Western First Aid & Safety Blog
7 Ways to Prevent Heat Related Illness in the Workplace
Most heat related health complications can be prevented. The key is knowing how to reduce the chances of heat stress, heat stroke or heat exhaustion. And when you take the appropriate steps, the risk of developing heat induced illnesses can be significantly reduced. So let Western First Aid help you by sharing these seven tips to prevent heat stress in the workplace. [caption id="attachment_30" align="alignnone" width="484"] Cold compresses area a versatile tool for swelling, burns, bites and aches. Especially heat.[/caption] Ensure a cool work environment by: Adding air conditioning systems Increasing general ventilation Installing cooling fans Applying insulations in the...
Heat Stress Can be Deadly. Get the Facts.
Keeping your workers cool, hydrated and healthy in hot work environments is important for the growth and productivity of your company, and the health and happiness of your staff. Here, Western First Aid takes a look at who is susceptible to heat stress, how to avoid the condition and what to do should heat related illnesses strike your workplace. Who Can Get Heat Stress? Heat does not affect everyone equally. Not all workers share the same susceptibility to heat stress. Some face a higher risk of suffering heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as workers who are: Over the age...
Respiratory Hazards and How to Select Respirators
There are many respiratory hazards at worksites: gases, vapors, dusts, mists, fumes, smoke, sprays, and fog to name a few. Some of these substances can make people sick or even cause death if ingested. In fact, respiratory hazards can be especially deadly as they act quickly, like carbon monoxide. Still others take a toll over time, like cancer causing asbestos. Western First Aid is here to help by sharing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) examples of respiratory hazards found in general industries. OHSA reports that these can include, but are not limited to: Dusts, such as those found...
Why Fit Test Hearing Protection?
If you work in a loud environment, you need hearing protection. And if you are tasked with keeping your employees’ ears healthy, you need to know there’s more to it then stocking up on ear plugs. You’ll need fit testing. So just what is fit test hearing protection? Like the qualitative respirator fit test, hearing protection fit tests can assess the actual protectors (ear plugs) used by workers. Fit testing will provide a formal metric you can use to determine whether or not your employees are actually receiving the best protection from environmental noise. Moreover, this can also determine... Whether...