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Common Welding Jobsite Hazards and How to Avoid Them

Written by Michael Tobias

Welding is the highest-risk occupation of any within the construction industry. OSHA study reports that 1 out of every 250 construction workers will die from a welding accident. That doesn’t account for other potential hazards that welders face daily, such as – electrical shock, burns, eye damage, cuts, exposure of chemicals. Although, most of these injuries or deaths can be prevented with enhanced construction site safety, proper training, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

The act of welding is a procedure of heating the surfaces of metal pieces or parts to join them together.  Even though welding has over 70 different welding procedures, the top three types are –

  • Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)

Most Common Welding Hazards

Every type of welding produces risks and hazards, not only for the welder but also for other construction workers or people in the vicinity. By understanding the risk and precautions to help prevent accidents and injuries, it will make your project site safer.

 

FUMES AND GASES

Welding exposes the welder and other personnel to toxic fumes like carbon monoxide, aluminum, arsenic, nitrogen just to name a few. The damage caused by being exposed to welding fumes varies in degree depending on the specific gas or fume and how long the exposure lasted and range from an irritated throat or eyes to pneumonia, or cancer.

Recommended safety precautions –

  • Use appropriate ventilation and exhaust
  • Keep heat out of fume plume
  • When ventilation is insufficient, use approved respiratory devices
  • Keep contaminate levels monitored for safe air quality
  • Take part in targeted safety training to understand the potential dangers

ELECTRICAL SHOCK

Electrocution is a serious potential hazard during arc welding because live electrical circuits are used to melt metals creating risk of electric shock by touching two metal objects with a voltage between them. The electrical shock may severely injure or be fatal to the welder. Even though arc welding is a high risk occupation, it is safe when proper precautions and safety measures are taken. Such as –

  • Be sure all equipment is dry and in good working condition
  • Proper insulation – such as rubber mats
  • Welder wear good condition dry gloves
  • Welding equipment routinely inspected for safety
  • In humid work areas, take extra safety measures

FIRE

Since welding generates sparks that can be sprayed over 30 feet from the source, fire is a genuine concern. When an occurrence happens, other workers are at a high risk of getting burned, especially one with grease on their clothes or around flammable materials.

Fire prevention measures include –

  • Keep all flammable chemicals, combustible substances and materials stored away from welding spaces
  • Minimize any clutter or dust as a high concentration of fine particles can oxidize and may cause an explosion or fire without warning
  • If flammable materials can’t be moved, use fire-resistant shields
  • Always keep a fire extinguisher handy

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

When welders wear PPE, it drastically reduces the risk of physical hazards. Recommended PPE for welders are –

  • Boots and gloves: Rubber-soled hard toe boots and insulated flame-resistant gloves help provide protection from electric shock and falling objects.
  • Respirators: Reduce the gases and fumes the welder breaths in protecting lungs and respiratory systems.
  • Welding helmets with side-shields: Helmets protect against UV rays that could cause blindness, plus debris and chemical burns.
  • Fire resistant clothing: Provides protection against risks of burns caused by heat, fire and radiation.
  • Ear protection: Protects the ears against loud noises and vibrations within the work environment.

CONCLUSION

One way to assure your construction site is as safe as possible is to use a professional construction management service. They can help educate workers by making them aware of all potential hazards and proper precautions to take to prevent work site accidents.

AUTHOR’S BIO

Michael Tobias, PE, is the principal and founder of Chicago Engineers. He leads a team of over 30 mechanical, electrical, and fire protection engineers. Although Chicago Engineers main headquarters are in NYC and Chicago the business has led over 1,000 engineering projects in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, and California, as well as Malaysia and Singapore. Michael is an advocate for green technology and energy efficiency.

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How to Stay Safe When Working With Chemicals

Written by Liam Smith

Laboratory work can be dangerous and even potentially life-threatening. This is why safety is paramount in any environment that includes work with harmful chemicals. A great majority of laboratories experience spills every single week, despite safety protocol. The reason for this is that neither personnel nor management is completely familiar with the way they should handle dangerous substances. To increase safety in the workplace, you need to adhere to a set of common-sense safety procedures that will help keep chemicals in their containers and workers safe from harm.

  • Follow procedures to the letter.

While employees are never enthusiastic about having to deal with complicated protocol, it’s an essential part of safety in the workplace. It’s especially important when it comes to dealing with dangerous substances and caustic chemicals.

Always read through the instructions that come with any new chemical that enters your lab. This will give you a good idea of what you’re up against. If it’s something particularly toxic, you’re going to be notified and you’ll know to handle it with care. Countless accidents and injuries occur due to personnel not taking new chemical shipments seriously. This is easily remedied with a little light reading. Once you’re familiar with the chemical, you can follow protocol for this type of hazardous substance.

  • Wear protective equipment

Before you even come close to being in contact with any chemical agent, you need to make sure you have adequate gear that will protect you from any potential damage. If you’re familiar with the chemical in question, you should know the exact gear you have to use to handle it. If it’s a new addition to the lab, reading the instructions will often tell you what kind of protective equipment you’ll want to use.

Personnel sometimes disregard safety gear, whether it’s because there isn’t enough gear for everyone on a given day or the substance isn’t too dangerous. However, there are protective pieces you must wear when handling specific kinds of chemicals. Safety goggles are absolutely essential when working with flammable agents like acids and bases. There’s no telling when they might react with an unexpected substance in the environment.

Spills aren’t at all uncommon in laboratories and industrial settings, which is why having a protective coat is also crucial. Without one, you constantly at risk of exposing your skin to a chemical spill.

  • Keep it clean and tidy

A clean workspace is a safe workspace. Accidents and spills don’t just happen out of the blue. There are factors that influence the likelihood that a chemical will be mismanaged. The state of the work floor is one of them. A cluttered and dirty workspace can very easily cause employees to trip and fall while handling delicate chemical containers. When this is allowed to occur, spillages become more frequent.

Make sure that the work floor is given a thorough cleaning on a regular basis. Laboratories shouldn’t be too cluttered and overcrowded, as this only further increases the risk of an accident. Have adequate storage for paperwork and materials so that they aren’t kept in inopportune places. Bio-friendly detergents are recommended for cleaning, as frequent scrubs will increase the amount of harmful fumes in the air.

  • React swiftly

Working with chemicals always entails a certain level of risk. Even when every safety precaution is taken and protective gear is applied, it’s still possible for some exposure to chemicals to occur. In these scenarios, you have to utilize your training to prevent any serious damage from occurring.

Should a chemical find its way outside of its container and near personnel, make sure that employees can quickly find their way to a safety shower. Clearing the chemical spill should be your second priority. Utilize emergency spill kits to take care of most of the hazardous spillage and clean up the remainder of the substance that is left over. It’s crucial that the spill isn’t able to cause additional harm to personnel.

  • Label items properly
  • One of the first mistakes personnel make when dealing with hazardous chemicals is to delay labelling them. A lot of times, you’ll receive a shipment of chemicals that need to be transported, but they will have scarce labels or their next container won’t have any. This is something that is very easily remedied with something as simple as a sticky note.

Optimally, proper labels should be applied, which contain a handy message or symbol that will let other personnel know what they are handling. Delaying this process will only endanger the next person that has to transport the chemical.

Conclusion

Dealing with harmful chemicals is a dangerous, but necessary job. To prevent dangerous situations from occurring, management and cleaning crews need to make sure that personnel are given ideal working conditions where they aren’t likely to be injured. Even in the unlikely case of spillage and exposure to hazardous materials, there should be precautions in place that prevent things from getting out of control and causing significant injuries.

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Top 10 Reasons Why Workplace Safety Is Important

Workplace Safety in the workplace is something that needs to be taken seriously by employers as any indiscretion might lead to dire consequences. At the end of each year is an opportunity to review past practices and implement ways to prevent accidents and minimize injuries.

A company’s safety strategy is very important and offers employees the chance to work in a clean and safe environment without getting injured. You can make your company office safer by applying these simple steps. Safety in the workplace is an important aspect to always improve upon and pay attention to in terms of monitoring how employees comply with the laid standards.

  1. Set goals, and plan

Once you have had time to reflect on the previous year’s challenges and achievements, you will be able to develop a clear vision. A clear and realistic vision allows you to break your vision into smaller realistic goals that are measurable and inform the improvement or introduction of policies.

The process is highly strategic and involved the input of various departments. However, employees on the ground are most likely to have an advanced understanding of how to improve operations on the ground.

  1. Establish a rapport with leadership

Once your company has established a safety model, they would usually appoint a manager or two to deal with safety in the workplace. It is important for your team to remain focused on implementing the culture. If some of your workers are studying, during high-pressure times like strategic reviews, they can use essay writing reviews to get assistance with their studies.

Leadership should be encouraged to take more initiative and ownership of tasks. The leadership team should be able to provide a clear implementation strategy once you develop new goals.

  1. Take everything into consideration

A good safety culture encompasses attention to detail and not missing a single beat in any loopholes that may occur. This means that all hands to be on deck to establish a benchmark of optimal safety.

To create a conducive safety culture in the workplace, you need to ensure that employees are open and honest about the challenges they face on the ground. This can also assist essay writers in developing case studies and draft policies. One way to measure safety culture is by conducting surveys with employees to gain honest insights.

  1. Be innovative

Innovation is a great way to get everyone out of their comfort zone, and you can do that by setting an example. In as much as there is room for change, there is room for a complete turnaround in policy development and implementation.

Finding a clear strategy on how you are going to engage your employees is important on matters of safety. However, once your employees understand the value of innovation in the workplace, they are able to ensure that they implement strategies carefully and correctly.

  1. Involve as many people as possible

Involving everyone in the company gives them a sense of purpose beyond sitting in their office, cubicle, or work station. By involving the workforce, you will learn a lot and understand what needs to be done on the ground to ensure optimal safety in the workplace.

An engaged team tends to operate with more vision and collective focus. Besides, the improvements are aimed at their own wellbeing as employees and showing that you care creates a more engaged workforce.

  1. Planning the changes

If your safety policy requires an entire overhaul, then it might be difficult to initially introduce new ideas to staff. Certain behaviors may have to be changed to accommodate the new setting. Through clear communication, you can assist the staff in implementing new procedures and following protocols.

The values need to be something that clients can relate to and are inspired by. When your organization is going through immense changes, planning helps you to keep your head above water as it allows you time to be supportive toward employees.

  1. Get your timing right

In the world of business, timing is everything. You need to plan all your steps clearly with goals and calculations in mind that are accurate for both long and short term goals. By ensuring consistency in planning, there is a clear picture of your organization’s vision.

By planning your implementation step by step, you are able to determine appropriate dates for induction, workshops, and opportunities. You might also find it useful to develop a policy with the help of dissertation services.

  1. Be accurate

The safety of your employees should not rely on guesswork. Rather, take time to formulate a strategy that is well-informed by the relevant calculations. For instance, understanding where you failed in the previous year gives you plenty of room for valuable engagement with employees.

When working with interns, you might want to encourage them to use assignment writing services for their UK dissertation to keep up with the demands of the job. You can think of measuring and driving change by way of rewarding and motivating positive behavior and adherence to policies.

  1. Be vigilant

It is important to remain focused and clear throughout the year on problems that may arise. This allows you to be highly preemptive in dealing with looking danger and even complacency. It is a well-known fact that complacency leads to failure. Always ask the right questions and seek answers that offer sustainable solutions.

  1. Establish a monitoring and evaluation system

Upon establishing new policies and strategies to ensure optimal safety in the workplace, it is important to establish guidelines to evaluate new systems and improve upon them. A system of evaluation allows a company to consistently comply with mandatory compliance at authority level and also as per organizational requirements. In most cases, M&E ensures that processes are always improved.

The bottom line

These tools will ensure that you guide your workforce in a positive direction and have the patience to resolve safety issues in the future. By strategically aligning your company with national/industrial requirements, you are able to adequately measure your success.

Safety in the workplace should not be a complex matter to approach, nor should it be approached once a year or when an accident occurs. It is important to establish a company culture that revolves around optimal safety in the workplace.

Author Bio

Sharon is a Manchester, UK based marketing specialist and a essay writer. Currently, she is working as a marketer at an essay writing service. She’s also working as a resume writer and an essay writing expert for online writing services. When she’s not at work, she loves to share her ideas on marketing through her blog and podcasts.

 

 

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Safety Tips to Know Before Undergoing the Asbestos Removal Process

Written by Eada Hudes

It is crucial to take certain safety and precautionary measures while removing and handling asbestos. As per recent research studies, asbestos has been associated with serious health hazards such as cancers, mesothelioma, and conditions like asbestosis. However, asbestos has been used in the construction of all kinds of buildings, right from schools and residential houses.

When asbestos becomes worn out due to prolonged usage, it becomes airborne and is subject to various health risks. Thanks to the advanced science and technology, we can overcome all these nasty possibilities with sufficient care and attention. Now, we have qualified asbestos professionals who can detect the asbestos toxicity at your home or workplace and take necessary action to curb it out.

However, as a homeowner or a business professional, you need to understand certain safety tips for asbestos removal and to handle as well. So, we have simplified the technical concepts and presented the information in the form of short, crispy tips.

Understand the Concept of Damage and Toxicity

If you are living in a long-standing house for years, it does not mean that the asbestos is completely hazardous. Undamaged asbestos and which in intact does not cause any health risks. Hence, do not jump to the assumption that your house contains toxic asbestos material.

Go for periodic asbestos inspection

The way our bodies age, our homes also undergo ageing, and we cannot ignore this fact. So, you need to hire an asbestos inspector for complete check-up your home. We recommend you to conduct these evaluations before starting a renovation project in your home. Let us explain why this is needed.

During the renovation, there might be a need to examine particular areas such as crumbling of home areas or wall cracks. Such projects can lead to damage to your asbestos and ultimately results in health risks for the workers and your family members. Hence, appoint a certified asbestos inspector for the same.

Know what the job profile of an asbestos inspector is

You ought to know what an asbestos inspector does while examining your house so that you can ask doubts or seek clarity. An inspector (provided he is the best one) will examine your house visually, extract samples of some surfaces for further checking, and will furnish you with complete details of asbestos present in your house or office.

This written report contains the intensity of the asbestos present, suggestions to rectify the materials, and other details. After the asbestos work is done, the inspector ought to conduct another thorough examination to ensure the work is done as per the set standards and guidelines.

Respect the laws by studying them

Asbestos removal is not similar to de-cluttering your home or office space. It requires adherence to stringent federal as well as state laws. Moreover, the asbestos removal process is evaluated by the environmental health department of the concerned state. Hence, you cannot avoid any entity and have to follow the exact process given.

Make sure the asbestos removal agency is a certified one

The asbestos professionals that you are hiring need to be properly trained for the said process as per state and federal regulations. You can also check on specific portals whether they have violated any safety measures in the past. The professionals also need to attend the refresher training courses so that they are updated with the recent amendments and changes in the asbestos removal procedure. So, we will recommend you to invest considerable time and energy in finding the right asbestos removal in melbourne western suburbs.

Understand the asbestos removal process

Yes, it is about your home or office, and you have to comply with a number of laws. So, you ought to know the asbestos removal process in complete detail without fail. You cannot be ignorant about any aspects or steps in the process. So, consider it as a responsibility to research the ideal process of asbestos removal.

In a nutshell, you can do a bit of research and study before the asbestos removal process to ensure the safety of your family or colleagues, and the workers involved in the process. Proper protection will ensure safe health of people and the environment as well.

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Best Tips to Maintain and Extend Life of Industrial Cables and Wires

As compared to house wires such as Polycab that are used for household or commercial purposes, industrial cables and wires are different, in that these carry heavy loads and have thicker conductors. Industrial cables cost more and require more maintenance to avoid replacement or collateral damage. Made of aluminium, industrial electrical cables can be armoured or unarmoured single core or multi-core, and single insulated or double insulated.

In order to protect these electrical wires against damage such as that from fire, you must take some preventive steps.

Here are the best industrial cable and wire maintenance tips that help increase their performance to their full potential:

  • Take preventive measures before installation

The first step should be to take safe measures such as protecting cable covering from losing its durability by preventing any kind of crushing. Don’t bend the cable more than the recommended radius of bend. Avoid tension and twisting when installing the cable.  

  • Carefully select the wire

Choosing the right cable is important, which is why you must consult an expert before making a purchase. Cables used in industries come with unique requirements. So you must learn about different types of wire and select the one that meets the size in your industry. 

  • Look for any potential damage

Cables for industrial use must be protected from any kind of damage. Therefore, make sure the cables do not catch fire or touch any element that may cause its failure. In case it still gets damaged, you can look for the visible harms, remove and replace the damaged cables with spare ones. 

  • Adjust the cable wherever necessary

Make sure that one end of the cable is not constantly being exposed to rough environments. Reverse the cable ends, if required. Check for any voltage drop, which can impact operating machines. 

  • Examine the cable from time to time

It is essential to check from time to time if a cable is damaged or broken. Using an infrared thermometer at fixed intervals, you can assess whether an overhead cable is heating up beyond atmospheric temperature. In case it is heating up beyond 60 degree celsius, you need to look at load and cables. Also, you may need to replace the overheating cable with a thicker cable.

Industrial cables must be protected with paint or sheath as their exposure to sunlight may lead to UV degradation. Besides, cables should be checked for any rat cuts, which may put employees‘ life at risk. There should be no signs of sparks or blackening.

 

  • Maintain detailed records

Maintaining proper records such as date of purchase of the cable and its installation, type of cable used, and reason for a cable’s failure, is important. You must know about load carrying capacity of different lines to identify the type of wire used for a particular load point.

Conclusion

Regular maintenance of industrial cables and wires is vital to keeping them undamaged and saving on steep outages. The aforementioned tips will help you take the necessary actions and prevent your wires and cables from possible failure.

Author Bio:

Jeson Pitt works with the marketing department of D & F Liquidators in Hayward, CA and regularly writes to share his knowledge while enlightening people about electrical products and solving their electrical dilemmas. He’s got the industry insights that you can count on along with years of experience in the field. Jeson lives in Hayward, CA and loves to explore different cuisines that the food trucks in the Bay area have to offer.

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5 Ways To Make Your Company Office Safer

Regardless of the scale of commercial activity, an office is the control center, brain, and heart of any company. Various factors influence the efficiency of work, but one of them is the safety of office workers and their activities. Confidence in their security allows staff to work productively, and the leader – not to worry about the safety of their values, both material and informational. In this article, we tell how to make your office as safe and comfortable as possible.

Two Key Criteria for a Safe Office

Safety is a very comprehensive concept, but it is possible to emphasize two main indicators according to which the office can be considered a safe place to work.

  • Comfortable and healthy conditions for employees inside office premises, minimizing risks;
  • Reducing the negative impact on the environment through the rational use of material and energy resources.

Based on these two indicators, we suggest that you consider ways to make your office safer, more comfortable and environmentally friendly.

Prevent Germs and Infections from Circulating the Office

Office staff due to work in a stuffy room and a sedentary lifestyle can get sick up to 6 times a year. At the same time, about 70% of sick workers continue to go to work. Almost half of them do nothing to warn others about their illness.

Often offices are organized in the form of “open space” when a large number of employees work in the same room. This approach has its advantages (the convenience of organizing work and exchanging information, saving space), but also many drawbacks: increased noise level, difficulties in providing comfortable conditions for all employees, as well as an increased risk of infection during seasonal colds.

To minimize these risks in “open space” it is recommended to install devices for disinfection of the room from germs and viruses. It is also a good idea to implement the practice of wet cleaning in the workplace after the end of the working day. If finances allow, then it is possible to hire a cleaner on an ongoing basis.

Or, you can come up with a reward system for employees if they do it themselves. Motivate them to wipe the table and keyboard with a damp cloth – daily at the end of the working day. Regularly ventilate the room, arranging a strong, but the short-lived draft in the office – with it, the bacteria disappear as quickly as possible. Do this with colleagues after each visitor leaves or, if the source of the virus is in the office, at least five times per business day.

Add indoor plants

The biophilia hypothesis states: visual contact with elements of wildlife affects the increase in productivity and labor efficiency. Employees sitting surrounded by white dull walls will work worse than those who have the opportunity to see growing fresh flowers in the office or beautiful views of nature from the windows.

This will help them suppress the stress associated with working moments and continue to work in high spirits. Some companies even have cats in their offices, because as you know, talking with furry pets improves your moral well-being.

Cats are of course an optional idea, but fresh and clean air is necessary for the active work of the brain and keeping the body in good shape. Plants absorb chemical elements and microorganisms that are harmful to humans while producing oxygen. Studies by scientists from Cardiff University have shown that having plants in the office increases productivity by 15% and also reduces stress and tension. This means that your employees will be able to at least partially protect themselves from burnout syndrome, and this is an even more common office disease than acute respiratory infections.

Think of this simple, ecological, and inexpensive idea to make your office more secure and your employees more productive.

Pay Attention to Natural Lighting

It is worthwhile to carefully work with the natural insolation of the room and arrange the workplaces so that the employees receive a lot of sunlight. You may ask, what is the relationship with security? The relationship is completely direct.

Lack of lighting impairs vision, leads to a deficiency of vitamin D and a decrease in immunity. Incorrectly designed light will not only damage eyesight but also increase fatigue. It is all about the safety of your employees in terms of their health and work efficiency for the benefit of your business.

It is possible to control the level of insolation thanks to a special film that protects against ultraviolet radiation and allows indoor air not to heat up. If at some time of the day the sunlight is too active, you can use translucent blinds made from natural materials.

Lighting standards for offices are regulated by building codes. They indicate the necessary minimum illumination for the office. For some offices, this minimum of lighting is recommended to be increased – and sometimes at times (especially when there are few sources of daylight in the office). It is believed that the most favorable lighting environment for the office is soft daylight.

Protect Your Office from Fire

Many managers believe that fire safety measures in the office are needed only to comply with the law and to avoid problems during inspections of regulatory authorities. In this case, it is enough to install an inexpensive alarm system, which formally meets the legal requirements. It will cost 30–40% cheaper than a more technically sophisticated and informative alarm.

However, if you care about your office, employees and their safety within it, then, when choosing a security system, evaluate first of all its functionality. The system and fire safety measures in the office include burglar alarms, fire alarms, warning and evacuation systems for people in case of fire, video surveillance system, access control, and management system. From this set, the regulations oblige to install an automatic fire alarm, as well as a warning and evacuation control system for people in case of a fire in the office. However, we recommend that you not be greedy and choose the most innovative and smart systems. When it comes to the lives of people that a fire can take in a few seconds, money no longer matters.

Reduce the Environmental Impact

Everything that harms the environment harms people in the first place. And this, by the way, is also true concerning the reputation of your company and brand. Modern buyers want to know what environmental missions are implemented in the company whose goods or services they use. Therefore:

  • Do not use household chemicals in the office that contain chlorine and organochlorine compounds, as well as phosphates and phosphonates. Choose environmentally-friendly household chemicals that can be decomposed into safe components in the environment by at least 90% in a short time.
  • Do not buy stationery, home furnishings, and equipment made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if there are alternative products on the market.
  • When replacing windows, choose modern wooden or metal double-glazed windows, instead of plastic windows made of PVC.
  • Discard disposable tableware in the office. If this is not possible for hygienic reasons, arrange the collection of all disposable tableware and hand it in for processing.
  • Organize the collection and recycling of used cartridges, batteries and office equipment, as well as the collection and safe storage of batteries. The same goes for prudent paper consumption. For example, if you received several options for translating documents from a specialized translation service like The Word Point, print only those copies that you need. Everything else can be emailed.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is not so difficult to make the office safer. It is enough to ensure a healthy and ecological atmosphere in the office, as well as protect yourself from emergencies.

Author Bio

Frank Hamilton has been working as a translator at translation service Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German and English.

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Driving Health and Safety: How to Avoid Driver Fatigue

Driving safely means more than keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. It also means keeping your focus on your environment so that you give yourself the best possible chance of anticipating hazards and reacting to events you cannot anticipate.

This means staying awake at all times, literally and figuratively. The team at Nottingham Driving School share some tips on how to do so.

Only drive when you have had enough sleep

This tip is both self-evident and for some people (especially parents of young babies) an obvious case of “easier said than done” but it is still arguably the single, most important precaution against driver fatigue.

If you are tired before you start the car then you will be fighting against fatigue throughout the whole of your journey and you may lose. Even if you do not actually fall asleep, your concentration is bound to be impaired and this can have disastrous consequences, especially if you need to react quickly.

Be careful about driving when on medication

If you’re on medication, check the packaging carefully to see if it is likely to make you feel sleepy.

Avoid driving when you are under the weather

Fighting off an illness, even a minor one like a cold, can really be tough on your body. That’s why the best prescription is often rest. When you’re under the weather, it can be dangerously easy for fatigue to creep up on you without you noticing – until it’s too late.

Try to avoid driving after meals, at least heavy meals

If you eat heavy food, your body has to work to digest it and your natural inclination will be to take a rest while it does so. The heavier the food, the more rest you will need and the more you will want to sleep.

Alcohol can also be dangerous to your concentration, even if you’re technically under the legal limit. If you’re in a situation where alcohol is flowing but you know you’re going to need to drive, then just say so or, at the very least, stick to drinks with relatively low alcohol and a lot of liquid (like beer or spritzers).

Keep the window down as much as possible

Given the Great British weather, you may need to keep the window up most of the time for your comfort and safety, but if you can roll it down, even a bit, then the fresh air can do a lot to keep you awake.

Use refreshing scents like citrus and menthol

Citrus and menthol scents really do stimulate the mind, at least for short periods, after a while either the scent fades or the body tunes it out (or a combination of both), but spraying either or both of them from time to time can be enough to get your brain (back) in gear.

Plan your trip to allow for regular breaks and use them wisely

There are two ways you can use a break in a long trip. The first is to get active. Physically get out of your car (assuming it is safe to do so), at least roll down the window to get some fresh air (if you possibly can) and in either case do some stretches. The second is to have a short sleep.

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10 Easy Steps to Take to Increase Workplace Safety

Every hour, there are about 510 injuries reported at workplaces in the United States alone. These events can result in serious injuries and even death.

In economic aspect, millions of hours are lost to the effects of deteriorating workplace safety, findings made by a research paper writing service has revealed. Automatically, companies suffer from numerous compensations, medical treatments, and severance rates from these injured employees. Given these numbers, reinforcing accident prevention is critical. The best way to avoid this painful process is to invest in workplace safety.

As emphasized by different industries need security attention. In this regard, some suggestions may be of great value for maintaining employee protection parameters and measures. Check out these 10 steps to accident prevention in the workplace!

Steps to Take to Increase Workplace Safety

  • Ensure the workplace tidy and organized

Many accidents occur due to the clutter on the desk. A tool dropped on the floor and a leakage on the floor can be costly. When these oversights add to the intensity of work routines, the result can be dangerous for everyone.

In this respect, little but simple care can make all the difference. Ensuring an organized workplace is the duty of all the workers. Teamwork results in a risk-free environment where everyone can move and act smoothly.

  • Prioritize value for focus at work

All work needs to be done with focus. Especially in risky positions, it is critical to be aware of environmental factors that can pose safety hazards. With increasing forms of distraction, it is important to determine rules for worker protection and the priority with their obligations. According to assignment writing service, conversations, cell phones and even factors such as tiredness can expose workers to accidents.

  • Avoid reckless risk exposure

Accidents often happen because of employees’ recklessness. If any situation demonstrates imminent danger, stay away from it. This thinking must be cultivated throughout the company so that it becomes a broad idea.

Do not visit places that you do not have prior permission to be there. Also, avoid getting around areas and equipment which you’re not qualified to use.

  • Implement and ensure the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

The failure to use personal protective equipment can result in an unplanned cost of around £50m every year, according to a research by one of the dissertation writing services in the UK.

A company is required to provide, at no cost to the worker, all PPE that may be required in their operation. Employees will have different protection demands to perform their tasks safely.

Likewise, once the PPE is in the employees’ possession, he is obliged to use it, as well as to ensure their integrity. The company has a duty to provide and the right to enforce the use of PPE. These include gloves, goggles, breathing protection, hearing protection, fall belts, helmets, boots, among others.

  • Take care of yourself and your co-workers

Accident prevention is a teamwork. It is necessary for co-workers to guide one another to avoid accidents. A good example is with the use of PPE as mentioned above. One employee must always remember and supervise the other to generate the right culture.

Another important thing is to avoid performing tasks in isolation, especially in hazardous areas. Follow-up, whether by another partner or a work safety technician, is important.

For this to work, it is important for co-workers to form partnership among themselves. Thus, the environment becomes safer and it strengthens the culture of accident prevention.

  • Report incidents

According to best essay writing services, unaddressed incidents can easily become accidents. Anything that happens out of the ordinary in your tasks should be communicated to your superiors. Typically, each company has its own incident reporting procedure, so it is critical to follow it.

Each experience will alert other people in the same situation. Future problems can be simply avoided by adopting corrective and preventive practices. Reporting incidents should be a habit. The more the company learns about them, the more it can work objectively to eliminate risks. This cycle tends to result in an increasingly safe work environment.

  • Only use work machines that have been reviewed

Using serviced and certified machines is a good way of preventing accident. However, some companies do not always worry about a proper maintenance routine. Lack of time, cost, and the need to use them for tasks are factors that cause this problem. The employees, however, should not take any chances.

Every machine needs care and frequent overhaul. Else, it is susceptible to malfunctions that can lead to accidents. The problem will not always be limited to poorly executed work. The consequences can hit the employee who is using it. If you notice a problem, notify the maintenance guys about the need for maintenance. Regular reviews are essential.

  • Avoid using tools in poor condition

Tools are also items that can create problems and should enter the accident prevention routine. They are subject to natural wear and tear, which can also endanger those handling them in everyday life.

It is essential that the employees stop using tools that are in poor condition, especially those exposed to impacts which can have consequences.

Breaking a cable, for example, can cause the worker to lose control, resulting in some shock to his own body. Injuries of different levels can happen and take the employee out of activity.

The proper thing to do is to introduce new tools and stop using those that are no longer efficient. As for the company, it is necessary to inspect the equipment regularly and arrange for replacement when necessary.

  • Limit yourself to your duties only

Workers should not execute tasks which they are not trained for, especially those involving risks. Many industrial tasks require intensive training and courses, precisely what qualifies employees to perform them.

At no time should this practice be done. It is illegal, can cause accidents and harm the company. The employer should not ask an unprepared employee to do something they do not know how to do. Along with this, it is also up to the worker not to risk doing jobs that are not within his competence.

This negligence hinders accident prevention! If the employee is instructed to do something he or she does not know how to do, he or she should go to a superior or an occupational safety technician to report that he or she does not have the necessary qualifications.

  • Operate machines responsibly

Machines are needed for various jobs in factories and large companies. Therefore, the operation requires basic usage parameters. Good practices range from attention when performing work to the use of PPE. Many machines are sharp, heavy and have other characteristics that, if not considered, pose serious risks.

It is then critical that the operator is primarily qualified to work with the machine. In addition, he needs to be very careful when operating, especially when other workers are nearby.

Conclusion

Accident prevention practice is extensive, but fundamental for the company and its employees. As pointed out in a workplace manual by good practices that increase workplace safety help make the workplace safer for everyone, curb downtime and therefore increase productivity.

Author Bio

Sharon is marketing specialist and custom essay writer from Manchester, UK. When she has a minute, she loves to share a few of her thoughts about marketing, writing and blogging with you. Currently, she is working as a marketer at professional essay writers and essay-writing service. You could follow Sharon on Facebook.

 

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Haven’t Been Wearing Ear Defenders? 3 Vital Reasons Why You Must Start Wearing One

Written by Precious Marho

A few months ago, I accompanied a friend for a purchase at a wood vendor. Startlingly, the employee who was delegated to sawing the wood to size neglected to wear an ear protection, despite the machine’s loud noise. Simply looking at him from afar, working handily with the machine- totally exposed was terrifying. Afterwards, I deemed it necessary to educate him on the demerits of exposing his ears to such loud noises. A lecture that was perhaps better apt for the employer.

Unfortunately, this occurrence is commonplace in industries and companies around the world. Employees are left unprotected from the dangers of loud noise and their employers- not caring too much about the safety of the workers, or perhaps ignorant of the damage, are unconcerned. The health and safety of workers must be considered paramount, and in particularly loud industries, their ears must be protected from noise hazards. But, with what should it be protected?

Ear defenders are personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to protect the wearer from extremely loud noises. In a ton of industries, employees are routinely exposed to noise levels higher than 85 decibels, which can be detrimental to their long term health. As an employee, it is your RIGHT to be adequately protected in your job and you must demand ear defenders from your employer.

There are two major types of ear defenders that can be used for protection against high level noise. There are the ear muffs and the ear plugs. Ear muffs, similar in appearance to a headphone, has acoustic foam which absorbs sound waves. Ear plugs however, are small cylindrical-shaped gadgets designed to fit onto the ear canal. Your choice of an appropriate ear defender will depend on your industry, ambient conditions, and individual requirements.

In industries where employees are required to wear other forms of PPE, say helmets and goggles, ear plugs which can easily be used in tandem with these PPEs are more suitable than ear muffs.

Ear muffs (ideally, thermal muffs) are better suited for workplaces in cooler climate. Conversely, with its small surface area, ear plugs are the go-to defenders for workplaces in warmer climates. Moreover, the less-cumbersome design of ear plugs means they are much easier for employees to carry around. However, employees with ear infections will be more comfortable wearing ear muffs because of its detachment from sensitive ear nerves.

Summarily though, ear plugs, which sit on the ear canal, guarantee the very highest levels of noise protection. As an employer, you may even consider advising employees to wear muffs and plugs together for greater protection against ultra-high noise levels (>103 decibels).

As kind of a bonus, newer models of ear defenders, whilst eliminating loud noises, enable the employee to hear signals and alarm calls and via a two way radio, communicate with their colleagues. This is very useful for workplaces where communication is essential amid high level noises.

Perhaps, you have soldiered on in your noisy workplace without ear defenders for a long time, or you’ve seen someone who has, and don’t really know what the noise is all about. There are several reasons why you absolutely, matter-of-factly need to use ear protection in your workplace. The consequences of continuous exposure to high noise levels can be highly damaging to your health and relationships. May we examine these consequences?

Physical consequences:

One time exposure or constant exposure to noise in the workplace may result in a condition called occupational noise induced hearing loss (ONIHL). That is temporary or permanent damage to the hearing abilities of one or both ears. ONIHL can occur immediately upon exposure or, every so often, subsequently after series of exposures.

Signs of hearing loss include: difficulty hearing and understanding words, tinnitus (ringing in the head or ears), ear aches, difficulty understanding consonant sounds, and a spinning sensation akin to vertigo. If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you should see an Otologist. Unfortunately, noise induced hearing loss cannot be cured, but it can be treated and managed.

Psychological health reasons:

High levels of noise can cause a range of psychological problems including mental health problems, stress, dizziness and vertigo, nausea, muscle cramps and just plain old noise annoyance. Working amidst high level noise can distract employees and reduce their concentration levels, causing mental, emotional or physical strain, which may result in depression.

Moreover, our bodies respond to noise during sleep, regardless of whether we are awoken or not. The ensuing sleep deprivation may result in fatigue, dizziness, memory loss, mood swings and an increased susceptibility to injuries and diseases.

Physiological health reasons:

Exposure to industrial noise may affect the workings of the cardiovascular system and lead to an increase in the heart rate. This increase in heart rate can cause high blood pressure and hypertension.

A study of aircraft noise  around Heathrow Airport found that high level noise was associated with coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease in the nearby area. And in a 2018 study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), hypertension was found to be more common among workers exposed to loud noise in the workplace.

As an employer, the reality is that you have a lot to gain if your employees are protected from noise (and all) hazards in your workplace. In the event of workplace injury or harm to your employees, the medical, legal and compensation costs will fall squarely on your shoulders and, depending on the level of your business; that may be detrimental to your income.

An employee without the numerous health problems associated with high level noise will be far more focused, productive and effective in the organisation. This enhanced focus and concentration creates a safer condition in your workplace and reduces the potential for accidents.

In the event of an accident in your workplace that could have been hitherto avoided by wearing ear defenders, your company’s reputation may be tarnished and other companies are less likely to do business with you as a result. Providing ear defenders and all required PPEs for your employees will make those reputation-damaging accidents less likely.

Then again, procuring ear defenders for your employees do not suffice. You must organise trainings and workshops on how to properly use and maintain the defenders. Furthermore, you must regularly inspect the defenders for change in shape and reduced performance.

Adequate workplace protection is non-negotiable, and now more than ever, you must rise up to this challenge and ensure that every single person in your company is protected against all forms of noise hazards. If you don’t protect employees in your workplace and ensure their safety, no one else will. It is your OBLIGATION and a necessity for every company serious about doing business in the 21st century. Including yours.

About the author

Precious Marho is a freelance writer specialising in occupational health, safety and oil and gas.

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Independent Power Producers – Can They Really Boost Your Profitability?

Sites eager to boost their mining power and power generation reliability may benefit from contracting an independent power producer.

Although short-term power solutions have their advantages, independent power producers are effective in combating power outages and other power-related problems.

In Africa, mining is one of the largest energy consumers. Combined with fluctuating fuel prices and varying power demands, obtaining reliable power solutions for remote sites can be challenging.

By choosing the right Independent Power Producer (IPP), you can boost your site’s profitability through flexible power options that are underpinned by greater reliability. IPPs are non-utility generators that are co-located at individual mine site operation – an “in-house” dedicated electricity supplier, if you like. They’re renowned for providing significant compliance with power production requirements and an ability to provide continuous power supply on a 24/7 basis all year round.

If you’re looking to boost profitability and power reliability, here’s why you should consider an IPP.

Increase Efficiency and Minimise Downtime

It can be cost-inefficient to take on the operation of your own power plant, something that is rarely within the core skill set of mining personnel. Instead, IPPs have a sole focus and responsibility to stable, energy-efficient power geared for long-term results.

Improved fuel efficiency can be achieved to positively impact on profitability. Typically, the mining operation will supply fuel to the IPP, who is tasked and measured by agreed fuel efficiency targets. Financial penalties apply to IPPs that don’t meet the fuel efficiency targets (effectively reimbursing the customer for the cost of extra fuel consumed above the agreed target rate). Some contracts may also specify a shared fuel savings model, which can increase profitability further by sharing in fuel savings achieved above an agreed target.

Fuel consumption efficiency is a critical measure but must be achieved without sacrificing reliability and financial penalties also apply under the IPP model if power outages occur.

These penalties and savings mechanisms provide great assurance to the mining customer that they will have reliable, cost efficient power supply for their operation.

IPPs are also now combining thermal baseload power with renewable innovations, such as solar hybrid technology, which contribute to further savings and lower emissions.

IPPs help keep mining operations profitable through renewable resources, long term performance and cutting edge technology to meet varying power demands for individual sites.

Lower Implementation and Infrastructure Costs

For mining sites who want to be more flexible with funding and achieve a lower risk profile, contracting an IPP can help reduce capital and operating expenses.

Building, running and maintaining your own power plant comes with high capital outlays and ongoing operating expenses in parts, consumables, oil and labour. However, IPPs relieve these financial pressures by combining them into one guaranteed electricity supply rate, leaving you with more financial leverage.

For your power system to be fully flexible and cost-effective, it must be specifically designed to meet the requirements of your mine site. A reputable IPP will work with you to meet these objectives and increase your site power output and capacity.

Improve Sustainability

Because IPPs offer less fuel consumption for both diesel and gas gensets, power density is increased and fewer carbons are emitted, ultimately boosting sustainability.

The use of renewable resources also contributes to sustainable power generation practices for remote mine sites.

Sustainable long-term alternatives for power generation offer more efficient solutions, reduce costs and help to conserve the local environment. Solar, hybrid, wind and water power minimise energy costs, as well as position your site as green-friendly.

Manage Safety

Along with fuel and energy costs, safety is one of the most critical considerations for mining sites.

To minimise your site’s risk profile, IPPs handle the entire safety concerns and risk management relating to mine site power supply.

IPPs can offer valuable long-term power solutions. But before mine sites invest in contracting an IPP, it’s important to consider other factors such as market demand, contract procurement and revenue security.

Author Bio

This article is written by a local content writer, Jayde Ferguson. Catch her on LinkedIn.