Workwear and Safetywear

Hi Vis Soft Shell Jackets

2012-01-19T03:01:00.000-08:00

Just arrived at Granite Workwear this month is the smartest high visibility soft shell jackets on the market, the Pulsar P534 High Vis Soft Shell Jacket and the Pulsarail PR535 High Vis Soft Shell Jacket

The Pulsar P534 High Vis Soft Shell Jacket has fantastic features, such as:

Stand up collar
Two hidden vertical zip hip pockets
Front flap covering the main zip
Elasticated waistband with draw cord
Wrap around branded rubber cuff adjusters
Thermally applied reflective tape

This smart high visability jacket is also wind proof and stretchy and can easily be zipped in to the P421 unlined storm coat when you really need protecting from bad weather, the jacket also conforms to the technical standard EN471 class 3. Available in sizes S to 3XL and at a fantastic price of £47.94 including VAT, you can't go wrong with Granite Workwear.

With the same features as the Pulsar P534 High Vis Soft Shell Jacket the Pulsarail PR535 High Vis Soft Shell Jacket has a YKK zip front fastening which allows it to be zipped into the waterproof unlined storm coat PR499, also the ;Pulsarail PR535 complies with not only the EN471 class e but the rail spec GO/RT 32791.

Available in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL order yours online from Granite Workwear today for only £47.94 including VAT.

Granite Workwear exhibiting at LAMMA 2012 for the 6th Year

2012-01-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

The 31st LAMMA agricultural machinery show takes place at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground, Winthorpe Newark NG24 2NY this year on Wednesday & Thursday 18th – 19th January. A major show in the farming calender for both UK and overseas farmers. With over 800 exhibitors it is one of Europes major agricultural events showcasing equipment for the smallholder up to the largest estates. 30 Years ago it was free to attend and cheap to exhibit and it soon became a place of pilgrimage for all those who love their farm machinery. 30 years later it is exactly the same and has turned into the largest agricultural show in the country.

Granite Workwear Ltd has been exhibiting for the past 6 years and has a healthy relationship supplying the farming industry having grown out of the original business of free range outdoor reared pork and free range eggs. This year we have increased the stand space (Hall 2 / Stand 233) yet again to cope with demand and as usual will be offering several ‘Show Specials’

There’s a strong turnout of livestock equipment manufacturers as well as firms that repair and refurbish equipment.

The show is one of few that can honestly profess to have the visitor at heart. Free parking and free entry have been maintained yet again. Making this an excellent day out and a show not to be missed. It’s not all about big arable kit.

Granite Workwear will be offering our comprehensive range of high quality PPE, High Vis, Safety Boots, Muck Boots, and Overalls and will have a complete range of Thermals to combat the recent weather conditions.

Granite Workwear's Hi-Vis Clothing Range for all applications

2011-12-16T02:48:00.000-08:00

Now days many jobs require you to wear Hi Vis clothing at all times. High Visibility clothing is an essential way for workers to stay seen in all weather conditions and environments, that's why here at Granite Workwear we have a wide selection of Hi Vis clothing in yellow, orange and red.

Check out the Pulsar P349 High Vis Overalls, Granite Workwear price only £47.94 including VAT. These overalls are tough and durable and feature a YKK zip with press stud storm flap and 3M Scotchlite reflective tape, the overalls are also Teflon coated to repel grease, dirt and water. With additional knee pad pockets the overalls are available in sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

The Pulsarail PR499 High Vis Unlined Storm Coat is now available at Granite Workwear in sizes ranging from XS to 7XL. This jacket is one of the best on the market in the style of a ski jacket it has fully tamed seams for watertight integrity. The jacket has a draw cord waist to ensure it fits the wearer precisely; it also has numerous pockets ideal for mobile phones, pens and A4 documents, only £47.94 including VAT.

For £101.94 including VAT is the Sioen Gladstone 5729 High Vis Red Multi Norm Trousers. These trousers conform to the following standards:

EN471 Class 1:2 High Visibility
EN531 and EN14116 Inner index 3 / outer index 1 flame retardancy
EN1149-5 Anti Static
EN13034 Protection from liquid chemicals
EN343 Class 3:3 Waterproof and breath ability

These trousers feature an elasticated waist with a drawstring and are also flame retardant. Now available at Granite Workwear.

View our entire range of High Visability Clothing here.

The fantastic Carhartt Workwear range at Granite Workwear

2011-11-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

Now at Granite Workwear there is a great range of Carhartt Workwear products available. Carhartt is a US based clothing company founded in 1889 and popularly known for its work clothes. Here at Granite we have a wide variety from trousers, overalls and hats, to jackets, work bags and T-shirts, view the whole range here.

Workwear does not come more traditional than the Carhartt C001 Chore coat. This coat features four riveted patch pockets, one even has a buttoned flap closure on the chest and an inside patch pocket. Available in a choice of two colours, the coat offers ultimate durability, with triple stitched seams; the Carhartt Chore Coat will probably outlast you!

The Carhartt C001 Chore Coat,with its on-trend corduroy collar is made from 100% cotton duck canvas and also has a bi-swing back which allows the wearer a much greater range of movement. With 7 size options this Chore coat is perfect for the upcoming winter months, our price only £113.94 including VAT.

Pulsarail PR505 High Vis Overall - Available Soon

2011-10-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

Caught working in the cold on a rainy winter day? The Pulsarail PR505 High Vis Overall will keep you covered. This set of coveralls, available in November, features fully taped seams for watertight integrity. An integral hood is enclosed with a waterproof zip in order to avoid cold water down the neck. This coverall conforms to the regulations of Class 3 breathable and waterproofing guidelines, giving you the peace of mind of warm comfort in the worst conditions.

This piece features fully taped seams for a watertight seal against the elements. The zipper is a full-body length in order to help you avoid those awkward clothing changes. This is a YKK 2-way zip that will work from the bottom or top of this weatherproof garment.

Additional features include 3M reflective tape for dark or stormy weather conditions. There's no sense being out in the dark without the proper reflective gear. This stuff will stand up to whatever the weather brings. Need room for your tools and flashlight? This overall includes leg, chest and hip pockets, all with bellows for plenty of extra room.

An elasticated back waist gives a flattering look to even the burliest outdoor worker. Adjustable storm wrist and leg cuffs add extra security with Velcro flaps. The bulkiest boots will fit with ease under the gusseted leg cuffs. No need to unzip the whole coverall, just loosen the cuffs at your ankle in order to tighten or remove your boots.

This Pulsarail Overall can be used over the Thinsulate thermal lining during the coldest conditions. This will provide added cold and wind protection without extra bulk. The thermal lining zips easily into the overall, so no need to wrestle into two separate pieces each time you head out into the cold for work. Granite Workwear has you covered for all your outdoor needs. When others retreat into their warm and cozy homes, you can gear up and head out into the ugliest conditions.

Pre-order yours today, £72.95 including VAT!

Fantastic Bluetooth Safety Glasses

2011-09-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

Safety glasses embody one of those contradictions in the workplace. You’re in trouble if you don’t wear them because of the safety issues, and you’re in trouble if you do wear them because they are relatively unattractive. With Venitex BBCOM Bluetooth Safety Glasses, you’ve found something unique in the world – a pair of safety glasses that effectively protect your eyes while being comfortable and attractive as well. In fact, with Bluetooth technology you may find so many uses for Venitex safety glasses that you will never want to take them off.

Venitex safety glasses fit snug to your head and feel like they’ll never let go, an important quality when you’re hands are full of material, wood chips and shrapnel. Flying debris could seriously hurt your eyes, considering how vulnerable eyes are in the workplace. You don’t have to worry about Venitex’s safety glasses coming off in the workplace, ever. Considering the handsome wrap-around design and electric blue colouring, you may not take they off anyway.The one thing you must make note of when looking at the Venitex BBCOM Bluetooth is the fact that they are Bluetooth enabled. That means you can communicate with others, even though the noise around you is very loud. Any you can download music files with the A2DP profile, making the work place a bearable place noise-wise. Gel earpieces attached to discrete wires from the safety glasses boughs make for effective transmission without putting your safety in jeopardy. They function both as earplugs and earphones.When it comes to the colour of the glasses, there are three lens tints to choose from: Clear for ordinary work conditions, smoke tint for sun glare and artificial light glare, and yellow for low lit work areas. The technology requires lithium battery power and two batteries come with the purchase price. The glasses include a recharging cord. A discrete LED also communicated the charging status of the glasses. An extra pair of silica gel is included.With Venitex BBCOM Bluetooth safety glasses from Granite Workwear you will enjoy comfort, style and functionality. The amazing Bluetooth technology makes the glasses unique, something you will realize when you use the technology. Bluetooth technology not only makes the workplace safer by increasing communication, but it also makes the workplace pleasant for the wearer. Venitex BBCOM Bluetooth has the answer to all your safety glasses needs today and in the future.

Our price for one pair of Venitex BBCOM Bluetooth safety glasses is £234 including VAT (£195 without).

Granite Workwear Now Stocking Blundstone Boots, Australia's Number One Leisure Boots

2011-08-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

There are boots then there are one of a kind boots that all of us would be proud to wear out and about. For those who are looking for these special boots, look no further than the Blundstone boot. This is a tough boot that anyone can wear and whether paired with a pair of jeans or shorts these boots are not only functional, but stylish.

In terms of fit, it is definitely snug and even after the boots have been worn constantly they still retain their sturdiness. This ensures that the feet and back always have the right kind of support as you go about your day to day business.

The one thing that will surely stand out in regards to the Blunderstone boots is the fact that even though the exterior is as tough as they come the interior is smooth and comfortable for the feet. This means that anyone can wear the shoes for long distance without feeling the discomfort that comes with most boots.

When it comes to the colour of the shoe, there are several tones that one can choose from so as to have a colour coordinated ensemble. However, to make it easier to select the right kind of colour combination it would be best to purchase both the brown and black Blunstone boot. This will ensure that regardless of the weather or the terrain there is a solid pair of boots on hand to match every outfit.

Aesthetics aside, these boots are as functional as boots come. For starters the grip these boots provide the wearer is exceptional. This will come to the fore whether you are taking a walk around town or hiking in the great outdoors.

In addition to this, the boots age gracefully. This means that whether you have just brought the shoes or have had them for years, they will still maintain that je ne se qui that comes with top notch boots.

With regards to the maintenance of the boots, this could not be simpler. This is because unlike most boots that are available in the market these ones do not have nooks and crevices, which are difficult to maintain. In short, if you are looking for one of a kind boots, that are built to last then Blundstone boots are definitely it.

A New Ladder for Any Job

2011-07-11T03:39:00.000-07:00

To accomplish any job correctly and safely, you need to have the right equipment which can be found here at Granite Workwear

The great thing about some pieces of equipment is that they are right for a large number of jobs. Many of us have found ourselves trying to use ladders for any number of jobs around the house or yard for which they are just simply not suitable. Often we catch ourselves leaning small ladders into bushes, putting aluminium tips over the tops of window frames or even against glass. Who has not dared to think of stepping onto the top step of a short ladder even though the sticker warning us against this is staring us dead in the face?

Using the proper equipment can prevent falls and serious injury when it comes to working with heights. The proper equipment can be even more essential if you are dealing with paints or even power equipment that has fatal capabilities at larger heights. So put that wobbly ladder away for good and ease the mind of your boss or significant other by purchasing the Fruit Ladder Tripod. This is a wonderful product that has a great name. It is most suited for trimming greenery or performing any type of maintenance work in high to out of reach places. The product utilizes a tripod design that gives you the stability most ladders cannot offer. It is also suitable for use on any surface. It features clawed, anti-slip feet for use under any condition and this is a heart-warming feature when you are fifteen feet off the ground with electric hedge trimmers! If the clawed feet might do damage to any kind of sensitive surface that you are working on, then you can feel assured in knowing that it comes with free protective rubber guards, which are normally sold separately with any other conventional product of this nature that you would consider purchasing.

The ladder itself is constructed using an aluminium alloy that can hold up to 100 kg. safely. The convenience of the product is built right into the design. The back leg is adjustable for height differences and steps are double ringed for comfort. The ladder itself is lightweight to get the job done quickly without tiring you to the point of exhaustion. The wide base gives you stability beyond comparison and at a cost of only £105.00 you get a product that is sure to deliver a satisfactory performance again and again.

Quality Workwear

2011-06-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

No matter what profession or trade that you are involved in, the first thing that everybody does before heading off to work in the morning is to get dressed in appropriate attire. Whether you are a business man looking for that smart professional look, or a construction worker who requires durable clothing that offers protection from the wear and tear of the building site and the elements, Granite Workwear is the place to find high quality goods at affordable prices.

The quality of Granite Workwears clothing and equipment can't be underestimated! With a twelve month guarantee on all purchases, you know that we are a company that has a great deal of pride and confidence in the products that we provide to all industries. The durablity of our workwear is so great that they can be industrially laundered at up to 90 degrees cellcius. Our protective workwear is also among the very best available on the market today.

Granite Workwear offers teflon coated, ergonomically designed knee pads to fit with the articulation of the knee, as well as other protective wear including the shoulders, head and feet. Low cost and extremely effective high visibilty clothing; from jackets with two way zips and high collars for additional protection from the wind and rain, to high-vis gloves, trousers and belts.

Granite Workwear is a comprehensive website that offers all types of workwear to protect against elements, help you dress classy as needs be, and provides accessories to help you stay comfortable at work.
Besides providing all sorts of clothing for different occupations that work in harsh conditions, and also provides business attire for the every day businessman. They have a wide selection of high quality, fashionable, and reasonably priced polo shirts, trousers, jackets, hats and bags. Check out the website now!

Flexothane Agro Spray

2011-04-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

These days a lot of farmers still protect themselves with polyester cotton or cotton overalls when spraying. For some low risk chemicals such as highly water diluted applications, this is believed to be sufficient. Unbelievably, there are no specific European EN standards for protective clothing for operators applying pesticides or insecticides. Some member states have developed their own approach to this issue and there is a draft ISO standard (ISO/DIS 27065 which is under discussion with the CEN).
Materials Safety Data Sheets for crop protection chemicals rarely go any further than stating that ‘Appropriate PPE must be selected’.

Think about this..........
During operations such as pouring , loading and mixing, you will come into contact with the concentrated formulations of sometimes very aggressive and / or toxic pesticides. Do you want your offspring to be limited to playing the banjo in the Everglades?

The Sioen Agro Spray protection range has been specifically designed for the agricultural and horticultural industries. It is also suitable for local and regional authorities for verge spraying and parks departments etc. Sioen are the European specialists when it comes to protective workwear clothing. The efforts that they have made since the introduction of the 89/686/EC directive has proven that the protective workwear clothing that they have developed for the agricultural market is ‘fit for purpose’ and amply fulfills the requirements of the ISO/DIS document.

The Agro Spray range is based on Flexothane Classic which is certified to EN 14065.
In addition to this it has been tested as specified in the normative part of DIN 32781;2007 against the aqueous reference formulations for the following parameters and no penetration was detected:-

(SC) Suspension Concentrate.
(WG) Water dispersable granules.
(EC) Emulsifiable Concentrates.
(SC) Soluble Concentrate.
(EW) Emulsions – Oil in water.

This may all sound a little too European Parliament speak. The gist of this is that it is a belt and braces approach which is essential where protection from herbicides and pesticides are concerned.

The Agro Spray range has also been thoughtfully designed to include bib and brace overalls which have the new Flexothane 3D (for 3 dimensional) fabric making up additional protection on the legs below the knees. This significantly improves the mechanical and breaking strength as well as the abrasion resistance. At the same time it also offers additional shock absorbtion or ballistic protection. Ideal when you are spraying over rough ground knee high in thistles.
The range also includes an Agro Spray jacket with hood and extended back and a Agro Spray bib brace overall without the 3D protection on the lower legs. All-in-all, an excellent solution to a problem that, unfortunately, a lot of people do not realise exists.

Flexothane Waterproof Workwear

2011-04-26T02:41:00.000-07:00

It’s always been complicated to find water-proof garments which can be appropriate for outdoor work. This may possibly seem to be an unusual point to make, however the great majority of waterproof clothing utilised by those that work outside for a job, were only actually developed in order to keep out water, they were certainly not developed to work in. Many outdoor employees discover that these types of clothes are too unpleasant, heavy or rigid and not actually strong enough with regard to the actual job many people have to perform. Modern day production methods and high-tech materials provide solutions for this particular age-old dilemma.

Flexothane is a polyurethane membrane layer, transfer coated on top of a knitted polyamide support (the exact same fibres which stop a chainsaw). This is actually a material that ended up being initially created for use in armed forces applications. The high manufacturing standards of Flexothane along with its exceptional properties is today providing huge advantages in the outdoor work place. Flexothane, which isn't a woven fabric, is completely waterproof. It's appropriateness for work is actually improved by the exceptional flexibility of the material. As much as 150% extension enables wonderful freedom of movement, without placing unnecessary tension on the seams. The fabric is actually permeable, and even though it doesn't breathe at the very same standard as a number of the more costly mountain climbing waterproofs, it's completely satisfactory for the work place. Undesirable weather conditions especially extreme cold leads to many waterproof garments to crack. Uv light, that degrades a number of waterproof garments, does not have any effect on Flexothane and even though the actual material is extremely light-weight, it is very durable. Flexothane maintains its soft flexible qualities even at sub zero temperatures, and has no negative effects right down to - 40 degrees centigrade. It's not possible to get those lengthy "L" shaped tears associated with woven fabrics and should you end up being unfortunate enough to pierce the fabric on anything like barbed wire. It is actually really easy to repair. Flexothane is resistant to oils as well as hydrocarbons, is machine washable and may also be dry cleaned. An additional feature is the application of a bio-proof anti-fungicidal agent. This will help to counteract the nasty smells usually associated with waterproofs, that have been put away without airing. This promotes mildew and mould to develop and in a comparatively small amount of time the smells become obvious. The Bio-proof treatment method typically lasts about fifty washes, which usually should be about the same period as the life of the garment.

Garments made from Flexothane have all been crafted specifically with the outdoor worker in mind. It complies with the European standard EN 343, is an exceptionally high standard for waterproof clothing. The clothes are cut generously in order to allow optimum freedom of movement and yet still maintain shape and style. All Flexothane garments have high frequency welded seams in order to provide the perfect defence against leaking. A variety of jackets as well as trousers and bib and brace overalls and thermal overalls are available and may be found in a number of designs, sizes from small to XXXL, and colours that include Olive, Navy Blue, Yellow and Orange, all at prices that are remarkably affordable. In general, Flexothane is really a waterproof you should think about. Don’t wait until the next time you are getting wet.

Safety eyewear:

2011-04-20T03:05:00.000-07:00

Eyesight safety provision as well as wearing is a requirement under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations.

Eyesight Protection needs to be employed around dangerous environments wherever there is actually a danger regarding projectiles harming the eyes.

Our own selection of Bolle and Peltor Safety Glasses fulfils the requirements associated with EN166, the European Norm with regard to Industrial Eye Protection. This not simply incorporates requirements with regard to liquids, airborne dirt and dust and molten metal protection but additionally impact performance with all of our Bolle and Peltor Safety Glasses ideal for withstanding low energy impact.

Bolle and Peltor Safety Glasses are only able to be offered as low energy impact eye protection. This is primarily because Safety Glasses sit on the wearer’s nose where almost all impact energy needs to be absorbed.

If greater impacts are anticipated then Safety Goggles as well as Safety Face shields will have to be considered.

Bolle Safety Glasses marked EN166 1F satisfy this particular requirement and are also optically correct consequently they might be worn for many hours with no danger associated with headaches.

Prior to you buying the kind of Safety Eyewear you need you'll want to initially think about the kind of hazard being encountered and the ideal type of eye protection suitable for that hazard.

Types of hazard:

Mechanical - Flying particles, airborne dirt and dust or even molten metal.

Chemical - Gases, fumes or perhaps liquid splash.

Radiation - Temperature (Infra-red), uv light or even glare.

Laserlight - Over a broad spectrum of wavelengths from Uv to Infra-red.

Category of eye protection:

Safety Glasses - Comfortable and offered in a number of designs are not going to keep out airborne debris, gas or even molten metal. Bolle designs are obtainable with prescription lenses.

Safety Goggles - Can offer protection for all those forms of hazards. May possibly be put on over spectacles.

Safety Face Shield - Protects the face area along with the eyes nonetheless will not keep out airborne dirt and dust or even gas. Comfortable to make use of for lengthy periods.

In cases where high-impact is anticipated then Safety Goggles or even Safety Face shields will be much more suitable as they distribute the actual force associated with the impact across the face instead of the nose which happens to be exactly what our Bolle and Peltor Safety Glasses accomplish.

Different shades of lenses are available for specialist sectors including Foundries, Glass working as well as with Welding. Bolle also have a comprehensive and high quality range of welding masks for this purpose.

Various lens shades may also improve eyesight with regard to jobs such as examination or low light conditions.

Flexothane: A fabric which is as useful now as it was 25 years ago.

2011-04-11T01:45:00.000-07:00

Flexothane is the consequence of many years of research and development in textile technology. It is a polyurethane coating on top of a knitted base fabric.

This is a technical fabric that promises you excellent protection. The polyurethane coating on a stretchable (approximately 150%) knitted base helps make it waterproof and windproof, noiseless and highly tear resistant.

The garment seams are welded and stitched. The material, produced by SIOEN in Belgium, is high frequency (HF) welded to guarantee the water proofing of all seams.
The knitted fabric is breathable and absorbs perspiration avoiding that clammy feeling. Your whole body stays dry plus the temperature is regulated.

Strong, supple, light and noiseless. Flexothane is resilient to rough handling and foul weather. Garments produced from Flexothane are durable and easy care.

Machine washable, it is extremely resistant against various types of oil derivates, fuel, diesel, grease etc. plus the smooth outside PU coated surface can be quite easily wiped clean.

Flexothane Kleen is washable at 95°C, without losing its original shape. You don’t need to bother about getting dirty!

When laundering there should be no treatment with chlorine, and no dry cleaning, ironing or tumble drying.

Before the introduction of Flexothane, waterproof garments were often heavy, cumbersome, uncomfortable, as well as hard to maintain.

For more than two-and-a-half decades now, Flexothane continues to offer high degrees of protection and comfort. It is actually specially engineered to form a durable, impenetrable barrier against water and wind, while retaining an advanced level of wearer comfort.

A Flexothane garment is usually recognised on account of durable Flexothane press studs along with a recognisable heat-transfer label. A Flexothane stamp on the inside of the garment including a colourful hangtag and a Flexothane label will also confirm its provenance.

The main two types of Flexothane for the mass market are ‘Essential’ which is good for domestic and occasional work use, and ‘Classic’ which is a heavier weight and significantly more durable. Used extensively in the agricultural industry from lambing to chemical spraying it is largely the fabric / brand of first choice.

Pulsarail products

2011-03-08T08:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of new items feeding through on the development side later in the year – just in time for the next big freeze! Our range of Pulsar and Pulsarail high vis clothing has sold exceptionally well this last year. Cotton and polyester yarn prices have hit record highs which have impacted strongly on the raw fabric price. This has been controlled very well and we have seen minimal increases reaching the retail side. So much so that the cheeper end of the competition has not had the success in controlling their costs. This has resulted in a significant closing of prices between the cheep and nasty side of the supply chain and our own range of Pulsar and Pulsarail. Several of the corporate contracts that we are supplying have been commenting on this and have made the step up in quality by purchasing our own plain, embroidered and printed High Vis range.

The availability of Cotton has been significantly reduced by the floods in Pakistan (a second year of cotton crop failure), flooding in Australia, drought in central and northern China so we anticipate more increases in cotton prices up to the third quarter of the year. I am sure that I don’t have to remind anyone of the oil price increases over the last few months. This has and will continue to impact adversely on synthetic yarn prices such as polyester, nylon and some of the more exotic yarns now being produced. So not a rosy outlook.

However, this has impacted on our business in an unexpected way. As the cheeper end has to pay significantly more for its basic raw materials as they have become scarce and it has enabled the gap to close between the better end products on the market as the gap between well produced fabric and the ‘never mind the quality – feel the width’ type has closed significantly. The main difference in the cost price of the garments now being the superior make-up, components and finishes that are applied. If a comparative review was applied to the cheeper end versus the Pulsar and Pulsarail range regarding the ‘life cost’ of a garment I for one am convinced that whilst in the past, our ranges have always offered better value for money, I am absoloutely sure that to stick to the cheepest available in the market just to squeeze into a budget would be absoloute madness. The range specifically designed for rail clothing GO/RT3279 certified and for highways and construction in our opinion, offers the best value for money in the marketplace.

Lots more new goodies in the range come August / September to keep you nice and warm and comfortable – and seen!

Watch this space for announcements as they complete their testing and certification.

2011-02-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

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.

High Vis Garments

2011-02-15T15:24:00.000-08:00

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.

Choosing your Safety Footwear

2011-02-10T07:05:00.001-08:00

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.

GO/RT 3279 Standard for Railway High Vis

2011-02-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

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

Choosing Workwear; Price or Quality?

2011-02-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

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.’

Employers responsibility for High Vis Clothing.

2011-01-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

The following advice is provided by the Health and Safety Executive to Employers regarding their responsibilities in regard to the supply and use of High Vis clothing:-

Storage Facilities must be provided for the clothing when not in use.

Adequate information must be provided along with training and instruction to ensure that employees use High Vis clothing correctly – This should include the explanation of why it is needed, what the risks are and how and when it should be worn.

Employees should be supervised to ensure that the clothing is actually worn and used correctly – whenever it is needed.

The employer must ensure that the High Vis clothing is maintained in a clean state and be in working order. Dirty, oily or greasy high vis garments may give the wearer a false impression of how well they can be seen and in itself could lead to accidents.

If an employee may be exposed to significant risks to their safety whilst at work then it is the employers responsibility to provide clothing free of charge to that employee. Some businesses provide funding to the employee to purchase their own High Vis garments. You must ensure, however, that the correct garments are purchased that comply with the relevant EN or GO/RT3279 standard. If you are unsure that they comply then request to view the garment test report from the supplier. Testing is expensive and suppliers / manufacturers are usually only too pleased to prove that they have jumped through all of the hoops to provice a correctly certified garment. There are garments on the market that do not comply – be aware.

Granite Workwear exhibiting at LAMMA 2011 for the 5th Year.

2011-01-05T07:17:00.000-08:00

The 30th LAMMA agricultural machinery show takes place at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground, Winthorpe Newark NG24 2NY this year on Wednesday & Thursday 19th – 20th January. A major show in the farming calender for both UK and overseas farmers. At around 700 exhibitors it is one of Europes major agricultural events showcasing equipment for the smallholder up to the largest estates. 30 Years ago it was free to attend and cheap to exhibit and it soon became a place of pilgrimage for all those who love their farm machinery.

Granite Workwear Ltd has been exhibiting for the past 5 years and has a healthy relationship supplying the farming industry having grown out of the original business of free range outdoor reared pork and free range eggs. This year we have increased the stand space (Hall 2 / Stand 222) yet again to cope with demand and will be offering several ‘Show Specials’ despite the recent rise in VAT.

The show is one of few that can honestly profess to have the its visitor at heart. Free parking and Free entry have been maintained yet again. Making this an excellent day out and a show not to be missed. It’s not all about big arable kit. There’s a strong turnout of livestock equipment manufacturers as well as firms that repair and refurbish equipment.

Granite Workwear will be offering our comprehensive range of high quality PPE, High Vis, Safety Boots, Muck Boots, and Overalls and will have a complete range of Thermals to combat the recent weather conditions.

Maintenance of chainsaw clothing

2011-01-04T07:14:00.000-08:00

The wearing of chainsaw protective clothing is a legal requirement in many instances.

A report published in the Journal of Forest Engineering in New Zealand concluded that "chainsaw garments which were exposed to even the smallest amount of oil, comprehensively failed cut tests".
Chainsaw clothing must be washed regularly to maintain their protective properties.

Check the label first to see if they can be machine washed and follow the HLCC (wash instructions) to the letter. Remove as much oil and dirt as possible from the surface your trousers or jacket with a light washing detergent. The hotter the wash the better the result you will get but check the label, some garments can only be washed at 40 degrees and some can be washed at 60. After washing, can you spin dry? Check the label, this may affect the blocking material.

Heat has a detrimental effect to the blocking fibres ability to stop a saw chain. If you have burned your trousers, throw them away, they will not give you adequate protection.
Exhaust gasses from chainsaws occasionally burn, scorch or melt the outer fabric and this can have a significant effect on the blocking fibres beneath. Do not take unnecessary risks they will not give you the protection you require.

Should you tear the outer fabric on your garment you are allowed to repair it but you must ensure that you do not interfere with the protective blocking material. Do not sew a patch onto the garment with the thread holding the blocking fibres. Patches should be hand stitched to the outer fabric only. If you stitch in the blocking material you can significantly affect its ability to stop the saw.

The CE standard states that:-
"No personal protective equipment can ensure 100% protection against cutting from a hand-held chain saw".
In the majority of accidents, well-maintained garments will stop the saw. If there is a cut through the garment there will be a significant reduction in the injury. Occasionally when a kick back occurs, the garment stops the rotation of the saw, but the impact forces the teeth through the blocking material giving puncture wounds. No garment can protect from this.

It would be wise to keep a couple of packets of Celox material – one in the trouser and one in the truck to ensure that any deep cuts can be treated effectively.

Safety Gloves for Mechanical and other Hazards

2010-06-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

In a previous article we gave details of Safety Gloves for protecting against the risk of handling chemical and biological hazards, now we will give information on other types of safety gloves to protect against other hazards.

Safety Gloves should be issued and worn after undertaking a Risk Assessment for people who have to handle or come into contact with:

Materials with sharp or rough edges
Very hot or very cold materials
Fire
Electrical current

There are certain standards that have to be conformed to:

EN 388 is for gloves designed to provide protection against mechanical risks. It specifies requirements for resistance to damage from abrasion, perforation, tearing and cutting.
EN 407 is for gloves designed to provide protection against thermal hazards e.g. heat and or fire.
EN 511 is for gloves designed to protect from cold conditions.
EN 12477 is for gloves designed to give protection when using welding equipment.

Gloves for protection against mechanical hazards usually have a fabric base to provide resistance to damage. For years the outer fabric was leather but now the outer is made from a polymer that gives protection from water and chemicals. For resistance to cuts the outer is often made of synthetic high performance yarns e.g. Kevlar™. Generally these gloves are re-usable rather than disposable. However if the outer surface has been damaged they must be disposed of immediately, regular checks must therefore be made.

The types of materials most commonly in use are:

Latex natural rubber is a very elastic and flexible material depending on the formulation of a particular glove, natural rubber can offer abrasion, tear and cut resistance. However some people suffer allergic reactions to latex, so individual user requirements must be taken into account.
Nitrile gives excellent abrasion and puncture resistance whilst retaining flexibility and comfort. It is also less likely to cause allergic reactions.
Polyvinyl Chloride PVC can offer abrasion and puncture resistance, if thick enough it can afford some cut protection. Generally tear resistance is poor.
Leather a natural material can be modified during the tanning process to give different properties. Leather gloves come in a large range of thickness and styles and vary widely in protection given, from specialised to very basic general purpose gloves.
Kevlar™ brand fibre (Par Aramid fibre) a specialist artificial yarn from which gloves and sleeves can be knitted. These have excellent tear, abrasion and cut resistance.

For gloves tested against EN388 there should be a pictogram with numbers underneath to show the level of protection against from left to right; abrasion, cut, tear and puncture. The levels go between 0 and 4 for abrasion, tear and puncture and 0 and 5 for blade cut resistance. 0 means it has either not been tested or has failed.

4 2 3 1

There is also a pictogram for gloves that have a particular resistance to impact cuts

At no time should protective gloves be used as an alternative to the fitting and proper use of guards on machinery or tools.

Thermal Hazards

Gloves that are resistant to thermal hazards either heat or cold can be manufactured using a variety of materials.

Aluminised gloves help with the reflection of heat and are normally used where the main source of heat is radiant e.g. in a blast furnace. Materials often aluminised are Para Amid and leather.
Leather is a good protective material against cold as long as it does not get wet and often they are treated with waterproofing agents. Leather is also a good material for welding gloves as it does not melt or burn unlike many synthetic fibres.
Poly Viloft is a synthetic fibre that gives good thermal insulation properties against cold.
Para Aramid e.g. Kevlar™ developed for aerospace to give heat resistance for the extreme temperatures during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, is extremely good against flame, and convection heat.
Cotton has only moderate resistance to heat and cold, the main problem is that to be effective the material has to be thick which limits dexterity.

In the standards for resistance to cold the following categories are used:
a. Resistance to convective cold 0 to 4
b. Resistance to contact cold 0 to 4
c. Permeability to water 0 to 1

The Pictogram used to show that gloves are resistant to cold is

3 2 1

In the standards for resistance to heat the following categories are used:
a. Resistance to flammability 0 to 4
b. Resistance to contact heat 0 to 4
c. Resistance to convection heat 0 to 3
d. Resistance to radiant heat 0 to 4
e. Resistance to small pieces of molten metal 0 to 4
f. Resistance to large splashes of molten metal

The pictogram used to show the gloves resistance to heat is

4 3 2 3 2 1

There also standards applicable particularly to chainsaw protective gloves that have been covered in previous articles on the Granite Workwear web site see A Guide to Chainsaw Protective Clothing and Equipment published 11th June 2010.

In our range of gloves we have products that cover all aspects of protection.

Safety Gloves for Chemical and Biological Hazards

2010-06-17T02:06:00.000-07:00

Safety Gloves should be issued and worn after undertaking a Risk Assessment for people who have to handle:

Hazardous materials
Toxic chemicals
Corrosive materials

No single glove will meet the needs of everyone. Gloves must be selected on the basis of the materials being handled and the type of work undertaken.

The use of protective gloves should be seen as a control measure of last resort and should always be used in conjunction with other measures. This is because:

Gloves only protect the wearer – they do not remove the contaminant from the workplace environment.
If protective gloves are used incorrectly, or badly maintained, the wearer may not be protected - when gloves fail they fail completely which then exposes the user to the hazard.
Gloves themselves can cause skin problems.
Wearing gloves interferes with the wearer’s sense of touch.
The extent of protection depends on good fit.
Some types of glove are inconvenient and interfere with the way people work.

However, by selecting the right glove for the task at hand, understanding the limits of the selected glove and by knowing how to correctly use them, gloves can help to remove dangerous exposures.

There are various standards that have to be achieved for different risks.

EN 374 is for gloves designed to protect from chemicals and micro-organisms. This standard specifies the requirements of gloves for protection against chemicals and/or micro-organisms. Specific Requirements are that gloves need to be:

Sealed against penetration of liquids according to method in EN 374-2. This test is a pass/fail test.
Permeation resistance to chemicals tested according to method EN 374-3. Each combination of glove/chemical is classified according to the time the glove resists to permeation of the chemical.

EN 455 is used to assess gloves intended for use in health care. A glove that conforms to this standard will provide adequate protection against infection risks, but chemical resistance will not have been assessed.

There are four factors to consider when deciding which glove is suitable for your work

(a) The type of hazard (chemical type, Bio-hazard)
(b) The task
(c) The user (size and fit, state of health, etc.)
(d) The workplace conditions (ergonomics, temperature, wet or dry, etc.),

They need to be considered together and not in isolation as it is the interaction of all these points that will determine the suitability of the glove.

In the Risk Assessment it is not enough to simply state that gloves are required, the type of glove must be specified along with any other control methods used to avoid or limit contact and also any special measures that must be taken to ensure that the protection of the glove is maintained, for example specifying when gloves should be changed.

Chemical Hazard

It is impossible for one glove material to offer complete protection from all substances/chemicals. All of them are liable to damage or failure by degradation or permeation by some chemicals. In most instances where there is need for protection against accidental contact, a nitrile glove will be the best choice.

Degradation is damage caused by changes in one or more of the physical properties after contact with the chemical, signs of degradation are normally visible with indications being swelling, loss of flexibility or areas of stickiness.

Permeation is where a chemical passes through the glove material by diffusion without damaging the actual glove, this is normally expressed as the ‘breakthrough time’, this is the measure of how quickly a chemical can permeate the glove and will be specific for the particular model of the glove.

Generally the thicker the glove, the longer the breakthrough time is. The breakthrough time is the maximum time that it can be used in contact with the hazard and must be changed at that time even if the task has not been completed. Breakthrough time can also be impacted adversely if the chemicals are warmer then the ambient temperature and also are of higher concentration.

If the task involves working with chemicals classed as toxic, harmful on skin contact or capable of absorption through the skin you should always consult the material safety data sheets for the chemicals used, or a chemical resistance chart to select the most suitable type of glove.

Examples of Chemical Hazards

Area	Example of Hazard
Engineering	Metalworking fluids, oils, solvents, degreasers, adhesives, cement, etc.
Laboratory	Acids, alkalis, oils, solvents, etc.
Maintenance	Solvents, oils, paint, epoxy resins, degreasers, cements, tar, etc.
Printing	Processing chemicals, inks, plate cleaning solvents, adhesives, etc.
Catering	Dishwasher liquids, oven cleaners, surface cleaning agents, water, etc.
Agriculture	Pesticides, weed-killers, oils, solvents, etc.
Cleaning	Bleaches, cleaning agents, detergents, water, etc.
Janitorial	Cleaning agents, solvents (i.e. bleach), etc.
Office	Solvents, glues, cleaning agents, water, etc.

Whereas the thicker the material generally the more resistance the need for dexterity has to be taken into account in the selection of the glove. Also the cuff length must be taken into account; generally disposable gloves cover only a small area of the wrist, often leaving a gap between the glove and the sleeve of the protective clothing. There are longer gloves available to eliminate this.

Grip requirements also need to be taken into account, if working in wet and oily conditions gloves with a textured surface should be used.

Abrasion, puncture, tearing and snagging risks also have to be taken into account, generally disposable gloves do not offer good resistance to these hazards and therefore thicker re-usable gloves should be considered.

User requirements

Using the correct size of gloves is essential; gloves that are too small will restrict the hand and cause fatigue and rashes. Gloves that are too large are also uncomfortable, interfere with grip and can easily get snagged, a full range of sizes should be available.

Many people are allergic to latex and exposure can cause rashes, breathing problems and in very rare cases anaphylactic shock. In this case then nitrile gloves should be used.

Any cuts and abrasions on the hands should be covered with a waterproof dressing before donning the gloves.

If somebody has eczema they may need to use a cotton liner inside the gloves. Also they should use a moisturising cream after washing their hands after using the gloves.

Granite Workwear have a comprehensive range of safety gloves suitable for all uses on our website.

In a later article we will be looking at Safety Gloves for Mechanical and Other hazards.

A Guide to Chainsaw Protective Clothing and Equipment

2010-06-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

Chainsaws are potentially one of the most dangerous tools in general use, the saw is made to cut easily through large branches and tree trunks so any part of the human body will have no resistance at all to the cutting power in use.

Therefore there are recognised standards for the PPE required to minimise the risks in the case of clothing these are the standards EN 381. These standards specify levels of protection related to the speed of the chain and also the amount of coverage of the protected areas.

Class 0 resists chains up to the speed of 16 metres per second
Class 1 resists chains up to the speed of 20 metres per second
Class 2 resists chains up to the speed of 24 metres per second
Class 3 resists chains up to the speed of 28 metres per second
Class 4 resists chains up to the speed of 34 metres per second

There are also different parts to the standards each of which covers a specific part of the body:

EN 381-5 Leg protection
This is split into 3 different levels A, B and C and the minimum requirement is Class 1
A protects the front and ride side rear to both legs
B gives additional protection to rear left side of the right leg
C gives all round protection to both legs

EN 381-7 Chainsaw Gloves
This is split into 2 Different Levels A and B
A gives protection to the left hand
B gives protection to both hands

EN 381-9 Chainsaw protective Gaiters
These are recommended for occasional chainsaw users when working on even ground with little risk of tripping or snagging, worn in combination with steel toecap safety boots

EN381-11 Upper part of Body
These garments are normally Class 0 as to achieve higher levels would involve so many layers of material that the garment will be too heavy and unwieldy, leading to lack of mobility and the increased risk of heat exhaustion, both of these will have a negative impact on Safety.

There is a separate standard for Footwear EN 17249:2004
These items cannot be Class 0, they can be Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 and are the only items that can achieve Class 4 status.
They must be marked with the Year and Quarter of manufacture.

How does chainsaw protection work?

There is no flexible material that can be worn as clothing, gloves or boots that can be totally impervious to cuts from chainsaw blades. Therefore a number of layers of protection are the only way forward.

The outer layer normally comprises of a material that is tough and slippery, this is mainly to ensure that outer surface is resistant to minor damage from thorns and other snagging mediums, which could expose the under protective layers. Beneath this, long, loose fibres of ballistic nylon or Kevlar are layered. When a saw contacts the trousers, the outer layer is immediately cut and the nylon or Kevlar is drawn out and wraps around the saw's drive sprocket, locking it solid and halting the chain, thereby limiting damage to the operator's limb.

Once the item has been cut it must be scrapped as the protection has been totally compromised. The saw must be stripped down and the fibres fully removed before using it again.

Marking

All Chainsaw protective clothing, boots and gloves sold in the EU must carry a pictogram depicting a chainsaw and information of the Class and Design it is rated to, this pictogram must be a minimum of 30mm x 30mm. For example:

Other items that must be used when using a chainsaw are:
Safety Helmet to the minimum standard EN 397 but recommended to EN 12492 if involved in tree climbing operations.
Hearing Protection to EN 352-1 (noise levels are typically 115 dB)
Eye Protection Mesh Visor to EN 1731
Safety Glasses to EN 166
As these are used for protection in other activities not just for chainsaw work they do not have to be marked with the pictogram.

Granite Workwear has always kept up to date with the latest developments in Chainsaw Protective Clothing and Equipment and indeed have a specialist Forestry section on the web site which is subdivided into Clothing, Footwear and Tools and Accessories. New items are added on a regular basis as they become available, we are very happy to answer any questions you may have on what is the best solution for your particular needs.

Risk Assessment: A legal requirement and tool for the selection of PPE

2010-05-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

If you have been reading some of our other articles, you will have seen that we regularly talk about the need for carrying out a Risk Assessment. In this article we will explain why Risk Assessments are so important and give you some pointers as to how to carry one out.

A risk assessment is a legal requirement and also provides for the effective management of health and safety within your workplace. This is to ensure that no-one gets hurt or becomes ill due to working. Illness or injury have consequences for the person, but also affects your business. Output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increased and you may have to go to court.

Even if you are self-employed and do not have employees, you still need to assess health and safety risks that may affect you and others such as fellow contractors, office staff and members of the public.

By identifying what hazards arise from your work, who may be harmed and how and what steps you need to take to protect yourself and others, you are complying with the legal requirement to assess risks and also maximising the potential of your business.

HSE inspectors have the power to enter your premises without prior notice, inspect and investigate, take measurements, samples and photographs as they see fit. They also have the power to prosecute employers who contravene the law and also serve Improvement Notices which you have 21 days to comply with and in extreme cases can issue a Prohibition Notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which means that the activity is closed down immediately and cannot be resumed until remedial action is taken.

A risk assessment helps you focus on the risks that really matter in your workplace; the ones with the potential to cause harm. In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks, for example, ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip or there are no objects in the passages that people may trip over. Most of these actions are simple, cheap and effective measures to ensure your most valuable asset; your workforce is protected.

The law does not expect you to eliminate all risk as this would probably mean that you cannot carry out your business, but you are required to protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’

What is risk assessment?

It is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can decide whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm by taking reasonable control measures.

How to assess the risks in your workplace

Many people are concerned that a Risk Assessment is difficult and requires long training, in most businesses in fact it is fairly simple and requires commonsense, simply follow the five steps below

Step 1 Identify the hazards

First step is to work out how people could be harmed. Working in the same place every day it is easy to overlook some hazards; here are some suggestions of ways of identifying ones that matter:

Walk around the workplace and look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Ask your employees what they think they will often have noticed things that are not immediately obvious to you.

Visit the Health and Safety Executive website www.hse.gov.uk. Here you can find practical guidance on where hazards occur and how to control them.

If you are a member of a trade association, contact them. Many produce very helpful guidance.

Check manufacturers’ instructions or data sheets for chemicals and equipment as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards and putting them in their true perspective.

Analyse your accident and ill-health records these may help to identify the less obvious hazards. Remember to think about long-term hazards to health e.g. high levels of noise or exposure to harmful substances as well as immediate physical safety hazards.

Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how

For each hazard clearly decide who might be harmed; it will help you identify the best way of managing the risk. Identify groups of people not individuals e.g. people working in the paint shop or people passing through.

For each group, identify how they might be harmed, i.e. what type of injury or ill health might occur. For example, welders may suffer eye damage from the welding arcs, or warehouse staff may risk foot damage by dropping boxes.

Remember that some workers have particular requirements, e.g. new and young workers and people with disabilities may be at particular risk. Extra thought will be needed for some hazards that may affect cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers etc, who may not be in the workplace all the time; members of the public, if they could be hurt by your activities; if you share your workplace, you will need to think about how your work affects other people present, as well as how their work affects your staff; talk to everybody who may be involved to see if they can think of anyone you may have missed.

Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

Having identified the hazards, a decision must be made about what to do minimise them. The law requires you to do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm. You can work this out for yourself, comparing what you are doing with good practice.

So first, look at what you’re already doing; what controls you have in place and how the work is organised. Then compare this with the good practice using information from other companies, or using the internet and see if there other ways you should be moving yourself up to standard.

In asking yourself this, consider: Can I get rid of the hazard altogether? If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely?

When controlling risks, you should apply the principles below

· Try a less risky option e.g. change to using a less hazardous chemical

· Prevent access to the hazard by guarding or putting up barriers

· Issue personal protective equipment e.g. clothing, footwear, goggles helmets and gloves

· Ensure that all employees have the correct training to carry out the work safely

· Put up warning signs

· Provide welfare facilities e.g. first aid and washing facilities for removal of contamination

Step 4 Record your findings and implement them

Write down the results of your risk assessment, and share them with your staff. If you have fewer than five employees you do not under the law have to write anything down, however it is useful so that you can review it at a later date when changes have occurred as they always do.

When writing down your results keep it simple, for example; Risk of tripping over rubbish: bins provided, staff instructed, weekly housekeeping checks, or Fumes from printing: masks provided and exhaust ventilation used and regularly checked.

You need to be able to show that:

· A proper check was made

· You asked who might be affected

· You dealt with all the significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who could be involved

· The precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low

· You involved your staff or their representatives in the process

If you determine that there are many improvements that need to be made, don’t try to do everything at once. Make a plan of action to deal with the most important things first. Health and Safety Inspectors will take into account that the problems have been identified and that you are working on a plan of action to improve.

A plan of action will include a mixture of different things such as:

· a few cheap or easy improvements that can be done quickly, perhaps as a temporary solution

· long-term solutions to those risks most likely to cause accidents or ill health

· arrangements for training employees on the main risks

· what regular checks must be made

· clear responsibilities for action and the time schedule

Remember, prioritise and tackle the most important things first. As you complete each action, tick it off your plan.

Step 5 Review your risk assessment and update if necessary

Few workplaces stay the same, new equipment, substances and procedures that could lead to risks happen. It is sensible therefore, to review what you are doing on an ongoing basis. At least every year review where you are, to make sure you are still improving, or at least not sliding back.

Look at your risk assessment again

· What has changed?

· Have you implemented all the improvements identified?

· Talk to the workers to see if they have thought of anything new.

· Have you had any accidents or near misses that could have been prevented?

· Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date.

During the year, if there is a significant change, don’t wait. Check your risk assessment and, where necessary, amend it. It is good practice to think about the risk assessment when you’re planning your change this gives you flexibility and can reduce cost at a later date.

Don’t overcomplicate the process. In many organisations, the risks are well known and the necessary control measures are easy to apply. You probably already know where some of the more obvious hazards are.

If you run a small organisation and you are confident you understand what’s involved, you can do the assessment yourself. You don’t have to be a health and safety expert.

If you are unsure about what PPE is required the Granite Workwear team is able to help you select the right items; those that will adequately do the job, not necessarily the most expensive or the highest specification, but exactly what it is you require to comply with the law, but most importantly what is right for you and your business

Moisture Management Garments

2010-04-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Moisture management is one of the key performance factors in today’s garment industry, particularly in the past in the performance market; it is also becoming very important in the workwear market as well.

Moisture Management is defined as the ability of a garment to transport moisture away from the skin to the garment’s outer surface, where it can be dissipated by evaporation. This action prevents perspiration from remaining next to the skin. In hot conditions, trapped moisture may heat up and lead to fatigue or diminished performance. In cold conditions, trapped moisture will drop in temperature and cause chilling and hypothermia. Excess moisture may also cause the garment to become heavy, as well as cause damage to the skin from chafing.

In some areas of workwear, particularly where utility vests or bullet proof vests are being worn i.e. armed forces or police, the use of wicking garments under the vests reduces the fatigue and stress that operating in high temperatures or high activity can cause. This also applies to firefighters who benefit from wearing high wicking shirts under their protective equipment.

Moisture is transported in fabrics by capillary action and is commonly known as wicking. In fabrics, the spaces between the fibres effectively form tubes, which act as capillaries, and transport the liquid away from the skin. As a rule, the narrower the spaces between the fibres in a fabric, the more effectively they will draw up moisture. For this reason, fabrics with many narrow capillaries, such as microfibre, are ideal for moisture transport. Cotton has the ability to wick moisture away but also has a relatively high absorbency level that leads to the perspiration being trapped in the fabric.

Cotton can be treated with chemicals in the finishing process to reduce the level of absorbency, but this treatment may not withstand repeated laundry processes. However cotton exhibits very similar drying times as that of many of the fabrics produced from artificial fibre of which the most common in moisture management garments is polyester. The drying rate of one of the leading branded fabrics is 0.028 grams of water per minute and cotton is 0.026 grams of water per minute.

Thickness of the fabric is a key and controlling variable when it comes to moisture management; the thicker the fabric, the more moisture it holds, Most of the synthetic fabrics, like those made from microfibre polyester, were considerably thinner than cotton fabrics. However if the cotton fabrics are knitted using fine yarns then the thickness is greatly reduced.

In terms of feel a polyester fabric can in fact feel damp and clammy after drying for 90 minutes, a cotton fabric feels dry after 60 minutes, this is due to the low moisture regain of polyester of about 0.5%; cotton has a moisture regain of 8%.

Bi-component fabrics composed of a non-absorbent fibre on the inside and an absorbent fibre on the outside, have proved to be an extremely efficient construction for moisture management fabrics. This is because the absorbent material on the outside draws the moisture away from the skin while the non-absorbent material keeps the skin dry.

With this in mind Granite Workwear feature a high wicking Polo shirt and a T shirt that was developed by Texline Ltd to incorporate the best properties of microfibre and cotton.

The shirts use an inner face of Tactel that is used as a moisture transport to remove the perspiration quickly into the outer layer of cotton where it evaporates. The fabric has a very soft feel next to the skin, looks appealing on the outside as it is cotton and therefore looks natural. It also holds its shape well and has a maximum shrinkage of 2% and a 0% spirality. These garments are used as standard issue in a number of Fire Brigades and Police Forces throughout the UK. They are also extremely cost effective compared to many of the garments made using branded fabrics.

Waterproof and Breathable Garments

2010-04-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

Years ago waterproof clothes were just that. Waterproof! You put them on to keep out the rain. Unfortunately these mobile saunas soaked you in sweat as soon as you attempted any simple task. So, what is it all about? First, let us clear up the sweat bit, without sweat you're in trouble, a person performing tasks will naturally sweat to cool the body. The idea of a breathable garment is to allow the sweat to dissipate and keep the body dry while maintaining the body's "microclimate” i.e. the body's normal operating temperature and humidity.

These fabrics do not actually breathe. What they do is transfer body moisture vapour between its surfaces using the difference between the temperature and humidity next to the body and that of the cooler outdoors as a driving force. The sweat is picked up by your layering system which transports it to the surface away from your body. Here it evaporates to form a vapour. Because it is warmer and more humid inside your jacket than outside there is a difference in pressure across the fabric. In an attempt to equalise this difference vapour is driven across the fabric to the outside.

Garments which are waterproof and breathable help to provide wearers with greater comfort. This is obviously of benefit to the people wearing these whether for leisure activities or in their work. In terms of the provision of PPE by the employer it is also very important as this ensures that the safety of the wearer is not impacted by the introduction of excessive fatigue factors that have a negative impact on safety.

Waterproof garments are regulated by the safety standards of EN343. The standard is subdivided into three classes; Class 3 affords the highest level of foul weather protection, Class 2 provides intermediate foul weather protection and Class 1 provides the lowest level of foul weather protection. It is also divided into three classes of water vapour permeability (breathability) again Class 3 the highest to Class 1 the lowest.

The EN 343 Standard also has requirements for the tensile strength, tear strength, seam strength and resistance to dimensional change of the material. The mechanical strength requirements apply not only to the outer layer but also to all the layers that may be bonded to it. The dimensional stability is to ensure that the clothing does not lose its shape or fit.

The selection of the right Class of both water resistance and breathability can only be identified by a proper assessment of the conditions in which the garments will be used, the duration of the exposure and the precise activity involved.

Water resistance and water vapour permeability would appear to be mutually contradictory. It has proved to be a major challenge for manufacturers to produce a material which has both these properties. In the past, fabrics which offered protection from wind and rain did not breathe, and this made them uncomfortable to wear. Advances have been made in waterproof breathable technology over the past 30 years, there have been a number of fabrics developed using a laminate technology combined with close weaving techniques and coatings to achieve fabrics that exhibit the correct properties and also are light-weight and supple.

What is a laminate? A laminate is where a waterproof/breathable film is bonded by a special gluing process to a fabric. This could be to the outer fabric known as 2 layer and, in some cases, have a protective scrim bonded to the back of the film to create 3 layer lamination.

The introduction of these new waterproof breathable fabrics has greatly increased the range of choice for consumers. It has also led to greater market segmentation, as technologies have been developed for specific end uses and weather conditions.

In any garment there are areas that in construction can reduce the water resistance, for example the seams where the needle and thread puncture the fabric leaving small holes. In this case the seams are sealed using a special tape to eliminate this weakness. Also zips can leak water so it is important that to maintain integrity these be covered. The design of the hood and collar are also important to ensure that water cannot easily enter via the neck.

Staying dry is not just about keeping the rain out, it’s also about letting water vapour escape. The human body can expel over 4 litres of moisture a day; you just don’t notice it until you wear a significantly less breathable material over your skin. The best breathable yet waterproof barrier is perhaps human skin; it stops fluids getting in, yet opens up when fluid needs to get out. The higher the activity level and outside temperature the more the body sweats, so the more breathable your garment needs to be.

In this context, breathability is the ability of the fabric to transfer moisture vapour (not air) and is generally stated in terms of: Resistance to moisture vapour transfer (Ret) where the resistance is expressed as a number from a mathematical equation. The lower the value the less resistance there is and therefore the more breathable the garment is. Class 3 has a value of less than or equal to 20, Class 2 greater than 20 but less than or equal to 40, Class 1 greater than 40.

The standard also includes a summary table with recommended maximum wearing times, this takes account of the ambient temperature and a constant physical effort. It is required that the overview is reproduced in the manufacturers information leaflet for all garments with Class 1 protection. This is to inform the user about possible restrictions in the use of the garment; also marking in the garments must contain a restricted time warning.

For example at 10° C the time should be no longer than 4 hours, at 15°C 1.5 hours, at 20°C no longer than 1.25 hours and at 25°C no longer than 1 hour. As a comparison a Class 3 garment can be worn for 12 hours at 20°C.

Granite Workwear offer a range of garments in the Waterproof section manufactured in Flexothane ® these comply with EN 343 Class 3 waterproof and Class 2 breathable. In the Hi Viz Yellow Workwear and Orange Workwear sections garments of the Pulsar® and Pulsarail® ranges comply with EN 343 to both Class 3 waterproof and Class 3 breathability giving the maximum protection and comfort.

Forest and Woodland Firefighting

2010-03-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

The UK is classed as a low fire risk area, as we have a fairly regular rainfall pattern and no designated dry season unlike many other countries, particularly those in the tropics. However in the event of a prolonged hot dry spell we do have the potential for wildfires and these can have drastic results.

Heather particularly has the potential to be combustible as it dries out rapidly in all seasons and is what is known as a “fine fuel”.

There are three types of fires that can occur in forest and heathland, these are:

Surface fires where the fuel burns at or near ground level, these are the most common fires in the UK.

Ground fires where in dry conditions the organic soil layers themselves catch fire, these are difficult to detect and extinguish.

Crown fires where the surface fires ascend into the tree canopy, which can move very quickly and become very intense, this is often caused where “ladder fuels“ which are vegetation linking the ground to the crown of the trees lets the fire spread upwards. These are not very common in the UK.

There are various ways of tackling the fires including the use of water and or chemical foams to put out the fire and also dampen the surrounding areas preventing the fire spreading. Also fire breaks can be made by using shovels or mechanical diggers to remove the vegetation and make a bare earth barrier across which the fire cannot spread. The oxygen supply can be interrupted by the use of beaters.

Beaters can be broken down into three basic classes; Short handled approximately 1.9m to 2.2 m with a belt head, the head is manufactured from conveyor belt material; Long handled approximately 2.8m with a wire mesh head and Long handled with a flat metal plate sometimes these have additional chains attached. The long handle obviously keeps the person further back from the heat, but can sometimes be difficult to handle and unwieldy to transport.

Fatigue

Firefighting is a strenuous activity which normally takes place in difficult conditions, and can lead to heat stress, heat exhaustion and possibly heat stroke.

Everyone involved should be aware of heat-induced illnesses and know how to treat the symptoms and call for help when necessary.

The symptoms of heat stress are weakness, dizziness and nausea. Where a firefighter is removed from the fire front and given water, rest and shade, recovery will usually take place quite quickly.

Medical treatment may be required for these heat-induced illnesses and the patient should be given water and kept cool. Often firefighters may fail to sufficiently replace body fluids even when they have drunk sufficient to quench their thirst.

The fluid replacement taken in may be only half of what is actually required. Plenty of water should be drunk as soon as sweating occurs, before fire suppression starts and often more than is felt necessary. The recommended amount is 1 litre of cool (not chilled) plain (sugar free) water per hour.

To reduce fatigue carbohydrate foods such as bread, pasta and cakes are recommended.

Managers should ensure that teams have sufficient suitable food and water on site during prolonged fire suppression.

Awareness

When working in these conditions it is absolutely essential for all involved to remain aware of what is happening around them. Be particularly aware of moving around on terrain whilst visibility is reduced because of poor light smoke and water sprays.

Watch out for changes in conditions for example shifts of wind direction and speed, look out for the fire moving onto steep slopes or circling behind you, look out also for changes in the type of vegetation.

Always maintain line of sight and communication with your colleagues.

Remember the following safety aid “WATCH OUT” that can be found on the AFAG leaflet 803
Weather dominates fire behaviour
Actions must be based on current and expected fire behaviour
Try out at least two safe escape routes
Communications must be maintained with your crew leader and adjoining crews
Hazards to watch for are steep slopes and the amount of fuels
Observe changes in wind speed and direction, humidity and cloud
Understand your instructions
Think clearly be alert and act decisively before your situation becomes critical

Personal Protective Equipment

As with any activity where there are safety issues the correct PPE must be worn:

A brightly coloured Flame Retardant cotton boiler suit i.e. Proban complying with EN 531, is recommended do not use non FR synthetic clothing particularly nylon.

Also recommended is the use of a protective neck cloth.

Protective boots with good grip and ankle support complying with EN ISO 20345. It is suggested that these should also be heat resistant.

Suitable protective gloves, non-synthetic e.g. leather.

Safety helmet complying with EN 397.

Eye protection complying with EN 166, to prevent eye damage from particles and embers. Helmet mounted face shields can also protect from radiant heat.

Hearing protection complying with EN 352 where the noise level exceeds 85 dB.

Respiratory masks where there is a danger of dust or particles.

As well as these essential items each person should carry water for personal consumption and to wash any burns, also a personal first aid kit, not specifically for burns. A specialised burn first aid kit must be available on site.

Granite Workwear offer a number of items that are suitable for use in these conditions including Proban Cotton Overalls in Orange, Sip Protection Firefighters Chainsaw Protective Trousers, Peltor Hearing Protection, Fortec Boots that are Heat Resistant to 300° C, Hard hats, Venitex Respiratory Masks, Bolle Eye Protection, fire retardant neck tubes & balaclavas and Venitex gloves.

Rail Industry Standards for Personal Protective Equipment

2010-03-19T04:32:00.000-07:00

PPE generally covers a wide range of clothing and equipment that can be worn by a person at work to protect them from one or more risks to their health and safety. PPE can include; eye protection, safety helmets, hi-vis vests or jackets, gloves or safety footwear.

For the Rail Industry however there are certain items that have specific requirements, for example Network Rail basic PPE Requirements for persons working on or near the track shall wear as a minimum:

• High visibility upper body clothing with reflective tape which complies with BS EN 471: 2003 class 2 and Railway Group Standard GO/RT3279.
• A safety helmet which complies with BS EN 397: 1995.
• Safety footwear which complies with BS EN ISO 20345: 2004, providing effective support to the ankle, mid-sole protection and a protective toe cap.
• Network Rail have also introduced a ’Full Orange Policy’ where high visibility trousers must also be worn.

Particular requirements

The outer layer of the upper body clothing must be clearly marked between the vertical retro-reflective bands on the back with the name or logo of the individual’s Sentinel sponsor or other name or logo agreed with Network Rail (e.g. project, sponsor’s parent company or trade association). This can be in colour or black and either screen-printed or incorporated within a panel, which may be retro-reflective although this is not mandatory.

Safety helmets shall be provided with chin straps where there is a risk of them falling off, short peak helmets may be provided where close or hot work is required.
Holders of a Track Visitors Permit (TVP), a person with a Track Safety (PTS) card with a ‘green square’ symbol on it, or those people involved in the Network Rail Standard Maintenance Procedure NR/PRC/MTC/SE0089, New Starters Mentoring (Passport Scheme) must wear a blue helmet so that all workers can see that they may be inexperienced. All other workers must wear white, any other colours are not allowed.

The name or logo of an individual’s Sentinel Sponsor (or other name or logo agreed with Network Rail) may be marked upon a safety helmet. These markings must not exceed 10% of the safety helmets visible surface area.

Rigger boots do not meet the requirements for ankle protection and must not be used.

In addition to the above, foul weather clothing must be provided to any person whose duties require them to hold Personal Track Safety certification and shall comprise at least the following:

• High visibility jacket or coat which meets the requirements of BS EN 471:2003 class 3 and GO/RT3279 for colour and visibility and of BS EN 343: 2003 class 3 for water vapour resistance and water penetration.
• High visibility over-trousers or leggings which meet the requirements of BS EN 471: 2003 and GO/RT3279 for colour and visibility and of BS EN 343: 2003 class 3 for water vapour resistance and water penetration.

General work wear and sunglasses

Any employee or contractor of Network Rail who goes on or near the line or on the lineside shall be required to wear full-length trousers to protect against the risks from lineside vegetation and the consequences of slips, trips and falls.

Upper body clothing must not be sleeveless, garments such as singlets or vests are prohibited. Full length sleeves are recommended to protect from risks of injury from vegetation and sunburn.

Sunglasses or photochromic lenses may be worn, but care should be taken when using photochromic lenses as they can take a long time to clear when going into darker conditions.
Heavily tinted lenses may reduce the ability to accurately distinguish colours.

Ear Defenders should be worn where there is any risk of noise that reaches levels that could cause damage to hearing.

In certain conditions that will be apparent from the Risk Assessment gloves to protect from chemicals, cold or vibration also need to be worn. Also where there is a danger of fumes or dust the correct respiratory masks are needed.

If operating chainsaws or brush cutters then the correct protective clothing must be worn, all these of course must conform to the GO/RT3279 standard. Also the safety boots worn must achieve the EN ISO 17249:2004 Class 1 standard as a minimum.

Accessories

In certain situations there is a need for particular accessories for example; warning flags chequered and plain, rail incident armbands (8 different wordings), Lookout Bags and Rail Handsignal Bags.

Duties and responsibilities

Requirements for PPE and workwear shall be documented in work activity risk assessments and safe systems of work. Any PPE identified as necessary through work activity risk assessments must be provided by the employer, this may include hearing protection, eye protection, masks and gloves. They must also ensure that this equipment is worn.

Employees are responsible for using PPE and workwear as required, for keeping it clean and maintaining it in a reasonable condition and for requesting its replacement if it becomes ineffective.

A full range of the items mentioned above can be found on the Granite Workwear site, under the Hi Viz Railway (Orange), Safety Boots, Forestry Footwear, Hardhats, Safety Glasses, Ear Protection, Gloves and Respiration categories.

Chainsaw Boots from Arbortec

2010-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

Granite Workwear has recently added a range of Arbortec® forestwear chainsaw protective boots. These boots have been designed to incorporate a number of technical and comfort features, that we believe make them an outstanding addition to our range.

They are designed to exceed CE standards in Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 giving a full range of protection.

The range includes the brand new Lightning boot that importantly gives Class 2 protection all round the boot even at the back; this boot is especially good for heavy duty use but is also extremely comfortable thereby reducing fatigue which is important to improve safe working. This also comes in X Large sizes 13, 14 and 15.

Also in the range are the Aquafell® Xpert™, Hydrofell®, Fellsman® Xpert™, Fellsman® Basic and the Challenger™ which is a Class 3 Wellington boot.

The Fellsman® Basic is particularly aimed at the more casual user with a very competitive price but does not compromise safety still giving full Class 1 protection.

Chainsaw Protection Standards

The EN ISO Standard 17249:2004 is specifically designed for Forestry Footwear and tests for three levels of protection:

Class 1 - the footwear has to withstand a chainsaw blade moving at 20 metres per second.
Class 2 - the footwear can withstand a blade moving at 24 metres per second.
Class 3 - the footwear can withstand a blade moving at 28 metres per second.

This protection can be afforded in a number of ways; obviously if the boot has a steel toecap then this gives a very good protection in that particular area. On the rest of the boot there is normally a padding inside made up of multiple layers of synthetic fibres that when the blade touches them causes snagging that clogs the blade and stops it. In a number of the boots in the Arbortec® range these are made of polyester.

In the Aquafell® Xpert™ and the Fellsman® Xpert™ the clogging system is the use of six layers of Kevlar® fibre which has a very high strength and is often used in body armour.
Comfort and Safety

Comfort is a very important part of a quality boot as they are worn for long periods of time and often in less than ideal weather conditions. If the boots are not comfortable then fatigue will happen quickly and this then causes loss of concentration which significantly increases the risk of accidents.

The Arbortec® range has shock absorbing properties built in and the soles have an anti-twist steel insert so that there is less danger of damage to the foot. Apart from the Challenger™ which is made from rubber the range has breathable properties and in most cases moisture absorbance to reduce the build up of sweat. For ease of use they all have speed lacing systems and padded collars.

The soles all feature specially designed tread patterns to reduce the risk of slipping and all the leather boots have a specially defined heel to fit spikes.

All the boots have steel toecaps and conform to the EN ISO 20345:2004 standard for Safety Footwear.

We at Granite believe that these boots are of exceptional standard and worthy of inclusion in our Forestry range in line with our philosophy that we offer the best products that we can find for use by professionals who are discerning in their choice of equipment.

Slip Resistant Soles

2010-03-05T01:35:00.000-08:00

Statistics show that slips, trips and falls on the same level are a major cause of workplace accidents in the UK - almost 11,000 are reported each year to the Health and Safety Executive, they account for 39% of non-fatal major injuries. It has been estimated that these accidents cost the UK economy as much as £750 million per annum, £300 million of which is directly attributable to UK employers.

Employers use a variety of control measures to reduce the risk of slips, however due to the working conditions there may be cases where a significant slip risk remains. Introducing footwear with slip-resistant properties may be the only effective way they can further reduce the risk.

There are many safety boots and shoes that claim to have slip resistant soles; however are they truly slip resistant and what standards are they tested to?

Footwear marketed as 'slip resistant' may not perform as well as expected, so care has to be taken when choosing footwear from brochure descriptions alone.

Although footwear may be marketed as 'slip resistant', some have not been tested for this. Check with your supplier if the footwear has actually been tested for slip resistance then request the test details and results. Although the footwear may have been tested, the results from the test may not be an accurate guide as to how footwear will perform in the conditions that you want to use it in.

BS EN 13287 is the current European standard for footwear slip resistance.
This standard is a simple pass/fail test. However most footwear tested will pass testing and can therefore be marked as slip resistant. But the marking system used does not distinguish between footwear with low slip resistance and very good slip resistance. Simply passing this standard does not guarantee that the footwear will be effective in a particular workplace.

Depending on the test conditions chosen, footwear tested according to the EN standards is now marked with one of the following codes, SRA, SRB, or SRC.

The codes indicate that the footwear has met the specified requirements when tested as follows:
SRA – tested on ceramic tile wetted with dilute soap solution
SRB – tested on smooth steel with glycerol
SRC – tested under both the above conditions

Footwear products once tested and certified are stamped with the CE mark. The manufacturer also provides user information indicating the applications for which the footwear is suitable.

To provide more detailed information, the Health and Safety Laboratory have carried out a series of tests for the Health and Safety Executive, on soles that are claimed to be slip resistant and those that don’t. They use a ramp test that does not give a pass/fail but classifies footwear as exhibiting poor, average or good slip resistance where there is a particular contaminant on a given surface.

The tests were carried out on five different surface/contaminant conditions; water on steel, glycerol on steel, glycerol on quarry tile, water on 5 bar aluminium chequer plate and glycerol on 5 bar aluminium chequer plate.

The feedback from the end users is that the footwear that performs well on the test also performs well in the workplace. The study also showed that some footwear marketed as slip resistant gave a high slip risk when tested on the HSL ramp, further demonstrating that no one product will be suitable in all situations - a risk assessment should always be carried out when selecting footwear.

The detailed results of this testing can be found in the Research Report RR780. This project is a continuation of previously published work by HSE. When significant new safety, protective or occupational footwear is marketed as slip resistant or becomes widely used in the work place, HSL procures and tests it in order to assess its slip potential. This combined report now includes 86 pieces of footwear as a further 30 items were tested.

The report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy. The HSE considers that by publishing this information there is an increased likelihood that buyers will obtain good slip-resistant footwear on the basis of informed choices.

This testing focuses on slip resistance on hard indoor flooring surfaces; it does not mean that these findings can be extrapolated to show the slip resistance of footwear on the variable outdoor surfaces that can be encountered, where other factors may come into play.

Safety Helmets

2010-02-23T02:12:00.000-08:00

Every year, in the workplace, particularly in the construction industry, workers are killed and many others injured as a result of head injuries. If you wear a safety helmet your chances of being seriously hurt are greatly reduced. Wearing one could save your life.

Regulations

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is always the last line of defence. Wherever possible, other measures should first be taken to reduce or control the risk.

HSE regulations require that suitable head protection i.e. safety helmets, must be provided and worn where there is a risk of injury. If you are in control of a site you need to assess the risks of head injury. There may be risks from falling materials or from knocking into low scaffolds or items of plant. If there is risk of injury you must provide your employees with safety helmets and decide when, where, and how they should be worn. Safety helmets must always be worn in designated "hard hat" areas.

Industrial safety helmets should be designed and manufactured to European Standard BS EN 397, and carry the CE mark. They are intended primarily to provide protection to the wearer against falling objects and are not intended to provide protection against off crown impacts. The mandatory requirements for these helmets includes for them to have flame resistant properties.

In addition to the mandatory requirements the helmets may have shock absorption properties at very low temperatures and very high temperatures, have electrical insulation properties, have lateral deformation properties, and provide protection against molten metal splash.
Helmets are tested to provide a wearer protection from a force roughly equivalent to a 16 oz. hammer dropping 40 feet.

Duties of Employees and the Self-Employed

Employees must wear their safety helmets properly and follow the instructions of the rules made by their employer. They should take care of their helmets and not misuse them. Any defects or problems should be reported promptly.

In the case of self-employed contractors if safety helmets are not provided on site, they must supply their own. They must wear them where there is a risk of head injury or when told to do so by someone in control. They also need to follow the rules made by the person in control of the site, and in addition, maintain and replace the safety helmet whenever necessary.

Selection of Suitable Safety Helmets

Helmets come in a variety of designs and it is important that the right type is provided for the work to be done. A properly fitting safety helmet should have the right shell size for the wearer and an easily adjustable headband, nape and chin strap.

The range of size adjustments should be large enough to accommodate thermal liners often used in cold weather.

The harness is an integral part of all helmets and works by stretching which absorbs some of the energy of the impact. The harness also spreads the force of an impact evenly over the head minimising the risk of harm to the user.

The helmet works rather like the crumple zone on a car. The force of the impact will be largely absorbed by the helmet shell, with the harness also absorbing some of the shock by stretching. The shell or harness may well crack, this is part of the design features.

The helmets should be as comfortable as possible, this helps reduce fatigue levels and to limit the risk of people not wearing them, because they find them uncomfortable.

Comfort is improved by the following:
• A flexible headband of adequate width and contoured both vertically and horizontally to fit the forehead.
• An absorbent sweatband that is easy to clean or replace.
• Textile cradle straps.
• Chin straps (when fitted) which:
o fit around the ears;
o are fitted with smooth, quick-release buckles which don’t dig into the skin;
o are made from non-irritant materials;
o can be stowed on the helmet when not in use.

Wherever possible, the helmet should not hinder the work being done. For example, a helmet with little or no peak is useful for a surveyor taking measurements, or to allow unrestricted upward vision for a scaffold erector. In other areas there may be need of a peak and even a visor.

Chin straps should be provided and used if a job involves work in windy conditions, especially at height, or repeated bending or constantly looking upwards. Helmets should be able to be used with any other PPE, e.g. ear defenders or eye protectors, without limiting the effectiveness or comfort of any of the items. Never attempt to modify existing helmets to take these fittings as this may weaken them.

Maintenance

Safety helmets must be maintained in good condition the following points must be implemented:
• Be stored in a safe place, e.g. on a peg or in a cupboard on site
• Not be stored in direct sunlight or in excessively hot, humid conditions because long-term exposure can weaken the shell.
• Be checked regularly for signs of damage or deterioration.
• Have defective parts replaced (if the model allows this). Parts from one model cannot normally be interchanged with those from another.
• Have the sweatband cleaned regularly or replaced.
Before the safety helmet is issued to another person, it should be inspected to ensure it is serviceable and thoroughly cleaned in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, e.g. using soap and water. The sweatband should always be cleaned or replaced.

Damage to the Shell

Damage to the shell of a helmet can occur when:
• Objects fall onto it.
• It strikes against a fixed object.
• It is dropped or thrown.
• Certain chemicals can weaken the plastic of the shell leading to rapid deterioration in shock absorption or penetration resistance. Chemicals which should be avoided include aggressive cleaning agents or solvent based adhesives and paints. Where names or other markings need to be applied using adhesives, advice should be sought from the helmet manufacturer.

Replacement

Normally, helmets should be replaced at intervals recommended by the manufacturer. They will also need replacing when the harness is damaged or if it is likely that the shock absorption or penetration resistance has deteriorated i.e. when the shell has received a severe impact, or if deep scratches occur (i.e. to a depth greater than 25% of the shell thickness) or if the shell has any visible cracks.

Any helmet that has suffered an impact should be replaced whether damage is visible or not. The internal structure of the helmet may be damaged.

There is a lot of confusion as to what is considered to be an acceptable working life of a safety helmet. There are no hard and fast rules concerning this. There is no test in the European Standard to cover this as there are too many variables to be taken into account.

In use, head protection is generally treated with a lack of care, often being thrown or dropped, used for storing or carrying of all sorts of items, or carried on the rear window shelf of a vehicle. Any of these actions are likely to reduce performance.

It is unlikely that a helmet will be offering adequate protection five years after manufacture. With this in mind the European Standard requires the manufacturer to mark each helmet with the quarter or month and year of manufacture.

High Performance Standards

The EN 397 standard is for general use in Industry it may be that in specific tasks there is need to look at a higher standard.

High performance industrial helmets meeting the requirements of EN 14052 offer greater protection from falling objects, protection from off crown impacts and protection from penetration by a flat blade striker. The helmets also include a retention system that meets mandatory requirements for system release and system effectiveness properties. The helmets have the same flame resistant properties as the industrial safety helmets and offer the same optional protection against other risks with the exception of lateral deformation.

Helmets meeting the requirements of EN 12492 are primarily intended to protect the upper part of a wearer's head against hazards that might occur during activities carried out by people climbing. Although originally intended to protect the wearer against hazards that might occur during mountaineering activities, helmets CE marked to this standard are also being marketed for other uses, for example rescue work in hazardous environments and wild land fire-fighting, these are particularly useful for arborists.

They offer protection from falling objects, including front, rear and side impact, and offer protection from penetration. The helmets are ventilated and also include a retention system that meets mandatory requirements for system release and system effectiveness properties. These helmets have no requirements for flame resistance.

Granite Workwear offers helmets that comply to EN 397, EN 12492 and EN 14052, if you are unsure which would be suitable for you please contact us directly using the contact facility on our website.

Eye Protection for Welding

2010-02-11T02:01:00.000-08:00

At Granite we have recently introduced a range of welding helmets and masks from Bolle for protection of the eyes when carrying out welding of all types. We also have Welding Safety glasses suitable for people who are walking through areas where welding is being carried out and for the welders when carrying out tasks when they are not using the masks, these offer protection against flying objects, see Bolle Univis 1011 Welding Safety Glasses on our website.

Risk of Injury

While most welding-related eye injuries are reversible, more than half of injured workers return to work in less than two days and 95 percent in less than seven days, some eye injuries are irreversible and permanent visual impairment occurs. This is especially true with infrared and visible spectrum (bright light) radiation. Both can penetrate through to the retina and can cause permanent retinal damage, including cataracts, diminished visual acuity, and higher sensitivity to light and glare.

Welders are not the only workers at risk. While the welding arc is the principal source of ultraviolet radiation, other workers in the area can sustain eye damage from the radiation as far as 50 feet away with the radiation reflecting off shiny surfaces, concrete, or unpainted metals. To counteract this reflection, you should install shielding curtains where practical or require that all workers in the area wear appropriate eye protection.

Selecting the right helmet

To make the right choice in selecting a helmet, it is important to understand the meaning of arc flash and what types of emissions radiate from the welding arc. Arc flash is simply the unexpected exposure of the eyes to the welding arc. The welding arc emits several forms of light including ultraviolet, infrared radiation and high-intensity visible light. Both infrared and ultraviolet radiation can cause permanent damage to the eyes, such as retinal burns. While high-intensity visible light may not cause permanent eye damage, it may leave the operator with temporary discomfort, similar to being exposed to the flash of a camera bulb.

Many people mistakenly think that the lens shade number corresponds to the amount of protection that is provided to the eyes and hence the higher the number, the better the protection. In reality, all properly constructed quality welding lenses, have a screen that filters out 100 percent of the harmful ultraviolet (and infrared) wavelengths and provides protection to the eyes. The number just denotes the amount of darkness provided by that particular lens and should be used by operators as a guide to select the one that is most comfortable but still provides good visibility for carrying out the operation.

High quality auto-darkening helmets provide UV and IR protection even when the helmet is not activated, you are always protected. However, for maximum comfort, look for a high quality helmet that has a response darkening time of 0.4 of a millisecond or less. Less than a millisecond is not perceivable by the human eye and will provide the most comfort. The auto-darkening helmets in the Bolle range work between 0.2 and 0.25 milliseconds.

Helmets come with either battery power or solar power as is the case with the Bolle range. In most cases, it simply is a choice of personal preference and what is most convenient to the operator. With a battery powered helmet there is a chance however of being flashed. These helmets offer a feature that will automatically turn off the battery after the helmet has been sitting idle, or the batteries may have lost their charge. If the welder isn't careful, he could get arc flash thinking that his helmet is still dark. Solar powered helmets do not suffer from this and also eliminate the time and cost of recharging.

Fixed or variable shade

If you are always using the same arc welding process on the same material, a fixed shade is sufficient. But if you, like most welders, are using a variety of materials and welding a number of different applications, your best bet is a variable shade, which will adjust to the correct darkness for your particular process. As an example, when you are TIG welding at lower amperages, you may need to lighten up the lens to see what you are doing, a variable shade will allow this while a fixed shade will not.
Types of Welding

MIG is short for Metal Inert Gas welding. The system uses a metal wire fed through the gun surrounded by an inert gas such as Argon, because the cost of inert gases are high this system is not generally used for welding steel, but is more used for aluminium.

MAG is short for Metal Active Gas welding. The system here also uses a metal wire but in this case is surrounded by an active gas such as carbon dioxide. The lower cost has widened the use of this system to include steel welding.

TIG is where an arc is formed between a non-consumable tungsten electrode and the metal being welded. Gas which can be Argon, Argon and Hydrogen, or Argon and Helium, is fed through the torch to shield the electrode and the molten weld pool. If there is a need for filler wire then this is added to the pool separately.

The benefits of this type of welding are: superior quality welds, the welds can be made with or without filler metal, there is fine control of heat and there is no splatter and low distortion.

Plasma welding is very similar to TIG as the arc is formed between a pointed tungsten electrode and the work piece. However, the electrode is positioned within the body of the torch allowing the plasma arc to be separated from the shielding gas envelope. Plasma is then forced through a fine-bore copper nozzle which constricts the arc. By increasing welding current and plasma gas flow, a very powerful plasma beam is created which can achieve full penetration in a material, as in laser or electron beam welding. During welding, the hole progressively cuts through the metal with the molten weld pool flowing behind to form the weld bead under surface tension forces. This process can be used to weld thicker material (up to 10mm of stainless steel) in a single pass.

Post and Wire Fencing

2010-01-20T01:37:00.000-08:00

This article aims to highlight the safe working practices to be carried out when erecting or dismantling post and wire fences only, not wooden fences.

Post and wire fences tend to be used to enclose large areas where a wooden fence would be too expensive, time consuming or too weak. These fences may have ordinary wire, barbed wire or wire mesh, depending on what the fence is intended to keep in or out.

Materials

Line wire can be made of mild steel, high tensile steel or spring steel, barbed wire and woven mesh is normally mild steel or high tensile steel, welded and hexagonal netting is usually only made of mild steel.

Spring steel is the strongest followed by high tensile steel and the weakest is mild steel. Spring and high tensile steel cannot normally be strained to breaking point manually. Mild steel stretches before it breaks. Any kinks, twists and surface damage will cause a reduction in the strength of all types of steel.

High tensile and spring steel will recoil more dangerously than mild steel when cut, broken or just released.

Personal Protective Equipment

The following PPE must be used to comply with HSE rules:
• Gloves to protect against barbed wire, splinters, cuts and scratches.
• Non-snag outer clothing appropriate for the prevailing weather conditions, in certain cases it is recommended that high visibility clothing is used.
• Protective boots with a sole giving good grip, ankle support and must comply to EN 345-1. Although not mandatory thought should be given to using boots that have a puncture proof midsole and are also waterproof.
• Eye protection safety glasses to EN 166 because of the danger of flying debris when dismantling old fences and also if there is an incidence of wire recoil.
• If using power tools then use ear protection, visors and anti vibration gloves.
• If handling preservatives or preservative treated timber where the preservative has not dried, chemical resistant gloves should be used, and depending on the product respiratory masks should be used if the safety instructions on the product specify it.
• Each person should carry a first-aid kit including a large wound dressing.
• Hand cleaning material such as waterless skin cleanser or soap water and paper towels should be available.

Many of these items appear on the Granite Workwear site under the following headings; Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Masks, Safety Boots, Forestry Clothing, and Ear Protection.

Tools and Equipment

The tools and equipment required will vary depending on the type of fencing being erected or dismantled. However the basic rules are the same whenever tools are being used, they should be appropriate to the task and they must be checked to ensure that they are serviceable.
All cutting edges should be sharp and also guarded when not in use, do not place hand tools on top of fence posts or on the ground, use an appropriate tool belt like the Dickies Deluxe Tool Belt on the Granite Workwear site.

Manual Handling

Always follow the best practices for manual handling, a very useful leaflet is INDG145 'Watch your Back', this is available from the Health and Safety Executive.

Do not try and carry too heavy or awkward unbalanced loads, it is better to make more journeys, also take into account the conditions under foot i.e. uneven, wet, or steep slopes.
Always lift heavy items using the arm and leg muscles with your back held straight.

Organise the delivery of the materials and equipment to be as close to the site where they are needed, wherever possible use mechanised unloading or ensure that there are enough members of the team to help.

Wherever possible use an All Terrain Vehicle or Quad Bike to carry meaterials to the required area.

Preparation

Before starting check the proposed fence line for any underground hazards and services i.e. pipes, cables and any major obstructions.

If you are dismantling old fences look carefully at any vegetation growth that may make the wire or net unpredictable when cutting it.

If you are using a trailer to carry your materials look for a flat surface, if you cannot find one then always ensure that you unload from the top side or the rear if on a side slope.

Sawing

Make sure that the material you are cutting is secured, if you are notch cutting ensure you keep your free hand clear of the saw teeth.

If you are using a chainsaw then you must take all the safety precautions that were mentioned in our article on Using a Rear Handled Chainsaw published 11th November 2009.

Manual Stake Driving

Do not support the stake by hand, you must use a stake holder, also do not adjust or test the stake by using your hand whilst the driving tool is in use.

Always make sure you have sound footing and that your legs and feet are clear of the driving tool.

When you are using a maul ensure that all other people are well away from where you are swinging the maul.

Mechanical Post drivers

Please note that this is always a one person operation, if the post driver is mounted to a tractor by a three point linkage, the tractor must be big enough to remain stable during operation.

The machine must be properly parked and the brakes applied before commencing operations. It must be fitted with a gripping device to hold the post during the operation - never use your hands or a stake holder.

There is a big risk of flying debris so ensure a suitable visor is worn to protect your whole face.

Handling the wire

Always use a dispenser when unrolling the line wires, this avoids kinking and twisting which will have a negative effect on the strength of the wire. Always ensure that the wire is kept firmly in place on the dispenser.

Ensure that one end of the line wire is attached securely to the strainer post before applying any tension.

Knots can only be used on mild steel wire, on other types suitable connectors must be used.
If you are using ratchets make sure that wire has at least two full turns on the barrel.
Ensure wire strainers are properly attached and anchored before tensioning. Never stand astride the wire whilst it is being tensioned.

Never over-tension high tensile or spring steel wire by using extra leverage or more than one person on the strainer and never use a vehicle to tension.

When cutting always make sure that the exposed ends of the wire are secured, always ensure that high tension and spring steel wire is secured on each side of the cut. Make sure that you do not spike your hands or arms on any loose ends.

Always use protective gloves when handling barbed wire and ensure that when it is being dispensed it is kept taut. Always be aware of potential breakage and recoil.
Make sure that all pieces of wire have been removed from the area and that it is disposed of safely.

Safety Footwear

2010-01-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

It makes commonsense to wear protective footwear wherever there is danger and in fact in a workplace it is often mandatory. Damage to your feet can have a major effect on your life and may in fact cripple you.

Common Injuries

There are a number of common injuries that can occur:

Injuries	Common Causes
Crushed or broken feet, amputation of toes or feet	Feet trapped between objects or caught in a crack, falls of heavy objects, moving vehicles (lift trucks, bulldozers, etc.), working with large animals, conveyor belts (feet drawn between belt and roller)
Punctures of the sole of the foot	Loose nails, sharp metal or glass objects
Cuts or severed feet or toes, lacerations	Chain saws, rotary mowers, unguarded machinery
Burns	Molten metal splashes, chemical splashes, contact with fire, flammable or explosive atmospheres
Electric shocks	Static electricity, contact with sources of electricity
Sprained or twisted ankles, fractured or broken bones because of slips, trips or falls	Slippery floors, littered walkways, incorrect footwear, poor lighting

Types of Safety Footwear

The most common type is the safety boot or shoe, fitted with a steel toecap and possibly a steel midsole. These are used for construction or agricultural work, and may also be needed for those involved in maintenance or manual handling. They usually have slip resistant soles, which may be resistant to oils or other chemicals.

Other footwear for specialist applications includes Wellington boots, chain saw boots, foundry boots (for molten metal resistance), anti-static footwear (which reduces the danger from igniting flammable atmospheres and gives some protection from electric shock) and conductive footwear (particularly suitable for handling static-sensitive devices, but giving no protection against electric shock).

However there are a number of products available that give protection against crushing of the toes and penetration of the midsole, but make use of composites so that they are totally non-metallic. For example see the Granite range under Non Metallic Safety on the website.

Standards

Safety footwear should comply with EN 345 Footwear with anti-static or slip resistant properties should conform to EN 347.

EN 345: Specifications on Safety Shoes for Professional Use

This standard defines the basic and additional (optional) requirements on safety shoes for professional use.

These shoes include devices to protect the user against injuries caused by accidents liable to occur in the industrial environment for which the shoe has been designed, fitted with safety toe-cap intended to deliver a protection against impacts with an energy level equal to 200 joules. This means the steel toe-cap will withstand the impact of 20kg in weight falling from a height of 10.2 metres. The protection standard in protective footwear also relates to compression corresponding to approximately 1.5 tonnes resting on the toe area. Safety Footwear is often generally referred to as EN345 but the full reference is: BS EN ISO 20345:2004

Class 1: All materials except natural or synthetic polymers

S1: Basic properties and closed back, anti-static properties, heel energy absorption
S2: All S1 characteristics plus waterproof
S3: All S2 characteristics and anti-puncture sole, studded sole
Class 2: Natural and synthetic polymers

S4 Basic properties and anti-static properties, heel energy absorption
S5 All S4 characteristics and anti-puncture sole, studded sole

Selection

The choice of safety footwear should first be made on the basis of the protection required, but comfort is a significant issue and should not be ignored. The most important factor in choosing your safety shoes or boots is how your feet fit inside them. Your safety footwear unlike ordinary shoes, should last for a long time and therefore you have to choose what you think is the best and most comfortable pair for you.

Unlike ordinary footwear that can adjust to the form of your feet over time, safety shoes do not easily and conveniently mould into the unique shape of your feet. So you need to set aside ample time in choosing your footwear before making the purchase. It is also a good practice to try the shoes wearing the socks that you will use in daily life. If you found a pair that you think fits, try walking around in it. If they still feel comfortable after leaving the shoes on for a few minutes, then you may have found your perfect safety shoes.

Resist the urge to buy bigger safety shoes, the problem with safety shoes is that they are harder and they seem inflexible unlike ordinary leather shoes. 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. If your safety shoes are oversized, try wearing thick socks to compensate for too much space inside your shoes.

A choice of makes and styles may have to be offered to ensure that appropriate footwear is always worn when needed. Boots, not shoes, must be worn where ankle protection is needed.

Care should be taken in the choice of anti-static and conductive footwear; both give protection against the hazard of static electricity and anti-static footwear also gives some protection against electric shock. However conductive footwear provides no protection against electric shock and must not be used where this is a risk.

Maintenance

Footwear should be checked for wear or damage and replaced if necessary; certainly if the footwear has been in an impact situation then the integrity of the toecap may have been damaged.

At Granite Workwear we are fully conscious of the requirements for safety footwear and we stock products for all types of risk. We are distributors for a number of well known brands; Haix, Fortec, Dickies, Goliath and Muck Boots. If you have any questions on the best product for your needs then please contact us.

A Guide to High Visibility Clothing

2010-01-08T02:16:00.000-08:00

We have all seen workers wearing high visibility clothing, after all that is the purpose of these products, ensuring that people working on building sites, roads, railways, airports forests etc are easily seen for their own safety.

However many people do not know the standards that high visibility clothing must achieve for it to comply with legislation and industry codes of practice.

The most common colours that are used are fluorescent yellow and orange, sometimes you will see people with matching tops and trousers and others with orange trousers and yellow tops and vice versa.

Standards

The main standard in the UK and Europe is EN471:2003, this splits down into Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Class 3 is of a higher standard than Class 2 as it has higher areas of material and more reflective bands. Class 1 with 0.14 sqm of fluorescent material and 0.10 sqm of retroreflective material is the lowest level and includes garments like over-trousers and harnesses, Class 2 with 0.5 sqm of florescent material and 0.13 sqm of retroreflective materials includes tabards, sleeveless waistcoats, short sleeved shirts and bib and brace trousers, class 3 with 0.8 sqm of fluorescent material and 0.2 sqm of retroreflective materials includes coats, shirts and jackets with sleeves, full body long-sleeved overalls and two piece suits. Also the regulations specify that there must be similar amounts of the fluorescent material on the front and the back of the garment.
The retroreflective bands can be inclined no more than 20°, the bands on the legs can be freely positioned from the bottom of the leg. The bands must not be less than 50mm wide

Class 2

Class 3

As an example of use; workers on dual carriageway roads or motorways with a speed limit of over 50 mph must wear class 3. Those working on other roads with lower speeds can wear Class 2.

Tests

In testing these garments to the standard the various components have to fulfil certain criteria:

Retroreflective Materials, brightness after: Rainfall, Temperature variation, Abrasion, Cold folding, Flexing, Washing and Dry Cleaning
Also if the garments are expected to be commercially laundered, the retroreflective material must be tested according to ISO 15797 Industrial Laundering Wash Test Method for 5 cycles.

Fluorescent Materials: UV exposure, Dimensional change, Water vapour resistance, colour fastness, Mechanical properties.

Selection Criteria

When choosing the correct clothing obviously any specific regulations must be taken into account. If there are none of these then the choice should take account of a number of factors; light levels both ambient and artificial, the affects of weather such as fog, snow or rain are some examples.

For some jobs only a Class 1 or 2 may be acceptable but where there is a particular risk then Class 3 will be required.

Remember PPE must always be suitable for the work; therefore you may need specialist fabrics like flame retardant, chemical resistant or anti-static as well as high visibility. Also the PPE must be comfortable for the wearer and should not restrict movement or increase tiredness through either heat build up cold.

Employers must provide the correct equipment free of charge to those employees who need it and must also provide storage facilities for clothing when not in use. They must also provide adequate information, instruction and training to allow the employees to use the HV clothing correctly. This must contain the explanation of why the clothing is needed, the risks and how and when it must be worn.

The employee must wear the clothing as instructed and also look after it, checking for any damage and reporting this to the employer.

Railways

As stated before on roads and other areas you can wear yellow, orange or a mix of colours, however this is not the case with workers on the railways.

The Railway Group Standard GO/RT 3279:2008 still requires the garments to conform to EN471:2003 but specifies that the garments must be orange in colour and also they must meet at least Class 2 levels.

The GO/RT standard also states that the visible material of the garment must not be compromised by the addition of company names or logos. Also there are limited titles or job designations allowed these are:-
• Rail Incident Officer (RIO)
• Press Officer
• Recovery Engineer
• First Aider
• Train Operators’ Liaison Officer (TOLO)

There is also a special standard for a High Visibility Mini Vest which has the requirement of 0.26 sqm of orange fluorescent material and 0.12 sqm of retroreflective material. This is below the EN 471 Class 2 level but significantly higher than Class1. The retroreflective material must be no less than 50mm wide and must have one horizontal band not less than 50mm above the bottom edge and then have one band over each shoulder connecting the front and back of the horizontal band. There is also the requirement for the shoulders and sides to be joined by means of touch and close or press stud fastenings, so that they will come apart if caught by an external object. The Pulsarail PR145 Tear Apart Vest on the Granite Workwear website fully conforms to this standard.

There is a full range of GO/RT 3279:2008 standard garments under the Hi Viz Railway (Orange) category including specialist clothing for using with Chainsaws when working on or near railways. Included in this category are a number of accessories including back packs, bags, armbands and warning flags.

Also a full range of Yellow High Visibility garments can be found in the Hi Viz Yellow category, all compliant to EN471:2003. In both categories where the testing certificates are attached to the pages so that you can be sure that the garments comply with the regulations.

Noise: just a nuisance or damaging to your health?

2009-12-17T02:35:00.000-08:00

Noise can be a nuisance affecting your concentration and causing you to get annoyed, i.e. noisy neighbours, roadworks or passing vehicles; disrupting your relaxation, reading, watching the television or sleep. However noise, particularly in the work-place, can actually have a severe impact on your health, causing temporary or permanent damage to your hearing. Also, working in high levels of noise can impact general safety, by interfering with communications particularly safety warnings for example fire alarms.

Under the regulations of the HSE Noise Regulations 2005 there is a duty for employers to protect the hearing of their workers.

A risk assessment must be carried out to determine the levels and duration of noise. Action must be taken to reduce the exposure to noise by choosing quieter equipment and machinery, installing noise dampening insulation wherever possible or provide different types of hearing protection.

The noise must be assessed using the following criteria:

• Is the noise intrusive i.e. similar level to a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant for most of the working day?
• Do your employees have to raise their voices to carry out conversation when approximately 2 metres apart for at least part of the day?
• Are your employees engaged in using or being in close proximity to noisy powered tools or machinery for more than 30 minutes in a day?
• Is your industry noisy, i.e. construction, demolition, road repair, textiles, engineering, forging, pressing, bottling, canning or paper manufacture?
• Are their impact noises; hammering, drop forging, pneumatic drilling or explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools, detonations or guns?

How is noise measured?

The measurement unit for noise is decibels (dB). An ‘A-weighting’ ‘dB(A)’ is used to measure average noise levels and a ‘C-weighting’ ‘dB(C) measures peak, impact or explosive noises.
A 3dB increase in noise level is generally noticeable but in fact doubles the noise level, therefore relatively small differences in the numbers can be significant.

Typical Noise Levels

Action Levels and Limit Values

Certain actions must be taken when the levels of exposure are averaged over a working day or working week and also the maximum noise (peak sound pressure) to which employees are exposed to in a working day.

There are two values:
• Lower exposure action values
o Daily or weekly exposure of 80dB
o Peak sound pressure of 135dB
• Upper exposure action values
o Daily or weekly exposure of 85dB
o Peak sound pressure of 137dB

There are also levels of noise that must not be exceeded
• Exposure limit values
o Daily or weekly exposure of 87dB
o Peak sound pressure of 140dB

Reducing noise levels

There are ways of reducing noise levels and exposure, redesigning the workplace and the work patterns can be useful.

• Use quieter processes and equipment
o Can you do work in some other quieter way?
o Can you replace whatever is causing the noise with something less noisy?
o Introduce a low-noise purchasing policy for machinery and equipment
• Introduce engineering controls
o Avoid metal on metal impacts e.g. line impact points with rubber or reduce drop heights
o Dampen vibration on machine panels
o Use anti vibration mounts or flexible couplings
o Fit silencers to exhausts and nozzles
• Modify the paths by which noise travels through the air
o Erect enclosures around machines
o Use barriers or screens to block the direct path of sound
o Position noise sources further away from workers
• Design and layout the workplace to reduce noise emission
o Use absorptive materials within the building to reduce sound reflection i.e. open cell foam or mineral wool
o Keep noisy machinery away from quiet areas
o Design the workflow to keep noisy machinery out of highly populated areas
• Limit the time spent in noisy areas
o Halving the time in a noisy area will reduce noise exposure by 3dB
• Maintain the machinery
o Have a planned maintenance schedule
o Replace worn parts immediately

Hearing Protection

If the noise levels cannot be reduced to a level that is acceptable then hearing protection must be issued to employees. Once issued it is mandatory to ensure that they are used properly. Hearing protection zones must be indentified and clearly marked. The employees must be trained and given information on how to use them and care for them.

There are some do’s and don’ts listed below:

Do:
• Make sure that the protectors give enough protection – aim to reduce levels to 85dB at the ear
• Target the use of protectors to noisy tasks in a working day
• Select protectors that are suitable for the environment in which they are being used – consider how comfortable and hygienic they are
• Think about how they will be worn and interact with other protective equipment (hard hats, respiratory protection and eye protection
• Provide a range of protectors so that employees have a choice on what is suitable for themselves.

Don’t
• Provide protectors that cut out too much sound – this can cause isolation or lead to an unwillingness to wear them.
• Make the use of hearing protectors compulsory where the law does not require it.
• Have a blanket approach to the use of hearing protection - it is better to target its use to where it is needed.

There are different items that can be used for hearing protection:

Ear plugs are inserted to block the ear canal. They may be pre-moulded (preformed) or mouldable (foam ear plugs). Ear plugs are sold as disposable products or reusable plugs. Custom moulded ear plugs are also available.

Semi-insert ear plugs which consist of two ear plugs held over the ends of the ear canal by a rigid headband.

Ear muffs consist of sound-attenuating material and soft ear cushions that fit around the ear and hard outer cups. They are held together by a head band.
Different levels of protection are available it is important that you choose the correct level.

All hearing protection should comply to the following EN Standards:

EN352-1 Muffs and Headband
The section of the standard deals with head fasteners and establishes requirements in terms of manufacture, design and performance, test methods, instructions relating to marking and information intended for users.

EN352-2 Plugs and Bands
This part of the standard also deals with individually moulded ear plugs and devices connected by bands

EN352-3 Muffs and Helmet mounted
The present section of the standard stipulates requirements in terms of manufacture, design and performance, test methods, instructions relating to head fastener marking and information intended for head fastener users, when the latter are fixed on protective industrial helmets.

Ranges of hearing protection products including Peltor and Sordin brands are available on the Granite Workwear website under Ear Protection and Forestry Tools and Accessories; they offer various levels of protection covering all uses.

Tree Felling the Safe Way

2009-12-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

Basic Felling

This is a short guide to the felling of trees in areas where there is a clear space of at least two tree lengths clearance in all directions and therefore there is no need for pulling aids to ensure that the tree does not drop onto other trees nearby.

Preparation

Before commencing this task a risk assessment should be carried out and any operator must be appropriately trained in the use of the chainsaw and how to carry out the basic tasks, for more detailed information on this subject please see the article Using a Rear Handled Chainsaw published on 11th November 2009 on the Granite Workwear web site.

Included in this risk assessment should be the prevailing weather conditions, particularly high winds.

Make sure that all the correct tools are available, these may include a breaking bar, a range of sizes of alloy or plastic wedges, a sledgehammer and a hand winch complete with a handle, strops and a cable. Wherever possible plan to minimise any manual handling by the use of the appropriate tools.

It is also important to remember that felling a tree is a one man operation and to ensure that no other operator or machine is within two tree lengths. Survey the site to ensure that there are no underground or overhead services nearby, including electricity, telephone, sewerage, water or gas.

The felling operation

Inspect the tree thoroughly to ensure that there is no dead wood, insecure branches or noticeable signs of decay. Decide on the direction you want the tree to fall and make sure you have a suitable escape route with no obstructions.

Remove any debris from around the base of the tree, and also any obstructing vegetation that may impact on the operation taking particular care that the dispersal of the exhaust fumes from the chainsaw are not restricted.

Remove any low branches ensuring that that you are protected from kickback by keeping the guide bar out of line with your body, also it is useful to use the stem for protection, never use the saw above the height of your shoulders.

Make a sink cut to make a hinge this helps control the rate and direction of fall. A sink cut is a triangular shaped cut with a horizontal base and a 45° angle placed in the direction that you want the tree to fall, it should be the depth of a quarter of the diameter of the tree and the top and bottom cuts must meet exactly with no overcut to damage the strength of the hinge.

Start the felling cut at or very slightly above the level of the bottom sink cut, as you make the cut be careful of the tree moving and trapping the blade. The felling cut must leave a hinge of at least 25 mm at right angles to the direction of fall. If the blade does jam switch the chainsaw off and then pull gently to try and disengage it, if it cannot be freed then use appropriate tools to open the cut slightly.

It is important to remember that once the felling cut has been started then the tree must not be left, the felling must be completed.

Once the felling cut has been completed then use a breaking bar to to lever the tree over, always remember to keep your back straight and use your legs to lift, also keep both hands on the lever.

When the tree starts to fall immediately step back and to the side into your pr-planned escape route always be aware that the butt of tree may rebound as the tree falls.

After the tree has been safely felled you can then commence the snedding operation to remove the limbs that were too high to reach when the tree was standing.

Crown Breakdown

Breaking down the crown of a large tree can be very dangerous, you should always be ready for the tree rolling or for the branches springing back when cut.

To ensure the tree does not roll the use of a properly anchored winch is required. Ensure that you have a clear escape route at all times and plan the work sequence so that this is possible. Ensure that there are no bystanders in close proximity. Never work underneath any part of the felled tree, if it moves you will be crushed.

While working continually assess the tension in the branches, especially those that are in contact with the ground and thereby supporting the main stem.

Cut away the smaller branches first retaining the main supporting branches, again never work above shoulder height. When tackling the larger branches ensure that any debris from your previous cuts has been cleared from the ground to ensure you have a secure footing. Always keep assessing any potential movement of the tree.

If the branches are large cut them down gradually rather than going straight to the stem. Once you have cleared the branches to shoulder height, use the winch to roll the tree in a controlled manner to bring the remaining branches to a safe cutting height. When you have cleared all the branches and the tree is in a stable sate you can de-limb flush to the trunk.

The Granite Workwear Site offers a large range of PPE specifically for forestry work including clothing, footwear, head, eye and ear protection, along with a number of articles similar to this one, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask us.

Fall Arrest for Arborists

2009-12-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

Falls from height are the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury, this applies across all industries. By nature of the work, arborists often have to climb to high points and unlike the construction industry often it is difficult or impossible to use working platforms or scaffolding.

Therefore the most practical way of ensuring safety is the use of personal fall protection equipment i.e. a fall arrest harness, for example the Komet Miller Dragonfly and Butterfly II harnesses on the Granite Website in the Forestry Tools & Accessories section.

The regulations applicable to this subject are The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (as amended) obtainable from the Health and Safety Executive.

Fall arrest systems are designed to limit the impact force of a fall and ensure that the user cannot hit the ground. The anchor point must be as high as possible above the feet of the user thereby limiting the distance that they can fall.

Of course the anchor point must be strong enough to hold the impact force of the faller, taking into account the distance and the weight of the person. Always check the condition of the tree and suitability of anchor points before committing life and limb.

There are a number of actions that must be taken when using this type of equipment as explained below.

Risk Assessment

Work at height must be properly planned and organised and should take into account weather conditions, all personnel must have received appropriate training and be competent and healthy.

They should also have read the manufacturers product information literature.

Wherever possible try to minimise the height from which a person can fall and be fully aware of the consequences if they do fall.

All the work must be supervised, never carried out alone.

Selection and maintenance of equipment

The equipment being used must be suitable for the task being carried out, within the design limits. It must comply with BS EN 361 for a full body harness. All components being used must be compatible with each other.

All equipment must be checked even when new and then before each use to ensure that it operates correctly and that it is in good condition. The checks should be both tactile and visual, passing the equipment slowly through the hands to feel for cuts, abrasion or any contaminants as well as softening or hardening of the fibres. Ensure that the visual checks are carried out in good light conditions, also do not hurry these checks, your life may depend on it...

In addition to the pre-use checks a more comprehensive check should be carried out by a trained and competent person on a regular schedule and these checks should be documented. Particular attention is required where the equipment can come into contact with acids or alkalis.

Any damaged equipment must be taken out of operation immediately, even small cuts or abrasions will have a serious effect on the performance.

If the equipment has become wet in use it must be dried thoroughly before storing it in clean dry conditions.

Action to be taken in case of a fall

This topic was covered in the article Aerial Tree Rescue published on 9th November 2009 but we feel that it is important to bring attention to the risk of Suspension Trauma which is little understood by most people even though it has been known about for quite a few years.

It is a natural reaction in the body to being held in an upright position with immobilised legs. Normally the use of leg muscles helps to return blood to the heart, if the legs are immobilised which would be the case in using a fall arrest harness, this process starts to fail and blood starts to pool in the legs, this causes the brain to receive less blood and starts to be starved of oxygen. Loss of consciousness can occur in less than 6 minutes. Research has suggested that death can occur in as little as 10 minutes. If the fall has been caused by a trauma like a bad cut or a head injury then this timescale can be more rapid.

Suspension is therefore a life threatening situation and urgent rescue is needed within 10 minutes. However when the accident victim is rescued certain things have to be considered.The blood that has pooled in the legs contains toxins, which if released into the circulation could damage internal organs and in extreme cases stop the heart from beating. This is known as Reflow Syndrome and traditional first aid techniques could be fatal in this case. Casualties must not be laid flat at any time in the rescue or when on the ground. The casualty should be kept in a sitting position with their legs either straight out or pulled up to the chest for a minimum of half an hour even if they are unconscious.

It is important that all workers know of the dangers of the risks of Suspension Trauma and the correct techniques for handling it, anybody who has been suspended for more that 3 minutes should be treated as if they have it.

Of course prevention is always better than cure and all measures to reduce the risk of falling should be employed wherever possible, including regular breaks to reduce fatigue and the use of the correct protective clothing to reduce heat stress.

How to use a chipper safely

2009-11-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

Chippers can be extremely dangerous machines if not used correctly, it is absolutely essential that anybody using a chipper has the correct training in how to operate the machine.

Initial checks and operations

Before working with the machine, it must be checked that it has been properly changed over from its transportation mode. Ensure that all guards for belts, pulleys, shafts and any other moving parts are secure and there is no damage.

All new machines supplied after 26 June 2005 should comply with BS EN 13525: 2005, older chippers should have been retro-fitted with an infeed protection device supplied by the manufacturers as agreed with the HSE from 31st October 2000. Generally the operators should be protected from contact with the infeed rollers by a combination of reach-distance guarding and a protection device that stops the rollers when moved. For more detailed information see HSE leaflet AIS38.

Ensure that any lock for the chipping components has been disengaged and that the infeed hopper is clear of any materials. Noise warning signs must be in place.

If the machine is driven by a power take-off shaft (PTO) make sure that the shaft is fitted with a guard that complies to EN 1152 and that it fully encloses the shaft along its entire length between the machine and the tractor and that it is in full working order. Another thing to consider is that the PTO speed is within the required range for the machine.

The surface that the machine will be working on has to be as firm as possible and the machine must be stabilised effectively. There must be adequate ventilation and any exhaust fumes are vented into the open air if working in an enclosed space.

Ensure that all access points to the work area have been signed indicating that it is a hazardous site and that unauthorised access is forbidden. If necessary safety barriers should be erected and personnel assigned to keep people away.

PPE requirements

The following equipment must be supplied and used:
• Safety Helmet complying with EN 397
• Eye protection either a mesh visor complying with EN 1731 or safety glasses complying with EN 166
• Hearing protection complying with EN 352 note that chippers have a higher decibel range than chainsaws we recommend the Sordin EXC 31SNR or Optime II or Optime III Ear Defenders found on our website under Forestry Equipment Tools or Ear Protection for this purpose.
• Gloves
• Safety boots with a good gripping sole and ankle support complying with EN 345-1
• Non-snag outer clothing appropriate to the weather conditions, high-visibility clothing complying with EN 471 should be worn where the risk assessment identifies the need, if working on railways it will also need to comply with GO/RT standards you can find these items on our website under Forestry Clothing or Hi Viz.
• A personal first-kit including a large wound dressing as a minimum, we also recommend carrying a pouch of Celox which is a haemostatic granule which when poured into a bleeding wound, links to the red blood cells promoting rapid coagulation, again, on the website under Forestry / Tools & Accessories.

Operating the Machine

Make sure that the cuffs of gloves are close fitting or tucked into the sleeves of your shirt or jacket. This stops them becoming caught on the material being fed into the chipper. Set the engine speed to the optimum performance level.

Check that the material you are going to chip is free of any stone, metal or other foreign bodies.
Do not stand directly in front of the infeed rollers as material may be ejected. Let go of the material as soon as it is taken into the infeed rollers or chipping components, if there are short pieces to be chipped use a push stick at least 150 cm long to feed the material in.

Never put any part of your body into the infeed hopper while the machine is running. If there are any blockages follow the manufacturer’s instructions for clearing them.

Keep the area of ground around the machine and particularly in front of the infeed hopper clear of any debris to prevent any tripping hazard.

When leaving the machine unattended or whilst undertaking any maintenance, remove the engine start key.

Fuelling

Stop the engine and let it cool, ensure that there is no source of ignition nearby. Use a container with a non drip spout, that is clearly labelled and is suitable for the storage of petrol or diesel.
Ensure that the fuel is stored safely away from direct sunlight and any possible sources of ignition.

Ensure that fuel does not contact the skin or eyes, if there is contact then wash the skin, in the case of contact with the eyes wash out with sterile water immediately and get medical advice as soon as possible.

Maintenance

Always make sure that maintenance is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Check for wear on the chipping components and knives; always ensure you wear gloves when handling the knives. Before removing any guards or covers or reaching into the infeed hopper, make sure that the engine is switched off, the start key removed and that all moving parts are stationary.

Any knives that are damaged or blunt must be changed or reversed and when worn down to the minimum size specified by the manufacturer they must be scrapped. When new or sharpened knives are fitted, ensure that there is the recommended minimum clearance between the knives and the anvil.

Moving the machine

Make sure that the chipping components are locked and that the start key is removed, secure the infeed hopper and the discharge chute into the transport position. Check the towing bracket then attach to the towing hitch and raise the jockey wheel and secure it. Connect the electrics and safety chain to the towing vehicle and ensure that the load is safe and that there are no people nearby before moving off.

Safe chipping!

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

2009-11-17T02:00:00.000-08:00

All employers have a duty to provide PPE under the requirements of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.

The definition of PPE is ‘all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects them against one or more risks to their health and safety’. This includes safety helmets, gloves, eye protection, high visibility clothing, safety footwear, and safety harnesses.

Other regulations cover hearing and respiratory protection, but these need to be compatible with any other PPE provided, so that they do not have a negative impact on each other.

Under the regulations not only does the employer have to supply these items but also has a duty to ensure that they are used correctly and at all times where there are risks to health and safety.

The employer has to assess the equipment provided to ensure that it is suitable for the task and that it is maintained and stored properly.

It is also their duty to ensure that the users are supplied with instructions for use and that these instructions are correctly carried out by the user. Make sure that all users are aware of why it is needed, when it has to be used, the need for keeping it in good repair and that they understand it has to be used at all times where there are risks.

This does not only apply to employees but also to visitors to the site, for example eye protection, safety helmets and high visibility clothing are mandatory for visitors where the work area demands this protection.

This provision of PPE can incur a considerable cost to a company, but the employees cannot be charged for this. If an employee leaves the company and does not return the equipment then to reclaim the cost from the employee it has to be written into the Contract of Employment that this deduction will be made from any wages owed by the company.

Make sure that replacement PPE is readily available, either in stock or you have a supplier that can deliver replacements speedily. If the equipment is lost or damaged then the employee cannot continue to work in that area.

Assessment of suitability

Careful consideration has to be made of the particular hazards in the workplace and the types of PPE that will be required for each one to enable the worker to do the job safely.
It is often useful to ask the supplier which is the best for the particular situation. In some cases it may be that you will need to contact specialists.

Granite Workwear Ltd. has a comprehensive range of suitable PPE on the web site and can always offer advice when needed as to the appropriate equipment for your needs.

There are a number of factors to be taken into account during this assessment:

• Is it appropriate for risks and conditions that could possibly occur? Eye protection that is suitable to eliminate risk of dust getting in the eye will be unlikely to protect against metal or stone fragments and eye protection that is suitable for may not be adequate for use by welders to protect from flash.
• Does the item cause other issues that affect negatively on the overall levels of risk? For example does the PPE cause a negative effect on the build up of heat in the user’s body (heat stress)? If this is the case extended breaks may be required to allow recovery time.
• Can the item be adjusted to fit each individual user without affecting the protection?
• Are there any health issues with the wearer that may affect the use of the equipment?
• Does the use of the equipment required work well in combination? For example does the helmet allow for proper use of ear defenders or does a respirator allow the proper fitting of eye protection?

Hazards and equipment to be assessed

Eyes:
Hazards; chemical splash, dust, chippings, metal fragments or splash, gas or vapour, radiation
Equipment; Safety spectacles, goggles, face shields, visors.

Breathing:
Hazards: vapours, gasses, dust.
Equipment; disposable filtering masks, respirators (half and full face), breathing apparatus.

Head:
Hazards; impact from flying or falling objects, head bumping, hair entanglement
Equipment; Helmets, hairnets

Body:
Hazards; high or low temperature, weather, chemicals, cuts, impact or penetration, dust, entanglement, static discharge
Equipment; disposable overalls, boiler suits or bib and brace, chainsaw protective clothing, chain mail aprons, waterproofs, thermal garments, flame retardant clothing, anti-static.

Hands and Arms:
Hazards; cuts, abrasion, high and low temperature, vibration, impact, chemicals, electric shock, infection
Equipment; gloves, gauntlets, arm guards, wrist guards, mittens.

Feet and Legs:
Hazards; liquids, temperature, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, chemical and metal splash, abrasion, static discharge
Equipment; Safety boots and shoes with toe and midsole protection, rubber boots, gaiters, leggings, spats

Ensure that any PPE you buy is marked with the ‘CE’ symbol and that it complies with appropriate EN Standards for the use it is intended.

A company must by law have the proper PPE for their employees, but it is not just a case of complying with the legal obligations. The disruption to business caused by absenteeism because of accidents is incalculable, as is the loss of productivity if employees are unhappy with their working conditions. Involve them in PPE selection, make sure they have an input and there will be few problems making them use it. Use the right quality and the employees will feel valued.

Using a rear handled chainsaw

2009-11-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

The use of petrol driven chainsaws can be very dangerous if the operator is not trained and practised in its use. We have put together some information on using a chainsaw to help people to understand how one should be handled and some of the regulations that have to be followed.

Firstly there are two types of chainsaw, rear handled and top handled. Top handled chainsaws can only be used when working off the ground i.e. climbing or working on a mobile elevating platform. We will be presenting information on the use of the top handled chainsaw in a later article.

So the use of rear handled chainsaws is for groundwork i.e. felling, clearing of windblow, snedding (removal of small branches from a felled tree) and sectioning of trunks and large branches.

All chainsaw users must be aware of the weather conditions that they are working in and also the dangers of being cut by a saw, hit by falling timber, vibration and noise.

Therefore the first area we will look at is the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is required. It should be understood that no PPE can actually protect you 100% against cuts and therefore it is important to remember this and not just rely on the protection but ensure that you are minimising any risk by the application of common-sense and good practice learned during training and from experience.

Items of Equipment:

Leg Protection: The trousers or leggings should incorporate chain clogging material complying with EN 381-5 Class1 you will find these on the Granite Workwear site under Forestry Clothing, we stock a number of items from the SIP range including Hi Vis in both Orange to GO/RT 3279 for use on or near railways and also Yellow, both colours comply with EN 471 class 2.

Outer clothing: These items should be non-snag and in certain cases Hi Vis, the jackets may or may not have cut protection, although that is advisable.

Safety Helmet: this must comply with EN 397 these can be found under Forestry Tools & Accessories.

Eye Protection: this can be either a mesh visor complying with EN 1731 or safety glasses complying with EN 166.

Hearing Protection: This protection must comply with EN 352; the best way is to use helmet mounted ear defenders for example the Sordin or Peltor products found on the Granite Workwear site.

Gloves: The type of glove required will be dependent on the Risk Assessment and the type of machine being used. Areas to be considered are; protection from cuts from the chainsaw or thorny material cold or wet conditions as well as vibration. For protection against chainsaw cuts the gloves should comply with EN 381-7, for example the Timberland Protimber L available on the Granite Workwear site.

Protective Boots: These must have a good grip sole and also protection in the front vamp and instep complying with EN 20345. We recommend the Haix range to be found under Forestry Footwear on the site.

First Aid Kit: Each person must have a first aid kit on them to include a large wound dressing; we also recommend carrying a pouch of Celox which is a haemostatic granule which when poured into a bleeding wound, links to the red blood cells promoting rapid coagulation.

Machine Checks

The machine should be checked for the following before use:

The stop switch is clearly marked and works.
The front hand guard, chain brake, chain catcher and anti-vibration mounts are all undamaged and working.
The throttle opens only when the throttle lock is depressed.
The saw is fitted with a chain type recommended by the manufacturer and is designed to reduce kickback.
The exhaust system and silencer are in a good state of repair.
The saw displays the mandatory hearing protection symbol.
The equipment is available for sharpening, maintenance and adjustments and a chain cover for use during transportation.

Preparing for work

Operators should not work alone, a risk assessment has been carried out and any significant points are recorded. All personnel involved in the worksite are aware of and comply with the controls in place.

Ensure that a safe method of work has been agreed including a 5 metre distance is maintained between workers and any ancillary equipment.

Ensure that everybody understands the information needed to contact the Emergency Services including directions to the site and access information. Also ensure that the appropriate signage is in place to warn that this is a hazardous worksite.

Ensure that fuel is stored in appropriate containers with non-spill spouts and that it is stored away from direct sunlight and any possible source of ignition. Do not start the chainsaw within 4 metres of the refuelling point.

Starting the Saw

Make sure you are a safe distance from other people and that the saw is clear of obstructions.

When starting from cold, put the saw on the ground and set the controls following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Place one foot on the rear handle and your left hand on the front handle, then pull the starter cord firmly.

From hot the safest way is using a ground start but without using the choke or the half throttle stop controls, however you can use a thigh or knee start; grip the rear handle firmly between the knees grip the front handle with your left hand and then pull the starter cord firmly.

Using the Saw

The saw must be used with the right hand on the rear handle; the thumb of the left hand must be under the front handle.

Check that the chain brake works correctly, use the chain brake when walking on the site or if the saw is not being used for more than 15 seconds. The brake should be applied with the back of the left wrist.

Stop the saw if it is not in use for longer periods.

Be wary of kickback, this is where there is uncontrolled upward and or backward motion of the guide bar. It is usually caused when the nose of the guide bar comes in contact with a log or branch, when the wood being cut pinches the saw chain while cutting, or when the chain catches a piece of metal that may have been ‘buried’ in the wood such as a nail.

Aerial Tree Rescue

2009-11-09T06:22:00.000-08:00

Aerial Tree Rescue

Hopefully if the operators adhere to the safe working practices outlined in “Tree Climbing the Safe Way” which we published on 29th October 2009, there will be few occasions when there would be need to undertake Aerial Tree Rescue. However we would like to give some information on how this should be carried out.

Immediate Actions

Everyone involved in Aerial Tree Rescue must have had appropriate training, the most important thing to be aware of is that the rescuer’s safety has to be the immediate priority, there is no sense in ending up with two casualties.

When an injured climber needs to be rescued, immediately make sure that any other members of the work team and anybody who might enter the site are all safe and are not in the area where the rescue is taking place.

One of the most important things to ensure is that there are no overhead cables involved, if the correct procedures for planning the climbing have been carried out then they should not be, however mistakes can happen. If cables are involved then the relevant electricity company must be contacted before doing anything.

It is critical that the casualty’s condition is assessed and the appropriate emergency services contacted, so that they can be getting to the site whilst the rescue is under way. Ensure that they have all the relevant information; location, access problems if any, name of casualty and any known relevant medical history, time of the accident and if any chemicals are involved.

Equipment

Certain equipment must always be available at the worksite; some of these items are to be found in Forestry Tools & Accessories on the Granite Workwear web site.

First Aid Kit; this should be as comprehensive as possible not just the basic minimum required under the HSE regulations, for example it is useful to have Celox which is a haemostatic granule which when poured into a bleeding wound, links to the red blood cells promoting rapid coagulation.

Climbing Equipment; a suitable harness, ropes, karabiners, strops and any other equipment that the rescuer has experience of and training in, to assist in climbing safely. Other items would be ladders, climbing irons, ascenders and decenders.

Knife; a sharp knife with a retractable blade that will be able to quickly cut ropes or snagged clothing. However care must be taken when cutting tensioned ropes as this can cause injury to the casualty or the rescuer. Of course it is essential to be careful not to cut the wrong rope and also be careful not to cause cut injuries.

If in the course of the rescue there is a need for further equipment that is not immediately available then this must be sent for, communication should be available at all times by mobile phone or two way radio.

Reassurance

Keep up communication with the casualty if they are conscious, offering reassurance and encourage them to help themselves to get more comfortable if it is appropriate or possible.

Climbing to the Casualty

Choose the most efficient method of climbing to reach the casualty as quickly as possible but also safely. Use whatever climbing aids that you have available and that are appropriate.
Look for hazards for example broken, severed or hanging branches and also the casualty’s equipment that may create risks.

Assess the tree or trees and select the appropriate equipment to remove the parts that may impede a quick and safe rescue. If available use other trained operators to assist in this, but be mindful of not getting in each other’s way.

When you have reached the casualty make an immediate but thorough assessment of immediate needs for first-aid treatment and making them safe.

If there are indications of fractures, crush injuries and most importantly possible spinal injury, if possible wait for medical supervision from a paramedic or doctor.

Rescue

Maintain close contact with the casualty and monitor any changes in their condition, reassure them and control them if necessary.

Remain securely anchored at all times; it is important not to put your own safety at risk. Make sure that your anchor points are capable of taking not only the load of yourself but of the casualty too.

When bringing down the casualty, it is essential to ensure that you and the casualty descend together to ease their movement through the branches and also enable you to monitor their condition constantly.

Stay with the casualty until he has been safely transported from the site by the paramedics.

After the Incident

Ensure that all personnel have left the site and that it is safe and secure. Take names and contact details of witnesses before they leave.

It is a good idea to take pictures of the site, using a digital camera or mobile phone noting the date and time.

In no circumstances use any of the equipment that has been involved in the accident until it has been thoroughly checked by a competent person.

Notify management of the incident and clearly record all details in the accident register, before reporting the incident to the HSE in accordance with the rules of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR).

Hand Arm Vibration

2009-10-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

What is hand-arm vibration?

Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers’ hands and arms. It can be caused by operating hand-held power tools, such as chainsaws, strimmers, and hand-guided equipment, such as powered lawnmowers, or by holding materials being processed by machines. The use of this equipment comes under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

When is it hazardous?

Frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration can cause permanent health effects. This is most likely when contact with a vibrating tool or work process is a regular part of a person’s job, occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health.

Health Effects

Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

Symptoms

Identifying signs and symptoms at an early stage is important as this will allow you to take action to prevent the health effects from becoming serious.

The symptoms include any combination of:

• tingling and numbness in the fingers
• not being able to feel things properly
• loss of strength in the hands
• the fingers going white and red and painful on recovery, particularly when cold and wet

For some people, symptoms may appear after only a few months of exposure, but for others they may take a few years. They are likely to get worse with continued exposure to vibration and may become permanent.

What effects do these symptoms have?

The effects on people include:

• pain, distress and sleep disturbance.
• inability to do fine work (e.g. assembling small components) or everyday tasks (e.g. fastening buttons).
• reduced ability to work in cold or damp conditions.
• reduced grip strength which might affect the ability to do work safely.

They can severely limit the jobs an affected person is able to do, as well as many family and social activities.

Assess the risks

You should assess whether there is likely to be a significant risk from hand-arm vibration and which operations involve regular exposure to vibration. See if there are any warnings of vibration risks in equipment handbooks; ask employees if they have any of the HAVS symptoms described above and whether the equipment being used produces high levels of vibration or uncomfortable strains on hands and arms.

The person who does the risk assessment should have read and understood the HSE information, have a good knowledge of the work processes used at work and be able to collect and understand relevant information.

A plan of action based on assessment should be drawn up and put into effect:

• make a list of equipment that may cause vibration, and what sort of work it is used for.
• collect information about the equipment from equipment handbooks (make, model, power, vibration risks, vibration information etc).
• make a list of users of vibrating equipment and which jobs they do.
• note as accurately as possible how long users’ hands are actually in contact with the equipment while it is vibrating, in some cases this may only be a few minutes in several hours of work with the equipment.
• ask users which equipment seems to have high vibration and about any other problems they may have in using it, e.g. its weight, awkward postures needed to use the tool, difficulty in holding and operating it.

Actions

Group your work activities according to whether they are high, medium or low risk and then plan your action to control risks for the users at greatest risk first.

High risk

Users who regularly operate: vibrating tools for more than one hour per day; or some rotary and other action tools for more than about four hours per day. Users in this group are likely to be above the exposure limit value set out in the Regulations. The limit value could be exceeded in a much shorter time in some cases, especially where the tools are not the most suitable for the job.

Medium risk

Users who regularly operate: vibrating tools for more than about 15 minutes per day; or some rotary and other action tools for more than about one hour per day. Users in this group are likely to be exposed above the exposure limit value set out in the Regulations.

Machinery manufacturers are obliged to include information on vibration levels in their manuals, however be aware that this will have been carried out in “ideal conditions” and may have no correlation with the conditions that you will be using the equipment in.

Control the risks

When you have identified who is at risk, you need to decide how you can reduce the risks. You must do all that is reasonable to control the risk.

Equipment selection

Make sure that equipment selected or allocated for tasks is suitable and can do the work efficiently. Equipment that is unsuitable, too small or not powerful enough is likely to take much longer to complete the task and expose employees to vibration for longer than is necessary. Select the lowest vibration tool that is suitable and can do the work efficiently.

Equipment is likely to be replaced over time as it becomes worn out, and it is important that you choose replacements, which are suitable for the work, efficient and of lower vibration.

Maintenance

Introduce appropriate maintenance programmes for your equipment to prevent avoidable increases in vibration (following the manufacturer’s recommendations where appropriate).

Example: Check and sharpen chainsaw teeth regularly (following the manufacturer’s recommendations) to maintain the chainsaw’s efficiency and to reduce the time it takes to complete the work.

Work schedules

Plan working schedules to avoid individuals being exposed to vibration for long, continuous periods – several shorter periods are preferable.

Where tools require continual or frequent use, introduce rotas to limit exposure times (you should avoid users being exposed for periods which are long enough to put them in the high risk category).

Good Practice

Ensure that all users of equipment are aware of and implement:

• changes to working practices to reduce vibration exposure;
• correct selection, use and maintenance of equipment;
• correct techniques for equipment use, how to reduce grip force etc.
• maintenance of good blood circulation at work by keeping warm and massaging fingers and, if possible, cutting down on smoking.

Clothing

Provide your employees with protective clothing when necessary to keep them warm and dry. This will encourage good blood circulation which can help protect them from developing vibration white finger; on the Granite site you will find an extensive range of garments under Forestry Clothing.

Gloves can be used to keep hands warm and some are able to reduce but not eliminate vibration. On the Granite site you will find a range of gloves from Timberland including the Timberland Vibstop 1 Glove.

Tree Climbing the Safe Way

2009-10-30T02:28:00.000-07:00

Climbing trees is by nature a hazardous job, but certain common sense precautions can ensure that the risks are kept to a minimum.

Tree climbing work is subject to the Working at Height Regulations 2005 and certain rules have to be observed.

Risks and proper precautions

The first task is to carry out a risk assessment to determine whether climbing is the appropriate method of carrying out the work; it may be that in fact access can be made by using a hydraulic lift commonly known as a “Cherry Picker”; use of one of these also has certain regulations and requires a trained operator.

There are some main points that must be remembered and implemented.

· All the work to be carried out at height must be properly planned, organised and most importantly supervised.

· Equipment to be used must be suitable for the task and inspected before use to ensure that it is in good condition.

· All persons involved must be competent and have had appropriate training in all the tasks being carried out.

A proper risk assessment must be carried out for the site as a whole and should include the following points:

· There must be a written emergency plan.

· All risks must be assessed accurately including proximity to hazards e.g. power lines.

· All of the people involved on the worksite must be aware of the controls in place.

· All of the workforce must comply with the identified controls.

A minimum of two people must be present the whole time that tree climbing is in operation, one of which must be on the ground and has to be trained in aerial rescue and have all the necessary equipment available, so that a rescue can be performed without delay.

All people on the site must be able to communicate with each other easily and there should be a means of communication with responsible persons off site and with the Emergency Services, e.g. by mobile phone. In particularly noisy areas it is recommended that two way radios should be used.

All the people involved should have contributed to the risk assessment and job planning and must be free to raise points of concern and have the authority to stop work if they have concerns over safety issues that arise.

Pre-planning considerations

It is essential that in the case of emergency that the location is known, in the case of rural areas grid reference and the type of access available, in the case of urban areas street names and post codes are needed.

On all access points to the area where the climbing is taking place warning and prohibition signs conforming to the Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, indicating a hazardous work site with unauthorised access prohibited must be displayed. In certain areas where public access is likely the use of barrier tape, barriers or extra personnel to act as safety marshals may be required.

Fitness is important, climbing and then working may put personnel under unusual skeletal and muscular strain, and so it is essential to warm up and stretch before commencing the climb. Where possible share the climbing work between two or more climbers to give adequate rest periods. In hot weather it may be necessary to increase the number of breaks and also look at different climbing techniques.

Climbers also have to be aware of the different characteristics of tree species and the effect on the methods to be used. Particular care must be taken to assess the structure and condition of the tree and look particularly for any evidence of decay and damage.

Equipment

For work off ground the helmet should be compliant to BS EN 12492 with both crown and side protection, the Arborsafe TH/1 helmet in our Granite Workwear range is ideal for this. Eye protection should comply with BS EN 166 for example the Bolle and Peltor ranges on the Granite Workwear site in the Safety Glasses section. Hearing protection should comply with BS EN 352. Suitable gloves should be worn depending on the conditions.

Of course it is also essential to have protective clothing to protect from chainsaw cuts. We have a range of products from SIP Protection to suit all needs; particularly the newer developments like the Freedom Trouser 1SRN that offer excellent protection particularly round the back of the lower leg but with lighter weight to give improved flexibility for climbing and reduce the problems of heat exhaustion.

Medical supplies

A first aid kit should always be available, but in addition to basic kit, which complies with regulations but is as it says BASIC; we recommend that each operative should have in their possession a pouch of Celox, there should also be one of these stored in the vehicle.

Celox is a British product and is a haemostatic granule which when poured into a bleeding wound, links to the red blood cells promoting rapid coagulation. In controlled tests, it was found to stop most bleeding within 30 seconds and to stop severe arterial bleeding in minutes. The sachet can be opened one handed so that the granules can be self administered.

In battlefield trials Celox achieved a 100% survival rate. It works in hypothermic conditions and also clots blood containing thinning agents such as Heparin and Warfarin. Celox does not generate heat and wont burn the patient or first aider. It is safe to use in all parts of the body including head and neck wounds. Simply pour granules into the wound and apply pressure. No specific training is needed and this will save lives.

Respiratory Masks - which one to choose?

2009-10-05T06:10:00.000-07:00

Granite have recently included a range of Venitex Respiratory Masks on our site, these offer three levels of protection so we would like to ensure that customers understand what the levels mean and what each level protects from, so that you can select the correct one for your use.

The main Standard is EN 149:2001 and all our masks come with the CE mark to show they conform to this.

There are three levels of protection FFP1, FFP2, FFP3.

FFP1 Respirator

These protect the wearer against both solid and liquid aerosols. The level of protection given is against non-toxic contaminants in concentrations up to 4 X OEL (Occupational Exposure Limit) or 4 X APF (Assigned Protection Factor)

Ideal use is to protect operators working on hand sanding, cutting and drilling.

FFP2 Respirator

These protect the wearer against both solid and liquid aerosols. The level of protection is against low to average toxicity contaminants in concentrations up to 12 X OEL or 10 X APF

Ideal for protection against plaster, cement, sanding and wood dust.

FFP3 Respirator

These protect the wearer against higher levels of fine dust and oil/water based mists containing high toxicity contaminants. The level of protection is up to 50 OEL or 20 APF.

These are ideal for use with paints, pharmaceutical powders, biological agents and fibres.

Dolomite Test

The Dolomite test is an optional test under EN 149:2001, respirators which pass the dolomite clogging test are proved to provide more comfortable breathing while wearing respirators. This is obviously beneficial when wearing masks for protracted periods.

Granite has one mask in each of the FFP categories.

Valves

Masks can come with or without valves. Many people prefer valves as they let out the exhaled air thus reducing exhalation effort, stay cooler, are less likely to mist up eyewear and stay comfortable for longer.

Non-valve masks tend to be slightly cheaper and do prevent the wearer from contaminating their environment.

The majority of the masks in our range have valves but we do offer an FFP2 mask without a valve if that is required.

Flame Retardant Garments

2009-05-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

When flame retardant workwear is mentioned the perception of many people is that the only people needing these garments are fire-fighters and motor sport participants. However there are many more workers who have the need for this type of Personal Protective Equipment including.

• Electricians
• Foundry Workers
• Workers in Petrochemical installations on shore and off shore
• Welders
• Other emergency services, Police, Ambulance etc

You may be faced with a bewildering array of garment and fabric choices. But before any decisions can be made, you need to know which fabrics and garments are in compliance with your needs. And that means knowing exactly what compliance means, what the performance specifications are, and how they are determined.

In the EU the standards are as below

EN 470 – 1: Protective clothing during welding or similar operations
The clothing is intended to protect the user against small splashes of molten metal (EN348), short contact time with flame (EN532), and ultra violet radiation, and to be worn continuously for up to 8 hours at ambient temperature

EN531: Protection against heat and flame
The standard specifies the performance requirements for protective clothing for workers exposed to heat. Limited flame spread (A) (Pass/Fail) is tested in accordance with a test method defined by EN 532. To pass the EN 531 requirements the clothing must also protect against at least one form of heat. The heat may be in the form of convective heat B (level B1-B5) according to EN 367, radiant heat C (level C1-C4) according to EN 366, molten aluminium splash (D) according to EN 373, molten iron splash (E) according to EN 373. HH products subjected to EN 531 are tested on radiant- and convective heat.

EN533: Protection against heat and flame
Protection against heat and flame; the standard specifies the performance requirements for the limited flame spread properties of materials and material assemblies used in protective clothing. The material(s) is classified in accordance with an index for limitation of flame spread (X) before and after a standard washing procedure (Y).
• X/Y Flame spread index, index 1, 2 or 3.
• Y Number of washes at a given temperature.
If the index is 1 (lowest level) the garment can only be used outside a garment with index 2 or 3.
If you have any doubt regarding what standard should be used for you or your employees’ then professional advice should be taken.

Also to be taken into account is whether the garment is made from an inherently Flame Retardant yarn or whether it has only been treated with a flame retardant finish. This can have an effect on the longevity of the flame retardant properties.

At www.Graniteworkwear.com in line with our policy to offer the best products available for all customers, we have recently included Hi Viz FR garments from Pulsar in our range and we will be adding more items including overalls, shirts, headwear and socks in the very near future, several of these will also feature antistatic and thermal properties particularly suited to the petrochemical and gas industries.

Eye Protection a Must

2009-03-27T03:17:00.000-07:00

Thousands of eye injuries occur every year in the UK ranging from minor, which may result in a few days off work, to major, resulting in the loss of an eye.
The use of proper eyewear, guards against flying particles, chemicals, burns and with the cost of compensation for the loss of sight in one eye averaging £100,000 and the loss of working days in lesser cases there is an obvious cost if the right equipment is not used.

However it is not just about cost; the welfare of workers should be uppermost in employers’ minds. In the case of individuals who are performing DIY or sports they should be thinking about the impact on their and their family’s lives of damaging their eyes.The Health and Safety Executive make it clear that companies have a legal duty of care to train and protect their employees and visitors against occupational risk. It is their responsibility to ensure that the proper PPE eyewear is used at all times. It used to be that only people actually involved in the use of tools or operating machinery had to wear eye protection, now anybody passing through a work area or construction site has to be protected.
Often the employees do not like to wear PPE items and in particular eyewear, as they find it restricting and uncomfortable but suppliers are conscious of this and are developing new products that are comfortable and fit properly so that maximum protection is afforded.

Particularly in the case of eyewear, fit is essential and the cost and logistics of stocking many different sizes at a company has now been addressed by the production of adjustable eyewear that fits a number of sizes and shapes of face. The eyewear is also much lighter and gives distortion free vision. There have also been big advances in non-mist and scratch resistance and many offer various levels of UV protection along with polarisation to cut glare particularly when working near water. In the past one of the reasons that people did not like to wear safety eyewear was that it looked unfashionable, this has now changed with the design of trendy and sporty looking products often following high-street fashion trends.

At Granite Workwear you will find a comprehensive range of eye protection items. Even the Peltor Maxim Air Seal which can double as goggles or the more traditional glasses but with the eye completely sealed. These come with three interchangeable ballistic lenses, smoke for high light levels, yellow for low light levels and clear.

We are finding that they are being used by a very diverse range of customers from people who are susceptible to eye infections to drivers of vintage vehicles. A bee in your eye at 70mph must be a very alarming experience!

Work Uniforms - Look Smart, Work Smart!

2008-07-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

As signs of recession approach, how many companies have assessed how fit they are to weather the storm? It is interesting to note that Tie Rack has seen an unusual leap in sales. Could this be put down to employee concerns over job security? Several analysts think that this is the case. The last time that the tie was considered a fashion statement was back in the early seventies, paisley, kipper, pencil etc & etc.

Well, the employee has seen the light but what about the employers?

Harris Interactive Polling and J.D.Power & Associates have both produced data that shows that customers have more trust and confidence in employees that are in a work uniform. They also report that uniformed employees provide products and services that are perceived to be of higher quality.

However, let us not kid ourselves that an embroidered oxford shirt constitutes an extension of a well thought out corporate identity. There is far more to this than at first appears.

What about the benefits that the business receives from its employees in performance, self / company image and attitude. A well designed, functional corporate wardrobe can have a startlingly positive effect on employees which can translate into improved / service levels and stronger customer loyalty.

A poorly designed / quality wardrobe can turn the potential customer away and make the employee feel a complete lack of worth to the business.

Put yourself in the position of the customer. Would you trust or buy from someone who looked like a bag of spanners or would you trust someone that was dressed in smart workwear and had pride in their appearance – at the same time, projecting the company image?

It’s a no-brainer!

When selecting your company uniform / work wear supplier, asses their experience and look to see how you can incorporate safety items, PPE and functional fabrics to make a complete corporate image.

www.graniteworkwear.com supplies end users and distributors with a comprehensive range of only high quality and tested workwear, PPE and corporate clothing. We like to sleep at night knowing that our customers are going to be around after the recession.

Chainsaw Safety Clothing

2008-06-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

Regulations generally recommend that chainsaw users wear protective clothing, also known as Personal Protective Equipment or PPE, while operating chainsaws. There is general agreement worldwide on what clothing is suitable, but local jurisdictions have specific rules and recommendations.

Clothing Types

Helmet

The helmet attempts to protect the user's head against impact with the cutter bar of the chainsaw should a kickback occur. This can only be successful if the chain brake has operated to stop the cutter chain. A chain running at full speed easily cuts the helmet.

The helmet also protects against impacts from small falling objects, such as a dead branch from a tree being felled.

The image shows a helmet which integrates visor and ear defenders into one unit. This is a very popular arrangement with chainsaw users.

In the EU, the helmet must meet the requirements of EN397.

Visor or Goggles

A visor or goggles reduce the chance of chips penetrating the user's eyes.

The relatively flimsy visor, with imperfect coverage of the face, is considered acceptable because the chips produced by chainsaws are of relatively uniform size and speed. Unlike other woodworking tools, a chainsaw produces little or no sawdust, only chips. The chips are too large to fit through the visor's mesh.

Some chainsaw users prefer conventional safety goggles. The choice may depend on the environment. The visor provides better ventilation for hard work in hot weather.

In the EU, a visor must comply with EN1731, or goggles must comply with EN166.

Ear defenders

Ear defenders and ear plugs attenuate noise to levels that cause little or no damage to the user's hearing. The chainsaw is very loud, typically 115 dB.

In the EU, ear defenders must comply with EN352.

Trousers

Special fabrics have been developed for chainsaw clothing, and this development is still very active. Conventional fabric is useless at protecting against a running chainsaw, being immediately cut through.

There is a real struggle between making a fabric proof against more violent impact, and making it light, flexible and comfortable enough for the user. Clothes which make the user too hot, or which prevent the user moving easily, are a safety problem in themselves. A worker suffering from heat exhaustion is not safe. Extra fabric layers can be added to clothing to improve cut resistance, but clothes which cannot be cut at all by a powerful saw are impractical, even with modern fibres. What is worse saw and chain technology seems to be outstripping fabric technology. High power saws with aggressively cutting chains are almost impossible to protect against.

A classification scheme has been developed in the EU to rate trousers, and fabric in general, for protection against cutting.

Chainsaw Fabric Classification
Class	Max chain speed m/s
0	16
1	20
2	24
3	28

The chain speed is specified in the manual for a chainsaw. Higher class trousers cost more and are heavier, so there is an advantage to choosing the trousers to match the saw.

There are two standard types of trousers, Type A and Type C. Type A protects only the front of the legs, and can be supplied not as full trousers but as chaps, worn over conventional work clothes. Types C gives protection all round the legs and are almost always worn as ordinary trousers; not over another garment. In the EU, most workers choose to wear type C trousers.

Chainsaw protective fabric works on a number of principles. The outermost layer can be made both tough and slippery, so that the chain skids across it rather than cutting in. Lower layers of fabric can be tough to cut, absorbing saw power. The final defence is that long fibres of the protective fabric (commonly Kevlar) are drawn out by the running saw, not cut through. These long fibres travel with the chain to the saw drive sprocket, where they jam the mechanism and stall the saw. After this, the saw has to be taken apart for cleaning out. Chainsaw protective trousers in the EU must comply with EN381-5.

Gloves

Chainsaw gloves have cut-proof fabric protection like that for trousers, but only on the back of the left hand. It's especially important that work gloves are flexible, which limits how much padding they can have. Experience has shown that most chainsaw injuries to the hands occur on the back of the left hand.

In the EU, chainsaw gloves must comply with EN381-7.

Boots

Chainsaw boots are based on ordinary steel-toe boots, but have layers of chainsaw protective fabric on the exposed front surfaces. They are available in lace-up leather or rubber Wellington boot versions.

In the EU, chainsaw boots must comply with EN345-2.

Logos for Fabric

Chainsaw Logo

In the EU, chainsaw trousers, boots and gloves (the items containing chainsaw protective fabric) must carry a special chainsaw logo. This shows that the fabric is of a type tested to protect properly, and also shows the class of protection, the rated maximum chain speed.

Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

First Aid Kit

In the UK, workers are required to carry a first aid kit containing at least a large wound dressing.

Whistle

In the UK, workers are recommended to carry a whistle to call for help if they are injured. Colleagues may be close by, but unable to hear over the noise of chainsaw(s) still running. The whistle tends to overcome this.

Peltor Sportac Electronic Ear Defenders

2008-06-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

At Granite Workwear we took some time sourcing ear defenders. We wanted products that were high quality and with a good reputation. We decided that Peltor products ticked all the right boxes and that has been backed up by our customers. Peltor Sportac ear defenders are a classic example of that quality.

Active-volume hearing protector from Peltor eliminates harmful noise so fast you don’t even notice it.

The Peltor SportTac is an active-volume hearing protector for shooting applications. With new digital technology, the hearing protector has sound reproduction and a sense of direction that are as close to nature as humanly possible. They have a very fast reaction speed, so you don’t notice when the hearing protector blocks out harmful noise. The new electronics in the Peltor SportTac react instantaneously, protecting the hearing from loud impulse noises. But it does so softly, so that the hunter or marksman rarely even hears the clip as the protection is activated.

The active-volume function adjusts smoothly, ensuring the user very pleasant sound reproduction and less irritation. The digital sound circuit eliminates the sharp sound clip that is typical for most active-volume hearing protectors on the market. Many people find that sound unpleasant and disturbing.
The specially designed digital circuit provides unique sound reproduction and better performance – higher amplification of ambient noise and 600 hours’ operating time.

Comfortable and Safe, With Interchangeable Shells in Different Colours

Another new feature with the Peltor SportTac is the interchangeable shells. Now for the first time, hunters and marksmen can choose their colours to suit the hunt or their mood. They are available in red/black combination or orange/green. The hearing protectors were designed for extra comfort during long hunts that last all day. And of course they can be connected to a hunting radio or dog tracker.

Agriculture Safety and PPE

2008-06-10T02:05:00.000-07:00

Over half a million people currently work in Agriculture which in the current context includes, farming, arboriculture, horticulture, fish farming and of increasing significance, amenity use of the countryside. Although employment has steadily been declining, the industry has remained a priority for HSE because of its notoriously poor injury record

Agriculture is also an industry with a poor record of occupational health. The SWI (Self-reported Work-related Illness) survey in 2001/02 estimated that 30,000 people (whose current or most recent job in the last eight years was in agriculture) suffered from an illness, which they believed was caused or made worse by their job sectors.

With a prevalence rate of 6,500 per 100,000 people, agriculture has one of the highest prevalence rates of self-reported ill health of all industries.

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSD), exposure to dusts and respiratory sensitisers, zoonoses, noise and vibration (whole body and hand/arm) are the main causes of illness:

80% of those working in the industry suffer some form of musculoskeletal injury;
the incidence of asthma is twice the national average, and 40% of those working in the industry suffer respiratory disorders;
20,000 people suffer some form of zoonotic infection each year; and
25% of those working in the industry suffer some form of noise-induced hearing loss.

At Granite Workwear we have first hand farming knowledge with one director running a family farming business. We think farmers need to be more aware of the modern range of PPE, or Personal Protection Equipment, available.

Many farmers avoid wearing safety boots as they are seen to be uncomfortable and heavy. However the latest footwear incorporates high tec materials with steel toecaps and midsoles replaced with lightweight modern materials and uppers made from breatheable and waterproof materials. Trainer and hiker styles allow a comfortable choice. Wellies can now be now comfortable and safe with toe protection, ankle support and non slip soles.

Hearing protection and ear defenders is now covered by our Peltor range. Comfortable, lightweight with options for radio, intercoms etc.

Eye protection by Bolle and Peltor is stylish and comfortable with a huge range of glasses that will protect in the workshop, out in the field and from the sun.

Gloves are a rare sight on UK farms but there is a massive range of gloves to protect hands from many risks – infection, chemicals, heat, cuts, cold the list is endless.

Hi-vis clothing is standard practice on building sites and factories wherever a risk of vehicle or other impact is possible. It is high time this policy was adopted on busy farms. Granite workwear offer a large range of hi-vis clothing from a polo shirt to full waterproof breathable gear.

The safety record on UK farms need to improve, PPE is an easy and low cost way to help protect farm staff. See our range at www.graniteworkwear.com

Do You Have A Noise Problem At Work?

2008-06-04T01:33:00.000-07:00

This will depend on how loud the noise is and how long people are exposed to it. As a simple guide you will probably need to do something about the noise if any of the following apply:

Is the noise intrusive - like a busy street, a vacuum cleaner or a crowded restaurant - for most of the working day?
Do your employees have to raise their voices to carry out a normal conversation when about 2 m apart for at least part of the day?
Do your employees use noisy powered tools or machinery for more than half an hour each day?
Do you work in a noisy industry, eg construction, demolition; woodworking; plastics processing; engineering; textile manufacture; forging, pressing or stamping; board making; canning; foundries?
Are there noises due to impacts (such as hammering, pneumatic impact tools etc), explosive sources such as cartridge operated tools, or guns?

Noise can also be a safety hazard at work, interfering with communication and making warnings harder to hear.

The health effects of noise at work

Noise at work can cause hearing loss that can be temporary or permanent. People often experience temporary deafness after leaving a noisy place. Although hearing recovers within a few hours, this should not be ignored. It is a sign that if you continue to be exposed to the noise your hearing could be permanently damaged. Permanent hearing damage can be caused immediately by sudden, extremely loud, explosive noises, eg from guns or cartridge-operated machines.

But hearing loss is usually gradual because of prolonged exposure to noise. It may only be when damage caused by noise over the years combines with hearing loss due to ageing that people realise how deaf they have become. Eventually everything becomes muffled and people find it difficult to catch sounds like 't', 'd' and 's', so they confuse similar words.

Hearing loss is not the only problem. People may develop tinnitus (ringing, whistling, buzzing or humming in the ears), a distressing condition which can lead to disturbed sleep.

Remember

By law, as an employer, you must assess and identify measures to eliminate or reduce risks from exposure to noise so that you can protect the hearing of your employees.

Where required, ensure that:

hearing protection is provided and used such as ear defenders;
any other controls are properly used; and
you provide information, training and health surveillance.

A wide array of noise protection is now available from the simple disposable ear plug to electronic ear defenders with intercom and radio features.

At Granite Workwear we have chosen to sell the Peltor range of ear defenders. Peltor offers a huge range of ear protection supplying the military, industry, police etc.

Formal business wear is key to promotion says UK workers

2008-04-28T03:31:00.000-07:00

A recent survey of 3200 staff

• 51% believe that dressing smartly helps win promotions
• 87% wear suits for Interviews

It seems that Richard Branson’s ban on his employees at Virgin from wearing jeans is not unusual. According to a Reed Employment survey of 3200 office workers registered on that database, jeans and comedy ties are banned from the majority of offices, with 47% of workers wearing smart casual business wear to work every day and 40% wearing formal office attire such as suits. What’s more, the majority of people questioned felt that dressing smartly will advance their careers, with 51% believing it will help them win a promotion.

85% feel that in today’s office environment having a dress code is still highly relevant; 87% would always wear a suit to an interview and 62% also believe that wearing a suit is important to create the right impression on the first day at a new job.

Office workers seem to like their work uniforms believing it creates a separation from their office and home lives (37%), whilst 37% stated that they feel proud to wear a uniform as it represents their company’s brand image. We are not a rebellious lot either – 90% of respondents stated that they strictly adhere to their work dress codes every day.

‘Dress down Fridays’ is still quite popular and a third of respondents claimed that their company had a policy in place to allow more casual business wear on Fridays.

Lewis Woodward, Head of Network Marketing at Reed stated, “The old adage ‘dress for success’ clearly rings true, with the majority of office workers happily embracing their company’s dress code and feeling proud to represent their brand. It is however, surprising that so many people feel that wearing smart office attire is still highly relevant in today’s business climate and that it is key to advancing their careers.”

At Granite Workwear we feel the same feeling applies outside the office as well. Staff want to look the part whether they are a one man plumber or a member of a large organisation. Staff are often proud of their company and are happy to wear a logo on their workwear.

Eyes are Irreplaceable!

2007-12-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Always wear eye protection when grinding, spray painting, drilling, welding, sawing, working in a dusty environment, or handling chemicals. Develop the habit of putting on safety glasses or goggles whenever you work with hand or power tools.

Several types of eye protection devices are available:

Safety glasses

Standard eyeglasses and sunglasses provide frontal protection only. If you wear glasses, make sure they have impact resistant lenses. Safety glasses have heavier lenses that can withstand more shock than ordinary lenses.

Goggles

Plastic goggles protect the eyes against front and side impact. Unvented or chemical splash goggles also offer protection against chemical vapours and liquids.

Always wear goggles when striking hardened metal tools and hardened metal surfaces. This will protect the eyes against flying metal chips.

Face Shields

Face shields protect the face against splashing, dust, and chaff. However, standard designs offer very little protection against impact.

If impact protection is needed, wear safety glasses or goggles under the face shield. Special impact-resistant shields are also available.

Always wear a helmet when arc welding!

The eyes, face, and neck need protection against the burning rays of the arc, and from the splatter of molten metal and slag. To protect vision, make sure the welding helmet has a coloured lens with at least a No. 10 shade when welding up to 200 amps. (Darker shades are needed when using higher currents. Get specialist advice)

Never strike an arc before your helmet is on. Never look at an arc from any distance with naked eyes while someone else is welding.

Remember to use eye protection when chipping slag. The slag is often still hot and breaks away as sharp pieces.

Oxyacetylene welders

The lenses in welding goggles should be a No.5 or 6 grade for welding and cutting, and a No.3 or 4 shade for brazing.

Sun protection also important

Always wear sunglasses to protect you eyes while working outdoors to prevent damage by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Don't take your eyesight for granted!

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths

How will you cope outside this winter?

2007-12-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Keep cosy for as little as £130

Good old British weather is great when you can sit and look at it through the window while sitting by that lovely open log fire. But we all have to go out there at some time, to fix the car, clear the leaves from the garden, scrape the snow from the drive, or just put the recycling out.

Granite Workwear provide a whole range of clothing that is not just to protect you from industrial hazards. Keep the designer stuff clean for when it really counts and still look good in hard wearing every day outdoor clothes for those evening and weekend jobs.

Keeping dry is often the key to keeping warm. The Flexothane range provide breathable comfort with wind and waterproof protection. Keep a Rainsuit handy as well, packed neatly in the back of the car perhaps

Hands and feet are usually the biggest problem to keep dry and warm. The Muck boot range must be among the warmest fully waterproof you can put on your feet. Perfectly designed for comfort, protection and warmth using modern man made materials. The Granite range of work gloves can provide a solution for all activities. The Gripper gloves are warm with high grip waterproof palms yet comfortable to wear.

Layers are important, so build them up with a Highwicking T shirt and polarfleece jacket and Penine socks.

Visit www.graniteworkwear.co.uk and see how you can get fully kited out for as little as £130.00.

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths

How do embroidery designs get onto caps, pullovers or pockets?

2007-12-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

Most companies have a logo or at least a name they want on their workwear. This design is first digitised so a computer can read it and then converted into vector graphics rather than pixels so there is no distortion of the image whatever the size.

These vector graphics are loaded into the punch program. The puncher on the software decisively determines the quality of the finished stitch content. Here there are dozens of parameters such as, stitch direction, stitch distance, stitch density, stitch pattern and the precedence of stitch work correctly on the motif, the embroidery machine and the textiles to be embroidered. Thus a leather jacket requires a different embroidery program than a cap , even if it concerns the same embroidery motif.

Understandably there are companies which have specialized in the production of the embroidery motifs.

When the embroidery program is ready, it is transmitted to the embroidery machine. Again also in the embroidery machine there are different parameters which can improve the embroidery or make it worse, such as thread tension and embroidery speed.

The embroidery machine is made, in principle, just like a normal house sewing machine, many components look very similar.The essential difference is the amount of needles, which reaches from 6 up to 18 automatically changing needles and therefore usable colours in one motif. Then when the motif is constructed, a quick change of the embroidery piece can be done, which makes the embroidery very interesting especially for bigger works orders.

Multi head machines can do up to 24 embroideries at the same time. This increases the economic efficiency and therefore makes the price per piece lower. With the use of the finished product there are hardly any restrictions. Therefore, work clothes are a favourite for embroidery. Also clothes that needs chlorine laundry, like for example doctor's smocks can be permanently improved with special sewing cotton.

Most of our clients prefer embroidered logos and these modern techniques allow just about any design to be embroidered. Costs do increase according to the size, density and number of colours in the design for the desired article of workwear.

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths

GORE-TEX and Workwear

2007-11-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

Go in any outdoor clothing shop and the name GORE-TEX® can be seen. Increasingly these fabrics are finding their way into workwear products, particularly boots and jackets. But what is GORE-TEX®?

The GORE-TEX® membrane is the heart of all GORE-TEX® products. It contains over 9 billion microscopic pores square inch. These pores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule, which makes the GORE-TEX® membrane completely waterproof from the outside, while allowing perspiration to escape from the inside. An oleophobic, or oil-hating, substance is integrated into the membrane, preventing the penetration of body oils and insect repellent that could otherwise affect the membrane

To construct a GORE-TEX® laminate, the GORE-TEX® membrane is bonded between high-performance fabrics that are extremely breathable. All GORE-TEX® fabrics are waterproof, windproof, and breathable. However, there are many different outer fabrics and fabric constructions available so that you can choose what's most important to you: weight, texture, abrasion resistance

Seams and stitching are essential aspects of a garment's construction. Unfortunately, they compromise the water and liquid protective properties of the fabric: seams and needle holes may be small, but they will still leak. That's why they must be completely sealed.

For absolute waterproofness and liquid resistance, gore-tex products rely on GORE-SEAM® TAPE. This unique tape, backed by reliable Gore equipment and know-how, ensures that every seam and tiny stitch hole is sealed.

The use of GORE-TEX® is tightly controlled to ensure its effectiveness.

At www.graniteworkwear.com we have a number of GORE-TEX® workwear products.

Workwear | Safety Boots | Protective Equipment
Granite technical workwear industrial cloths