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. 

Composite Toe vs Steel Toe Work Boots

What’s the difference between composite toe and steel toe safety boots? Both are great at protecting your toes from getting crushed or pierced on the job. Specifically, safety toe boots offer two forms of protection: impact resistance and compression resistance.

Both these toe boots have materials wrapped around your toes at the front of your boots, and both offer unique benefits that should be weighed when you’re making a decision.

Composite Toe

Comp toe work boots are quickly replacing steel toe boots as the industry norm. It is made of non-metal materials like Kevlar, carbon fibre, plastic or fiberglass. Some jobs might require you to pass through a metal detector; this makes composite toe boots ideal.

Since these boots do not contain metal, they are more comfortable when working outdoors. This is especially true when working outside in extreme conditions. Metal conducts heat, meaning your feet will get colder in cold climates, and hotter in hot climates. So, it is preferable to have comp boots for outdoor work.

Composite boots are also much lighter, this means you’ll use less energy when walking and the boots will actually feel more comfortable if you are wearing them for a long period of time.

Steel Toe

This boot is a classic for qa reason, for years, steel safety toes have been the old tried and true method for protecting the feet of countless workers on the job. And although comp boots are lighter, steel toe boots offer more flat protection.

That’s right, as far as straight impact and protection goes, steel toes can handle much more. That being said, unless you are working in a very hazardous environment, you’re not likely to be in a situation where your toe boot is at risk of shattering.

However, there is a myth that, if met with a heavy enough object, steel toe boots can chop off your toes! Luckily this is false.

Always be careful on the job and be aware. Composite and steel toe bots do a great job of protecting your feet, but it is best to avoid situations that can result in injury in the first place.

Which safety toe do you think is best for your line of work? Browse through L&A Safety’s wide range of work boot options and pick which one is best for you.

Canteen Duty: What to Wear

It’s one of those things that you could probably never imagine doing – spending the day making and serving food, while people crowd around a counter waiting for their food. Yet, many people who work in the food industry, in the school tuck shop or volunteer to help out, know all about it.

The most important thing about canteen duty is what to wear! L&A Safety has a great range of protective clothing including canteen wear like canteen aprons, caps and tops and trousers.

-> Tie up your hair or wear a hair net
 You don’t want to be flinging your hair around and have a strand fall in someone’s sandwich. Many canteens will actually make it mandatory to wear your hair in a hairnet, so make sure you tie it back properly.

-> Cover up the toe cleavage
While it’s not a serious thing, schools may be concerned about Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines. Avoid trouble, or a blob of piping hot soup landing on your toes, and wear closed shoes like a pair of sneakers or clogs from L&A Safety.

->Always wear an apron
Working in a canteen is a messy business, so cover up your clothes with an apron. Make sure it is ideally suited, and get a high-quality one from L&A Safety.

What are some other fail-safe tips for surviving life in the canteen?

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!

How to choose the right respirator or dust mask

Home and garden projects may involve exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins, like paint fumes, solvents, dust, adhesives, pesticides and cleaning products. In addition to proper ventilation, a respirator or dust mask will go a long way in protecting your lungs and health.

However, respirators and dust masks aren’t all the same; there are different kinds to choose from. At home and around the workshop, a particulate filter or chemical cartridge respirator are likely to be all you’ll need. Take a look through L&A Safety's range of products, including a variety of respirators and dust masks!

Particulate Filters: These include disposable dust masks, which are the most common type of air-purifying devices for home use. Particulate filters can be disposable or reusable with replaceable filters. They cover your nose and mouth and provide protection from airborne particles, such as dust, mists, liquids and some fumes.

When you are choosing a dust mask, consider:

- Masks with an adjustable nose piece offer a tighter fit.

- Disposable masks with foam face seals will be more comfortable and a little more effective.

- Masks with an exhalation valve will make breathing easier.

- For highly toxic particles (such as asbestos), choose a non-disposable mask with sealing gaskets.

Chemical Cartridge Respirators: These respirators contain special carbon filtering material that absorbs gases and vapours from the air. The replaceable cartridges are inserted in a mask that seals tightly around the edges to block out unfiltered air. Cartridge respirators may be half-mask or full-face.

Respirator Safety Tips:

- Notice Smells
Change the filter if you notice any changes in smells or taste, or if your throat, nose, or lungs become irritated.

- Breathe Easy
You should also change your respirator if it becomes clogged and hard to breathe through.

- Keep Dry
Many respirators, especially disposable ones, become ineffective if they get wet.

- Follow Instructions
Replace filters as instructed on the package.

- Don’t Reuse
Disposable respirators aren’t meant to be used more than once.

- Throw Away if Broken
Discard any respirator or filter canister that is dirty or damaged. Replace gas masks if rubber seals are damaged.

A respirator is an extremely important device that protects your mouth and nose from any harmful chemicals or toxins. Make sure to choose the right respirator or dust mask according to your needs.

L&A Safety pride themselves on being a one stop destination for all of your Personal Protection Equipment - We are waiting to take your call, contact us today! Milnerton : 021 552 - 0665; Vredenburg : 022 713 - 3149; Robertson : 076 532 - 5533.