Category Archives: General Safety Issues

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

CLUING YOUR KIDS UP ON THE DANGERS OF ELECTRICITY (Guest Post)

As we move into a technological world, electricity has become a big part of our lifestyles, from our televisions at homes to our computers in our workplace. It’s more than likely that you’ve probably been shocked by static electricity before, like when you walk across carpet or when you go to touch a car door, but as electricity becomes a vital part of modern life, we forget just how dangerous electricity can be. According the electrical safety council, during 2011/2012, there were 2,899 fires, 223 injuries and 10 deaths from electricity supply such as wiring, cabling and plugs. These figures emphasise just how important it is to treat electricity with respect.

Children are naturally curious and don’t know the dangers of electricity. With your children growing up in the technological generation, it is vital to educate them so that they understand the dangers of electricity. Of course you don’t want to completely frighten your children, but teaching them the basics about the power of electricity can keep them safe.  Here’s a few methods you can use to get your kids more clued up about electrical hazards.

Safety Lessons

Although electricity safety starts in the early years of school, it’s important that you educate them at home as well. Make learning fun by giving your children some fun activities to complete around electrical safety. There are lots of different child friendly YouTube videos on electrical safety as well as interactive games and quizzes available on the internet that they can complete to help them remember important facts.

If your children are slightly older (8 and above) get involved with your children by starting to let them use electrical appliances themselves. Give them the opportunity to show you how they understand the dangers of electricity by letting them, for example, show you how to work a microwave in a safe way. Supervise them and talk them through the steps until they can talk you through the steps themselves. Praise your children to show them how pleased you are that they understand how to be safe around electrical devices and they’ll feel rewarded.

Lead by example

You’re children learn a lot from the way you behave so don’t let your child catch you mistreating electrical objects, as its more than likely that they follow your bad habits. So when you go next go to get your piece of toast out of the toaster with a metal knife, don’t – for your own safety as well as your child’s.

Make sure you don’t leave any electrical appliances unattended or cords draping over surfaces, where small hands and mouths might be able to get hold of.  Keep any appliances out of reach and for smaller electrical appliances, like a hairdryer, make sure you store them away or put them in a place out of reach of your children.

Check your appliances

Take the time to take a look at your appliances to see if they are safe. It is sometimes possible to see when your appliances look unsafe, for example if the cords are looking frayed or if there are any burn marks on the sockets. If any of your electrical cords are looking this way, don’t try and ‘patch’ them up as this is only increase the danger for you and your family.  If you don’t trust your own judgement, it’s always worth getting in an expert with electrical test equipment to double check your devices and replace them.

Make it clear to your children that electricity is dangerous

If you have very young children that are too young to understand detailed explanations about the dangers of electricity, be clear and use strong, consistent language so they learn to understand that they are not to approach electrical devices because they are dangerous.  As they start to get older you can gradually start to begin to give them more detailed explanations as to why electrical appliances are dangerous.

The earlier you start to teach your children about the dangers of electricity, the better educated they will be, reducing the risks of them getting hurt.

 Our thanks to Katharine Ogilvie,  katherine@fountainpartnership.co.uk;

Fountain Partnership Ltd is registered in England and Wales as company number 7551957

 

General Safety Issues

The Importance of Having the Right Electrical Cables for Your Business (Guest Post)

From multiple modes of transportation to oil and gas rigs to wind turbine farms, electrical cables are crucial to many industries and the safety of their operations. For the aerospace industry, cables transmit electricity and data to make the plane work properly and allow pilots to communicate with on-the-ground personnel. In the food industry, cables keep factory lines moving while also boosting production efficiency. For miners, cables are necessary to keep everything from shuttle carts to mining pumps running smoothly. Why does this matter? It means that, whatever your specific industry, you probably have a need for working electrical cables that can withstand various temperatures, pressures and situations in order to protect you and your work environment. How do you choose the right kind? 

To help answer that question, here are some elements of your business to keep in mind when choosing cables — so you can be sure you pick the best, safest options for your business and employees: 

Temperature: In situations where circuits must keep running even under extreme temperature changes, such as in furnaces, ovens, cooking equipment or lighting fixtures, cables must be resistant to heat. If the cables aren’t properly fire-resistant and/or high-temperature rated, they could be severely damaged, which would then cause major damage to equipment and personnel. So when looking at cables, ask yourself the following questions relating to temperature: 

  • How hot or cold will the cables get in my application?
  • Could these cables withstand the temperatures involved in this job? 

Pressure: For industries that must utilize high-pressure sprays on equipment, such as the food industry, for example, the continual pressure on cables can wreak havoc over time. That’s why these situations call for tough, durable cables that can withstand abuse without threatening your business operations. To know you’re choosing durable cables that can withstand pressure, ask the following: 

  • What sort of pressure will these cables be exposed to?
  • Are the cables I’m purchasing specially designed to hold up to high pressure? 

Environmental Changes: Think about the specific environment into which your cables will be placed. Is it on a moving piece of equipment? Will it be exposed to chemicals on a daily basis? Will they be exposed to wash downs? Is your cable hanging and exerting tension? Do you need it to remain flexible in all situations? Is it buried underground? If so, you’ll need cables that are specifically designed to stay functional in any environment. Whether for a large ship or at an oil site, cables that can’t withstand environmental changes could cause disaster. Ask yourself: 

  • What sort of environmental changes will these cables experience?
  • Can the cables I’m buying handle swings in temperature, movement, chemicals, tension, etc.? 

Costs: As with any aspect of business, budget is always an important factor to keep in mind. Part of choosing the right cables for your budget is understanding how much “replacing” failing cable costs your production schedule from a pure cable cost and lost production hour cost. If your cable is failing over and over again, chances are you may be choosing the wrong cable product for the application. This costs your company money. The initial investment in choosing the right cable for your application can save your company money since it will last longer and require less replacements, hence saving production and labor costs. 

Before selecting the cables for a given application, think through these questions: 

  • How often am I replacing cable in this application?
  • How many employees does it take to replace the cable? How long does it take them to do? How many applications are changed out per day?
  • Is it possible that there is a longer lasting cable available to me?
  • Could I save my company money by investing in a longer lasting cable? 

How are cables used in your industry? Whether it’s mining, utilities or government, there’s a good chance cables are involved. When selecting cables for your next project, use the elements listed above to know which to choose.

 

About the author:

Carol Sabovik is the Marketing Manager of TPC Wire & Cable Corp. (http://www.tpcwire.com/) in Macedonia, OH. TPC Wire & Cable is a leading wire and cable manufacturer for many markets, including industrial manufacturing and the automotive industry. TPC’s products are designed and engineered to withstand harsh conditions including abrasion, chemicals, constant flexing and extreme temperatures.

Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MAY IS NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SAFETY MONTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

HAZARDOUS AREA LIGHTINGS – ENSURE WORKPLACE SAFETY (GUEST POST)

What is a Hazardous Area?

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

How can Hazardous Area Lighting Help?

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

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

 

Developments in Hazardous Area Lighting

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

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

 

Hazardous Area Lightings Suppliers       

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

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

 

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

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

SKIP AND CONTAINER SAFETY WHEN MANAGING WASTE (GUEST POST)

Waste management is an essential part of completing a job for a professional tradesperson or DIY enthusiast. The safe use of skips and containers can be a tricky path to tread for those unfamiliar with health and safety regulations and guidelines. Unbeknown to many, skip and container related accidents are a common occurrence, in fact, these are the leading cause of serious to fatal incidents in waste management and recycling plants.  Here we take a closer look at utilizing skips and containers safely to help you reduce the risk of serious injury.

Skip (dumpster) compatibility

Whether you are looking to buy or hire a skip for your upcoming project, ensuring that your skip is compatible with the skip loader is a vital step to safe usage. Mini skips, with a capacity of 1.5m3 to 2m3, are the most popular choice, especially for household or small commercial / industrial upgrades. However, many of these mini skips are not manufactured to suit the design of a standard skip loader. Larger skips however are designed to be compatible with standard skip loaders, and their 3m3 to 20m3 capacity ensures a sizable solution to waste management on larger projects. Recommended safety checks There are a series of safety checks that must be carried out to ensure the safe use of skips and containers.

Training is recommended for workers who use and unload skips and containers on a regular basis, these training programs ensure workers can identify faults or damage to the skip that would otherwise make it unsafe to use. Regular checks must also be carried out to check the condition of important skip and container components, such as the lifting and locking points, tipping bars, doors, restraints, covers and wider condition. Workers must also be aware of the importance of using the right type of skip for the task at hand, and the skip or container’s strength, stability and distribution of load weight must all be taken into account.

Identifying hazardous skip use

There are a number of scenarios that would make the skip or container hazardous to move or unload, including:

  • Overloading
  • Insufficient headroom when retrieving
  • Insufficient space around the skip or container
  • Placement on sloping ground
  • Placement on soft ground

If any of these relate to your skip or container then it is recommended that you seek specialist advice to improve safety and reduce risk before removal or unloading. Overly damaged skips and containers should also be removed from service completely.

This post was written by Brittany Thorley. She works for Cheshire Demolition (http://www.cheshiredemolition.co.uk/) and regularly advises on maintaining best practice for safety on both small and large scale improvement projects.

Note: Of course, workers in this field should take all precautions and wear the correct personal protective gear, such as gloves, safety glasses, hardhats, and possibly respirators  pb

 

P.S. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!  PB

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

WORK RELATED SAFETY – A KEY CONCERN FOR COMPANIES (GUEST POST)

You’re running a company, earning heavy profits. Apart from aiming on the profits, how much concerned your company is for those who are the unsung heroes of your company’s success. It’s the time you, as a company, did something for their safety as their lives have no substitute. 

Read on to know the safety guidelines your company can adhere to raise the productivity of both, the employees and the company as whole.

1). Working Environment

It’s extremely vital for a company to get its employees an environment they feel good working in. These seemingly trivial, but important things are:

  • Floors need to be spick and span
  • Machineries should be rust and dust free.
  • A hygienic canteen is crucial since unhealthy food makes employees prone to the various diseases.
  • Friendly relations among the employees, HR manager and the boss. 

2) Protection at work area

Operating machinery, make sure, if your employee is familiar with the basics of the machine operation. Ignoring this thing can pose a threat, both to the employee and machinery.

Maintain decorum, making it mandatory for every employee to be fully equipped while working. Be it, gloves, goggles, vest, hard hats or any other safety gears required to be put on, the workers be told to comply with that regulation.

Imposing fines on the violators will certainly keep a check on the indiscipline. Tell the employees about the consequences of drinking alcohol at work that impairs the safe operation of the machineries and makes the employees susceptible to injuries.

Safety at work also needs clarifying about the kind of tasks an employee is supposed to do. He should be detailed about the manuals of the machines and all the possible dos and don’ts. Most accidental cases have also revealed; the employees are often made to work on a machine without thorough detailing that makes a way for such accidents to happen.

Interactive sessions and meeting should be held before you call it a day. As a company’s leader, you’re expected to interact with the rest of the team, acquiring the knowledge about how the things are going on. A few minutes of get-together will undeniably help the employees raise safety issues they’ve been facing for long periods of time.

3) Safety programs:

What kind of safety program your company follows and what the guidelines are that have been included in it, are the critical issues. Arrange a meeting after a few months or so with the employees and HR manager, keeping all of them updated about the safety guidelines. Conducting a safety drill in the company will certainly clear out the things as, then, the employees will get to know what exactly they need to do in urgency. Asking the employees about the guidelines mentioned in the safety program will show how much they know what to do on the practical grounds. It includes:

In case of emergency, how to get an ambulance at the earliest and which hospital in the locale they would rush.

Specify about the load’s maximum limit the employee can carry since the most accidents occur while carrying overloads at the back.

Detailing them when to use a wheelbarrow, conveyor belt, forklifts and other machines will certainly curtail the risk getting your employees injured.

The company needs to bring some positive alterations, revising the safety programs, especially according to the suggestions made by those employees, who often come face-to-face with the hazardous situations.

In a nutshell, a company strikes pay dirt and remains in the pink of health, only if its employees feel healthy and safe. 

 

For construction related safety products, feel free to visit:

http://cleanwrap.net/

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

What Are Landlords’ Gas Safety Obligations? (Guest Post)

Landlords have a duty of care to ensure the health and safety of their tenants, and should take reasonable steps to do so. One of the most important regulations landlords in the UK must adhere to is the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. These oblige landlords to ensure that every relevant gas fitting and flue is maintained safely in order to prevent their tenants suffering from illness or injury.

This involves conducting gas appliance services every 12 months and keeping a record of these checks for two years. The record should answer the following questions:

–          When was the appliance or flue checked?

–          What address did the check occur in?

–          What is the name and address of the landlord or agent that controls the property?

–          Where are the appliances located?Gas-safety

–          What kind of gas appliances are they?

–          Were any problems noticed?

–          Were any defects repaired?

–          Was the flue’s effectiveness checked?

–          Was the supply of combustion air examined?

–          Was the heat input or operating pressure examined?

–          Was the operation of the appliance checked?

–          Was the landlord or agent notified of any defects?

–          Who carried out the check?

–          What the Gas Safe Register registration number of the person who carried out the check?

This record should also be provided to the tenants of the premises, and when a new tenant moves into a property, they should be provided with a copy of the most recent record.

Landlords’ gas safety obligations are not solely confined to the rooms their tenants live in, but also any communal areas, such as hallways and walkways. Landlords must also not merely ensure their gas appliances are serviced, but are also responsible for any repairs and maintenance that their appliance may require. It is best practice to repair any defects as soon as possible – not only could delays cause harm to tenants, but tenants may even try to reclaim part of their rent through the small claims court if they do not feel that their landlord kept their property up to standard.

Gas appliances that are in parts of a building solely occupied for non-residential use do not come under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, nor do any gas appliances tenants provide themselves. However, it is best to have any gas appliances owned by the landlord and any flues that are connected to tenant’s gas appliances checked annually; this may help landlords to meet any additional duties they have under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

If a tenant’s central heating shuts down due to a boiler breakdown or disconnected by an engineer, landlords must provide their tenants with alternative emergency heating until the heating is back on. It is illegal to use gas appliances that have been deemed as unsafe or that are suspected of being hazardous; therefore, landlords must not encourage their tenants to use any appliances that have been classed as unsafe and should arrange repairs as quickly as possible. Landlords who have any doubts over an engineer’s advice should still adhere to their advice, but can contact the Gas Safe Register for further assistance in the interim.

Kevin Burke

Kevin Burke writes about health and safety on behalf of boiler breakdown cover specialists 247 Home Rescue.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Respiratory Issues

ARE WE READY FOR A BIOLOGICAL ATTACK? (GUEST INFOGRAPHIC)

We just received this very interesting infogram from securitydegreehub.com/bioterrorism.  No one wants to even think about such a terrible thing happening to anyone; but from the history and information below, it has occurred with devastating results.   We must be better prepared. 

General Safety Issues, High Visibility Safety

WARNING TO ALL YOU FOUR-WHEELERS AND EIGHTEEN-WHEELERS: IT’S NATIONAL BIKE AND MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MONTH!

National Bike Safety Month

May is National Bike Month, and is sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.  It is celebrated nationwide.  This observance is the time to showcase the great benefits of bicycling, and encourage more people to try it.

Whether you bike to work or school; ride to save money or time; pump those pedals to preserve your health or the environment; or simply to explore your community, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons we ride.  Please note: Wednesday, May 7th, is National Ride a Bike to School Day.  If your child is not in the habit of riding their bike to school, be sure you  know that they are prepared to do so.  Friday, May 9th, is National Ride a Bike to Work Day.  The most important thing any cyclist can do is to put that helmet on, buckle it up and make sure it’s level.  It’s not going to do its job if it is tilted to the side to look cool.
As a national sponsor, the League provides resources to help you plan an event in your area, and each year the number and diversity of Bike Month celebrations continues to grow, accelerating the momentum around bicycling nationwide.

National Motorcycle Safety Month 

Most experienced motorcyclists know the rules of the road and hopefully follow them.  When riding on a busy highway, it is important that they stay on their part of the road, and that drivers are alert and watching their every move.  Good motorcycle riders wear all the right stuff – helmets, jacket, gloves, and other protective equipment.  All that gear comes in bright colors, as well as black, and the colors give more warning to drivers.  Wearing a high-visiblity vest over the jacket would help, too.

There’s nothing greater than feeling the wind and open air; but it gives us a fright when someone is seen riding their motorcycle or bike without a helmet.  Believe me, I know some pretty hard-headed people out there, but none that could survive hitting the road, a tree, or sign head-first! 

With warm weather finally getting here in many parts of the country, it’s time to get out the cycles and check them out, tires and all, to be sure they are in tip-top condition.  Go out there and have some fun, and also save some of that high-dollar gas we are paying for.  Just please ride safely.