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High Visibility Clothing Is Great as Long as You Don't Do These 7 Mistakes

Whether it be wearing your safety vest the wrong way or disregarding an important safety rule, the fact of the matter is that when it comes to your personal safety and the safety of others, there’s only so many mistakes you can afford to make. The thing is, when you’re putting on your protective set of clothing, you’re not doing it for your employer, but for the benefit of yourself and the people around you.

So to avoid repeating the same kind of mistakes that others are making, we’ve amassed a list of the top 7 ones that you shouldn’t allow to happen even in theory:

1. Tucking your trousers into your boots

While tucking your trousers into your boots might seems like the logical thing to do when they’re too long, it’s actually a mistake – it will hinder your reflexes. Some people prefer the way this looks, but bear in mind this is much more than a mere styling choice, since it comes with the drawbacks mentioned above 

2. Not tucking in your shirt

For safety reasons, you actually should tuck in your safety apparel if it’s intended to be worn this way. It could also be that your safety trousers have high-visibility elements around the pocket area the shirt should not cover, lest you risk losing out on its effectiveness.

3. Not cleaning it often enough

This may be common knowledge to some, but it cannot possibly be stressed enough how important it is to keep your safety clothing clean. Otherwise, the person wearing it will no longer be as visible in the dark, and the clothing will no longer meet safety standards.

4. Washing it incorrectly

Expanding on the point made above, while you should wash your safety clothing as often as necessary, you need to be careful to follow all the instructions that go with it. Otherwise, you risk damaging the fluorescent areas. Mind the temperature and your choice of detergent. Whenever in doubt, do not hesitate to ask a professional.

5. Not wearing it at all times

In certain times of the year or in certain climates, it gets hot. But that doesn’t mean you should forsake the core safety principles in favor of comfort and convenience. One example of this is taking off your safety vest or jacket just to cool off a little. It may just be the moment that you’ll end up regretting, as a potential accident is always around the corner.

6. Not checking your clothing regularly

It’s your responsibility to check whether your safety equipment is in good condition on a regular basis. In case you determine the opposite to be the case, you’re encouraged to think in terms of repairs (small changes can go a long way).

7. Wearing damaged clothing

Once things get so far there’s visible damage on your clothes, you should either repair it immediately or find a replacement as soon as possible. This is especially true if some of the fluorescent material is torn off or damaged.

Conclusion

Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be on your way toward a much safer workplace. The good news is, every one of these situations is easily solvable, so there’s absolutely zero excuses for repeating these kinds of mistakes. So act on your knowledge and stay safe!

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5 Tips for Protecting Your Eyes at a Construction Site

From flying objects and all the way to sand and dust, a construction site is no joke when it comes to your personal safety and the safety of your eyes. While many things are replaceable, your eyesight is not, so it’s your duty to use the right safety products and safety equipment suitable for protecting it. With this in mind, we’re going to cover 5 dangers you might come across in such environments and how to take the appropriate measures to protect yourself:

1. Blows

First and foremost, we have blows, a typical physical threat that can endanger your eyesight. The right protective equipment like safety glasses should, in most cases, provide enough protection so that you will be able to recover from the blow. But if it cannot be avoided, dip a towel or a piece of clothing to the affected area and let it sit there to reduce the swelling. Either way, seeking emergency care should be the first priority in mind.

2. Particles

Although safety glasses tend to offer some form of protection to the naked eye, it’s never foolproof. So if any particles get in your eyes, try to rub your eyes to invoke tears that act as a natural way of cleaning. If there’s a water pipe nearby, even better. Either way, make sure that your hands are clean before washing your face as to avoid introducing any additional irritants to your eyes.

3. Burns

In case your eyes come into contact with acids or any other potentially dangerous chemicals, don’t delay – rinse them immediately. But don’t think that you’re done after a couple of minutes; at least 15 minutes of rinsing is required. Due to the danger these kinds of chemicals present, it’s important to have an emergency eyewash station at hand that should be clearly marked with safety flag products so you won’t lose valuable time in case of an emergency.

4. Radiation

While you’re out working in the sun, it’s easy to forget that radiation is as much of a threat to your eyesight as any other. If your eyes are subjected to intense UV rays for a prolonged period of time, you may experience a sensation known as a flash burn. Pain, tearing, and redness in the eyes are just some of the symptoms. It could feel like there’s sand in your eyes which will also be atypically sensitive to sunlight. To prevent this, pick the kind of safety glasses that have built-in UV ray protection in them.

5. Scratches

Last but not least, we have scratches, the kind of injury that requires urgent medical attention that should not be delayed. Even if it seems as if nothing serious will result from the injury, it’s important to have it inspected by a medical professional. If there’s a foreign object in your eye, don’t try to remove it yourself either, as you may inadvertently cause additional damage in the process. Ideally, safety products like safety glasses should be worn at all times to prevent such a scenario from unfolding in the first place.

Conclusion

Your eyesight is a valuable thing that deserves all the protection it can get. As such, it’s important not to skimp out on purchasing all the safety equipment that’s necessary to do your job without jeopardizing your health or your safety.