be shared very often by others; doorknobs, arm rests and trays on planes, gasoline pumps, just about anything you touch while traveling.  There are some ugly bugs that seem to thrive on those who are traveling on planes, trains, or automobiles!  

For this first outing of summer, we wish everyone a safe journey, or if they stay home, a restful day.  Have a fun and safe summer; watch for the kids in the neighborhood because sometimes they forget to watch for you!

General Safety Issues

MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A HISTORY LESSON: DO YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET NEXT MONDAY OFF?

 Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.

The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.  Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags. Decoration Day On May 5, 1862, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month.

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I.  Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War.  However, during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday. 

Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials.

Veterans who survived the war or wars in which they served, deserve to be taken care of.  They should be at the top of any list, whether it’s healthcare, physical therapy, or other needs.  Any way that you can help a veteran by finding him/her a job, or any assistance they may need would be a big help in showing your appreciation for their service to our country.  Hire a Vet if you are a business person.

We all need to say “Thank you for your service” when we see anyone in the military.  I recently told a young man I had met that I appreciated his six years of Army service, both in Iraq and Afghanistan.  He responded “Thank you for your support.”  It made me feel ashamed that I haven’t done more to support our troops.  Let’s all show our gratitude for our warriors.

Source: History.com

 

 

Source: History.com

General Safety Issues

A SHORT GUIDE TO KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE WHEN HANDYMEN TEAMS ARE AROUND (GUEST POST)

Before calling over the Handymen to your premises, have a one-on-one chat with all children who are old enough to understand verbal instructions. Lay down ground rules and make it clear that the rules are not to be broken at any cost. The first step is to make them aware of the danger that they might put themselves into if they try to do their own thing. Following next is a short guide on keeping children safe when Handymen Team is around.

1. Discuss Health Hazards

Before handing over your premises to the experts, have a detailed chat with them about the safety measures that need to be taken.  Ensure that the quality of air remains safe and see that the premises are cleaned on a daily basis, after the end of work for that day.

2. Identify common spaces

Before the power tools start booming, ensure that the common areas are identified for the children.   The children should be barred from roaming into the areas where the technicians are working. A simple solution is to relocate the microwave and the refrigerator, to ensure children do not walk into the kitchen unknowingly.

3. Power tools out of reach

Irrespective of the fact that you have one or more kids, the attraction to a power tool will be irresistible.  They might seem like playthings to them; chalk out a plan beforehand to keep all such tools away from children.  Make arrangements with the team to remove tools from the premises at the end of day or keep them secured for the night.

4. Keep the children at bay

It is not easy but it is very essential that children are not running around while the interiors are being done up. They might cause an accident and will also distract the workman from his job.  Repairs and renovations, if possible, should be planned when the kids are away at school or in a day care. In all cases, keep the workers informed that there are children at home and some precautions therefore need to be taken.  

5. Disposal of waste

During renovations, a large amount of waste is produced. It may include nails, pieces of metal, paint, wood shavings and chemicals to name a few. To ensure the child is away from this waste, discuss with the service provider beforehand about proper waste containment methods.  A waste disposal unit can be installed temporarily to prevent children from accessing the waste.

6. Reward a must

Once handyman service professionals leave and the renovation is complete, be sure to reward the children for following the rules and staying out of danger. Spend time with them and ask their opinion about the new changes in their home.

Article Summary: Keeping children away from danger in a house under renovation or with a Handyman team on the job is a tricky matter. Kids are curious by nature and all the working noises are sure to attract them.

Author Bio:

Ben Verdi is the owner of Handyman at your service, a US based company providing Handyman Services to business owners at an affordable price. Handyman at your service specializing in TV installation NYC, Electrical work, Plumbing NYC, IKEA Assembly NYC and many more.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

KEEPING OUTDOOR WORKERS SAFE THIS SUMMER

Although it is still snowing in the Northeast, warmer weather is making its presence felt in other areas of the United States. Those fearless firemen in California have really had a “hot” job, fighting all the fires lately. It is sad to think that someone set those on purpose. The risks that the response teams go through, as well as loss of homes and innocent animals  living in those homes, in addition to wildlife, causes us to hope that they catch the perpetrators soon. 

Besides firemen, there are so many others who work outdoors every day. Gradually becoming acclimated to warmer temperatures helps them adjust easier. It pays for workers to watch out for each other, because there may be a co-worker who is older, or one in bad health that may fall victim to a heat stroke or heat fatigue. 

Those workers should be trained in first aid and know what to do in each situation. If they suspect someone has had a heat stroke, here’s suggestions on what to do: 

  • Call for emergency medical help immediately.
  • Move person to a half-sitting position in the shade.
  • If humidity is below 75%, spray victim with water and vigorously fan. If humidity is above 75%, apply ice packs on neck, armpits or groin. 

Here are some symptoms of heat stroke:

  • In severe heatstroke, the victim can go into a coma in less than one hour. The longer the coma lasts, the lower the chance for survival.
  • The victim’s body feels extremely hot when touched.
  • Altered mental status (behavior) ranging from slight confusion and disorientation to coma.
  • Conscious victims usually become irrational, agitated, or even aggressive and may have seizures.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy perspiration with normal or slightly above normal body temperatures, the result of dehydration. Heat exhaustion affects workers and athletes who do not drink enough fluids while working or exercising in hot environments.
Heat cramps are painful muscular spasms that happen suddenly, affecting legs or abdominal muscles. They usually happen after physical activity in people who sweat a lot or have not had enough fluids. Many times you will see athletes that are given Gatorade to replenish fluids and electrolytes. If you think someone is having heat cramps, have them drink cool (not cold) water or a sports drink, lie or sit in the shade, and stretch the affected muscles. Caffienated drinks or alcohol will contribute to dehydration.  Workers wouldn’t have alcohol on the job, but others who are outdoors on recreational activities should limit their intake in extremely hot situations.

Outdoor workers should have a good supply of water on hand, wear sunscreen, long-sleeved shirts, and a hat, or hardhat, depending on the occupation. There are attachments made to fit hardhats to create more of a shade, and even an attachment to protect the back of the neck. Be sure to take plenty of breaks in the shade if possible, and try to begin work earlier in the day in order to finish before it gets too hot. 

These tips apply not only to workers, but to all who enjoy being outdoors during the warm months for summer activities, camping, boating, athletic events, or working in the yard. It pays to protect oneself. Extreme heat can catch up with anyone, no matter how strong they are, if they don’t take care of themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

SAFETY TIPS FOR A DIY HANDYMAN (GUEST POST)

 

Almost all handyman jobs involve risks and this is why it is important to ensure safety on the service site. Read on for some useful safety tips that’ll help you prevent injuries while working.

Since most handyman services involve lots of hazards, working without the right safety equipment and moving around carelessly can lead to serious injuries. When grinding or welding without goggles, for instance, you’ll obviously end up getting metal particles in your eyes. So, why close the eyes to handy, hi-tech safety measures and equipment when they are easily available and invite plenty of risks!

Here are practical safety tips that are basically lessons learned by our handymen from their mistakes in the past:

1.Pressure Washers Can Peel Your Skin

Pressure washers are the most common handyman tools used to clean up areas like the patio and roof of a building. Since handymen get their attention diverted by a variety of stimuli in the open, they often make the mistake of holding the pressure washer and operating the trigger with only one hand. This can cause the spray wand to move across your hand, peeling the skin off.

It is important that as a professional, you understand and respect the power of water, especially when it is pressurized for cleaning the concrete etc. 

2. Bump-Nailing Can Nail Your Feet

The use of a framing nailer for fastening plywood to joints is a common practice for handymen. But when the nailer is set in bump mode, you need to be fully attentive, for forgetting to pushing the nose of the gun properly against the wood can lead to serious injuries. The worst, you may bump the nose of the gun at the wrong spot such as one of your own feet! Make sure you’ve properly bumped the gun-point on the target area before you pull the trigger. 

3. Safety against Electric Shocks is Important

One of the most important safety steps at a repair site is to check electricity wires using a non-contact tester before laying a hand on them. Commonly, handymen take off the fuse in a hurry and start disconnecting the wires from outlets. There maybe two circuits linked to the outlet, of which you have turned off only one. So, when you touch the wires barehanded, you’ll get knocked back by a powerful shove of electricity shooting up your entire body!

When performing such a job, don’t forget to test and double-check the wires with a tester. 

4. Sheet Metal Can Slice Your Body Parts 

Drilling holes in pieces of metals is another common handyman duty involving a great deal of risk. Handymen are often in a rush and don’t take time to compress the metal to a table etc. This can cause the drill to be caught by the sheet and thrown onto you, creating a deep rip on one of your body parts.

Before you start to drill a hole on a metal sheet, clamp it to a table and adjust your hand and the drill well.

 

Author Bio:

Dan Kogan is the owner of Handyman at your service which is a US based company providing Handyman Services to business owners at an affordable price. Handyman at your service specializing in TV installation NYC, Electrical work, Plumbing NYC, IKEA Assembly NYC and many more.

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK BEGINS MAY 17TH!

It’s the time of year that everyone is ready to get their boats back on the water and have fun fishing, skiing, or taking a relaxing ride on smooth water. Getting boats conditioned after a long winter’s rest is important to the success of the boat starting each time, and running as it should. Having owned a boat, there’s much more to it than just backing it into the water and taking off. The most important thing to have in your boat is a life jacket for each person.

This week’s reminder is sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council.  NSBC was organized in September, 1958, under the name National Safe Boating Committee. Their mission is to be the foremost coalition to advance and promote a safer recreational boating experience through education, outreach and training. The NSBC presently has a membership of over 330 U.S. and Canadian organizations, all with an interest in boating safety and education. The NSBC membership is diverse, with approximately 65% of the membership being nonprofit organizations and 35% being for-profit organizations. 

This year’s theme is “Ready, Set, Wear It,” referring to life jackets. By law, there should a life jacket for each passenger, as mentioned above. At times when you are fishing, and not moving, the jacket may be placed under the seats. But they must be ready for use at a moment’s notice. Wearing a life jacket can be slightly uncomfortable at some times, but even the strongest swimmer could have an accident, falling out of the boat, and possibly hitting their head. With no life jacket, their chances of surviving may be slim. 

When we had our boat, we made sure we had plenty of life jackets, even one for our Cairn Terrier, Willie. He had short little legs, and while we were fishing, he would go to the front of the boat and invariably slip and fall into the water. Our mode of rescue was a dip net, while his jacket kept him afloat. We didn’t want to take the chance that he might not be able to swim very far. 

On one particular outing, the local game warden pulled up to our boat to check our fishing license. He really got a kick out of seeing Willie in his life jacket; he said he hadn’t seen that very often. (This was several years ago, and jackets for dogs are much more popular now.) 

Have a fun summer on the water this year. Remember to use plenty of sunscreen, wear some great sunglasses, (the reflection off water can damage your eyes), wear a hat, keep some soft drinks and water in the ice chest, snacks, and have your cell phone handy in case you get stranded. The same law applies to drivers of boats, as to drivers of vehicles – don’t drink and drive! 

Stay safe and remember, wear that life jacket. After all, that’s what they are for – to save lives!

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

FIRST AID SAFETY FOR AUSTRALIAN WORKERS: GOVERNMENT EFFORTS (GUEST POST)

The working force spends an average of 40 hours a week in the work place. For many people, that is just the minimum amount of time they allocate for work. The so-called work-life balance is a common struggle of the working force, and oftentimes the physical and mental health is compromised. Health takes a backseat in the list of priorities, but stirs panic when it disrupts productivity and mobility.

                Various studies on corporate health reveal shocking results that link poor health to lapse of judgment in the workplace and consequently, deteriorating performance and productivity. For instance, a loss of $2,280 per worker can be incurred when the said worker suffers from over fatigue. An increase in work hours does not necessarily translate to increased productivity. In fact, sleepiness accounts for 12% of the reason people are tardy in the work place.

                Australia has been highly ranked by the Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development as one of the best countries to live in, based on “high levels of income, employment, education and sense of community”. Yet, based on the records preceding paragraph, it is only apt that the Australian government established Safe Work Australia in 2009 to set and implement guidelines that improve corporate health and safety in the workplace.

                Safe Work Australia, in its Code of Practice, has designed guidelines to help management create an efficient system and design of First Aid administration, depending on the specific needs of a workplace. In Regulation 42, it is stated that an entity must consider “the nature of work being carried out in the workplace; the nature of hazards at the workplace; the size, location and nature of the workplace; and the number and composition of the workers at the workplace” when determining the requirements for First Aid in the workplace. It is highly encouraged to look back at records of incidents relating to health and hazard.

                The Australian government has ensured that these guidelines go beyond the provision for basic First Aid facilities. It is stipulated in 3.1 of Safe Work Australia’s guidelines that additional eye pads should be provided in places where welding, splashing of infectious materials, and use of chemical liquids in open containers are conducted. Furthermore, a First Aid room is recommended for “low risk places with 200 workers or more and high risk work places with 100 workers or more”. The training of First Aiders is also stipulated in its Code of Practice. The selection of trained First Aiders is dependent on factors like working shifts, and the increase or decrease of workers.

                The systemization of First Aid administration has prompted companies like Injury Treatment to provide consultation services to various businesses in designing occupational health and First Aid systems. Companies like Injury Treatment emphasize on efficient reporting of hazards and illnesses in the workplace so that the earliest possible intervention can prevent the worsening of any condition that threatens employees’ health and consequently, workplace productivity.

                The Australian government has already laid out basic but very comprehensive guidelines on implementing effective First Aid administration.

Corporate health should be a basic concern of anyone who belongs to the working force. By designing efficient and systematized First Aid procedures, the organization can mitigate unprecedented work-related hazards and ensure the continuity of work flow. 

Author Bio: Cristina Beltran – blogger and writer at 21stcenturynews.com.au.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing

MAY IS NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH

Every year in the United States, workplace electrical incidents result in more than 300 deaths and 3,500 injuries.  While electrical hazards are not the leading cause of on-the-job injuries and fatalities, they are disproportionately fatal and costly.  For every 13 electrical injuries, a worker dies.   Knowing best practices of electrical safety are critical to reducing these staggering statistics because most of these injuries could be prevented. 

Electricity and electrical products play a fundamental role in how we conduct business every day. However, if not used or maintained appropriately, they can pose serious risks. Over the last ten years, more than 30,000 workers have been injured in workplace electrical accidents. These injuries not only disrupt the lives of the workers and their families, but also impact the productivity of employers. 

An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy through the air when a high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between conductors. An arc flash gives off thermal radiation (heat) and bright, intense light that can cause burns and other injuries. Exposure to extreme temperatures burns the skin directly and ignites the clothing that the worker is wearing. 

An arc flash can be spontaneous, or can result from inadvertently bridging electrical contacts with a conducting object. Other causes may include dropped tools, the buildup of conductive dust, or corrosion. While great advances are being made to improve equipment design and thereby reduce the number of arc flash incidences, there is still much to be done. Each year, 2,000 workers are admitted to burn centers for treatment of severe arc flash burns. 

High-voltage arcs can also produce considerable pressure waves by rapidly heating the air and creating a blast. This pressure burst, or arc blast, can hit a worker with grenade-like force and send metal droplets from melted copper and aluminum electrical components shooting out at speeds up to 700 miles per hour – fast enough for the tiny shrapnel to penetrate ones body.  

Here are some important ways to prevent injuries and fatalities when working with electricity:

Every year, workers are injured or killed by circuits they thought were safely turned off. Simply shutting off the power is not enough. Hazardous conditions can still exist. You may not get a second chance to learn this important lesson, so always test before you touch! 

Most electrically-related fatalities and injuries could easily be avoided. Responsibility for your safety begins with you. Take steps to protect yourself everyday and make safety an integral part of how you do business. 

The number one way to prevent electrical injuries and fatalities is to turn off the equipment being worked on. It may take a little more time and planning, but your life and your health are worth it. Be proactive about de-energizing equipment and taking steps to ensure that your work environment remains safe. Working on energized equipment increases your risk of injury or death.

 

 Each day, nearly 3 million professionals participate in work activities where lockout/tagout procedures should be used. Unfortunately, too many workers still put themselves at risk by working energized or neglecting to follow their company’s lockout/tagout procedures. Year after year, failure to comply with the lockout/tagout standard is listed as one of the top OSHA violations. If the standards are followed, an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries could be prevented annually. Get in the habit of doing this important step every time! 
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be the major factor in differentiating between an electrical event you walk away from and one that requires months of painful healing. PPE comes in many different forms, including: hard hats, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, flame-resistant clothing, dielectric safety glasses, face shields, fall protection equipment, etc.Be sure to choose the PPE that is right for you and your circumstances. PPE should be:

  • Worn CORRECTLY; zipped, buttoned, etc
  • Appropriate for the hazard
  • Worn as the outermost layer
  • Maintained properly and removed from service when needed

This month serves as a reminder that we must always be extremely careful when working around electricity. 
  Source: ESFi (Electrical Safety Foundation international)
General Safety Issues

HAZARDOUS AREA LIGHTINGS – ENSURE WORKPLACE SAFETY (GUEST POST)

What is a Hazardous Area?

A hazardous area can be defined as any place in which an explosive atmosphere may occur. The reasons of why hazardous areas exist mainly include flammable gases or combustible dust. If adequate amount of flammable substance is mixed with oxygen, an ignition source appears that is sufficient to cause an explosion. Explosions caused can lead to serious injuries, extensive damage as well as loss of life. Presently there are many industrial facilities with hazardous areas, such as petrochemical refineries, chemical plants, and certain kinds of coal mines.

How can Hazardous Area Lighting Help?

Various equipment is used and measures taken by different organizations over a period of time to prevent explosions in a hazardous area, such as, Intrinsic Safety measure, Increased Safety measure, and Explosion-Proof Enclosures measure to ensure safety of employees working in hazardous areas. However, the equipment that has really proved helpful in fighting the explosive atmospheres from the start includes hazardous area lighting.      

Hazardous area/ location lighting is a type of lighting that is designed to be resistant to hostile climatic and atmospheric conditions. There are many types of hazardous location lighting that have been used over a period of time in hazardous environments, such as LED Lighting, Fluorescent, and Induction. However, advances in technology have brought about many changes and improvements in lighting technology for hazardous locations. Let’s have a look at how these changes developed.

 

Developments in Hazardous Area Lighting

The first ever hazardous location lighting was developed in the coal mining industry. In the early 1800’s many different inventors, such as Dr. William R. Clanny, and Sir Humphrey Davy, developed means of shielding miners from explosions caused by the lamps they carried. The most commonly used light of these was the “Davy lamp”, developed by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1815. However, soon after, electric lighting was introduced which is similar to what exists even today. Within the petrochemical industries the initial electric light sources that were used were incandescent lamps in explosion-proof housings.

After that as the technology further developed, HD fixtures were introduced into hazardous areas in the year 1940. Also, the developments in LED technology started taking place in the early 20th century. Since then the lighting technology has now advanced to its present state of using abundant of proven safety techniques and most available light source technologies. In the past few years developments in solid state lighting have also added a new source for general lighting applications.

 

Hazardous Area Lightings Suppliers       

There are a number of electrical companies manufacturing or supplying safe lightings for explosive environments. Listed below are some of the universally recognized brands, which can surely help you out if you are highly concerned about the quality of the lightings to be used for hazardous locations.

  1. Cooper Industries
  2. Petrel Limited
  3. Hadar Lighting
  4. Eutex International
  5. Victor Lighting
  6. Grainger

 

Know the Author – Dani Kate is a well versed blogger, environmentalist and loves to write around industrial, manufacturing niche. She likes to use her blogging skills to bring awareness around green and clean environment and human safety issues.