"I'm no woosie , I don't need safety equipment !" - In industry this
attitude is slowly being turned around as companies focus on occupational
health and safety . New designs of safety equipment and appropriate training
are helping to raise our awareness of safety in the work environment . It is a
different matter in the home though , where many of us either don't think
about it or regard wearing safety gear as a bit sissy .
When an accident occurs at work there is usually enough equipment and
trained people to hold the fort until the ambulance arrives , and that may be
as short a time as 5 to 10 minutes away . In a survival situation we are on
our own resources , no complex medical technology to make us well and precious
little back up to keep things running while the injured party recovers . It is
therefore of prime importance to protect ourselves against possible accidents
and to think and act in a safe manner . In this case especially , prevention
is better than cure .
If you cultivate safe habits now it will make it easier to remember when
you really need to and reduce your risk of being injured before the wheel
comes off the waggon .
Eye Protection
As the saying goes - "Only two to a customer !" . Eye injuries are very
traumatic , very difficult to home treat and should you lose part or all of
your sight due to accident your survival options are severely reduced . Eye
injuries can occur as a result of flying particles of dust , sparks or metal ;
chemical splashes or radiation such as the intense ultraviolet light given off
during arc welding . Many workshop and garden activities are hazardous for the
eyes so keep some form of eye protection handy at all times .
There are several types of eye protection worth considering :-
1. Safety Spectacles - These should conform to the face as closely as
possible to reduce the risk of particles or splashes bypassing the spectacles
and getting into the eye . The most common material of construction is
polycarbonate type plastic and although they are light and cheap they provide
excellent protection . More expensive models have metal frames with
polycarbonate lenses and side shields , they are heavier than the entirely
polycarbonate type but will last longer . If you wear prescription spectacles
you should wear safety goggles over the top of them or get a pair of
prescription safety glasses with toughened glass or polycarbonate lenses ,
standard prescription glasses are not good enough .
2. Safety goggles - These give much better protection than safety glasses as
they entirely enclose the eyes . They are less comfortable to wear for
extended periods of time , however , and can fog up during hot work . A good
policy is to have a pair of safety specs for general use and a set of goggles
for particularly hazardous work .
3. Face Shields - These protect the whole face during very hazardous work
such as diluting battery acid or making black powder . The are not 100% eye
protection though and should be used in conjunction with either safety specs
or goggles .
Generally speaking eye protection should be comfortable to wear and give
good coverage for the eyes , so you might need to do a bit of looking and
trying on before you find a pair that suit you . El Cheapo eye protection is
false economy , it could let you down when you need it most . Any eye
protection that you buy should state on it that it conforms to Australian
Standard (AS) 1337 and/or have a Standards Australia Approved sticker on it .
Your sight is too precious to gamble with .
Head Protection
This is the so-called "skid lid" ; "crash hat" or "brain bucket" that can
protect your most vital asset against knocks or blows . Obviously if a pallet
load of bricks falls on you a safety helmet is not much use but it can keep
your head intact if your mate on the roof accidentally drops a hammer on you .
Head protection is mandatory if you are felling timber in the bush or in
building or repair work where there are people working above you .
The modern safety helmet is constructed from that light , strong plastic
polycarbonate so they are also light ,strong relatively cheap and durable .
They can stand quite heavy impacts but one such impact usually renders the
helmet unsafe and it should be replaced . They also deteriorate to the point
of being unsafe when exposed to : excessive heat such as on the rear parcel
shelf of the car , petroleum products , cleaning agents , paints , adhesives
and some aerosol sprays .This deterioration may not be noticeable to the user
so treat your safety helmet with care and inspect it regularly for visible
signs of breakdown . The shell should last up to three years in service and
the harness inside the shell should last up to two years .
Safety helmets are available which have fittings for attachment of face
sheilds and earmuffs directly to the helmet , which increases the versatility
of its protection . Also any helmet or fittings that you buy should conform to
the relevent Australian Standard such as A.S. 1801 - 1981 for industrial
safety helmets .
Foot Protection
Even so simple a task as mowing the lawn can have serious consequences
for our feet , yet how many people do you see wearing thongs while doing it?
The steel capped safety boot or shoe is without doubt the most popular and
accepted piece of safety gear used in industry today , even so many people do
not translate good work practices into good home practices . Working with hand
or power tools , welding , mowing the lawn , moving rocks , cutting or felling
timber or even working with horses or cattle all provide opportunities for
foot injury . So a pair of safety boots or shoes is essential for working
around the house , farm or retreat . Gum boots are also made with steel caps
and they can prove invaluable around the farm or retreat .
When buying safety footwear two rules apply : a.Try before you buy - so
you are sure that they are comfortable and suit you with the result that you
are more likely to wear them and b.Ensure that the footwear conforms to
Australian Standard 2210 - 1980 for safety footwear .
Ear Protection
Industrial deafness is an insidious disease that creeps up on you ,
resulting in a degree of hearing impairment before you realise the danger .
Around the house or farm the danger to our hearing may be even less obvious ,
coming in the form of chainsaws , brush cutters , lawn mowers and electric
power tools like angle grinders , routers or planers . Of course hearing
protection is always required when discharging a firearm .
There are two forms of hearing protection commonly in use -
1.Ear Muffs - These are foam cushioned plastic cups which cover the entire
ear, shutting out the noise in the process .
2.Ear Plugs - Are either disposable or reusable plugs which are inserted into
the ear canal blocking out noise . The reusable ones are advisable unless you
can store a good supply but provision must also be made to be able to clean ,
disinfect and store the reusable ones in a clean state .
Whether you choose plugs or muffs depends on personal preference as one
is roughly as effective as the other , depending on variations between
individual types .
Hand Protection
Our hands are the two most valuable tools we own so it makes sense to
protect them . Gloves are an obvious way but another handy ( if you'll excuse
the pun ) method is to put away a supply of barrier cream . This will protect
your hands when you're using cleaning agents , petrol , solvents , oils and
greases or even if they are immersed in water for any period .
Gloves are a good way to protect your hands from damage or irritation
while carrying out 1001 jobs around the house farm or retreat . There are many
different types of gloves , the most common are listed below -
- Cotton - These are usually made of white cotton with a blue elasticised
wrist . They are useful to keep the hands clean and warm in cold weather or as
a liner for a larger glove , and not much else .
- Leather - The ones commonly available are a grey chrome tanned leather ,
they give protection against the heat and radiation of welding and against
abrasion of the skin caused by coming in contact with rough surfaces such as
rocks or bricks . Leather gloves give no protection against liquids and if
they become wet they will lose their insulating power and will not protect
against heat until they have dried out .
- Acid Resistant - These are made from red PVC which has been applied to a
cloth backing , they are large and can be a bit awkward if you have small
hands . These gloves protect against water based irritants such as battery
acid , caustic soda solutions or strong detergents and have a limited
resistance to solvents .
- Rubber Latex - Gloves are also for use against water based irritants but
are less resistant than the thicker PVC gloves and tend to tear more easily
.They are cheaper though and give a finer sense of touch .
- Nitrile Rubber - are resistant to solvents such as petrol , kerosene ,
paint thinners and mineral turps . They can be difficult to find but are
available from safety equipment suppliers .
SUMMARY
It is in the best interests of yourself and your family to have the
correct safety gear for the job and follow three simple rules -
1. Make sure your safety is comfortable and fits you well .
2. Check and maintain it properly .
3. USE IT !
When buying safety equipment make sure it conforms to the relevent
Australian Standard and is so marked , if the supplier cannot demonstrate the
standards approved label go elsewhere .
