Poster of the Month, June 2016: Preventing foot and ankle injuries

DON'T DO THE TWIST!


To prevent foot and ankle injuries,
wear sensible shoes and watch your
step – especially on uneven floors

If you find flaws in our floors, please report them


June's Poster of the Month is about preventing foot and ankle injuries in the workplace.

Coincidentally, a couple of months after I researched and wrote the words for this poster, this story came out in the news. It concerned a receptionist who was sent home from her job for refusing to wear high heels.

Her refusal was not without good reason. She claimed that her work involved nine hours on her feet, escorting clients to meeting rooms, and that she would be unable to do this wearing heels.

After posting the details of her experience on Facebook, the receptionist realised that other women had been put in the same position. The women in question were not all in desk jobs. Many were required to stand for long periods; some had to walk long distances, including up and down stairs; some had to carry heavy items; and some even had to run across shiny, slippery floors carrying emergency equipment.

It was after hearing some of these stories that the receptionist decided to start a petition to change the law, so companies can no longer legally insist on high heels as part of their dress code.

What's wrong with sensible, comfortable footwear?

High heels are well known for causing severe discomfort, ankle injuries and posture problems. They can also make you unsteady on your feet, more susceptible to slips and trips and more likely to fall over.

For jobs that involve long periods of standing, walking and carrying, we always recommend flat, comfortable shoes with good treads. Where there are additional threats from falling items or vehicle movements, proper safety shoes with steel toe caps are vital.
 
Having worked in health and safety for more than ten years, I'm appalled that women are allowed to wear heels in some jobs, let alone forced to.

Kodiak has many more workplace posters on the subjects of PPE; safety shoes; and slips, trips and falls.

To find out more, please give us a call on 01530 456 000.

Poster of the Month, October 2014: Dealing with hazards in the workplace

WARNING SIGNS

We can't remove every hazard from our workplace, but we can:

1. Warn others of the hazard
2. Isolate the hazard
3. Control the hazard
4. Direct others to avoid the hazard

Respond to hazards quickly and carefully or it could be the end of the road

October's Poster of the Month looks at ways of tackling workplace hazards, using road signs to illustrate each example.

In an ideal world we could eliminate all the hazards that make our workplaces dangerous but, in the real world we can only acknowledge them and deal with them appropriately

What is a hazard?

According to the HSE:

"A hazard is something (e.g. an object, a property of a substance, a phenomenon or an activity) that can cause adverse effects."

Examples may include:

• a newly washed floor, or accidental spill, that could cause a slip hazard
• working with hazardous materials, for example in a paint spray shop
• excessive noise, which could cause hearing damage
• maintenance or renovations happening in one part of the building

Dealing with hazards

As the poster points out, there are different ways of dealing with different hazards. The following are examples of how this advice might be put into practice.

1. Warn others of the hazard

• Make sure all permanent hazards are highlighted with appropriate signage, such as warning signs, no-entry signs, mandatory PPE signs etc
• Supervise visitors correctly — advise them of hazards and make sure they wear appropriate PPE while on site
• Use temporary signs for temporary hazards, such as putting out a wet floor sign after washing the floor

2. Isolate the hazard

• Isolate areas where hazardous activities take place and specify that only authorised personnel are allowed to enter
• If possible, block off areas where there are temporary hazardous conditions, such as areas where outside contractors are working 

3. Control the hazard

• Ensure employees adhere to the site rules and wear the correct PPE when carrying out hazardous tasks
• Advise employees to make sure their PPE is fit for purpose — it should fit them properly and be in good condition
• Ensure chemicals are labelled correctly and that safety data sheets are available for supplementary advice and information on the chemicals in use

4. Direct others to avoid the hazard

• Use no-entry or authorised personnel only signs to prevent unauthorised access to hazardous areas
• Use authorised cordons, cones and diversion signs to block, and direct people away from, temporary hazardous conditions
• Use clearly marked walkways to segregate pedestrians from vehicle movement areas and dangerous or moving machinery

Kodiak Industrial regularly produce posters on all of the above subjects. We also produce a range of hazard warning signs, including custom-made signs.

Visit our website to find out more about how our posters and our workplace poster programme can help you address hazards in your workplace.

Alternatively, give us a call on 01530 456 000 to discuss your needs.

Darker days and the increased risk of accidents on the road

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Updated October 2014

In the UK, British Summer Time officially ends this Sunday, October 30. On the plus side we all get an extra hour in bed. Unfortunately we also run into one of the worst times of year for accidents on the road.

Blinding low sun

One of the first hazards for drivers at this time of year is the glare from low sun. Combined with a dirty or misty windscreen it can be very dangerous.

Drivers should keep their windscreens clean and free from smears, inside and out. Wiper blades should be checked and replaced if worn or defective. Dipped headlights can help to alert oncoming traffic.

Fewer hours of daylight

Drivers will be relying more heavily on their vehicle lights and should ensure they are clean and working before setting out. It's advisable to keep some spare lights in the vehicle just in case.

Using lights and heaters more often puts additional strain on the battery. According to the AA, drivers should consider replacing any battery that is struggling or more than five years old.

Pedestrians at risk

In the event of an accident or breakdown, a driver may have to exit their vehicle by the side of the road. Wearing a hi-viz vest or jacket can make the driver more visible to passing traffic and offers greater protection than caution and vigilance alone.

Drivers should wear hi-viz whenever they leave their vehicle – as should any pedestrians in a workplace that has moving vehicles.

Hidden hazards

Hi-viz is effective, but it is no substitute for working lights on your premises. Lighting helps your employees to see potential hazards, reducing the risk of accidents including slips, trips and collisions with vehicles. Employees should be sure to use lights correctly and report any defective or missing bulbs for replacement.

Our main message to employees this season is to 'See, be seen and be safe'.

If you would like to find out more about our posters and how they can improve safety in your workplace, please contact us to discuss your needs.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Sun safety for drivers and outdoor workers

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The summer months are almost upon us, so it seems like a good time to look at sun safety and protecting ourselves during the warmer weather.

Protecting your skin
If you don't burn you may think you don't need to worry about being exposed to the sun, but you would be wrong.

Experts say that any change in skin colour is a sign of skin damage that could lead to premature ageing and skin cancers. So you might want to think twice before topping up your tan.

Statistics from Cancer Research UK show that, in the UK alone, 75,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. To protect yourself you should wear a sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type but no less than SPF25.

Keeping hydrated
Dehydration can cause loss of concentration, tiredness, dizziness, headaches and mood swings. It is also estimated that a 4-5% drop in your body water can cause a 30% fall in your work performance.

Experts recommend that adults should be drinking around 2.5 litres of water a day. As we sweat more in the warmer weather, we may need to increase our intake.

Protecting your eyes
If you work out in the sun it's a good idea to wear suitable sunglasses. Make sure you choose British Standard lenses with full UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful rays.

Drivers should avoid wrap-around shades or sunglasses with wide sides as these block your peripheral vision and are like wearing blinkers on the road.

Category 4 lenses are designed for intense bright sunlight and are not suitable for driving. If you are in any doubt as to which lenses are right for you it is advisable to consult an optician.

Hayfever medication
If you suffer from hayfever take any medication with care. Some over-the-counter remedies can cause drowsiness and are unsuitable if you drive or operate machinery.

Always read the label and consult your GP or pharmacist if you have any concerns.

Drink driving
In the summer many of us enjoy a few beers with a barbecue or spending an afternoon in the pub beer garden. But beware, especially if you have to drive the next day, as almost one in five drink drivers are caught the morning after drinking.

Going without PPE
In the hot sun it may be tempting for employees to forgo their safety shoes, hard hat, hi-viz workwear or protective gloves. However, this can leave them vulnerable to accidents and injuries and must be prohibited.

Kodiak's motivational poster programme regularly addresses seasonal issues like these.

If you would like to find out more about how our posters can help you and your employees stay safe this summer, why not get in touch with us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Health and safety: Challenging the "elf 'n' safety" mentality

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When I first took this job at Kodiak, back in 2005, I thought about how satisfying it would be to promote health and safety in the workplace. How great to be able to make a difference, to help prevent accidents and injuries – maybe even save a life or two.

What I didn't expect was how the public perception of health and safety had been – and still is being – influenced by the media. Instead of being commended by friends and family for doing something good, the news of my new job was received with tuts, eeks, oohs and elf 'n' safety stories recited from the Daily Mail.

"It's health and safety gone mad!"
"We're living in a nanny state!"
"You can't do that! It's elf 'n' safety!"

Parades have been banned from the streets, conkers have been banned from the school playground and, today I read that, postmen and women have been stopped from crossing the road too many times.

So ridiculous are some of the stories, that the HSE has a Myth of the Month page on its website, just to dispel any misconceptions.

I wonder, when even the HSE doesn't endorse such overcautiousness, why people have been making such seemingly ridiculous and ill-informed judgments about safety?

One reason could be the huge amount of No Win, No Fee advertising that is currently in place on television, in magazines and here on the web. Today alone I have seen four such advertisements on websites I have visited.

"Have you had an accident that wasn't your fault?
You could be entitled to compensation."

While it is fair that a legitimately injured person should be compensated for an accident that wasn't their fault, this system is open to abuse. After all, who's to say that Tom's back pain is not as bad as he claims it is? Or that Harry doesn't need to take that much time off work to convalesce?

So, are councils, companies and other organisations over-cautious because they are afraid of claims being made against them? Or has elf 'n' safety become a standard excuse for those who wish to avoid taking responsibility? Maybe it's a bit of both.

Through Kodiak's motivational poster programme I hope to bring some common sense back to workplace safety and to challenge some of those negative perceptions.

For example, it's not just about telling your workers they have to do something, it's explaining why they have to do it. It's not about using health and safety as an excuse, it's about implementing it sensibly to reduce accidents and save lives. And that's what really matters.

To find out more about how Kodiak posters can help you promote health and safety in your workplace, please contact us to discuss your needs.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Machine guards: Essential equipment for industrial safety

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Updated October 2014

While researching posters for the Kodiak poster programme, I often read stories about people who have been seriously injured after being drawn into moving machinery. Often the circumstances that lead to such accidents are frightfully similar. In almost all cases the accidents could have been easily prevented.

Missing machine guards are a common problem. They may have been removed during maintenance and not replaced; or purposely and permanently removed because they are seen to be 'a nuisance' or 'getting in the way'. Missing guards should be spotted during first-use checks and reported, but all too often this doesn't happen.

Failing to lock out the power is another common mistake, especially when clearing jams or carrying out maintenance mid cycle. Workers often don't realise that if a jam has stopped a machine, as soon as the jam is cleared the machine can start up again without warning.

Even when the power is locked out, workers should still alert colleagues that cleaning or maintenance is underway by tagging out the machine and removing any starting keys.

Kodiak's poster programme regularly covers all of these issues – reminding your employees of the importance of machine guards, first-use checks and lock-out tag-out procedure.

If you would like more information on how our posters can help you prevent accidents like this, why not get in touch.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.