Friday 25 February 2011

Noise at Work: the need for Hearing Protection.

Research shows that more than one million employees in Great Britain are exposed to levels of noise that put their hearing at risk. The louder the noise, the more damage it can cause, and may even create long term damage to our senses.
A lot of us are exposed to noise in the workplace, ranging from a construction or engineering worker surrounded by loud equipment, to a shop assistant in a store with background music. What has to be addressed is what makes noise in a workplace a danger and what measures are to be taken to reduce the risk of exposure, in turn preventing long term damage to the employees.
When does noise start to present a serious hazard? Put simply, if someone has difficulty in hearing another person talking, or has to shout to be understood at a distance of one or two metres, it’s likely that the noise levels are in the danger zone.
The risk to hearing is permanent damage, and how quickly the damage displays itself is down to the nature of the exposure to noise. For example, exposures over a long period of time can cause hearing loss progressively. In contrast, some damage can be caused immediately when exposed to peak sound waves produced by highly percussive sounds.
As with all risks the obligation of the employer is to ensure that all efforts have been made to protect staff and visitors at risk from noise in the workplace.
Employers must first try to eliminate or reduce exposure to noise by means other than hearing protection we should always consider making the workplace safe before we start to look at hanging pieces of safety equipment on to the workforce. PPE should be a last resort and should be selected carefully and correctly.
a). Provide hearing protection to everyone exposed, and ensure it is used.
b). Identify Hearing Protection Zones with signs to show where hearing protection must be
worn.
c). Provide information, instruction and training on how to use and take care of hearing
protection.
d). Make sure that hearing protection is properly maintained.

Ensuring that the right type of hearing protection complying to the EN352 standards is used is vital in the process. There are two main types - those which cover the ear and those which are inserted into the ear.


Environmental Noise.

Normal conversation (3-5') 60-70dB
Telephone dial tone 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) 85dB
Lorry Traffic 90dB
Underground train 95dB
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss 90 - 95dB
Motorbike 100dB
Power mower 107dB
Chain saw 110dB
Sandblasting, Loud Rock Concert 115dB
Pain begins 125dB
Pneumatic riveter 125dB
Even short term exposure can cause permanent damage -

Loudest recommended exposure WITH hearing protection 140dB
Jet engine / Gun Blast 140dB
Death of hearing tissue 180dB
Loudest sound possible 194dB

Granite Workwear has a comprehensive range of Hearing Protection products from Earplugs to Ear Defenders.
Look after your ears – it is very inexpensive.

Tuesday 15 February 2011

High Vis Garments

High Vis Garments

Annually over 60 people are killed and 2000 seriously injured in accidents resulting from pedestrians being struck by moving plant e.g. forklifts or reversing lorries, mostly the drivers being unaware of the presence or movements of pedestrians close by.

To help reduce this risk and possible litigation the use of, high visibility clothing that complies to the EN471 Standard to improve the visibility of pedestrians is required
The HSE regulations state the employer is legally responsible for the health and safety of employees and visitors on site. Where the working situation requires a person to wear High Vis, the employer is legally bound to supply, free-of-charge, a garment that complies with the European Standard EN471. In the event of an accident, if the employer is found to have been negligent, they are at risk of prosecution, resulting in heavy fines, bad publicity and poor workplace morale.
Best practice for the health and safety of employees and visitors on site, requires assessment of delivery, collection and other vehicle movement risks and then reducing them as far as reasonably practicable.
In ideal circumstances pedestrians and vehicles should be kept separate at all times. However this is not always practicable particularly where workers are required in loading/unloading areas or on construction sites. In terms of safety procedures, employees and site visitors should always use personal protective equipment as a last resort or when it is the only means of protection.
Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents and the third biggest cause of major injuries in the British workplace. However employers and employees often do not recognise that vehicle activities need to be properly managed to ensure a safe workplace, that is until an accident has happened.
High Vis clothing is a simple, cost-effective way to improve the visibility of people at all hours and weather conditions. The fluorescent background material of a
High Vis garment provides daytime visibility while the retroreflective bands around the chest, arms or legs of garments provides reflectivity during night-time and low light conditions.
Granite Workwear has a large range of High Vis garments compliant to EN471 and GO/RT 3279 standards (UK Railways), also Traffic Management Garments that comply with the Street Works Acts requirements.

Thursday 10 February 2011

Choosing your Safety Footwear

Often people are unhappy with wearing Safety Footwear because they have a perception of inadequate comfort, little cushioning abilities or high and weight.

Granite Workwear have a large range of different types of Safety Footwear for every eventuality and we believe that you will be able to find comfortable and practical footwear that will serve you well and keep you safe.

There are three levels of protection in footwear depending on the risk.

1) Occupational footwear (EN ISO 20347) doesn’t need a toe cap; there are no requirements for any impact and compression tests.
2) Protective footwear (EN ISO 20346) is equipped with a toe cap and has to pass impact and compression tests of the toe region when tested with the lower loads. Impact protection of 100 Joules is mandatory.
3) Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345) is equipped with a toe cap and has to pass impact and compression tests of the toe region with higher loads. Impact protection of 200 Joules is mandatory.

There are special standards required for Chainsaw Protection EN ISO 17249.

In buying your safety footwear, you might deal with making a choice between a shoe and a boot. But no matter which type of safety footwear you plan to buy and irrespective of the amount of money you are willing to spend, the most important factor in choosing your safety footwear, is the manner in which your feet fits inside them. Unlike ordinary footwear they should last for a long time and you will be wearing them for lengthy periods. Therefore you have to choose what you think is the best and most comfortable pair for you.

The problem with safety shoes is that they are harder and they may seem inflexible unlike ordinary leather shoes. This is generally overcome with the use of a flexible midsole as opposed to a steel midsole. So some people tend to buy safety shoes that are a little oversized to give more room for the feet. Oversized shoes can cause injuries like sprains and even bone fractures. You may find the need to wear a pair of thick socks to ensure the best comfort.
It is generally good advice to pay a little more for a pair of good quality safety boots / shoes. Generally worn for at least eight hours a day a pair of uncomfortable or inflexible safety boots can cause excessive tiredness which in itself leads to accidents.

Also ensure that the footwear is maintained in a good condition a regular application of Chelsea leather food available from our website is recommended.

Tuesday 8 February 2011

GO/RT 3279 Standard for Railway High Vis

Railway tracks are in need of regular maintenance and it would be too disruptive if lines had to be closed whilst carrying out routine maintenance tasks.

Trains cannot stop in short distances and certainly cannot take avoiding actiion, but if the drivers can see the people working at a good distance they can be warned by the use of the horn. Therefore it is important that the workers are visible from as far away as possible.

On the UK railway networks it is therefore a mandatory requirement for all people working on the track or lineside to wear High Vis workwear as part of their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

This workwear is fluorescent Orange in colour and has the addition of retroreflective stripes incorporated in the manufacture.

The standard that applies to this is a special one; GO/RT 3279:2008 which takes it basis from the European standard EN 471:2003. It requires garments to meet at least class 2 (the mid-point of a 3-class scale) of EN 471 for the minimum area of high visibility materials used within a garment In the case of retroreflective material standards it again draws on EN 471:2003 and specifies materials for use that meet the highest level of photometric performance criteria specified within the standard.
GO/RT 3279 also defines the requirements for a high visibility mini-vest. These are required to conform to class 1 design requirements of EN 471:2003, but with a larger minimum area of the orange background material and higher photometric levels for the retroreflective tape used in the garment.

Granite Workwear carries a comprehensive range of items meeting this standard from the well known Pulsarail Brand.

Breathability and waterproof standards are an important factor in attaining GO/RT 3279 certification.

When selecting clothing to meet these standards it is important that certification is made available if required as some unscrupulous suppliers pass off goods as if to meet this standard.

An additional point to look for when seeking a supplier is that they are an Achilles audited supplier. This is not mandatory but does offer a further level of ‘comfort’ knowing that the supplier has gone the extra mile to ensure compliance.

To view our full range of Railway High Vis Clothing Click Here

Tuesday 1 February 2011

Choosing Workwear; Price or Quality?

Whether buying for yourself, or as a corporate buyer, there is always a decision to be made when buying workwear. Do you choose price as your determining factor or quality? These decisions are particularly appropriate in the financial situation that we all face at this time.

In fact you really need to research the market, you can find reasonably priced garments that are of appropriate quality, and you can also too often find expensive fashion orientated garments that whilst looking good in fact do not have a durable life in actual use.
Whether buying for yourself, or as a corporate buyer, there is always a decision to be made when buying workwear. Do you choose price as your determining factor or quality? These decisions are particularly appropriate in the financial situation that we all face at this time.

In fact you really need to research the market, you can find reasonably priced garments that are of appropriate quality, and you can also too often find expensive fashion orientated garments that whilst looking good in fact do not have a durable life in actual use.

Make sure that you know exactly what it is you are looking for and how you want it to perform.

If you need a garment to last a long time with many washes, then normally a slightly higher priced item will have a longer service life, mainly because the material quality, which in fact makes up over 70% of the cost of a garment, will be better able to withstand wear and tear and high temperature washing. Check the detail on the care instructions is always a good tip.

It is important that you know exactly what it is you need. In some cases the articles must comply with regulatory standards as is the case particularly in High Vis and other PPE items. Even then you have to be sure that the claims made by the supplier or manufacturer are fact; the items should be marked clearly as to their compliance to the Standards and the supplier should be willing to supply any data ./ certification required to show that is the case.

At Granite Workwear, we take great pride that we offer a good value workwear product at a sensible price, have passed extensive wearer trials and statutory tests with the proof of this available, are totally fit for purpose and most importantly offer good value for money.

In the 19th Century, John Ruskin made a statement that is as true today as it was 150 years ago. Think of this when you look at our workwear, safety and PPE products.

‘There is hardly anything in the world that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price alone are that person’s lawful prey. It is unwise to pay too much, but it is also unwise to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money, that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought is incapable of doing the thing you bought it to do.The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can’t, be done.If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.And if you can do that you would have enough to pay for something better.’