Tag Archives: ventilation

General Safety Issues

CONVERTING A LOFT? READ THROUGH THESE SAFETY TIPS BEFORE YOU BEGIN….(GUEST POST)

Converting A Loft? Read Through These Safety Tips Before You Begin… 

Converting a loft can substantially increase both the value and size of your home. But it’s important to adhere to all building regulations as you go through the process. Simply Loft Ladders offers advice on what you need to know.

A loft conversion is a home improvement that’s fairly easy to execute and also boost’s the equity of your property as well. In addition to following the guidelines of the building regulations, it may be necessary for you to get permission first in order to convert it, although this usually only pertains to listed buildings. Talk to your local city board whether you need permission to convert a loft. Building regulations are the least accepted standards with regard to design and construction regarding loft conversions. Here are the five primary categories they fall in:

1. Fire Safety

Naturally, fire safety is a crucial aspect relative to any converted loft. Therefore, the building regulations are as follows:

– The newly installed walls and floors must be able to resist fire for a minimum of 30 minutes. Also, any door panel that’s glazed should employ fire-resistant glass. 

– All loft conversion plans must include a self-closing fire door. 

– You must incorporate a plausible escape route in case of fire. 

– Every room in the new loft must include a proper escape window which adequately meets the minimum requirements of 18in. x 18in. 

– The new loft must have standard fire alarms properly installed throughout. 

– The escape window must be easily accessed from the outside with a ladder. 

2. Structural Stability

– You must install steel beams in your new loft in order to support the joists. 

– If your new loft is intended to be used for anything other than simply storage, it’s required that you install new ceiling joists. 

– If your new loft is going to be used as a standard living area, then it must be built to spec in order to support a great deal of weight. Therefore, the building regulations demand that the load-bearing walls and joists are strong enough to handle that level of weight. 

3. Loft Staircases

The staircase in your loft is one of the most important features of your newly converted loft, so it’s important that it’s safe. 

– Although there isn’t any standard width that your loft staircase must meet, ideally it should be wide enough to ensure everyone’s safe passageway should there be any kind of an emergency. As a result, the width should be a minimum of 2ft. 

4. Loft Insulation

– The building regulations of every loft conversion states that it must by completely insulated, including each internal wall. 

5. Loft Ventilation

– Newly converted lofts are required to incorporate background and rapid ventilation, which indicates they are required to have a window that equates to 1/20th in size of the entire floor area. 

– The roof in the new loft must be properly ventilated in order to prevent condensation. 

– The insulation and roof must have at least 2in. of air space in between them. This does not apply to older properties where there isn’t any roofing felt. 

– If you intend to install a new bathroom, you must also install mechanical ventilation. 

Follow these guidelines to ensure your new loft is safe as well as beautiful. 

Submitted by Phillippa Carr, a freelance writer, who has published articles on property renovation, home design, and DIY, and currently represents chcbuild.co.uk.

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

SAFETY COMPLIANCE IN THE WORKPLACE: KNOWING THE RULES WHEN WORKING WITH DANGEROUS MACHINERY (GUEST POST)

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Compliance with health and safety regulations will not only help protect you, the employer, from liability concerns but will also help keep your workers safe and machines in good working order.

The Workplace Regulations 1992 cover the majority of health and safety issues that can occur in the workplace.  These regulations are split up into three different sections: health, safety and welfare. Each of these sections is especially relevant to a workplace where dangerous machinery is used on a daily basis. 

Health 

This section relates to ensuring that your workplace isn’t set up in a way that will give your employees health issues in the short or long term.  Referring to specific key areas, here is a rundown of how the regulations apply to working with dangerous machinery:

Ventilation:

When materials are cut noxious gases or fine dust particles are often given off. This can lead to lung problems if your workers are exposed to this without adequate ventilation.   Installing mechanical ventilation will ensure that there is a supply of fresh air. Windows may provide enough ventilation, but well maintained mechanical ventilation will always be more efficient. 

Temperature:

Ambient temperature can be affected by machinery running in the workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have air conditioning then temperatures can become too uncomfortable to work in.  Temperature also refers to humidity in the workplace.  Having your workplace at an uncomfortable temperature can lead to stress and loss of concentration. This is especially relevant if your employees are working with machinery as any mistakes can lead to accidents. 

Lighting:

Your workspace should be contain adequate lighting. This is especially important for workspaces using machinery. safety precautions should also be in place incase of sudden loss of light. this means that backup systems are a must if sudden loss of light could lead to accidents.

Cleanliness:

Workspaces should be kept clear of rubbish that could pose a tripping hazard or fire risk. Provide an appropriate means of waste disposal and ensure it is removed regularly. 

Safety 

This second section deals with day to day measures that must be put into place in order to protect the wellbeing of employees. The headings that safety regulations deal with are: 

Equipment Maintenance:

Keeping your machinery well maintained will help prevent accidents that arise from faults and breakages. Likewise, keeping your devices such ventilation systems in good order will help prevent complications from arising further down the line. 

Floor Traffic:

Keeping the areas of your workplace which encounter high foot traffic clear of tripping hazards is very important. This is especially important for workers who are using machinery as a trip or fall can result in serious accidents. 

Windows:

When windows in the workplace are open, they shouldn’t pose as risk to anyone.



Welfare

The welfare aspect of health and safety compliance in the workplace relates directly to the conditions experienced by employees and maintaining their mental and physical health.  Your workplace is only as efficient as the people who are running it, and ensuring your employees are in good health will enable them to focus more and work more efficiently.   This is done by providing suitable sanitation facilities, access to clean water and regular breaks. 

By following these guidelines, your workplace will be a safer and more efficient place. 

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk/, Yorkshire Profiles, a laser cutting, water cutting and fabrication provider. 

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

LASER CUTTING: THE DANGER OF THE LASER AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR STAFF (GUEST POST)

Laser cutting is a dangerous process. The high temperatures and electrical voltages involved mean that staff must be well trained and aware of the dangers posed by this equipment.

Working with lasers is no easy task, and employees must be well-trained in order to operate them. Every workplace that includes the use of lasers should have laser risk management documentation in place, which should be part of its health and safety reading material and which all employees should be aware of.  Some points to be aware of are:

Burns to the skin and eye damage

Laser lights pose significant risk to sight. Care must be taken to ensure that none of the light enters the user’s, or any bystanders’, eyes. If the laser beam does enter the eye it can cause retinal damage.  To avoid this, the machine should have a guard fitted. It should always be engaged during use. Regular maintenance should be performed to make sure the guard is up to task.  It is worth keeping in mind that some frequencies of laser beam may be invisible to the naked eye.  Proper safety equipment should always be worn when operating the machinery to protect against burns.

Electrical failure and shock

Laser cutting equipment requires very high voltages. There is a danger of electrical shock if the laser casing is broken or the interior workings are exposed in any way. To minimise risk, the casing should be inspected regularly and any damaged components should be fixed immediately.

There are huge health and safety issues at work here, so you must keep your employees and your workplace safe by monitoring your equipment at all times.

Fume inhalation

When metal is cut, noxious gases are given off. These gases can be especially hazardous to the health of the user and bystanders.
To minimise risk, the work area should be well ventilated and safety masks should be provided and worn at all times. Cutting speeds should be set correctly so the machine isn’t producing an excessive amount of fumes.

As you can see, there are lots of things that you need to do to keep your workplace safe, and your employees safe from harm. To ensure you protect your staff, make the most of this information. 

This piece was written by Mark Enright, a writer for http://www.laserprocess.co.uk Laser Process,  experts in laser cutting services.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

HOW TO OVERCOME A COMMON HOME PROBLEM: WALL DAMPNESS (GUEST POST)

Interior designing has become a common practice for every household because people want their home to appear new and innovative for an enhanced living standard. For this reason, they invest in a huge sum of money to remodel their homes, but in some cases such as the one mentioned above, only expertise and a professional approach can do the home remodeling or renovation job perfectly. Walls are one of the important parts of your home and they require special attention while planning for your home renovation.
Damp Walls are a major issue for many American home-owners. In this article, we will highlight this problem and propose solutions to overcome it. Let us first discuss the common types of dampness for a better understanding of the issue.

1. Condensation Problem

Condensation basically refers to the water droplets visible on walls, windows or ceilings. It is caused mainly due to the moisture present in air. Warm air contains more moisture and hence the places which are badly ventilated have more chances of getting condensed. For instance, bathrooms and kitchens are prone to get affected from condensation.

2. Chinese Drywall Affect
Every American’s nightmare, the Chinese Drywall affect causes thousands of American homeowners to suffer from muscle aches, sinus attacks and other ailments. The Chinese Drywall imported from China in the 2001 contains a compound which emits sulfurous gases causing health problems and the corrosion of bathroom and kitchen fixtures.

3. Pipeline Leakage
Dampness of walls of a home can also be due to any leakage of pipelines or appliances such as washing machines or dish washers. At first, what may appear to be a small leak can become a major dampness issue if left unattended. Leakages can destruct the structure of your walls and can deform them.

4. Rising Wall Dampness
Just as a sponge soaks up the surrounding water, rising wall dampness is caused when water from the ground rises up through the bricks and they absorb this water and cause rising wall dampness. This water will keep rising unless no evaporation would be possible and gravity will take over and pulls it down again.

Rising damp mostly found below floor level, when water is absorbed by walls surface it starting displaying damp marks on walls. It occurs when the water from the ground rises up through bricks and as a result the water is sucked by the walls and cause dampness.

Guidelines to Overcome these problems:

1. Effective Ventilation and Heating System:
Having effective ventilation and heating systems can help you to get rid of the condensation problem and boost the life of your walls. Windows can also serve as a solution but installation of vents and extractor fans can help you to save your walls from becoming the victims of condensation.

2. Call for an Inspection
If you notice the signs of wall dampness in your home and you are sure that your home has become a victim of defective drywalls then it is time to call an inspection team to analyze and scrutinize the condition of your damp walls and other issues at your home. The home inspectors will detect the effect of dampness and Chinese drywall would charge you with half the price you would have to spend for remodeling your house later.

3. Hire Plumbing Service
In order to fix any leakages or cracks in your pipes it is necessary to get professional help. Only excellent plumbing services will make sure that you don’t have any leakages in future to avoid getting your walls damp again.

Author Bio:
Christina Fusano is a blogger by passion and content writer for Chinese Drywall Advisors, offering reliable Chinese drywall inspection services to homeowners.

Back Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Respiratory Safety

CARPET FITTING SAFETY TIPS (GUEST POST)

After doing an apprenticeship in carpet fitting when I left college, I realised that there were so many things to be careful of when fitting a variety of flooring. I worked on domestic properties but, mainly worked on commercial contracts and building sites, so these safety tips are designed to cover all angles. I understand that you aren’t always in a position to have all safety gear and it can be so much quicker getting on with the job but, if you can use these tips, it will certainly give you a better standard of living. 

Knee Pads

Ask any carpet fitter what he/she thinks needs the most protection when fitting carpets or vinyl and they’ll point straight to their knees and say “knee pads”. As a young lad I didn’t really feel the comfort of them on the carpet but older, wiser colleagues wore them all the time as they had seen the effects on their fathers and other workers. Investing in a comfortable and durable pair of knee pads will really make your day easier and later life more bearable. I eventually bought a pair and couldn’t live without them especially when working on hard floors and vinyl. Some safety trousers include them so get these if you can so you don’t ever forget your kneepads. 

Good Ventilation

Most flooring in industrial settings require the use of sprays and glues that help stick the material to the floor. These can have many harmful chemicals in them and give off some pretty wacky fumes so when possible, always open windows or doors to get the best ventilation. In situations where you can’t get great ventilation, try using a mask to prevent as much harmful fumes as possible. 

Dust Masks

Mainly needed for building sites, dust masks are a God send when you’re working in dusty settings. I lost count of the times I’d have to sweep, scrape, sweep then scrape again on my hands and knees covering my mouth and nose with my sleeve. It’s not professional, efficient or clever not to wear a mask and it’ll give your health a boost if you use one regularly. Some sprays and glues can be pretty nasty too which a mask will help reduce the levels that you inhale. 

Hygiene Gel and Gloves

I remember pulling old vinyl from some of the dirtiest toilets in old houses, offices and schools. This is probably the most disgusting aspect of carpet fitting however, having some gloves and/or hygiene gel will help kill the spread of germs and stop you getting any infections. 

Tough Footwear

Steel toe caps are a must for any carpet fitter and it’s not just heavy items that can crush your toes. On a building site there are many hazardous things you can step on or catch as well as sharp cutting knives and blades that could fall and cut through a standard pair of trainers. 

Most Importantly

Watch your back. So many aspects of fitting carpet require heavy lifting. Try to get help when you need it and be careful not to over-do it. A carpet fitter with a bad back is no use to anyone! 

Author BIO- 

This article was written by Alan Gregory.

Thank you, Alan for this good advice.  Many of the safety articles you mentioned can be found at http://www.tasco-safety.com. pb

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

DOES YOUR WORKPLACE LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS?

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Millions of people experience allergies caused by everyday exposures to agents such as dust mites, cat dander, and pollens.  Workers who encounter agents can also develop allergic reactions such as asthma, nasal and sinus allergies, hives, and even severe anaphylactic reactions.  Work-related asthma, which is caused by exposure to an agent in the workplace, is the most common occupational respiratory disorder in developed countries.  An estimated 15% of asthmatic cases reported in the United States are occupation-related.  In Canada, asthma affects over three million citizens.  Many are not aware that certain agents at their work place could lead to hyper-responsiveness of airway or aggravating pre-existing asthmatic symptoms.  Because of that, it is likely that the cases of occupational related asthma are under reported. 

Asthma is a common lung disease that creates narrowing of the air passages, making it difficult to breathe.  It can affect your ability to work, and your overall quality of life.  When asthma is not managed, it can even threaten your life.  If you are exposed to certain workplace chemicals or agents, you may be at risk for developing occupational asthma.  Many people with work-related asthma don’t realize that their symptoms are related to their work because they are the same as those for regular asthma: attacks of difficult breathing, tightness of the chest, coughing, and wheezing.  In work–related asthma, the symptoms are worse on workdays and improve when the person is away from the workplace, such as on the weekend, days off, and vacation.  Also, symptoms may be more severe at the end of the week, as compared to the beginning of the week. 

Risk factors for occupational asthma include frequent exposure to the agents involved, allergies, family history of allergies, or asthma, and smoking.  A good clinical history will help in identifying the possibility of work-related asthma.  An occupational physician could carry out a walk-through survey in the workplace to identify the possible agents that cause asthmatic attack.  Also, a look at the list of chemicals in Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) would give a clue to that. 

There are many agents that can cause occupational asthma.   Here are some examples:

  • Certain chemicals;
  • Metals and metal-working fluids;
  • Dyes, drugs, and enzymes;
  • Grains, flours, plants, and gums;
  • Natural rubber latex;
  • Animal and shellfish proteins;
  • Fungi;
  • Wood dusts, including red cedar.

Factors that can trigger work-aggravated asthma:

  • Vapors, gases, dusts, mists, sprays or fumes from industrial materials and cleaning products;
  • Dust mites or mold/fungal spores;
  • Indoor air pollution resulting from poor ventilation;
  • Outdoor air pollution and smog (for outdoor workers). 

Both employers and employees can help control or prevent work-related asthma.  Employers should:

  • Eliminate the asthma-causing agent from the workplace.
  • If elimination is not possible, substitute a less hazardous agent.
  • Apply administrative controls such as policies, procedures, safe work practices, and job rotation to minimize exposure time of workers.
  • Control the exposure.
  • Install ventilation systems to contain emissions, such as gases or vapors at the source.
  • Provide Personal Protect Equipment, such as breathing respirator masks.  PPE should not be used as the only method of exposure control when exposures are ongoing.
  • Train employees on the proper use, storage and maintenance of PPE, proper handling procedures, avoidance of spills, and safe working and good housekeeping procedures.
  • Monitor the exposure level of hazardous agents in the workplace. 

Employees should:

  • Learn about the hazards in your workplace by speaking to the employer, health and safety or union representative, or an occupational health professional.
  • Be aware of the symptoms of work-related asthma.
  • Use PPE that is provided.
  • Report any problems with equipment, PPE, or ventilation systems to the supervisor.
  • Attend training courses on work-related asthma and occupational health and safety, and participate in all health and safety programs in the workplace. 

If not recognized and treated early enough, work-related asthma is a serious illness that can result in disability and job loss. Fortunately, when potential hazards are recognized, work-related allergies and asthma can often be prevented, or their effects minimized. Employers and employees must work together to prevent work-related asthma, so all can breathe easy at work.

Source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Respiratory Safety

CAN YOU FIND HIDDEN HAZARDS IN YOUR WORKPLACE?

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Do you know of any workplace that is totally safe?  Hazards exist in just about every vocation there is.  There are safety professionals that identify those hazards and train their employees to be mindful of the risks that are involved in their particular industry; most of these hazards are easy to control.  However, there are hidden hazards that can cause damage, illness, or injury to workers. Have you noticed any of these at your place of work? 

Occupational Health and Safety legislation outlines standard equipment controls that must apply to every type of equipment that is in operation: machine guards, light sensors, warning devices or other safety devices, lockout systems, good houskekeeping and general work safety rules.  Safety devices are classified as engineering controls – the best form of control when running equipment.  You can observe the guards on the machinery, but there may be hidden hazards around equipment, such as dust, fumes, particles in the air, or possible flying objects.  That’s where PPE comes in.  Companies furnish goggles, respirators, gloves, safety glasses, and any kind of personal protective equipment that fits the needs of the employees.

Here’s a few “hidden hazards” that you may have spotted:

  • Poor housekeeping.  Clutter,  trash, tools left out. Cleanliness should be a requirement at all workplaces.
  • Fumes, exhaust, toxic fumes, chemicals, cleaning products, pesticides, toners, office products – these can cause certain persons to have allergic reactions, or other health-related illnesses.
  • Poor ventilation.  Working in a too-cool or too-hot environment can cause illness.
  • Second-hand smoke.
  • Loose carpet.
  • Slick floors.
  • Loose steps.
  • Poor lighting.
  • Poorly stacked materials in storeroom.  Be sure to use a stepladder before reaching up to remove something from a shelf.  There could be lots of stored energy just waiting to fall on you.
  • Windowless doors.  In high-traffic areas, persons can have serious collisions by not watching for someone coming from the other side.
  • Computer screens – cause dry eye if stared into too long.
  • Repetitive motions can cause carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, or tendonitis.
  • Drug/alcohol abuse by coworker.  This can cause serious problems for all workers.  It is best to report this to your supervisor before someone gets hurt.
  • Bullying or harassment is a hazard to other workers, especially the one who is being bullied or harassed.

You can probably name several hidden hazards that we haven’t thought of.  Correcting hazards before illnesses, accidents or allergic reactions occur is a winning strategy.  Be a fanatic about health and safety, and show your supervisor that you believe it should be a top priority.  Fortunately, most hazards are situations that managers and supervisors can do something about.  But it begins with awareness.  One thing may be a threat to someone’s health but it  doesn’t affect others.  However,  all employees deserve to be protected all the time.  You can make your office, shop or factory a safe place to work.  Don’t assume that it is until you become aware of what has been and is being done to keep it safe.  Do your part, and always stay alert!  We would appreciate hearing your ideas about hidden hazards in the workplace!