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Health and Safety

First Aid Kits for Different Workplaces

Posted on February 07, 2014

Regardless of how much you guard against the, accidents can still happen. That's why it's important to have a well-stocked first aid kit in your office or workplace to attend to accidental injuries or medical emergencies immediately after they happen. The NHS suggests that your basic first-aid kit should contain the following items: Basic first aid kit - Plasters: The numbers and sizes are not specified, but you should have a variety of shapes and sizes. - Gauzes: Your basic first-aid kit should have small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings. - Eye Dressings: At least two sterile eye dressings are recommended. - Crêpe Bandages: These would be used to apply pressure, dissipate swelling, restrict movement, or hold the splint in place. - Safety Pins: Carry a number of them in different sizes to hold small, medium and la...

Medical Scissors for First Aid Kits

Posted on January 27, 2014

If you look through the list of contents for the first aid kits on this site, you will notice that some of them contain scissors and some contain ‘shears’. Most people think of sheers as something you cut hedges with, so we did a bit of research into the history of scissors to try and find out more about the different types. Scissors were invented in ancient Egypt in around 1500 BC. The oldest known scissors were discovered from archeological digs at what was once Mesopotamia. These are 3000–4000 years old "spring-scissors", comprising two blades joined by a curved flexible bronze strip. Between that day and now, scissors have come a long way, finding thousands of applications in fields such as engineering, agriculture, grooming, and medical, apart from regular everyday use in homes and offices. Medical scissors today are made from stainless steel, nitinol, titan...

Common Skiing Injuries and How to Avoid Them

Posted on January 02, 2014

With thousands of people heading off to winter resorts, combined with the shocking news about Michael Schumacher's skiing accident, we thought it was appropriate for our resident writer (and Doctor) to outline a few basic precautions for those of you about to take to the slopes. Whether you are a beginner, intermediary or even an advanced skiier who's been lucky to avoid a skiing injury so far, then read on to learn about three most common skiing injuries and how to prevent them. Thumb and Hand Injuries The most common thumb or hand injury is caused during a fall, when the skier or snowboarder either fails to let go of the ski pole or throws out a hand to stop them from hitting the snow. Incorrect falling technique can result in a torn UCL ligament in the thumb, or a dislocated thumb or hand. If you hurt your thumb during a fall, you might need to...

3 Easy Ways to Improve Road Safety

Posted on December 18, 2013

In 2012, the UK government recorded 1, 754 road accident deaths, with a further 23, 039 individuals suffering serious injury (courtesy of a report carried on www.gov.uk.) Improving road safety - whether at home, around neighbourhood roads or near schools – is very important because it is the only way to reduce these horrific statistics. What are ways you can reduce the probability of a road accident happening? Placing Speed Ramps at Strategic Places When you place a speed ramp on a road, you effectively regulate the speed at which automobiles drive. Ramps come on various sizes, with each size fit for a specific area or use. A Speed Bump with a high incline is best for areas w...

Four Reasons Why You Should Invest in Workplace Health and Safety Training

Posted on November 27, 2013

Even today, in a time when health and safety red tape supposedly streams across workplaces up and down the UK, there are a shocking 200 deaths as a result of accidents in the workplace, and over a million injuries every single year. The health and safety naysayers might be right to criticise needless bureaucracy and over the top health and safety regulations, but in the 21st century, when there are still deaths occurring in the workplace, it is plain for all to see that something has to be done. Of course, there are some professions where an element of danger is inherent and unavoidable. Forestry is statistically the most dangerous industry in the UK, with workers six times more likely than construction workers to be killed at work. This simply highlights the...

Safety Measures to Take in the Snow

Posted on November 07, 2013

Now that the clocks have gone back, and the evenings have become darker it is clear to us all that the days of summer are long gone and that winter is fast approaching. The early morning commute to work is harder as you can see your breath in the air, and your wonder whether it’s time to put on your hat and gloves. This week saw snow fall in County Durham, an unusually early recording of this type of weather. So, as the cold weather begins to set in, so does the time to think about snow preparation and how you can minimise the impact it has on your day. Many people enjoy the white blanket of snow that covers the ground in winter time, as it brings with it snow days, where school is cancelled, and the building of snowmen. But the snowy weather should not be taken lightly. It is important to take precautions to make sure you stay safe during the wintery weather conditions. It seems that in our country we are not accustomed to heavy snow fall and, more often than not, the c...

Tips for Staying Safe on Bonfire Night

Posted on November 05, 2013

Remember, remember the 5th of November. On this night in 1605, Guy Fawkes was arrested after planting explosives underneath the English parliament in an attempt to blow up the Protestant King. This was, and still is, famously known as “the gunpowder plot”. After the capture of the people involved in the gunpowder plot, bonfires were lit to celebrate the survival of King James and a national day of observance was to take place on the 5th of November from then on. This was a day to be thankful of the plot’s failure. Since then the day has become a family night of wrapping up warm, watching fireworks and eating wholesome foods. It may be a fun, annual event for all the family, but with any situation where fire and mini-explosives are being used, there are strict health and safety guidelines to follow to ensure everybody has an enjoyable and safe evening. Here are four pieces of advice for keeping safe on Bonfire Night. 1. This first tip concerns lighting fireworks. First of al...

Don't Slip up in the wet Weather

Posted on October 28, 2013

Over Sunday night and Monday morning the UK was subjected to one of the worst storms in decades. Wind speeds were recorded as reaching nearly 100 mph, causing falling trees and loss of power in some areas. The storm brought with it heavy downpours of rain throughout the country, which led to flooding in certain places. As a result of the treacherous weather, there have been a number of disruptions to travel and transport services up and down the country, making the commute to work during rush hour more difficult than normal. Nevertheless, workers made their way through the wind and rain to get to their jobs this morning. In weather conditions such as this, the risk of people slipping on wet floors and surfaces dramatically increases. When it rains and people are travelling to work from their homes, whether it’s on foot, in the car or on the bus, the surfaces they walk upon can get very slippery. ...

Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

Posted on October 23, 2013

The world we live in today is one which is becoming more health and safety conscious and we have been described as a hi-viz society, as more and more people are donning hi-visibility clothing to stay safe at work, whilst out at night or with young children who are walking to school. The latest group of society to join the hi-viz trend is the feathered kind. Yes, that’s right. The chicken coop company Omlet have started selling a Health and Safety Gilet for chickens. This revelation in chicken technology comes from the increasing number of chickens in urban and suburban areas. More people are having chickens as domestic pets, which live in their back gardens near busy roads and streets. If chickens in these urban areas happen to escape out of gardens and under fences, t...

The Importance of a Health & Safety Audit

Posted on October 08, 2013

The health and safety needs of a small or large business can change over time and it is important that audits are carried out on a regular basis. This will ensure the continued welfare, health and safety of employees within an organisation, via the systematic appraisal of on-site procedures and processes. An audit will find specific areas in which improvements need to be made for the benefit of a business and its employees, and help companies to comply with legal duties and promote wellbeing. What is a health and safety audit? An audit is a methodical, independent and documented assessment of a business’ system and processes, in which it is measured against regulated criteria to make sure health and safety standards are being upheld. Organisations should have a management system in place to ensure safety processes continue to be maintained. What are the aims of an audit? Though businesses differ in size and the industries in which they operate – for exa...

Coolest Work Uniforms

Posted on October 01, 2013

What is it that makes a uniform look cool? Is it the image attached to or the person in that uniform? Or is it pure styling and colour? Uniforms look cool when they are well-designed, neatly-pressed, and worn by smart people. They project a better image of the organisation that's using them, and also obviate the necessity of having to choose a different outfit for work every day. Big businesses like airlines and restaurant chains usually get their uniforms designed from stylists. The type and style of the uniform depend upon the nature of work that they will be worn for. Sports uniforms can be flashy and allow free movement of the body. Medical or military uniforms can look more traditional with their specific colours. In order to look cool, a uniform just has to ... well, look cool! Here are some of the coolest uniforms ever worn. 1. Royal Air Force Pilot's Coverall ...

Workshop Hazards and How to Avoid Them

Posted on September 06, 2013

Workshops are a dangerous place to work due to many health and safety hazards. These hazards can be avoided by putting aside some time to check over the area that employees are working in and provide some storage for tools, equipment and parts. Lets be honest, if a workshop was always tidy and shiny, customers would be a bit worried, but employees should be putting away tools and equipment as they go or once they have finished a job. In addition, nuts, bolts and other bits and bobs to build parts with need to be stored somewhere accessible and simple for employees to quickly grab and get back to the job. Screws, nails, staples, nuts and bolts are small items that need to be stored in small containers that are easy to get to without opening and closing lids. Open fronted stacker bins are ideal for workshops. They are grease and oil resistant and manufactured from wall fluted polypropylene. The light weight, open fronted stacking bins are easy to clean and resistant to most...