Workplace Health and Safety

The AS/NZ 3760 : 2003 is document written by Standards Australia that specifies the procedures and criteria for the in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment which is designed for connection by a flexible cord. It also applies to cord extension sets, portable outlet devices, portable residual current devices. Appendices include detailed test methods.
1. Visual Inspection
The most important test is a Visual Inspection of the device, especially its lead/s. Cords should be firmly anchored in plugs, connections made solidly with no frayed ends. Copper terminals should be clean and not pitted.
There should be no sign of heat or melting of plugs. Leads should be visually inspected for their entire length to ensure that there are no cuts, cracks or breaks. This test alone represents 80% of the testing process.
2. Polarity
A Polarity test is done on leads, power boards, etc, and is functional check that Active, Neutral and especially Earth are not incorrectly wired.
3. Insulation Resistance
This test is important on appliances which come in contact with water such as pumps, cleaning and cooking appliances etc, but must be performed on all items. This will reveal if there are any hairline cracks or cuts in the lead which will result in a low insulation resistance.
4. Earth Resistance
This test will pass a larger current (up to 25 Amp) through the lead to ensure the earth wire has a strong connection.
5. Earth Leakages/ Touch Leakage
A leakage test must be preformed on a circuit that must be energizing to be switched on. i.e. circuits with electronic switches. The appliance is tested under load and the amount of current that leaks from the circuit is tested
6. The Tag Itself
A tag will be applied to the plug end of the appliance’s lead. It will clearly state the date of the test, date it is due to be retested, and who tested it.
7. Database
A complete test record will be databased, including; the asset id; test results; sites and locations; retest date; asset description, make, and serial number; and any additional notes that our test and tagging specialists wish to include.
All Safe Test and Tag is your No. 1 resource for all your electrical testing and tagging queries. We at All Safe are dedicated to providing only factual information about the AS3760 and portable appliance testing to ensure you are fully informed to make you workplace a safer environment.
All Safe Test and Tag | Electrical Testing and Tagging Resource

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Now that the Movie the Secret has been featured on Oprah, I am sure it will be getting even more attention. So how can you apply the principles of “The Secret” to workplace safety?
When I worked as the safety directory for a converting operation that was part of a major corporation, I was always frustrated at the negative approach that was taken toward safety. When I had one of my maintenance workers injured while trying to implement a safety suggestion, I knew that we were taking the wrong path to creating a safe workplace.
Long before I knew about the law of attraction or any of those concepts, I knew that wherever we put our focus, we got more of it. When we focused on accidents, we got more accidents. Even if we thought we were trying to prevent them.
Almost every safety program that I have studied has shown an increase in TCIR or whatever measurement is used during the first few months of implementing the plan. This spike is usually blamed on people reporting accidents that they once ignored and other factors. However, the law of attraction explains it clearly – what you think about expands.
It usually takes a while for a safety program to mature to the point where you stop focusing on accidents and removing hazards and start focusing on designing a safe and healthy work environment.
Once that shift in focus occurs, the injury rate seems to magically go down. For those still using a cause and effect model of life, they have a hard time finding just what was the cause of the drop in injuries. They will often pick one item from the program and try to implement it corporate wide. Usually to the ire of other safety professionals.
Now that I understand the law of attraction, I can point you to some factors that will improve any safety program:
1. Create a positive atmosphere where people enjoy working. This goes against the instincts of many mangers, but it will not only reduce injuries, but will also improve productivity.
2. Promote a feeling of safety. Teach people the right way to do a job so that they will not be subject to hazards. Don’t tell the how to avoid injury. Tell them how to do the job safely.
3. Expect employees to work safely. Many safety directors seem to take joy in catching people without their safety gear. Handing out STOP cards and petty fines only adds to the vibration of unsafeness.
4. Design safety into machines and work practices from the start. A well designed machine and efficient work practices will promote doing a job safely and efficiently. There will be no reason for an employee to look for an unsafe shortcut if the proper procedure works like it is supposed to.
5. Make sure employees know that you care by maintaining that safe work environment consistently. Nothing is worse than having safety being thought of as “the flavor of the month” until the next accident.
These five simple steps can be the key to not only reducing your injury rates but also to creating a more profitable workplace as well.
Mike Strawbridge is a performance improvement coach who loves to teach people how to apply the law of attraction to creating safer more profitable business situations.
Learn more workplace safety tips at: http://mikestrawbridge.com/safety-resources.htm

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Safety precautions in the office or factory has never been of greater value. The simple truth is that Although workers may be at risk of injury, employers are vulnerable to being reported to tribunals, specifically with the growing amount of unscrupulous lawyers. According to the Royal society for the prevention of accidents almost 1.6 million company injuries happen in england every 12 months, nonetheless in most cases the accident might have been avoided quite easily.
We all know that a safer office or factory environment benefits everybody. By chosing a few easy steps it’s easy for both individuals and companies to advance safety in the office or factory.
Consider ergonomics
You will constantly think about your work environment from an ergonomic angle. If we take an office situation as an example – ensure that office desks are at the appropriate height, computer screens aren’t overly close and office chairs confer adequate lower back support.
Perform risk assessments
Risk Assessments are a superb method of reducing risk of accidents before they happen. One top technique is to undertake cross-departmental risk assessments, where individuals from other departments in an organisation audit each other. A fresh pair of eyes may frequently see things differently, furthermore it gets staff from other departments working in concert.
Take frequent breaks
Taking enough breaks has been shown to eliminate stress and is scientifically proven to eliminate drowsiness. Have a ‘brew’ and a biscuit!
Change tasks
This is particularly essential for somebody who have to do monotonous chores over sustained periods of time, such as working on assembly lines or being a computer operator, as it avoids Repetitive strain injury. Ask if there is an alternative job which might be done instead – a change is a good as a rest.
Emergency medical aid lessons
In the event of an tragedy it is worthwhile to recognize who in your company has the required skill to administer emergency medical. If you’re the sort of individual who likes to become involved think about adding your name to the list for first aid edcuation – it’s an additional skill on your cv, businesses look at it as a positive and it’s quite interesting. Furthermore businesses should be encouraging people to get qualified.
Organise your workload
Spending a little time organising your workload can be really useful, still it is often overlooked, particularly when going through hectic periods of time when it is more important than ever! Each day plan the jobs you want to complete. Try to make it reachable though – make the productivity bar too high and you will just increase your problems.
Make sure you understand relevant health and safety laws
For a few organisations, such as those involved in the manufacture of volatile substances, keeping aware of complex safety laws is of immense importance. Nevertheless safety legislation of some form is important for all businesses. The best step for any business is to check with the Health and Safety Executive. They are given the responsibility for increasing awareness of the array of health and safety legislation that covers businesses in The uk.

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The workplace should be one place an employee can expect to feel safe. Maintaining a safe workplace should, therefore, be a primary goal of any business owner. The easiest way for an employer to prevent injuries in the workplace (and the associated costs that inevitably come with them) is to ensure that every eventuality is considered, and appropriate safety measure are put in place. The twelve Workplace Safety tips below are a good start.
Workplace Safety Tips:
1. Encourage your employees to maintain a clean and tidy workspace. This will have the dual effect of improving safety AND productivity by removing any potential hazards or distractions from your working area.
2. When working with heavy machinery, use specially constructed guards and engineering solutions combined with PPE (personal protective equipment) to protect your employees from injury.
3. Recognise employees that conform to the safety standards that are set, and ensure appropriate discipline is handed out to employees that flout these rules.
4. Give clear work instructions. Make sure your employees know the right way to do what is expected of them. Include safety instructions in every procedure you write.
5. While you should consider every aspect of your workplace safety, you should focus on the most common problems for your particular workplace first and foremost. You should keep a log of any workplace accident, which will allow you to identify and solve the most pressing issues.
6. Try to care for your employees more than your profits. If a machine is unsafe shut it down. If an expensive repair job is required, or a project delayed because of this, then so bet it. Better that than and injured employee.
7. Spend time getting to know the details of the work your employees do. Even if you once did that job, it is likely it is done differently by different people. By knowing the details of your employees daily work routine, you can help to ensure it is done safely.
8. Do not wait for your machinery or work tools to become defective before repairing them. Many times employees get into dangerous situations by having to compensate for a machine defect or wear. In the case of wear, it may have occurred so gradually that they think it is normal. Regular maintenance of your equipment will ensure optimum safety and productivity.
9. Ensure unavoidable hazards (such as wet floors or hot surfaces) are clearly labelled.
10. Ensure your workplace is well lit, allowing your workers to see what they are doing and reducing eye strain, which can be damaging over time.
11. Ensure your workplace is well ventilated, ensuring a fresh supply of oxyggen and removing any contaminents from the air.
12. Ensure optimum visability in your workplace. If possible, keep areas open and opsticles at eye level and above to a minimum. In some cases, however, reduced visability will be unavoidable. This can be improved with the use of observation equipment, such as cameras or convex mirrors, which can provide wide angle views on blind turns caused by tall obsticles.
By: James Davids

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There are a number of specific dangers linked to construction sites; the major hazard is falls from high places, although there are significantly more hazards, including those related to scaffolds, confined spaces, and electric equipments and lines near water sources. Construction workers often put their health at risk as well, with the materials they use and handle, such as lead. The irony is that the protective equipment worn by construction workers to reduce their exposure to lead and other toxic substances can actually increase accidental incidents by reducing vision, clarity, hearing ability, and dexterity, and increasing heat stress.
Even the safety of non-workers in and around construction sites is put at risk—particularly for drivers making their way past road construction sites who can come into contact with barricades and safety signs, causing accidents and injuries.
How can accidents in construction sites be prevented and thus reduced? In the U.S., safety and health standards in the workplace—including construction—are put in place and enforced through the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Accidents are almost always caused by either unsafe acts or unsafe conditions, so it stands to reason that the best way to prevent and reduce accidents is by attempting to eliminate unsafe conditions and unsafe acts.
Eliminating unsafe conditions begins with a general understanding of what types of conditions can cause an accident, and then removing those conditions. Learning that workers are more at risk for accidents when unprotected and then making sure all construction workers are wearing the necessary protective equipment and gear is an example of becoming aware of an unsafe condition and then working to remove that condition.
Accidents are also caused by workers themselves acting in unsafe ways. Construction workers can help reduce the number of accidents and injuries that occur onsite by working carefully and safely, doing the job right, acting alert, and by being conscious of the particular environment and conditions in which they are working. A construction company can help in this manner by making safety awareness and training a mandatory part of the job both as part of the hiring process as well as on an ongoing basis. If there are safety manuals for certain construction jobs or equipment, have them serve as required reading for all staff.
Construction safety essentially boils down to accident prevention and reduction, and this is best accomplished when construction workers—both as a team and individually—act proactively rather than reactively. Reactive workers only take action in response to a problem as (or after) they occur, whereas proactive workers can anticipate crises and potential accidents before they happen, and then take the appropriate steps to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Always strive to have proactive construction workers and teams. Make every effort to eliminate unsafe working conditions and decreasing unsafe acts to work toward safer construction site environments for everybody involved. Always have a Health & Safety Plan onsite. This HASP can help you comply with OSHA’s rules and keep you from having headaches later on.

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Beach Safety

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1. Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays — UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor containing a high rating such as 15.
2. Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly but make the heat’s effects on your body worse. This is especially true with beer, which dehydrates the body.
3. Watch for signs of heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim’s wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.
4. Wear eye protection: Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from UV rays. Be sure to wear sunglasses with labels that indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight. .
5. Wear foot protection: Many times, people’s feet can get burned from the sand or cut from glass in the sand.
6. Spinal Injury Prevention
   • Don’t dive headfirst into any unknown water. Remember, the beach ocean floor may change its shape constantly.
   • In shallow water, don’t dive headfirst towards the bottom into oncoming waves.
   • In shallow water, don’t stand with your back to the waves.
   • Don’t jump or dive from a cliff, pier, jetty or bridge.
7. Avoid body surfing, body boarding or surfing straight “over the falls.” Ride the shoulder.
8. During a body board or surfing “wipe out,” try to hands out in front of you. Don’t dive straight to the bottom.
9. While body surfing, always keep at least one arm out in front of you to protect your head and neck.
10. Don’t swim near piers or breakwaters. The currents here may be very strong, even for the best of swimmers.
11. Stay clear of boats. They take time to change direction, and they may not even see you.
12. Swim parallel to the shore. If you swim out too far, you may be too tired to swim back.
13. Open water is usually much colder than a pool, so don’t swim out too far.

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The huge trucks on our highways are not equipped with the same type of energy-absorbing bumpers as cars. Their metal bumpers are high and rigid: two extra reasons to avoid a collision.

1. Don’t cut in front of them. Because it takes them twice as long to stop, truck drivers try to leave extra room behind the car they’re following. More than 60 percent of fatal truck crashes involve the front of the truck.
2. Watch out for the truck driver’s blind spots (usually called the “No Zone”). Truck drivers have huge blind spots, and sometimes must react quickly to hazards in front of them by switching lanes.
3. If you drive too close to the back of a truck, you won’t be able to react to changing traffic conditions. Keep extra distance.
4. Wear your seatbelt.
5. In an emergency, try to avoid pulling over onto the shoulder of a highway. If another car hits you, the damage can be severe. If a truck, which weighs as much as 25 cars, it can be catastrophic. If you have to change a tire, be sure you have reflectors or flares. If you can’t get off the highway, you may be safer away from the vehicle if the terrain permits it.

HTML bicycling HTML clipboardBicycling Health and Safety Tips

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1. Get in shape before you get serious about cycling. Stretch and do strengthening exercises. Before you ride, warm up and stretch for 5-to-10 minutes.
2. The biggest preventable risk factor for bicycle head injury is not wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmets will protect you against 85% of all head injuries and 88% against brain injuries.
3. If your bicycle fits, you’ll perform better and avoid overuse injuries. Your knees should be at about a 15-degree angle when fully extended.
4. Make sure you have lights and reflectors on your bike, whether you are using it for training, recreation, or transportation.
5. Carry a cell phone or change for a pay phone, your ID card, and an emergency-contact card. Bright clothing or a safety vest as another good precaution.
6. The primary risk factors are excessive speed, traffic, fatigue, and poor road conditions.
7. Beware at intersections. Signal your turns and look out for others.
8. Fatal collisions are most common in urban areas. Roads with speed limits of 55 mph or greater produce higher rates of injuries and fatalities.
9. You’ll need all of your senses, especially hearing and sight. Don’t wear headphones.
10. Cycle while it is daylight.

Basketball Safety

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• Before the season starts, develop a conditioning program. Emphasize both aerobic and muscle fitness.
• Start gradually with such exercises as skipping rope and other activities that work on your agility, coordination and balance.
• Work to strengthen you ankles, shins and calves.
• Warm up and stretch for 5-to-10 minutes before starting to play.
• If you have injured part of your body while playing basketball, you are more like to reinjure that part.
• Take off rings, watches and necklaces while playing.
• Don’t wear clothes that have pockets.
• For maximum eye protection, wear goggles.
• Always were basketball shoes.
• Players are more likely to get hurt in aggressive, high-contact games. Players are less like to get hurt when they have trained coaches and play in games that have officials who enforce the rules.
• Check the court and sidelines for trip hazards such as gym bags and water bottles.
• Drink plenty of water while playing.

Baseball and Softball

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• Pitching Too Long or Too Many Innings — Many injuries occur from excessive pitching. Most organized baseball leagues have guidelines about the number of innings that can be pitched, usually based on the player’s age. While there is no concrete guideline for the number of pitches allowed, a reasonable approach is to count the number of pitches thrown and use 80 to 100 pitches as a maximum in a game, and 30 to 40 pitches in a practice. Any persistent pain should disqualify a person from playing until pain subsides.
• Breakaway bases — Many players get injured while sliding into bases. The number of these mishaps could be significantly lowered by installing breakaway bases on playing fields. A breakaway base is snapped onto grommets attached to an ansschored rubber mat that holds it in place during play. When a runner slides into the base, it can be dislodged to avoid direct contact and injury. During normal base running, the breakaway base is stable and will not detach.
• Protective gear — Protective equipment is one of the most important factors in minimizing the risk of injury in baseball. This equipment must fit properly and be worn correctly.
  • Wear a batting helmet at the plate, when waiting a turn at bat, and when running bases.
  • Face masks that are attached to batting helmets are available in some youth leagues. These devices can help reduce the risk of a serious facial injury if hit by a ball.
  • The catcher must always use a catcher’s mitt. If you play another position, ask your coach about specific size requirements for your mitt.
  • Catchers should always wear a helmet, face mask, throat guard, long-model chest protector, protective supporter, and shin guards when catching batting practice and during games.
  • Most youth leagues prohibit the use of shoes with steel spikes. Instead, wear molded, cleated baseball shoes.
  • Inspect the playing field for holes, glass, rocks, and other debris.
• Stay in condition year-round with some form of regular exercise. Start with something as simple as brisk walking.
• Someone (a teammate, referee or spectator) should know first aid. Make sure someone on your team carries first aid equipment, particularly ice or ice packs.
• Don’t go straight from your car onto the field. Arrive early and warm up with a walk or an easy jog. With sports where there are bursts of vigorous activity interspersed with inactivity, it’s a good idea to move around or stretch during the idle periods.
• Stretch before the game, but not when your muscles are cold. Warm up a little first, then stretch gently. Afterwards, if you have had a vigorous workout, you can stretch more intensely. Learn stretches that are appropriate for your sport.
• Drink plenty of water or other fluids such as sports drinks during and after the game.
• If you start to feel pain, discomfort or fatigue, get your coach to put in a substitute. Don’t overdo it.