All posts by mike

21Dec2015

Winter Sale: Stock Up for January

mike general news

Christmas is almost here, but sadly, winter is only just getting started! While today may be the shortest day in terms of daylight hours, there is still a long way to go before the nights and mornings begin to brighten up again. We're also sure to have many more days of cold and damp weather to get through, despite the season having been comparatively mild so far in terms of yearly averages.

To ensure that you have the best range of equipment to see you through the colder months, we have decided to start our winter promotions early, so you can begin stocking up for the rest of the season. Here are just some of the items that we currently have on offer here at SafetyLiftinGear:

Industrial Fan Heater

This electrical fan heater delivers a totally dry heat, with no condensation, gas, fumes or smell.

Was: £526.45

Now: £417.58

LED Rechargeable Inspection Lamp

With 24 super bright LEDs, this torch is perfect for making thorough inspections in dark conditions. It also has a 360 degree hanging hook and magnet, for easy hands-free use when required.

Was: £31.95

Now: £21:58

Cordless Head Torch

With three settings and an adjustable headband, this torch provides a bright and secure personal lighting system.

Was: £31.95

Now: £23.98

To see more of our great winter offers, click here, or follow us on Twitter for regular updates.

16Dec2015

Scaffolders: Be Sure to Wear Safety Harnesses!

mike health & safety

Recently, we came across a news story regarding a scaffolder from Bristol, who suffered life-changing head injuries as a result of falling 9 metres while dismantling a scaffold. The HSE investigated the firm in question following this incident, and found that no preventative measures had been taken to avoid the accident, which means that they were held fully responsible for the worker's injuries.

They were subsequently fined £26,250 for failing to comply with the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which clearly states that work should be properly planned, supervised and carried to secure safety. The firm were found to have neglected their duty as employers by failing to provide proper equipment and training for their employees, a simple step which could have prevented this incident.

Sadly, cases like this are not uncommon, which is why you often see us writing about them here, in an attempt to remind people why providing and using the correct safety equipment is so important. For some strange reason, health and safety is often neglected in professions like scaffolding, due to a misguided sense of invincibility, coupled with the idea that harnesses will somehow make life more difficult.

No matter how well-trained or experienced someone is at their job, there is always the risk of human error, or hazards posed by matters beyond their control. To ensure that the risk of suffering a serious or fatal injury is reduced as much as possible, it is vitally important that employers and workers make use of the proper resources available to them. Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we stock a huge variety of safety harnesses, all of which are intended to provide an extra measure of security for individuals working at height. Using harnesses, as proven by the case above (as well as countless others which occur frequently throughout the UK) can mean the difference between life and death, providing a secure lifeline when things go wrong and errors occur.

To browse our full range of height safety equipment, click here, or follow us on Twitter for more health and safety news, advice and updates.

02Dec2015

The Importance of Height Safety Measures and Risk Assessments

mike health & safety

Recently, two more news stories have come to our attention which highlight the importance of implementing proper health and safety procedures, particularly when working at height.

The first of these concerns Wayne Morgan, a scaffolder from Castleford who has been prosecuted following the death of one of his workers. It was revealed in court that the accident occurred due to an incorrect use of scaffolding edge protection, which left a gap for the individual to fall through and fatally injure himself. The employer was subsequently sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £15,000 in costs, having breached Regulation 8(a) of the Work at Height Regulations.

A demolition company in Glasgow has also experienced similar circumstances in recent times, after a 50-year-old worker fell when carrying out work from a mobile scaffolding platform. A cable tray swung and hit the worker, causing him to fall five feet from the platform he was working on, and fracture both his right elbow and left arm. The platform had not been put together properly and was missing several essential items, made worse by the fact that no proper risk assessment or inspection had been performed before use. The company in question, DSR Demolition, were subsequently fined £5,000 for breeching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations.

Accidents at work are terrible for both the companies concerned as well as their employees, often causing lasting and unrepairable damage to the lives of those involved. Employers who are found guilty of workplace negligence not only have to deal with the legal implications of their actions, but also with the guilt that comes with bearing responsibility for causing the accidents. They also have to accept that their company may suffer long-term reputation issues following the events, which in the worst scenarios could lead to them ceasing to work in their profession altogether.

For employees and their families, the consequences could be worse still, resulting in serious injury and in the worst cases, death. As illustrated in the story above, even short falls can be dangerous, making it impossible for the victims to return to work for a period of time due to their physical and psychological trauma.

In order to prevent situations like the examples mentioned above, it is vital that employers follow a short list of simple procedures:

Provide the correct height safety equipment for specific jobs, ensuring that all factors have been taken into account.
Ensure that all equipment is regularly tested and is suitable for use.
Conduct proper risk assessments and make sure that all staff are properly briefed on safety procedures.

We provide a large number of height safety solutions here at SafetyLiftinGear, all of which are intended to provide maximum protection whilst working at height. To see our full range, click here.

30Nov2015

Children's Climbing Equipment

mike products

Climbing can be a great pastime for children, especially as it's a fun and adventurous way to stay active and learn a new skill. If your little one is going to be trying this out, or undertaking another activity which involves potentially hazardous heights, then it's essential that they are provided with the correct safety equipment.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we provide a range of children's climbing equipment, which is tailored specifically to suit very small body shapes. Our harnesses are suitable for children ages 4-9, and consist of a full body strap design, which is necessary for young children who do not have well-defined hips. In addition to our harnesses, we also stock a range of helmets as part of our children's climbing equipment range, which fit a size 48cm-56cm head.

To view all of the children's climbing equipment we stock here at SafetyLiftinGear, click here. If you can't find what you're looking for, or if you're trying to find items to fit an older child, feel free to get in touch with us, or take a look at our main safety harness range.

25Nov2015

Equipment Rental: Is it Better to Hire or Buy?

mike products

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we pride ourselves on stocking a comprehensive range of lifting and material handling equipment, both of which are essential in order to provide a safe and secure working environment. One of the many benefits of ordering from us, is that we offer the option to buy or rent your equipment, allowing you to fine tune your purchase according to your budget and time-scale.

If you're not sure which of the two choices is right for you, take a look at our list of pros and cons to weigh up which option is the best fit:

Equipment Hire

Pros:

The up-front cost is cheaper than buying the product outright.
It can be great for one-off jobs, and saves you from investing in a product that you are unlikely to get much use from.
it provides you with the guarantee of a certified and tested solution for each job.

Cons:

It can cost you more long-term if you're repeatedly having to hire the same equipment.
You may have to extend the rental period if the job goes on for longer than expected.
You could be subject to extra costs if an item is damaged.

Purchasing Your Equipment

Pros:

Having a good selection of equipment at your disposal whenever you need it.
Saves you money in the long term if you will be using the equipment regularly.
You will not have the hassle of returning the item once the work is complete.

Cons

You will need a stable, and long-term storage space to house your equipment.
The initial cost is more expensive, which means you could loose out if it's only for a short-term job.
You will need to maintain and keep track of each item yourself.

Once you have decided which of the two is the best for your specific job, you can visit our lifting equipment and material handling pages to browse our full selection of items. Once you have made your choice, select either the 'buy now' or 'hire me' option, for a fast and efficient order process.

25Nov2015

Equipment Rental: Is it Better to Hire or Buy?

mike products

Here at SafetyLiftinGear, we pride ourselves on stocking a comprehensive range of lifting and material handling equipment, both of which are essential in order to provide a safe and secure working environment. One of the many benefits of ordering from us, is that we offer the option to buy or rent your equipment, allowing you to fine tune your purchase according to your budget and time-scale.

If you're not sure which of the two choices is right for you, take a look at our list of pros and cons to weigh up which option is the best fit:

Equipment Hire

Pros:

The up-front cost is cheaper than buying the product outright.
It can be great for one-off jobs, and saves you from investing in a product that you are unlikely to get much use from.
it provides you with the guarantee of a certified and tested solution for each job.

Cons:

It can cost you more long-term if you're repeatedly having to hire the same equipment.
You may have to extend the rental period if the job goes on for longer than expected.
You could be subject to extra costs if an item is damaged.

Purchasing Your Equipment

Pros:

Having a good selection of equipment at your disposal whenever you need it.
Saves you money in the long term if you will be using the equipment regularly.
You will not have the hassle of returning the item once the work is complete.

Cons

You will need a stable, and long-term storage space to house your equipment.
The initial cost is more expensive, which means you could loose out if it's only for a short-term job.
You will need to maintain and keep track of each item yourself.

Once you have decided which of the two is the best for your specific job, you can visit our lifting equipment and material handling pages to browse our full selection of items. Once you have made your choice, select either the 'buy now' or 'hire me' option, for a fast and efficient order process.

23Nov2015

Daredevil Climbs Eiffel Tower Without Safety Equipment

mike health & safety

James Kingston, a 25 year old daredevil from Hampshire, climbed the Eiffel Tower at 1am with no safety precautions. That’s right - no safety harness or safety ropes! James, who has previously climbed Wembley Stadium, The Princess Tower in Dubai and Dnipro Towers in Ukraine without any safety precautions in place, evaded the security guards and CCTV, but was finally caught by security and arrested at 9am. He was released without charge but was banned from climbing the Eiffel tower for 3 years.

This got us thinking about all of our customers who regularly work at height in a number of different industries, and about how dangerous their work really is. We at SafetyLiftinGear cannot stress enough just how vital it is to use the correct safety equipment, such as specialist harnesses, fall arrest blocks, and safety ropes to prevent any accidents or injuries if you suddenly slip or fall from a structure.

Here at SafetyLiftinGear/ we have a large variety of safety harnesses, from a basic full body rescue harness through to specialist rope access and insulated harnesses. Stay safe when you are working at height, and don’t try to recreate James’s stunt while operating at height.

Click here to view all our products in our Height Safety Department. If you have any questions about the products then please contact us and a member of our customer service team will get back to you.