Tag Archives: fire hazards

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing, Respiratory Safety

EASY HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

Regardless of the type of industry you work in, whether it is construction, manufacturing or energy, it is extremely important that you adhere to any health and safety rules in the workplace. If you fail to follow the health and safety guidelines  in operation, you may find that you inadvertently put yourself, and those around you, at risk. To ensure  you are taking  safety seriously, and protecting those around you,  we recommend you follow these five simple tips:

Slips, Trips and Falls

Regardless of the environment you work in, you need to be conscious of any potential slips and trips that can occur. To avoid a fall at work, you should ensure that all employees have had relevant training, explaining how best to avoid any accidents in the workplace. For example, ensuring all equipment is returned after use, can prevent anyone from tripping over it. It is also important that all employees know not to ignore a spillage or hazard.

Heavy Goods and Lifting

If you work in an industry which requires you to constantly move products from one place from another, you should always ensure you are comfortable with the weight you are carrying. Currently there are restrictions in place, as to what a single person should legally be carrying, these regulations aim to protect employees from being expected to carry something that is too heavy for them. If you believe that an item is too heavy to be carried safely, you should use the appropriate lifting gear available, helping to prevent a heavy lifting injury.

Personal Protective Clothing

If you work in a hazardous environment, or you are operating dangerous machinery, you should always ensure that you are wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Clothing (PPE). Even if you are only going to be working for a short period of time, it is essential that you, and your fellow employees, are always protected.

Wiring

Most work places will have a high volume of wires to contend  with. It is extremely important that all wires are maintained, and organized, in a manner that will prevent employees and visitors from tripping over them. If  a little time is regularly dedicated to tidying and maintaining wires, you will find that any issues are quickly resolved. When setting up new equipment, or machinery, you should make certain that all wires are kept to the edge of a room, and that they are firmly fixed in place.  Such measures will ensure they cannot move, avoiding the potential for a hazard to develop.

Fire Hazards

In any workplace fires are extremely dangerous, and can be devastating. With this in mind, you should prioritise  protecting your workplace; making sure all employees are vigilant. It is crucial that you clearly explain and display fire procedures, making sure they are understood, in case of an emergency.  You should also test and service all fire alarms and fire extinguishers on regular basis, so you know they will work correctly if they are ever required. 

Asons Solicitors suggest that if someone would like to learn more about health and safety claims process, such information is available at www.asons.co.uk, or via an expert helpline on 01204 521 133 

About Asons Solicitors:

Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again. 

For further information contact:

Email: info@asons.co.uk; Website: www.asons.co.uk

General Safety Issues

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM THE INSIDE OUT (GUEST POST)

Protecting Your Home From the Inside Out

It becomes more evident every day that the world can be an unstable place. The uncertainty of tomorrow can be frightening, but there are many measures you can take to improve the safety conditions of your life. There are many unfortunate events that could happen around your home, but taking the right precautions can help to keep you and your family as safe as possible.

Keep All Weapons Locked Away Safely

The number of accidents caused from inside the home due to improperly stored weapons is unnecessarily high and growing every day. If you are a gun owner, it would be wise to consider investing in a gun locker, especially if there are children around. Locking up your weapons securely and safely can help to eliminate the chance of them falling into the wrong hands, and many safety experts also recommend keeping the keys on you at all times as well as locking up the ammunition separate from the weapon.

Reduce Fire Hazards in the Home

Home fires can be devastating and extremely dangerous, but fortunately, fires are another type of accident that can be prevented when the right precautions are taken. First off, clear any dust around heat vents and electrical outlets as dust can clog outlets and combust with the right amount of heat. It’s very important to keep your electrical outlets up to date as well; if the outlets have trouble holding a cord in their socket, it’s time to replace them. Also, make sure to keep an eye on the cords of your electrical appliances, and stop using them once they become frayed or thin. 

Never turn your back when you’re cooking something on the stove or in the toaster, and always double check to make sure the oven has been turned off.

Avoid placing something flammable near a flame. Candles should never be near any fabric, and it’s a good idea to blow out a candle if you’re planning on leaving the room for more than a few minutes. If you’re a smoker, always make sure that you put your cigarette completely out before leaving it unattended.

Keep All Entries Locked

This one might seem obvious, but it’s amazing how many people leave their doors unlocked even while they’re away. Don’t allow intruders to have easy access to anything. Make sure all doors, garages, and windows (windows are the easiest to forget) are shut and locked, and always double-check that everything is sealed up before you leave the house or go to bed. Also, use two locks on each door to prevent lock picking.

Secure Your Home with Lights

No criminal wants to be in the spotlight when committing any illegal acts. If you surround your home with bright LED lights, you are at least making a statement to any future intruders that you have taken a precaution to eliminate their ability to blend into the night. Motion sensory lights are a cost effective form of home security due to the fact that they do not stay on all night and run up your energy bill like other outdoor lights.

Leaving on a visible house light is a common practice to make it look like there is someone home. To save on the electric bill, you might want to consider purchasing an electronic timer that can turn your lights on and off automatically after being set to a certain time. This will save you money and make it more believable that someone is inside.

Invest in a Home Alarm System

Home alarm systems don’t mean what they used to; they don’t have to involve complex wiring through your walls. In fact, there are many fairly priced and easy-to-use wireless home alarm systems out there that can fit any budget or home. A more advanced system would clearly be the best bet, but any alarm system in your price range would help to tighten the security of your home.

Create a buddy system with your neighbors

Creating good bonds with your neighbors is great for security strength. When you know the people in the homes around you, they are more likely to notice suspicious activity and are more likely to let you know if they see something questionable.

Install a mail slot in your door

This is a good way to prevent mail and identity theft. Mail boxes are wide open, and anybody could walk by and open up your mailbox. With a private slot, your mail goes right into your (hopefully) locked door.

Home is where the heart is; it’s also where your family and valuables are. There are many ways to tighten the security of your home, so you can keep it a place where comfort and safety are felt and good memories flourish.

James Anderson is a sports enthusiast, survivalist and blogger born and raised in West Virginia. He writes about secure storage for school lockers.   

 

General Safety Issues

TEN TIPS FOR KEEPING YOUR TEEN BABYSITTER SAFE (GUEST POST)

Shared with us by Barbara Williams of Babysitting.org:
 
Now that you’ve found a good, reliable babysitter to look after your children and keep them safe, your next step is to ensure the same for her. There are some very effective steps you can take to make your home safer for both your sitter and your family while you’re away. Consider these 10 safety tips that will provide you and your babysitter some peace of mind:
  1. Notify Neighbor – Let one of your trusted neighbors know when you’re going out for the evening, preferably someone nearby whom the sitter can call for help if necessary. You might also ask them to check in on occasion to make sure everything’s OK.
  2. Emergency Numbers – Keep emergency contact information posted near the phone, preferably programmed into the phone on speed dial. Make sure your sitter knows how to access the numbers and which ones to call in the event of an emergency.
  3. Security Alarm – If you haven’t already installed one, consider doing so. A good home alarm can deter potential burglars from choosing your home as a target. Let the sitter know what the access code is and make sure the alarm is activated when you leave. You can set a specific code just for the babysitter, which can always be changed later.
  4. Dog – A family dog, particularly a large one, is a great deterrent to intruders. If he’s in the house, so much the better, but having one on the premises somewhere nearby will do the trick too.
  5. Police – Depending on the community in which you live, you may have the option of notifying the community policing program that you’ll be away with a sitter minding the house, and request a walk or drive by periodically.
  6. Your Contact Number – Make certain you can be reached. Have at least one cell phone charged and available and, if possible, provide the phone number of your location (restaurant, theater, etc.) where the sitter can have you paged.
  7. External Lighting – As with most of these steps, this one is a good idea for home security in general. A well-lit exterior is a highly effective crime deterrent and denies potential intruders any cover near the home.
  8. Keep Windows Shut and Locked – Admittedly, this is not always the most comfortable arrangement depending on the weather, but for safety’s sake it’s still your best option, at least on the ground level.
  9. Fire Hazards – Restrict the use of a fireplace or space heater during the winter months, make sure the sitter is familiar with the layout of the home and knows where all the exits are, and give the sitter instructions for what to do in case of fire. You might even want to limit kitchen use to microwaveable meals only.
  10. Power Outage – Have a non-electrical standard telephone plugged into the phone line. Consider installing a back-up generator, but at least have emergency lights that turn on when the power goes out. Plug-in emergency lights can be purchased inexpensively at any hardware or home improvement store.

It’s better to be prepared for an emergency than to be caught off guard. While you hope your sitter and children’s safety is never a concern, having a few safeguards in place will give everyone peace of mind.

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

GETTING OUT THE TURKEY FRYER? TIPS FOR COOKING SAFELY

If you see your neighbor sporting safety goggles, safety mitts, and carrying a fire extinguisher, he’s really not headed to a fire, but getting ready to fry the turkey!  It has become quite a tradition to fry Thanksgiving or Christmas turkeys instead of the old-fashioned way, baking them in the oven.  But the aforementioned equipment might come in handy to keep the cook safe!  Despite the delicious outcome, make yourself aware that there are certain risks involved:

  • Most fryers do not have thermostats; therefore, temperature should be checked often because the oil could overheat to combustion. Never allow grease or oil to exceed 350°F.  Oil will ignite at 550°F to 700°F.
  • Turkeys that are not completely thawed could also cause oil to splash, threatening burns.
  • It is always important to follow manufacturer’s instructions and use extra caution when cooking with hot oil, which presents a fire hazard as well as a burn hazard.
  • Do not overfill pot with oil.
  • Never use inside an enclosed area (garage, patio) or under overhang of house.
  • Cooker should only be used on a level stable surface, away from wood decks, dry grass, shrubs, etc.
  • Keep propane cylinder at least 18” away from cooker while in use.
  • Keep an operable type BC fire extinguisher within easy reach.
  • Sides of pot can become extremely hot, so use mitts to prevent burns.  Goggles can protect ones eyes from oil splatters.
  • Never leave cooker unattended.  Keep children/pets away from cooker, even when through cooking, as the oil will remain very hot for a long period of time.
  • Cooker must not be operated in the rain.  Cover the pot immediately and turn it OFF.
  • If parts to the cooker are damaged, missing, or improperly installed, do not operate it.

If tasty fried turkey is your choice for the holiday, please keep these safety tips in mind.  Cook with care, and enjoy your feast! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Texas America Safety Company and Blog4Safety.