Tag Archives: rain gear

General Safety Issues, Head Protection, Weather Protection

ESSENTIAL PROTECTIVE ITEMS FOR CONSTRUCTION SITES (GUEST POST)

Essential Protective Items for Construction Sites

In the construction industry, loud noises, extreme heights and unpredictable hazards are part of the job. You may also have to fight against rain, high winds and other extreme weather to get the job done. In this risky industry, having the right equipment and protective wear can protect you from common jobsite injuries. Following are some of the most important items for construction workers to have. 

Protective clothing

The weather conditions will have a big influence on the clothing you need to wear when working at a construction site. When it’s raining, you want appropriate rainwear, such as waterproof boots, pants and a raincoat with a hood. (When you’re handling tools, you don’t want to be slippery). If you’re working on highway or overnight construction projects, you can find rainwear with reflective strips, so people can see you in the darkness.

When the weather turns cold you will need warm hats, gloves and heavy socks to keep your extremities warm. Other protective clothing includes steel-toe boots, which protect your feet from falling objects, and polarized sunglasses that reduce glare.

Gear

Jackhammers, drills and other machinery can damage hearing permanently, so ear protection on the job is extremely important. In fact, the average 25-year-old carpenter has the hearing ability similar to a 50-year-old worker who doesn’t work in construction. Wear ear plugs or other ear protection devices to reduce the risk of hearing loss. And remind your coworkers to do the same.

Safety Hardhats are important when working in areas where construction activity is occurring above your head. The hard hat minimizes the risk of head injury, if an item falls from above. To prevent falling, rope ties, belts or harnesses are required by law when you’re working above a particular height. And you can protect your eyes from flying debris by wearing goggles or other protective face gear.

Quality tools

A construction worker depends on having reliable, quality tools. If your tools aren’t properly maintained or are in disrepair, that could increase your risk of accident or injury. Regularly inspect your tools to make sure they’re in good working order.

Radio

A two-way radio is important to have on the job, so you can communicate with others on the site and quickly get answers to questions. The two-way radio is also a great communication tool when there is an emergency and you need assistance immediately.

Having the right tools before heading out for the job site will help you do the job. It can be nearly impossible to successfully and productively do your job when you do not have the right equipment. Make a list of tools you need for each upcoming job and spend some time packing the items and ensuring each one works properly. While your employer is legally required to provide certain equipment, you should always double check to make sure it fits you well, is in good repair – and most importantly, you must remember to use it. That hard hat won’t do you any good if you forget to wear it.

Sent by Cassandra Lynne

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES EVERY TRAVELER MUST HAVE (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Joe Schembri

Road trips have become one of the favorite choices for family vacations. Hopping into a motorhome with your loved ones can save the cost of airfare and make the vacation much more affordable. An even bigger draw is the element of adventure that comes with taking to the open road. Families tend to plan out their itinerary, attractions to visit, places to eat, but most don’t plan for emergencies. It can be fun to take an unexpected detour, but make sure that any surprises that come up are pleasant ones.

Unfortunately, some surprising elements can end up ruining your road trip if you aren’t careful. If you and your family are driving at night, heading towards an RV park where you’ll camp for the night and your tire blows out, would you be ready for it? Preparation is the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major setback for your vacation. Here are some vital emergency supplies that you should be sure to gather before travelling.

Spare tire

Having a spare tire is not enough. Most people are sure not to drive without a spare tire, but not everyone checks to assure that the tire is in working order. What good is a spare tire if it is not in good condition? Before heading out on a road trip, make sure that your spare tires are in perfect condition.

Jack and Tire Iron

Having a working spare tire will do you no good without a jack and tire iron to help you change the tire. Make sure that the jack is working properly before you set out. As for the tire iron, a 4 way tire iron is the best choice. This tool can provide more leverage for difficult lug nuts, which is especially important if you are driving a rental car or RV.

Rain gear

There is nothing quite like rainstorms to make your bad luck feel even worse. If it starts raining when you are trying to change a tire, the experience will be much easier if you have the appropriate rain gear to keep you dry and improve visibility.

Fire extinguisher

A fire extinguisher is a vital safety tool for any traveler. Make sure that it is always accessible. If an emergency breaks out, you don’t want to have to dig out the extinguisher from below your luggage.

First aid kit

A first aid kit is an absolute must, no matter where you are travelling. Injuries can happen anywhere, so a well-stocked first aid kit can help treat minor wounds and even prevent an unplanned trip to the emergency room. Like the other supplies, check this kit before your departure and restock any missing supplies.

Jumper cables

A dead battery can put a damper on your travel plans and ruin your planned itineraries if you don’t have jumper cables handy. Why wait for roadside assistance when a quick battery jump can get you back to your fun plans?

Cat litter

Cat litter is a must for any cold weather road trip. If you’re driving in snow or ice this can help provide traction if you’re stuck. It can help you to get back on the road without having to call for help and wait for a tow truck.

Credit card and cash

It is important to make sure that you have access to money in case of an emergency. Have multiple forms of payment available just in case. Some places may not take credit cards, so have cash on hand as well. Your money is your last resort if your safety supplies don’t cover the scope of your emergency.

Being prepared before travelling allows you to have peace of mind. You don’t want to spend your vacation worrying about what might go wrong. Moreover, you don’t want an actual problem to occur and derail your fun. Safety supplies can assure that your trip is wonderful and full of only lovely surprises. 

This guest post was provided by Joe Schembri from Tampa, FL. Joe has traveled in everything from a small sedan to a Class C Motorhome and learned about some of these safety tips the hard way.

General Safety Issues, Weather Protection

WIERD WEATHER IN THE UNITED STATES!

As we say in Texas, “if you don’t like the weather, hang around for a while….. it’ll change!”  It’s either feast or famine, no happy in-between most of the time.  Last year, many parts of the Southwest experienced a drought they will never forget.  Tanks were dry, animals had to be sold due to a lack of both water and growth of food.  This year, thankfully, in many parts of Texas, rains have come pretty regularly and things have greened up better than usual.  However, we’re experiencing a pretty dry July, so we have much more heat ahead of us.  So, we continue to pray for rain. 

This year, wildfires have devastated Colorado, New Mexico, and other Southwestern states, as well as northern states, too.  People have lost their homes and everything they have.  Firefighters do everything they can to contain them; however, Mother Nature controls the winds and other conditions that make them hard to contain.

In the southeast, it’s the opposite: hurricanes develop in the states that border the Gulf Coast.  Much destruction has been experienced there, as well.  It is hard to stay dry in states that get a large accumulation of rain at one time.  Also, I’ve seen quite a few baseball games, and even the Olympic time trials in Oregon, where the rain had no mercy.  Times like that require some coverage – such as some new rain gear! 

It’s best to be prepared regardless  where we live.  Stay alert to weather forecasts by using your NOAA radio or other weather forecast systems.  There are several mobile apps that you can put on your cell phone free.  Have an emergency plan, just in case, along with a supply of water, non-perishable food, flashlight, cell phone, can opener, blankets, pet food, medicines and important papers you don’t want to lose.  Most things can be replaced, but we only get one time around in life.  

Our friends in other countries have certain weather conditions that we don’t have, so it is important that worldwide, we are ready when nature takes over.  Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and other devastating events have taken lives and greatly disrupted  normal ways of life.  Weather happenings are not of our making, so we must try to contend with them the best we can.  

Just remember, whatever type of work you do, there is some type of Home Safety Supplies that will be of great help to you when you must be outdoors.  You will notice that all rescue personnel wear their gear when they are carrying out their duties in times of emergencies, so let’s take advantage of the standard required protection, regardless of the weather, or other conditions.