General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

Safety Tips to be followed by everyone having small kids in house

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Safety Tips to be followed by everyone having small kids in house

We all go through several articles and blogs about general safety, workplace safety, traveling safety, etc but hardly have we seen safety tips for kids inside your house. There is a huge misconception in people’s mind that if the kid is in the house he/she is absolutely safe. You guys will have to come out of that bubble as your kids are most insecure when they are inside your house.

When kids are around you inside the house you get a bit care free and relaxed neglecting lots of safety concerns that can cause really bad damage to your small kids. Safety starts at your own house is a true thing, keeping your kids secure a home will help them learn a lot as they will be able to differentiate between the threats and harmless things. Here is the list of safety precautions that everyone having small kids in house must take:

  • Cover all the extra sockets: we all must be having lots of switch boards in our house and majority of them are not even used. If you have small kids and your switchboards having sockets are at a lower level where your kid can easily reach so make sure you cover all those sockets with the appropriate amount of tape or else your kid might get current from it. You can use the sockets that are on the higher level. Also make sure you don’t leave your chargers plugged in the socket.
  • Make sure your balcony is covered: no matter you live in an apartment or a bungalow you must be having a terrace or a balcony. It is very important that you cover the terrace or balcony nicely so that it doesn’t ruin your home’s beauty and also it gets secured. There is a high chance of small kids falling down from terrace or balconies, so it is always better to take timely precautions rather than curing it later.
  • Get a door fixed next to the stairs: if you live in a one unit house and you have stairs in your house then you have to be extra careful with your toddlers as they do not have enough sense about the stairs. Make sure you block your stairs with a beautiful small wooden door, you can get one customized according to your interiors as it will not look bad and will also fulfill your safety needs. These doors can also be temporary so you can get rid of them as soon as your kids grow up. This will prevent your small kids from falling down the stairs.
  • Don’t keep your straighteners and tongs on the floor: many young mothers make this mistake of leaving their witched on tongs and straighteners on the floor without realizing that their kids are crawling and roaming in the house so they can get their hands or body burned by touching it. Small kids obviously don’t know what a tong or a straightener is or what a scented candle is. All these things are attractive for small kids and they will want to grab it.
  • Keep your electrical stuff out of reach: any electrical stuff in your house should be kept far away from your kid’s reach. May it be beauty products; chargers, kitchen products or whatever is it in your house keep it on a higher level where your kids cannot reach. There have been so many cases observed in different countries where kids lose their lives just because of their parent’s carelessness. Of course you don’t want to be one of them, so make sure that you take this precaution and keep your kids safe from any incident.
  • Make sure your kids don’t reach any chemicals, bleach, finyle, etc: apart from all the electronic things in your house there are lots of other things that should not be in your kid’s hands. You might be having different cleaning chemicals, hair chemicals, and other hair products, you might also be having finyle, colors, paints, polish, perfumes, and so on, make sure all these things are kept on a higher level where your kid cannot reach or if it’s even on the lower level in the cupboard or cabinet then make sure its locked all the time until and unless it is not being used.

Above mentioned are very simple and minor things that are ignored by many people and because of this small kids have to suffer a lot. You should always take precautions instead of getting your kids and yourself in trouble.

Author Bio: David J. Paul is an engineer by profession and a lecturer by passion at Assignment Help Online. He has conducted hundreds of training and safety sessions in his career of seventeen years.

Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Protective Clothing

Essential Safety Wear All Trades People Should Consider

Essential Safety Wear All Trades People Should Consider

When it comes to work clothing, it needs to be suitable for the job. It may need to be hard wearing, comfortable and safe or maybe all three. The right footwear will have to worn as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) where necessary.

Below is a list of the important items that tradesmen should wear and how they are safe for the work environment.

Safety Footwear – Safety footwear is a crucial aspect of work clothing. The ideal safety footwear should have a midsole that consists of protective steel as well as a steel toe cap. The upper should be made of leather and have a padded collar while the insole should be moulded and removable while they should be shock absorbent with a double density PU sole.

Trousers – They will need to be durable, practical and versatile. An important aspect of work safety trousers are the pockets because they will need multiple pockets while front cargo pockets are required for easy access to tools.

Microfleece – These provide warmth and comfort while being lightweight making them ideal for layering throughout the year. During the winter they can be worn under a jacket while its high collar acts as a wind shield. During warmer conditions it is ideal as a top layer.

Work Shorts – These are crucial during the summer months but they have to provide comfort and durability. A large selection of pockets will make it easy to store tools and accessories.

Hi-Visibility Jackets – These jackets are not just warm thanks to their fleet lining but they are also waterproof with tapes seams to keep you warm and dry. Hi-Vis clothing provides more safety if those wearing the jackets are working in unlit areas or the dark.

Body Warmers – Tradesmen need to stay warm and comfortable which is why a body warmer is the perfect choice. They are windproof and practical making them ideal in a number of ways.

Nitrile Gloves – These provide grip and resistance from abrasion in wet and oily conditions while the coating makes them water resistant. They are strong and durable which means they can be worn over and over without tearing.

Work Jackets – Opting for a jacket that has a micro fleece lining will ensure that it is warm yet a Teflon polycotton will make it stain resistant. Internal pockets and ample external pockets make it the ideal work jacket.

Safety Glasses – These are part of the PPE and protect the eyes. They are now seen in the majority of industries as they protect the eyes from hazards, debris and chemicals.

Safety Helmets – In the construction industry in particular as well as many other industries, safety helmets are one of the most important forms of safety. Workers will have to wear them all day long which means choosing the right one is vital. They can be used with detachable ear defenders and face visors for an extra level of safety while they can also be worn with thermal hoods. They have to comply with the safety standard EN397, or ANSI Z89.1 regulations in the U.S. and should be able to resist impact.

Foam Earplugs – Again, these are used in a number of industries and are ideal for working low levels of noised for long periods and areas with high noise levels. They come in a range of sizes and colours as well as shapes so that they fit the ears correctly.

Dust Masks – These are a common disposable PPE item. They are seen in a number of industries and provide protection from dust and fumes.

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

Top Health and Safety Tips for Office Furniture

Top Health and Safety Tips for Office Furniture

The most common injuries that take place within an office environment are associated with ergonomics (referring to the science of equipment design). Due to the fact that the majority of an office worker’s time is spent sat at a desk while working on a computer, this exposes them to a higher risk of strains and other injuries concerned with posture and repetitive movement. There are a number of things you can do to try and reduce this.

Provide adjustable equipment

An office is the perfect example of a situation where one size definitely does not fit all. Everybody is different and therefore it is important to provide chairs, work surfaces, monitor stands etc that are adjustable to accommodate everyone. It is also important to source the furniture and equipment from a reputable company where you can be sure it is regulated and has passed numerous safety tests, for example by purchasing your office furniture in Manchester rather than from other countries where it may not be regulated.

Train workers how to use equipment

Once you have all of the correct furniture and equipment installed, it is your duty to ensure that the employees are also properly educated on the risks and trained to use the equipment effectively. You should make sure they are firstly aware of the correct way to set up their work station, the damage that could be caused if this isn’t carried out, and then how to use and adjust the furniture provided to achieve this.

Provide document holders

When copying from a hard copy, constantly switching position from looking down at the desk to up at the computer screen can lead to neck strain. A document holder that holds the hard copy up at eye level next to the computer screen will eliminate the risk of neck strain. It will also be beneficial of your eyes as they will no longer have to constantly change focus as you swap from the document to the monitor. It is also advised that employee’s feet are able to firmly touch the floor when seated, and the mouse always be placed level with the keyboard.

Healthy and safety in the office is essential as it concerns the welfare of employees, employers, and anybody else who enters the workplace from customers to the post man. There are a number of inevitable hazards within an office environment and accidents do happen. However, as an employer it is your duty to make sure you are aware of these hazards, and have put every possible measure in place to minimise the risks.

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

Construction Safety 101: Workwear, Safety Gear & Equipment

Construction Safety 101: Workwear, Safety Gear & Equipment

Keeping construction workers safe is a primary job among managers and foremen, with accomplishing the work to specifics and being on time being second. To support this main concern on construction sites, there are different pieces of safety vests and equipment that every worker should wear. These include items like safety vests, reflective T-shirts, and hard hats. Let’s walk through construction safety 101 while keeping your team sharp and safe on the construction site with these safety items.

Hard Hats

Protect the head in safety and style with an OSHA approved hard hat.  Hard hats should provide not just maximum protection from falling debris, but they should also deliver comfort factor for its wearer. For instance, if you need a high-performing hard hat with a Super-bowl style design, 2017 Super Bowl hard hats are approved for constructions site. These NFL hard hats are designed with comfortable and adjustable 4-point One-Touch Suspension for maximum protection and comfort.

Back Support Gears

Back injuries are among the most pressing health problems in construction sites by far. Hence, workers should promote maximum construction safety 101 by using back support gears to stay sharp and safe on the site.  The Allegro All Fit Back Support items are made in a universal size, so they fit most workers. Protect your back with these high-performance belts that deliver full back coverage, with neoprene pads for comfortable wear. For workers’ convenience, these back support gears come inside of a customized reusable zipper storage bag.

High Visibility Vests

Most construction workers require maximum flame resistance and maximum visibility at work. The Arc Flame Resistant Lime Class 2 Sleeveless Vest – Silver Stripe is preferred by many workers due to its wide range of applications. These High-Visibility vests come with silver stripes for excellent visibility as well as flame resistance. There are available in different sizes, so every worker will surely find the perfect size for him to work smartly and safely at the construction site.  They are also soft and flexible for maximum convenience.

Fall Protection

One of the most serious concerns among construction workers is falling. It is every employer’s responsibility to protect their employees from falls.  The Elk River Freedom Series Aerial Lift Kit is an OSHA-approved item that contains several fall protection products. If you work with platform lifts, buck trucks or scissor lifts, this item is a great product for you. They come with a unique D-ring harness for comfort and security while working high above the ground.

Safety Respirators

Protect your workers from gases, vapors and particles with high-performing reusable respirators. They

 

Provide protection against particles, gases and vapors with the 3M full line of reusable respirators. The 3M 5000 Half Face Respirator Kits are made to fit bigger head sizes. These safety respirators are very easy to set up and they can be used for wide range of applications.

Aside from these safety items, construction workers are also required to wear sturdy work shoes, long work pants, safety glasses, chemical splash goggles, face shields, hearing protection and protective gloves. At all times, practice construction safety 101 to keep your team safe and sharp at work.

 

Author Bio (Northbay)

Northbay is known for its high quality HVAC products and services that every client can depend on. They are proud to sell and install the finest air conditioning and heating products and carry out quality services for repair and maintenance. They can help you with all your HVAC needs, regardless of your system’s makes and models. They pride themselves for their unmatched customer service. http://www.northbayheatingandair.com/

 

 

Eye Protection, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing

6 Must-Have HVAC Health & Safety Products

6 Must-Have HVAC Health & Safety Products

HVAC Health & Safety Products are optimally matched so you can benefit not only from efficient installation and reduce operational costs, but also form an additional layer of security against system failure. Today let’s walk through a rundown of top HVAC products that are perfect for your air heating and cooling needs.

  1. HVAC Safety Glasses

Protect yourself by picking HVAC safety glasses that comply with the latest industry standard. For instance, Jackson Nemesis CAMO Safety Glasses w/ Amber Lens is a useful HVAC safety product for a vast range of applications. They come with a unique camouflage design and several types of lens tints to make HVAC works easier and safer.

  1. Multi-Task Light Gloves

Eliminate the fatigue and the risks of hand injury while working on HVAC systems. Invest in a high quality safety glove that that provides high levelsb of illumination for any task. You’d surely love the efficiency of MCR RED Multi Task Light Gloves made with sophisticated finger construction that delivers high-intensity LED lights. They are designed from synthetic leather and can be utilized for different kinds of tasks.

  1. Safety Vests

All HVAC workers should use a high-visibility safety vest. When looking for a safety vest, you should always look into the background colors of your working area, so you won’t blend into it. For example, if you’re working on a blacktop with white safety cones, you might want to choose a high-visibility safety vest like Orange Surveyors Vests with THINK SAFETY Imprint on Back.

  1. Hard Hats

One of the most important HVAC Health & Safety Products is hard hats. They protect the head from potential injuries due to falling objects, electric shock or impact with debris. Experts recommend HVAC safety hard hats that are designed from a protective polyethylene shell such as MSA V-Gard Cap Style Hard Hats with One Touch Suspensions. They are designed for superior impact and puncture resistance.

  1. Safety Coverall

Safety coveralls for HVAC works should be comfortable, functional and provide the necessary safety level of contractors. It’s a smart ideal to invest in high quality HVAC clothing such as Indura Flame Resistant Coverall. It weighs only 9 ounces and is designed with a unique Khaki color style. Theses safety clothings provide optimum flame resistance. Thanks to its flame-retardant polymer.

  1. Hearing Protection Products

HVAC Health & Safety Products for hearing protection including earplugs are designed for workers who work in noisy settings. These safety products are important not only to protect your hearing from loud noise but also for your safety. Purchase a high-performing hearing protection product like Howard Leight USA Earplugs Uncorded. These earplugs have patriotic colors that also help increase visibility. They easily adapt to your ear canal’s shape and they are very comfortable to wear.

In a working environment where health and safety are very crucial, it is important to choose the right tools and apparels. To those who work in the HVAC industry, the above-mentioned HVAC Health & Safety Products are all you need to keep HVAC jobs much easier, more convenient, and safer.

 

Author Bio (Withrow Mechanical Inc)

Withrow Mechanical Inc is a highly dependable HVAC company that specializes in residential and commercial heating and cooling solutions. The company aims to provide customers with top quality products and services that are unique to every situation. While doing this, they strive to keep all HVAC projects on time and within the budget of their customers. Committed to customers’ complete satisfaction, Withrow Mechanical Inc. stands behind all of their workmanship for the best HVAC solutions. http://withrowmechanical.com

 

 

 

 

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

Safety Precautions to Take When Working with Electronic Equipment

Safety Precautions to Take When Working with Electronic Equipment

   

Safety Can be Confusing
Safety Can be Confusing

 

When working with or testing any electronic equipment, it’s always important to be cautious. Whatever type of equipment you’re handling, whether simple or complex, it’s important to take the right safety precautions.  

Working with electricity comes with huge risks that should never be taken lightly. If you’re a hobbyist who loves working with electronic components or an electronics professional at your workplace, safety should always come first.

 To avoid personal injury, possible damage to equipment or danger of fire, all work on electronic equipment should be conducted following these safety procedures.

 General Safety

 Before working on any electronics, consider following these basic safety precautions to help reduce any hazards.

•           Remove any electronic equipment you’re testing or working on from the power source.

•           Never assume the power circuit is off. Test and test again with a voltmeter to confirm.

•           Remove fuses and replace them only after the power to the circuit is disconnected.

•           Don’t connect power to a circuit until you’re done working on it and rechecked the work.

•           Always ensure that all electronics equipment is properly grounded

 •           If it’s damaged, replace it. For instance, replace cables instead of repairing with insulating tape.

 •           Always use the right electronics repair and maintenance tools.

 •           Always return covers after removing them to reduce the risk of electric shock. 

•           Make sure your circuit is not overloaded.

 •           Always have safety equipment like a fire extinguisher, a basic first aid kit and a mobile phone nearby.

 Personal Safety

 It’s important to ensure that you’re safe when working on electronic circuits. Here are some personal safety precautions to keep in mind: 

•           Always keep your work area dry.  

•           Always work in a well-ventilated area. 

•           Don’t wear flapping or loose clothing when working. 

•           Don’t work with metallic jewelry on your hands like watches, rings and bracelets.  

•           Don’t use bare hands to remove hot parts. 

•           Always wear non-conductive shoes. 

•           Always wear insulator gloves in your hands when carrying out repairs. 

•           When removing high-voltage charges on capacitors, always use a shorting stick. 

•           Don’t hold the test prods when measuring voltage over 300V. 

•           Always remove power to a circuit before connecting alligator clips. 

•           Always wear safety goggles.  

•           Be careful when handling large capacitors as they can still hold high voltage even after you’ve disconnected the circuit from power.

 High Voltage Safety

 One mistake that electronics experts make when doing repairs or maintenance work is assuming routine safety procedures after getting all too familiar with their work. It’s important to know that most electronic equipment use high-voltage that is dangerous and can be fatal. Always follow these safety precautions when working on or near high-voltage circuits.

 •           Don’t work on electronic equipment or make repairs with high voltage on. 

•           Don’t take chances doing what you’re not sure about. 

•           Consider using an isolation transformer when working on AC powered electronic circuits or equipment. 

•           Never tamper with interlocks. 

•           Don’t ground yourself: Make it a practice to use only one hand when connecting equipment to an electronic circuit.   

 

HighVoltagePowerSupply

Fire Safety Precautions 

When working with electronic equipment, there is often a risk of fire caused by a short circuit or other reason. Follow these precautionary steps: 

•           Avoid anything that would cause a fire around your working area like paper, cloth or other combustible materials. 

•           Look out for damaged wire insulation, overheating of electronic equipment, damaged circuit boards and corrosive components like batteries.  

•           If there is a burning smell on your electronic equipment, disconnect the power source. 

•           If there is a fire, use a nonconducting dry powder or CO2 fire extinguisher.  

•           Always check your circuit to be sure that everything is okay after repairs or maintenance before connecting power.  

Electric Shock

 One of the major hazards when working with electronic equipment is electric shock. To avoid this, you should take a few safety precautions, including: 

•           Always read safety procedures that come with every electronic equipment you’re about to test or work on.  

•           Recheck all wires for bad connections

 •           Always make sure that all parts of electronic equipment are well-mounted to prevent accidents.  

•           Keep electronic equipment away from water and other liquids 

•           Always check for signs of wear, defects and fraying on electronic equipment cables, cords and connectors.  

•           Use special safety rubber gloves and shoes. 

Testing Equipment 

With the increasing use of electronics in homes and workplaces, safety is becoming more and more important to consumers and service experts. If you’re an electronics expert offering repair and maintenance services, it’s important to invest in the right new or used testing equipment for your work—that ensures that you’re able to carry out your job safely.

 

 

Author Bio:

Arnold Sharpe is a freelance writer and an electronics expert working with the leading electronic testing equipment store in Los Angeles, CA. He reviews the latest home and office electronic equipment in the market.

 

Image 1: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Soldering_a_0805.jpg

Image 2: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/HighVoltagePowerSupply.jpg

General Safety Issues

Check These Things before Letting Tradesmen Walk into Your House

Check These Things before Letting Tradesmen Walk into Your House

The old saying “Buyer beware!” is important to remember when you need work done in your home. You are the one responsible for vetting, hiring and making sure you get a quality product or service before you’ve paid your bill. Contractors who do work on your home can put a lien on it if you don’t pay the bill, so the best option is to try to make sure the person you hire is going to do what you’ve asked them to do in the time you’ve allotted for the job. If you’re not sure how to properly screen tradesmen that walk through your door, read up on these five ways to get started before you’ve signed the actual contract.

5 Ways to Screen and Vet Tradesmen

When you need to call a commercial plumber in Sydney right away, you should already have someone in mind who you’ve screened ahead of time. Any professional that will be doing work in your home should go through a careful screening process, which takes time. Thus, get those contact numbers ahead of time by checking out your local tradesmen before you actually have an emergency. You need to find out:

1. If They’re Insured – People who work in your home can also cause fires, have an accident, or just do damage to the home during the course of their work. It doesn’t matter if you are having a roof replaced or your windows cleaned. You need to be sure they have their own insurance that covers them as well as any damage to the property, in case that happens. You don’t want to be stuck for the bill for something that was not under your control.

2. Referrals – Check out local referrals from your neighbors and even third party online sites that deal with tradesmen in your area. Local reviews on online forums can help you decide ahead of time whether someone has good customer service, how they deal with the public, and the quality of their work. It also lets you know if you can trust them or not.

3. Get a Contract – If you have a lawyer, have them review it. If not, read carefully to know ahead of time what you will be signing and how it obligates you to pay, whether the work is done shoddily or late. You should have some way to get out of a contract where the tradesmen do not hold up their end of the bargain. The contract will also indicate any liens that might go on the house to secure payment for the work done.

4. Professional Reputation – Is this tradesman in good standing with their certifying organization? How long have they been in business? You don’t want to just hire someone who is off the street, or new, who can’t prove they know what they’re doing. They should have some sort of certifying paperwork or be a member of a professional organization within their trade.

5. Their Payment Policies – Tradesman differ in how they accept payment. Some will accept half before they start a job and half on completion. Others wait until the job is fully done to take payment. Some take some form of credit, but not all. Some will offer discounts for new customers or those that have given them a paid referral. You can even get a bulk deal for a year-round attention to the home, as a maintenance package, that you either pay monthly or yearly.

Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

Six Advantages to Manual Handling Training for Employees

Six Advantages to Manual Handling Training for Employees

Manual Handling Training looks to ‘prevent’ workplace injuries that can be endured when competing tasks such as Manual Handling.
Using method ‘prevention is better than cure’, we will outline 6 better ways of Manual Handling that will improve your employee’s knowledge, training and experience of good safe practice within the workplace. This will help to reduce and hopefully prevent any further injuries as a result of poor Manual Handling training.

To learn from the following 6 benefits to manual handling training for your employees; sit-up straight, make sure your back is stretched and the lights in your room are lit well enough for reading. Once you have completed those steps, please begin the 6 advantages to Manual Handling Training for Employees:

1) Raises Awareness

One of the biggest mistakes that an individual tasked with manual handling tasks make is to have a poor awareness of the risks associated to manual handling and the injuries that they may incur as a result of poor form and practice.

Manual Handling Training will raise awareness to your employees to the possible risks and dangers directly related to Manual Handling, heightening the importance of good practice within your employees and bettering their understanding of the potential outcomes if practices are ignored and Manual Handling techniques are not employed. Raising Awareness is not a stand-alone practice that will ensure good Manual Handling practice is met and implemented within their work, regularly!

2) Good Practice

An excellent outcome of Manual Handling Training is the understanding and learning of form and good practice. Manual Handling instructors will provide employees with the knowledge of best, safe and most effective practice. By understanding the best method to carry out Manual Handling, employees should understand the opposites; bad practice.

By teaching an understanding of the differences of good and bad Manual Handling, employees may be able to start implementing good practice techniques within their own work.

3) Employees in their Environment

One of the most valuable Manual Handling Training practices is to host the course on-site, within the environment employees will be using their training on a daily/ frequent basis. This method helps to cement the knowledge accrued within their own working environment rather than needing to ‘mentally’ envisage using the taught Manual Handling techniques at their own workplace (which may not have an identical layout, many variables can enter the training process etc.)

4) Teaching Employees How to Use Mechanical Aids

An extremely positive outcome of Manual Handling Training courses on-site is to enable the instructor to show the intended and correct use of Mechanical Aids within their own working environment to ensure employee safety when using such machines. Typically, employees using mechanical aids will have already been briefed and understood the additional safety requirements necessary to operating those particular machines.

By teaching employees on-site, best practice techniques can be ensured to be passed on and understood. Teaching employees within their own environment has an instrumental impact on the effectiveness of Manual Handling Training for employees, this is heighten when Mechinical Aids are involved within the process.

5) Learning through Experience

For employees, learning through experience in their workplace may be a critical aspect to bettering their understanding of the best work practices/ techniques within their own work environment – improving confidence.

Due to the inclusiveness of learning from experience, many employees may be able to provide insight into their past methods and techniques which have now been corrected. This level of teaching may be highly beneficial to individuals.

In addition, employees that have picked up and developed bad habits which are translating into their daily work practices have a chance to ‘refresh’ their understanding in a learning environment with an expert which should help to improve their abilities to fulfil the role and improve the safety of their work.

6) Promotes a Healthy Workforce

One of the most under-estimated benefits from Manual Handling Training for Employees is the promotion of a safer, healthier and happier workforce with a greater understanding of the roles and jobs they are to fulfil.

It has been widely cited that a healthy workforce has benefits on productivity. Manual Handling Training promotes this by teaching good, efficient and safe practice within the workplace.

For your business to benefit from Manual Handling Training, please visit our website at www.ofi.co.uk.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

Before You Hit the Road: Tips for a Safer Commute

The workplace isn’t the only place where you should strive for safety. The roadways can be equally as dangerous and an accident before work can start you off on the wrong foot. If you are like millions of other drivers, commuting may be one of your least favorite parts of the day and for good reason, according to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), a division of Texas A&M University, the average commuter spends about 42 hours a year in traffic congestion.

Not only can traffic congestion cause major headaches and stress, it is also a contributing factor in accidents across the U.S. Texas, alone, is notorious for some serious traffic jams. Here are some tips to having a safer commute and ways to prepare for your morning drive before you even hit the road:

Get Enough Sleep

Sleep can be hard to come by, particularly when you’re putting in overtime and trying to balance a life outside of work. A good night’s sleep is essential to physical and mental health, productivity and safety at work as well as safety on the road. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends that adults get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep at night. Additionally, NSF also reports that at least 100,000 crashes occur each year due to sleep deprived drivers. Do yourself a favor and get enough sleep, even it means skipping the nightly news report or chatting with friends on social media.
Prep for the Day the Night Before

Remember how Mom used to urge you to set out your clothes for school, the night before? It’s not a bad idea. The more prepared you are for your day, the better. If your morning is full of too much to do before you even get behind the wheel, you may leave the house stressed out, running late, and as a result, you may drive more recklessly thus increasing your risk of an accident.

Relax

Some drivers really hate commuting. It can be stressful, it can cause anxiety, and it can cause rage. If you get in the habit of relaxing before you leave for work, you may be and feel ready to face morning gridlock. While a relaxing bubble bath may be out of the question, some yoga poses or even brief meditation could put you at ease, making you more focused and less likely to lose your cool while driving. Relaxing exercises not your thing? Consider going for a brisk walk, a short run, or even hit the gym before work, it may have the same benefits.

Check Out The Traffic Beforehand

For many commuters, traffic is traffic, but sometimes taking a look at the traffic before you head out the door can help you prepare for what you can expect or what you may want to avoid. Check out traffic cams or download an app like Waze to get an up-to-date look at the roads and any delays due to accidents or construction. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast, too, as a rainy morning in Texas can make for a nightmarish commute. Preparedness may not always reduce the hassles of a morning commute, but it can help you stay safer.

Uncategorized

Workers’ Compensation, Injuries, In Steel Industry

Workers’ Compensation, Injuries, In Steel Industry

When you think about the importance of having employees covered, then you first need to think about what it really means. Injuries can happen each and every day regardless of where you are or what you do. However, when you consider the specifics of injuries on the job, the last thing you want to do as an employer is have an employee sue you for being hurt in the line of their job duties. That’s exactly why workers’ compensation exists and it’s also why people in tough industries such as the steel industry pay such high rates.

What is Workers Compensation?

Workers Compensation itself is the basis for which injuries are paid. It prevents employees from suing their employers, tying up the courts with simple claims, and even harming small businesses as they are dealing with constant injury lawsuits. When you think about the specifics of workers compensation over the course of an operational day then you can see how necessary it is to have workers compensation insurance. Throw in the fact that industries like the steel industry have much more risk associated with them and you can see how it would help to pay medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and more.

What Could Happen That Needs Covered?

Thinking about the specifics of how the steel industry works will let you see why you need to have workers compensation coverage in the first place. Bending and stooping, twisting and turning, and even the shocks to an employee’s body from a significant amount of weight in awkward positions can all be hard on the body.

What About Long Term Damage?

You also have to consider that in addition to the blunt force or trauma that can occur with significant weight and mass of steel, you also have long term damage that can be caused due to the repetitive nature of twisting and turning. The fact of the matter is when you throw in the heavy machinery there can be a significant amount of damage or physical harm done in a short period of time.

Steel Industry Specific Payments

When it comes to the specific payments of workers compensation, an employee is able to be taken care of for medical bills as well as much more. There could be a potential for the employee to receive a scheduled amount of money for anything from a scheduled injury, to even receiving lost wages for being off of work. This will all come down to the specifics as listed in the workers compensation insurance policy, but for the most part the insurance will kick in and the employee will be covered. Whether that is medical bills, rehabilitation, ambulance costs, and etc. All of these items can be covered by workers compensation insurance.

When you are thinking about the steel industry, you have to be sure the employees are covered. There is a significant amount that could go wrong and the last thing you want is for bills and money to be a problem in addition to the physical damage and suffering that can occur.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Federal Steel Supply, Inc., a leading supplier of carbon, alloy and stainless steel pipes, tubes, fittings and flanges.

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