Protecting your Eyes at Work

Every year thousands of people sustain eye injuries in the work place. Of all these injuries some will lead to temporary blindness and even permanent blindness!

This is why it is so important to wear the right eye protection...

What are the most common causes of eye injuries in the work place?

> Flying objects like metal, glass, etc.
> Tools
> Particles
> Dangerous chemicals
> Harmful radiation

So, how can you do to prevent eye injuries?

> Always know the eye safety dangers at work
> Use machine guarding, work screens, etc. to get rid of the hazards before they even happen
> Use proper eye protection

The best safety eyewear protection includes:

-- Prescription safety glasses
-- Safety goggles
-- Face shields
-- Welding helmets
-- Full-face respirators

Check out the L&A Safety website for a range of eye protection PPE, or pop into one of their stores in Cape Town, Vredenberg or Robertson.

Eye injuries are common in the workplace; make sure you wear your eye protection!

Safety Gear that every DIY Enthusiast Should Own!

Safety gear is just as important as your most precious tools in your toolbox; it’s there to protect you!

Here are the five most important pieces of safety gear that every DIYer should own...

  ü  Safety glasses

When you’re working with dangerous chemicals, sparks, debris, etc. you’re going to need a pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes. You should have a few pairs of safety glasses lying around in your toolbox. Why? Because their cheap and easy to find. Stick to buying glasses from a reliable source like L&A Safety – visit their website here.

  ü  Hearing protection

Power tools are much louder than you may think; listening to them all day long could damage your ears and even lead to hearing loss. Earmuffs are your best bet as they are comfortable to wear and block most of the noise out. If you’d rather go for the cheaper option, earplugs can be worn but they’re not as comfortable.

  ü  Masks and respirators

Inhaling asbestos, mould and fibreglass can make you seriously ill, so wearing a mask is an absolute must when it comes to doing demolition work. Respirator masks are comfortable to wear and provide more protection than disposable masks.

  ü  Gloves

For at home work, a light pair of leather, canvas or cloth gloves are vital. Steer clear of those huge bulky gloves that take ages just to wear in. The best gloves you can buy for your tool box offer proper protection but are still easy to wear.

  ü  Work boots

Just like your gloves, your boots should be reliable, yet still comfortable to wear. When you’re busy doing your DIY projects you need foot gear that can protect your feet from falling objects, water and even ensure you don’t slip.

Make sure you have these essentials in your toolbox at all times!

Essential Gardening Gear

The sun is out which means it’s time to head to the garden and deal with whatever it throws at you, whether it be a mess of weeds or an overgrown spinach patch. However, before you step outside you need to be wearing the right gardening gear.

You want your gardening clothes to be able to protect you, but at the same time be practical. He’s a list of essential gardening gear you can order now from L&A Safety.

GLOVES

Your gardening gloves need to be durable and withstand regular use in the garden. However the type of glove you buy depends on the type of environment you are working in.

If you choose cotton gloves, they will be comfortable, but they won’t protect you much. All leather gloves are great at protecting your fingers when you’re working with sharp plants and can prevent cuts, however they aren’t very breathable.

I would say the best gloves for gardeners would be gloves made from Lycra or nylon – take a look at the range from L&A Safety.

BOOTS

Gardens offer a range of things, including muddy flower beds, thorns and even spiders, so you need a good pair of boots to protect you from your feet up to your calves. Polyurethane boots are both light, longwearing and have excellent insulation!

Take a look at the L&A Safety website. There Polyurethane boots are light and flexible, insulated correctly, durable, slip resistant, metal free and protect your feet if you step on a sharp object!

GLASSES

The sun is beating down on you and the last thing you need is an annoying glare in your eyes, this is why glasses are so important when you’re gardening.

Choose a pair that suites your needs – a sporty safety pair of glasses with a tinted lens if you’re just pruning your rose garden.  General purpose dust goggles and a clear full face shield if you’re planning on doing some heavy duty gardening like mowing the lawn.

Some other essentials:

- Old, loose, comfortable clothing
- A wide-brimmed hat
- A pouch or apron

Before you step outside into the garden, make sure you have these gardening essentials.