When it comes to work place safety a first aid kit is essential. You might never have to use it but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Having a first aid kit at hand is necessary if there are ever any minor accidents and to reinforce this below you will find a number of reasons why every business should keep a first aid kit.
You may not know this, but it is the law to have a first aid kit on your premises. There are a lot of people who actually don’t know that this is a work safety requirement and it is one that should be enforced even if you are self employed. The Health and Safety regulations state that all employers must have adequate tools available to tend to any employee who may fall ill or sustain an injury whilst at work.
Now that we have the legalities over, the next thing that should encourage you to get a first aid kit is the fact that it really is a smart investment. Your first aid kit can contain so many items and not just bandages. You can have headache pills and pain relievers in your first aid kit. Paper cuts are something that are very common in the office work place and when this happens a first aid kit is the first thing to reach for.
In general your first aid kit should contain bandages, topical antiseptics, burn cream, adhesive tape, non woven gauze and some generic over the counter medications.
Having a first aid kit in the work place is necessary for all minor ailment and injuries and not just a requirement for severe trauma. I’m sure by now you have realized the important of having a first aid kit and if you don’t, just remember that you are in fact breaking the law.
High visibility clothing is mandatory in some jobs and there is a lot of planning that goes into the manufacturing of this. There are also many regulations that workers have to meet and high visibility clothing is one of them. The purpose of this pose is to take a close look at the main regulation standards and the different types of high visibility clothing that must be worn.
In the UK, high visibility clothing is divided into three different classes and each of these is suitable for a specific work environment. The classes can be found in the regulation documents EN471:2003.
Class 1:
Class one high visibility items are very simple and contain the minimum amount of fluorescence. This clothing type is usually worn in safer environments and the law states that these items have to have at least 0.14 sqm of fluorescent material and a minimum of 0.10 sqm of reflective material.
Some examples include work harnesses, over trousers and reflective belts.
Class 2:
These items are a little more visible than class 1 and are required by those who need to be seen clearly from a distance and up close. The EN471:2003 states that clothes that fit into this class need to have at least 0.5 sqm of fluorescent of material and 0.13 sqm of reflective material.
Some examples include short sleeved garments, sleeveless jackets, waistcoats and bibs.
Class 3:
Class three high visibility clothing is for the most dangerous of environments and this includes those who work beside the road or on a rail track. These people need to be clearly seen at all times by oncoming traffic. The law states that class 3 high visibility clothing needs to have at least 0.8 sqm of fluorescent material and 0.2 sqm of retro-reflective materials. Another aspect of the class 3 items is that they have to be reflective from the back and the front.
As you can see, when it comes to high visibility clothing there is a lot more to take into consideration than just buying a reflective waist coat or band. You have to adhere to certain regulations and know exactly what class of reflective clothing you need to be wearing.
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There are so many eye injuries caused each year because people are not wearing the right safety eye protection products or not wearing any at all. When it comes to work safety it is important to know the possible dangers and eye hazards and the types of protection that is available.
Some of the dangers that can lead to serious eye injury through direct contact or exposure include molten metal, harmful chemicals and liquids and intense light radiation. Protective eyewear can prevent injuries and there are different styles, types and features to these products. This post will explain more about choosing the right protective eyewear for your job.
Identify The Hazards
Before choosing eye protection you need to understand the potential hazards that can lead to injury. Safety lenses can help to protect your eyes from flying particles and these can be caused from drilling, grinding, sawing and even sanding. There is also protective eyewear and face shields and these are required during welding work or anything else that might cause hot sparks or molten metal to splash. When working with harmful liquid, chemicals or gases there are special glasses that are required to help prevent exposure and injury. Any workers who use laser or welding equipment could also be exposed to UV lights or radiation and the correct eye protection is again required.
Features of Protective Eyewear
Safety glasses normally come with scratch resistance lenses to ensure their long life. Lenses are also coated to help to reduce moisture and prevent fogging. If you are welding or laser cutting then you will need the added protection for UV and infrared radiation. Frequent exposure to UV and infrared radiation can cause photokeratitis which causes sunburn on the surface of the eye. Long term problems can include cataracts. Tinted lenses can help to protect again UV radiation but when it comes to infrared radiation there are special shaded lenses.
Tinted lenses can also be used by those who need to see colours more effectively such as electricians. These are called TCG lenses.
Visibility and Comfort
When it comes to eye protection it is important that the safety glasses are comfortable to wear. Comfort and visibility play a vital role when it comes to choosing the right eye protection. There are many different styles available and there are also glasses that can fit any face. There are also thinner lenses and lighter frames so that they are more comfortable for the worker to wear.
Workplace injuries can be prevented if the proper eyewear protection is being used. If the protective eyewear is uncomfortable then workers might decide not wear them and that is why comfort is paramount. All employees should be trained properly and protective eyewear should be mandatory where required.
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General | amavan May 18, 2010 | 
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