Archive

09 Dec 2016

Workshop Heaters: Keep Your Workplace Warm This Winter!

robin Products

We're lucky to have had some pretty mild weather during the past few days, but if the very beginning of December is anything to go by, we should be expecting quite a few sub-zero temperatures this winter. This is particularly bad news for those of us who work in cold workshops, or other areas without adequate heating systems, as it often means layering up to the extent that you look more like a Game of Thrones extra as opposed to a tradesperson!

Luckily, help is at hand, in the form of our effective and affordable range of workshop heaters, with fan and infrared options available, depending on your needs. Whether you're just looking for a quick way to warm up the workplace on a cold morning, or you're looking for a more permanent solution to give cold-walled areas a boost, our heaters are a great way to provide a reliable and efficient heating system, that can easily be tailored to suit your changing requirements.

To see our full range of workshop heaters, click here!

(quantity price breaks available!)

07 Dec 2016

Do 'Safe' Construction Sites Exist? A Reflection on the Risks of Heavy Lifting

mike Health & Safety

Last week, a headline published in the Northen Echo captured our attention, as it was announced that a construction firm had been ordered to pay £45,000, as a result of an on-site injury. Initially, this struck us as the same neglectful safety story that we've grown used to reading about, whereby a firm or supervisor is found to have been using unsafe working practices, or unsuitable equipment, and is punished accordingly. This story, however, was distinctly different from previous cases that we have examined, as it lacked the obvious signs of neglect often present in cases such as these. As a result, this got us thinking about the way in which we discuss health and safety in construction, and how, at times, we may be guilty of forgetting the grey areas that surround workplace safety measures.

In the case mentioned, project manager Paul Powton was injured whilst working on a spa expansion for Walter Thompson Ltd, a family-run firm of contractors. Whilst laying two concrete slabs, Mr Powton was injured as the crow bar he was using to lever the slabs into place flew up and hit him in the face, after the top slab fell from the chain block being used to lift it. On inspection, it was found that this incident occurred due to poor planning, time pressure, and a lack of proper risk assessment procedures, with blame falling primarily on the firm, but also on Mr Powton himself.

Just two week prior to the incident, the site had passed its monthly health and safety audit, and during proceedings the company was praised for their 'exemplary' health and safety record. In addition, this was also the company's first prosecution in almost a 100 years of working in the industry. This illustrates the true scale of health and safety risks in the construction industry, by showing that heavy lifting incidents can easily occur, even in the most safety-conscious workplaces. Health and safety cannot be maintained on a monthly or even weekly basis, but must be properly assessed and executed as part of daily working practices.

In order to avoid these incidents, companies and employees should:

Plan ahead with plenty of time, to properly asses each element of the job at hand.
Use the correct lifting and handling equipment, which has been safety checked and approved.
Double check the equipment, and run through safety measures before going ahead with the work.
Clearly communicate health and safety procedures throughout the work force, for a unified approach to safety.
If incidents do occur, the situation should be properly scrutinised in order to ensure that a repeat in never allowed to occur.

For more health and safety news and advice, click here!

07 Dec 2016

Do 'Safe' Construction Sites Exist? A Reflection on the Risks of Heavy Lifting

mike Health & Safety

Last week, a headline published in the Northen Echo captured our attention, as it was announced that a construction firm had been ordered to pay £45,000, as a result of an on-site injury. Initially, this struck us as the same neglectful safety story that we've grown used to reading about, whereby a firm or supervisor is found to have been using unsafe working practices, or unsuitable equipment, and is punished accordingly. This story, however, was distinctly different from previous cases that we have examined, as it lacked the obvious signs of neglect often present in cases such as these. As a result, this got us thinking about the way in which we discuss health and safety in construction, and how, at times, we may be guilty of forgetting the grey areas that surround workplace safety measures.

In the case mentioned, project manager Paul Powton was injured whilst working on a spa expansion for Walter Thompson Ltd, a family-run firm of contractors. Whilst laying two concrete slabs, Mr Powton was injured as the crow bar he was using to lever the slabs into place flew up and hit him in the face, after the top slab fell from the chain block being used to lift it. On inspection, it was found that this incident occurred due to poor planning, time pressure, and a lack of proper risk assessment procedures, with blame falling primarily on the firm, but also on Mr Powton himself.

Just two week prior to the incident, the site had passed its monthly health and safety audit, and during proceedings the company was praised for their 'exemplary' health and safety record. In addition, this was also the company's first prosecution in almost a 100 years of working in the industry. This illustrates the true scale of health and safety risks in the construction industry, by showing that heavy lifting incidents can easily occur, even in the most safety-conscious workplaces. Health and safety cannot be maintained on a monthly or even weekly basis, but must be properly assessed and executed as part of daily working practices.

In order to avoid these incidents, companies and employees should:

Plan ahead with plenty of time, to properly asses each element of the job at hand.
Use the correct lifting and handling equipment, which has been safety checked and approved.
Double check the equipment, and run through safety measures before going ahead with the work.
Clearly communicate health and safety procedures throughout the work force, for a unified approach to safety.
If incidents do occur, the situation should be properly scrutinised in order to ensure that a repeat in never allowed to occur.

For more health and safety news and advice, click here!

02 Dec 2016

Tree Surgeon Equipment: Stay Safe at Height

mike Products

Working at height can be very dangerous, and if there's one profession that guarantees a steady stream of high-up work, it's tree surgery. Tree surgeons (also known as arborists) are required to ascend tall trees on a daily basis, and it's important for these workers and their employers to do everything possible to minimise the risk of a fall.

We at SafetyLiftinGear.com consider ourselves specialists in the field of height safety, and sure enough, we sell a range of height safety products that are especially perfect for tree surgeons and the work they do.

Our selection of tree surgeon equipment is designed to help arborists climb trees and go about their work safely. Here's a quick look at some of the products currently available to buy or hire from SafetyLiftinGear.com:

Safety Harnesses

A strong safety harness is perhaps the most important item for anyone who works at height. To help prevent you / your workers from falling to the ground during a job, we offer an assortment of different harnesses that are ideally suited to tree surgery.

Climbing Accessories

We also stock a variety of ascenders, descenders, and pulley products to help you get up and down trees with minimal difficulty.

Tool Lanyards & Hooks

These products are designed to prevent tools and other items from falling to the ground while you're busy working. A tool dropped from height can cause serious injuries to anyone who might be standing beneath you, so it's a good idea to use hooks and lanyards to keep everything attached to your person.

Click here to browse and buy our arborist equipment >

02 Dec 2016

Tree Surgeon Equipment: Stay Safe at Height

mike Products

Working at height can be very dangerous, and if there's one profession that guarantees a steady stream of high-up work, it's tree surgery. Tree surgeons (also known as arborists) are required to ascend tall trees on a daily basis, and it's important for these workers and their employers to do everything possible to minimise the risk of a fall.

We at SafetyLiftinGear.com consider ourselves specialists in the field of height safety, and sure enough, we sell a range of height safety products that are especially perfect for tree surgeons and the work they do.

Our selection of tree surgeon equipment is designed to help arborists climb trees and go about their work safely. Here's a quick look at some of the products currently available to buy or hire from SafetyLiftinGear.com:

Safety Harnesses

A strong safety harness is perhaps the most important item for anyone who works at height. To help prevent you / your workers from falling to the ground during a job, we offer an assortment of different harnesses that are ideally suited to tree surgery.

Climbing Accessories

We also stock a variety of ascenders, descenders, and pulley products to help you get up and down trees with minimal difficulty.

Tool Lanyards & Hooks

These products are designed to prevent tools and other items from falling to the ground while you're busy working. A tool dropped from height can cause serious injuries to anyone who might be standing beneath you, so it's a good idea to use hooks and lanyards to keep everything attached to your person.

Click here to browse and buy our arborist equipment >