What Is Health and Safety?

Having a swimming pool to relax or spend some fun time is every house owner’s dream. Swimming pools should be places of joy, fun and relaxation. Unfortunately, there are reported cases of drowning or near drowning in swimming pools almost on a daily basis, mostly with young children. Although people take a lot of precautions such as anti skid tiles, warning signs and so on, young children always seem to find a way into the pools.

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has a set of guidelines that people can follow to ensure that their swimming pools are child-proofed. Since these rules are not mandatory to be implemented, not everyone is aware of these rules. Here are a few ways on how you can use barriers to child proof your swimming pools.

An Introduction to the CPSC Guidelines

According to the CPSC, any container that has the potential to drown a kid who is less the 3’6” tall can be classified as a pool. These include spas, hot tubs, over ground and in-laid pools. So, these guidelines can be implemented in any of the aforementioned structures.

When choosing a barrier, the three main factors that you must consider are if a child can get under the barrier, over it or above the barrier, and reach the pool. If the child can access the pool in spite of the barrier being present, the whole purpose of a barrier stands defeated.

According to the rules, the fence should be at least 48 inches high, including the masonry foundation or the platform on which it is installed on. If you are using a design where the bars are molded horizontally or vertically, parallel to each other, then the distance between them should not exceed 1-1/4^th inches. This measurement is determined by taking into account the average foot size of a young child.

If you are planning to install a chain link fence also, the gap between two consecutive links should be less than 1-1/4^th inches. Also, there should be a support pole every five feet to ensure that the chain link will stay firm.

Some General Guidelines for Getting a Barrier Installed

Without getting into too many numbers or measurements, this section will give you a few tips that you should keep in mind while ordering barriers for your swimming pools. Let us look at tips for in-ground pools before moving on to above ground pools.

Identify all the access points which are there for your in-ground swimming pool. These are the places through which children gain access to the pool’s vicinity and make sure you have covered all these access points. Also, make sure that the latch for the gate is childproofed. You can either use a padlock or use child-proof latches.

Above ground swimming pools usually have a set of stairs leading up to the pool. Install a childproof gate for the flight of stairs. Another precaution you need to take for above ground pools is the barrier around the pool. Ensure that the barrier measures at least five feet in length and follows all the CPSC guidelines.

Lily is an expert associated with Bonavista, a popular online store for products like hot tubs and swim spas. If you are considering installing an Endless Pool in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Bonavista offers top of the line accessories for the same.

On a construction site, health and safety regulations are absolutely paramount for both workers and employers. A safe site equals a safe worker but it’s unreal how many sites get basic health and safety regulation wrong – or just ignore it altogether.

While it is the fault of the employers, it is also the fault of their employees if nothing is said to rectify the situation. Staffs need to gather the courage to say, ‘something is wrong here, boss’; otherwise workplaces are just a big accident waiting to happen.

On the other hand, while employees need to speak up, firms should be encouraging their employees to do so. Sometimes, the workplace can be an intimidating arena, so employers need to come with a few solutions as to how employees can bring up the issue of health and safety without being undermined.

Companies need to make sure there is one key figurehead within the firm that controls health and safety. With a visible, central person leading the way for health and safety, workers should know who to contact if a problem does arise – like someone smoking outside of the designated smoking shelters, for example.

Another issue is the registering of a complaint publicly. Most workers would rather bring up an issue anonymously as to not cause extra grief within the workplace so by installing a simple drop box in the main office; workers can submit health and safety issues anonymously. This makes it easier for staff and it gives the firm a chance to file the complaint. It’s also very cost effective – after all, a box and some pieces of card cost pittance compared to the fine firms could receive if their health and safety measures are poor.

It’s all well and good reporting a complaint but employers need to make sure that action is taken. After all, if people continue to report complaints but see that nothing is being done, will they continue to report issues? The answer is no.

Health and safety is incredibly important in a workplace and so is the aspect of reporting these issues. Without staff and employers joining forces to employ health and safety, firms could face a big fine or – even worse – an accident or death in the workplace.

Motorsport racing events are considered some of the most thrilling and death defying sports in the world. However, this extreme thrill brings with it a sense of looming danger that puts the lives of racers at great risk. Over the decades, the safety aspect of racing events has earned the most importance, and rightly so.

Racing events have seen several tragic ends to the illustrious careers of many racers and in some unfortunate incidents, their lives. However, it was these tragedies that improved racing safety in hopes of reducing the chances of more accidents in the future.

The HANS device

A tragic crash at the Daytona Motor Speedway in the United States prompted the authorities to introduce the HANS device, a head restraint setup to prevent serious injuries to the head and neck. The mechanism triggered by the tragic loss of Dale Earnhardt in 2001 has saved many lives in the past decade.

Impact protection

Counted among the most horrifying car crashes in the Formula One circuit, Martin Donnelly’s car exploded into many pieces after colliding with the barrier. Travelling at a staggering speed of 140 mph, Donnelly was left alive with severe bruises on his lungs and brain. The tragic incident in 1990 prompted Formula One to use better protective methods, allowing the cars to absorb violent impact.

Quick accident response

Immediate medical attention from skilled and trained track marshals is invaluable to injured racers on the track. The importance of providing timely assistance was fully realised after Roger Williamson was trapped under his car that flipped at the British Grand Prix in 1973. A similar incident occurred at the Italian Grand Prix in 1978 when Ronnie Peterson’s car crashed into a barrier and eventually caught fire.

Kill switch

At a practice session at the NASCAR Series in 2000, Adam Petty suffered a severe skull fracture, dying immediately after a head on collision with a wall. A few months later, Kenny Irwin Jr. suffered a similar fate, dying of the same injury as Earnhardt and Petty. NASCAR then implemented the kill switch to immediately switch off the engine in emergencies like mechanical failures and loss of control.

Limited use of fuel

In 1964, Dave McDonald hit the tracks with a newly designed vehicle that ended up causing chaos at the Indianapolis 500. Spinning out of control, the car hit a wall and burst into flames and continued to damage other cars after a violent roll back. Driver Eddie Sachs was caught in the explosion and died immediately while McDonald passed a few hours later. This caused the US Auto Club to place restrictions on the amount of fuel carried at a time.

Modified pit and grandstand

Probably one of the biggest disasters in the history of motorsports, the horrifying accident in 1955 resulted in a modified safer design for the grandstand and the pit crew. To avoid hurting the pit crew, Mike Hawthorn slammed on the brakes, accidently hitting them at over 150 mph! This accident cost the lives of 83 people.

Lily is an expert associated with POA Racing, a dedicated online store for everything related to motocross safety. The store offers safety gear like helmets, motocross clothing and other accessories from top leading brands.

Closed circuit television (CCTV) has become an important interactive part of man companies’ safety and security measures. Security and health and safety go hand-in hand, and closed-circuit television is a great way of keeping an eye on what is going on in and around your work premises.

If you are considering having a CCTV system installed to help improve the security of you business then here are 10 top reasons why you should do so:

1. Careful placement of cameras will help to record any accidents, acts of mindless vandalism or burglaries. The information can help the policy to identify the perpetrators.

2. Your insurance company may discount your insurance premiums if you install approved CCTV equipment.

3. Clearly visible CCTV installations helps to deter break-ins by opportunist thieves.

4. Yellow window stickers help to show a clear warning the premises is protected.

5. Remote monitoring means you can view things happening at your workplace when you are out and about.

6. Can be integrated with other systems including security and fire hazard warning systems.

7. Installation is relatively simple and straightforward.

8. A CCTV installation can be used in areas where it is unsafe for people to enter, for example chemical plants.

9. Can protect and warn in terms of both inside your premises, and outside too.

10. Low cost enhanced security and health and safety.

CCTV is security and health and safety at the cutting edge. It enables scenarios to be reviewed instantly, events to be played back where appropriate, and can be used to monitor developing situations to forestall either an accident, or a break-in.

A CCTV installation is not just a piece of operational equipment that can help you to enhance your security and health and safety measures, but it can also be considered to be an asset and as such can be valued and depreciated over time. Assets are of course a valuable item to any company and are recorded on an asset register.

Asset tracking is an important accounting function that enables the business to keep track of its many assets, including CCTV equipment. A useful method of identifying assets is asset tagging, and you can buy durable and hard wearing asset tags online.

There are few places where Health and Safety is as important as on a construction site. Even though the UK has one of the best records in the world, there were still 50 fatal injuries on construction sites in 2011. While some fatalities are perhaps unavoidable, it is testament to the benefits of adherence to Health and Safety guidelines that there have been no fatalities at any of the London 2012 Olympic sites.

For every fatality that is recorded, there are many more serious injuries and near misses and many of these could have been avoided if there had been a stricter focus on Health and Safety. Even when dealing with what some may class as “smaller” pieces of equipment, such as excavator attachments, it is crucial Health and Safety onsite is adhered to.

For some, Health and Safety is seen as a barrier, they see the laws as something that gets in the way of getting things done. However, failure to adhere to Health and Safety law is serious and can end up in court.

In January 2012 a construction company and its director were fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for breaching Health and Safety legislation which ultimately lead to the death of a worker on a site in Hampstead. The worker was operating a crane in an attempt to lift a skip of liquid concrete onto the site. When the crane overturned, its boom struck the worker causing injuries so severe that he died on the site.

Both the company and its director were fined under Regulation 8 (1a and 1c) of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 which states that “Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is properly planned by a competent person” and “Every employer shall ensure that every lifting operation involving lifting equipment is carried out in a safe manner”. For further details, go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/coi-ldn-3101.htm.

In this case, and many like it, it appears that neither the equipment nor the operators were equipped to carry out the job in hand. Many construction companies try to make the job fit their equipment rather than making their equipment fit the job. Although it is impossible to know for sure, it could be that if the worker in Hampstead had had the right equipment, he could have completed the job and returned home that night as usual.

Health and Safety legislation dictates that you should have the correct equipment to undertake a job. As some jobs require specialist equipment, it is sensible that you consider renting the appropriate construction equipment. A good equipment hire company will only carry equipment that is regularly checked and thoroughly maintained; they will send experts to your site to advise on the type of equipment that you should use.

Clearly, buying equipment isn’t always an option as the cost will quickly become prohibitive, but if you hire your equipment you should ensure that the hire company complies with all relevant Health and Safety legislation and that they provide you with the right equipment to do the job.

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.

We all make use of batteries on a daily basis and, in many respects, we now take batteries for granted. The vast majority of creature comforts and technology that we make use of today will require a battery, or batteries, of some description and, despite the frequency with which they are used, the average person is often not too aware of the basic do’s and don’ts of looking after their batteries.

So, in order to better understand the batteries that power the majority of things that we use in modern society, let’s take a look at the various do’s and don’ts of caring for batteries…

Do’s:

There are obviously too many points to mention them all but let’s take a look at some of the most basic and rudimentary things that you must do when using batteries and helping to ensure that they perform optimally:

ü      Instructions – It is important to read the instructions on both the battery packaging and on the device you are using the batteries on before you install them into the device. This will make sure that you are using batteries that are fit for purpose.

ü      Removal – When removing batteries from a device, whether this is a television remote, computer controller or any other device, it is important that you remove all the batteries at the same time and then promptly replace them with your new batteries (of the same size and type).

ü      Children – Needless to say, you must keep batteries away from children as they are dangerous if swallowed. If a battery is swallowed, you must contact a doctor immediately and they will advise on the best course of action.

ü      Time – If you know that you’re not going to be using a device for a long time i.e. weeks or months, you should take the batteries out of the device.

ü      Storage – Most people will have some spare batteries in their homes and how you store them is important. Batteries should be stored in a dry environment at a standard room temperature.

ü      Alignment – This may seem like an obvious point but make sure that you insert your batteries correctly with the (+) and (-) terminals in properly alignment. If this isn’t the case, the device won’t operate and it may damage the batteries themselves.

Don’ts:

When it comes to batteries, it is important to respect them and not use them in any potentially dangerous manner. Some of the main things to avoid when using batteries can be seen below:

Disposal – One of the most important things to remember when it comes to the disposal of batteries is to make absolutely sure that you don’t dispose of them in fire – as this is likely to lead to the batteries exploding.

Carriage – Carrying around loose batteries in pockets or bags is also to be avoided. If you have any metal objects (paper clips, coins etc) in your bag or pockets that come into contact with the batteries, it has the potential to short-circuit the battery which, in turn, can lead to high levels of heat.

Charging – A common mistake amongst consumers is to attempt to recharge batteries that aren’t clearly marked as being ‘rechargeable’. Attempting to recharge batteries that aren’t suitable won’t work and may damage the battery itself.

Separate – It is important not to mix old batteries with new batteries in a device because this has the potential to cause battery rupture or leakage – both of which may result in some form of personal injury or property damage.

BIO:

Leo is a gadget and technology blogger who is frequently on the lookout for cheap batteries to power his array of gadgetry.

Working in an industrial environment with lots of heavy machinery or hazardous chemicals around is dangerous. No matter how careful you are, and how many precautions your employer takes, there’s still some risk of injury. However, the more you know about the risks of working with industrial, the better you can protect yourself. Some of the more common injuries include:
1. Eye Injuries
Using welding equipment without eye protection leaves you open to serious retina damage. It’s easy to get complacent and think that you’ll get away with a few seconds of working with or near welding equipment without protecting yourself, but this is a very bad idea. Always protect your eyes.
2. Back Injuries
Lifting heavy materials or equipment puts a lot of strain on your back. Whenever possible, make use of welding rotators, trolleys, and other lifting/moving aids to take some of the strain. If you must move something yourself, lift carefully, and use proper posture. Don’t try to “put your back into it” to move more than you comfortably can. Ask for help instead.
3. Repetitive Strain Injury
RSI comes in many forms. If you feel that you have a nagging injury, treat it early, and try to find ways to minimise the stress your joints are under. A few days rest now could prevent much more serious long term problems.
4. Trips and Falls
Busy workshops can get rather cluttered, and make them pretty hazardous. Always stow your equipment and tools, and sweep away any waste materials as soon as you’re finished working.
5. Trapped clothing or hair
You should avoid wearing loose or baggy clothing when working with moving machinery. If you have long hair, it’s a good idea to tie it back to make sure that it doesn’t get trapped.

6. Burns

Burns are a common form of injury – both for people that work with welding equipment and people that work with dangerous chemicals. Keeping your hands covered at all times can reduce the risk of burns.

7. Chemical Poisoning

Many industrial chemicals are dangerous if inhaled or ingested. People that work with such chemicals receive extensive training, but leaks and spillages can happen. This is why wearing safety equipment, and paying close attention to personal hygiene (e.g. scrubbing up before going for lunch) is vital.

8. Cuts and Severed Extremities

Getting your finger jammed in a welding rotator, or almost severed at the knuckle by a rotating saw is no joke. The people that suffer from these accidents are often experienced engineers that simply let their attention slip for a few seconds at the worst possible time.

9. Head Injuries

When you’re working in a hazardous environment – for example offshore, on a construction site, or in a mine, head injuries are a possibility. Hard hats offer a lot of protection from head trauma, but concussions should always be taken seriously.

10. Respiratory diseases

Smog, smoke, and toxic emissions from industrial plants can cause long term respiratory problems. While the risk is far lower than it was 50 years ago, industrial workers should always follow their company’s safety policies, and factories and plants are encouraged to monitor the quality of the air and their emissions levels.
This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Westermans International who supply all kinds of welding equipment including welding rotators.

You may not think at first that practising how to use of a fire extinguisher is actually much use. But come the time when you might actually need to locate and use one, you could be very glad that you were made to practice the act of using and handling an extinguisher in the first place.

The fact of the matter is that there are many different types of fire extinguisher, not only in terms of operation, but also in terms of the chemicals actually inside the extinguisher. This is basically because the different types of extinguisher have been designed for different types of fire, including chemical fires, and electrical fires.

The thing is that you cannot just pick up any old type of extinguisher for use on any old fire, because if you pick up the wrong type, it can actually make the fire much worse, by either spreading it, or by adding to its ferocity. So you need to learn the rules, and the best way to do so is by attending a fire extinguisher course whereby you will be taught how to select the correct extinguisher to tackle a specific fire, how to actually operate that extinguisher, and how to direct the extinguisher to best put out the fire.

Another very important element of our fire extinguishers is where they are positioned within the building. Most local fire brigades have specialist advisers who will visit the premises to give you best advice on where to position your extinguishers. They will also be able to give you professional advice on which types of extinguisher are more appropriate to your building and the nature of your business.

Once installed, you should have your extinguishers inspected regularly, they should also be included on an asset register as they are classified as a company’s assets. Labelling fire extinguishers is not only helpful from a health and safety asset point of view, but it is also essential from a practical point of view in terms of selecting the right tool for the job, and extinguishing the blaze at the earliest opportunity.

Practising using a fire extinguisher may help to alleviate any fears and as the saying goes ‘practice makes perfect’, so like many things the more you practise the adept you will become at using a fire extinguisher, which could help to save lives.

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.