Tag Archives: helmet

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Protective Clothing

UNIQUE SAFETY NEEDS OF WELDERS (GUEST POST)

The Unique Safety Needs of Welders

Practically any industrial production job involves some degree of risk to workers, and welding certainly provides its share. The application of high-temperature torches onto metal surfaces inevitably creates dangerously bright light, hot sparks and flying debris. As a result, welders must use specific types of clothing and equipment to meet their unique safety needs. Let’s look at some of these modes of protection.

Eyes and face – The most obvious threat to a welder involves hot sparks, bits of metal or other debris flying up into the face, eyes or hair. For this reason alone, a welder would always need to wear protective headgear that includes both a faceguard and a helmet. Additionally, however, welders must protect their eyes against dangerous frequencies of ultraviolet light that can cause serious eye damage or even blindness after prolonged or repeated exposures.

While many construction workers might simply don a pair of safety goggles (tinted or un-tinted) to keep foreign matter and bright sunlight out of their eyes, welders must be equipped with a specially designed welding hood that includes ANSI-certified shading against the hazardous UV frequencies generated by their work. Since different types of welding torches generate different degrees of UV, welders should select a model that includes protection against their specific type of job or project, based on an IR scale of 1.5 (minimum shading) to 14 (maximum shading).

Some models, such as the Pyramex Auto Darkening Helmet, can provide IR shades ranging from #9 to #13. This design also includes plenty of interior room for a respirator if needed.

Welders 1

Welders must use suitable eye and face protection against blinding, scorching sparks.

Head and ears – While a full-scale welding hood may protect the entire head, welders using just a faceguard may need to add a separate helmet to protect their hair from sparks. At the same time, however, they should also worry about flying debris entering the ear canals and causing blockages, infections or serious damage. Earplugs can close off the ear canals against this threat, while earmuffs such as the Pyramex PM1010 also protect the outer ear, provided that you can fit them underneath your helmet. These products have the added advantage of protecting your hearing in a noisy manufacturing or construction environment.

Hands and feet – A welder’s hands come closer to the source of dangerous sparks and flying debris than any other part of his body, so thick, fire-resistant gloves should be on every welder’s essential equipment list. Choose gloves specially designed for welding and other high-heat applications, such as Goatskin Tig Leather Welders or Kevlar Wool Lined 14-inch Gloves.

At the same time, however, keep in mind that sparks may also fall downward toward the feet, igniting ordinary cloth shoelaces, or a heavy piece of substrate may slip and drop onto them, causing serious injury. Leather boots with steel-reinforced toes can help protect against both of these dangers, while shoe covers can keep sparks off of laces.

Other considerations – Even if welders own all of the above items, they may need to take additional measures to protect themselves when welding. Gulfport Indura coveralls or similarly flame-resistant garments can reduce the risk of a stray spark igniting on the shirt or pants, for example. Heavy organics such as wool and cotton always make better choices than synthetics, which tend to melt when ignited.

Pants should always fit over boots instead of tucking inside them so debris or sparks cannot fall inside the boots. The sleeves should extend over the arms at all times.

Welders 2

Don’t forget the flame-resistant coveralls!

When properly used by workers (and properly required by management), these protective items can make all the difference between tragedy and “just another day at the office,” so make the effort to safeguard yourself or your employees. Happy welding!

William Reynolds has worked as a freelance copywriter since 1997. William specializes in website content, ghost-blogging, print marketing content and audio/video scripts for providers of health and safety products such as Miracle-Ear.

(Images courtesy of gameanna and suwatpo /FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

General Safety Issues

SHARING THE ROAD SAFELY

After a fun day of shopping and visiting with close friends last week, we parted ways and headed for home.  I might mention that we were shopping in a city that we were unfamiliar with, so it’s even more important to drive with care, and watch for the other guy, too.  My dear friend left first, to head for her home town, and the rest of us were close behind going our way.  We reached the corner where we needed to turn, and there had been an accident – sirens, police, an ambulance, and then the most frightening realization, my friend walking to the crash site!

She had taken a turn to go home when a young man on a motorcycle smashed into her car.  Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet – but his bike was probably totaled, and her car sustained quite a lot of damage.  Witnesses said that he had been standing on the seat of the bike earlier, then “popping a wheelie” just before he came back down on the street, when he hit her.

It woke us all up to the fact that accidents happen so fast, and this could have ended with a much sadder outcome.  There are some tips that have been given in previous articles about motorcycle safety, but I want to repeat some of them and hope that a parent or biker will pay attention before it is too late.

From the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Share the Road Safely:

Watch the No-Zones: Never hang out in a truck’s blind spot or “no-Zone”.  These are at the front and back and on both sides of the truck.  They cannot see you when you ride in these spots, and cannot stop as fast as you can.

Always Wear a Helmet: Make sure helmets meet US DOT standards.  Check for the DOT label in your helmet.  The accident I am telling you about, the rider’s helmet was scratched where he hit the car, and the visor was completely off. 

Drive to Survive: Remember that motorcycles are the smallest vehicles on the road.  There is virtually no protection in a crash.  Be extra cautious, watching the signals and brake lights of other vehicles.  Don’t ride inbetween lanes in traffic or share a lane with another vehicle. You must respect the law just as other drivers.  Don’t instigate aggressive driving with other motorists.  This only increases your chance of a crash.

Check Yourself and Your Bike: Conduct a safety inspection of the bike prior to each ride, and wear protective clothing including gloves, boots, and a jacket.  Some high-visibility stickers or vest will help others see you.

Watch Your Speed:  Motorcycles accelerate the fastest, while trucks and buses are the slowest. Watch your speed around trucks, especially in bad weather or riding at night.  If you collide with the back of a truck, your riding days will most likely be over.

For those of us driving cars, be sure to watch for signs, especially in surroundings you aren’t familiar with, and some cities should ask themselves if there is appropriate signage for visitors to navigate safely, staying with the flow of traffic in their towns?  It only took a few seconds for what could have been devastation for my friend and that young man on the bike.  Cars and motorcycles can be replaced; material things can. But my friends can’t be replaced.  Thank Goodness for Guardian Angels! Drive and ride safely!

General Safety Issues, Head Protection, High Visibility Safety

HOW TO ELIMINATE THE RISK OF INJURY WHEN RIDING A BIKE (GUEST POST)

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 Bicycling is usually a very common mode of travelling among children and teenagers, as it is inexpensive and environment friendly. Today apart from being a common mode of transportation for many across the world, it is also a world famous sport. Risk of injury is involved in every sport be it swimming, running, riding and so on and bicycling is no different. The amount of risk involved in cycling on the road is greater than any other sport, that is played within a boundary. Hence, it becomes all the way more  important to take a few measures of safety before indulging yourself in cycling. 

No matter if you are a trained cyclist, or a regular cycle commuter, this article is specifically written for you to prevent you from unexpected and undesired circumstances. It is necessary to take necessary precautions to prevent injuries. Small injuries can heal quickly, but serious ones heal may take long to recover or sometimes never heal. This could result in many undesired circumstances which is dreaded by every person. Prevention is better than cure should be the mantra of every one.  

 Safety Tips for Riding a Bicycle 

Wear a Helmet

  • ●        The golden rule – always wear a helmet that is approved by consumer product safety commission, while riding a bike.
  • ●        Never leave your straps unlocked.
  • ●        Always wear a  cotton hat underneath the helmet.
  • ●        If your old helmet is all broken then buy a new helmet.
  • ●        One should never compromise on the safety standards while buying a helmet. 

Wear Proper Clothes

  • ●        It is very important to wear a proper and comfortable clothes while bicycling.
  • ●        One should not wear loose pants as they can get stuck in the bicycle.
  • ●        Do not listen to music while riding as this could distract you from listening  to the traffic sounds.
  • ●        Always wear shoes, instead of sandals, and flat slippers while riding a bicycle , as this could damage your ankle.  

Check Your Brakes

  • ●        Always check your brakes before riding a bike.
  • ●        Make sure the brake wire is not loose.
  • ●        Get the tyre pressure and bicycle chain checked everyday, or at least twice in a week. 

Follow The Traffic and Road Rules

  • ●        While riding a bicycle always check for traffic signals, people crossing the roads, puddles, wet grounds, gravels, rains and storms.
  • ●        Do not speed up in crowded places as this could not only harm them but also you.
  • ●        Non-compliance of the traffic rules will not only harm you but also land you in jail.
  • ●        Obey traffic, as well as road rules to avoid major injuries, road accidents and other destruction. 

Do Not Ride At Night

  • ●        Avoid riding a bike at night as much as possible as you are not visible to car and truck drivers, which increases your chances of serious accidents.
  • ●        If necessary ride with bicycle lights and reflectors on your clothes or bike. 

Follow the above mentioned rules and preventive measures to avoid any kind of mishappening. Taking necessary precautions will not only save you, but will also let you enjoy your fun time without any unnecessary stress and hassles. Click here to know more in this context. 

Happy Cycling!

Author Bio:

Sachin is a freelance writer who writes on different topics such as health and safety.  He has published more than 500 articles about various topics.  You can Click Here to visit his website.  He loves to travel and make new friends.