It is vital that cyclists wear sunglasses, here’s why

Not too long ago, it was possible to compete in cycling races without sunglasses. Is the upsurge of professional cyclists using sunglasses just an easy way to attract more sponsorship and look good on TV?

No! In addition to protecting your eyes against dirt, dust and a long list of projectiles, sunglasses are the best way to ensure that you won’t suffer from cataracts, keratitis and other eye ailments caused by UV radiation.

Studies have shown that the risk of cataracts is tripled by long term exposure to the suns UV rays. Protecting the eyes with the right sunglasses is vital to prevent cataracts.

Exposure of the unprotected eye to UV rays can also result in keratitis, a temporary loss of vision coupled with a burning sensation that results from inflammation of the cornea. The risk of eye damage from the sun is directly related to length and intensity of the exposure. No one knows what the critical amount of exposure is, but effects are cumulative.

Fortunately, cyclists know about the dangers of the sun and other things that could potentially damage their eyes while cycling, which explains why we haven’t seen the irises of any of the famous cyclists in a while!

Do your cycle professionally? Or maybe just for fun? Make sure you protect your eyes at all times - buy a pair of glasses from L&A Safety. Visit the website and browse through the wide range of safety eye wear. 

Use these 5 easy farm boot cleaning tips to avoid serious infection

Farms set up footbaths with the goal of preventing groups of animals transferring pathogens amongst themselves. However, boot bath maintenance on most farms is quite poor, with gross contamination by organic matter frequently observed. People tend to avoid stepping in boot baths or they simply choose to step through the bath without stopping to clean their boots.

Organic material frequently inactivates or decreases the activity of disinfectants. So, it is important to remove all visible contamination with soap and water to optimize the effectiveness of disinfection. 

Using the following 5 easy tips will minimize the risk of getting pathogens on your footwear.

- Clean visible dirt off boots before disinfecting.

- Use water and a brush over a well-drained area. A boot cleaning station is also an option.

- Soak boots in a cleaning solution.

- Always look at the label recommendations for dilution rate and exposure time.

- Select disinfectants that are based on on-farm efficacy, cost, ease of use and environmental friendliness.

If you’re working on a farm or just visiting, it is vital that you wear farm boots, but it is also important that they are kept clean at all times to avoid serious infection.

At L&A Safety, we have a wide range of PPE clothing, including gumboots which can be used for basically any line of work, including farming. Contact us today or visit us at one of our branches!

How to save lives and look professional at the same time

If you want to wear slip slops to work every day, then you may want to reconsider becoming a medic. In the early days, clothing restrictions were casual, but now that they paramedic field has evolved, it is apparent that the uniform needs to meet certain requirements.

Because a paramedic is a medical professional, he or she needs to show up looking clean, neat and ready for the rigors of a job that can be quite intense and even chaotic.

Paramedic attire needs to be comfortable enough to allow ease of movement. The uniform needs to be durable and easy to clean. After all, paramedics run into more than their fair share of bodily fluids in the course of their work schedule.

There is no single standard paramedic clothing, although paramedic do adopt a uniform style of dress within their unit. Paramedics and EMTs in one city might be issued a long and short sleeved white dress shirt, a long sleeved duty shirt in a dark colour, black pants, a dark polo shirt, steel-toed boots and a winter coat. However, the uniform simply depends on what the company decides they want.

Interestingly enough, despite the absence of an instantly recognizable uniform that’s comparable to what police officers or firefighters wear; some paramedic schools do require their students to wear a uniform in the classroom, in order to increase their sense of professionalism as they learn their skills.

For a wide range of Personal Protection Equipment and clothing, including for those who are in the paramedic field, visit L&A Safety's website and take a look.