What Is Health and Safety?

Summer Safety

Some people say that the biggest is best; others that the best things come in small packages. I’m sure that there must be instances whereby both approaches can be said to be true, but when it comes to first aid emergency kits, I for one feel more comfortable with a big one – a first aid emergency kit I mean of course!

But what about the emergency itself? What is the biggest emergency that a first aid kit could be used for? Given this sort of scenario I would have to say that a even little something would be better than nothing at all. The course is not just about the first aid kit, or the actual emergency, but it’s also about the first aider him or herself. Any size of company should have a trained first aider available at all times. You never know when an accident or an emergency may arise, and if there is no trained first aider on hand, it could mean life or death for the injured party.

First aid kits come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and you may be surprised by the amount of choice there is. For example you can have the truly mobile bum bag first aid kit, an anti- microbial first aid kit for places where bacteria and infection may be rife, or a BC fire extinguisher and travel first aid kit, which is absolutely ideal for those constantly on the move. So, it’s essential that a workplace first aid kit contain items which are relevant to the type of injury a first-aider may encounter.

The biggest first aid kit emergencies include cuts, sprains, fractures, choking and nosebleeds, which occur both in the workplace at at home. However, simply diving into a first aid kit, especially in cases where time is of the essence, to grab the nearest item will do little to help the injured or the first-aider. Everything within the first aid kit must be clearly labelled so that anyone using the kit is fully aware of its contents. Labelling is terribly important, not only in first aid kits, but in anything to do with health and safety or asset registration.

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

As the global financial crisis has developed petty crime has become more common as people are
resorting to illegal activity to get by. Last summer it was reported that there had been an increase in
domestic burglary by 14%. This combined with cuts to policing budgets means that it has never been
more important to ensure that your premises, be it an office or home, is completely secure. So, what
can you do to make sure you are as secure as possible? Fortunately quite a lot.

There is what can be seen as three levels of security that start at basic and move on to advanced.
Below is a run-down of these levels and what measures you can take to improve your own level of
security.

Basic

The basic level of security includes measures that are found on almost all properties. The main
feature of basic security is locks on windows and doors. These are usually included in all offices
and homes as standard but often they are not used properly, especially on windows. It is worth
taking the time to ensure that all locks work and that all keys are located and stored properly. One
unlocked window can be the difference between keeping hold of your valuables and having to make
a hefty insurance claim. Taking 5 minutes at the end of each day to secure all windows and doors
is time well spent. The better the locks the lower the likelihood of a successful breaking. This is

because locks act as a deterrent as well as an actual barrier.

Intermediate

Locks provide the foundation of secure premises but modern criminals can breach them fairly
easily and once they are in they are free to do what they want. It is for this reason that you need
to take your security to at least an intermediate level. An intermediate level of security is defined
by an effective alarm system. Alarms, like locks, are useful as they act as a deterrent as well as an
actual alarm to intrusion. Again, like locks, alarms are not maintained properly and often they don’t
actually work or they are not set every night. Make sure that all of your alarms are fully functional
and set every time the premises are left vacant. It is also important to use a code that is not easy
to guess. Use a number that is personal to you so that would be intruders stand as little chance as
possible at guessing correctly. Clearly display the alarm unit on the exterior of the building to deter
thieves and place signs stating that the building is alarmed.

Advanced

Alarms and locks will stop or prevent most burglaries but hardened criminals will easily get
around them and gain access to your valuables. To stop these criminals you need to upgrade your
defences to what can be described as an advanced level. There are 2 main measures that you
can take to reach an advanced level of security. The first of these is CCTV, the second is Security
Grilles. CCTV is crucial as it can help to prevent crime, stop crime whilst it’s in progress and catch
criminals after they have carried out a crime. If you are planning on getting CCTV, or if you already
have it, ensure it works properly. Clearly show potential intruders that the premises are protected
by CCTV and put cameras clearly visible positions. Security grilles are also needed to achieve
and advanced level of security. Strong security
grilles are the epitome of a comprehensive security solution as they put a powerful physical

Dry rot is one of the leading causes of early degradation of house materials, especially wood. You may not notice the growth of such type of fungus at first, but when left untreated, it can pose a serious danger not only to your house but your health and your family’s as well.

Do Not Let The Name Fool You

Rot can occur in unprotected lumber materials inside your home, as well as in fences and building facades that frequently exposed to high levels of water vapor and moisture. Often, damp conditions inside the house provide an ideal breeding ground for fungal spores to easily develop and multiply. Over time, these silent menace destroy the lumber or even other masonry materials inside your home, which in turn can put you and your family’s life at risk. One of the most dangerous types of fungal attack that can cause serious damage to your house’s structure is that of dry rot.

Do not let the name mislead you. Dry rot is not actually dry. Rather, this type of fungus loves to hang out in moist, dark and hidden places around your house. Since wood materials are highly susceptible to moist, they are the usual target of dry rot. The fungus then digests parts of the lumber that provides the lumber with strength and stiffness, eventually causing it to weaken. Dry rot fungus got its name due to its unusual ability to transport water from wet areas to dry areas, allowing the fungus to thrive even in dry wood.

Dry rot development is a clear indication of poor design, maintenance and infection. If left untreated, it can cause extensive damage to the structure of your home.

How to Identify if the Silent Menace Is Attacking Your Home

Dry rot exhibits different characteristics depending on its development extent. At first, it spreads fine pale-gray strands in different directions, which in turn infect the lumber. In damp condition, the strands are accompanied by cotton wool-like white growths.

As the fungi progress, they appear as wrinkled, bulging pancake that produce rust-colored spores. When released into the air, the spores then covers the surrounding masonry and lumber. The infested wood will turn brownish and brittle and will exhibit cracks, causing the wood to break into cube-like pieces. You will also smell a musty, mushroom-like smell produced by the fungus.

Dealing with Dry Rot

Since the fungus can penetrate both wood and masonry, it can be quite difficult to identify the extent of its development on your own. Hence, unless the outbreak is minor or self contained, the treatment of dry rot should always be left to the hands of professionals.

If you do decide to address small infected areas on your own, the first thing that you have to do is to eliminate the sources of dampness. You also need to make sure that your home is properly ventilated to avoid recurrence. It is also advised that you cut out all the infected lumber to at least 18 inches beyond the last sign of visibility of the rot. For masonry, wire brush the infected areas, collect the debris and burn them.

To kill the remaining spores, apply several coats of or liquid fungicidal preservative on all woodwork, masonry, drywall or plaster at least 5 feet within the infected area. Make sure to wear the right protective clothing when applying the solution and follow the instructions of the manufacturer.

If your home’s walls are penetrated by dry rot strands, drill regularly spaced staggered holes into both sides of the wall. Make sure that the holes are angled downward for the fluid to be collected there. Such an angle will also help the walls to saturate properly. After applying the treatment cover the holes again.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

As with any other issue, prevention is always better than cure, and this also applies in managing dry rot. If you want to make sure that your home will not encounter dry rot damage, it is in your best interest to eliminate or reduce excess moisture. This may be as simple as repairing a leaky pipe in your bathroom or basement, or fixing the holes in your roof.

The post above was written and researched by Robert Swan who runs Aqua Protection a Roofing Company in Scotland, providing roofing services throughout the UK to both residentiall and commercial clients. His company Aqua Protectionalso carries out a wall coating service to customers all over the UK.

Recent research by the Migraine Trust has revealed that migraines are a vastly misunderstood problem in the UK workplace, with just 5% of sufferers believing that the impact of their migraines is taken seriously.

This comes on top of previous research that showed 1 in 3 sufferers claiming discrimination at work as a result of their condition. Indeed, with eight million people in the UK suffering from migraines, an average of two per month per person, one in five employees in the UK has had to take time off work as a result of a migraine headache.

Migraines themselves can be debilitating, and are more than a simple headache. The origin of a migraine is hard to pinpoint, but widening of the blood vessels in the brain is believed to cause the ‘throbbing’ sensation of a migraine.

The symptoms can have knock-on effects such as nausea and vomiting, and they cannot always be treated by simple painkillers. Many sufferers withdraw to a darkened room in order to escape light and other disturbances.

What does this mean for the workplace? First of all, we need to increase understanding of migraines. There appears to be a stream of thought that believes suffering from a headache – any form of headache – is something that should be ‘shaken off’ and suffered in silence. A migraine is more than just a headache, and indeed migraines can be brought on by office conditions.

Therefore, in addition to understanding, employers need to take into account the workplace as a potential supplementary cause of a migraine – for example, by initiating a workplace assessment for migraine sufferers. Are there any visual disturbances? Are they too close to the screen? Equally, are they taking a sufficient number of screen breaks, or working such long hours that they are causing a strain on their eyes, triggering a migraine? Is workplace stress an issue? If so, do you, as a business, have any proactive measures in place to pinpoint and solve the problem?

The World Health Organisation lists migraines as a disabling illness, so attitudes in the workplace have to change quickly – both those of colleagues and employers. The resulting improvements in health and productivity can result in improved profitability – all it takes is a more holistic approach.

About the author: Gareth Cartman works with leading charity Corporate Health, who carry out workstation assessments as part of their Occupational Health service.

Health and safety has become an important part of our daily lives, both in our personal lives and our working lives too. In actual fact, good health and safety can be the difference between life or death, or perhaps some other serious form of injury. The fact that we all take health and safety much more seriously these days means that the incidence of accidents occurring (both in the workplace and at home), is vastly reduced.

One of the big steps forward has been the introduction of the risk assessment in the workplace. It’s really quite amazing before risk assessments were adopted, how ‘gung-ho’many people were when it came to carrying out certain activities in the workplace. Today however, most companies will ensure that a proper risk assessment is carried out; even if the end result is that there is no risk in the activity at all.

One of the key factors in carrying out an effective risk assessment is to check for the necessity for wearing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). PPE covers a wide range of products from safety boots to hard-hats, and from defenders to high visibility vests. In the early days of PPE, fashion was given very little thought by the manufacturers, so the types of products that were available were quite restricted in terms of style. For example safety shoes were really only available originally as great big clod hoppers, whereas today you have a much more fashionable range of choice, including things like reinforced trainers. However, whilst these reinforced trainers might look much more fashionable, I wouldn’t like to recommend playing a game of tennis in them! But other items of work-wear are now available not only in a range of fashionable designs, but in a wide range of colours too.

Certain items of PPE clothing can be fashionable as well as functional; manufacturers strive to keep PPE ‘user friendly’ in order that they are worn as intended, to personally protect the wearer, rather than ridiculed for being out-dated and left stuffed in the back of a locker because nobody wants to be seen ‘dead’in them.

PPE can be quite expensive and as such they need to be carefully monitored, and their distribution recorded. Asset tagging is an effective way of asset tracking; in other words being able to conveniently and easily log where your assets are.

We’re all usually quite good at getting ourselves into a bit of a mess; sometimes we get into a hole and we just don’t know when to stop digging. But it rather takes the biscuit when our own Prime Minister digs the hole for us. I just don’t know what possessed David Cameron to go on TV and advise everyone to start stocking up on petrol. It’s a bit like waving a red rag in front of a bull!

Here in the good old UK, once upon a time we used to be described as a nation of shop keepers. Now I rather think it might be more apt to describe ourselves as a nation of panic merchants. It seems like every time there’s even a whisper of a petrol shortage, or the possibility of the supermarkets been shut for the odd bank holiday, it’s a signal for everyone to start queuing up to do their panic buying.

Unfortunately what happens is that people go beyond just topping up their petrol tanks in their cars, and they also revert to storing petrol, (sometimes in inappropriate containers) in their garages, sheds, and outhouses. It has caused the Fire Brigade to coming forward to warn people of the dangers. But that in itself is a further topic of amusement as we hear of the lengths some people have gone to store fuel ‘just in case’. But it’s no laughing matter and whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, people will be storing petrol and it could pose a serious threat, especially to those who are unaware that flammable material is being stored nearby. What’s needed is a clear warning notice, both on the container itself, and on the entrance to the garage or shed etc., just to remind anyone entering of the danger within.

Labelling is always a good health and safety measure, and durable asset tagging has now been made much simpler by a new product that is available to purchase online. Asset tagging is fast catching on with many businesses that need to keep track of products for their asset registers. The tags themselves are robust and durable, and can be customised to your exact requirements.

If your feet hurt, it seems that you hurt all over! I wonder just how many women have spent years of their working lives in high heels, thinking more about the fashion statement they are making than the toll that their feet are taking? Many times working men and women suffer injuries to their feet, which can result in time lost, and possible surgery to repair whatever damage has been done.

OSHA dictates that as in all personal protective equipment, (PPE), companies should choose the appropriate footwear for the hazards of the particular job the employee does. The standard from OSHA (29 CFR 1910.136) requires protection “where there is danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole and where..exposed to electrical hazards.” There are also hazards such as impact when heavy materials are being handled, compression protection for work involving manual material handling carts, bulk rolls, and heavy pipe, and puncture protection from sharp objects, such as nails, screws, tacks, and scrap metal.

Here are a few problems where the feet are at risk:

Chemical hazards; boots and shoes made of rubber, PVC or neoprene are needed.
Heavy objects – steel toes are to protect against falling objects, which cause about 60 per cent of all foot injuries. If there are electrical hazards, a fiberglass toe should replace the typical steel toe.
Slips and falls – shoes with good traction are needed.
There are at least two distinct areas of foot protection that are mentioned in the realm of safety shoe covers. In industrial and construction situations, OSHA and ANSI are concerned with safeguarding the “impact and compression” of the foot. Medical, industrial, and laboratory environments are the other areas of foot protection issues. Shoe covers for medical personnel can protect from spatters, liquid, and chemicals that could pose a danger. Also, using shoe or boot covers protects others from receiving contaminants from you. Those that are involved in “clean” manufacturing conditions, such as computer chips, digital medical equipment, precise engineering instruments, etc., must be careful to not transfer contaminants to sensitive objects. Clean rooms must remain as germ and contaminant free as surgical environments; therefore, shoe covers are an important component.

Even those involved in sports, such as cycling, can use shoe covers. While your back, arms, and legs are stressed during high level cycling, nothing takes a worse pounding than your feet. There are products that offer a line of covers and booties to protect shoes from road abuse from rocks, mud, and other hazards.

One last “footnote”: I recently read an article in the AARP Bulletin, written by Candy Sagon, regarding assisting people with dementia or Alzheimer’s who could possibly wander off from caregivers or nursing facilities: a locator shoe with a built-in Global Positioning System device now makes it easier to tract down its wearers. Manufactured by GTX Corporation, the shoes look like a typical walking shoe but have a miniature GPS unit implanted in the heel. The cost of the shoes is around $300. The shoe works by allowing caregivers or family members to set up a perimeter, called a “geo-fence,” allowing wearers to move freely around a specific area. When they stray beyond the perimeter, a Goggle Maps message pops up on a computer or phone to alert caregivers. What a great investment to help with the task of keeping these patients safe.

Regardless of the reason that your company has safety footwear to keep you safe, be sure you wear it every time you are on the job. Those responsible for choosing footwear or any other type of PPE should select comfortable, and proper fitting protective clothing, head to toe. There may not be a magic formula for the feet, but there are steps that can be followed to be sure feet are protected.

Source: OSHA, AARP Bulletin