What Is Health and Safety?

Archive for the ‘Signs and Labels’ Category

New figures have shown that summer could be a prime time for opportunistic thieves to target homes with outdoor equipment – making asset tagging your belongings over the coming months an absolute necessity.

According to research published this month by Aviva, the number of thefts from gardens and outbuildings increases by around 25 per cent when the clocks go forward, with power tools (42 per cent), lawn mowers (19 per cent) and other equipment among the things targeted by criminals. It even suggests things like rakes are often stolen from outside peoples’ homes!

Commenting on the shocking findings, household underwriting manager at Aviva Peter Ketteringham said that while many will welcome the extra hours of sunlight that comes at this time of year, it also makes valuable items that are left lying around in plain sight easier to spot – which is why homeowners need to take a more vigilant approach to security.

“Try not to advertise what you’ve got,” he explained. “Make sure sheds and summerhouses are properly secured and clear up your garden every evening so there’s nothing lying around that could tempt a criminal on to your property – and bear in mind that loose items like ladders and wheelie bins are perfect for burglars to use to get into your home, so shut them away, out of sight if you can.”

Of course, we are also big advocates of extra security measures that can make burglars think twice about poaching your belongings at Whatishealthandsafety.co.uk, including easy-to-use asset tags. Aviva’s offered a wealth of professional advice here. However, I’d also recommend that people order an array of asset tags to protect their property. These adhesive labels might be small, but they can deter thieves and help keep track of lost or stolen items.

So, if you’ve got expensive tools like drills, lawn mowers, chainsaws and strimmers, now is definitely the time to be labelling them up. It won’t cost you that much and it shouldn’t take you that long, but it could be just the kind of deterrent that saves you money and inconvenience in the long run.

 

Being an Aussie, I’d not seen much snow before – but that all changed when I drove from Newark to Boston last winter. Tackling snow drifts and thick ice in an unfamiliar hire car was certainly an experience, but it’s one I’ll cherish forever – I’ve even kept the snow shovel that dug me out of a few tricky situations until I had to fly out of the country again.
It might sound crazy, but when my plane touched down at Newark Airport I couldn’t wait to start a new adventure. I’d always wanted to visit family in Boston and decided to fly to Newark and hire a car. I never factored in the fact that in December snow was falling at an alarming rate and I’d have to drive on the right hand side.
As I turned the key in the ignition, reality started to kick in and I began to feel both scared and excited. I had a satellite navigation system and some rather vague directions to my relatives’ house, but I didn’t have a guide on how to drive through sleet, snow and ice. In all honesty, I was really rather petrified – but I rarely admit that now.
Making my way out of the car park and onto the first time on the right hand side of the road was relatively simple. Sure I got beeped at once or twice for driving down the left lane – but I managed to avoid oncoming traffic (just). Fortunately for us foreigners, grit spreaders had been along major routes, which meant I could sail along pretty nicely. However, things soon took a turn for the worse as I head off the beaten track.
Turning off the highway I began to feel my heart beat quickly for the first time. The roads were much narrower and my car began slipping and sliding. Following the road safety advice I’d read on the plane, I eased off the brakes and began making my way slowly. I could tell people behind me were a bit frustrated with my slow driving, but it was better to get there safely rather than not at all.
Before too long the snow was falling even harder and I started to feel a bit panicky. Pulling over for a few minutes I regained my composure and decided to get a grip. After all, us Aussie’s are pretty thick-skinned and won’t be beaten by a bit of snow. With sweaty palms I carried on my way and soon found I was travelling along nicely.
It certainly takes a bit of getting used to but I soon worked out that you have to stir into a skid and take corners steady. I’m also really pleased I had a full tank of petrol as the journey was longer than I thought. What’s more, the lady at the car hire place had given me a torch, which meant that I was prepared for an emergency – how nice she was.
People en route to Boston certainly knew how to handle the harsh conditions sensibly and this filled me with confidence. I even managed to pull into a petrol station for a rest and tried peanut butter cups for the first time (they were awesome). Luckily the snow eased off half way through my journey, but my family were happy to see me when I arrived.
While the road trip was far different to what I expected, I certainly learnt a thing or two about driving on the right hand side of the road.

Accidents will happen, there’s no getting away from it. But while you’re busy protecting your home or office with safety and emergency signs, spare a thought for those unfortunate souls who fell afoul of some of the most bizarre accidents while trying only to go about their daily routines.

Always ask for an extra hand

There comes a time when all of us will have to stay a little late at work to catch up on something, but if there was ever proof needed you should let people know what you’re up to, it comes thanks to Ben Montgomery of Dubbo, Australia. On the site of his company’s latest housing project, old Ben decided to stick around and earn some brownie points with his bosses. Unfortunately, after nail-gunning his hand to a post, Len was stuck with no-one to help him till the foreman turned up the next day and called an ambulance. Nice one Ben!

It’s for you!

Sure, it’s hilarious when we play pranks on our co-workers, but maybe Noel Martin of Anglesey will think twice next time he wants to wind up his friend Rick Barr. Troy thought it would be a big laugh to put superglue around the earpiece of Rick’s phone after hearing him complain all week about the number of calls he was getting. It wasn’t quite so funny when the pranker had to use his own phone to call paramedics to help out his grumpy victim. Shame on you Noel!

Going downhill fast

An exhausted Alex Mellor thought he was being pretty smart when he volunteered to shift a pile of earth from one side of a golf course to the other as part of a landscape gardening project in Hastings. But as he foolishly climbed in to the wheelbarrow he had perched so carefully on the side of one of the course’s steepest hills to get a bit of rest, he lost his footing. Alex landed in the barrow head first and careered for 100 yards before hitting a sandpit. He broke his collar bone and fractured his nose, but was able to catch up some bed rest in his local hospital for a few days at least.

With proper information signs and a bit of common sense of course, you can avoid many types of accidents. Unfortunately – or fortunately, depending on which way you look at it – there will always be some idiots around to prove mankind isn’t always the smartest of species!

 

Are you prepared for the nippy spell? If not, it’s time to switch on the heating, stock up on thermals and buy a good snow shovel. Every year people are caught out by ice, sleet and snow, so take the time to stock up on essentials.

Here’s how to keep safe this winter:

1. 1. Think health and safety

It’s easy to slip and slide during winter – so think health and safety. Spread grit on your driveway to stop you falling over and invest in a pair of snow boots with deep treads and a gripping soul. You might also want to fill your cupboards with plasters, antiseptic and bandages – just in case. Snow, ice and sleet can catch you off guard, so always be ready for bad weather.

1. 2. Buy a snow shovel

A good snow shovel can dig your car out of several feet of snow – so pop online and order one. They come in all different shapes and sizes and are available at affordable prices. There’s nothing worse than being stranded at home, so what you waiting for?

1. 3. Test your heating

To avoid hyperthermia throughout the dark months it’s essential to test your heating. Have an engineer check over your boiler – but make sure they’re on the Gas Safe Register. You certainly don’t want your house to be cold during winter, so call in a professional sooner rather than later.

1. 4. Seal up drafts

Chilly drafts are extremely unpleasant, especially when it’s freezing outside. So, walk around your house and seal up any holes or gaps. Fix any broken glass and maybe consider getting double glazing for extra protection. Drafts excluders are also extremely useful and help keep cold winds from blowing underneath doors and through the sides of windows.

1. 5. Wrap up warm

Whether you’re in or out it’s essential to wrap up warm. Throw on several extra layers and snuggle under a duvet. You really don’t want to catch a cold, so make sure you’re toasty at all times. Hot water bottles and electric blankets can also help you to stay warm while in the house. They are relatively inexpensive to buy and will help you save money on electricity.

So there you have it, 5 ways to stay safe, healthy and warm this winter.

 

All workplaces must arrange adequate health and safety provisions, which incorporate first aid kits, somewhere suitable for the equipment to be administered and training so that nominated staff are able to use the kit.

However, if you’re responsible for this area of office safety, there are a number of things you need to keep in mind in terms of the type and quantity of kit you order. It’s not good enough to simply buy the first kit you see on the shelf of a general retailer, especially if you’re working for a medium-sized business or bigger.

The size of the kit is dependent on a combination of factors, including the level of assessed risk in the workplace and the number of employees. As a guide, shops, offices and libraries are considered to be low-hazard, while more industrial-type environments – such as building sites, factories or other places where dangerous machinery is used – are considered to be higher risk.

However, each workplace should be assessed on its individual merits and stocked with first aid equipment accordingly. For example, you could work in a low risk environment but be in a remote area, meaning you need to stock up on extra provisions in the knowledge that help could take a little longer to arrive in the event of a casualty.

Meanwhile, if you’re working in an industrial environment, you need to ensure that your first aid kit is durable and stocked with adequate provisions for the type of injuries that typically happen here. So getting a kit that comes in a durable case and is filled with bandages, sterile wipes and dressings is probably your best course of action. On the other hand, serious cuts and bruises tend to be less common injuries in offices, where you’re more likely to find people requesting plasters for paper cuts or blisters.

If you have offsite staff, don’t forget to issue them with their own travel first aid kit, which should also be stocked with the problems that can be encountered during life on the road. For example, if your offsite staff spend a decent amount of time driving between appointments, a foil blanket is a must in case of a breakdown in freezing weather.

Ultimately, it’s important to be prepared for all eventualities, whether your staff work in an office, factory or on the road. With the Health and Safety Executive liable to prosecute businesses which do not make adequate provisions for staff health and safety, you’ll be looking after much more than your workers’ wellbeing by getting the right first aid kit.

There are many things you can do to make your asset tags stand out and be easily identified. The first is to have the barcode printed in black lettering on a white background.
Using bright colours on the rest of the asset tag makes them easy to locate and warns potential thieves that the item has been tagged. This makes them harder to sell. Then there’s the actual size of the asset tag. The standard size is recommended because this makes the barcode scanner’s job so much easier – easier to locate and easier to scan.
Using polyester asset tags means they will survive in almost every type of environment and choosing the tamper-proof models gives you peace of mind as any tampering causes the tag to chip or flake.
Your choice of printing method will also give your asset tags a greater visibility. By using sub-surface printing which is printing on the underside of clear material, you give the barcode a greater visibility and less chance of wear and tear.
Finally it is simple today to have your own art work or logo on an asset tag. You can make your asset tags distinctive and unique by printing your company’s details in your own design and colours.

One of the benefits of using asset tags is that, with a portable bar code scanner, you can conduct an inventory of your plant and equipment in a very short time. With the same principle of using technology, in this case computer software, you can predict the number of asset tags you need in your business.
Remember that asset tags are limited only by your choice and so can be applied to such things as office equipment, software programs, computers both desktop and portable as well as tools and furniture.
Setting up a simple software program which creates lists of items under the various sub-headings above will enable you to see at a glance how many items you have to be labelled with an asset tag.
Then you need to make a prediction for future needs and growth. What percentage of your stock will be upgraded in the next two or even five years? Does your business have plans to expand within the foreseeable future? Will this mean extra staff and extra equipment? If so, you add the future requirements to your inventory.
By adding your projected needs to your current stock you will be able to predict how many asset tags you need in your workplace.

It’s a label, a small individually numbered tag which is used to identify an asset such as a piece of valuable office equipment. Computers, printers, fax machines and the like are the ideal product which can be labelled with an asset tag. Each tag can have its own sequential number and/or sequential bar code making identification easy and quick. Manufacturers can even produce asset tags using the company’s name or logo.
Every medium sized business and certainly every large business will have dozens if not hundreds of valuable items. By affixing an asset tag, companies can easily identify items when they are removed or repaired or serviced or when they are stolen, sold or placed in storage. In many cases, insurance companies will not cover items unless they have an asset tag.
Asset tags or retail tags come in a variety of materials. Vinyl and polyester are the two main types and there are asset tags which are tamper proof. That is if the tag is removed or tampered with, it becomes damaged and thus cannot be placed on another item.
Inventories or stock-takes are required every year if not sooner and the ability to check stock via the bar code on an asset tag is a time saving and thus a cost saving exercise for every business.

The home and the workplace can be a dangerous place. But one thing you can do to make these places less hazardous is by making sure you have the right equipment and information signs in place. Here are 10 spots you might want to consider.

The cooker

Of course, the kitchen one of the most dangerous places you’ll find in the home. Therefore it can be wise to make sure you have fire extinguishers, blankets and fire safety signs near to your oven, hob and grill.

Next to your fire extinguisher

It’s important to have fire extinguishers around the home or at work, but if don’t know what purpose they are to be used for, it makes them less effective. Information signs can let people know exactly type of extinguishers are available so they can more safely out a fire if they need to.

Around cables and wires

This is particularly a problem for offices – as phone lines, computers, printers and internet connections all come with their own set of cables and wires. In addition to cable tidies, you should also consider simple warning signs to stop people from tripping over them.

In rooms with vinyl or tiled floors

Sure, it’s the name of a Bon Jovi album, but ‘Slippery When Wet’ is also a handy piece of information to have in a kitchen, bathroom or anywhere where there is a vinyl or tiled floor. Simple slips and falls can cause serious injuries, so protect against them.

Around first aid points

Should someone have an accident, you want to know that they are able to get the attention they need as soon as possible. So let them know where there is an appointed first aider or kit with first aid signs to guide them.

At fire exits

Getting people out of the building quickly when there is an emergency is already something of a challenge, but if you are able to make people aware of fire exits in advance with the right fire exit signage, you could be giving yourself valuable extra time.

Around recycling points

More people are keen to make sure they are recycling to help protect the planet. But you need to make sure people know where they can easily place their plastic, paper and cans – so putting up recycling signs is a great idea.

Staff only / private rooms

More for the workplace than the home, there will inevitably be areas you don’t want the public to roam. A simple no entry sign will keep people from dangerous areas or places that are only meant for authorised staff.

Over door frames

All buildings are different – and some have ceilings and doorways that can be hazardous to those over a certain height! A head injury can be nasty, so simply putting up a sign alerting people could be useful.

Around small steps

Just like low ceilings and doorways, small steps can surprise people and cause accidents. However, putting down some trip hazard signs around them is an easy way to help stop this.

Health and safety posters explain a specific rule or gives advice with the aim to keep people out of harms way in public places. These may include offices, factories, schools, rented accommodation, hotels or even a government building. The purpose is designed to make people aware of danger and how one may protect themselves from injury. In addition health and safety posters also show that the public building or business owner is complying with health and safety legislation.

Health and safety signs come in all shapes and sizes and are used for any situation imaginable.

What sort of Health and Safety poster would you require?

If you work in an industrial site safety signs could be used to inform people to wear goggles before entering a specific area, in this instance you may require a permanent poster for health and safety purposes. If you require the poster to be permanent then you may need to invest in a sign that is made of durable plastic which can be wiped down. Another example is if you are working in extreme conditions such as a freezer, the type of plastic you require matters. The plastic must endure extreme temperatures without cracking or falling apart. In short all health and safety posters must be fixed securely and permanently to any surface.

However on a more short term note, if you are planning to run a safety campaign for the purpose of education maybe a sign made of paper could do the trick.. The only downside would be the durability of the sign.

Finding the Health and Safety Poster You Require

Ensure you always buy your health and safety poster from a reputable company that specialises in health and safety posters. This because they have the expertise in the industry to guide with health and safety and ensure that the wording is correct and complies with relevant legislation.