Why is it so Important to Wear Safety Goggles

Safety goggles are generally worn to protect the user from dangers objects and chemicals. They come in all shapes and sizes, depending on what they are protecting the wearer from.

Let’s take a look at why safety goggles are so important…

There are a number of reasons why safety goggles are so important. Firstly if you work with hazardous materials and chemicals you can handle them without the fear of possibly damaging your eyes. Safety goggles also protect the wearer from anything falling or flying into their eyes. 

For example should your be welding and sparks are flying, your safety googles are the only thing protecting your eyes. Another example could be an explosion in a science lab – you could be potentially blinded or seriously injured without safety goggles.

If you are in doubt about whether you should be wearing your safety goggles are not, it’s better to just wear them and be safe than sorry. If you find It difficult to remember wearing them at all times, simply put them on every time you enter the construction site, garage, laboratory or where ever your place of work may be.

Safety goggles can be pricey, not at L&A Safety! 

For affordable, but high-quality PPE, including safety goggles visit one of our branches in Cape Town, Vredenburg or Robertson or browse through the website catalogues here - http://landasafety.co.za/

PPE in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas industry is a dangerous line of work. Every year hundreds of people die while performing oil and gas extraction while thousands others are injured.

Wearing the correct PPE is vitally important to ensure all oil and gas workers stay safe, it must be worn at all times to reduce a workers exposure to dangers. Here are three factors you need to know in order to stay safe…

HAZARDS:

Dangers can be found just about everywhere in the gas and oil industry from chemicals and building foundations to working the drill site. Because of all the dangers, employees NEED to assess the environment and match the PPE to the possible dangers. Most potential hazards are physical and health related some include: slipping and falling, explosions, fire, hand and eye injuries, hearing loss and exposure to dangerous chemicals and gases.

REQUIREMENTS:

Employees should always wear the proper PPE and take the proper safety precautions, but in the end it is the responsibility of the company or the employer to ensure a safe working environment is provided. The general PPE that should be used at all times such as eye, face and head protection as well as protective clothing and respiratory devices.

ADVANCEMENTS:

Workers often need to feel comfortable as well as protected in their PPE and advancements in PPE have really allowed workers to use their equipment with ease. In addition, uncomfortable or PPE that doesn’t fit properly can become irritating and workers would rather leave it off than wear it.

The oil and gas industry is a dangerous place – stay safe and wear the right PPE!

L&A Safety is your one stop PPE store. Visit the website or pop into one of our stores in Cape Town, Vredenburg or Robertson.

8 Vital Ways Safety Shoes Protect your Feet

When you think about safety shoes, the first thing that probably pops into your mind is heavy-duty, steel toe boots. These shoes are vital for foot protection as they have been reinforced to shield you from a range of dangerous or heavy objects.

Other types of shoes exist to protect you including those that provide traction, support, slip protection and other safety benefits. If you are not sure what shoes you need for the job, it is best to do a safety assessment first and determine what risks pose a threat.

Shoes may not be at the top of your list before safety head gear and eye wear, however they are vital to your safety! Here’s how safety shoes or boots can protect you in the workplace:

     1.       Falling/flying objects – When working in a place such as a construction site, there will be dangers all around like machines and vehicles. Falling and flying objects are a regular occurrence and can cause serious injuries, protective shoes like steel cap boots can prevent serious injuries.

     2.       Punctures – Heavy duty shoes protect workers when sharp objects puncture from above or underneath.

     3.       Cutting Hazards – Machinery such as chainsaws can provide dangers like cutting. Boots made from cut resistant materials can mean the difference between safety and catastrophic results.

     4.       Electrical Dangers – Certain workers such as electricians can face potential electric shocks which can cause deadly results. Footwear that is made from materials like leather and rubber are best to wear as they don’t conduct electricity.

     5.       Slips, Trips and Falls – Accidents happen in any workplace at any time. Consider installing anti-slip floors and make sure everyone wears shoes that have proper traction.

     6.       Fatigue Prevention – For those who stand all day at work, fatigue is a real thing! Muscle in your feet as well as in your legs can grow tired and suffer if you do not wear the right footwear for the job.

     7.        Burns – Burns from fire can happen, but then again so can chemical burns and even burns from cement. If you work in an environment that includes these dangers, make sure to wear the right footwear that is made from durable materials.

     8.       Extreme Weather – We all know extreme cold weather can end in frost bite and hypothermia; this is why it is vital for those who work in these conditions to wear insulated, waterproof protective footwear.

Improve your safety and comfort by wearing the right safety boots for the right job! L&A Safety has a wide range of PPE, including safety shoes and boots – visit the website here… Or pop into one of their stores in Cape Town, Vredenburg or Robertson!

How to Prevent Hearing Loss in the Workplace

Hearing loss from too much noise in the workplace is one of the most common work-related health issues. Every year workers all over the world suffer from noise exposures loud enough to be extremely hazardous.

Not only does hearing loss affect your life in a negative way, but it can also be really expensive.

Always be aware that workers should never be exposed to noise louder than 85 decibels for more than 8 hours.

So, what factors influence hearing loss?

Noise level – As the noise gets higher so does the risk of hearing loss.

Duration – The longer you sit and expose your ears to the noise, the more dangerous it becomes.

Impulsiveness – Noises that are abrupt such as hammering, fireworks, gunfire, etc. are more dangerous than a constant noise at a certain level.

Intermittency – When there is a time when the noise stops or quietens down, this allows the ears to rest and reduce the risk of hearing loss.

If you would like to minimize the risk of hearing loss in the workplace, make sure you take the correct steps...

     1.       Monitor noise exposure

     2.       All workers should wear hearing protection devices. Visit the L&A Safety website here

     3.       Engineering and administrative controls

     4.       Audiometric evaluation

Complete removal of the noise would be the best option; however it is not possible in some workplaces such as a construction site. Make sure your workers wear their hearing protection!

For cheap, high-quality PPE visit L&A Safety in Robertson, Vredenburg and Cape Town or visit their website here.

Look out for these 7 Potential Dangers during the Rainy Season

It’s so easy to forget how dangerous the rain can be. Even a bit of a light drizzle can cause a slip or mean visibility issues.

Rainy weather affects many things on the job site:

PPE. If workers are busy working in the rain then they need to wear the right PPE, this includes rain coats, waterproof footwear, hats, gloves, etc. If the job site is near moving water your workers need to wear safety flotation devices, such as a life jacket.

Exposure to the cold. As the weather gets colder, the rain starts to get colder too. The cold rain can put workers at risk of cold exposure.

Live wires. The wet weather means that live wires a high probability of live electrical cables.

Slippery surfaces. Mean there is any type of moisture, there is a higher chance of slipping and falling. Whether it is on a pathway, scaffolding, in a trench or even a roof – be careful!

Cave ins. Those who work in dug out areas of earth, such as mine workers, need to be careful and aware of cave ins.

Heavy equipment. The combination of rain and strong winds can make it especially difficult to operate heavy duty equipment such as cranes.

Lightning strikes. With the rain often comes the storm, and that combination can often bring lightning. When this occurs, workers need to steer clear of cranes, steel framework and other equipment that could act as a lightning rod.

The colder months ahead mean slick, slippery and often dangerous working conditions – Make sure you know about the dangers and how to stay safe!

Are you looking for affordable PPE? Look no further than L&A Safety in Robertson, Cape Town and Vredenburg - the highest quality PPE with no delivery charges!

What PPE is needed for Cold Weather?

With the colder weather slowly coming along, it’s time to stop and think about how to deal with weather-related hazards in the workplace. In some work environments, special PPE is needed.

COATS and JACKETS

When the environment is very cold, an insulated jacket or coat is necessary. In cases were workers are in different weather conditions, the jacket would need to be water resistant, waterproof or wind-resistant.

SHOES

This all depends on what work is being done. Waterproof boots or insulated boots are a must for some workers, while rubber bottom boots and leather tops may be better for others.

HEAD PROTECTION

Did you know that 50% of body heat is lost through your head? Workers who don’t need to wear hardhats, a wool hat will help to keep them warm.

GLOVES

Workers need hand protection in the cold weather, so opt for insulated gloves to keep fingers warm.

EYEWEAR

When your glasses fog up, it can be really annoying as well as dangerous. Breathing in the cold air can cause your PPE glasses or safety goggles to mist up, so wear protection that is separated from the mouth and nose.

Prepare for the cold today to avoid injuries later!

L&A Safety has a range of PPE suited for cold weather. Have a look on their website today, or pop into one of their stores in Robertson, Cape Town or Vredenburg.

The Four Types of Gardening Gloves

One type of glove is not made to fit every different gardening job. You need to choose a pair of gloves that is perfect for what you are going to be using them for…

L&A Safety offers a wide range of gloves, including those that can be used for gardening, take a look at the L&A Safety's website or pop into one of their stores in Cape Town, Vredenburg or Robertson.

Here are the four different types of gloves used for gardening.

Cloth Gloves – These gloves are usually made from strong cotton or knit jersey. The most common gardening tasks they are used for is planting, mixing soil, cultivating and raking. Cloth gloves are popular because they are cheap and can be used multiple times, however they’re not pleasant to wear when your hands are wet and you’ll have to replace them quite often.

Leather Gloves – Made from either cowhide, pigskin, sheepskin or goatskin, leather gloves are best suited for heavy gardening chores like planting, shoveling, moving rocks and using power equipment. These gloves are durable and keep your hands dry when working in wetness, but they can be expensive to buy.

Rubber-Coated Gloves – Nothing will ever get through these gloves, which is great if you’re working with wet soil, fungicide and liquid garden fertilizers, but we warned that they do puncture easily. Rubber gloves are great because they act as a second skin and you can even wash your hands with them on, but they don’t breathe so they can leave your hands clammy.

Nitrile Gloves – Great as multi-purpose gardening gloves and the best choice when working with fungicides and fertilizers because they offer a watertight barrier. Nitrile gloves are cheaper than leather gloves and allow for good dexterity in the garden, the only disadvantage is that soil particles can seep through the surface.

Gardening is literally a hands-on task, so you need to choose a pair of gloves that allow you to work effectively on your gardening tasks, but at the same time protect your hands in the process.