Blog Articles

There are many face masks on the market, and due to how essential they are in our lives, choosing the right one for you is important.

Let's be honest, this has become a daunting task, as the mask mandates have evolved with the emergence of new variants of coronavirus (Covid-19). 

We previously did a post about the difference between a mask and a respirator, which you can read here.

With the current variant of Covid-19, Omicron, it is recommended by the CDC that you use surgical, N95, or KN95 respirators to protect your respiratory health. This is due to their level of filtration which makes them adept at capturing the infectious particles.

What is the difference between these masks? The KN95 and the N95 masks both filter and capture up to 95% of particles. Their main difference is that N95 is the U.S. standard, while the KN95 is the Chinese standard.

Surgical masks are best used to capture droplets more so than aerosolized particles, such as droplets shared from a sneeze; hence why they are mainly utilized in hospitals where persons have a higher risk of encountering that type of transmission.

These are proven to be more effective than the regular cloth masks which, depending on their material, can offer little to no protection from aerosolized particles. Most cloth masks also do not have filters embedded between the material. 

This video can help shed some light on why cloth masks aren’t particularly effective

Another important factor to consider when choosing a mask is the fit. Even a mask that filters 95% of the particles is only as effective as its fit. 

It should fit snugly around your nose and chin to form a seal on your face. There should be no gaps and the straps should be comfortable around your ears or head.

You should also avoid using any that contain a valve, as this can defeat the purpose of sealing the fit. 

Due to the high demand for masks globally, counterfeit masks have been entering the market. These masks may look like a legitimate N95, KN95, or surgical mask, however, they may not be NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved.

NIOSH approval means that the brand has tested the product (masks) to meet the industry standards, and has a stamp of approval that says it does what it claims to do.

How can you avoid buying counterfeit masks? The short answer-Never buy any mask that does not have the appropriate packaging with the standards printed visibly or come from sketchy suppliers. For a more detailed answer, visit the CDC website here.

If you are looking for either a mask or respirator that meets safety standards, Safety Supply Co. has a wide range from which you can choose. Visit www.safetysupplyco.com to get a mask or respirator to protect your respiratory health.

Safety signs are an important element to workplace (and general) safety. They serve as one of the first lines of defense in reducing risk by reminding staff and customers of potential dangers. Where there are busy and dangerous work conditions, signs are extremely important.

There are six major types of safety signs:

• Danger – these are signs that are needed near areas where there is an imminent risk of serious injury or death. 
• Warning- signs needed in areas where there is a potential risk of serious injury or death. 
• Caution- signs needed in areas with potential for injury. 
• Emergency- signs needed in areas to highlight emergencies such as health (first aid station or eyewash) or emergency exits.
• Notice-for information that is important and non-hazardous. These signs are blue.
• Prohibitory- signage which informs individuals that they are prohibited from doing something, such as no entry signs. 

Below, you can see a safety color coding chart, from Grainger KnowHow which represents the colour codes of both ANSI/NEMA Z535.1-2006 (R2017) and OSHA for safety signs:

*Source:  Grainger KnowHow -https://www.grainger.com/know-how/safety/safety-communications/use-of-si...

Here are some tips to maximize the effectiveness of your signs:

• Signs should be placed in prominent areas, near the potential hazard and accurately represent the level of the threat- i.e the appropriate type of sign must be used in the right location and situation.

• When posting your signs, persons should be able to see the heading (or signal word-DANGER, CAUTION, etc.), and the content of the sign (the instructions) from at least five (5) feet away from the potential hazard. They need to be legible and at a size which a person of normal and/or corrected vision should be able from the recommended distance. 

• Signs also need to be properly lit- this may include using reflective material for low light or night-time visibility.

• Choose an appropriate material for the location of the sign. For example, putting a sign on paper may not be a problem inside of an office, however, placing a paper sign outside where it may be subjected to rain or lose color from the sun will render the sign useless. Outside signs may be better suited to being printed on PVC or laminated.

• Avoid posting too many signs in a singular area as that can create visual clutter, resulting in confusion while reducing the effectiveness of your signage.

• The Safety Alert Symbol- which is an exclamation mark within a yellow triangle- usually precedes the heading of signs for Danger, Caution, or Warning.

• Symbols or pictures representing the safety message on the sign are encouraged to be used alongside the plain text as they can help to convey the message beyond restricting language barriers. For example, a sign with text indicating a wet floor can have an accompanying image of a figure slipping to illustrate the point.

• Always remember: keep your message direct and to the point, and never use complicated language.

In need of safety signs? Contact us at Safety Supply Co. to ensure you have the right safety signage for your company by calling 246.426.4935 or emailing info@safetysupplyco.com. 

Technology has made it easier for us to implement practical and functional safety measures within numerous industries. This however will never fully eliminate the human element in maintaining safe working environments.

There is a school of thought centered around “Behavior-based Safety” which is ‘the application of the science of behavior change to real-world safety problems.’

It essentially uses safety observations to regulate and identify the strengths and weaknesses within safety programs of any organization. In addition to the policies of the company, the safety technology, and programs, regular monitoring of the employees’ safety behavior and their integrated feedback of the policies and practices within the workplace, work in tandem to create environments that are secure, safe, and efficient for those who have to operate within them.

Behavior-based Safety involves collecting measurable data from observable behavior such as what you see, hear or experience among the employees regarding their approach to safety measures. You should focus on behavior that is within the control of the employees and has positive or corrective outcomes.

Using this data, you should then set goals that will positively impact the overall safety of the organization and the safety mentality of the employees.

Within BBS, there is the “ABC Model.” 

-Antecedent means “something that comes before” 

-Behavior is the action or pattern which comes about because of the situation 

-Consequences are the outcomes that result from the behavior.

Using this model, you can gather the data necessary to look not only at the environment and safety protocols but also the human contribution to a safe or unsafe environment. It aids in the facilitation of change by minimizing the consequences that occur and guides it from negative reinforcement towards positive outcomes.

To help you further understand the above, let’s look at two companies, one which doesn’t incorporate BBS practices and one which does:

Both are faced with the following scenario (the antecedent) - the organization has a safety policy in place regarding the use of gloves when operating the machinery, however, they observe that their employees are frequently found flouting the policies (the behavior) and not using the gloves where required. One employee already received a partial cut from nicking their hand on the edge of the machinery (the consequences). After a meeting with the safety committee of the company, the goal identified is to have the employees meeting the requirements of wearing their gloves.

In company 1, which doesn’t incorporate BBS practices, the supervisor does not hesitate to write up six employees for not wearing the gloves required in an attempt to enforce the rules. They did so indiscriminately and without discussing with the employees why there was careless behavior towards wearing the gloves.

Company 1 now has several employees who have blemishes upon their record (negative outcomes) and it has affected team morale. On top of this, the safety issue regarding the gloves remains, as employees wear the gloves after being reprimanded but their adherence to the rule only lasts a short while before offending again.

In Company 2, where they have incorporated BBS to work with their safety policies, the supervisor has noticed that six employees who operate the machinery do not wear gloves as they should. The supervisor approaches them, explains the risk and policies again, and asks the employees why they are not adhering to the safety rules. The response is that the gloves are bulky and made it awkward to operate the machinery, which in turn led to a higher safety risk when compared to not wearing the gloves at all.

With this feedback, Company 2 was able to acquire less bulky gloves that offered similar protection to the previous brand (positive outcome). This impacts the behavior of the six employees moving forward, as the employees felt heard and involved with maintaining safety practices which directly impacted their job. They made a point of ensuring they wore the gloves and even reminded others if they saw slips in this safety procedure. 

In summary, after observing the negative behavior of not wearing the gloves and seeking to address the reason behind the behavior, rather than focusing only on enforcing safety policies by hook or crook, Company 2 was able to moderate the risk of the human behavior thwarting the safety practices and standards of the company. 

It is important to note that BBS is not about seeking out who to blame nor is it about placing sole responsibility for safety incidents upon the shoulders of the employees. Rather, it can be argued that it is about creating an environment of open communication, where all members are safety aware and working together to reduce risks.

Behavior-based Safety is adaptable to each company to work concurrently with your organization’s safety measures - it incorporates understanding your company structure, culture, and specific needs.

To learn more about Behavior-based Safety, check here: https://bit.ly/3yZEcZX

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Safety Supply Co. Inc. is the leading supplier of safety solutions and products in Barbados. Visit www.safetysupplco.com or contact us at 246.426.4935 or info@safetysupplyco.com.

Ergonomic Safety. It sounds like an intimidating term, however, at its core, it’s basic safety considerations for any workplace.

Before we dive into breaking down this term, let me ask you, have you ever considered the following questions in relation to your employees’ working environment?

• Are employees sitting in chairs which are at an appropriate height for their hands to reach their desk without placing strain on their wrists, forearms or shoulders?
• Did employees receive training on the proper ways to lift and carry heavy objects within their job?
• Are employees working with equipment that is comfortable to use and appropriate for the job?

If yes, well done! These are basic, preliminary questions which all have to deal with Ergonomic Safety within the workplace and if you haven’t considered the above or similar questions before, maybe it’s time to do so.

What is Ergonomic Safety?

According to OSHA, it is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. It encompasses best practices for the environment, the equipment used, and the processes to be followed.

Why is Ergonomic Safety important?

This type of safety focuses on reducing risks to the health and well-being of any employee which can develop over long term interaction with uncomfortable and unsuitable work environments.

One of the major risks to health and well-being would be Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Regardless of whichever industry you are in, there is always a risk of being afflicted by Musculoskeletal Disorders as these disorders can affect the muscles, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons.

Office workers can acquire MSDs due to their sedentary lifestyle, while workers with physically demanding jobs can be afflicted with MSDs due to the strain their body undergoes to perform on the job.

Some of the conditions which can be developed are:

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
• Tendonitis.
• Muscle / Tendon strain.
• Ligament Sprain.
• Tension Neck Syndrome.
• Thoracic Outlet Compression.
• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis.

Proper implementation of ergonomic safety measures reduces the risk of being afflicted with a MSD, increases productivity, and assists with employee satisfaction and retention.

How can you implement Ergonomic Safety within your organization?

Companies which have focused on ergonomic safety have reported decreases in absenteeism, reductions in compensation pay, increased quality of work, production and more. This was attributed to a model of implementation which involved employee buy-in on what would make their work environment or their jobs easier to produce the best results.

Ergonomic safety can be practiced within any working environment including offices, warehouses, kitchens, factories, construction sites, etc.

Here are some tips and resources to help you create an ergonomically safe environment for your workplace which would benefit both the company and the employees.

• Firstly, it requires a conversation between management and the employees working the job to ascertain if there are any challenges regarding effectively and safely carrying out their various tasks. This conversation should cover how comfortable the employees are within their work environment, if the tools are adequate for the job and if there are any potential health or safety challenges which can be foreseen and dealt with before becoming major issues.
• Develop a safety plan which can include the following:
  • Management commitment
  • Labour and management accountability
  • Employee involvement
  • Hazard identification and control
  • Accident investigation
  • Employee training
• Some areas of consideration for ergonomic safety focus could include:
  • For office workers:
    • Adequate breaks away from the computer and sitting
    • Appropriate height to reduce pressure on joints and back
    • Good air quality indoors
    • Ample space for everyone within the office to operate
    • Proper lunch/break room

• For production workers:
  • Proper training in their area/for lifting/ for safety measures
  • Correct and suitable tools to get the job done
  • An appropriate amount of breaks
  • Workstations at an appropriate height
  • Suitable safety equipment

• Establish set protocols for reporting, hazard control, monitoring and evaluation
• Create, support, and maintain safety committees within the workplace, comprising of both management and employee representatives to manage the safety, health, and well-being of the workplace.

Check out these additional resources here, here, and here, which can help develop an ergonomic safety mindset within your organization:

Visit Safety Supply Co. at www.safetysupplyco.com to find safety equipment which can help you to create a safe and comfortable workplace for all.