All posts by pat brownlee

General Safety Issues

RELOCATING: LOAD SAFETY (GUEST POST)

 Securing each and every load during a relocation may sometimes seem excessive, and even a waste of time, especially if you think the load is too big to move about much or too small to do any damage if it does! But in reality any load can slip and slide, and relying on friction alone can be hugely detrimental, not just to the load and the driver of the transport vehicle, but to all other road users and pedestrians too. 

Any load can be subjected to sudden breaking, a tight corner, or abrupt change of direction which can force the load to move about inside the vehicle. At best, this could cause damage to the load, and at worst cause the vehicle to tip or the driver to lose control. 

Drivers of commercial vehicles are considered to have one of the riskiest occupations in the UK, and this applies to removals drivers. But it’s important to remember that nearly all accidents involving unbalanced loads and overturned transport vehicles can be avoided with correct and safe loading.

That’s why the incorrect or unsafe loading of a vehicle has been deemed a serious offence under the Road Traffic Act 1991, in order to protect everyone involved, from the people that load and unload the vehicle and the driver to other road users and pedestrians. This has resulted in about 4000 prosecutions every year for unsafe loads. 

The Health and Safety executive have recommended the Department of Transport’s Code of Practice as guidance to safe loading. The ‘Safety of Loads on Vehicles’ (3rd Edition) covers a wide variety of goods transportation issues, such as dangerous good, palletised goods and ferry operations, which are unlikely to be relevant to a simple home removals company, but many aspects are still applicable to the moving industry. 

Risk Assessments 

The Code of Practice emphasises the importance of a risk assessment, or a basic safety checklist to ensure that every risk is considered and guarded against. A basic safety checklist should be completed before every move and should be carried out by fully trained staff to ensure it is done legally and sufficiently. 

Principles of Load Safety 

The principles of load safety are fairly simple. The load should be: 

Restrained – tied firmly down to the bed of the vehicle

Contained – so it can’t shift about inside the vehicle 

A vehicle changing direction, such as at a roundabout or corner, or breaking, will cause any load to shift if it is not properly secured. As such, all loads should be restrained to hold sufficient weight in any direction. 

It’s also essential that the vehicle used to transport the load has adequate strength to carry the required weight. 

The arrangement of the load is vital to its safety and there are a few guidelines that will always be relevant to loading:

  • The load should always be evenly spread in the vehicle
  • Larger, heavier items should be at the bottom, with lighter, smaller items at the top
  • Heavier items should also be nearer the middle, to spread the weight evenly
  • Adequate load securing equipment should be used at all time, including clamps, steel wire, chains, webbing harnesses, sheets and ropes

Clockwork Removals

The team at Clockwork Removals London take load safety very seriously, so you can be sure that all of your belongings will be transported securely and arrive at your new home or commercial property in perfect condition. For any more information about how we secure your belongings during transit, contact us today!

Our thanks to Ian Humphries for these transportation tips!

Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

AVOIDING UNNECESSARY INJURIES IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Workplace injuries have been greatly reduced in the past few decades. According to OSHA, since 1972, worker injuries and illnesses have dropped from 11 incidents per 100 workers to fewer than 4 per 100 in 2010. This is a tremendous increase in workplace safety, but there is still room for improvement. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics this still equates to nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. In 2012, over 4,300 individuals were killed on the job.

The burden for keeping the workplace safe rests with the employer. They are responsible for meeting or exceeding the guidelines set out by OSHA. Even though a business may not be involved in an inherently dangerous industry, every job comes with its own set of particular hazards. Some common workplace hazards include:

  •          Transportation accidents
  •          Workplace violence
  •          Slipping and falling
  •          Repetitive motion and ergonomic injuries

This is hardly an exhaustive list. What matters is that each business should take into account which hazards are most likely to pose a threat to its employees and take actions to mitigate them. Not all accidents are avoidable, but with planning even many of these risks can be forestalled.

One of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities isn’t even tied directly to the jobsite. It involves the commute getting there. Driving accidents are a major source of injury and death. Fortunately, their causes can be abated. The culprits behind workplace driving accidents are often over work, cell phone usage, and sleep deprivation. A solution for this is to make employee’s work hours regular and predictable. Instituting safe cell phone usage policies will also help reduce accidents and fatalities.

Another cause of workplace injury is violence. We often hear of disgruntled employees with guns shooting their co-workers, but this is a statistically small percentage of workplace related violence. The vast majority of workplace violence, nearly three quarters, is attributed to robbery. Employers should take this into consideration, especially where employees are transporting money for the company.

Factors employees should look into include where employees are handling money, where they are interacting with the public, or when they are working alone or late at night. Making sure the area around the workplace is well lit and monitored by security cameras is a good deterrent.

Slips and falls are another major cause of workplace injury and death, especially in the fields of construction and landscaping. However, slips and falls are also attributed to cluttered or unkempt workplaces. Keeping floors clear of cords, paper, etc. and cleaning up spills immediately will greatly reduce the chance employees will be injured from slips and falls.

The most non-fatal cause of workplace injury is repetitive motion or ergonomic injury. These injuries affect employees across a wide range of industries from office environments to manufacturing. These injuries often cause chronic conditions which don’t easily heal, therefore they result in more lost work time.

Not all workplace injuries can be avoided. However, they can be greatly reduced through employee education and awareness. If you or someone you know has been injured at work and believe the employer is at fault, you may want to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer that can help determine if the accident was preventable.

Emilee Atteberry is in her last year of law school and enjoys writing on a variety of law topics. She is particularly interested in personal injury law and currently writes for http://www.peachweathers.com/.

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

EASY HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Regardless of the type of industry you work in, whether it is construction, manufacturing or energy, it is extremely important that you adhere to any health and safety rules in the workplace. If you fail to follow the health and safety guidelines  in operation, you may find that you inadvertently put yourself, and those around you, at risk. To ensure  you are taking  safety seriously, and protecting those around you,  we recommend you follow these five simple tips:

Slips, Trips and Falls

Regardless of the environment you work in, you need to be conscious of any potential slips and trips that can occur. To avoid a fall at work, you should ensure that all employees have had relevant training, explaining how best to avoid any accidents in the workplace. For example, ensuring all equipment is returned after use, can prevent anyone from tripping over it. It is also important that all employees know not to ignore a spillage or hazard.

Heavy Goods and Lifting

If you work in an industry which requires you to constantly move products from one place from another, you should always ensure you are comfortable with the weight you are carrying. Currently there are restrictions in place, as to what a single person should legally be carrying, these regulations aim to protect employees from being expected to carry something that is too heavy for them. If you believe that an item is too heavy to be carried safely, you should use the appropriate lifting gear available, helping to prevent a heavy lifting injury.

Personal Protective Clothing

If you work in a hazardous environment, or you are operating dangerous machinery, you should always ensure that you are wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Clothing (PPE). Even if you are only going to be working for a short period of time, it is essential that you, and your fellow employees, are always protected.

Wiring

Most work places will have a high volume of wires to contend  with. It is extremely important that all wires are maintained, and organized, in a manner that will prevent employees and visitors from tripping over them. If  a little time is regularly dedicated to tidying and maintaining wires, you will find that any issues are quickly resolved. When setting up new equipment, or machinery, you should make certain that all wires are kept to the edge of a room, and that they are firmly fixed in place.  Such measures will ensure they cannot move, avoiding the potential for a hazard to develop.

Fire Hazards

In any workplace fires are extremely dangerous, and can be devastating. With this in mind, you should prioritise  protecting your workplace; making sure all employees are vigilant. It is crucial that you clearly explain and display fire procedures, making sure they are understood, in case of an emergency.  You should also test and service all fire alarms and fire extinguishers on regular basis, so you know they will work correctly if they are ever required. 

Asons Solicitors suggest that if someone would like to learn more about health and safety claims process, such information is available at www.asons.co.uk, or via an expert helpline on 01204 521 133 

About Asons Solicitors:

Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again. 

For further information contact:

Email: info@asons.co.uk; Website: www.asons.co.uk

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

PREVENTING ILLNESS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Employee absenteeism is one of the major drains on organizational performance, with the flu costing U.S. businesses over $10.4b a year alone. In Britain, it is estimated that workers take almost double the number of sick days than the U.S., according to research by professional services firm, PwC.

Richard Phelps, HR consulting partner at PwC said, “With sickness accounting for the lion’s share of absence, the question for employers is what can be done to improve health, morale and motivation.”

While some of this can be attributed to employees taking “sickies” – days off taken despite being well and able to come to work – it can also be attributed to greater rates of illness. Sickness generally accounts for around 80% of absence, which also includes jury service and compassionate leave:

“You need clear policies in place to make it less appealing for people to take unwarranted leave, while protecting those people with genuine illness,” added Phelps.

In many circumstances, illness is picked up from the workplace, with members of staff passing on germs as a result of being in close proximity to their colleagues. 

To reduce the likelihood of contamination, your workplace can take a number of steps to prevent illness from spreading:

Step One: Identify sources of germs

Most cold and flu symptoms are passed directly from person-to-person through coughs and sneezes, which become air borne and inhaled. They can also be passed from hands to objects like telephones, computer mice, equipment and machinery handles, photocopy machines, door handles or desks.

Step Two: Reduce the spread of germs

You can stop germs from spreading by making staff more responsible for their daily behaviour. As a general rule, ask staff to wash their hands after using the toilet, smoking or eating, using an antibacterial soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Staff with colds should avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, as this will increase the spread of germs. They should also cough or sneeze into tissue paper, covering their nose and mouth, before cleaning their hands.

Encourage your employees to clean their desks and personal items with disinfection wipes, particularly if they have recently been unwell.

Step Three: Clean areas which house bacteria

Kitchen

Workplace kitchens are a hive for bacteria so ensure that staff clean up after themselves when preparing food. Ensure that chopping boards, surfaces and utensils are washed with hot water and washing up liquid, particularly if they have been used for raw meats or fish.

Leftover food should be covered and put in the fridge, which should be monitored and cleaned out regularly; any leading brand of general purpose cleaner can be effective here – sites like Amazon.com stock a broad range of high-quality equipment.

Toilet

Toilets are another hive for bacteria and staff should be encouraged to keep them clean and tidy. Your cleaner should wash the floor and bowl with a disinfectant or general purpose cleaner, but also encourage staff to clean up their drips and spills and wash their hands after each visit.

You can visit clickcleaning.co.uk for a full range of high-quality cleaning products.

Step Four: Encourage sick staff to go home

Encourage staff with viruses to go home; having one member of staff off sick for two days is better than three members of staff being away for a total of six days.

If staff insist on working, let them work from home; otherwise encourage them to think carefully about how they interact with other team members, so to avoid cross-contamination.

Step Five: Encourage staff to practise healthy habits

Staff can avoid picking up viruses by leading healthy lifestyles, which means:

  • Getting plenty of sleep
  • Keeping physically active
  • Eating a balanced diet with a multivitamin
  • Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water
  • Doing meditation or yoga
  • Drinking minimal alcohol or caffeine

Workplaces are shared environments, which mean responsibility for your wellbeing is collective too; encourage staff to keep your environment clean and germ-free and you will benefit from lower absenteeism and higher organizational productivity.

Author: Kate Southgate

 

General Safety Issues

WEARING YOUR INTERNET SEATBELT: HOW TO SURF SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

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Safety has occupied a continually increasing spot in the almost all aspects of our lives. We now have cars with a dozen air bags and sensors on all sides that indicate when an accident is imminent. It’s become so important to us in our driving lives, but why not in our digital lives? Why don’t more people nowadays know how to keep their computer and identity safe on the internet? 

The Internet Is a Dangerous Place 

Most internet surfers have no idea what potential dangers await them in the depths of the online world. It’s a large expanse full of all types of menacing creatures: spammers, hackers, and identity thieves. Being caught off guard online can cause you some serious harm. The least of your worries is that a virus or adware infects your system, but the greatest threats come from spyware.

 If spyware makes it onto your computer, it could easily scrape your credit card numbers from web forms that you fill out. After this, your card’s information will be sold on a black market chatroom. Once it’s in the hands of your new friend, they will try to rack up as much of a bill on it as they can before you or your bank notices. In even more extreme cases, hackers can use spyware to steal your identity and open new lines of credit in your name. While malware can ruin your computer system, spyware has the potential to cost you much more. Many lives have been ruined by it. 

Safe Technology You Must Have 

You need to have a firewall, and it needs to be enabled. Most users already have one, but sometimes, they disable it in order to allow certain programs to function. Don’t ever do this. Instead, go into your firewall settings and give a program special approval to bypass the firewall. Always keep your firewall active. 

You must have a good antivirus program as well. This will regularly scan your computer for trojans, viruses, and other kinds of malware and spyware. It’s an incredibly important tool in the war on the dangers of the digital world, and you don’t have to spend big bucks for it either. Many people are surprised to learn that there are several free antiviruses available. Don’t let their lack of a price tag discourage you. They are robust, and if you can’t afford a more premium version, one of those free programs will be more than enough for you. 

Safe Practices To Follow 

Some of the best practices for internet safety should come as common sense. If anyone emails you claiming to be the prince of Nigeria and asking for any kind of financial transaction, send it straight to the trash bin. This might seem so obvious that it doesn’t even merit mentioning, but there’s a reason these spammers continue to do this. It’s because it, surprisingly, works on some people. Sometimes scammers are a bit more clever though. They might try to disguise themselves as a bank or other official institution. Always be careful about giving out your information through email, even you are corresponding with what seems like a legitimate organization. 

You always have to exercise extreme caution with the sites you visit, especially when you’re at work. Don’t give your information to any site that you don’t trust, but beware of phishing as well. That’s when an illegitimate site is disguised as an official one. This is often used with social networking sites like Facebook in an effort to get your profile’s password and spam your friends with advertising links. 

The digital world is full of dangers, and most of its citizens don’t even know it. Their computer can be ruined as a result, or their identity and money could be stolen. At any given moment, you are only a few clicks away from the digital equivalent of being in a dark alley surrounded by thugs. Take the proper precautions and follow best practices. Don’t be the next victim to fall prey to armchair hackers and internet thieves. 

Author bio

This is a guest post by Marianne Ross, a freelance writer mostly blogging about tech&gadgets. Marianne is currently working on behalf of 1&1 Internet, complex tech company where you can find more information about how to make a website safely on your own.

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

SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN THE WORKPLACE: KNOWING THE RULES WHEN WORKING WITH DANGEROUS MACHINERY (GUEST POST)

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Compliance with health and safety regulations will not only help protect you, the employer, from liability concerns but will also help keep your workers safe and machines in good working order.

The Workplace Regulations 1992 cover the majority of health and safety issues that can occur in the workplace.  These regulations are split up into three different sections: health, safety and welfare. Each of these sections is especially relevant to a workplace where dangerous machinery is used on a daily basis. 

Health 

This section relates to ensuring that your workplace isn’t set up in a way that will give your employees health issues in the short or long term.  Referring to specific key areas, here is a rundown of how the regulations apply to working with dangerous machinery:

Ventilation:

When materials are cut noxious gases or fine dust particles are often given off. This can lead to lung problems if your workers are exposed to this without adequate ventilation.   Installing mechanical ventilation will ensure that there is a supply of fresh air. Windows may provide enough ventilation, but well maintained mechanical ventilation will always be more efficient. 

Temperature:

Ambient temperature can be affected by machinery running in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have air conditioning then temperatures can become too uncomfortable to work in.  Temperature also refers to humidity in the workplace.  Having your workplace at an uncomfortable temperature can lead to stress and loss of concentration. This is especially relevant if your employees are working with machinery as any mistakes can lead to accidents. 

Lighting:

Your workspace should be contain adequate lighting. This is especially important for workspaces using machinery. safety precautions should also be in place incase of sudden loss of light. this means that backup systems are a must if sudden loss of light could lead to accidents.

Cleanliness:

Workspaces should be kept clear of rubbish that could pose a tripping hazard or fire risk. Provide an appropriate means of waste disposal and ensure it is removed regularly. 

Safety 

This second section deals with day to day measures that must be put into place in order to protect the wellbeing of employees. The headings that safety regulations deal with are: 

Equipment Maintenance:

Keeping your machinery well maintained will help prevent accidents that arise from faults and breakages. Likewise, keeping your devices such ventilation systems in good order will help prevent complications from arising further down the line. 

Floor Traffic:

Keeping the areas of your workplace which encounter high foot traffic clear of tripping hazards is very important. This is especially important for workers who are using machinery as a trip or fall can result in serious accidents. 

Windows:

When windows in the workplace are open, they shouldn’t pose as risk to anyone.



Welfare

The welfare aspect of health and safety compliance in the workplace relates directly to the conditions experienced by employees and maintaining their mental and physical health.  Your workplace is only as efficient as the people who are running it, and ensuring your employees are in good health will enable them to focus more and work more efficiently.   This is done by providing suitable sanitation facilities, access to clean water and regular breaks. 

By following these guidelines, your workplace will be a safer and more efficient place. 

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk/, Yorkshire Profiles, a laser cutting, water cutting and fabrication provider. 

General Safety Issues

AIR CONDITIONING SAFETY TIPS (GUEST POST)

Air conditioning units are one of the most commonly used appliances across the world. In the UK, thousands of air conditioning units are sold each year for use in businesses and homes, while in America, approximately 90% of homes have an air conditioning units. Air conditioners are incredibly important in the fight against heat-related disease, too – according to the CDC, A/Cs are the number one tool for preventing heat-related disease and death. But these appliances must be used safely in order for them to be useful, so follow the safety tips below before use. 

  • Choose the right size air conditioning unit for your room. Generally, a room that is 10 feet by 12 feet will require an air conditioning unit that puts out 5000 Btu/per hour, while a room that is 20 by 20 feet will require an A/C that puts out 10,000 Btu/per hour.  Smaller units work best in average-sized family homes in terms of both energy usage and energy conservation.
  • Check the wiring within the home to make sure that the electrical circuit is suitable for use with the air conditioning unit. If you’re ever unsure, call in a professional electrician to test the circuit for you. You also need to make sure that the plug fits the socket – don’t alter the plug to fit the socket. If the plug does not fit correctly, don’t try to force it. Instead, get an electrician to replace the socket.
  • Make sure that the plug reaches the plug socket and if it does not reach, consider moving the air conditioning unit to a different place or use an extension cord specifically designed for use with an A/C. Stretching the cord could cause outages while using a non-approved extension cord could well increase the risk of fires within the home. Before you use extension cords, be sure that they are not damaged.
  • Regularly check the unit and filters and clean or replace the filters as needed. Clogged filters mean that the air conditioning unit will not work as efficiently as needed and you’ll use more energy. Clogged filters could also cause the machine to overheat.
  • Get a maintenance check every year from a qualified electrician. Get them to check over all of the ins and outs of the machine – the outer casing, inner casing, wiring, ducts, filters and more. If there are any issues with any parts of the machine, get them replaced and note down the date of the replacement and the name of the contractor so that you can contact them again if there are any issues.
  • Never, ever run a cord or extension cord underneath the carpet. This drastically increases the risk of a fire, as the heat from the cord gets trapped underneath the carpet fibres. Run cords across the top of carpets or hardwood floors and check them for signs of damage before use.

By Richard Rhodes. 

For more information on keeping safe while using your air conditioning unit and to look at a range of A/C units for all uses, take a look at Andrews Air Conditioning Services.

 
General Safety Issues

SIMPLE DO’S AND DON’TS IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

There are some rules of etiquette that are necessary in every workplace. In a professional setting or any other work environment, there are behaviors that can be socially acceptable but can land you in serious problems if practiced in a work setting. Unnecessary actions or behavior can garner you ire of your fellow workers and most of all it can cost you your job. That is why it is important to understand Do’s and Don’ts in a work place. This knowledge will not only keep you out of trouble from your bosses but will also give you admiration and respect from other workers.

The Do’s

Dressing appropriately- workplaces have a prescribed dress code concerning office and other work stations attire. It’s not a must that you wear a suit every day, all you need is to ensure that whatever you wear is professional and in line with companies rules and regulations. It’s okay to go slightly below or above the set dress code requirement but always make sure you dress somehow like your co-workers.

 Observe personal and organizational hygiene- no one would wish to stay or work close to a person who is unclean. Make a habit of taking a shower and brushing your teeth daily before reporting to work. When it comes to organizational hygiene, avoid dirtying the compound or leaving washrooms unclean after use.

 Keep away from conflicts and arguments- try your best to maintain friendly working relationships with co-workers. A healthy relationship makes it easy to clock in and clock out.  Conflicts can cause you to be:

  •        Fired
  •        Be sent to unpaid leave
  •        Suspension
  •        Be included in company’s redundancy program

         Respect workplace hierarchy- it’s good to respect and recognize the chain of command.  In every workplace there are those in command and every employee is expected to obey them. By so doing an individual will be out of trouble.

 Keep time- it’s good to arrive in time but reporting earlier portrays your passion for the job as well as the company.

Don’ts

Don’t be late- don’t make a habit of coming to work late. If possible be getting to work place 15 minutes before time. Lateness can cost you your job since no employer can tolerate tardiness.

 Don’t go waltzing in the workplace at your own time- don’t let your boss get you loitering around the workplace when you are expected to be working if you are doing unimportant things. Bosses expect you to be productive; when you loiter around shooting the breeze with your colleagues,  you are dragging behind company’s performance.

 Don’t play loud music on your computer or radio- people have different tastes and preferences when it comes to songs. One may think that the songs they love listening to are the best for all only to realize that you are only boring and irritating them. If one needs to listen to music it’s good to use headphones.

 Don’t act like a “know it all”- doing it all doesn’t mean you know it all.  Give room for other people’s opinions. 

 Don’t take advantage of company’s resources- most employees think that because certain things are purchased to cater for their needs they are theirs. No! Company’s resources are to be used where necessary but not taking them home for your personal use.

  In conclusion, it’s always good to portray the best behavior while at work. This is beneficial in helping you create a healthy relationship between you and your colleagues and also between you and your employer. However, even as people strive to portray the best behavior it’s also good to be competitive and effective in their line of work. For example, individuals working in companies dealing with motor vehicle number plates need to have DVLA contact number for any inquiry regarding the plates. They will be able to consult and deliver outstanding services where needed. With appropriate behavior and productivity your stay in the organization is guaranteed.

Submitted by Maria Mcquire

 

General Safety Issues, Protective Clothing

FACTS THAT MANY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT: HOUSE FIRE INVESTIGATIONS (GUEST POST)

Fire is that element which destroys everything including the source and origin. Along with this, those who investigate the scene also work under extreme risk. It is important to ensure their safety before doing anything. The officer who receives the call and arrives at the scene before everyone, works under pressure of making sure that everyone is safe and the injured are getting proper treatment.

The investigation begins right from the call for help. The officer, who gets the call, makes sure to get the name and number of the caller. Once this is done the officer gets the address of the location where the outbreak has occurred.

Arriving at the Scene

This is a critical task. To respond successfully is being observant of everything. The officer will have to keep an wary eye everywhere. From a passing car to a harmless looking person standing at the side of the road can be important. Due to this the officers are trained to be watchful.

The first thing the investigators ensure while investigating house fire is that everyone is out of the proximity of the flame. In case of an injury or death, the investigation takes a complicated turn. However, before the process begins, it is important to determine whether the insurance agency will take the responsibility of the investigation or the crime department.

Different Evidence

The investigators look for some specific evidence. Blood stain is vital evidence. It is not easy to lift blood samples. In case of fire, these stains get erased and due to that evidence collection gets even more difficult. However, to lift the stains, the investigators need to identify the areas where the stain could be found.

The specialist working on the scene need to ensure that the contamination of the scene is prevented. However, this is not an easy task. To prevent contamination, the investigators need to employ less manpower. Crime scenes get sabotaged with people walking around and touching things. The scenes of fire suffer such a fate even before the investigators arrive at the scene. To defuse the flame, fighters contaminate the scene.

Location from where the evidence is found plays an important role. The investigators document each location while they collect the pieces. They even sketch images for later use. Photographing the scene is another way of documenting the location.

Once the pieces are collected, they place them inside different jars and bottles. These bottles are labeled with the names of the locations and other important details.

Fire Behavior

Behavior of the flame is essential and the investigator needs to read this. Flames spread at a certain pace. If this pace differs, the investigation takes another turn. The arson specialists need to read the behavior of the flame step by step. For this they receive special training.

Once everything is done, they let go of the scene and turn it over to the police officers. However, before releasing the scene, they need to recheck whether everything is properly done and all the areas are rightly covered. After this they submit everything to the lab.

 

Author Bio – George Steven is a freelance writer and his area of interests and expertise lies in forensic science and accident or crime scene investigation related matters. George has his own blogs and websites where he discusses about various aspects of the house fire.  

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR NEW ENERGY SOURCES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (GUEST POST)

The two most popular methods of powering a domestic home with renewable energy are solar panels and wind turbines. Both of these methods produce pollution, can lessen the owners reliance on the national grid and can save on energy bills.

However, they both deal with electrical currents and as a result must be installed correctly and safely to ensure they do not become a safety hazard.

In this post I am going to outline some of the typical hazards associated with domestic energy production and what you can do to prevent them.

Solar panels:

To start with, the weight of solar panels means that they are not suitable for every building. Before you even start installing them you should have your roof surveyed to make sure that it can hold the weight of the panels and the people who will be installing them.

Attaching the solar panels to the buildings electrical systems should only be done by a qualified electrician, and should include fuse set ups and grounding.

Solar panels can become extremely hot during use. This can pose a fire risk if they are installed incorrectly. There is also a risk of burns to people performing maintenance work on them, so ensure they are properly insulated.

When installing or maintaining the panel, a full risk assessment should be carried out and all standard safety procedures for working at height should be followed.

Wind turbines

Micro wind turbines are subject to all of the safety concerns associated with their larger counterparts. The stresses placed on the system during high winds can cause a lot of problems. It is important that an isolator switch be fitted to the turbine setup and that the owner know exactly where this is located.

The size of the wind turbine means that there is a risk posed by it falling over. Installations should be fitted by a trained professional and maintained regularly to lessen the risk of this happening.  

Renewable energy for domestic use is still in its infancy, but systems are improving all the time. With expert fitting and regular maintenance a method of generating clean energy in your own home can help save the environment and save you money.

This peice was written by Mark Enright a writer for http://www.enviko.com/Enviko, the renewable energy experts.

Note: As you can see, those involved in these types of work need to wear the proper protective gear, such as safety glasses, hardhats, gloves, and fall protection. pb