Below are the 9 most recent journal entries recorded in aureliomorse25's InsaneJournal:

Saturday, November 19th, 2011
11:03 pm	Working At High Safety Regulations And The Use Of Ladders. Ladders are designed to allow an individual to gain access to areas which would instead be out of reach. The usage of ladders as working platform isn't a safe practice, particularly where both hands are required to carry out the task. So as to ensure safe use of a ladder, the user must maintain three points of contact at all times, this need essentially means that any user who is safely using a ladder will only have one hand free at any particular time. Many accidents occur when employees attempt to use a ladder to transport heavy equipment to a raised position, or where the user is working on the ladder for an extended period. Many accidents involving ladders might have been wholly avoided by using the proper equipment such as an elevated work platform or scaffolding, some firms see ladders as a quick and inexpensive means of gaining access to working areas situated at height, but in doing so they put their employees and members of the general public at risk of injury. There are specific jobs for which a ladder can be employed safely, these are generally light jobs which can often be carried out in a short period of time. Even when carrying out a task for which a ladder is an appropriate means of access and egress, consideration should be given to the environment in which the ladder is being used as well as other considerations which could affect safety for example, weather conditions. The ladder should be soundly anchored whenever possible, one of the best techniques of securing a ladder is by anchoring it to the wall in several places, by doing so you can seriously reduce the risk of the ladder slipping and causing a fall. Do not use a ladder in severe weather such a strong winds and driving rain. If the task at hand requires you to move heavy or cumbersome tools, equipment, or parts to an elevated position, then a ladder isn't the ideal solution and you should perhaps consider using a mobile elevated work platform, or possibly a crane. Before use you should always make sure that your ladder is in perfect condition and safe to be used, you should check each rung and style for signs of damage including splintering or fractures. If your ladder has been painted then you should not use it under any circumstances, the paint might be hiding a large number of serious defects. When positioning the ladder ensure it's placed out of the way of the path of any vehicles. The ground beneath your ladder should be firm and level. The correct angle for a ladder is Seventy five degrees, you need to make sure that the surface against which your ladder is rested is solid, don't rest a ladder against frail surfaces such as glass, asbestos, or plastics. Never try to use a ladder which is much too short to get to the place you are attempting to access, the ladder should extend at least One metre beyond the area at which you will be working. If you ladder is a little too short, then you are going to need to get a bigger ladder, in no eventuality should you attempt to increase your ladders reach by tying it to another ladder, or putting it upon another object. IPAF Training, Scaffolding Training, PASMA Training (Comment on this)
10:57 pm	Making Sure Your Business Complies To The Work At Height Regulations. By far the most frequent cause of fatal injuries at work are falls from height, they are also the 2nd most prevalent cause of severe injury in the workplace with over four thousand severe injuries being attributable to fall from height between 2001 and 2002. According to the work at height regulations, any situation in which a worker could fall 2 metres or more is classified as working at height and therefore the work at height rules would apply. Even if the worker is below ground level, for instance working in a manhole with a Two metre drop below them, the work at height regulations would still be relevant. Whenever working at height careful planning must be made beforehand, satisfactory supervision must also be supplied, and the work should be carried out in a way which is as safe as possible. Environmental factors which could affect the safety of your employees must be taken into consideration, examples of environmental factors would include weather conditions, and the working conditions in which the task is to be carried out. It is critical to make certain that the right equipment is used whenever working at height, and that environmental consideration is taken into account when selecting which equipment is right for the job. The work at height laws state that suitable measures must be taken to stop a fall from height occurring, preventative measures which can often be applied to fulfil this requirement would include the usage of safety harnesses which can often be hooked up to the working platform or another secure anchorage point. Other working at height apparatus like Mewps will have built-in safety measures like railings round the working platform, where this is the case it's vital that the user does not overextend their reach and lean out of the working platform, doing so can unbalance the Mewp and cause it to over tip. Preventive measures such as harnesses and cradles should be checked before each use. If you find that any of your preventive measures are defective, then the working at height task should be put off indefinitely till the preventative measures are either repaired or replaced. Do not carry out any working at height jobs without totally functional safety measures in place. Any gear which is utilized for working at height must be checked before use after installation, this requirement is meant to reduce the number of accidents which stem from improper setup of working equipment. Ladders should be checked to make certain that they are anchored securely as possible, and tied into the wall whenever possible. Mobile elevated work platforms should be checked to make sure that the ground they're on is level, and so the extending boom arm won't pose a collision risk to any oncoming vehicles or other obstructions. Any person who is involved in working from height in their day to day business activities must have undergone working a high safety training, any people who are working at height and have not completed this training, must be supervised at all times by someone who has completed the training. PASMA Training Courses, IPAF Training Courses, Working At Height Safety Training (Comment on this)
10:55 pm	Controlling The Harmful Effects Of Workplace Exposure To Vibration. Many tradespeople are exposed to the danger of serious injury caused by extended exposure to intensive vibration. One example of such exposure would be the use of a hammer drill by a plumber. Prolonged exposure to intensive vibration can cause a condition known as hand arm vibration syndrome. Hand arm vibration syndrome, or HAV's for short, embodies a wide range of conditions brought about by exposure to vibration which stem from long-term damage to soft tissues, circulation, joints, and bones. The most widely known of these conditions, is undoubtably vibration white finger, signs of vibration white finger include fingers going white due to a lack of blood flow, and a pins and needles sensation. Another sign of vibration white finger is a painful red colouration of the fingers which is caused by a rapid temperature change. This is caused because the arteries in the fingers are not able to dilate in response to the temperature change. Whole-body vibration syndrome can affect the sufferer's entire body, the effects are normally associated with a loss of feeling and pain in the spine, joints, and arms. The most typical cause of whole-body vibration syndrome is extended use of machinery in which the user is seated. Machinery such as tractors are one example of the type machinery which can cause whole-body vibration syndrome. Another possible cause is extended exposure to vibration at work. Employees who work in environments in which impact is utilized for the processing of raw materials, such as drop hammers or impact moulds are probably at risk. The frequency of the vibration an individual is exposed to will affect the severity of the hazard. Lower frequency vibrations are by far the most dangerous, any vibration which cycles within the 5 to 20 Hz range falls within this low frequency categorisation, and any vibration cycles which have a frequency of between 5 to 1500 Hz have the capability to cause damage to the human body. Another contributing factor is the length of exposure to the vibration. The longer an individual is exposed to vibration on an uninterrupted basis, the higher the chance of long-term damage becomes. For this reason it is important that workers who are exposed to vibration are given regular breaks. The force of contact with which the user's body is pressed against the source of vibration is also a significant factor, the more pressure with which the user comes into contact with the source of vibration, the higher the possibility of long term damage becomes. Other considerations which are generally believed to have an effect on individuals risk of developing any vibration related syndrome, is circulation and whether the individual is a smoker. Whenever feasible the threat of vibration related injury must be eliminated at the source, examples of this type of preventative measure would include the installation of a spring mounted seat in a tractor to insulate the driver from the threat of vibration related injury. Where the risk cannot be eliminated at the root, the next best approach is to limit the quantity of exposure that any worker has to vibration. Scaffolding Training, PASMA Training, IPAF Training (Comment on this)
Friday, October 21st, 2011
3:22 pm	Working At High Safety Rules And The Use Of Ladders. Ladders are meant to allow an individual to gain access to areas which would otherwise be out of reach. The utilisation of ladders as working platform isn't a safe practice, especially where both hands are required to carry out the task. So as to ensure safe use of a ladder, the user must maintain 3 points of contact at all times, this need essentially implies any user who is safely using a ladder will only have one hand free at any given time. Many accidents happen when workers attempt to use a ladder to move heavy equipment to an elevated position, or where the user is working on the ladder for an extended period of time. Many accidents concerning ladders could have been wholly avoided by employing the right equipment such as an elevated work platform or scaffolding, some companies see ladders as a fast and inexpensive means of gaining access to working areas situated at height, but in doing so they put their employees and members of the general public in danger of injury. There are specific jobs for which a ladder can be used safely, these are generally light jobs which can often be carried out in a short period of time. Even when carrying out a task for which a ladder is an appropriate method of access and egress, consideration should be given to the environment in which the ladder is being used as well as other factors which could affect safety for example, weather conditions. The ladder should be securely anchored whenever possible, one of the best techniques of securing a ladder is by anchoring it to the wall in several places, by doing so you can seriously lower the risk of the ladder slipping and causing a fall. Do not use a ladder in severe weather such a strong winds and driving rain. If the task at hand requires you to transport heavy or awkward tools, equipment, or parts to a raised position, then a ladder isn't the ideal solution and you should perhaps think about using a mobile elevated work platform, or even a crane. Before use you should always make sure your ladder is in perfect condition and safe to be used, you should check each rung and style for signs of damage including splintering or fractures. If your ladder has been painted then you shouldn't use it under any circumstances, the paint may be hiding a large number of serious defects. When positioning the ladder ensure that it is placed out of the way of the path of any vehicles. The ground underneath your ladder should be firm and level. The correct angle for a ladder is Seventy five degrees, you should ensure that the surface against which your ladder is rested is solid, do not rest a ladder against frail surfaces such as glass, asbestos, or plastics. Never try to use a ladder which is much too short to reach the place you are trying to access, the ladder should extend at least 1 metre beyond the area at which you are going to be working. If you ladder is a little too short, then you will need to get a bigger ladder, in no eventuality should you attempt to increase your ladders reach by tying it to another ladder, or placing it upon another object. Powered Access Courses, PASMA Training Courses, Scaffolding Training Courses (Comment on this)
3:21 pm	Making Sure Your Business Complies To The Work At Height Laws. By far the most common cause of fatal injuries at work are falls from height, they also are the 2nd most prevalent cause of severe injury in the workplace with over four thousand severe injuries being attributable to fall from height between 2001 and 2002. According to the work at height regulations, any situation in which a employee could fall 2 metres or more is classified as working at height and therefore the work at height rules would apply. Even if the worker is below ground level, for instance working in a manhole with a Two metre drop below them, the work at height regulations would still be relevant. Whenever working at height proper planning must be made beforehand, adequate supervision must also be supplied, and the work should be carried out in a manner which is as safe as possible. Environmental factors which could affect the safety of your employees must be taken into consideration, examples of environmental factors would include weather conditions, and the working conditions in which the task is to be carried out. It is essential to ensure that the right appliances are used whenever working at height, and that environmental consideration is taken into account when selecting which apparatus is best for the job. The work at height regulations say suitable measures must be taken to stop a fall from height occurring, preventative measures which can often be applied to fulfil this requirement would include the usage of safety harnesses which can often be hooked up to the working platform or another secure anchorage point. Other working at height equipment like Mewps will have inbuilt safety measures like railings round the working platform, where this is the case it's vital the user doesn't overextend their reach and lean out of the working platform, doing so can unbalance the Mewp and cause it to over tip. Preventive measures such as harnesses and cradles should be checked before each use. If you find that any of your preventive measures have defects, then the working at height task should be postponed indefinitely till the preventative measures are either repaired or replaced. Don't carry out any working at height tasks without totally functional safety precautions in effect. Any gear which is utilized for working at height must be checked before use after installation, this requirement is meant to reduce the number of accidents which stem from bad set-up of working equipment. Ladders should be checked to make certain that they are anchored safely as possible, and tied into the wall whenever possible. Mobile elevated work platforms should be checked to make sure that the ground they are on is level, and so the extending boom arm won't pose a collision risk to any approaching vehicles or other obstructions. Anyone who is involved in working from height in their daily business activities must have undergone working a high safety training, any people who are working at height and have not finished this training, must be supervised at all times by someone who has completed the training. Working At Height Safety Training, PASMA Training, MEWPs Courses (Comment on this)
3:20 pm	Controlling The Harmful Effects Of Workplace Exposure To Vibration. Many tradespeople are exposed to the danger of serious injury due to extended exposure to intensive vibration. One case of such exposure would be the use of a hammer drill by a plumber. Prolonged exposure to intensive vibration can cause a condition known as hand arm vibration syndrome. Hand arm vibration syndrome, or HAV's for short, embodies a wide range of conditions brought about by exposure to vibration which stem from long term damage to soft tissues, circulation, joints, and bones. The most widely known of these conditions, is undoubtably vibration white finger, symptoms of vibration white finger include fingers going white thanks to a shortage of blood flow, and a pins and needles sensation. Another sign of vibration white finger is an agonizing red colouration of the fingers which is caused by a rapid temperature change. This is caused as the blood vessels in the fingers are unable to dilate in response to the temperature change. Whole-body vibration syndrome could affect the sufferer's whole body, the effects are normally associated with a loss of feeling and discomfort in the spine, joints, and arms. The most common cause of whole-body vibration syndrome is extended use of machinery in which the user is seated. Machinery like tractors are one example of the type machinery which can cause whole-body vibration syndrome. Another possible cause is prolonged exposure to vibration at work. Employees who work in environments in which impact is utilized for the processing of raw materials, such as drop hammers or impact moulds are probably at risk. The frequency of the vibration an individual is exposed to will affect the scale of the hazard. Lower frequency vibrations are by far the most dangerous, any vibration which cycles in the 5 to Twenty Hz range falls within this low frequency categorisation, and any vibration cycles which have a frequency of between 5 to 1500 Hz have the potential to cause damage to the human body. Another contributing element is the length of exposure to the vibration. The longer an individual is exposed to vibration on an uninterrupted basis, the bigger the chance of long term damage becomes. For that reason it is important that employees who are exposed to vibration are given regular breaks. The force of contact with which the user's body is pushed against the source of vibration is also a major factor, the more pressure with which the user comes into contact with the source of vibration, the bigger the risk of long term damage becomes. Other considerations which are generally believed to have an impact on individuals chance of developing any vibration related syndrome, is circulation and whether the individual is a smoker. When possible the threat of vibration related injury must be eliminated at the source, examples of this type of preventative measure would include the installation of a spring mounted seat in a tractor to insulate the driver from the threat of vibration related injury. Where the risk can't be eliminated at the root, the second-best approach is to limit the quantity of exposure that any employee has to vibration. PASMA Training Courses, IPAF Training Courses, Scaffolding Training Courses (Comment on this)
3:19 pm	Mobile Elevating Work Platforms And The Relevant Safety Legislation. A mobile elevating work platform or Mewp for short, is a mechanical device which provides its user with a stable working platform that may be raised up and lowered mechanically. Mewp's are usually used in place of a ladder, and typically they supply a much better working platform than a ladder does in relation to safety. Mewp's have a tendency to fall into 2 classes, mechanical and hydraulic. An example of a mechanical mewp would be a scissor lift, with this type of mewp, the platform is raised and lowered through an electric motor. Hydraulic mewp's often utilise a telescopic arm to raise and lower the working platform. The utilising of mewp's has considerably increased over the prior one or two years, this is basically thanks to the convenience they offer regarding the ability to quickly supply a stable work platform in almost any situation. For some reason many companies fail to realise that like forklift trucks, mewps shouldn't be used by individuals who don't possess the relevant training and qualification. Certain types of mewp can be used on uneven ground or coarse terrain, however this does not necessarily imply that every kind of mewp are safe to use in these environments. Before operation you should always familiarize yourself with the limitations of the mewp you're about to operate. In addition to environmental limitations, your mewp may have constraints regarding a safe angle of operation, never overextend your reach from the mewp cradle as doing so may overturn the apparatus. It's tempting to try this sometimes in contrast to lowering the working platform and repositioning the mewp, but the latter is by far a much safer option. When working at height using a mewp, you should always ensure that your harness is attached to the cradle from which you are working. A common mistake that some operators make is to attach their harness to an anchor point outside of the platform. If you do this and forget about the harness, then when you lower the mewp you're going to find yourself dangling in midair. Additionally if the anchor point you have selected isn't capable of supporting your weight, you could very well find yourself taking a nasty fall closely followed by the scaffolding to which you anchored yourself. I certainly wouldn't want to find myself in this kind of situation! PASMA Training, Scaffolding Training Courses, MEWPs Courses (Comment on this)
12:54 pm	Reducing The Risk Of Forklift Related Accident In Your Workplace. Every year in the UK around five thousand accidents occur which involve forklift trucks, the health and safety executive has implemented many legislative measures to reduce this number as much as is possible, however the basic fact is that forklift trucks are perilous by nature. This does not necessarily mean that we cannot make our workplace safe as possible, by making certain that existing legislation is properly implemented, and we follow any and all best recommended practices wherever we can. There are lots of kinds of forklift truck available, certain types of truck like rough terrain trucks are suitable for work outdoors and on uneven surfaces, others are not. A substantial number of forklift accidents annually are caused by the operator using a forklift truck in an environment or manner in which it was not designed. It's vital that you choose the proper truck for the lifting task at hand, there are several factors which you need to take into consideration when selecting a truck. Trucks with solid tyres are typically only used for work on level and smooth surfaces ,eg warehouse floors. Every forklift truck has design constraints, it's important that your operator not only knows these limitations, but sticks to them. If you operate a truck outside its intended constraints regarding weight or environment, then the possibility of an accident happening is massively increased. Under no circumstances should a person who has not received the right training be allowed to operate a forklift truck. It's important that you have physical barriers in place to stop this from happening. One such barrier will be to ensure that the drivers do not leave the forklift keys in the machine whilst they are taking a break or otherwise away from the machine. In the past many accidents have occurred when young employees see a forklift untended and take the opportunity to have what they see as a little bit of fun. It's important that you segregate pedestrians from forklift trucks as effectively as possible. This involves the use of no pedestrian areas where only forklift are permitted. Barriers should be used at any time where there's possibility of forklifts and pedestrians coming in contact with one another. You should also make sure that any isles utilised by forklifts are kept free of obstructions at all times, and that the floors are well maintained. A pothole in the floor is an accident waiting to happen, if a forklift hits it whilst bearing a load, it may cause the truck to change direction or to overturn. Clear signage is vital to make sure that people know when they are entering an area in which forklift trucks operate. Where the area being entered is a forklift only Zone, relevant signage should be in place to advise pedestrians that they are not permitted in this area, and to direct them to the applicable pedestrian walkway. Forklift trucks are machinery, and as such require upkeep to ensure they remain safe to operate. HSE advocates daily vehicle checks, however if your workplace operates on a shift basis, I would like to recommend that you get each forklift driver to check their vehicle at the start and finish of their shift. Scaffolding Training Courses, PASMA Training Courses, IPAF Training Courses (Comment on this)
12:53 pm	Forklift Trucks In The Workplace - Know The Dangers. Forklift trucks are an essential piece of equipment for many enterprises, it's tough to conceive how businesses succeeded in making a good profit while relying on manpower to move stock. Nowadays you'd be hard-pressed to discover a warehouse that doesn't have at least one forklift truck. Despite the fact that there are legislative measures in place to ensure that only fully trained personnel are allowed to operate these machines, the number of accidents in the workplace that involve forklift trucks in the average year is still exceptionally high. On average around 5,000 accidents each year which lead on to someone being injured, and around 20 fatal accidents each year are attributable to forklift trucks. Because forklift trucks are such forceful and heavy machinery, when an accident does happen you probably won't be surprised to learn that around Eighty percent of all accidents which involve them result in a fractured or broken bone. Just below 1/2 the accidents involve injury to the driver, with a corresponding percentage of accidents concerning injury to pedestrians. Around Forty five percent of these accidents can be put down to driver error, it is clear therefore, that the overall number of accidents concerning forklift trucks in your workplace can be reduced by making sure a high standard of forklift driver training is adhered to at all times. Another common cause of forklift accidents is poorly maintained gangways, if a forklift has to swerve to avoid an obstruction then there's a high possibility that it could overturn. The likelihood of a forklift overturning is also seriously increased if the forklift is going too fast in the first place, it so is very sensible to ensure your forklift trucks are limited via mechanical measures, which physically prevent them from going above a certain speed. Forklift trucks are not built to be driven with a load which is in a raised position, this again will considerably reduce the stability of the vehicle and increase the possibility of it overturning. Make sure that any loads which are lifted with your truck's are correctly packed with their weight distributed uniformly. Never lift anything which is heavier than your truck was engineered to handle. Most forklift trucks are built to be used inside only and their stability is seriously affected by the surface on which they are operated. Floors should be level, and well cared for. Any potholes that appear in your floor should be mended right away and then closed off until the mend is dry. Potholes are a fairly common cause of forklift related accidents. The work-area in which your forklift trucks operate should really be a pedestrian free zone, by physically segregating forklift trucks and pedestrians, by using designated walkways and metal barriers, you can scale back the chance of a forklift accident concerning collision with a pedestrian by a massive amount. Any areas in which forklift operate should be well lit, if forklift driver cannot see properly, then any judgement he makes regarding whether a load is centred on his forks correctly, or whether his forks are properly aligned with the palette, may be affected. Scaffolding Training, PASMA Training, IPAF Training (Comment on this)