All posts by pat brownlee

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Health Issues, Respiratory Safety

DO YOU HAVE THE FLU BLUES?

We are smack-dab in the middle of flu season, and unless sick people stay at home until they feel much better, we are all potential candidates to catch this “bug.”  There are several types of influenza;  the seasonal flu activity usually peaks in January or February.  However, it can sneak up on you as early as October, until the month of May.  There are many precautions we can take to avoid being ill from this virus.  The best preventative measure is to get the flu vaccine.  

Vaccines vary according to the strain of flu that is prevalent every season.  However, the Centers for Disease Control provide the vaccine that is deemed proper for the expected type of flu that is anticipated to be widespread.  Everyone six months of age to the elderly should get this vaccine.  Those age 65 and older and children younger than age 2 are more likely to have complications from the flu. 

Flu viruses are a contagious respiratory illness.  It can cause mild to severe illness, and sometimes, the flu can lead to death.  At last report, in our state of Texas, twelve persons have died from complications of the flu.  One of those persons  lived in my small hometown, and was only 47 years old.  She had the swine flu.  Complications from the flu may be pneumonia and dehydration.  

When you are around someone who is sneezing, coughing, or talking to you, experts say that you are exposed to the flu because their germs land in your mouth or nose.  Yuk!  If you touch a surface or object that has the flu virus on it, and then touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, you hve found another way to contact the virus.  That’s why it is important to keep your hands clean.  Keep some hand sanitizer in your pocket or purse, and another container in your car.  Remember, when leaving a public restroom or any other public place, elevator, escalator, or using shared equipment in your place of work, watch what you touch,  and wash or clean your hands often.  (And stay away from anyone who is sick as much as possible.) 

Flu and the common cold have similar symptoms.  We want to help you understand the differences.  First, flu symptoms: 

  • Fever, body aches, cough, and fatigue.
  • A 100°F or higher fever, or feeling feverish (some persons with the flu do not run fever).
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Headaches and body aches
  • Cough or sore throat
  • Almost never causes upset stomach, except:
  • Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea (most common in children)
  • Chills. 

Cold symptoms: 

  • Colds rarely cause fever or headaches.
  • Runny nose.
  • Stuffy nose.
  • Sneezing, coughing. 

The flu can be much worse than the common cold.  Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following: 

  • Sudden dizziness;
  • Confusion;
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen;
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath;
  • Seizures;
  • Purple or blue discoloration of the lips. 

If you think you have the flu, go to your doctor, who can test to see if your illness is the flu.  Please stay at home until you are completely over it.  Some of the flu-like symptoms can improve, but later come back with fever and a worse cough.  Avoid contact with your co-workers until you are well.  Your family members can use antibacterial spray and wipes to help avoid catching the flu, and if they have been vaccinated, this will be most  helpful.  Face masks can help both the patient and caregiver avoid those germs floating around in the air.  Face masks and latex gloves  are also very useful for persons with underlying health problems to use when traveling.

One additional clarification:  Stomach “flu” is really gastroenteritis, not the flu. 

Source:  Flu.gov                  NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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

FOOTBALL ISN’T JUST FUN AND GAMES!

As hundreds of parents and grandparents have done, we have watched our grandson play football since the fourth grade – beginning with flag football.  The love of the game carried him through the rest of his middle school and high school years, finishing this season as a senior.  Fortunately, the only serious injury he received was a concussion in the seventh grade.  From then on, we, as so many others, were concerned that this might happen again.  Thankfully, it didn’t.  He enjoyed the years of playing with his classmates, some of whom had aspirations to play college ball.  High school students may need that scholarship in order to enroll in college and friends and fans alike support them in attaining that goal.  We sometimes don’t realize how many of those youngsters are under pressure to get it. 

College teams earn a lot of money for their schools, through ticket sales and college gear, shirts, etc.  Those whose records make them fortunate to make a bowl game will earn even more money for their school.  There is truly a spirit of comradery between team members, playing for the glory of their school, as well as being noticed by pro scouts.

The main attraction in professional sports is, of course, the huge paycheck that they earn.  It is amazing the amount of money that football, basketball, and other pro atheletes make.  Fans buy their gear and pay large sums of money for tickets to see them play in person.  Advertisements on television also draw attention to their team.  By the way, Texas America Safety has all the great team sports hardhats, for wearing to the games and work, to show your support of your favorite team, either professional or NCAA.

The more serious side of playing football, at all levels, but especially professional, is the risk of injury.  In glancing over the NFL Injury List for Week 17, it is amazing the amount of injured players that are questionable to play this week.  Ranging from eye, jaw, collarbone, shoulder, neck, concussion, and chest injuries, the list continues to include wrist, elbow, back, abdomen, finger, hand,  quadriceps, biceps, groin, hamstring, knee, achilles, thigh, ankle, shin, to toe injuries.  Also on the list were those who were not playing because of illness.  It’s easy to see how busy trainers and physicians are, trying to get their players back on the field.

There are many professional players who are now seeing their young sons wanting to play the game.  One pro was on the news the other day, who said at first, he wasn’t going to let him play; however, because the child wanted to play so badly, he would let him.  There was one catch: he would help coach the team.  He stated that it was very important that young players learn the right way to play, in order to avoid those injuries.  Concussions are being scrutinized more than ever, due to the number of past players who suffered numerous concussions, resulting in brain damage.

Protective gear is so important is all sports: whether it is eye protection. knee pads, or padding and helmets, schools owe it to their students to provide the best possible gear to keep their players safe.

We wish all those college teams and professionals who make the play-offs the best of luck, and injury-free games.  They provide much pleasure for fans who love to see them give it their all.

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

GET AN INFRARED ROOF INSPECTION TO ENSURE PERFECTION (GUEST POST)

 Whether you have a residential or a commercial property, ensuring that your roof stays healthy and dry is critical to the structural soundness and value of your property. Unfortunately, roofs are not always easy to access, nor are they always safe. With infrared roof inspections, however, you can get accurate answers quickly without doing any probing or causing any damage to your property. 

An infrared roof inspection is a diagnostic technology that can be performed on its own or as part of a comprehensive building envelope survey, which is a thorough visual inspection of the entire exterior of a building. Much like building envelope surveys, infrared roof inspections are ideal for detecting moisture and giving a general idea of the current condition of the roof. 

How Does an Infrared Roof Inspection Work? 

Basically, in an infrared roof inspection, a thermal imaging camera (or infrared camera) is used to detect and record heat differences in the roof with the general goal of identifying any water that may have leaked under the roofing material and made its way into the building.

Because wet materials have a higher mass, they retain the sun’s heat longer. Meanwhile, dry materials have a lower mass, so they cool more quickly. Any abnormal or inconsistent temperatures recorded during the inspection are indicative of a problem, and they signal to you that the area should be inspected in greater detail.  Thermal imaging technology is convenient as it can help you find hidden defects that a traditional roof inspection cannot. 

Benefits of Infrared Roof Inspections 

Infrared inspections are now the industry standard for detecting water and moisture intrusion not just because of their convenience, but also for a number of other reasons. Outlined below are some of the main benefits of infrared roof inspections:

  • Infrared inspections are non-invasive and non-destructive, so you don’t have to cut holes in your walls or probe your roof with special devices. This saves your invaluable time and money.  
  • Infrared roof inspections facilitate early detection of, and early intervention with, potential problems. Getting your roof inspected regularly (e.g. once a year) allows you to identify any existing or potential problems early on, thereby preventing costly damage and extra costs associated with repairs. Infrared roof inspections are a huge part of the preventive maintenance of a building.
  • Thermal imaging inspections are cost effective because they’re much quicker, easier and more accurate than their traditional counterparts. Thus, they save you time and money. They are a small investment that leads to big savings. Think about it this way—would you rather pay a couple hundred dollars for a roof inspection now or a couple thousand dollars in repairs later on?
  • Infrared inspections of your roof can help you prioritize and plan repairs and upgrades.

Last but not least, infrared roof inspections can reveal a number of hidden issues with both your roof and your property as a whole. Here are just a few:

-Moisture intrusion
-Energy efficiency problems (heat loss)
-Poor insulation
-Roof leaks
-Missing or damaged shingles
-Structural issues such as a cracked chimney
-Faulty electrical work
-Leaky plumbing

Roof inspections are especially important for buildings that have a flat or low-sloped roof because water tends to accumulate at the top with no place to drain to. This can lead to moisture intrusion, degradation of foundation, mold growth, and many more headaches. 

It’s important to take care of your roof because it’s a vital part of your building’s structure. Ignoring a problem just because you can’t see it is foolish and will lead to bigger problems down the road. Infrared roof inspections are an affordable and effective way to avoid these kinds of problems, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get one for your home or office building. You can always contact the certified thermographers at InfraScan for any questions you have about thermal imaging or infrared roof inspections.

Srdjan is working for InfraScan.ca, specialized company for thermal imaging and infrared inspection.  Currently living in Ottawa, his motto is that good life is a healthy life.

General Safety Issues

A TRIBUTE TO HOLIDAY WORKERS

In the past, I have always thought of those workers whose jobs require that someone is on the job every day of the year.  There are benefits to working holidays, and many employees are happy to work and earn extra pay.  Some even volunteer to work so a co-worker can be off.  There are several types of work that this applies to, and here are some of them; maybe you will think of others:

  • Law Enforcement.  Prisons must be staffed 24/7, so correction officers and jailers must be there.  Also, police, sheriff officers, and of course, our State Troopers are out in full force, reminding us (by their presence)  to drive safely and observe the speed limit.
  • Nuclear Power Reactor Operators.  These require near-constant surveillance, and must be attended to.  They boast an exceptional safety record.
  • Electric power line and gas repairmen.  If your power goes out any day, you expect someone to answer the call.
  • Medical personnel.  We all know that illness and accidents never take a day off.  This requires staffing at hospitals, nurses, doctors on call, and emergency response teams to be on stand-by. 
  • How about telecommunication equipment repairers?  They may get called out in case of a shut-down emergency, and must have someone to respond.
  • Travel.  We take for granted that airplanes, air traffic controllers, pilots, and staff are flying every day to get us from Point A to Point B.  This includes luggage handlers, screaners, ticket operations, etc.  Trains don’t stop for Christmas, either.  Their conductors and yardmasters still must show up for work.  Buses make their usual runs, as well.
  • Water and wastewater treatment plant and systems operators are working around the clock to ensure that we have clean water.  Because this is non-stop, someone always has to be operating the system, even on holidays.
  • Our firefighters.  Fireworks are plentiful during holidays,  always causing the threat of fire.  Adding fuel to the fire is the possibility of someone “frying the turkey”, and having an accident.  Christmas trees and candles are also fire hazards.  But you can count on your fire department to be there day or night, any day of the year.
  • Last, but not ever least, the military.  They are ready 24/7.  Let’s hope for a more peaceful new year for the world, especially our troops.

There are many businesses that operate 365 days per year – hotels, restaurants, etc.  Travelers would find it hard to have successful journeys without their services.

We wish everyone, at home or work during these holidays, a very Happy Holiday Season.  Stay safe.

General Safety Issues

DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s theme this year is a warning to all drivers to drive sober at all times, especially through the holiday season.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Association , MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and the Governors Highway Safety Association are all supporting this campaign.  Local law enforcement agencies are also involved. 

Every day, no matter where you live, you see news reports of persons being involved in DWI crashes.  Regardless of the age of the driver, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland stated, “It is unacceptable and downright offensive that anyone would get behind the wheel drunk, let along have twice the limit of alcohol in their body.”  

Deaths resulting from crashes involving drunk drivers increased last year by 4.6 per cent, costing 10,322 lives – compared to 9.8658 in 2011.  The majority of drivers who were involved in those crashes had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher.  This is almost double the legal limit.  Eight hundred and thirty persons were killed during last year’s holiday because of drunk driving crashes. 

It is a known fact that drunk driving is often a symptom of a larger problem: alcohol misuse and abuse. The more than 10,000 persons who died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2012 account for one person every 51 seconds!  The cost of alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes totals an estimated $37 billion every year.  And those costs don’t account for the devastation caused to families whose loved ones are victims.

Before you take that holiday trip, think about defensive driving more than ever.  Your family could be the victims of a drunk driver.  Watch for swerving or any other suspicious driving antics that could endanger others.  Call 9-1-1 and report your suspicions to law enforcement. 

This crackdown campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” began December 13 and is enforced through the New Year’s holiday.  Over $7.5 million dollars have been spent for public advertising to raise awareness and support law enforcement activities in every state in an effort to reduce drunk driving deaths.  This message will be featured in a new public service announcement featuring MGM Pictures/Columbia Pictures’ RoboCop, in theaters February 12, 2014. 

This year, let’s lower those statistics by being more careful and watching out for the other guy.  If you plan to indulge in alcoholic beverages during parties, be sure you have a designated driver, or get someone to call a cab for you.  Do not attempt to drive your vehicle.  Don’t spoil someone else’s holiday.

Source: NHTSA

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

ADVICE FOR ARMCHAIR COACHES DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Since so many are “enjoying”this hectic time of the year, it’s a good opportunity for me to offer good advice for those hard-working guys who will have some time off to enjoy their favorite (non-Christmas) activity.  Football! 

My husband is a seasoned armchair coach, having 54-plus years of experience.  (At least that’s how long I have witnessed it.)  He has given advice to all the professional coaches, as well as college coaches.   I am so thankful they can’t hear some of that advice.  There are probably a lot of wives out there who know what I am talking about. 

Not everyone enjoys football; some had rather be outdoors playing golf,  hunting, riding motorcycles, and there are those who enjoy readding a book.  And what family doesn’t enjoy gathering around the table to play games?  But for those seasoned veterans of viewing the gridiron, here are some useful tips: 

  • Get your guide for all the games and place it on your table by your comfy recliner, so you’ll know every channel you need to switch to.  (Thanks to PIP, it’s possible to keep up with more than one game.)
  • Take some snacks along so your wife can do all the other Christmas baking, preparations, etc. (Please don’t ask her to wait on you, she’s not your trainer.)
  • About those snacks: make them healthy, like carrot sticks and celery!
  • Use the time-outs for break time.  That way you won’t miss a single down!
  • Don’t get too upset if your team goofs up (watch your blood pressure.)
  • Be thoughtful;  watch a few parades with the family, while you dream about the next game coming up.
  • Try getting a little exercise in-between bowl games.  Walk around the house – stay mobile so you won’t stiffen up before you have to go back to work! 

If you are really into supporting your team, check out the NCAA and NFL team hardhats at Texas America Safety Company.  You can show your co-workers just how you feel.  We also have all types of hardhats that support NHL, NASCAR, NBA, and NCAA basketball, as well as patriotic ones and pink ones for the ladies. (Don’t forget to mention the 5% discount that you read about it on Blog4Safety.)

While you have the time off to relax from work, enjoy your holidays and don’t drink and drive, don’t text and drive.  Be thankful for your family and friends, and make every day count.  There’s still more football ahead!

Back Safety, Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

AT WORK: DO YOU REALLY CONSIDER HOW YOU SIT? (GUEST POST)

Modern society is plagued by a new culture that is ruining lives and is forcing people into healthcare. It is not something we can easily get away from. As early as attending school, we are to sit for prolonged periods of the day, and more so for a majority of people when we leave education and move into full-time employment. 

Our sitting culture is growing rapidly. We used to walk to school or work, but long commutes hinder this form of travel and we resort to sitting in a car or on public transport to take us to our destination, for us to then sit down some more until we have to go home. 

70% of people in the UK surfer from back pain at some point or another in our lives which equates to £12.3 billion a year, a figure that is increasingly on the rise. 

A recent survey conducted by Pfizer (World’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company) revealed that 50% of people between the ages of 18-34 complained of back pain and of that 50%, 25% said that it affected their ability to work.

“This is hugely in excess of what you would expect in this age bracket” says Sean McDougall, from Backcare, the charity for healthier backs. 

Another survey produced by CBI entitled “Absence and workplace health survey 2013” found that minor illnesses are the most common cause of short-term absence, with back problems a major feature in this category. 

“with over a third of employers (37%) reporting acute back pain as a leading cause of absence among manual workers and more than a quarter (28%) among non-manual employees” (CBI, 2013). 

But with all this in mind, trying to avoid sitting down can be a challenge to many of us. However, not everything is all doom and gloom. There are many techniques that can be used to help us relieve the stress on the base of our spine which anyone can incorporate into their everyday lives. 

Follow our five tips and see if you too can feel the difference 

1.       Invest in an Ergonomic Chair 

Having an ergonomic chair that helps promote good posture can be extremely beneficial, especially to office workers whose majority of the day is spent sitting down. An ergonomic office chair can provide superior lumbar support to its user compared with any other chair that hasn’t been built with ergonomics in mind. There is no style of chair that has been named ‘best’ as everyone is different. This is why a good ergonomic chair comes with an array of features to help support individuals in a way that they feel best. This includes adjustable seat height, lumbar support, seat width, chair tilt and armrests. 

2.       Use The 30/30 Rule 

There are many variations on this rule which in turn change the name of the rule, but we like to go with the 30/30 rule. This means you should get up for 30 seconds every 30 minutes to help give your body a chance to recover. Our body isn’t designed to sit still for long periods of time, even when sitting in a correct position. Taking regular breaks for even as little as 30 seconds can help relieve the pressure on your spine, and ultimately work towards preventing a back-pain free life. 

3.       Correctly Setup Your Workstation 

Before sitting down in your lovely new ergonomic chair, setting up your workstation properly is vitally important. Your workstation is where many of you will be during the office hours, and it is yours to adjust depending on your needs.

Be sure to sit closely to your keyboard, making sure that the keys are centred with your body. You do not want to be so far away from your keyboard that you have to stretch to hit the keys. If you do like to use your chair to slightly recline, take full advantage of any adjustments that can be made to your keyboard so you can put a slight tilt on it.

Your monitor or reference documents positions are also important items for you to consider also.  Position the top of your monitor directly in front of you with the top of the monitor 2-3” above your seated eye level. 

4.       Plant Your Feet 

Planting your feet firmly on the ground so that you allow your hips and knees to be at a 90-degree angle is very important while your sit. By not doing this you expose yourself to a tingling sensation, numbness and even pain in either your thigh, or lower leg due to the excessive pressure on the back of the thigh which compresses the sciatic nerve.

If you are having trouble planting your feet on the floor in a comfortable position, consider using a footrest to help you achieve that 90-degree angle. 

5.       Stretch 

Stretching is not only important to help release some of that muscle tension, but it also feels great! You can stretch while seated, or incorporate it into your 30/30 breaks. Remember to stretch your shoulders, neck, arms, legs and wrists. By doing this regularly throughout the day you will feel a lot better and a lot less tired. 

Conclusion 

Many of us may not have even considered how we sit as we feel ok at the time. But health complications from sitting in a poor position can creep up on us when we least expect it. By adopting the 5 tips above into your working life, you too can feel the benefits of consciously sitting correctly.

 

Author bio: This guest post is brought to you by ChairOffice.co.uk, the UK’s leading office chair supplier.  Our thanks to Matt Pierce. pb

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

HOW TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT WORK (GUEST POST)

People often talk about safety for motorcyclists, as there are plenty of roadside accidents that result in deaths of riders all over the world. There is no doubt that this is a serious issue and needs to be addressed in the most appropriate manner. However, there are some other fields where there is plenty of risk involved and they need to be taken care of as well.

One area where safety standards need an improvement is the workplace that involves dangerous equipment and heavy machinery. The employees working in such industries are always at a risk of losing their lives, so they need to be protected. No matter how tough you are, things can go terribly wrong for you if an object hits your head near a construction site or you get trapped inside a mine.

Just like some motorcycle products provided by stores such as Riderwear, there are some top quality companies developing safety equipment like helmets, gloves and goggles etc for employees at a dangerous workplace. It is the responsibility of the employers to provide such products to the workers, so that things continue working smoothly and there is minimum danger involved.

As an employer, there are quite a few steps that can be taken to ensure safety at workplace. Some of the most useful tips are as follows.

Be proactive

First of all, you need to be proactive and think of some innovative steps in order to make your workers feel safer. It is not ideal to wait for any bad incident to happen and then react. Therefore, you should assess the dangers involved in your industry; look at some mishaps that occurred in similar industries and find out what solutions are being used by other organizations in order to make the workplace safer. 

Warning Signs

Some of the employees might be new to the office and there is every chance that they end up in trouble. Therefore, it is always best to post warning signs alongside every machine or at every possible area where there is some danger involved. This way, the employee will himself take preventive action or will get assistance from a senior member. 

Protective Equipment

Next thing is to have the protective equipment provided to all of the staff. Not only do you have to make it available, ensure that each employee is fully geared up during the working hours. This should be mandatory for the workers otherwise they should be fined or given warnings. 

Skilled Personnel

Although inducting fresh workers is always a good idea, you should work according to the nature of your business. In case there are complex machines and hazardous products at the workplace, you should get skilled personnel if possible, rather than fresh ones, who are vulnerable to getting injured because of their lack of knowledge. 

Get Help

In case you are confused over something, try getting help from your seniors rather than going for experimentation. Things like these can put your safety under threat and even if you come out of the situation unhurt, you could lose your job. 

Written and contributed by Nicolle Suzan.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

WINTER YARD MAINTENANCE TIPS (GUEST POST)

 


Something that isn’t in use is bound to go unnoticed and off the care that one usually does for it on a regular basis. The most apt example for this is going to be your lawn in the winter season. Since its too cold and mostly snow covered, there isn’t much that you do about it. Rather, you feel it is about OK to let it stay that way.  But hygiene isn’t always about what meets the eye. Not caring for your lawn and keep up with its upkeep may infest disease prone areas in there and also ruin your lawn. Read on to understand how you can manage the winter lawn for best possible results. 

1. The Regular Clean Up 

Cleaning your yard or lawn is of supreme importance. If you leave random things like toys or do not pick up the leaves and debris off it, it becomes prone to creating a breeding ground for diseases and infections. There is a lot that can pose as infection carrier, if not cleaned up on time. The toys may bring along dirt which attract insects and thus infections. Also, in the case when the regular cleaning does not take place, rodents and mice are bound to roam around. If they do get around your lawn, it won’t take them much time before they find ways to enter the home too. Enough to scare you already? 

2. Mowing your grass right 

Before packing up for the season, mow your grass a little more than you usually mow it. Keep it shorter than the usual by lowering the height of your mowing machine by an inch or a half. If your grass remains to be long, it is going to smother itself and infest diseases. Also, it may pose danger for its growth once the winter season is gone because of the consequential damage that it has met with because of the chill and thawing. 

3. Judge the climatic conditions



Turf is known for its ability to stand extreme winter conditions. Yet still one must not completely rely on it. In case there is a snow storm predicted, you might want to chip off a little ice. This is just a preventive measure for the grass to stay fine. It does have a lot of resistance but its better to keep things safe than to regret later. 

4. Analyze and keep yourself updated on the traffic 

The amounts that your grass is going to grow is also dependent on the season and whether conditions. Analyze how much grass grows in a specific season and sow and mow accordingly. Winters make their growth dormant and thus the traffic is rather low. 

Also, make sure you do all the clean up and management before the snow sets on the turf. It isn’t advisable to do anything to the wet and frosty grass. It may worsen the situation. Scarification, aeration and moss control are some of the techniques or treatments for treating turf that has gone bad because of the detrimental effects of winters and snow.

Written By: 

Katie Gomez is a geek by the day and a party woman by the night. She teaches how to make a website in a design institute and blogs about ways to keep up with changing SEO trends on her personal website. On the side, she mentions that she loves the tequilla.

When one is working in the yard, especially mowing, winter or summer, it’s a good idea to wear a dust mask and some goggles in order to prevent all types of dust, grass, and other debris to cause injury. pb

 

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

FIVE BASIC ELECTRICAL DO’S AND DON’T’S (GUEST POST)

Electrons are whirling about us everywhere these days, and these sensitive little particles can easily cause mayhem when they are allowed to escape their circuits. Knowing a few basic rules for handling electrical devices and performing any work on or around them is essential for keeping both individuals and the equipment in working order.

1.      Check your gear.

Whether it’s your first time or your thousandth time working on electrical gear, everything comes down to your gear. The word of the day here is “insulation”. All of your tools should be checked to make sure all their resistant materials are free from cuts and tears that might expose the conductive metals usually hidden underneath. This is especially important for items you are more likely to use when dealing with more dangerous circuits, such as heavy rubber gloves, mats, and boots.

2.      Plan twice, act once.

A fair amount of electrical work needs to be done on live circuits. After all, you can’t measure how electricity is flowing through the circuit if there are no electrons running through it. This creates a potential for both personal harm and destruction of equipment if you short the circuit. Whenever you are taking measurements or working on a live electrical device, you should check your schematics, check the device, and repeat before performing any work. The same goes for any actions you take while working that do not directly relate to the circuit; one common mistake is resting a hand on the circuit while reaching for another tool or item and creating a short to ground through your body.

3.      Bring a friend.

Whether working on a small device or a high voltage beast, an extra pair of hands and eyes will come in handy. Most importantly, when working with dangerous voltages, it may be up to the support to shut off the power. They can also serve as “navigators” by looking over schematics and cutting down on the time it takes to perform the tasks without sacrificing safety. Also, be willing to perform the same service for any of your coworkers or friends, as the Golden Rule would have you do.

4.      Don’t forget about capacitors and oscillating circuits.

Capacitors and oscillating circuits can hold more than enough charge to cause damage, and not every capacitor is designed with paths through which they can bleed out their energy. Take the time to make sure that there are no capacitors hidden inside without a discharge path, and review the proper steps for dying out capacitors if there are some in the way.

 5.      Never lose respect for electricity.

After a while of working on electrical devices, it can be easy to experience a fading of concern towards the danger they represent. A small shock can be fatal under the right conditions, and it is always possible to destroy what you are trying to save by not taking proper electrical safety precautions. If it has been a while since you last read them or worked on an electrical device, review a more detailed list of these procedures to make sure they are at the forefront of your mind. 

Stay Safe!  Every detail matters where safety is concerned. Never disregard any safety tips out of hand, and make sure to read as much as you can to make sure you get to go back to your family at the end of the day. 

This guest post is contributed by Rebecca Gray, who writes for Backgroundchecks.org. She welcomes your comments at her email id: GrayRebecca14@gmail.com.