Blog Articles | Safety Supply Company Incorporated

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14 Feb

Respiratory Disease vs. Respiratory Protective Equipment

When working with hazardous substances such as gases, solvent powdered chemicals and sprays, RPEs (Respiratory Protective Equipment) are used to control exposure and improve air quality and ventilation. Today we’re going to discuss how, when and why RPE is necessary for the environment you’re in. 

Firstly, let’s discuss hazardous substances, what are they?

 

Hazardous substances are defined as any toxic, harmful, corrosive, irritant of asphyxia substance or a mixture of substances including dusts, fumes, gases, mists and vapors, that may produce adverse health effects in individuals when exposed to sufficient quantitates. The list can go on as common gases found in the household such as chlorine, ammonia and wood dust; have adverse effects on our respiratory organs, causing ill health and early death.

 

RPE is divided into two main types: 

• Respirators (filtering devices), use filters to remove contaminants in the workplace air. Filter selection and use requires due care and attention to ensure the safety of wearers. 

• Breathing apparatus (BA), needs a supply of air from a clean source (e.g. an air cylinder or air compressor). BA may be used in situations with reduced oxygen levels.

 

The law requires employers to prevent or control the exposure of employees and others to hazardous substances at work. RPE should be used as a last resort- when inhalation exposure risk remains after you have put every other practicable measure in place. It may also be used as additional protection in case other control measures fail to operate.

 

Good health, safety training and support can minimize or remove the risk to employees of respiratory health issues. Risk assessments should be carried out to reduce the effects of dangerous substances and environmental solutions put into place, for example adequate ventilation, warning signs and appropriate equipment. All employees should be kept properly informed about risks associated with the handling of dangerous substances and be provided with appropriate guidelines for handling them as well as relevant health checks.

 

Why is RPE a last choice for protection?

RPE only protects the wearer, controlling the environment around you can protect everyone working in the area. RPE should NOT be used in environments where oxygen levels are low.

 

To make sure wearers are getting the most protection from RPEs, it must be correctly selected, used and maintained. A mismatch between the RPE and the environment is costly & dangerous. 

Users should be trained to use and maintain RPE.

 

Safety Supply stocks half and full face RPE for your convenience. Our knowledgeable staff would be more than happy in assisting you with choosing the correct gear for your environment. Visit our website to see our selection. Click Here: http://bit.ly/2ENpP0k

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8 Feb

10 Tips to Improve Workplace Communication

In every aspect of life (professional and personal), communication is crucial to success and happiness. The quality of a business’s internal communication often says a lot about the company itself. Here are 10 tips to improve workplace comradery:

1. Checking in with employees is essential, meet regularly either in person or online, with an open invitation to share their thoughts and feelings about projects, tasks or the organization on the whole.

2. Make internal knowledge & documents easily accessible-For newer employees, it can be difficult to learn the ropes of an organization and how it truly operates. Making internal knowledge easily available via documentation on your social intranet is a great way to keep communication flowing.

3. Have an ‘open door’ policy- where employees feel comfortable speaking to management.

4. Take advantage of social media and social intranet. You can use both to allow employees to share their interests with each other, creating meaningful work-related conversations.

5. Identify a common goal- It’s important for employees to be on the same page and mindset, in order for the common goal to be achieved.

6. Focus on company culture- Integrate company culture in your regular workday. You can do this by incorporating your branding into office décor, social intranet and other collateral.

7. Schedule ‘Out of Office’ Activities- Allow your employees to get to know each other better, by focusing on non-work related activities. Remember team-building exercises don’t always have to revolve around getting actual work done.

8. Use an anonymous ‘Suggestions Box’- You can benefit greatly from setting a "suggestion box" in your office that allows for employees to anonymously comment on things they'd like to see improved. People aren't always comfortable bringing up their concerns, after all, and are more likely to do so if they can take an anonymous approach.

9. Ask Questions- Asking your employees how they like to receive information (through the social intranet, email, newsletters, etc.) can help you create a more effective plan for regular communication. 

10. Celebrate Your Achievements- Celebrating what you as a team achieved, will boost the moods of everyone who had a hand in the success of the company.

 

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30 Jan

High-Visibility Clothing, Do You Need It?

The main purpose of Hi-Vis clothing is to improve your visibility, making you more identifiable in traffic, construction and low-light environments. This is particularly important when there is rain, fog or when the wearer may be obscured by trees, barriers etc.

Should you be wearing high visibility clothing? Ask these questions when assessing the situation for hazards.

·      Are you in an environment with moving traffic or equipment? 

·      Do the work conditions involve low visibility and traffic flow or machine operation?

·      What is your working environment; is it complex, cluttered or filled with equipment? 

·      What are the lighting conditions and weather conditions (fog, rain, sunlight)?

·      Consider the speed of the vehicles, the size of the vehicles and how fast they can stop on the conditions of the surface.

·      Are there any hazard controls in place such as barriers that separate the traffic from you?

Although Hi-Vis clothing is important, it should be the last defense for workers, and other measures should be put in place to protect workers from unnecessary hazards when working in low visibility environments. Safety Supply offers a wide range of reflective clothing, which can be embroidered with your company’s logo, for a more personalized look. Browse our products here: http://safetysupplyco.com/shop/clothing/reflective-gear

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26 Jan

Gloves and Their Many Uses

No single glove can provide appropriate protection for every situation, so it is important to assess the risk for each task and select a glove that provides specialized protection.

The following is a list of gloves and their appropriate application, according to the National Safety Council:

Cotton and fabric gloves: These can keep hands clean and protect against abrasions, but may not be strong enough to handle work with rough or sharp materials.

Coated fabric gloves: This type of glove can provide protection against some moderate concentrated chemicals. They can be used in laboratory work provided they are strong enough to protect against the specific chemical being handled.

Rubber, plastic or synthetic gloves: These types of glove can be used when cleaning or working with oils, solvents and other chemicals.

Leather gloves: These should be used when welding, as the leather can resist sparks and moderate heat. The risk of cuts and abrasions also can be minimized by wearing leather gloves.

Aluminized gloves: These gloves are recommended for welding, furnace and foundry work, as they provide reflective and insulating protection.

Kevlar gloves: These have a wide variety of industrial applications. They are cut- and abrasion-resistant and provide protection against both heat and cold.

Chemical/liquid-resistant gloves: Several types of gloves help protect against specific chemicals

Butyl rubber gloves: nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and peroxide

Natural latex/rubber gloves: water solutions or acids, alkalis, salts, and ketones

Neoprene gloves: hydraulic fluids, gasoline, alcohols and organic acids

Nitrile rubber gloves: chlorinated solvents

Check out our range of gloves here: http://bit.ly/2s1ecyM

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19 Jan

Whose Hand Is It Anyway?

Let’s discuss it!

Hand injury or amputation causes the inability to function in a way that’s natural to you, such as buttoning clothing, eating daily meals, writing/signing a cheque and opening mail; these will all become strenuous tasks which heavily influences the quality of life you have. Hand injuries can vary from minor cuts or irritation to amputations. Some of the primary causes is the malfunction or improper use of equipment; although malfunctioning equipment is not directly something we can control; taking responsibility in wearing the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the determining factor in if we lose a limb or not. Human error doesn’t mean we can’t handle the job, but it does mean we have a tendency to grow complacent and get distracted while working. One of the most common forms of human error is forgetting, or simply choosing not to, wear protective gloves at work.

So, whose hands are they anyway? Before you decide not to wear the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), here are some factors to take into consideration:

Responsibility: We all have the responsibility to not engage in risky behavior at work that could be detrimental to our health;  and to report any uncontrolled or unaddressed hazards.

Accountability: Machines, energy and chemicals WILL hold us absolutely accountable for our actions, whether we like it or not.

So, how can we prevent hand injuries? There are several practices employers and employees can implement to reduce the risk of hand injury: these are engineering controls, administrative controls and PPE. Engineering controls reduce hazards through the use of equipment that has built-in measures to protect the worker, and is always the preferred way to reduce workplace hazards.  Some common types of engineering controls include safety guards, electrical proximity limiting devices, emergency stop devices, and ergonomic tools. Administrative controls are procedures management puts in place, and are useful when engineering controls either cannot be implemented or cannot alone effectively reduce risk.  Safety training, lock and tag rules, warning signs, product substitution, and attention to ergonomic principles are all forms of administrative controls. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn to minimize hazards when engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or sufficient.  The PPE worn to protect hands are gloves.

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11 Jan

6 Tips for the Modern-Day Worker

Here are 6 tips for the workplace, which are applicable to every type of worker in various workplace settings. 

  1. Maintain a clean and tidy work area. This increases productivity and morale; while eliminating potential hazards.
  2. Be aware of the risks. Once you are aware of which hazards you need to know about at your workplace, it’s possible to take steps to reduce the risks of getting hurt.
  3. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). If you’ve been issued with personal protective equipment, then be sure to wear it. This may include safety goggles, earplugs, a hard hat or even a full-face mask. Following this advice can go a long way in reducing your risk of injury.
  4. Continue to work on the avoidance of hazards. By staying current on new equipment and materials; as well as maintaining used equipment, hazards are kept to a minimum.
  5. Keep workplace stress reduced. Often this is caused by a heavy workload, job insecurity, on the job conflicts with colleagues and management. Ongoing stress can lead to depression, difficulty with sleeping and concentration issues.
  6. Take regular breaks. Not only will it keep workers fresher and more alert, it can help to prevent burnout and injury.

 

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9 Jan

The Importance of Safety in the Workplace

Why is workplace safety so important?

Let’s simply put it this way- Injury and Death, no explanation needed, right? With an alarming number of workplace accidents occurring every year; improved safety training and awareness can help save lives and reduce injury.

Financially, death & injury impacts the company heavily as a monetary loss and in some cases property damage occurs. It’s in the best interest of the company and of the employee to put safety first.

Worker productivity increases, when a company puts it employees first by implementing proper safety training and education AND employees follow the safety guidelines on their own initiative.

The Service or Quality of the product improves, when the productivity of workers increases. Employees give of their best and go the extra mile to accomplish projects.

Corporate reputation / public relations improve, a quality product equals a quality reputation.

Good safety practices include training, education and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary to protect the workforce. Communication also plays a vital role in workplace safety and employees need to know that an employer is committed to their safety, in order for the worker to be committed to the job. It’s a 50/50 relationship.

Safety transforms a company and its employees into a team of people with a common goal.

Everyone benefits!

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