Safety Products

These Boots Are Made For Working – Choosing the Right Workplace Footwear

by

There are plenty of anecdotes about soldiers and cowboys sleeping with their boots on. This served two purposes – first off, it kept them prepared for any emergency that might pop up during the night. Secondly, nobody can take your boots if you’re wearing them, and no one knows how important sturdy, comfortable footwear is … Read more

Combating Fatigue: A Practical Approach

by

While it is normal to occasionally feel tired or drowsy after doing physically or mentally strenuous work over a long period of time, when that tiredness turns into fatigue it can threaten both the health of the workers and the productivity of the business. Fatigue is the acute state of tiredness that leads to mental … Read more

How Using Earplugs Can Reduce Hearing Loss

by

The human ear is an incredible machine. It detects noises by converting sound waves into nerve impulses which the brain then interprets. These sound waves are produced when air is mechanically disturbed. The ear measures sound by it’s frequency and intensity. Frequency is the high or low pitch of a particular sound and is measured … Read more

Traffic Control Devices: Psychology and Practicality

by

Traffic control devices are used by businesses to maintain safe traffic patterns within their facilities, as well as at entrances and exits. They can be used to increase security, reduce accidents and promote driver safety. Many business install speed bumps, orange traffic cones, speed limit signs and other traffic control devices can help remind drivers … Read more

Disaster Recovery Planning for the Materials Handling Industry

by

Disasters can be natural or man-made.  They can strike without notice, like a fire or hurricane, or can be seen coming from a long way off, such as a work stoppage.  But all disasters have one thing in common: They can cause a suspension in your normal business operations. Effective disaster planning can shorten the amount of … Read more

Busy Holiday Season Could Mean More Workplace Accidents, Experts Warn

by

The upcoming holiday season could cause a rise in workplace accidents, according to a leading industry safety training group in the UK. Because warehouses and manufacturing facilities will be busier preparing for the increased business that typically accompanies the holidays, there is a higher risk of danger, according to Andy Cartwright, technical manager for Mentor, … Read more

What to Look for in a Pair of Work Gloves

by

Work gloves are one of those things that many people take for granted, but when it comes time to buy a new pair, what sort of qualities differentiate a good, durable pair from a bad pair of work gloves?

various types of work glovesPrice is not always the best indicator of quality. There are many expensive work gloves that offer poor protection, aren’t made of the best quality materials, and won’t last as long as many more affordable work gloves. So don’t expect to get the best just because you paid the most.

How Will the Work Gloves Be Used?

When considering which work gloves to buy, it’s important to think about how you will be using them:

  • What sort of substances will you be handling?
  • Are there any specialized hazards you may be facing (such as open wiring, wet conditions, etc.)
  • What will be the contact duration and how will it occur?
  • Are there any physical details of the wearer that need to be considered (such as hand size, allergies, deformities and so on)?

Work gloves, such as those offered by Bahrns, are available in both natural and synthetic materials. While some work gloves are designed to prevent the wearer from coming into contact with harmful substances, in some cases the gloves themselves may be harmful to the wearer, such as when they are the incorrect size or are made of a material to which the wearer is allergic.

Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 3

by

Editor’s Note: This is the third and final installment of a special report on avoiding back injuries, the most common workplace injury.

Avoiding workplace injuriesThe best way to avoid injuring your back while lifting is to avoid lifting whenever possible. Using carts and dollies, rather than your legs and back, is the best way to transport heavy objects without lifting them. Pushing a cart is always easier than pulling it. And using cranes, hoists and lift tables to get the heavy objects onto the transport vehicles will also reduce excess back stress.

Proper Lifting Procedures Explained

While you probably can’t always avoid any lifting in the workplace, you can improve your chances of avoiding a back injury if you follow the proper lifting procedures in order to minimize the amount of pressure you place on your lower back.

The first thing to remember is to always bend at the knees. This allows your spine to maintain its natural “S” shape, so you essentially eliminate the fulcrum/lever principle that occurs when your back acts as a crane, rather than allowing your legs to do the work.

Read more

Avoiding Back Injuries in the Workplace, Part 2

by

How to Avoid Back InjuriesEditor’s Note: This is the second of three special reports on avoiding back injuries, the most common workplace injury.

Improperly lifting a heavy object or accidentally twisting while carrying a heavy load aren’t the only ways to suffer a back injury while at work. Painful back injuries also can be caused by slips and falls, tripping over obstacles, and improperly using moving equipment such as manual jacks and dollies.

Besides the physical environment of the workplace, there are other factors that also can contribute to back injuries, including:

  • Being Out of Shape — Back muscles require strong stomach muscles to provide proper support. If your stomach muscles are weak or flabby, you may be more likely to suffer a back injury.
  • Poor Posture — Your spine has a natural “S” shape that is optimal for support weight while lifting. When you lean forward when you sit, hunch over when you  are standing or otherwise have poor posture, this can weaken the spine over time.
  • Being Overweight — Carrying additional weight on your body can add to the weight-to-force fulcrum proportion when you lift heavy objects because your body weight is also being supported by your back.
  • Stress and Anxiety — Being stressed out causes muscle tension, making them more susceptible to injury.

    Read more