New Range Of Unilite Torches At Granite

At Granite we have extended our collection of professional Unilite touches in order to provide you with the highest quality of next generation LED flashlights, lanterns and headlights suitable for using in demanding work conditions.

Unilite uses only the highest specification components in all of their torches, such as ultra-powerful LEDs from leading chip manufacturers. Each individual component used is picked and tailored specifically to suit industry specific applications.

Here is a snippet of just some of the Unilite products we stock:

Unilite Prosafe PS-T1 Waterproof LED Torch

This waterproof torch is ideal and can even be used for recreational diving with its rubberised head for increased durability and its contoured non-slip rubber grip body. With a beam range of 150 meters and a battery life of 7 hours, this torch can be used as a very handy security light especially because it comes complete with a SOS flash setting for emergency signalling.

Unilite Prosafe PS-FL6R Rechargeable Torch

This little yet powerful touch has a beam range of 250 meters which can last for just over eight hours. Once it’s flat, you don’t have to worry about finding some new batteries as you can simply recharge the battery using the indoor charging base adapter. This hand held touch is the ultimate small torch for emergency services, police support (PSU) and security applications.

Unilite PS-L3RK Rechargeable LED High Vis Torch

Hate torches which require disposable batteries? The robust Unilite PS-L3RK is the perfect solution to avoid the small fortune of replacing batteries as this torch comes with a side charging point so you can easily recharge your batteries. Key features include a 135 degree rotational swivel head, water resistant casing and a 160 Lumen LED Spotlight which lasts for 10 hours.

Unilite PS-LR5 LED Spotlight

This top quality torch comes complete with a 160 Lumen Rotational LED Spotlight and a RED LED light for signalling which can last up to 6 hours. If the battery runs out just pop it in the supplied rapid charger adapter and your good to go again. Don’t be afraid of dropping this spotlight as it has a rubberised base for a greater shock resistance and it is also chemical resistant making it ideal for demanding work conditions.

To view our full product collection of Unilite torches visit Granite Work wear online or get in touch by calling us on 0115 964 0111.

Free Regatta Boot Bag at Granite

At Granite we believe that quality comes before expensive.  We don’t risk your safety in order to provide you with cheap deals, instead we use the best materials available and offer the best value for money.

Our latest deal of a free Regatta Boot Bag reflects our best value for money promise. With any purchase from our range of safety boots you will receive a high quality Regatta Boot Bag from us here at Granite.

The TRB07 Regatta Boot Bag is made of hard wearing 600 Denier Polyester which is durable for any of your working needs. The bag contains a zip opening, studded feet to protect the bottom surface of the bag, an internal baseboard and a webbing carry handle for ultimate comfort.

This exclusive offer includes the Goliath HM2001WSI Foundry safety boot which has quick release fasteners, a heat resistant sole that can withstand 300 degrees C and dual density shock absorbing rubber sole. For only £47.94 including VAT, this product will make sure you are in safe hands.

Another product included in our deal is the V-Tech Mohawk safety boot V1244 made of cowhide leather and comes with ankle support with impact protection. Priced at only £77.94 including VAT, this product is resistant to oil, acid, alkali and hydrocarbon.

This offer is exclusive to our range of safety boots, NOT our range of shoes or trainers. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Rail Industry Standards for Personal Protective Equipment

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.

Tree Felling the Safe Way

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.

How to use a chipper safely

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!