Why you should always wear safety goggles in science class

Using safety goggles while you are dealing with experiments in science glass is essential for a safe, active learning environment. However, choosing the right goggles and using them in the right way is critical to ensure the lab experience is a good one.

Science labs and classes aren’t that dangerous, but when you’re working with strong chemicals, fast moving objects and other foreign materials, there is a high chance of accidents and injuries. Different labs and science classes have different risks depending on the types of experiments performed and the equipment used…

Biology. Dissections may need sharp instruments that could cause cuts and hazardous bodily fluid spills. Preservation chemicals used on tissue cultures can also be toxic.

Chemistry. Strong chemicals and chemical reactions can create fumes, splashes and dust that can irritate and damage your eyes. Dropping test tubes, beakers and flasks can also create dangerous shards of glass.

Anatomy. Students in more rigorous anatomy classes may encounter human bodily fluids or may be growing dangerous cultures that could cause infections and injury when in contact with your eyes.

Physics. These classes may use rolling, falling or thrown objects to measure different physical laws, and eye protection is necessary to safeguard against this.

Earth Systems. Studying ecology, geography, and other Earth sciences may lead to experiments with sharp objects, toxic plants, or other items best kept safely away from the eyes.

Geology. Advanced geology may break rocks to examine their strata and sharp objects and rock dust can irritate or injure eyes

Damage to your eyes does not heal as easily as damage to other parts of your body like your hands. So, make sure you take the proper precautions and wear your safety goggles.

Contact L&A Safety, your one stop shop for all your safety clothing and equipment. Contact us today or visit one of our branches in Milnerton, Robertson or Vredenburg.

4 reasons why you should always wear dishwashing gloves

If you do a lot of cleaning there is one thing you should have learnt over the years – its always a good idea to wear gloves when you’re doing the household chores! Here are four reasons why you should always wear dishwashing gloves.

If you are looking for a high quality pair of rubber household gloves, try L&A Safety, they have a wide variety of safety equipment and clothing.

1. Better grip
Soapy water and slippery dishes isn’t the best match. Anyone who has dropped a soapy dish, knows how dangerous sharp objects and murky water can be. Wearing gloves when you wash the dishes can allow for much better grip!

2. Protect your skin
Hot water, harsh chemicals and dishwashing liquid can really do a number on your skin. Protect your skin by not allowing it to be exposed to chemicals and high water temperatures that can irritate and dry your hands out. This is especially important if you have any cuts or scratches on your hands. Avoid the pain and chance of infection by exposing your hands to dishwater or other chores.

3. Protect your nails
Torn and broken nails can happen so easily when your nails have been weakened by chemicals and water exposure. Prevent painful snags and tears by wearing gloves when you wash the dishes or do any household chores.

4. Avoid gross stuff
Yes, if you clean the house often you should not be surprised or repulsed by any household job. The fact is, there are jobs in our home that are going to be gross to do. If they are disgusting to think about then they’re not going to be nice to touch and expose our skin to.

Do you wear gloves when you do the household chores? Well, if you answered no, then you really should start wearing them!

Why your work boots need to be comfortable

Jobs that demand standing for long hours - like security personnel and duty patrol – require extra comfortable boots. The human foot is full of sensitive nerves and the two feet combined hold around one fourth of the bones found in the human body.

Standing upright for many hours at a time may cause damaged veins. When you kick your boots off after a long day’s work and your feet are swollen, it’s because standing on your feet builds up pressure inside the veins of your feet. Prolonged standing on a hard surface can permanently expand these veins, causing chronic foot conditions.

INSOLES & MIDSOLES

The best way to reduce the pressure on your feet is by wearing orthotics, insoles, or sock liners. Many service boot models feature padded insoles sewn directly into the boot.

Orthotics, insoles, and sockliners offer cushioning that distributes the weight of your foot over a larger surface – this minimises the damage done to your feet by standing for hours at a time. Midsoles are also useful in making boots more comfortable by providing extra padding.

SOCKS

The easiest way to reduce pressure is to wear heavy socks. Socks will not only reduce the pressure on your feet, but also prevent painful corns from popping up. Most people do not want to wear thick socks during the warmer months, so breathable performance socks present a great alternative to eliminate irritation and keep your feet comfortable.

A STURDY SHANK

The shank of a boot forms the supportive structure between the insole and outsole. A good, sturdy shank will equally distribute your weight and take the pressure off the bottoms of your feet.

In the market for a new pair of work boots? L&A Safety has a wide variety of work boots to choose from, take a look at our website or visit one of our branches in Milnerton, Robertson and Vredenburg.

The Top 10 Reasons to Wear Gloves when you Garden

Some people who work in the garden never wear gloves, but you’d be surprised how important those gloves really are! Here’s why you should grab your gloves before your even set foot in the garden…

- The spring weather can turn cold in an instant

- Wearing a good pair of gloves will make it look like you know what you’re doing, even if you don’t

- Remember that cats think the world is their litter box, and that includes your garden

- There are far better ways to spend your time then cleaning dirt from under your fingernails

- Toads hibernate in the strangest places; you don’t want to disturb them, especially when you’re not wearing gloves

- Cuts, thorns and scraps on your hands are no fun at all

- Blisters

- Mud treatments are apparently all the rage, but they are highly overrated

- There are probably all sorts of fungi in that dirt you’re just about to put your hands into

- The number one reason to wear gloves in the garden is because L&A Safety sell’s such a wide variety of cool gloves to choose from!

Need an affordable pair of gloves for your gardening adventures? Or maybe you need a pair for something else. Either way give L&A Safety a call today or visit one of their branches in Milnerton, Robertson or Vredenburg.

How can I protect my eyes from injury?

Eye injuries are an incredibly common thing in the workplace. Simply using the proper eye protection on the job can prevent thousands of injuries every year.

There are four things you can do to protect your eyes from injury:

- Know the eye safety dangers at your work

- Eliminate hazards before starting working by using machine guards, work screens or other controls.

- Use proper eye protection

- Keep your safety eyewear in good condition and have it replaced if it becomes damaged or broken

Protective eyewear should be selected according to the task you are performing, there are different types of eye protection, including:

Non-prescription and prescription safety glasses. Although they may look like normal glasses, they are designed to provide eye protection. Their lenses and frames are much stronger than regular glasses and they can protect against dust, chips or flying particles.

Goggles. They provide impact, dust and chemical splash protection. Like safety glasses, safety goggles are highly impact resistant. In addition, they provide a secure shield around the entire eye and protect against hazards coming from any direction.

Face shields and helmets. Full face shields are used to protect workers exposed to chemicals, heat or bloodborne pathogens. Helmets are used for welding or working with molten materials. However, face shields and helmets should NOT be used as the sole means of protective eyewear. They need to be used with safety glasses or goggles.

Special protection. Other types of protection, such as helmets or goggles with special filters can be used to protect the eyes from optical radiation and exposure. This should be used for welding or working with lasers.

Protective eyewear works best when you know exactly how to use it, and it can keep you safe from any potential eye hazards.

For a wide range of protective eyewear, contact L&A Safety, or visit one of there shops in Milnerton, vredenburg or Robertson.

Protecting the hands of construction workers

Protecting the hands of construction workers is not an easy task. They need gloves that fit like a second skin while also offering protection from the sharp edges of building materials.

Today’s gloves are designed to protect workers from a variety of threats: cuts from the rough and sharp edges of building materials such as glass, brick and roofing; the potential poisonous effects of chemicals; chemical burns; and the threat of injury from the many materials and tools handled in the course of a day’s work.

The causes of hand injuries on construction sites are many. However, the number one factor is performing tasks within the protection of gloves. Other factors include performing an unfamiliar task, lack of training, distractions and being fatigued.

There is always room for improvement in hand protection, but recently new fibre technology has been developed that provides cut resistance with dexterity.

Researchers are able to meet the comfort and flexibility needs of workers with gloves that have the required cut resistance combined with:

- Lighter coatings

- Touch sensitivity

- Greater dexterity

With these new glove models, workers no longer have a reason to remove gloves when performing tasks.

Whenever gloves are being selected, these three key factors need to be discussed…

- Performance properties. The ability of the glove to provide protection against specific hazards

- Durability. The gloves retention of performance properties with use

- Human factors. The gloves fit, function and comfort

It is so important for everyone in the construction industry to find the right glove and wear it. Your hands will thank you later, remember you only have one pair!

L&A Safety is your one-stop shop for all your PPE and clothing! Contact us today or visit our branches in Milnerton, Vredenburg or Robertson.

Welding Safety

Welding safety starts with an understanding of what could go wrong, and preparation for when it does. Risks of welding include electric shock, inhalation of toxic fumes, eye injury and skin burns. To start, protective clothing and equipment must be worn during all welding operation including helmets and shields.

Welding safety starts with having the right protective gear. This includes:

- Respirator/Welders Mask: There are multiple types of respirators. Buy the one that is made for welders and the type of projects you will be performing. If purchasing a mask with a filter, match the filter to the types of metals and coatings used.

- Keep the area clean and check any gasses for signs of leaks.

- Ventilation: All welding areas should have proper ventilation. Poor ventilation leads to "plume poisoning". If you suspect that be inhaled a toxic plume seek medical help immediately!

- Storage: All flammables should be stored in a flammable liquids locker.

- Eye protection: welding eye protection protects against injuries from debris and from the effects of the ultraviolet light. Different types of helmets are made to protect you when performing different types of welding. These vary by shade number, having a passive or auto-darkening lens (automatically adjusts to welding rays) and comfort/fit.

- Fire protection: Sparks created during the welding process can start fires. For welding Class C extinguishers are often used since these are for electrical fires. Sand and water can also help to extinguish fires.

- Protective Clothing: All skin areas need to be protected to protect against molten metal and sparks.

This includes:

- Long sleeve shirts

- Pants that cover the tops of shoes

- Gloves

- Shoes or boots

- Hair is protected with something called a welders beanie

- Leather jackets are also effective for protection from slag and sparks

- Leather aprons provide some protection when sitting down

- Shoe covers called spats protect shoes, something helpful if you are working on a project that produces sparks and slag (molten metal)

Welding Safety Tip: Use pliers when handling metals. If you believe a metal is cool, use the back of the hand and slowing bring it closer to the metal. You'll feel the heat as you get closer if it is too hot to handle.

Awareness of the most common welding hazards and knowing how to avoid them ensures a safe, productive work environment for all.

For all your PPE clothing and equipment, contact L&A Safety or visit them at their stores in Milnerton or Vredenburg.