Tag Archives: common sense

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Head Protection

TIPS TO KEEP YOU SAFE AT WORK (GUEST POST)

 Getting to work safely, working in a well-managed environment and returning home safe in the evening is every employees right – but not all the responsibility for this can be held by your employer. It is true your employer had a duty of care to protect employees from danger whilst at work, but as individuals we also have a personal responsibility to ensure we do not place ourselves (or our colleagues) in any danger. 

You will find that keeping safe at work is often common sense, so here a few tips based on common mistakes, which will hopefully make you think twice and help prevents accidents and injuries: 

1- Understand and minimise the risks

Before you commence any task, stop for a moment and consider the task which is about to be undertaken. By doing so you will create an opportunity to briefly analyse the individual components of the task and highlight any aspects which could potentially cause injury. If you feel a safer alternative is available this should always be discussed and then implemented. 

2. Use mechanical aides wherever possible

It is a well-known fact that the majority of back injuries at work are caused by incorrect lifting techniques or by individuals lifting more weight than they can comfortably manage. I’m sure we have all been guilty of this from time to time.  Unfortunately this not only leads to injury for the individual but also to time off work and loss of production for the company. Therefore, if your company offers a training session on manual handling, it is strongly advisable (and often mandatory) that you attend. This can provide you with knowledge on safe lifting techniques that can also be used in the home, and save you from any potential injury.   

3.Wear the correct clothing and footwear (P.P.E)

You wouldn’t dream of turning up to work at farm in a bikini and heels, would you? So why would it be deemed acceptable to work on, for e.g. a building site or indoors as a cleaner, without the correct clothing or footwear protection. Although this sounds like common sense many people shirk wearing the correct items as they deem them unnecessary, when reality safety boots will protect your feet from heavy objects or nails through the soles and hard hats will protect your head against knocks and falling objects, with safety goggles protecting our eyes from chemical splashes. Personal Protective Equipment is important, therefore if you feel you would benefit from any of these items but haven’t been issued any; don’t start the task without first speaking to your employer. 

4. If working alone ensure you are aware of the procedures – and ensure you adhere to them.

If you have to work alone, as many people do, your organisation should have a process in place which you will be expected to follow. This usually involves regular communications with a control centre or named individual so you can ‘check in’ at the beginning if your shift, again at set times throughout and ‘check out’ at the end, and if a call is missed someone will be dispatched to check on you. If you currently work alone and don’t have a process to follow it may be worth discussing setting one up with your employer, as it could one day save your life. 

5. Read and understand the risk assessment.

If you are asked to sign a risk assessment before you commence a task then please ensure you read, understand and appreciate it’s importance – this information is provided for you, so you are aware of any risks involved and how best to mitigate them, don’t brush these documents aside as just paperwork. 

Remember when arriving at work – staying aware, assessing the task and minimising the risks are all that are required to keep you safe in the workplace.  

 

Author Bio: Vivienne Ollis Journalist & Blogger for http://www.essexinsulation.co.uk

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

STEPS TO STAY SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

We all have the right to feel safe and secure in our workplace, whatever line of work you are in. Although all employers are legally obliged to take precautions to minimize health and safety risks in the workplace, we also need to take personal responsibility for our own safety.

The good news is that you don’t need to wrap yourself in bubble wrap and constantly wear a crash helmet to keep yourself safe, it is mainly basic common sense. These are a few tips to help you protect yourself whilst at work-

  • Communication is vital, not just for your safety, but your colleagues and customers as well. If you notice that equipment is getting worn or something looks faulty, notify your supervisor or health and safety representative as soon as possible.
  • Familiarize yourself with your company’s health and safety procedures. Every employer needs to conduct a risk assessment which will include ways to avoid hazards and the correct, safe way of performing tasks to avoid injury. You should also be made aware of the location of emergency exits, evacuation assembly points and first aid boxes as part of your orientation.
  • If you ever out on the road as part of your job or spend time working alone, consider downloading a personal safety application on to your smart phone, such as the personal safety app from Lookout Call. These have features that ensure that you get a speedy response if you are in danger and to locate you if you break down in the middle of nowhere.
  • When you are in a profession where you have to enter stranger’s premise, for example if you are an electrician or plumber, you can sometimes get a bad vibe straight away. Always trust your gut instinct and arrange for somebody to call you so that you have an excuse to leave if you feel unsafe. If this isn’t a viable option, try to get a personal safety app for your phone with features that autodial for you or that will raise an alarm if you don’t respond to a prescheduled call.
  • Don’t use any machinery or perform any tasks that you have not been trained to do. If you have been trained but can’t remember the correct or safest way to do it, don’t be nervous of asking your supervisor or trainer for some refresher training.
  • It may sound very basic, but ask anybody entering your premises, such as delivery or repair persons for ID. If you work in a space by yourself, for example in a petrol station or cleaning in the evening, try not to let anybody in that you are not expecting.
  • When you have to travel for work, make sure that somebody knows where you’re going and what time you are expected to be there so you can arrange ‘check in’ calls.
  • If you work with hazardous chemicals always read the bottle and act on any safety precautions the manufacturer’s advice, such as the use of gloves and ensuring you have ventilation.

It is very easy to keep safe at work as long as you maintain good communication with your employers and colleagues and don’t take unnecessary risks.

BIO: Katie Matthews is a manager within lookout call, a  loneworker applications and safety specialist in the UK.  Katie has worked in the technology industry for a number of years and has reviewed and written about a number of technology niches.

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

STOP THE RUMOR THAT STEEL-TOED BOOTS ARE DANGEROUS (GUEST POST)

Wade Myer grew up under the watchful eye his father, a contractor, who taught him the tools of the trade. Even though he can swing a hammer with the best of them, he’s always been drawn to the written word where he can frame sentences rather than walls.  Currently he writes on behalf of Steiner Homes LTD, who builds Valpraiso Custom Homes.

 There is an idea that boots can actually cause more damage to your foot than if you were wearing regular work boots. The common belief is that if a heavy object falls on the toe of the boot, the steel will shear off and will sever the toes. I’m not sure how this rumor got started, and maybe at one point in time something like this happened, but it is completely unfounded if you’re buying certified steel toed boots and there are multiple reasons to wear them on the job.

It Is Safer?

Steel toed boots have to go through rigorous testing to be sold as safety boots. The toe caps are placed into an industry standard, official machine that drops a 20kg (44lb) wedge directly onto the cap (this is for ANSI standard). A malleable substance that was placed inside the cap is measured before and after the drop test and if the difference is too great, the cap doesn’t pass the test. All of this being said, steel toed boots are not designed to protect your foot from every imaginable object that could fall or crush your foot. While tissue damage might happen while wearing steel toed boots, the cap is designed to protect the bones from being broken or amputated.

They Protect More Than Your Toes

If your employer requires you to wear steel toed boots and you choose to forgo his warnings and suffer an injury to your foot, you could very well end up not receiving workers comp, insurance coverage, and could even lose your job since you were not following proper regulations.

Common Sense

The argument for steal toe boots really boils down to this: if an object falls on the shoe with enough force to break the steel cap and cut off the toes, the toes would have been lost regardless due to how bad they would have been crushed. There are different ratings for steel toe boots, so make sure you get the proper ones that will withstand your environment.

Do You Have To Pay For These Specialty Shoes?

With all of your other daily expenses in your daily life, buying a specialty shoe when you already have perfectly good leather boots can be a pain. Yes the steel-toed boots are safer, but you don’t plan on getting injured. There is a chance depending on your company’s guidelines that you will not be required to purchase your own steel toed boots.

According to OSHA 1910.132(h)(1) and (2) safety provision employers are required to pay for specialty safety equipment unless employers allow the workers to wear them outside the work place. In those circumstances employees are required to buy equipment that employers decide are necessary for safety with their own money. If the employees are not allowed to bring the shoes home, the employer must pay for the shoes.

Whether or not steel toed shoes are required on the construction zone, wearing them can protect the feet better than regular work boots. Even if your employer is not required to supply them, you should consider investing in your own pair. Your toes will thank you.

General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Weather Protection

SAFETY MEASURES WHILE CONSTRUCTING HOMES (GUEST POST)

Another great article sent by Grace Beckett. 

Most homeowners rely on the contractor to take responsibility for any mishap that may happen to a laborer.  But the fact is that the homeowners are equally responsible in case of any untoward circumstances that occur during construction. Mishaps can happen due to negligence on the part of the labour or faulty procedures. 

The homeowner will be asked to pay necessary compensation or he may have to confront legal authority in case of any accident caused to the labour due to his negligence. Even fatal incidents are possible, when safety measures are not adopted in construction sites. For smooth completion of the construction process, the homeowner and labour must adopt certain best practices, some of which are listed below: 

Safety tips for labours and homeowners  

When constructing a basement, place supporting planks in the portion that is excavated. The planks prevent the sides from collapsing into slushy, soft soil. Even in partially-built areas, you should provide protection at excavated areas by installing signboards. You could also make lighting arrangements to prevent passersby from falling into pits.

Before cement is laid, the homeowner should make sure that the contractor is not using old, decayed construction material. Ant-bitten planks, which cannot take up much load, can be the cause of construction mishaps. 

When old buildings are brought down, the contractor may not always incorporate safety measures during the dismantling operation. So, the owner should also prevent the labour from moving near the construction area. Barricades can be erected to keep away trespassers as well. 

The tank built for water storage should be shallow to avoid fatal incidents such as children falling into it. You could instead increase the breadth and length of the tank to store a greater volume of water. The tank should also be provided with steps. 

From the point of view of safety, the homeowner should use electrical wires encased in plastic pipes or sticks of bamboo. In some cases, the steel bars on roofs are bent and touch the power lines passing close to the construction area; this may lead to accidents which can happen when these current-carrying electric wires are touched. 

Common-sense tips for labours and homeowners 

Ban alcohol and drugs: Prohibit the use of drugs or alcohol on the construction site as they give room for injuries due to impaired judgment. As it is very important that you as well as the labour have a clear focus on the task at hand, never allow drugs or alcohol to cloud your thoughts. 

Avoid getting angry: Anger distracts you from your purpose and while you’re in a construction site, you are more likely to hurt yourself. Don’t lose your focus while monitoring tasks on the site. 

Use of protective gear: Protective gear includes everything from sunscreens to sturdy safety helmets. Wear a hat or jacket to get protection from heat and cold. Distribute protective goggles and gloves to labours and instruct them to use them when working with power tools. Make sure you as well as the labour wear strong soled shoes as a form of protection against injuries.
Using correct tools: Make sure that the right tool is used for the task. When a tool is used for a task for which it is not designed, it leads to injuries. 

Grace is associated with SHS Ltd, a UK based company that is a balustrade supplier and a steel designing and manufacturing firm.

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Head Protection

HARD HATS – WHEN DO YOU WEAR THEM? (Guest Post)

2 Comments
Some construction workers will tell you that the hard hat is one of hardest things to keep on your head but they are a necessary part of safety.  When you are on the ground and someone is working above you there is always a chance of something hitting you from above. Two of our construction workers were finishing out their day and they were lowering the buckets of tools down from a swing stage to the ground.  One of the buckets of tools flipped over while being lowered to the ground and one of tools flew out.  It did not hit the worker that was on the ground, it was, what we would call a near miss, but the hard hat would have been her protection if it had been any closer.  Why take that chance?
 
When working on roadways, on boulevards, or in ditches, the Safety hard hat is the first thing others will see when driving past. The hard hat identifies that work is going on and tells motorists to slow down.  Of course the safety vest is also to be worn on these types of jobs. It is also a crucial part of identifying the construction worker.  Even the supervisor has to wear a hard hat and a safety vest when going on the job site to set a good example. 
 
Several years ago, before a lot of the safety rules which are in place now, a supervisor on a job site had his hard hat save his life in a very unusual way.    That supervisor was my Dad.  He was always in the site trailer doing his job but on this particular day he had been called out to the job site where  work was in progress.  Like always as leaving the trailer, he grabbed his hard hat and put it on.  When he got to the work site, one of the workers who had been causing problems and been warned before, was again causing havoc on the job.  He had no choice but to fire him.  After solving the problem, my Dad started walking back to his site trailer but still oddly enough kept his hard hat on.   The worker that had just been fired came up behind him with a small sledge hammer in hand and hit my Dad on the head.  His hard hat saved him from a major head injury and as I said before, possibly his life.  Mind you, my Dad had a pretty hard head.   The company he worked for at the time awarded him the golden hard hat award for his safety diligence.
 
Moral of this story is:  When on a job site, wear your hard hat all the time.  This includes workers, foreman, supervisors, safety officers and any visitors to the site.  You never know what is going to happen.  When attending one of our job sites you must have a hard hat, steel toed boots and safety vest where warranted.  Where is that?  Everywhere, you are on our jobsites.  As you can tell, I was taught these rules early in life.  As a child if I visited my Dad’s sites, you had to have steel toed boots on your feet and a hard hat on your head, to go anywhere on one of his sites.   Remember this was before there was a Safety Association to tell us the right way, or any kind of safety rules like there are in place today.  It was called common sense, and that is what safety is.
Susan Schwabl
nascon.ca
safetyequipment.shopbuynenjoy.com/
770-7478