The Importance of PPE for Chefs

Protective clothing, such as hats and aprons are very important to a chef. Even if you are not a professional chef, when you are cooking in the kitchen you need to know the basics of protective clothing.

Most people think that an apron is worn to avoid getting their clothing dirty, but it is actually worn to protect the person from fire!

Wearing protective clothing that is made from cotton may be comfortable, but it does not protect a person much from fire, plus when food or liquid messes on cotton, there is a high chance of it getting stained.

When you buy protective clothing, always buy from a reliable source, such as L&A Safety.

Chef hats and caps are worn to reduce sweating and prevent any hairs from falling into the food. The colour of a chef’s clothing is also very important. Most of the time they wear white, however there is a downside to this – it stains easily. Recently chefs have been wearing more black clothing, which is less traditional but easier to clean.

Before finding the right fit protective gear such as the aprons and caps, you need to take your measurements. After your have determined your size, you can look out for the protective gear that matches your size. 

If you prefer the online way of shopping for the protective clothing, take a look at L&A Safety’s site. If you’d prefer to visit the actual shop there are branches in Cape Town, Vredenburg and Robertson.

What exactly is PPE?

In some careers, employers are expected to provide, replace as well as pay for personal protective equipment. You need to know that PPE is used in the event that all the measures fail to control exposure. In other words, it will only protect the wearer when he or she is putting it on. In case it fails, then an employee should not anticipate any form of protection at all.

Types of PPE

There are different types of PPE you will come across. The common types include Respirators, protective gloves, eye protection, protective clothing and Protective footwear just to mention a few of them. If you’re looking for reliable, affordable and durable PPE – contact L&A Safety or visit one of their branches in Milnerton, Robertson and Vredenburg.

In the process of making a decision about PPE, you need to ask your manufacturer, supplier or trade association the following question before making your final decision.

•  Is it suitable for your working conditions in any way?

•  How do you tell when it requires replacement?

•  Will it offer you with the required level of protection?

•  What training or maintenance practice should you undertake well?

On the other hand, employees should understand why PPE is important and how they can use the same correctly. Otherwise it will not protect them as expected. They need to find out the following:

•  Does it fit properly?

•  Is it comfortable to wear?

•  If PPE requires cleaning and maintenance, how should it be undertaken?

In conclusion, the right choice of PPE and work wear will make a whole difference as far as effective management of health is concerned. There are a wide range of items that you can choose from. Before you buy anything, ensure that you understand the latest regulation changes governing the ever evolving sector. In order to avoid accidental injuries from taking place, you need to wear PPE!

Will we see different hard hats in the near future?

As more and more devices become “wired,” it seems that every profession is set to accommodate more data access. Google Glass was one example of a data interface with possible worksite applications, and recently people have commented that another way that this could come to the construction industry is “smart” hard hats. This would involve putting sensors inside a worker’s helmet to address potential safety concerns.

One way this could work is by transmitting health information live from a worker to others, encouraging proper treatment and response when something bad threatens a worker. Eventually, this information could help predictive analytics foresee possible trends and work around them as well.

In an article ways were examined that “disruptive technology” has already entered into construction. These include digital modelling tools that can help construction efforts avoid problems and ensure a safer work site.

It is noted that implementing more technology in this sector will require workers with the skills to use it, which will be especially important in attracting future employees. In this way, the issue of using tech to encourage safety touches on other important trends impacting construction.

For more about hard hats and other necessary construction safety gear, contact L&A Safety or visit one of the branches in Milnerton, Robertson or Vredenburg. We have supplies for many different work situations and weather conditions.

The dangers of welding

Some health and safety welding regulations, such as; keeping clear of the fumes while gas welding, not to breathe the fumes and to ensure enough ventilation seem to be common sense, yet according to the Welding Information Centre there are on average 365 000 welding related injuries per year!

Such injuries include hot metal slag burns, injuries from flying particles, radiation exposure or exposure to fumes, vapours or chemicals.

Arc welding and cutting processes, as well as other forms of welding, produce radiation. The quantity of radiation could be small, but in some cases ultraviolet or infrared radiation can go undetected. Such radiation can cause eye damage or skin burns.

It is therefore necessary to use a welding helmet with the correct shade of filter plate, gloves and the correct clothing. For a wide range of safety equipment and clothing, including safety gear for welding – contact L&A Safety today and place your order!

Screen curtains can be used to protect other people in the vicinity. Safety glasses should have UV protective side shields. In addition, noise caused by welding can be hazardous, with temporary or permanent loss of hearing occurring. Ear muffs or ear plugs can be used as protection.

Electric shock from welding and cutting equipment is another danger that can result in injury or even death. When welding there are various components that are electrically energised, such as the welding circuit, the internal circuits, the reel of wire or the drive rolls.

Incorrectly installed equipment or equipment which has not been properly grounded is normally the cause of electrical shocks during welding. To avoid electrical shock it is important to follow the instruction of the equipment in use.

Employees should be trained on how to avoid electrical injuries. Principles such as not touching live electrical parts, having installations and maintenance done by qualified people, having the equipment grounded at all times and frequently inspecting power cords for open wires should be adhered to.

When conditions are less than perfect it is important not to work alone, wear insulating gloves and rubber soled boots, while making use of mats and insulated electrode holders. Of course, water should be avoided under all circumstances.

7 helpful tips for encouraging PPE compliance

PPE only works if you use it!

Whether you work in the electrical, oil or manufacturing industry, there are always challenges when it comes to personal protective equipment compliance. Creating a safe work environment is critical, so use these 7 helpful tips to encourage PPE compliance…

1. Establish and enforce a policy requiring the use of the assigned PPE. Make sure all employees are aware of the rules and the consequences if they break them.

2. Take about PPE when appropriate in safety meetings. Identify hazards and explain how specific PPE is designed to protect against them.

3. Ask employees to give their personal reasons for wearing PPE. For example, getting home safe and sound to their families, avoiding injury and because it’s simply the smart thing to do.

4. Ask for employee input concerning PPE. Listen to complaints and reasons for not complying.

5. Post signs indicating what PPE is needed in each work area.

6. Provide statistics and descriptions of accidents that have occurred in the workplace because workers weren’t wearing PPE.

7. Make sure supervisors monitor PPE use daily among all their employees and don’t overlook noncompliance for any reason.

What other strategies would you use to encourage PPE compliance? 

Contact L&A Safety for a wide range of PPE and other safety equipment. From hard hats to boiler suits and respirators - L&A Safety has it all!

The ins and outs of disposable gloves

Do you think disposable gloves are all the same? Well, you’re wrong! There’s actually an array of thin, stretchy gear for your hands that you can toss into the bin at the end of the day.

Whether you work in food service, the medical industry, security or any other – affordable, durable gloves are important! Here are a few pros and cons of what’s on the market today.

1. Most disposable gloves are thin
Your hands can sense temperature and manipulate a wide range of objects, so it’ll be hard to get through the day without the use of them. But put on a thick, heavy pair of welding gloves and good luck trying to fill a prescription bottle or pick up a dainty cupcake.

Although most are quite thin, disposable gloves are also available in thicker sizes. This makes them appropriate for jobs where you need a sturdier touch, but still need your sense of touch.

2. Different materials for different jobs
While most of the population has no problem with latex gloves, some people do suffer terrible allergic reactions. This is why nitrile and vinyl gloves are two other popular, alternative materials.

Nitrile is one of the most common disposable glove materials and it is appropriate for everything from light janitor work to medical jobs. It is a flexible material that offers good touch sensitivity and is commonly used in food handling, veterinary, security and dental work.

3. Disposable gloves are stylish
Okay, so you might not wear them for a night out on the town, but at your job, did you know that you aren’t limited to standard colours?

Disposable gloves come in a wide range of colours, from pink and purple to black and, of course, traditional blue. Maybe you prefer a certain colour or maybe your line of work uses different colours for different jobs. Whatever the reason may be, disposable gloves come in a rainbow of colours.

4. They keep improving all the time
Technology keeps improving disposable gloves, so your choices keep getting stretchier, more resilient and better overall. Some are contoured for a better fit and dexterity, and some have cornstarch inside so they don’t stick to your skin. Some even have vitamin E and lanolin inside to keep your hands baby soft. And, if you work in the food processing field, some disposable gloves have a magnetic property so the risk of losing a small piece in the food is minimized.

As long as people need inexpensive hand protection, disposable gloves will have an important job to do. If you need to get yourself a pair of affordable, durable disposable gloves – L&A Safety is your one stop store for a wide range of PPE.

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. 

A guide to chemical protective clothing

When working in a research laboratory, there may be exposure to dangerous chemicals, so your health and well-being is a vital concern. Whether it is chemical protective clothing for the field or while lab coats for the lab, your safety is easy to maintain as long as you have the right clothing.

The major area of concern when it comes to chemical exposure is contact with your eyes and skin. Your eyes will be protected with safety goggles, and your skin is protected with chemical protective clothing. Think of what a scientist would usually wear – pocket protectors and a white coat.

White lab coats protect from exposure to harmful chemical dust, so a dust mask needs to be worn to prevent inhalation of chemicals. Disposable chemical protective clothing can also provide protection, especially against splashes. For workers who use spray resins or paints, full body garments prevent any skin exposure or transfer of chemicals.

The best feature of these items is of course their disposable nature. Most disposable clothing garments are made from recycled content, which provides safety while being affordable. These pieces of disposable clothing can be discarded after use to minimize cleaning costs, especially in automotive painting, machine shop operations and chemical cleanup.

Depending on your work environment, the level and target areas of exposure vary. The protective clothing items will also differ. From protective hoods, shoes, gloves and sleeves to white coats, pants and full body suits. No matter what you’re wearing, when exposure occurs, you must dispose of the protective garment.

If your job involves exposure to harmful chemicals, always make sure you wear the right chemical protective clothing!

For a wide range of personal protection equipment and clothing, take a look at L&A Safety's website, or visit them at one of their branches in Milnerton, Robertson or Vredenburg!