Tag Archives: ask for help

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

FIVE BASIC ELECTRICAL DO’S AND DON’T’S (GUEST POST)

Electrons are whirling about us everywhere these days, and these sensitive little particles can easily cause mayhem when they are allowed to escape their circuits. Knowing a few basic rules for handling electrical devices and performing any work on or around them is essential for keeping both individuals and the equipment in working order.

1.      Check your gear.

Whether it’s your first time or your thousandth time working on electrical gear, everything comes down to your gear. The word of the day here is “insulation”. All of your tools should be checked to make sure all their resistant materials are free from cuts and tears that might expose the conductive metals usually hidden underneath. This is especially important for items you are more likely to use when dealing with more dangerous circuits, such as heavy rubber gloves, mats, and boots.

2.      Plan twice, act once.

A fair amount of electrical work needs to be done on live circuits. After all, you can’t measure how electricity is flowing through the circuit if there are no electrons running through it. This creates a potential for both personal harm and destruction of equipment if you short the circuit. Whenever you are taking measurements or working on a live electrical device, you should check your schematics, check the device, and repeat before performing any work. The same goes for any actions you take while working that do not directly relate to the circuit; one common mistake is resting a hand on the circuit while reaching for another tool or item and creating a short to ground through your body.

3.      Bring a friend.

Whether working on a small device or a high voltage beast, an extra pair of hands and eyes will come in handy. Most importantly, when working with dangerous voltages, it may be up to the support to shut off the power. They can also serve as “navigators” by looking over schematics and cutting down on the time it takes to perform the tasks without sacrificing safety. Also, be willing to perform the same service for any of your coworkers or friends, as the Golden Rule would have you do.

4.      Don’t forget about capacitors and oscillating circuits.

Capacitors and oscillating circuits can hold more than enough charge to cause damage, and not every capacitor is designed with paths through which they can bleed out their energy. Take the time to make sure that there are no capacitors hidden inside without a discharge path, and review the proper steps for dying out capacitors if there are some in the way.

 5.      Never lose respect for electricity.

After a while of working on electrical devices, it can be easy to experience a fading of concern towards the danger they represent. A small shock can be fatal under the right conditions, and it is always possible to destroy what you are trying to save by not taking proper electrical safety precautions. If it has been a while since you last read them or worked on an electrical device, review a more detailed list of these procedures to make sure they are at the forefront of your mind. 

Stay Safe!  Every detail matters where safety is concerned. Never disregard any safety tips out of hand, and make sure to read as much as you can to make sure you get to go back to your family at the end of the day. 

This guest post is contributed by Rebecca Gray, who writes for Backgroundchecks.org. She welcomes your comments at her email id: GrayRebecca14@gmail.com.

General Safety Issues

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Guest Blog

Shannon Barnett, who owns the website CareersIn Criminal Justice, sent us this very useful information, which is especially helpful to those who desire to work in law enforcement, or already do.  See how to contact Shannon at the end of this article.  We know you will enjoy reading this:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, correctional officers have one of the highest rates of non-fatal on-the-job injuries.  With this in mind, it is important for anyone who works as a correctional officer (or who is thinking of starting a career as a correctional officer) to always be thinking of ways to stay safe in all types of situations.

Depending on the situation, correctional officers often have little time to think before reacting.  This is especially true when fights break out between inmates, or when one or many inmates attack an officer.  For this reason, it is always necesssary to know your prison’s plan of action for all high-risk situations.

Listed below are ten safety tips that all correctional officers should know and keep in mind while on the job:

  • Protect your weapons:  Always keep your means of defense sheathed and placed on your body in an area where it cannot be easily seized.
  • Strategically place yourself:  Within your assigned area, find a spot where you can monitor all activities and keep a close eye on all inmates.
  • If necessary, ask for help: Never pretend to be the tough guy.  If you have been ordered to search a cell or perform any task that puts you in direct contact with an inmate, and you don’t feel comfortable or safe doing it alone, ask for backup assistance.
  • Wear protective clothing: In addition to your uniform, put on protective gear (like a bulletproof vest) to guard yourself against possibly fatal attacks.
  • Protect yourself against bloodborne pathogens: Always keep a pair of latex gloves in your pocket and make sure all necessary devices to handle and remove bloodborne pathogens are strategically placed throughout the prison.
  • Never create a relationship with an inmate: Never have a friendly, pass-the-time- away conversation with another inmate.  This could be a ploy to distract you from something that should be stopped or could lead to other inmates believing that you take part in favoritism.  Both of these things compromise safety.
  • Only clock out once your replacement has settled in: If you clock out, or even mentally “tune out” of your position, before your replacement has settled in, prison security could be breached and correctional officer safety could be compromised.
  • Report any unsafe practices by other correctional officers: If you witness a fellow officer taking part in anything that could potentially hurt prison safety, report it to your correctional sergeant immediately.
  • Get enough rest before work: Working as a correctional officer is demanding and stressful. In order to keep yourself and others protected, you must remain alert at all times.  If you are not getting adequate sleep between shifts, you are increasing your risk of workplace injury and putting prison safety at risk.
  • Always comfort discomfort: Whether it is the way an inmate looks at your or additional training for the use of a weapon, if there is something about your job that makes you feel uncomfortable, talk about it with your correctional sergeant.  Never ignore something that could be a potential for harm. 

Thanks, Shannon, for this advice that should be taken very seriously by those who perform this kind of work; or considering starting this vocation.  Their safety is of the utmost importance.  Shannon Barnett owns the site http://careersincriminaljustice.net and in her spare time, she enjoys writing articles for various other sites on many topics of interest.