What Is Health and Safety?

Archive for the ‘Home Safety’ Category

We’re all busy these days, in many cases too busy to give every important task the time and attention it needs. Thankfully, technology has evolved to the point that it can manage many of these tasks for us. Not surprisingly, home security is following suit.

Many busy homeowners are finding automated home security to be an affordable, convenient, and effective way to protect their homes and families, just as someone seeking counseling may find e-therapy more convenient than in-person sessions. You know what home security looks like now, but watch for more of these emerging trends.

Self-Contained Security Systems

In the past, you had to go to different vendors for the locks on your doors, your alarm system, and your security camera. Today, companies like Honeywell and Interlogix are putting all those functions into one self-contained security solution.

This one centralized system leaves no area of your home unprotected. Lights and thermostats are programmed automatically to make your home comfortable and make intruders think twice about breaking in. Cameras and sensors are programmed to catch — and report — breaches as they happen. And, of course, many of these systems send alerts that speed up response time.

More Flexible Security Options

Not all homes are equal, but for a long time all home security options were. They identified certain noises or irregularities and were difficult or impossible to customize to your residence. Today’s systems have made security more personalized — and more effective.

If you want to leave the garage door open but lock the front door, you can do that.  Same thing with lights — you can turn on the living room lights at sunset and the porch lights at nightfall. You can even customize the sensors in your home so that indoor pets or contractors working on your home won’t trip the system by accident.

Security on the Go

Mobile devices have already enabled people to order lunch, find the nearest gym, pay a bill, and send important files from wherever they’re sitting or standing. Since mobile devices let people live life on the go, they’ve become great tools for keeping your home safe on the go as well.

A mobile app lets you adjust the settings on your lights or thermostat and check in on your home. It also alerts you when it detects a potential problem with your settings. This alert feature is especially useful in case the worst happens; if there’s a break-in or a fire, you’re notified immediately, as are the proper authorities.

People may be doing more things outside the home, but they still want to keep that home safe. Look for new security solutions that make it easier to protect yourself and your home without all the time, money, and worry.

Byline: Michelle is an aspiring writer with a passion for blogging. She enjoys writing about a vast variety of topics and loves that blogging gives her the opportunity to publicly voice her thoughts and share advice with an unlimited audience.

Wearing safety gear like gloves is essential to prevent hand injuries when at work. The gloves you buy for work need to be more than a pretty looking pair. Choosing the right gloves ensures that your hands are safe, while the wrong one can leave your hand damaged for life. Several things need to be considered to buy that perfect pair of safety gloves. For starters, the gloves you buy should fit your hand exactly. But then, not all gloves that fit you are perfect for your job. To ensure occupational safety, here are a few factors you should consider to buy the right industrial gloves.

Nature of work

The most important factor to consider when selecting industrial safety gloves is the nature of your job. To begin with, make a list of the jobs that you handle at work and evaluate them. You should also assess your workplace environment to determine the ideal hand safety equipment. If you are choosing gloves for your employees, be sure to have a glove company executive inspect the workplace and understand the kind of jobs that are performed there. That way, the expert will be able to suggest the right kind of safety gloves that ensure hand protection and prevent injuries at the workplace.

Review options available

Before you make a choice, it is wise to take a look at all the options you have. Safety gloves come in different sizes and shapes, literally. The material used for the glove, the thickness and the durability factor differ from one type of safety glove to another. Once you figure out what is right for you, you need to look at the different brands offering that particular type of glove. If you intend to purchase gloves in bulk for your company, it makes sense ask glove companies for samples first. That way, you can review and compare the options you have before finalizing on one.

Whichever manufacturer you choose, ensure that the gloves are of a certain standard and quality. The cost of the gloves from different manufacturers can also be compared but that should not be the only determining factor. When choosing safety gloves, quality should always be the priority.

Does it fit like a glove?

The gloves you choose should fit your hand perfectly. That is the only way you can ensure hand protection in case of workplace accidents. If you are ordering in bulk, be sure to ask for the right glove sizes for all the employees who have to wear them on job.

Create awareness

Purchasing the right type of gloves is not enough. If you want to be safe and protect your hand, you need to know which type of safety glove to use when. Explain your employees the importance of using protective gloves for safety at work and train them in using the right type of glove as required for their job.

The employee should also be trained to maintain and inspect the condition of the gloves regularly and to replace the damaged gloves in time, to prevent any possible injuries.

Lily is an expert at Intersafety Ltd, which specializes in manufacturing industrial safety gear. Products manufactured by the company include head protection aids, disposable coveralls, footwear accessories, respirators, industrial gloves  and more.

Many DIY and home improvement projects carry an element of danger and we are often aware of the dangers present in projects that require power tools, risky situations and heavy or cumbersome objects.  However did you know that according to Government figures there are over 1500 wallpaper related accidents and injuries every year?

While wallpaper may not seem like a dangerous material, it was actually listed as the 10^th most dangerous DIY material in the 2002 Home Accident Surveillance System (HASS) report with 1602 reported accidents and injuries resulting from the use of wallpaper!

This unexpected statistic really intrigued me so I decided to have a look and see what common wallpapering injuries I could find, not an easy task but I eventually found some data from a hospital A&E unit that gave me the following insights:

Females are 28% more likely to suffer a wallpapering related injury than males.  64% of reported injuries were from females compared to just 36% from males.  However this difference may be down to males being less likely to seek medical advice and attention for their injuries.

The most injured part of the body was the lower back, this was usually in the form of back pain or a strain injury resulting from bending, stretching and falling off ladders!  To avoid this it may be advisable to warm up before papering and set the pasting table at a height that is comfortable to use.  Also remember that you should always take care when using ladders and step ladders no matter how high or low the height.

Surprisingly the least injured body part was the finger, most of which were from cuts by knives and scissors. This is probably because we are usually very aware of what we are doing with our hands, especially when using sharp cutting tools!  However injuries to the hands were far more common and usually resulted from the use of scraping tools, gloves are recommended to help protect the hands from these injuries.

Chest pains were a common complaint for those over the age of 50. This was often accompanied by a lack of sensation and tingling in the hands, most likely this was caused by having the arms raised above the head for long periods which can affect the bloods circulation.  To avoid this be sure to take regular breaks and shake down your arms to get the blood flowing back through your hands.

Another fairly common injury was caused by loose bits of debris shooting into the eye when scraping the walls.  This is extremely common when scraping wood chip wallpaper.  Goggles should be worn to protect the eyes when scraping off old wallpaper.

So remember that no matter how harmless your home improvements activities may seem it is always better to plan ahead, recognise the risks and wear any appropriate safety gear.  If you suffer from back pain or poor circulation then it may be better to call in a professional decorating service to carry out the work for you.

This article was written and researched by Mike Escott on behalf of the Home and Garden Website, a UK Home Improvements Directory.

Fires are an unfortunate occurrence that happens in many homes every day. In the United States, a fire occurs every 90 seconds. This results in thousands of destroyed homes, as well as serious injuries and even death every year. In the United States, 4,000 people die each year from fires, many of which could have been prevented. This is why it is important for parents to teach their children about fire safety. Not only will it help them stay calm and safe in the event of a fire, but will also help them learn how to prevent fires from happening.

By teaching children fire prevention and safety, parents can ensure that if a fire occurs, their children will know what to do. Knowing what to do during a fire can help save lives, as well as prevent injury. Parents should talk to their children and come up with a fire escape plan in case a fire occurs in their home. Having a plan is important to help keep family members rational and calm during a fire, which will allow them to escape the home unharmed. Planning an escape plan and even practicing it can help prevent further tragedy when there is a fire.

Although having a plan is important, parents should also talk to their children about what to do if the plan cannot be enacted. If their planned escape route is blocked by fire, children should know what to do so they can think rationally to escape the house. Warning about feeling doorknobs, staying low to the ground to avoid smoke and even having fire ladders to use from an upstairs bedroom should be discussed with children so they will know what to do. Fire spreads quickly so it is important to be able to know what to do when faced with a problem during a fire. Thinking quickly is necessary, so knowing what to look for and what to avoid is crucial for a child to stay safe during a fire.

In addition to knowing about how to escape during a fire, it is equally important for parents to teach their children how to prevent fires, as well as keeping their own home safe from fire hazards. Lighters and matches should be kept out of the reach of children at all times. Children should not be allowed to use the stove without parental supervision. Candles should never be left lit where they can be knocked over and should be monitored while burning. Not smoking in the home can help prevent fires. Smoke detectors should be installed within the home with working batteries and tests should be performed routinely to ensure that they work. Parents can pass these safety tips on to their children so that they know it is important to never play with fire, as well as taking the safety precautions to prevent them. Prevention is key when talking about fire safety.

Fires can be extremely dangerous, as well as a scary situation for anyone who is involved in one. By talking with their children about how to prevent fires and how to react when a fire occurs, they can help prevent more fires from being started, keeping their kids safe from harm.

 

About the Author: Felicia is a writer/blogger who focuses on family safety and security.

Keeping your children safe whilst they play in your garden, in someone else’s garden or indeed in a playground or play park is number one priority for parents.

Many of us can be nervous about keeping our children out of harm’s way whilst they are playing. There can be so many worries and concerns, from their children falling over to bumping heads on various play equipment.

Trampolines are extremely popular, they provide children with a fun past time which can be done in the safety of their own garden. Trampolines give children the opportunity to practise their strength, agility and coordination as well as have fun with their friends. Many of you may already have a trampoline in your garden – or you may be considering getting one.

So, how and what do you need to do in order to make it safe for your children to bounce away and have as much fun as possible? There are so many health and safety rules in the work place and at schools and nurseries, but when it comes to being at home a lot of people overlook the need to think carefully about health and safety. This goes for children’s play equipment – whilst using play equipment in the home there are a few things we should think about in order to make it as safe as possible.

1. Make sure the trampoline has durable, thick pads covering the springs around the edge of the trampoline. If your trampoline didn’t or doesn’t come with good padding – it is worth investing in some which can be bought separately.
2. Safety nets or enclosures can be bought to surround the outside of your trampoline; this will make it safer t bounce on and will help prevent your child falling off the side.
3. Buy a ladder to help people mount and dismount safely – the net or enclosure may stop people falling when they are on the bed of the trampoline, but it will not stop people slipping of the edge if they are trying to get down off it
4. Ensure whoever is going to use the trampoline has no extra loose clothing, bracelets, earring or anything that may get caught and do that person damage. Just like in any sport, it is important to be properly dressed before partaking
5. Keep your play equipment in good order – covers can protect the life of your equipment, but replacement parts should be bought if bits start to wear out. If the springs, pads, or netting wears out then someone could hurt themselves.
6. Lastly, supervise at all times – especially with young children. Alternatively, you can appoint a responsible teenager or older child to take responsibility for very small children. This means only allowing one child on at a time and making sure the children are not doing anything silly whilst on the trampoline.

Many of these things are common sense, but it is important to keep in mind so your children can play in the safest way possible.

For a range of trampoline safety accessories, please click here to visit the Big Game Hunters Trampoline Shop