Tag: PPE

 

Wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus has become part of daily life for many people.

Disclaimer: The following information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation

MAKE WEARING A MASK YOUR NUMBER ONE TASK

• If you are unknowingly infected a face mask will help reduce the chance that you could spread the virus to others
• Therefore, it is important to know how to put on a mask properly

Tip: A mask should fit securely around the face, specifically covering your nose and mouth areas

ARE MASKS COMPULSORY?

• Victoria has made face masks mandatory
• In the rest of Australia, the wearing of masks has become strongly recommended

Note: Some clients outside VIC may require you to wear a mask

DO’S FOR WEARING A MEDICAL MASK SAFELY

• Firstly, thoroughly wash hands with soap and water before touching the face mask
• Next, check your mask for any tears or holes
• Ensure that the coloured side faces outwards
• Find the top side where the metal piece or stiff edge is, place this over your nose and press to form fit it to your face
• Make sure the mask covers your mouth, nose, and chin
• Adjust to ensure no gaps between your mask and face
• Avoid touching your face mask
• Keep the mask away from you or any surface when removing it
• Use the straps to safely remove the mask and store in a resealable sandwich / zip lock style bag
• Wash your hands after handling your mask
• Finally, pay attention to your mask expiry period and know when to discard it

Tip: It is important to wash or sanitise your hands before putting on and taking off your mask

DON’TS

• Firstly, don’t use a damaged, damp or loose mask as they will not be effective
• Also, never wear the mask only over mouth or nose (both must be covered)
• Do not touch the front of your mask or do other things that will require touching the mask
• Finally, do not leave your used mask within the reach of others OR leave your face mask where it can be contaminated

Important: Remember that masks alone do not protect you from COVID-19. You must still maintain a 1.5m distance from others wherever possible and always wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, even while wearing a mask.

SAFETY GOES 24/7

Labourpower values your health and wellbeing and has an ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace. We are proud to partner with Workactive to bring you safety and wellbeing programs throughout the year.

We look forward to bringing you more safety tips as part of our Toolbox Tuesdays.

Look out for our regular Toolbox Tuesday and Wellness Wednesday posts on Facebook, LinkedIn and the Labourpower website.

 

 

 

Wearing protective safety boots at work helps prevent unnecessary accidents and ensure safe and healthy feet.

Disclaimer: The following information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation

TAKE TIME TO TAKE CARE WITH THE RIGHT FOOTWEAR

• Your safety boots must be suitable for your work environment and job tasks (some workplaces such as food manufacturers will require you to wear the boots they provide)

Tip: Maintain treads on shoes to help reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in wet areas

THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING FOOT PROTECTION

Steel toe work boots help protect your feet against crush injuries from fallen objects (can withstand over 1000kg of compression) as well as:

• Burns from chemical spills
• Punctures to the bottom of your feet such as nails

PROTECTING YOUR FEET AT WORK

Firstly, your safety boots must meet Australian standards and fit you correctly (poorly fitted shoes can lead to common foot problems such as corns and calluses)

Also, choose safety boots that cover the ankle to provide additional support and help prevent rolled ankles (avoid sandshoe type steel caps as they offer no protection to the ankle)

Remember, your boots are looking after an important body part so make sure that you always maintain and look after them properly:

• Always store your safety boots in a safe and dry place
• Keep your laces tied tightly to avoid any trip hazards
• Replace your boots if there is any damage to them
• Replace your boots if they are worn out

Tip: Consider wearing supportive socks with your boots to help keep your feet comfortable

IMPORTANT: Failure to wear safety boots will result in you being sent home

 

SAFETY GOES 24/7

Labourpower values your health and wellbeing and has an ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace. We are proud to partner with Workactive to bring you safety and wellbeing programs throughout the year.

We look forward to bringing you more safety tips as part of our PPE series.

Look out for our regular Toolbox Tuesday and Wellness Wednesday posts on Facebook, LinkedIn and the Labourpower website.

 

 

 

High-visibility clothing (Hi Vis) plays a critical role in maintaining safety at work and preventing workplace accidents

Disclaimer: The following information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation

GET YOUR SAFETY RIGHT, WEAR HI VIS ON SITE

• Unless there are specific uniform requirements at the host client’s site, workers must wear high visibility (Hi Vis) clothing. This ensures that you are easily visible and also helps to minimise the risk of workplace accidents

THE IMPORTANCE OF WEARING HI VIS

Hi Vis clothing ensures that it is easy to see you when working on-site. The human eye responds best to large, contrasting, bright or moving objects. Therefore, the high colour contrast between clothing and the work environment in which it is seen enhances your visibility.

PROTECTING YOURSELF AT WORK

Hi Vis clothing plays a major role in maintaining safety and preventing accidents:

• You must wear Hi Vis on site, especially when working around mobile and moving equipment
• Hi Vis helps others to see you when working in dark environments when visibility is reduced and also assists with host clients’ Traffic Management Plans
• Make sure your Hi Vis is not damaged, faded or worn out and that it surrounds your body fully (in a 360’ way)

Hi Vis clothing helps reduce the risk of injuries and accidents in busy environments.

However, it’s important to remember that Hi Vis forms only one part of safety on site, do not rely upon on it as fail safe measure.

SAFETY GOES 24/7

Labourpower values your health and wellbeing and has an ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace. We are proud to partner with Workactive to bring you safety and wellbeing programs throughout the year.

We look forward to bringing you more safety tips as part of our PPE series.

Look out for our regular Toolbox Tuesday and Wellness Wednesday posts on Facebook, LinkedIn and the Labourpower website.

 

 

 

Workers must wear hearing protection PPE whenever exposed to loud or hazardous noise.

Disclaimer: The following information is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation

PROTECT WHAT YOU HEAR WITH THE RIGHT PPE GEAR

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is specific equipment worn to help safeguard you against identified health and safety risks within the workplace
• Unlike eyes that can shut, ears cannot protect themselves from loud noises, therefore it is important to wear hearing protection PPE

HEARING PROTECTION IS A SOUND INVESTMENT

• Constant noise exposure can not only lead to hearing loss but can be associated with other medical conditions
• Hearing loss does not discriminate, it can even affect young people in the workplace
• Protect your hearing by wearing the correct PPE

PROTECTING YOUR HEARING AT WORK

Long term exposure to loud noise can lead to tinnitus and other hearing problems.

• Always wear appropriate hearing protection PPE for the task
• Make sure that there is no damage to your PPE or that it is not worn out
• Ensure that it has the correct rating for the task
• Always ensure that your hearing protection PPE fits correctly

Finally, never become complacent in the tasks you are doing just because you are wearing PPE as the hazards may still exist.

NOTE: Loud workplaces should implement proper and correct hearing PPE. If not, then contact your Labourpower representative.

SAFETY GOES 24/7

Labourpower values your health and wellbeing and has an ongoing commitment to safety in the workplace. We are proud to partner with Workactive to bring you safety and wellbeing programs throughout the year.

We look forward to bringing you more safety tips as part of our PPE series.

Look out for our regular Toolbox Tuesday and Wellness Wednesday posts on Facebook, LinkedIn and the Labourpower website.