Safety Devices that your workplace must have

Posted by admin | Posted on 06-06-2010

Category : Other safety tips

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Even though, every company has its different need of safety devices for their workplace, the most common and the most important safety device that every company must have are the smoke alarms and the fire extinguishers, and these tools are the front liners to defend a building from possible fire.

Smoke Alarms
Smoke Alarms are of different type like the battery powered one and the electric one. As we all know, smoke alarms are designed to detect high level of smoke or any particles present in the air. The moment the smoke alarm detected such, it will emit a warning signal that is loud enough to get the attention of the people within the building. If you are into battery operated smoke alarms, make sure that you do a routine check to make sure that the batteries are in good condition and the alarm operates.
It is highly recommended that the company must do a routing check with the smoke alarm and check that it is working out fine and is able to produce a loud sound enough to be heard all throughout the building.

Fire Extinguishers
Keeping your workplace safe include to have a portable fire extinguisher installed. Portable fire extinguishers are effective for use while the fire is at its early stage and controllable. If you were able to have the right kind of fire extinguisher that matches with the level or class of fire in your establishment and have it operated by somebody who is knowledgeable enough or is well trained in using such safety equipment, then you were able to save both the lives of your employees and your properties. It is important that you have a fire extinguisher or two in your workplace even if you already have other fire fighting measures or equipments present. On the other hand, no matter how many fire extinguishers you have in your workplace its performance still depends with proper selection, inspection, maintenance, and distribution.
To make sure that your fire extinguisher is readily available, you must have it installed in visible and accessible areas of your building like hallways, paths, and exits. If it is possible for you to have your extinguishers installed in wall recesses and/or flush-mounted cabinets, then do it. On the other hand, if you have no choice but to place your fire extinguisher on a discreet place or out of direct line of sight, placing a directional arrow will be of big help in locating your fire extinguisher when needed.
Make sure that you have done a routine test and maintenance of your fire extinguisher and let them be at its operable condition. In addition, they must be in their designated places even when not in use. If at any time your fire extinguisher are tested or under maintenance and needs to me removed, a fully functional one must be installed for replacement.
Having a well-maintained and fully operable fire safety devices or equipments in your building will keep you a step ahead in making your workplace a safety place to work.

Mobile phone safety tips for mobile workers

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Posted by admin | Posted on 02-05-2010

Category : Other safety tips

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Mobile workers are certain in every company. If you have set safety measure for your employees in your workplace, it is also important to set one for your mobile workers. When working mobile, communicating with his or her mobile phone is certain. We all know that many have lost their lives due to communicating on their mobile phones while on the streets busy driving and more. With the vast growth of incidents, employers are now designing safety measures for those mobile employees who constantly use their mobile phones. If you have mobile employees in your company, below are some of the safety tips for your mobile workers in using their mobile phones.
Provide hands-free devices – providing only hands-free devices to your mobile workers will surely keep them a step ahead in keeping themselves safe at all times, this may not be 100% guaranteed safe, but at least there will be less distraction while hitting the road.
Put some warnings in your company vehicles – installing a notice on all your company vehicles will help keep your employees safe. Remind them to drive safely by not using their mobile phones while driving them to arrive safe and sound to their destination. Passengers must be the one responsible in handling the phone, or the driver should pull over first before using the phone.
Let your employees take responsibility – allowing your employees to take the responsibility of all the circumstances and associated costs incurred like traffic infractions resulting to mobile phone usage will most like force them to take extra care when driving. It must be applicable to the usage of both personal and company issued mobile phone while driving a company car. However, if ever despite being responsible for any costs incurred your mobile worker still commit the said charges, a stricter discipline must be implemented.
Conduct driver safety training – require all your mobile workers to take the driver safety course first before allowing them to go onboard with your company vehicle. Some of the training course can be brutal enough to show consequences of using their mobile phones while driving. This type of training courses can be harsh but this can be the only way to keep your mobile worker aware of irresponsible usage of mobile phones while driving.
Provide an answering service or forwarding option – if your remote workers hit the road alone, it is better to allow other people answers his or her phone calls using the call forwarding options. Or better yet, provide them with an answering service where they can set while driving. Upon arriving, your mobile workers can now have the chance to view new messages.
Shut it off – it important for the employers to include the shut it off clause in their safety policy. This can be applicable not only to the drivers but to the passengers as well, for passengers who are using their mobile phones while travel may cause distraction the driver.
Disallow mobile phones – this can be your option if any of the above does not provide good result.

Simple tips to follow on industrial safety

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Posted by admin | Posted on 10-04-2010

Category : Industrial safety

Tags: , , ,

Applying industrial safety means keeping your employees free from harm while on your workplace. Maintaining industrial safety has never been easy if you will just follow the regulations set by the Federal Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration or OSHA. Following these regulations will definitely minimize the risk of industrial injuries or harm to occur. Even though, each industry will have their own designed regulations to follow, below are some of the general regulation that every industry must follow.

Take extra care when handling your industrial supplies –those who are into specialized or highly technical occupation will most likely be exposed to different equipments, which can possibly cause severe injury or harm if not used properly. In order for you or your workers to have enough knowledge about the equipment and that has the ability to use properly, proper training in getting to know how to use the equipment is important. A supervisor can also be of big help in supervising employees when using such equipments until they are completely or a hundred percent comfortable in using the equipment.

Continuous learning about work safety standards – always refresh your knowledge about the ongoing and the latest standards on work safety and stick into them. Do not forget to be on the standards always like not shortcuts at all. Working safely is as simple as wearing your hard hat, protective gloves and eye shields, and more.

Respecting regulated barriers – this is another simple tip to follow if you want to be safety on your workplace. Your job may require you to be on a specific location and keep away from other work location for safety purposes.
Constant inspection of equipments – constant inspection and monitoring of industrial equipments is another great tip to follow to keep your workplace safe for you and your workers. Make sure that your industrial equipments are efficient and safe for use for them to avoid causing harm or injury to your workers.  One great example of equipments that need constant checking are the straps and chains for those who are into cargo transport industry.

Carefully reading safety posters – as a worker, it is a good practice to take some time to read those safety posters around your workplace. They are placed for no reason at all but to remind you of your own safety. Safety posters generally include things to do in case of emergency, avoiding common injuries that occurs in your work area, and any other that will help you keep safe from possible harm or injuries while in your workplace.

Attending trainings and seminars for safety – while many of the employees look the safety programs and training a waste of time, you must see it in a different way. With the help of these programs and trainings, you are a step ahead in updating yourself about current job safety regulations that might be new to you thus keeping you a step ahead in keeping yourself safety while in your workplace.

With the easy to follow safety tips mentioned, safety will definitely be certain for you or your employees.

How to implement performance safety

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Posted by admin | Posted on 06-04-2010

Category : Performance safety

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

To keep your workplace safety at all times, numerous standards are followed including the performance safety, an ongoing review of processes, procedures, and practices that are done through observation, examination of workplace and task analysis. To make your workplace safe, implementing performance safety is important and this can be done in six different methods that are described below.

Pro-Active vs Reactive – under this method or key, the company’s response to performance safety can be on a reactive manner by reacting to a certain injury instead of having a pro-active preventive measure to avoid the injury from happening. In this way, there can always be an injury and the aim to have a safety workplace will never be a success. However, if the company practices the proactive way of implementing performance safety, marked improvements in safety will surely be possible to happen.

Recognition vs Incentive – under this method, employees may react differently. When we say incentive, it will definitely include monetary value and may eventually result into employees doing their task for the cash prize. On the other hand, if he or she is not aware of keeping her or himself safe, incentive will not catch his or her attention at all. This method can be expensive overtime and may be viewed as entitlements by many of the employees. However, if the recognition method is used, employees might react differently. This can more effective in promoting a pro-active performance safety as majority of the employees want recognition for a job well done.

Values vs Priorities – when using value in implementing performance safety, employees will definitely conduct business or perform according to the set value expectation. There can be no compromise at all and the employees’ performances that are centered on those values are clear. On the other hand, if priorities are used in implementing performance safety, changes can be certain, as priorities changes depending on an employees’ day-to-day workload. However, depending on the situation, employers may choose between values and priorities. Considering whether an employee’s performance safety is a value or an employee’s quick performance is a priority may also take place.

Team Cooperation vs Individual Aggression – safety should not be taken for granted, as life should not be taken for granted that is why, each individual in the workplace must practice performance safety as a team. Distractions are inevitable when at work that commonly resulted into and injury. If each of the team are not responsible enough in helping each other to stay focus on a specific job, then injuries were most likely to happen.

Prevention vs. Complacency – prevention is better than cure as the saying goes. If your company adopts the prevention way of implementing performance safety, each of your employees will be pro-actively searching or looking for some ways in order to prevent even a single injury to happen. Unlike if you use complacency in implementing performance safety, you and your employees will do nothing until an injury occurs.

Performance vs Compliance – compliance in implementing performance safety is noting without the performance. One must do his or her job correctly to make the workplace safe, efficient, productive, profitable, and most of all in compliance.

Back safety at work

Posted by admin | Posted on 02-04-2010

Category : Occupational Safety

Tags: ,

When at work back a pain often felt by many of the employees and is considered by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) as the number one workplace safety problem, for back injuries can be extremely painful, may cause long term or lifetime disability, and is expensive to diagnose and treat.
You might be wondering why many people are experiencing back problems. Back pains are mostly related to a person’s spine that is made of numerous small bones called the vertebrae. The spines are the ones responsible in helping a person to sit and stand while protecting the spinal cord.
One must know that 27% of work related injuries are back injuries. Being the person’s main machine, our backs should have taken extra care. How are we going to do this while at work especially those who have work that requires lifting or some awkward positioning or posture, for they are in high risk of having a back injury? By simply following some of the tips mentioned below, back safety at work can be as simple as 1 2 3.
If you wanted for you and your employees to be safe from back injuries while in your workplace below are the simple to follow tips.
•    When lifting an object, avoid bending over it. The best practice in lifting an object in order to avoid back injury is to bend on your knees or squat in front of the object you are about to lift.
•    When it is time for your lift the object, do it slowly. Have your legs and arms muscles share their part as your lift and make sure you do not pull or lift with your back.
•    While you are lifting, always keep it a practice or a habit to have a heads up and always look straight ahead.
•    Make sure to use your legs and not your back while lifting and doing this simple by keeping the object your lift as close as possible to your body.
•    Keep it a habit to tighten abdominal muscles as you lift.
•    When it is time for you to put down an object, use the same methods you apply upon lifting.
•    If you are lifting too large, to heavy object wherein the abovementioned tips are not applicable, asking for assistance from your colleagues, or using some machines can be the best option to do.
To keep yours and your employees’ back healthy at all times while at work, undergoing a good exercise can be the best thing to do, for it will keep your back strong enough for any endeavor you might take. They can also be healthy and flexible enough for different types of work.
Another thing that will help you implement back safety at work is to have back belts. It has been known that back belts helps control low back pain injuries particularly those who do not have back injuries existing. However, with the controversies it has, one must not rely on back belts as substitute for his or her company’s back injury prevention program.

Safety ladder use in your workplace

Posted by admin | Posted on 28-03-2010

Category : Industrial safety

Tags: ,

Sfaety first is the number one motto of everybody. When in your workplace, using a ladder is one of the inevitable things to do. To keep you and your employees safe while in the workplace, safety ladder use must be practiced. Safety use of ladder can be done with the following easy to follow steps below

Proper Procedure
Practice proper procedure when using your laptop. Do not forget to read the manufacturer’s manual especially if you are using it for the first time.

Avoid using the ladder when you are sleepy or ill, if under medication, and during bad weather conditions.
Prevent using ladders if near or along doorways or in high traffic areas. If the need of using a ladder in doorways, always makes sure that the door is locked. A fiberglass or wood ladder is best for use rather than metal ladders in areas near power lines or other electricity sources to prevent electrical shock hazard.

Inspection
Before using a ladder, make sure that a thorough inspection was made. One must make sure that the ladder’s rug is firm and unbroken. Give time to inspect if braces are fastened securely as well as the ropes, pulleys, and other moving parts. If during the inspection a defect is observed, it should be repaired immediately. If the defect is impossible for repair, it should not be used anymore.

Proper Setup
Proper ladder setup is another important thing to keep in mind to be safe while using a ladder. Always see to it that the ladder’s feet is positioned on the ground solidly. Do not forget to use a board under the legs if you are going to raise your ladder in soft or uneven area for it to have proper support. Before finally using it, test the ladder to make sure that it is secure, firm and stable. For your ladder to be stable, place you ladder against the wall or any other support and make sure that it is placed on a 75-degree angle and the steps are spread fully and locked into position.

How to climb
Knowing the proper way of climbing the ladder is another way of keeping you safe while at your workplace. Before climbing the ladder, make sure that you have your hands, shoes, and ladder rungs dry. Ask a second person to hold the bottom of the ladder and help keep others from disturbing the ladder. Always practice the three-point grip or the two hands and one foot or one hand and two feet while climbing the ladder. Concentrate while climbing by avoiding from distraction that will keep you away from the ladder.

When climbing, do it slowly and keep you weight centered between side rails and never lean back and stand on the top two rungs of a stepladder or on the top four rungs of an extension ladder.

Following the mentions steps above will keep you free from harm while using a ladder in your workplace.

How to observe health and safety at work

Posted by admin | Posted on 11-03-2010

Category : Protective equipment

Tags: ,

Keeping the employees healthy and safe at all times are just a few of the employers’ legal responsibilities. Whether they have a big or small company, they need to make sure that they have enough protection for the safety of their employees and visitors inside the workplace. How you will meet the standards in keeping your employees healthy and safe, below are the easy to follow steps.

The first thing that you can do is to know your legal obligation concerning your employees’ health and safety and where you can get more information about this obligation. It is important for the business owner to have a better understanding about the federal and state rule on workplace health and safety. You can get great advices about health and safety as OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  You can also get information from the National Safety Council and in every state pyblic health and safety offices.

So what will you do to keep your workplace a safe and healthy place for your employees?

Understand and adhere to fire regulations – this will require you to have action plans to respond fire and other workplace emergencies.

Assess the risks – with the different level of risks each business establishment have, you should be knowledgeable enough in determining your employees level of risk as they do their jobs. Aside from your employees, you must also determine your visitors’ and third party risks while they are at your premises.

Report Accidents and keep careful records – keeping records of accident reports is another form of complying with OSHA’s record-keeping regulation.

Use protective equipment – by furnishing your workplace with protective gears, like hard hats, safety goggles, reinforced footwear, reflective jackets, and more, you are on your way of keeping you workplace safety.

Keep employees informed – keep your employees informed all the time with the latest procedures and rules with regards to safety at work. It can be done via constant training and orientation or by posting information on visible areas like hallway, pantry, and more.

Train emergency response teams – have a group or a team trained to be the front liners in responding any emergencies. Employers must note though that employees chosen to be one of the emergency response team must be physically capable to do the job.

Secure Premises – like your employees, contractors and visitors are entitled of the same health and safety consideration, thus must follow safety procedures as well. To avoid them being in trouble, keep your workplace secure to prevent unauthorized entry.

Doing all of the abovementioned, your workplace will surely be a safe and healthy place to work for your employees. However,  there are still some that you must avoid that include in getting the false or wring advices about health and safety for your workplace, for it may cause you trouble that having no information at all. In addition, do not ever try to forget about HIPAA or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that requires employers to protect his or her employees’ medical records and conditions.

Industrial Knife Safety Tips

Posted by admin | Posted on 07-02-2010

Category : Industrial safety

Tags: , , ,

Using an industrial knife is common especially if you are working in a department store, in a warehouse, or grocery store wherein you need to cut items every now and then for packages, shipments and more. Because box cutters or industrial knives are very common and easy to use, many have used it the wrong way.

Below are some of the safety tips you might want to apply in using your Industrial Knives.

Point your knife’s blade away from you when cutting is one of the first things that you must do in practicing safe cutting or using your industrial knife. This is to make sure that none of your body parts will be cut or in possible danger. Always make sure that everybody is at a safe distance while cutting.

Never be on a hurry when cutting, for it is more dangerous to cut a half-inch thick of collective shrink wrap than cutting them down a couple of layers at a time.

After using your industrial knife or box cutter, it is a better practice to make sure that your knife’s blade are in a safe place to avoid any unwanted events from happening. If you are using a folding knife, make sure that they are folded so that the blades are inside its handle. On the other hand, if you are using a retractable knife, make sure that blades are off. Be sure as well to make use of your protective sheaths for your knives to be safe.

Be responsible enough to not place your knife or cutter on a cluttered table with the blade retracted or closed. This is to keep your friends away from possible danger or harm the moment the put their hands on the cluttered table with your cutter around.

Always see to it that the blade of your knife is sharp enough to cut layers of packaging materials or strands of ropes. Sharp blades are safe enough to use and will help you get the job done on time without the need to compromise safety. And always avoid in using rusted blades, for it will increase your chance of having cuts.

However, if after all of the pre-cautions mentioned above are done and still some unwanted things happens like some cut, below are some of the first aid steps that you can do.

The first thing that you can do is to stop bleeding by compressing clean towels or bondages to the cut until it stops from bleeding.
You can also call the attention of your immediate supervisor so he or she can ask for medical assistance from the emergency personnel.

However, if your cut is deep enough that needs medical attention, proceeding to an emergency is the best thing that you can do.
With the easy to follow tips mentioned above, being cut or wounded with your industrial knife can be prevented and you will end up doing your job without wasting your time going to the emergency or treating any cut or wound.

Ways On Keeping Your Eyes Safe At Work

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Posted by admin | Posted on 11-01-2010

Category : Industrial safety

Tags: , , , , , ,

Having an eye injury at work can sometimes happen but can be prevented if workers are just cautious enough. With the use of some safety eyewear, eye injury at work can be prevented. If you want your workplace to safe from eye injuries and prevent your workers from having one, below are some of the effective ways in keeping your workplace safe from eye-injuries.
Asses – one of the best things that you can do to make your work area safe from eye injuries is to asses. Doing an ocular inspection in your workplace is what you can do to asses of any possible cause for eye injury. Inspect all areas, access routes, and equipments and make sure they are safe enough. Take time to study any reports of eye injuries and identify those places with eye hazards.
Test – make sure you conduct regular testing to your employees to correct any eye vision problems as early as possible, thus prevent any possible eye accidents.
Protect – prevention is better than cure. As the saying goes, protecting your employees is another great way of keeping your workplace safe from eye injuries. By selecting a protective eyewear designed especially for a certain duty or hazard particularly the eye hazard, you are a step ahead in keeping your workplace free from eye hazard. In addition, eye protection must meet with current standards from the Occupational Safety and Health.
Participate – letting your people participate will help a lot in keeping your workplace free from eye hazard. One of the best ways to keep them participating is to create a 100% mandatory program for eye protection to all operation areas of your workplace. This type of broad programs will help you prevent more injuries and is easier to enforce.
Fit – when buying a protective eyewear for your workers, make sure that it fits well and will make them feel comfortable. This aim can be achieved easily by having an eye care professional or someone with enough training fit the eyewear. Allow your workers to take charge of their own eyewear and provide repairs if needed.
Plan for an Emergency – planning for an emergency relief for an eye injury is another way of keeping your workplace safe. Install some accessible eyewash station where your workers can wash their eyes in an instant especially if they are working with chemicals.
Educate – with the right education on how to prevent eye injury is another way to keep your workers updated with the right things to do to prevent eye injury from happening. Educating your workers can be done by constantly conducting an ongoing educational programs to keep your workers aware the importance of having an eyewear. Adding eye-safety to your employees’ training program and orientation is also a great way of educating them.
Support – as the company’s management, support your eye safety program by wearing the safety gear, the eyewear whenever and wherever needed. This will help your implement your eye safety program and you will probably have a successful one if everybody are cooperating. Bergen County Locksmith | Carpet Cleaning New York |  Precision Engraving | Bee control | San diego bee removal | Fire Sprinklers Scotland | shipping containers for hire | metal fabrication services | Home staging Certification | Copper Works | Linen Table Napkins | Garage Storage Solutions | Energy Management Systems New Jersey | Energy Consultants |