Tag Archives: padding

Fall Safety

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST CONSTRUCTION SAFETY HARNESS (GUEST POST)

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Accidental falls top the list of fatalities in the construction industry. For this reason, it is important to make the right choice of safety harness. This will have to depend on factors like the kind of work, environment, and the level of risk involved, among others.  A safety harness can come with many different features; here are some things to consider when your ready to buy:

  •        Padding
  •        Webbing
  •        Buckles
  •        Weight
  •        Features
  •        Accessories 

What about the safety harness features?

If you are looking for a safety harness that can meet OSHA compliance standards you will find that a basic safety harness will be affordable with a simple design and have a universal size.  This type of harness will certainly work, but is not ideal for a professional who uses a safety harness daily.

Most construction safety harnesses feature a padded waist belt for use with tools as well as side hip D-rings.  These features are specific to the construction industry but not included in all safety harnesses. 

Questions to ask about safety construction harnesses

What type of work will I be doing?

If you are always working at height, you might consider integrated tool pouches as well as tool belt that conforms and fits to your toolset.  If your work requires positioning, then you will need side D-Rings, these can be custom fit your harness. OSHA requires them to be proof-tested to a minimum load of 3,600 lbs. without breaking, cracking or becoming deformed. 

How long or often will I be wearing my safety harness?

Arguably the most important feature on a safety harness, padding provides much-needed comfort and adds a layer of protection in the event of a fall.  If your job consists of long hours in a harness, a question you might ask is; could I wear this all day?  The comfort of your harness should be one of the deciding factors when choosing a construction safety harness. 

A general rule when buying safety harnesses is that more padding=more comfort, the same goes for work boots and helmets.  If you’re planning on spending long hours in your safety harness, you should consider more padding; you will feel the benefits daily.

What material is my safety harness made with?

Dyneema and Kevlar are considered the premium webbing materials used for safety harnesses.  Both materials are comparable to steel and commonly used in military body armor.

Will I be sharing this harness with my co-workers?

For a construction worker, the ability to quickly snap in and adjust the harness can be a real timesaver.  Safety harness buckles come in three basic types, quick-connect, pass-thru, and tongue.  If your job requires you to share your harness with other workers, you may want to consider a harness with tongue buckles.  These are easy to adjust on the fly but not as precise as the quick connect buckles.

What about the size and weight?

The size of your safety harness is determined by your height and weight, always consult a safety professional to help determine the appropriate size for your build.  Additionally you should check the MFG sizing charts, if your total weight is over 310lbs (including tools) you should opt for a specially rated harness for increased capacity.  

With the appropriate type of harness, which conforms to OSHA standards, accidental falls, work related injuries, and fatalities can be minimized and your day can be just bit more comfortable! 

Note: Blog4Safety’s parent company, Texas America Safety Company, also has a huge array of safety harnesses! 

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

MINING SAFETY AND PROTECTIVE GEAR (GUEST POST)

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Mineworkers that wear full safety clothing can address several dangers. All mines need to stipulate the mining safety and protective clothing required and the kind of activity to be carried out.

Old Hundred Gold Mine Tour

Purpose of the protective gear

Improved visibility: A gear with high visibility is critical in a mine particularly if dealing with high traffic. Retro reflective strips and bright colors always make the workers at the mining site visible.
Abrasion Resistance: Thick and tough leather offers high abrasion resistance in case of a crash though fabrics like cordura are also able to provide significant protection. Fabrics are waterproof, easy to maintain, cheap and quite comfortable during hot weather. Thick leather is uncomfortable during hot weather and could result in the loss of control and heat stress. There are fabric gears designed into a mesh-like pattern which provides cooling plus a more stable surface to attach the padding.
Padding: Quality pants and jackets offer significant extra padding within the joint regions that are more vulnerable. This takes the form of dual-density foam or simple foam padding. The integrated pieces are available inside some jackets.
Weather Protection: Protection against weather elements is very important in mines. At times, extreme weather makes the working conditions rather dangerous or unbearable.

What is the required protective gear for greater safety during mining?

Approaching safety experts is the best answer. Every safety expert is exposed to a number of risks in the mines and is a witness of accidents, nearing accidents, hazards and falls in all the weather conditions. Some of their recommendations on mine worker safety include:

  • Protective gear needs to conform to the anatomy but not the surrounding slide
  • The hands, head, knees, hips, shoulders and elbows are all vulnerable areas
  • A protective gear should be purchased not as some fashion statement but for protective purposes

Examples of specific protective gear items

  • Full-face helmet: This offers the most protection.  It is imperative that hardhats be worn.
  • Gloves: Gloves need to be designed specifically for a given mining activity. It is commonly made using cordura, Kevlar, leather or other given combinations. There are some with carbon fiber knuckle protection and other rigid padding forms. There are gloves that offer wrist protection.
    Jackets: Most jackets are made from ballistic nylon, leather, Kevlar, cordura and other related synthetics. Many jackets feature a special padding on the spine, elbows or shoulders.
    Pants: They include special protection for hips and knees. Cotton denim jeans that have Kevlar are preferred by some people.
    Boots: It’s specifically designed for the undertaken mining activity and includes plastic caps and reinforcement on the ankles or the toe area.
    Helmet Visor or Goggles: Something of utmost importance is eye protection. Metal pieces or pebbles that are kicked up towards your eye have sufficient momentum to render significant damage.
    Ear plugs: These devices offer protection against any hearing damage and reduce fatigue.
    Vests: Made using retro reflective materials with high-visibility color. It is possible to wear them over jackets so as to increase the possibility of remaining visible. This will more critical in adverse weather conditions.

Author bio:
This has been a post by Danny, a blogger from Australia. He is writing about business and human resources on behalf of Australia Mining, a company that provides information to people looking to get a job in mining.