L&A Safety Products – Frams Safety Footwear

L&A Safety have branches throughout the west coast, including Cape Town, Robertson and Vredenburg. With a wide range of PPE on offer, from hard hats and safety goggles to reflective vests and work boots – L&A safety is your one-stop shop for quality safety wear and equipment.

You can order your Frams Safety Footwear online or from any L&A Safety store.

Frams is an original South African safety footwear brand that is proudly part of the BBF Safety Group (Pty) Ltd. Everything about this consistent, economical, reliable footwear is aimed at pleasing all customers, from general work to heavy construction and mining duties.

With a wide range of customers comes a wide range of needs, everyone is faced with different challenges when it comes to their safety, here are the key features that Frams offers…

- Steel toe caps
- Male and female footwear
- Genuine leather design
- Chemical protection
- Non-conductive
- Antistatic

If you work in these industries it is recommended that you buy a pair of Frams safety footwear…

- General work
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Smelting/foundries
- Mining
- Transport

Do not hesitate to contact us today to order your Frams safety footwear…

▪ MILNERTON

Unit 19, Central Park, Platinum Crescent

T: +27 (0)21 552 - 0665

E: tish@landasafety.co.za

▪ VREDENBURG

Shop 16, Westcoast Centre, Cnr. Long & School Street

T: +27 (0)22 713 - 3149

E: vredenburg@landasafety.co.za

▪ ROBERTSON

Unit 2, Cnr. Church & Industrial Street

T: +27 (0)76 532 - 5533

E: bensin@natko.co.za

Preventing Safety Hazards in the Workplace

When you are at work, there are important things you should keep in mind to prevent any injuries. There are some guidelines in place to control, correct and prevent potential and current hazards. You should understand the guidelines for equipment you are operating and wear all required protective clothing to make sure you stay safe while in the workplace. It is important that you make sure that safety precautions are always followed…

     1.       Follow all work safety procedures. Wear protective gloves, safety masks and ear protection when required. Wear safety goggles and follow all instructional policies for the equipment being operated.

     2.       Provide regular breaks for employees in hazardous working conditions. Rotate workers through various areas and provide exercise breaks for employees to prevent fatigue.

     3.       Make sure to give employees and management hazard training and assessment classes. All machines and techniques involved with the job need to be taught and repeated throughout the work force. Make all employees aware of the dangers and hazards of all equipment and supplies they deal with on a daily basis.

     4.       Track all corrections made to hazardous work areas. Always keep records of any accidents that occur in the workplace. Use this documentation to locate possible hazards and work to eliminate future accidents.

     5.       Conduct preventative maintenance on all equipment and systems before replacement or repair is needed to prevent workplace hazards.

     6.       Prepare for emergencies, whether accidental or those of natural cause such as the weather. Have drills and plans of action in place.

     7.       Implement medical programs within the business. The size and scope of the medical program will vary based on the number of employees and characteristics in the workplace. Larger companies can even hire on-site medical staff while smaller companies should make arrangements with local clinics.

As an employer you have a responsibility to protect workers against safety hazards at work, as they exist in every workplace. Some are easily identified and corrected, while others create extremely dangerous situations. The best thing to do is learn how to prevent them!

Are you in need of some quality safety wear and equipment at an affordable price? Visit L&A Safety in Cape Town, Robertson or Vredenburg or visit www.landasafety.co.za today!

How to Stay Safe while Welding

There are many risks when welding; some of them include electric shock, inhaling toxic fumes, injuring your eyes and burns.

These risks mean that protective clothing should ALWAYS be worn during all welding operations… The correct welding protective gear includes:

Respirator / Welding Mask – There are many different types of masks to choose from, you need to buy the one that is created for the tasks you will be doing.

Ventilation – Before you start welding make sure the area has the correct ventilation. If an area is badly ventilated it can lead to plume poisoning. Should you feel you have inhaled any toxic fumes – get help right away!

Make sure your welding area is clean and check any gasses for leaks.

Eye Protection – Protect your eyes from flying debris and the effects of ultraviolet light with the right eye protection. Different types of welding means you may need types of helmets, varying from shade number, lenses and comfort.

Fire Protection – Did you know that welding sparks can cause fires? Keep a fire extinguisher close by as well as water and sand.

Protective clothing – All your skin needs to be covered when you are welding in order to protect from metal and sparks.

For all your PPE clothing and equipment, contact L&A Safety or visit on of their branches in Cape Town, Vredenburg and Robertson.

The Most Important Safety Features that Work Boots need...

Safety is obviously the most important aspect of a work boot. But it you are a construction worker for example, your work boots are going to differ from an electricians’. 

Need a reliable pair of work boots? Just visit L&A Safety today! But, it does pay to know what kind of conditions you will be up against before you head out onto the field!

Here is a rundown of some of the most commonly seen work boot safety features.

SAFETY TOES

The safety toe is probably the most talked about work boot safety feature, and a steel-toe boot is for more than just kicking someone’s butt. If you work in the lumber, carpentry, or construction industries, work boots with safety toes are a must.

Any time you find yourself working in a situation where heavy objects could potentially fall in your vicinity, safety toes are a good idea, as they can prevent serious foot injuries. However, not all safety toes are created equal—they can typically be found in three varieties:

- Steel Toe
- Composite Toe
- Aluminum Toe

PUNCTURE PLATE

If you work in construction or in any field requiring you to trudge through rubble, debris, or demolition zones, puncture plates are a must. Without a puncture plate, you risk serious injury by way of stepping on a potentially tetanus-laden nail or jagged glass chip.

A nail in the foot has to be among the worst reasons to leave work early. Luckily, a puncture plate is a common work boot feature that keeps the bottoms of your feet safe. The puncture plate lies between the insole and midsole, providing additional support along with guarding against punctures and pierces.

OUTSOLE GRIP

Grip is vital to staying on your feet. A pair of boots with a solid grip is going to do a significantly better job of keeping you right side up than boots without. As mentioned before, over one-third of all fatal construction accidents are a result of a slip or fall.

Traction is key. There are limitless workplace scenarios where slipping and falling can pose a major hazard. Many workers need to balance on metal roofs or uneven surfaces. Worse still, oil slicks and/or precipitation greatly increase the odds of slippage.

So, how can you avoid falls? Being mindful and aware is probably the greatest accident prevention method, but sometimes the only way to conquer hazardous conditions is with the right gear.

ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE

Do you work around live wires and other electrical hazards? It’s best to be protected against electrical injury from the bottom up.

First off, do not wear steel toe or aluminum toe boots if electrical hazards are abound in your line of work. A composite toe is a great alternative to metal toed boots because there is no threat of electrical conduction, and the odds of static shock is significantly decreased with the plastics found in composite materials.

Safety first. Always. The right work boots can save you a toe, or even your life. You never know what can happen out on the field, but it’s important to prepare with the best gear for the job.

Wearing PPE can sometimes expose you to Hidden Dangers

PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) is clothing or equipment that people wear to protect them from dangers in the workplace. Whether you are working in a factory, or handle chemicals daily in a lab, PPE should always be worn to minimize your exposure to anything dangerous.

For affordable PPE, including safety wear and equipment, visit L&A Safety’s website or pop into one of their stores in Cape Town, Robertson or Vredenburg.

The negative side is that wearing PPE improperly can sometimes expose you to hidden dangers…

>> It creates a false sense of security

Having a false sense of security can be deadly! Just because you are wearing the correct PPE doesn’t mean you are invincible – accidents can still happen. Workers who believe they are completely protected from chemicals, electricity, sharp objects, etc. can be careless.

>> It can sometimes create hazards

Each piece of PPE doesn’t fit everyone the same – it is designed differently for each job and wearing the wrong type of protection or the wrong size can put someone in serious danger.

>> Pre-Contact vs. Point-of-contact

PPE protects workers during point-of-contact hazards, such as exposure to ultraviolet light or contact with dangerous acid. Yes, PPE improves worker safety by reducing the risk of injury, but it doesn’t eliminate the hazard! Pre-contact controls are essential to improving worker safety as they eliminate hazards completely.

PPE can include anything from helmets, hard hats and safety shoes to hearing protection and so much more. So make sure your PPE program is planned out carefully and introduced in stages.

Why is PPE so Important in the Mining Industry?

There are many potential hazards and risks that you may come across while working on mining work sites. It is vital for employees to wear the correct safety equipment and follow the safety protocols to protect their health.

Here are some reasons why protective clothing and equipment is so important:

Get noticed. Employees who wear high visibility gear are much more likely to be seen by other people. This is especially important if employees are working near machinery or a road.

Protect their skin. Protective clothing is specifically designed to protect employees’ skin from cuts, grazes or any other injury.

Barrier to the elements. Employees are often required to work in extreme conditions such as rain, high winds, cold and extreme heat.

The types of protective equipment used in the mining industry includes safety goggles, steel-toed boots, safety helmets, long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, high visibility vests, ear plugs and hats.

Businesses are required to train their employees on the appropriate way to wear protective equipment and how to use it correctly.

Organisations must also ensure anyone visiting the workplace wears the appropriate protective equipment where necessary. It’s then essential to inform any visitors of safety procedures and alert them of potential hazards.

It is important to purchase the right personal protective clothing for each specific situation to protect employee’s health and safety. Check out landasafety.co.za, where they have a wide range of personal protective equipment, safety equipment and corporate clothing.

Wearing protective clothing when working in the mining industry won’t stop accidents from happening, but it can greatly reduce the risk of injuries and health problems.

Is it Time to Get a New Hard Hat?

From all the wear and tear of being used every day, hard hats get old over time and need to be replaced. Even if you bought your hard hat at a reliable store at the highest price, it’s always important to get a new one when the time comes.

Here’s how to tell if it is time to buy a new hard hat…

- Cracks appear in the shell
- Shiny surface appears dull or chalky
- The shell becomes brittle

While you are busy checking if your hard hat needs to be replaced, you should also check the suspension. You’ll know when you need a fresh one if…

- The suspensions become brittle
- One of more of the mounts breaks off
- The suspension will no longer hold securely to the head
- The cradling straps break or become worn

It is generally a good idea to inspect your hard hat before and after each time you use it. Although there is no set service life for hard hats, manufacturers recommend that you replace it after no more than five years.

Are you looking for a one-stop safety wear and equipment store for all your needs, including high-quality, affordable hard hats? Visit L&A Safety at their shops in Milnerton and Vredenburg or take a look at their website today!