Category Archives: Eye Protection

Eye Protection, Fall Safety

Safety Tips for Workers Involved in High-Risk Jobs

Safety Tips for Workers Involved in High-Risk Jobs

Some people choose to work in a nice, safe office all day. Others choose a more dangerous line of work. If you are planning to work a high risk, dangerous job, you should follow proper safety tips. If you protect yourself on the job, you will be less likely to be in an accident that could cause injuries or even death.

Never Do a Job that You Aren’t Trained For

If you are considering working a high-risk job, you need to be properly trained and qualified. If you take up a job that you are not trained for, not only are you putting yourself in harms way, you are also putting your co-workers and the people around you in harms way as well.

Wear the Required Uniform

The reason that employers require you to wear a uniform is not so that you look silly, it is so that you remain protected. For example, if you are working in a factory or as a mechanic, you might be required to wear Dickies overalls to protect you from a burn or a chemical spill. Many kitchen jobs require you to wear non-slip shoes. This is to prevent a slip and fall accident on the job. If you are wearing the required uniform, you will be less likely to be injured.

Use Proper Safety Equipment

Certain jobs require that you use proper safety equipment in order to be safe on the job. For example, goggles should be worn by a chemist or a welder to prevent injury to the eyes. Construction workers should wear a hard hat to prevent a head injury on the job. While a doctor is not considered a dangerous job, safety precautions are taken there as well by wearing gloves. If your employer requires that you wear safety equipment, you should listen.

Fall Prevention

If you are working a job that takes you to great heights, such as repairing or installing a roof, you should make sure that you are using the proper safety equipment for fall prevention. First, you should make sure that you are attached to a safety harness at all time such that even if you lose your footing, you don’t fall off the roof. Also, if the roof is very high, you should consider using scaffolding. It will help you reach the heights that you need, safely. Finally, you should always wear a hard hat on the job to prevent a head injury if you were to fall or if something were to fall on you.

Listen and Participate in Safety Seminars

Employers who hire people to work dangerous jobs will often hold seminars to be sure that their employees are safe while they work. To ensure employees’ safety, you should partake in and listen during safety seminars. The more information that you have on being safe while working, the less chance there will be for injuries.

Always Be Alert on the Job

It is a good idea to be alert at any job, however, it is even more important to be alert if you are working a dangerous job. When you are alert, you will be able to recognize that an accident is about to happen, and you can get out of harms way before it is too late.

Some people choose a dangerous job because these jobs pay well. Others choose dangerous jobs simply because it is the line of work that they are interested in. Whatever the reason that you have chosen a high-risk job, you need to take the proper precautions so that you can be sure that you are safe on the job.

Man On Ladder

Eye Protection

Proven Ways to Safeguard your Vision at Work

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700,000 workers in the US suffer a job-related eye injury annually. A third of these injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more than a hundred of these injuries lead to loss of work and money. The majority of these injuries result from small particles or objects striking or abrading the eye. These injuries are the result of small particles or objects striking the eye.

Eye and face protection is mandatory for the general industry, shipyard employment, long shoring, and the construction industry where most eye-related injuries occur. Luckily for you, these injuries can be avoided with the tips provided in this article.

Causes of On- Job Eye Injuries
Eye hazards are found in all industries. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than 40% injuries occur amongst craft workers (Mechanics, Carpenters and Plumbers). Labourers suffer 20% of eye injuries. Half the injured workers were employed in manufacturing as compared to the 20% in construction.

Causes of Eye Injuries
BLS found that 70% of all eye-related accidents were a result of flying particles, most of which were smaller than a pin head. These particles were said to be moving faster than a hand thrown object.
Contact with chemicals during work or chemical industries causes 20% of the eye related injuries. Other causes of eye injury were caused by swinging objects such as chains or ropes.

Protecting Against Eye Hazards
• Projectiles
70% of all eye-related accidents are a result of flying particles. These projectiles are made up of dust, concrete, metal, wood and other particles. This may infect the eyes as well as causing abrasion to sensitive areas that are unreachable, and rubbing only makes it worse. Some particles may penetrate the eye ball resulting in a permanent loss of vision.

• Chemicals
These largely occur in chemical industries or working with cleaning products. Splashes of chemicals results in chemical burns to the eyes which is extremely painful as well as stressful to the eyeball and the nerves.

• Radiation
Thermal burns to the eyes are prominent among welders, their assistants and nearby workers which routinely damages their eyes and surrounding tissues.

• Blood borne Pathogens (Hepatitis Or HIV) From Blood And Body Fluids
Lab staff, janitorial workers and animal handlers are at the highest risk of getting infected by diseases through ocular exposure. Direct exposure to blood, bodily fluids and from touching the eyes with contaminated fingers. This leads to minor reddening or soreness in the eyes which may lead to life threatening diseases such as HIV or B Virus.

Defence Against An Eye Injury

The best defence against eye injury is wearing eye protection regularly. 90% of eye injuries can be prevented by using proper protective eyewear.

Non Prescription and Prescription of Safety Glasses
Safety glasses are specially designed for general working conditions to protect the eyes against dust, chips and flying particles. They are made of strengthened glass which must match the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), be sure to look for the Z87 mark on the lens or frame.

Goggles
Safety goggles are impact resistant and provide protection from dust and chemical splashes. Goggles create a secure shield around your eyes.

Face Shields and Helmets
Full face shield protect workers who are regularly exposed to chemicals, heat and pathogens. Helmets are used for welding and working with molten materials. Face shields and helmets should be used with safety glasses or goggles to get maximum protection.

Special Protection
Helmets or goggles with special filters to protect the eyes from optical radiation exposure should be used for welding or working with lasers.

How to Handle Eye Emergencies

You should seek medical attention at an Eye Care Centre as soon as possible if you are experiencing pain in your eye, blurred or loss of vision.

About the Author: Aaron Barriga aspired to become an Eye Doctor when he was younger, but his fantastic knack for understanding people and his outgoing personality led him into the field of Marketing. Working at Insight Vision Centre as their Online Marketing Manager, he has the best of both worlds. He blogs with a mission of informing readers about the latest eye care technology and topics related to eye care and eye health. He loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.

safety glass girl pic

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

The Hidden Dangers in the Workplace

Sometimes, the dangers of a work environment are easy to assess. Dangerous factory work, mechanical jobs, and other rough and ready professions are noted for their inherent danger and risk. Where there is the greatest risk, there is also the greatest precautions. However, it’s not just the obviously dangerous workplaces that pose a threat to employees and employers. Seemingly safe environments, such as offices and retail spaces, always pose a risk. The only difference is all too often these environments are not treating with the same risk as others.

In this article, we take a look at some of the workplace threats that can cause trouble but which are often overlooked by less than stellar workplace safety reviewers.

How to Stay Safe

When it comes to keeping your employees safe, communication is key. A business owner could have the very best workplace practices, but there’ll be ineffective if they aren’t conveyed to the employees.

It’s always important not to just boringly walk through the dangers of the workplace with your employees; there’ll be more likely to remember it if it’s livened up through role play and/or other interactive ways.

Finally, one of the most important aspects of keeping safe is making sure you have a plan for what you do if something does go wrong. This, in many cases, is just as important as prevention. Make sure your employees know the procedure for handling workplace injuries and accidents. Similarly, you should also be prepared to handle things going wrong by ensuring your business is properly covered and prepared to deal with whatever happens. As with most things in life, its preparation and prevention that offer the best keys to success. You’re can’t always control what happens, but you can control your reaction.

Next, we move on those less than obvious – but very simple – dangers lurking in your workplace.

Hidden Threats

Clutter

Clutter is actually more of a hazard than you’d think. Apparently, it undermines our mental productivity and can greatly affect the mood of an office. A messy environment equals a messy mind, one in which dangers happen more by blindsiding and inability to focus. And then there’s also the physical danger; the more stuff lying around, the more chance there is that somebody will trip over and fall. The answer? A simple new policy: no mess!

Cabinets

Cabinets are the enemy of HR professionals. These simple objects have a disproportionately high effect on injuries in the workplace. Whether it’s a cabinet draw left open or a cabinet that hasn’t been securely fastened to the wall, the dangers are obvious once you’re aware of them. And the injuries can be very painful, as well as potentially very serious. So what do you do? Let everyone know the dangers of drawers being left open, and also ensure they’re attached to the wall.

Eyestrain

You might be quite amazed just how many people suffer from eyestrain. Roughly 6 out of 10 people will suffer eye problems, just from looking at their screen for long periods of time. Of course, this is part of the modern world; everything is done on computers. Still, that doesn’t allow you to wash your hands of the problem – or you might just end up paying for it later. There are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of it happening.

The first is making sure everyone takes regular breaks from their digital screens. The simple, easily remembered 20-20-20 rule can help here. Every twenty minutes, tell your employees to take twenty seconds to stare twenty feet ahead of them. Doing this might just stop pain from developing in their eyes. You should also remind them to blink while they’re working at the computers.

Air Quality

The quality of the air in an office is another one that is often overlooked. However, poor air can lead to problems such as poor breathing, increased illness, and food sanitation issues. The best solution for this is to make sure the office receives plenty of fresh ventilation, especially if harmful chemicals are used during cleaning.

You can’t always prevent accidents from happening, but you can take steps to ensure the risk if minimal. By taking the appropriate steps, you can protect both your employees and your business from avoidable instances that can cause real issues.

This article was submitted by Helen Sellers

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

Protection Clothing for Cleaning

Cleaning is a necessary task that you are often times forced to do around your home and your office. Thanks to cleaning, you will have a refreshed environment and living conditions that are more than suitable for resting and relaxing. There are a lot of products and tools that can make your cleaning more effective and fast, but what you have to keep in mind is that home cleaning and office cleaning should be carefully executed.
If you want to be completely safe during your cleaning service, you need to consider some protection clothing. There is a lot of risk related to using the various cleaning solutions, some of which are far from safe. If you pay attention to labels, you will often notice the description saying ‘poison’, ‘toxic’ and ‘danger’. That alone should be enough to warn you of the threats and make you stay alert during your cleaning service. Acquire the following gear if you want to be safe:

– Gloves – even simple latex gloves can protect your skin from the chemicals and dangerous ingredients of various solutions you use in your everyday cleaning. If you have any skin problem, such as irritation, rash, itch and burn you will do well to avoid direct contact with the solutions you use in office and home cleaning. Gloves will not hinder your cleaning in any way, and they will not allow the dangerous liquid to come into contact with the skin on your hands. Thanks to a pair of gloves you can mix solutions without fear and wash dishes with any type of cleaning detergent.

Protection Clothing for Cleaning2

– Goggles – some of the cleaning products you use during your cleaning service can greatly irritate your eyes because of the fumes they release. In order to protect yourself from this danger, you should acquire a pair of specialized goggles to wear while cleaning. This will provide protection for your sight not only from the fumes of the chemicals, but also from dust and other debris that might get airborne during carpet cleaning for example. Goggles can usually be used multiple times, so definitely consider acquiring quality protection for your sight.

– Mask – cleaning solutions and more importantly the chemicals that are present inside them can sometimes lead to respiratory distress. To avoid breathing in the chemicals and fumes of the cleaning products you use during your cleaning service, you should always wear a mask. It will be your best line of defense when it comes to filtering the toxins of the cleaning products. This is especially the case with professional cleaners, who have to work with different cleaning solutions every single day. A mask will also prevent solid particles, such as dust and various others from entering your organism.

Protection Clothing for Cleaning

– Apron – aprons are very useful, especially those that provide pockets where you can put your extra cleaning equipment during your home cleaning. Not only will you stay clean if the job is a messy one, but also you will have everything you need with you and will not waste time.
A lot of these additions to your cleaning are not expensive at all and you can use most of them more than once. Definitely consider them to be safe during your cleaning.

More cleaning tips and advises find at: reliable carpet cleaning in Clapham

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Home Safety Products, Respiratory Issues, Uncategorized

Protective Clothing and Work Safety during Plumbing

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

Protective Clothing and Work Safety during Plumbing2

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

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

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

Protective Clothing and Work Safety during Plumbing

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

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

• Get some help
Having someone to give you a hand when you need it will make completing your tasks far easier to handle. Running a drain machine for example means you will need to have two hands on the cable, as well as someone else unplugging the machine when you’re done, not to mention other tasks that need more than a single pair of hands. This will be very useful whenever you deal with plumbing emergencies, as you never know what you may need.
Read more helpful practical tips go at: http://www.plumbingservicesplumbers.co.uk/bayswater-plumbers-W2/local-plumbers-bayswater.html

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

Magnatech Guest Blog Post – Welding Eye Safety

While welding techniques have gradually improved over the years, there are still many risks that come with the job. This includes repeated contact with harmful dust, smoke and fumes as well as exposure to light and heat radiation. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) states that “each day about 2000 U.S. workers have a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. About one third of the injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments.”

There are many severe eye-related injuries that a worker can sustain, including small metallic particles that can strike the eye, leading to painful cuts and abrasions; the CDC reports that “metal slivers, wood chips, dust, and cement chips… nails, staples, or slivers of wood or metal [that] penetrate the eyeball and result in permanent loss of vision. Large objects may also strike the eye/face [and] chemical burns to one or both eyes from splashes of industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common.” Because of such serious wounds, it is essential for a welder to remain as safe as possible while doing their job, regardless of their levels of expertise and competence.

One of the most frequent and all-pervading injuries that a welder may experience given improper eye protection is known as photokeratitis or “welding arc flash.” This is a non-permanent condition, although it may affect your vision for some time given that it damages the tissue around the eye (although thankfully not the retina itself). In this case, the cells on the outer layer of your cornea are inadvertently burned by UV rays. This is similar to sunburn on the skin, but instead on the surface of your eye. Although the affected area will slowly heal over time, UV eye burns may take a great deal of time to recover from and, as you can imagine, they can be wholly excruciating to experience. You can read more about photokeratitis and its effects on the body here.

Welding eye injuries are extremely common and, regardless of whether you are doing a quick 30-second job or a 30-minute task, eye protection is a must. Utilizing a helmet as well as safety glasses or protective goggles is vital to effectively shield your vision. The U.S. Department of Labor OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) states that “goggles or other suitable eye protection shall be used during all gas welding or oxygen cutting operations… All operators and attendants of resistance welding or resistance brazing equipment shall use transparent face shields or goggles, depending on the particular job, to protect their faces or eyes.” PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is also crucial.

PPE clothing should provide adequate coverage in case of sparks, fumes or smoke, as well as reducing the possibility of skin burns. In most cases, clothing manufactured from heavy cotton or a wool blend will better endure the outside elements of your workplace. Flame-resistant gloves and a flame-resistant apron are also essential protective attire. For more details on what you should wear when welding, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) offers some useful advice.

Although there have been notable advances in the manufacture of protective gear over the years, eye injuries are still widespread. This may be due to a low perception of the risk involved in the assignment itself, or perhaps because welders feel discomfort while wearing them. However, the discomfort caused by a serious eye injury will easily outweigh the pain caused from wearing a helmet and goggles for a small period of time. The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety once estimated that a quarter of welding injuries are eye-related, so eye protection should always be enforced. In essence, it is important that workers are educated about the dangers they will encounter during their day-to-day routine, as well as implementing a “No Excuses” eye protection plan whenever someone is welding. Magnatech, LLC has been manufacturing systems for orbital tube and pipe welding applications for more than 40 years. We are proud to supply products that put an emphasis on reliability and user-friendliness.

If you would like more information on what we can do for you, please visit us online at Magnatech or call 860-653-2573 today.

Guest Post from Jaclyn Passaro

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

Taking Preemptive Measures for Vehicle Accidents in Construction (Guest Post)

Since reducing the risk of fatal accidents and death rate within the construction industry is not an easy job, taking timely, effective preemptive measures is the only way out. Read further for a fair idea of what can be done and how!

The rate of accidents, injuries and deaths associated with the construction industry is much higher than most other areas of work. The most common reasons that make construction work perilous is possibility of deadly accidents with vehicles and falls from extreme height.

On an average, every third fatal accident at a construction site has one or more vehicles involved. Frequently occurring transport accidents at work include:

  1. Victims being stuck by moving vehicles, especially while reversing
  2. People falling from vehicles or hit by things falling from vehicles
  3. Overturning vehicles leading to serious injuries

What Can Be Done to Prevent Vehicle Accidents in Construction?

The first step towards reducing high death rate in construction industry is to reduce the risk of fatal accidents at construction sites that involve vehicles. Employers need to fulfill their legal duties and play a pivotal role in that case, especially by assessing risks and taking practical measures to ensure the safety of everyone around.

This may include maintaining accident records, training and consulting employees, and co-coordinating and cooperating contractors. The focus needs to be on planning and implementing collective safety measures, instead of giving individual measures extra importance. The basic idea should be to replace the hazardous with the harmless.

Taking Preemptive Measures for Vehicle Accidents in the Construction Industry

Practically, accident prevention should not start after the work has already begun on the construction site. Instead, designers, architects and planners can considerably diminish the risk of vehicle accidents by designing and planning well in the pre-build phase.

Risk assessment is the most important aspect that every employer ought to take care of, followed precisely by the conveyance of complete information to the contractors, verifying that the construction site is fully safe for the workers.

A thoroughly carried out risk assessment process involves:

Looking for Potential Hazards:

After you have evaluated the work the finished tasks, identify potential dangers that may be associated with the presence of heavy vehicles at the site. Operations such as reversing, loading and unloading always have a higher probability of damage being done at the workplace.

Factors that increase the likelihood of occurrence of such accidents more include rough terrain, continuous exposure to bad weather conditions, labor working under multiple contractors, and time pressure. You can involve both the workers and their contractors in the risk assessment process, explaining to them what has been planned to reduce the level of risk.

Try preventing the following things in particular:

  • Running over pedestrians
  • Overturning vehicles
  • Vehicle accidents caused by falls while climbing or working too close to power lines
  • Vehicle malfunctioning

Identifying Who May Be Harmed

Figuring out every possible factor that can harm individuals on the work site is the first step towards implementation of safety measures. This will include everyone from contractors, workers, self-employed individuals and even the general public. Pay special attention to the areas where vehicle movement is mandatory and you can’t exclude the public.

It is also possible to take note of the likely hazards during the designing stage while the construction cost estimation is being done. Take note of the design for safety and also ensure to calculate cost of making safety provisions.

Prepare an Action Plan after Evaluating the Risks

Evaluating the risks associated with each hazard on the site will help you calculate the possibility of harm and the level of severity. Check whether you have taken enough protective measures to ensure the safety of people on-site. Thoroughly revise all important aspects such as workplace design and signs and signals.  Ensure that all workers have the proper personal protective gear that is needed to complete the job safely.

Taking Action

Once the risk assessment process is completed, list all preventive measures based on priority. When it is time to take action, take all the workers and contractors along. Though your focus should be on implementing measures to prevent any accident from taking place in the first place, it will be equally important to have be prepared for the worst and have all emergency provisions in place too.

Author Bio: Laura Laurel is a Stanford graduate in civil engineer with specialization in Civil Designs, Cost Estimation and 3D Modeling. She began her career as a construction trainee at Viatechnik LLC, rose to be involved with road and bridge construction. She loves to write about Real Estate and Construction Related Subjects.

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.

 

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)