Determining the proper frame capacity

1.  Calculate the maximum load per bay by multiplying the number of levels by the load per level (supported levels only)

2. Determine the maximum distance between levels, or the distance from the floor to the first beam level, whichever is greater. This dimension is the “vertical beam spacing” or unsupported span. Weight capacities for upright frames are dependent upon this measurement.

3.  Keep in mind that weight capacities also include the weight of the rack components themselves.

4.  Refer to the rack manufacturer’s upright capacity tables which compare the type of upright to the vertical beam spacing to determine how much the frames can hold in total.

5. For weight capacities to be valid, pallet rack systems must be properly connected to the floor with the appropriate footplates.
Important: Be sure to verify the adequacy of your floor to support these loads.

Do You Need Roll Form or Structural Steel Frames?

Structural steel upright frames are what you might want if you are storing extremely heavy loads and/or your rack is in a very abusive or tough industrial environment. If your rack will be exposed to a lot of lift truck impact, is located outdoors or is in a freezer or cooler application, you will probably want to consider structural rack.

Roll formed upright frames are tough enough and strong enough for most warehouse applications. It is less expensive to buy and install–and if you don’t expect a lot of abuse, roll formed rack can be quite cost-effective. Consider using upright column protectors and end-of-aisle protectors to lessen the chances of forklift damage.

Don’t Overlook The Height-to-Depth Ratio

The height-to-depth ratio is an important factor in the specification; get this number wrong (or ignore it), and you risk your rack overturning. ANSI MH16.1 states:

The height-to-depth ratio of a storage rack shall not exceed 6 to 1 measured to the top loaded shelf level, unless the rack is anchored or braced externally to resist all forces. The height is measured from the floor to the top loaded shelf level and the depth from face to face of the upright column.

Furthermore, if the height to depth ratio exceeds 8 to 1, the racks should be stabilized using overhead ties. Other ways to deal with larger ratios can include other alternatives such as bigger baseplates, more anchors, or a combination of ties (examples: cross-aisle, ties to building structure plus base plate and anchors).

Regardless, if your height-to-depth ratio is over 6 to 1, you should have a rack engineer review the design and specify the appropriate anchors and baseplates to prevent tipping.

Source: https://www.nextlevelstorage.com/blog/pallet-rack-basics-specifying-upright-frames/

Responding is Matthew Howard, director of product development, Pro Toolbox Talks, Sudbury, Ontario.

Good safety training sessions provide workers with all the information they need to avoid injury. However, there’s no guarantee workers will retain the information months later. In some cases, up to 70 percent of training is forgotten within a week. Thus, safety managers should take steps to increase the long-term retention of safety lessons.

Repetition is an effective way to combat memory failure, as long as it’s not a straight regurgitation of classroom training. Key teaching points must be applied in various ways and in unique workplace contexts. They also should be discussed regularly with workers.

One of the best ways to achieve these goals is with toolbox talks. Effective toolbox talks are conversations between workers and supervisors that can be used to revisit concepts and best practices introduced during safety training.

Take for instance workers who have received forklift training recently. A few days afterward, host a toolbox talk that highlights the biggest challenges of operating a forklift safely. A week later, ask forklift drivers about the steps they should take to watch for pedestrians. You also could initiate a discussion on safe driving practices or what workplace hazards they would tell a new forklift operator to look for.

Then, a month or so after the original safety training, turn a toolbox talk into a quiz that asks workers about the major takeaways from the training. If it’s clear that some elements have been forgotten, these issues can be revisited in refresher courses or another toolbox talk. However, the discussion that results from the quiz often is enough to remind workers about important safety requirements.

The aim of these toolbox talks is to get workers thinking and talking. This is necessary because some people learn well in classroom settings while others need to engage directly with ideas to remember them – and safety talks provide an opportunity for employees to do exactly that.

Toolbox talks also can help supervisors get a better handle on the safety of their crew, especially if they don’t have a strong line of communication with workers, or if they’re new to the job and haven’t yet developed a rapport with their subordinates. In these situations, safety managers can use toolbox talks to help supervisors establish more consistent safety communication with workers.

First, safety managers should provide outlines or full scripts for toolbox talks, along with a delivery schedule. The goal is to remove as much of the planning and guesswork as possible. This will allow supervisors to know what they’ll be talking about and when they’ll be doing it.

Second, managers should evaluate the supervisor’s interpersonal skills. Some people become supervisors because of their work skills, not their ability to manage others. If this is the case, then consider whether coaching on the finer points of talking to workers about safety is necessary. A good place to start is to help supervisors learn to deliver a good toolbox talk, because many of the skills required to run a toolbox talk – speaking ability, reading the audience, getting workers engaged – are transferrable to other contexts and will boost supervisors’ overall competence.

Source: http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/16865-getting-the-message-through-with-toolbox-talks 

In light of the recent Health and Safety law changes surrounding hazardous substances, which came into play on December 1st, a review of how to properly store chemicals and manage hazardous spills seems appropriate. As almost every business stores and uses chemicals in some way, from big industrial plants to office environments, this is information everyone needs.

How to store chemicals safely

Hazardous substances are obviously rather volatile, hence the tough rules surrounding the management, storage, labelling and handling of them, and the name. They need to be stored correctly in order to minimise issues and accidents.

Storing hazardous substances - Do not store reactive chemicals together.
If disaster strikes and the chemicals combine you could end up with a fire, an explosion, or poisonous or flammable gases leaking into the air. Have separate chemicals, acids and reactive metals stored in separate areas. How far apart you store them is a bit of a judgement call - take into consideration earthquakes and fires. If these containers all fell and cracked would they mix with incompatible substances? Do I have water reactors near water sources? If there was a fire would they set off a chain reaction?

Chemical storage cabinets

Flammable products are (ding, ding, ding) flammable, therefore it is best to have chemical cabinets that are flame retardant and help avoid the aforementioned chain reactions.
Alternatively, corrosive chemicals or acids are best to be stored in corrosion-resistant cabinets, preferably with ventilation, because a trail of corroded products, floors, and feet, is a lot harder to deal with than a slightly damaged cabinet.

Proper Labelling

A big change that has occurred within the new Health and Safety laws around hazardous substances, is that the labelling of said substances is a lot more stringent. For the full ruleset, a good read is the WorkSafe article on this topic, but here’s the essence of it:
Correctly label all containers storing substances that have been transferred from their original containers, label containers holding hazardous waste, and label stationary tanks and process containers.

If you think the labelling of all containers is a bit excessive - particularly the labelling of now-empty containers - please read on:
According to the Lab Manager website, lack of labelling on waste containers has resulted in many people using containers for waste different to the original waste that the container held. The article was titled, ‘When things go Boom’. Enough said.

Chemical spill management and clean up

The best way to manage spills is to avoid having them in the first place but accidents happen all the time. I once held a container of concentrated hydrochloric acid too close to my face as I opened it. The initial release of gas from a bottle that had been closed for a long time was quite powerful, and the release happened to take place just as I was inhaling. If you’ve ever experienced the shock of breathing in the hot air the moment you open the oven, then you’ve experienced a fraction of this burning sensation. So disoriented was I, I didn’t realise I had dropped the bottle of acid until it had eaten well into the floor covering. Fun times.

As accidents are a part of life, there need to be appropriate measures in place to minimise and repair these accidents:

Spill Management Procedure

Firstly, you should be wearing the appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), so when you drop the hydrochloric acid, the only thing that gets burnt is the floor covering. If you need to don more PPE after the spill occurs, then do so.

Second, let everyone in the area know about the spill, and make sure no one is going to be harmed by it. If it is serious then call the emergency services, or follow any other emergency procedures that you will likely already have in place.

Next, you need to control and contain the spill. Cover drains with drain protectors to keep the nasty substances out of the waterways and get out your spill kit to use the appropriate absorbent materials to contain the spill by building a wall around it. It’s good if you already have floor bunding in the areas where your chemicals are stored - this means there’s already a wall in place to contain any spills.

Lastly, clean up the spill using the appropriate cleaning products. Dispose of the absorbent materials and any other materials (possibly brooms or mops) in the correct manner. Label them as hazardous waste if appropriate. Clean everything thoroughly to avoid further contamination.

Now you have an understanding of the proper way in which to manage hazardous substances from their containment to their clean up. Make sure to do further reading on the Health and Safety laws around this topic and closely review the safety procedures of your own workplace so that you’re well versed in what to do in case of an emergency, and you don’t have your face buried in a rule book during an emergency.

The age old saying “Time is Money” has never been more true, as we live in a time of great expense and we’re faced with fast-paced competitors at every turn. In order to utilise the hours we’re given, and to stay ahead of the competition, efficiency is key. Warehouses are large and often dangerous places, where finding particular materials and navigating large amounts of stock can be very difficult. To draw the most speed from you your workers while keeping them safe and happy, you need a well-organised warehouse.

Warehouse Storage and Organisation Ideas

There are many ways to keep your workplace or warehouse organised and therefore efficient. Here are just some of the ideas:

Shelving:

There are a variety of shelving types available so seek the storage solutions that best match the type of things you’re storing in terms of size and number. Shelving obviously allows you to store upwards allowing quick, easy movement around the warehouse, and allows products to be stored out of the way, minimising hazards.

Containers:

Pallets, boxes and storage containers are good for organising the shelves themselves by keeping items separate, but are also good for storing items that need to be at arms reach such as tools and other smaller items. For the latter purpose, stacking-containers are good because they can function as a shelf but can be separated and moved around if need be.

Have a system:

Make sure you’re not placing your stock in any old place. Have an organisational system for everyone to work by. Everything should have a home, that way everyone can find what they’re looking for as fast as possible. Note down the locations of everything and continually update this list/map, allowing everyone to quickly learn the locations of new stock.

Workplace Health and Safety

It’s really important that you follow health and safety rules surrounding storage and shelving to avoid any serious accidents. According to WorkSafe this is what you need:

(For more information, visit this Worksafe page)     

      (For more information, visit this Worksafe page)

Warehouse Safety Tips

Your storage solutions need to allow a safe working environment, because sacrificing safety in the name of efficiency and speed will only result in the sacrificing of said efficiency.

Keep it clean:

Another important aspect of storage: Bins.
Have plenty of bins in clearly visible locations to discourage people from “putting things down for a sec’” and not picking them up again. If aisles and exits are cluttered, safety and efficiency decrease.

Have the right equipment:

It isn’t enough to just have shelving - it has to be the right kind of shelving. As mentioned before, it has to be earthquake safe. Also, the equipment will have weight limits that need to be respected, and if you’re planning on stacking multiple things on one tier of a shelf, maybe consider purchasing shelving with more tiers and less height between tiers to avoid precarious stacking.

Seek advice:

To take your organisation, efficiency and safety to the next level, seek professional advice on storage solutions. Suppliers of the storage equipment should be able to identify hazards and layout your storage in the safest way possible.

For more information on emergency showers & Eye Wash download our guide here

The Early Days of Safety Signage

In 1914, the Worker's Compensation Bureau published a pamphlet titled "Signs and Slogans," which advocated the use of DANGER safety signs in the languages of the workers. The pamphlet stated that safety signs were a necessity in the workplace, yet it did not provide any standard format or guidelines. The colours, text, and design of each sign were left up to the company.

It wasn't until 1941 that safety signage standards were introduced, in part due to the growing industrial revolution and the rise of accident rates. The American Standards Association published ASA Z35.1 Specification for Industrial Accident Prevention Signs. This standard outlined specifications for safety sign design and introduced standard formats for DANGER signs, CAUTION signs, NOTICE signs, and EXIT signs, among others.

Further Standardization

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, U.S. courts set a legal framework for liability involving the "duty to warn" and "inadequate warnings." Global trade skyrocketed, and the number of immigrant workers was steadily increasing. These changes affected safety signage, and soon graphics and symbols were being added to safety signs and product labels to break through language and literacy barriers among workers.

In response to these developments, the committee came back together to review its existing standard and revise it where necessary. The committee members discovered myriad inconsistencies among the labels and safety signs in use; colours, text, and graphics often varied from facility to facility. They deemed further standardization would be advisable for the industry.

In the years that followed, they developed new and improved methods for visually communicating safety information, including standardization of colour, symbols, labels, tags, and text. By 2002, it had published one recommended format for facility safety signs, product safety labels, and temporary safety tags.

Colour coding

Often considered to be the most important element when designing a safety sign, colour emits the most immediate signal to your brain. Thus, primary colours as well as colour blends are used to indicate:

• Danger: Red, A dominant colour, even a small amount tends not to weaken and automatically alerts us to danger psychologically, not least because it’s the colour of blood.
• Potential hazard, so take care: Yellow A stimulating colour and very visible to humans to trigger our attention
• Vital information, so pay attention: Blue Associated with intelligence, wisdom and power to reinforce mandatory commands
• Safe to proceed, all systems go: Green Affiliated with nature, liberty and peace to reassure us all is well.

Shape shifting

In the context of the colours representing various stages of alert or information, certain shapes have emerged which, combined with these colours, offer a more sophisticated range of communication. The basic shapes are as follows:

• Triangle: Warning
• Square: Usually provides safety information
• Circle: Prohibits certain actions if red, gives mandatory information if blue

A Customizable Future for Safety Signs

Advances in digital technology and printing equipment have brought a new level of customization that was never possible in the industry. Today, customizing a safety sign for your specific requirements is quick, easy, and surprisingly affordable.

The availability of custom signage has opened the door for companies to better tailor their messages to their facilities' specific hazards. You can easily add custom text and unique facility details that will make your signs more effective for your employees. Many companies incorporate their logos and brand colours into their safety signs to create a more professional and uniform look throughout a facility.

Dexters’ safety signs are suitable for offices, warehouses, factories, street use, carparks, retail and a variety of other settings. Our range offers visibility to hazards that may be present in your area.

Safety signs provide appropriate warning to workers, visitors and pedestrians that may be in the vicinity of potential risk. With competitive pricing, immaculate presentation and the highest quality products, Dexter’s is the best option for your safety signage needs.

We carry a range of options, including:
Fire Safety Signs
First Aid Signs
Floor Signs
General Signs
Mandatory Signs
Danger Signs
Prohibition Signs
Warning Signs
Carpark Signs

Dexters are the leading suppliers of safety equipment for New Zealand businesses. Our products are trusted nationwide for their quality and reliability. View our range today to find suitable safety signs for your needs.

If you require more information about our safety signs, feel free to get in touch with us on 0800 339 8377.

On 1 December the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 will come into force. The aim is to reduce both the immediate harm to people and longer-term illness caused by hazardous substances in the workplace.

It’s no small matter. A hazardous substance is any product or chemical that has explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic or corrosive properties – and they’re everywhere. Around one in three New Zealand workplaces use, manufacture, handle or store them. This includes factories, farmers and growers, as well as printers, collision repairers, hairdressers and retailers. They are in commonly used products such as fuels and LPG, solvents, cleaning solutions and agrichemicals.

“Used safely, hazardous substances can contribute to the nation’s economic growth and prosperity,” WorkSafe’s General Manager Operations and Specialist Services Brett Murray says, “but they also pose real risks to the people working with or around them.

“The harm from inhaling toxic vapours or having contact with some substances is often unseen. Workers may be unaware they are being exposed, and the effects of exposure may not be seen for many years.”

Hazardous substances are a major contributor to the estimated 600-900 deaths and 30,000 cases of serious ill health from work-related disease each year in New Zealand. This is in addition to the fatalities and immediate harm through accidents, such as fires and explosions, and unsafe use.

“It’s time this changed,” says Mr Murray. “The Regulations bring an expectation on all those working with hazardous substances to know what those substances are, the risks they pose and how to manage those risks.”

What’s changing? On 1 December the rules for managing hazardous substances in the workplace are moving from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO) to the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA). Many of the existing requirements will continue.  However there are some changes to improve the management of these substances at work.  

“If you use or store these substances, you need to look at what has changed under the new Regulations to ensure you are meeting your obligations to protect workers,” Mr Murray says.

As well as looking at what is changing, Mr Murray says people need to remember there is already legislation in place they should be complying with.

“If you are following the current rules, you may only need to do a few things differently, but now is the ideal time to review your management of hazardous substances and ensure you are doing your duty to protect people from harm.”

Businesses will already be familiar with the HSWA approach to managing work-related health and safety risks. From 1 December this includes hazardous substances. It’s another step in helping to ensure our people get home healthy and safe.

WorkSafe’s website has information, guidance and FAQs. Its online  Hazardous Substances Toolbox has tools to help. You can also subscribe to the Hazardous Substances Update.

The Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017 are available on the  New Zealand Legislation website.

Q & A

When do the Regulations come into force?

1 December 2017. There are some later commencement dates and transitional arrangements that have been summarised on the WorkSafe website.

What are hazardous substances?

Hazardous Substances are substances that are explosive, flammable, oxidising, toxic, or corrosive. (Substances toxic to the environment will continue to be regulated by the Environmental Protection Authority under the HNSO regime.)

A hazardous substance may be a single chemical or a mixture of both hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals.

Why this change?

Hazardous substances were identified by the Independent Task Force on Workplace Health and Safety (set up after the Pike River Mine explosion) as a key area of work-related health and safety that needs to improve.

The reforms will help reduce both immediate harm and longer term illnesses caused by the work-related use of hazardous substances. It will do this by simplifying the regulatory landscape for hazardous substances. This will make it simpler for businesses to understand their obligations and comply with the law by bringing different sets of rules together into one place.

What’s changing?

The rules for the work-related use of hazardous substances move from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act 1996 to regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA). Responsibility for administering those rules will shift from the Environmental Protection Authority to WorkSafe New Zealand. The regulations come into force on 1 December. Until then the rules under HSNO continue to apply.

It’s not about wholesale change. The work-related regulation of hazardous substances is moving from one Act and set of regulations to another, but with some changes. If you are complying with the current hazardous substances law, then you may not need to change a lot but this is an important time for all businesses to review their processes for keeping people safe around hazardous substances.

Who does it affect?

Organisations and individuals that manufacture, use, handle, store or supply hazardous substances. Some of the changes relate to specific substances, substance classes or quantities. The regulations also place duties on those who design, manufacture, construct, import, supply, install, or use equipment, such as tanks and cylinders used to contain hazardous substances, and their fittings.

What does it mean for the rules relating to the environment?

Environmental controls for hazardous substances will remain under the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

Source: http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/news/releases/2017/it2019s-time-new-focus-on-safely-managing-hazardous-substances 

Material handling system drawings are a key tool when proposing a new system to a customer or vendor, so if they don’t make sense, it can hinder proposal discussions and the final outcome of the system installation. But once the proposal stage is complete and the job has begun, where do your drawings go from there?  Do you start on finishing your building model? Do you start on the final layout drawings of the system? Or do you start on the details?

There can be many levels to installation drawings (mechanical, ceiling support, air piping). These drawings need to be conveyed in a way that the person in the field completely understands the thought process of the person who drew them. In other words, the person creating the system installation drawings should assume the person installing the system is a rookie, brand new to installing material handling systems.

Successful System Installation Drawings

Building Model

To have successful drawings, you first need to have an accurate building model with everything dimensioned that could affect installations.  If you don’t have an accurate building model, your design and budget could take a hit. You need to dimension all columns, paths or egress, building expansion joints, building joists, etc.

Creating the Final Layout

Once you have you building design, your next step is to complete a final layout. The final layout should provide the overall mechanical layout as well as any side elevations.

Drawing Standards

Besides the installation crew needing quality drawings, it is also important that the team creating the drawings be on the same page with one another. Having standard drawing practices across a company creates efficiency. It is also important to have drawing standards so as your company grows and wins more and/or larger projects, multiple people can work on the same drawings without confusion.

Communication

The most difficult aspect of a large project and project team is ensuring good communication. Communication is the most important tool when drawing a system because if you have multiple people designing different conveyor lines there is always the possibility of the person crashing into another person’s conveyor. It is also important to standardize drawings because when you present your work to the customer, you do not want any discrepancies on how the drawings look.

As a company grows, you must make changes to accommodate the growth while maintaining standards for your installation drawings. Having a clear guide to detail software, formats, timelines, etc. will allow your team to efficiently create detailed, accurate drawings, which equates to success for you and the end customer.

Source:https://www.bastiansolutions.com/blog/index.php/2017/09/15/importance-of-material-handling-system-installation-drawings/#.WgSc_miCyUk

Forklift forks will become thin over time due to daily operation in the workplace. Forklift attachments & accessories, such as drum handlers, can also cause damage if pushed past the forks limits. Improper use often results in damage, as well.

If forklift forks break or malfunction while carrying a heavy load, not only can it lead to loss of product, but it can cause damage to property or the forklift itself. It can also cause personal injury to the operator or nearby pedestrians.

Forklift forks should be visually inspected on a per-operation basis, but it is recommended that once a year you inspect your forklift forks thoroughly for damage or wear. Here are some things to look for when inspecting your forks.

Forklift Fork Inspection

• Normal wear. Use a special fork caliper tool to measure the heel and blade for wear. If the wear reaches 10% it should be replaced. Just 10% wear decreases the capacity of the lift truck by 20%.
• Surface cracks. Inspe­­­­ct each fork top and bottom for surface cracks. Pay close attention to the heel and the welded areas that attach the forks to the lift truck. Cracks require replacement.
• Distortion of the blade and shank. If either the shank (vertical portion that attaches to the carriage) or the blade has any bend, the forks must be replaced.
• Uneven forks. If the difference in the height of each fork tip exceeds 3% of the length of the blade, you will need to replace both forks.

Forklift Replacement

If an inspection reveals damage or excessive wear, forks should always be replaced in pairs. Failure to do so will cause the load to be uneven and possibly cause the lift truck to tip over. Uneven loads also put stress on the mast and other components of the lift truck.

Seven signs it’s time to replace your forklift forks

Excessive wear to the forks

A Forklift fork will decrease in thickness over time due to normal wear. However, any wear to the fork of more than 10 per cent of the total thickness is considered excessive. Forks that show this amount of wear should be replaced.

Fractures due to stress or collision

Be sure to inspect the forks closely for fractures and gouges. The fork heel and parts of the fork closest to the machine typically receive the most wear. Even small cracks and gouges are signs forks need to be replaced.

Damage to the fork tip

Since fork tips are usually the first part of the fork to meet material, excessive wear or damage to the tips is a clear indicator the forks should be replaced.

Any bends or uneven surfaces on the fork

All forks are delivered with a 90-degree angle from the shank to the blade. If any bend or uneven surface is detected on either the blade or shank, the fork need replacing.

Difference in fork blade height

A difference in the height of each fork blade should stay within three per cent of the fork length.

Wear or damage to the fork hook

Noticeable wear, crushing, pulling and other deformities are signs that the fork hooks need to be replaced. Furthermore, if the wear to the hook is causing an excessive amount of distance between the fork and the carriage, the hooks should be replaced.

Wear or damage to positioning lock

If a positioning lock is no longer capable of locking completely due to wear the forks should immediately be removed from duty until the part is replaced. Operating without a fully functional positioning lock is a safety hazard.

Source: https://www.kokeinc.com/material-handling/forklift-attachments/replace-forklift-forks/
https://www.equipmentjournal.com/on-the-job/forklift-forks/

Incidents in the workplace happen. As long as your employees are humans, there’s going to be mistakes made, no matter how careful and meticulous everybody is about safety. Risks are ever-present and enduring. While proper management of hazards can greatly reduce the chance of harm occurring, there is always going to be risks. The real task is minimising the potential consequences posed, this is where planning and first aid is important.

What is First Aid Training?

First aid is taking care of minor injuries such as applying a bandage, all the way to CPR. First aid training is a service provided by qualified medical professionals to teach people valuable skills dedicated to assisting injured people if necessary. First aid is particularly important in workplaces. While first aid training will not teach you everything about emergency medicine, in urgent circumstances it can be the difference between life and death.

First aid is important because fast responses in emergency situations are critical. If someone has been harmed and they are no longer breathing, resuscitation must take place in a matter of minutes to avoid a tragedy. First aid in workplaces can save lives.

Every workplace has different first aid needs. Depending on the hazards and risks attributed to your workers, your requirements will vary. Employers need to be aware of what’s required in their business and from there proper arrangements can be made for first aid training that suits the working environment.

Here are some things to consider when thinking about first aid training:

-  Your unique hazards in your workplace
-  The amount of employees you have
-  The layout of your workplace (uneven ground, heights etc)
-  The size of your workplace
-  Where your workplace is located
-  Your first aid resources

First Aid Equipment

Depending on your workplace, you may require supporting equipment to handle first aid effectively. For example, if your employees are required to handle hazardous substances, this requires a specific level of first aid. It’s important to ascertain what exactly your risks are and how your first aid training and equipment addresses this.

At the very least, all workplaces should have a well-stocked first aid kit. These will always be useful in any environment for many different situations. First aid kits should be built based on the hazards your workplace has. For places that don’t have any specific risks, a basic kit could be all that’s required.

Dexters stock first aid equipment for a diverse range of workplaces. View our products here, or contact us on 0800 339 8377 for assistance deciding what you require.

Tips on How to be a Great Leader in the Workplace

Safety in the workplace is crucial not only because of legal accountability, but because employers should prioritise the health and well-being of the workers. Happy and satisfied workers mean increases in efficiency and productivity, therefore boosting the profits of your business.

Having a solid and well-designed safety program is not enough. The success of the safety program in your company lies in the hands of the safety leader, whose attributes and behaviour should inspire employees to maintain a high standard of safety at work.

What a safety leader should do

Being a safety leader is a big responsibility. Below are some of the important things that you have to do to be an effective leader of safety at work.

Daily maintenance

Slips and falls are some of the most common causes of injuries in a workplace. As the safety leader, you should monitor the areas where there are a lot of foot traffic and make sure that liquid spills, trash, and other unsafe objects are immediately cleaned up or removed. Keep the workplace orderly to minimise and prevent accidents.

Ensure security

Safety leaders should restrict unauthorised access to the workplace. Implementing key cards and security check-ins would help you provide a secure space for you and the workers.

Monitor equipment

You have to make sure that all the machinery and heavy equipment gets regular maintenance to avoid malfunctions and damages. You also have to keep the safety equipment up to date and in good condition.

Prepare for emergency

We are not just talking about first aid kits for minor injuries. Emergency equipment like a defibrillator could help have a worker’s life in the event of a heart attack at work. A safety leader should also make sure that there are enough working fire extinguishers and fire alarms in the workplace. Part of his or her responsibility is to conduct safety training and emergency drills for the employees so that they would know what to do in emergency situations.

Be informed

Safety leaders should be well informed and updated with the different safety standards for your business. Attending workshops and seminars is advisable to gain more knowledge about keeping the safety in the workplace.

Four qualities you need to be a great safety leader

There are certain qualities that are commonly observed in effective safety leaders. Having these four qualities would help you inspire the employees to adhere and maintain a high level of safety at work.

Leading by example

If you want your employees to follow certain rules or behaviour, you as the safety leader should show that you are strictly following safety and health protocols. Whether you are being observed or not, your actions should set the benchmark for how all the workers should behave. Set the right example for them and they will follow suit.

Timely and appropriate response

The ability to notice and address safety issues immediately and appropriately is a crucial attribute in every safety leader. Diligently noting all the issues, prioritising their settlement, and showing a constructive response to issues would promote a solid safety culture in the company.

Being observant and proactive

While responding quickly to safety issues is important, a safety leader should be able to anticipate risks and hazards. By carefully observing the workplace, you should identify hazards in the environment, as well as the risky behaviours of the employees. By doing this, you will be able to take action proactively and prevent any accidents from happening.

Good communicator

If the safety leader fails to effectively communicate the safety hazards and issues in the workplace to the employees, then even the best safety equipment and well-designed safety program will be worthless. A great safety leader maintains open communication with workers and listens to their feedback, then incorporate their input when creating and implementing safety policies. Having regular meetings and consultations with workers, managers, and officers will help develop cooperation and trust within the team, enabling you to effectively implement the safety program.

.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit mentalhealth.org.nz/fivewaysworktoolkit makes it easy for workplaces to support their people to build five simple actions into their daily lives to boost wellbeing and organisational productivity.

The launch coincided with the World Federation of Mental Health’s 25th World Mental Health Day, which this year focuses on ‘Mental Health in the Workplace’.

Research shows that introducing five actions (Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give and Take Notice) into daily life at work and at home can boost resilience, improve mental health and wellbeing and lower the risk of developing mental health problems.

“The toolkit takes the guess work out of using the Five Ways to Wellbeing in the workplace, taking workplaces through four steps for success and offering practical information in the form of ten fact sheets and eleven different tools,” MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson says.

“Like any health condition, mental health problems can affect a person’s functioning at work and present substantial costs to workplaces,” Robinson says.

“We know that workplaces that prioritise mental wellbeing and take action to support their people’s mental health have better engagement, reduced absenteeism and higher productivity.”

H&S obligations

The Five Ways to Wellbeing can also support workplaces to meet their health and safety obligations to manage risks to mental health and wellbeing, Robinson adds.

“The toolkit also focuses on the role of leadership as the commitment of leaders and managers is one of the most important factors to achieving a mentally healthy workplace,” Robinson notes.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit is available at: mentalhealth.org.nz/fivewaysworktoolkit

The Five Ways to Wellbeing were originally developed by the New Economics Foundation in the UK and adapted for New Zealand by the Mental Health Foundation.

The Mental Health Foundation and the Health Promotion Agency developed the Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit in partnership to enable New Zealand workplaces and their people to flourish.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work four steps for success:

• Promote the case for action and leadership.
• Actively communicatewith and engage your people and teams.
• Talk openlyabout mental health and wellbeing.
• Evaluate your impact and share your successes.

Mental health and wellbeing:

• Mental health problems are common, with nearly one in two New Zealanders likely to meet the criteria for a mental illness at some time in their lives.
• Mental wellbeing (also known as flourishing) is more than the absence of mental illness and it is more than feeling happy. It is the ability to cope with the day-to-day stresses of life, work productively, interact positively with others and realise our own potential.

Workplace wellbeing:

• People who believe their employer cares about their wellbeing are more engaged at work than others.
• An Australian PwC analysis found workplaces who take effective action to create mentally healthy workplaces can expect a return on investment of $2.30 for every dollar spent.

Why the Five Ways work:

• Connect:Strengthening relationships with others and feeling close to and valued by others, including at work, is critical to boosting wellbeing.
• Keep Leaning:Being curious and seeking out new experiences at work and in life more generally positively stimulates the brain.
• Be Active:Being physically active, including at work, improves physical health and can improve mood and wellbeing and decrease stress, depression and anxiety.
• Give:Carrying out acts of kindness, whether small or large, can increase happiness, life satisfaction and general sense of wellbeing.
• Take Notice:Paying more attention to the present moment, to thoughts and feelings and to the world around, boosts our wellbeing.

The Five Ways in action:

• Connect with the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
• Keep Learning.Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Take on a new responsibility at work.
• Be Active. Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Garden. Play a game.
• Give. Do something nice for a team mate. Thank someone. Volunteer your time.
• Take Notice. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment.

Source: http://www.safetynews.co.nz/wellbeing-toolkit-aims-create-flourishing-workplaces/ 
https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/home/our-work/category/42/five-ways-to-wellbeing-at-work-toolkit

What is hazardous waste?

Simply defined, a hazardous waste is a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. Hazardous waste is generated from many sources, ranging from industrial manufacturing process wastes to batteries and may come in many forms, including liquids, solids gases, and sludges.

You must obtain a permit before waste that is defined as hazardous is imported to, or exported from, New Zealand.

'Hazardous' is defined in the Basel Convention, schedule 3 of the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibitions Order (No.2) or any listing by the relevant country under the Basel Convention of the OECD Decision.

Step 1: Determine is your waste is hazardous.

The Basel Convention define hazardous waste, Annex I, III and VIII and is specified in schedule 3 of the Imports and Exports (Restrictions) Prohibition Order (No.2) 2004 (the Order). Some examples of hazardous waste include:

• clinical and pharmaceutical wastes
• wastes from the manufacture of wood preserving chemicals and organic solvents
• waste hydrocarbons and wastes containing certain polychlorinated/polybrominated biphenyls
• wastes from the production of inks, dyes, paints and varnish
• wastes from photographic chemicals and processing materials.

You can find a list of all the types of hazardous waste on the Basel Convention website. In addition, some countries treat other wastes as being hazardous and require permits for trade in these. Under the Basel Convention and the OECD decision countries our permitting regime extends to these wastes when they are going to a country that has listed them.

If you are unsure about your hazardous waste contact importexport@epa.govt.nz , to get advice regarding the classification of waste materials and the application process. Once you have determined that your waste is hazardous, you are ready to start your application for export.

Step 2: Application forms

To export hazardous waste, you must fill out and submit the Hazardous waste export application form & the notification form for transboundary movements of waste. These forms can be found here. Allow 30 – 80 working days or more for the application and approval process to export hazardous waste.

Step 3: Collate required supporting documentation

Five pieces of supporting documentation needs to be submitted with your application to export, and to satisfy that the waste material will be disposed of/recovered in a responsible way at the destination.

Refer to the Exporting Hazardous Waste Application Guide on the EPA website for a detailed list of the supporting documentation to be submitted with your hazardous waste export application form.

Step 4: Submit your application  

When you have collated the five complete pieces of information and filled in the hazardous waste export application form. You can submit your application by:

• email to importexport@epa.govt.nz with ‘Hazardous waste export application’ in the subject line
• post to The Environmental Protection Authority, PO Box 131, Wellington 6140.

Forms and documents must be in a language acceptable to the relevant countries.

Once we are satisfied that the application is complete, it will be sent to all the other countries (transit and importing) for their consideration. These countries must agree to receive your shipments before we can issue you with a permit. This process will take some time (allow 30 – 80 working days or more). These countries may ask for more information and may consent to or reject your application. 

Any permit issued will have conditions added from the EPA and other countries. The transit countries that have given their consent will be listed on the permit.

What Is Stress And Fatigue?

There are many definitions of stress & fatigue, and many theories about it. No definition or theory of ‘stress’ of ‘fatigue’ is perfect.

Stress - Defined in terms of the interaction between a person and their (work) environment and is the awareness of not being able to cope with the demands of one’s environment, when this realisation is of concern to the person, in that both are associated with a negative emotional response.

Stressors - Events or circumstances which may lead to the perception that physical or psychological demands are about to be exceeded. They can be of several types and can arise in and out of work.

Fatigue - The temporary inability, or decrease in ability, or a strong disinclination, to respond to a situation, because of previous over-activity, either mental, emotional, or physical. 

What Stress & Fatigue Does To Your Body?

Unfortunately, stress is a part of life. It would be a dull life if there were no challenges in it. Stress & fatigue can create hazards in all workplaces, especially in safety-critical or safety-sensitive jobs these are especially critical where other workers or members of the public may be affected.

But what does stress & fatigue do to your body? Although stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Chronic stress can affect your overall well-being. Symptoms of chronic stress include:

• -  Irritability
• -  Anxiety
• -  Depression
• -  Headaches
• -  Insomnia

Fatigue can be described as the lack of energy and motivation (both physical and mental). This is different than drowsiness, a term that describes the need to sleep. Often, the symptom of fatigue has a gradual onset and the person may not be aware of how much energy they have lost until they try to compare their ability to complete tasks from one-time frame to another.

Individuals with fatigue may have three primary complaints; however, it can vary in each person.

• -  Lack of motivation or the ability to begin an activity;
• -  The person tires easily once the activity has begun; and
• -  The person has mental fatigue or difficulty with concentration and memory to start or complete an activity.

How To Promote A Healthy Workplace.

Managers need to be able to recognise stress and fatigue in their employees and leads to impairment, and should have the training and systems to make sure they can recognise impairment and its potential causes, and act to prevent problems.

Step 1: Assessing the Risks 

The first part in the risk management/assessment process is to identify all reasonably foreseeable hazards that could contribute to fatigue. Factors that can contribute to fatigue include

• -  The mental or physical demands of work
• -  Work schedules
• -  Working times – including travel times to and from workplace
• -  Environmental conditions, individual and non-work factors.

The second part to understanding and assessing workplace fatigue is to understand who and why it happens. This includes assessing

• -  Where, which and how many workers are likely to become fatigued.
• -  How often does it occur?
• -  The degree of harm which results from fatigue
• -  What action you need to take and how urgent the action needs to be.

Step 2: Preventing Fatigue

Once you have identified fatigue in your workplace the next step is to prevent and manage the risk. The key aim of any fatigue management is to ensure that hazards that pose an important risk to the health of the employee/ worker or to others who may meet occupational hazards are being properly controlled.

For Example:

Elimination: Eliminating night shifts in some areas or for high risk tasks.

Substitute: Increasing the length of breaks in a shift

Engineering: Improving ventilation and heating to improve alertness and ensure exposure to hazardous substances is reduced during extended shifts.

Administrative: Using a checklist to help foremen/supervisors identify and assess fatigue impairment.

PPE: Ensuring appropriate equipment is used. For example standard hearing protection devices may not provide sufficient attenuation over a 12-hour shift as opposed to a 7 hour shift.

What is reasonably practicable to do to manage the risk of fatigue will vary depending on the type of industry, the structure of an organisation as well as the person carrying out the work.

Some control measures may include

• -  Using machinery to assist with tasks
• -  Limiting periods of excessive physical/mental demands
• -  Job rotations
• -  Reducing the need to work excessive hours/overtime
• -  Ensuring there are appropriate resources to carry out the work
• -  Avoiding working during periods of extreme temperature
• -  Training and encouraging workers/managers/supervisors to recognise signs of fatigue
• -  Encouraging the reporting of issues and concerns

Step 3: Developing a Policy

A fatigue policy for all workers, managers and supervisors should be integrated as part of your overall health and safety management system or plan. The policy should be:

• -  Specific to your organisation » Developed through consultation
• -  Available to employees/workers and visitors (e.g. on display)
• -  Communicated regularly and appropriately (e.g. at inductions), and
• -  Reviewed to take account of changes in the organisation (including business needs and knowledge about risks)

This policy should include information about:

• -  Maximum shift length, average weekly hours, planned breaks during a shift
• -  Work related travel
• -  Roles and responsibilities for all levels of the organisation
• -  Procedures for reporting fatigue risks
• -  Procedures for managing fatigued workers
• -  Training programmes for employees/workers
• -  Monitoring and reviewing the policy

Step 4: Training and Information

Training should be arranged so it is available to all workers and include:

• -  The work health and safety responsibilities of everyone in the workplace
• -  The factors that can contribute to fatigue and risks that may be associated with it
• -  Symptoms of fatigue
• -  The body clock and how fatigue can affect it
• -  Effective control measures for fatigue, for example work scheduling
• -  Procedures for reporting fatigue
• -  Effects of impairment due to medication, drugs and alcohol
• -  Nutrition, fitness and health issues relating to fatigue
• -  Balancing work and personal demands.

Managers and Supervisors Should be trained to:

• -  Recognise fatigue
• -  Understand how fatigue can be managed and how to implement control measures, including how to design suitable rosters and work schedules in consultation with workers.
• -  Take appropriate action when a worker is displaying fatigue related impairment.

Step 5: Monitoring

An appropriate level of supervision should be provided (for example a higher level of supervision for safety critical tasks), which may include monitoring work to ensure safe work practices are followed. Once control measures are implemented, monitoring and reviewing is required to ensure they continue to effectively manage fatigue.

Consider implementing trial periods for any new work schedules and encouraging workers to provide feedback on their effectiveness. To determine the frequency of monitoring and review consider the level of risk – high-risk hazards need more frequent assessments.

For more information on stress & fatigue, download our guides. 

Source:  
https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body
http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/healthy-work-managing-stress-and-fatigue-in-the-workplace/stressfatigue.pdf
https://www.sitesafe.org.nz/globalassets/guides-and-resources/best-practice-guides/fatigue-guidance-crsf.pdf

We’ve all heard the advice: “lift with your knees” and “keep your back straight” when lifting heavy objects, but is this an adequate enough to protect your body from injury? Lifting items poses a big risk to employees in a workplace. Workers are exposed to injury when they attempt to carry things that are too heavy, difficult to grasp or too big to handle. This kind of activity happens much too often in workplaces. In fact, alongside falling, heavy lifting is one of the biggest causes of work-related injury.

What is Heavy Lifting?

Heavy lifting is the activity of manually handling an object. While what is considered heavy depends on each person, Worksafe advises that employees should always strive to minimise the weight of the materials workers are expected to carry. Loads can also be difficult not just due to their weight. Materials of the same weight may be more or less difficult to handle due to their shape, which can in turn affect how one carries an object.

Are Your Employees At Risk?

As expected, heavy lifting is prevalent in many workplaces, across a huge range of industries. Manual handling affects many and causes a lot of preventable injuries. If your workplace requires your employees to lift, handle or move any objects that could be too heavy for some, they are at risk.

While lifting objects can be an unavoidable task in many occupations, there are ways to reduce the chance of an injury. Even if your employees need to be carrying objects or manually handling heavy materials, it doesn’t mean they need to risk injury. Preventing accidents is possible through proper planning. It’s also important to remember that every individual is different in their capabilities. While some may be strong enough to carry heavy objects, others may not. Thorough assessment of worker’s capabilities should be noted.

Heavy Lifting Injuries Are Preventable

Injuries from heavy lifting are common and preventable. Through appropriate precautions it’s entirely possible to reduce the likelihood of risk for your employees. This risk reduction comes through identifying hazards, proper training and supply of the right equipment for the environment and the materials being handled.

Training to Reduce Heavy Lifting Injuries

As an employer or manager, you most likely already know your responsibilities to provide a safe work environment for your employees. While you aren’t able to micro-manage people every second of every day, the first step towards reducing injuries is to implement strategies that discourage risk taking.

Many people get injured when lifting because they ignore the risk. A lot of people take on more than they can handle, and end up hurting themselves in the process. Through thorough reiteration of the risks posed to workers, it’s possible to deter risk-taking and promote better practices. Education on the best practises for lifting objects can help reduce the frequency of injuries. Workers should be advised on the best approach, posture and technique. It’s also wise to include posters around the workplace that outline these methods. An informative visual is will serve as an effective reminder to workers on a daily basis.

Another way of reducing the prevalence of these injuries is to ensure that you supply the right equipment to assist with any materials handling. This requires you to assess the possible items employees may be working with and to make available and encourage using equipment when situations arise. Employees are much more likely to use equipment if it is heavily encouraged, visible and available to be used when needed.

For an environment of deliberate, intelligent management of heavy materials to exist, proper conduct of the introduction process into the business must be made. This is performed through a comprehensive understanding of what’s needed for the health and safety of workers. This includes:

• Knowledge of the risks posed to workers

• Understanding of the capabilities of workers

• Good management of expectations of managers and employers

• Clear and open communication lines between all lines of workflow

Dexters’ offers safe and reliable lifting and shifting equipment to assist with manual handling in warehouse and industrial environments. The tools we supply are durable and practical in environments where heavy lifting occurs. We’re also able to supply various trolleys for smaller scale manual lifting. Trolleys are extremely versatile and suitable for a large range of environments. From hospitality, service industries, as well as industrial and commercial environments.

Get in touch with our friendly team today for materials handling advice and equipment. We’re New Zealand's leading supplier of materials handling and safety products in the workplace. Call 0800 339 8377 today.

DOWNLOAD OUR GUIDE NOW!

1. Safety Programmes create productive work environments.

Properly managed safety programmes show commitment to safety by the management in turn creating a great safety culture where everyone ‘wants’ to be safe.

2. Absenteeism drops when effective safety programmes are introduced.

Workers want to work in a safe environment; absenteeism drops when effective safety programmes are introduced.

3. Work premises are kept to higher standards.

Work premises are kept to higher standards for safety, cleanliness, and housekeeping.

4. A safe work environment produces happier employee’s.

A safe work environment produces happier employees; everyone wants to go home safe each day.

5. Employee insurance claims decrease in safe work environments.

Worker Compensation insurance claims decrease, in turn lowering premiums. This is a benefit to any company that has to pre-qualify to work; a lower rate gives you a better grade with your clients.

6. A company’s most valuable asset is protected – Its People.

7. Safety programs enable a company to win and retain business customers.

8. Safety programs create an environment where safety improvements are considered, encouraged and implemented.

In turn, workers feel like they are part of the safety solution.

9. Safe work environments enhance the brand value and goodwill for a company.

Enables a company to win and retain business customers. Clients want to work with companies that are safe (less downtime due to incidents).

10. Safety reduces business costs and disruption.

Your workplace is going to have visitors. It’s inevitable. Whether it’s a client, a contractor or a personal visit, at some point or another, someone who isn’t a member of staff, someone who hasn’t been updated regularly on company policy and doesn’t have a comprehensive understanding of your specific workplace, will be on your site.

Therefore, it’s necessary to have a policy in place to help educate and protect visitors. The Health and Safety at Work Act is a law that holds a responsibility to a company to ensure everybody that enters their premises is safe. It’s essential to ensure you’ve put into practise working visitor policies and follow them accordingly.

This is a realistic expectation for businesses. Protecting visitors is common-sense and commonplace to most. But, the best way to do this is to create working plans, briefings and protocols for visitors, as you do the actual workers. A crucial step in visitor safety is planning and following through with precautions.

The first approach to protecting visitors in a workplace is to create a safety briefing. This should be presented to the visitor before they enter the site. The safety briefing should make visitors aware of all the things that they need to be careful of, it should outline the risks and hazards and should include instructions on behaviour and any protective clothing they need to wear.

Once the hazards are outlined, it’s good practise to notify visitors of how these risks are managed. Visitors should be confident they are safe while on the premises. This comes through an understanding on what and what not to do. You yourself should also be confident visitors understand the workplace and proper protocol from your briefing.

While a safety briefing is a great place to start with visitor safety, there are a few more steps you can take to build a safety culture:

Warning Signage

Pre-warning signage that indicates clearly the hazards posed will keep visitors and workers on high alert. Ensure they’re positioned in a visible and obvious position to have the best impact.

Have a Hazard Board

A hazard board is set up at the entrance of the workplace. The hazard board should provide visitors with instructions on what to do on arrival. It should cover all the potential risks that entry to the site poses and what the visitor needs to do when they enter.

Use a Visitor Log

Visitor logs allow you to keep track of everyone that enters the workplace. It’s an important part of site security and allows you to manage those who visit your premises.

Have the Appropriate Safety Equipment

Having the right safety equipment is important for ensuring visitor safety. While you may have the right systems in place to protect your workers, thinking about visitor safety requires more in-depth assessment. Consider which areas of your site will be hosting visitors, and how you can improve the safety of these zones.

Creating and upholding a strict visitor safety plan is the best way to protect workplace visitors. Your safety practices should be clear, thorough and open enough to allow questions and input from visitors. Visitor protocol should be an important part of your overall safety culture. Using these practices, you can put your workplace in the best position to handle visitors correctly.

Dexters Visitor Safety Equipment

As Dexters are specialists in total workplace safety, we have the right equipment to ensure you have a sufficient visitor safety system. From physical barriers, to signage, we have suitable safety supplies to meet your needs. Check out our range on our website today.

Additionally, if you are in the market for complete safety systems or if you require assistance with finding the equipment you need - feel free to contact us. We’re able to fit you with the most suitable safety fittings for your specific needs. Get in touch with us for more information and start prioritising safety in your workplace.

We often take for granted that we live in a complex world made possible through world-class logistics. Pallets, boxes, and forklifts make it all happen.

Did the pallet come first, or was it the forklift? This question was posed decades ago by the earliest pallet industry pioneers such as the late Bill Sardo, the first president of the National Wooden Pallet & Container Association and it still comes up today.

Pallet-like structures have been used as bases for at least a few hundred years for applications such as the safe stacking and stabilization of kegs. Skids, may, in fact, have been used as long ago as the 1st millennium BCE. Skids go back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia at least as far back as the 1st millennium BCE.

Per author Peter Roger Stuart Moorey in Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries: The Archaeological Evidence (Eisenbrauns, 1999), canal-builders may have used simple means, such as skids, to transport materials in the construction of the Aqueduct of Jerwan, a part of the larger Atrush Canal built by the Assyrian king Sennacherib between 703 and 690 BCE

Dictionary.com describes a pallet as “a small, low, portable platform on which goods are placed for storage or moving, as in a warehouse or vehicle.”

If one is to follow the definition at Dictionary.com, then these structures were pallets in that they were used for storage, and they did indeed predate the lift truck. They did not, however, facilitate the transport of goods, which most professional definitions for pallets would prescribe to be an important part of an accurate description. The appearance of unit-load bases designed to move goods takes us to the very late 1800s.

The predecessor of the wooden pallet was the wooden skid (often combined with iron or steel components), which consisted of stringers or legs fastened to a top deck. It first appeared in American factories in conjunction with the low lift truck. A crude low lift hand truck was invented in 1887 that could elevate a skid a few inches by manual means. A more durable, all-steel low lift truck design was introduced in 1909. Early lift trucks had a lift platform. The appearance of forks came later. Skids were classified as “live,” containing casters on the base for manual positioning of the skid, or “dead” if they did not have casters.

An illustration from Materials-Handling Equipment: A Modern Manual (1946), written by pallet pooling visionary Matthew W. Potts

With the introduction of the high lift fork truck in the last half of the 1910s, the stage was eventually set for the eventual introduction of the bottom pallet deck, resulting in the modern pallet. In 1923, what is considered today as the first forklift, Yale introduced an electric truck with raising forks and an elevated mast. The lift worked via a ratchet and pinion system. Then in 1937 came gas-powered forklift trucks. Since the first introduction of the forklift truck, one of the most noticeable changes has been the addition of safety components like the protective cab. Now, pallets no longer were simply a means of moving materials within the plant. High lift trucks made possible vertical stacking of unit loads and a resulting dramatic improvement of warehouse and plant storage efficiencies. Several early pallet patents exist, and these are referenced at www.Wikipedia.org in its discussion of the pallet.

The pallet evolved in stages. Spacers were used between loads to allow fork placement and withdrawal, progressing to the placement of boards atop stringers to make skids. This facilitated the stacking of a greater range of loads. Lift trucks came to be commonly referred to as “tiering” trucks because they were used to stack unit loads of product. Eventually boards were fastened to the bottom to create the modern pallet. The development of the pallet eliminated the potentially unsafe and time consuming practice of the operator frequently climbing out on the front of the lift truck to place the 2x4s between unit loads, while reducing the risk of stringer collapse. The development of the bottom deck benefited the unit load base in a number of ways, including better distribution of weight over the load below, as well as less risk of pallet stringer collapse. Trade magazine advertisements from the 1920s provide the first evidence of pallets being shipped by rail domestically in the U.S.

Pallet development further evolved with the development of 4-way entry and alternative material pallets in the 1940s. During World War 2, the use of the pallet and forklift would become a key component of the U.S. military logistics strategy. See for example, “Why Use Two When One Will Do.” http://packagingrevolution.net/why-use-two-if-one-will-do/ After the War, the use of pallets became increasingly popular in industry. But more on that for a future instalment.

We know that the needs of World War II logistics operations led to the rise and popularity of both the pallet and the forklift. However, determining which actually came first, the pallet or the forklift, is not as clear. Most pallet professionals would say that the forklift came first, and the pallet came later. Based on more commonplace definitions, however, such as offered at Dictionary.com, you could also be right in saying that the pallet came first.

Source: http://powerpalletinc.com/which-came-first-the-pallet-or-the-forklift/   

http://packagingrevolution.net/pallet-or-forklift/

A death or serious injury in the workplace is a tragedy. It’s an incident that’s traumatic, preventable and sadly all too common in New Zealand. Most days nobody goes to work expecting to get really hurt or to die, but for some, that’s exactly what happens. Some people (approximately 40-50 every year), with family and friends, with interests and a favourite song, will get up in the morning, get ready for the day, go into their workplace and die.

Here are the statistics:

• Men are the most at risk. Males make up for 92% of death claims

• Agriculture, Construction, Forestry Warehousing and Transport industries have the highest incident of deaths in New Zealand

• Many, if not most deaths involved operating machinery or dealing with heavy materials.

Workplace Safety in 2017

For most of these industries, it’s commonplace to work in hazardous environments. All of these workplaces would have or should have had an up-to-date health and safety plan. Workers know that at times there will be risks, regardless, these deaths still occurred. This indicates that the current plans or equipment in place are not enough to prevent a high prevalence of death.

Sadly, New Zealand has one of the most alarming rates of deaths for a developed nation. It’s really clear not enough is being done to protect workers in these industries. The Government has taken notice of this, their recent work with Worksafe New Zealand has introduced a plan for safer working environments. This is called “Working Safer Fatality And Serious Injury Reduction Target”.

The New Zealand Government’s Initiative

The plan was created with the mission of reducing New Zealand’s alarmingly high fatality rate in the workplace. It has the goal of reducing the number of deaths by 25% by the year 2020. It also targets serious injury occurrence. This is a necessary proactive approach that realises that with a growing economy, comes an increasing rate of workers in the at-risk industries and with this, can come the rise of death rates for these workers.

The New Zealand Government should be applauded for this initiative. However, the most important part of this movement is the action of employers and the application of new processes by workers in these industries. A drive towards better health and safety practises needs to be supported by all those involved and affected by the addressed factors.

Promoting Healthy Workplaces or Avoiding Injury?

One of the most important things a business owner or operations manager in these industries can do is undertake regular risk and hazard assessments. These processes provide important information on the risk factors plaguing a specific workplace and offer solutions to reduce the dangers faced.

It’s also essential to ensure that the proper safety equipment is put in place to protect workers. This means that once the risks are properly analysed and addressed, proper materials are installed in the workplace to reduce potential harm.

Following this, education is required for all workers and visitors that are in or around the workplace. Due to the subjective nature of education, this process can be one of the most complicated for a workplace.

It’s easy to overlook things, to think certain aspects of safety are obvious or to become complacent in the everyday operation of a business. But, as the reports show, people are still dying and getting hurt, even with the regulations for risk assessment and safety equipment. It’s clear that more attention needs to be paid to communication and education around safety in the workplace.

Promoting a healthier workplace is beneficial for all. Regular reminders of the dangers facing workers and how they are prevented can only make positive improvements. It’s important to create an environment of safe practices and to ensure a team is looking out for their colleagues and themselves.

Is Preventing Risk Enough?

Is it enough to merely focus on the prevention of injuries and death? Occupational health and safety organisations around the world agree that no, it’s not. Workplaces cannot think that their only focus should be on the prevention of risk.

A lot of the time it is not a singular hazard that will cause an injury. Incidents are caused by a multitude of factors, many of these involve employees; their knowledge, their individual actions and how a workplace coincides with these components.

To move towards safer workplaces in New Zealand, we require safety systems that aren’t just reactive, but are proactive and effective. Outdated safety regulations do not protect our workers enough anymore. Older ways of doing things are not good enough for the larger, more technical and more dangerous settings workers now operate in. Economic growth calls for change in the future of workplace safety.

Future safety programs need to acknowledge, comprehend and address the following factors:

• Laws and regulations

• Preventative measures for injury, sickness and death

• Worker engagement

• Community engagement

• Workplace support

• Cost reduction

• The importance of productivity

• Social responsibility of the business and the individual employees to act responsibly

Nobody wants an unsafe workplace. Workers do not, families do not and employers do not. Any life is more important than any business. It’s crucial that workplaces are properly operated so they follow protocols and go further than the minimum requirements.

The future of workplace safety in New Zealand requires in-depth acknowledgement that in 2017, not enough is being done. The future of workplace safety needs more engagement, more investment and more acknowledgement to be up-to-par with worldwide standards, and our own.

Source: http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/noise-in-manufacturing/noise-in-manufacturing.pdf

Many manufacturing processes, machinery and equipment produce high noise levels, which can lead to hearing problems. 

How Do You Know When Noise Is A Problem At Your Workplace?

If you have to raise your voice to have a normal conversation when standing about a metre apart, for at least part of the day, then noise levels on the site could damage hearing. There could also be a problem if there are sudden extremely loud noises at the workplace, or if at the end of the day you notice that your hearing is muffled or your ears are ringing.

What Is The Best Way To Manage Noise At Your Workplace?

Protection is best achieved by controlling noise at the source. Some practical examples of how you can control and reduce noise are:

> When purchasing machinery or plant, obtain noise data from the supplier to inform your decision. The noise levels should be relevant to where workers will actually be. > Move noisy machinery or plant into areas where there are no workers, or few workers (eg into an outbuilding or dedicated room)

> Where noisy machinery/plant has to remain in the working area, enclose it within a sound-insulating enclosure if possible (eg a screen or barrier). Anti-vibration machine mountings may also be required.

> Where enclosure is not possible, reduce noise by other engineering means such as: – lining guards/panels with noise dampening material– providing acoustic screens – lining the inside of hoppers with impact-deadening material – fitting anti-vibration mountings – fitting silencers to exhaust systems – ensuring good maintenance to stop rattles and prevent noise from wear.

 > Where noise levels still exceed 85 decibels (dB) ensure workers wear hearing protection (earplugs or earmuffs) within the designated and clearly marked zones.

> Duration of exposure can be reduced by job rotation or providing a noise refuge (eg limit the time workers spend in noisy areas and/ or design and layout the workplace to create quiet workstations).

> Consider implementing improved working techniques to reduce noise levels. > Make sure there is proper and regular maintenance of machinery and equipment that takes account of noise.

> Where your noise-control measures require actions from workers to be effective (eg making proper use of noise enclosures or following approved low-noise working methods), you should make sure workers do what is required. Make sure that workers have appropriate information, instruction and training, and supervision. Workers have a duty to make use of any noise-control measures provided.

Can You Rely On Hearing Protection Alone When Carrying Out Noisy Work?

It is not acceptable to rely on hearing protection alone to control noise exposure. Hearing protection should only be used when extra protection is needed after using noise control techniques (such as elimination of noisy tasks, substituting quieter processes, removing people from noisy areas and selection of quiet equipment). If, after taking these measures, hearing protection is still required:

> make sure the protectors provided give enough protection – aim at least to get below 85 dB(A) at the ear, but don’t provide excessive protection as protectors which cut out too much noise can cause isolation or lead to an unwillingness to wear them

> target the use of protectors to the noisy tasks and jobs in a working day

> select protectors which are suitable for the working environment – consider how comfortable and hygienic they are

> think about how they will be worn with other protective equipment (eg hard hats and eye protection) > provide a range of protectors so that employees can choose ones which suit them

> make sure your workers are educated about noise and trained in how and when to use the hearing protectors

 > make sure your workers have their hearing tested regularly (ie baseline and annual audiometry exam and questionnaire).

Is It Necessary To Measure Noise Levels At Your Workplace?

In many cases a hazard assessment for noise at your workplace can be prepared without using equipment to measure the noise levels. The assessment must be based on reliable information and should include a realistic estimate of worker exposure. You may find it useful to observe work activities, measure the exposure time over part of the day and use this to estimate exposure during a full shift. If an employee is exposed to noise from more than one tool or work process during a typical day, you will need to collect information about the likely noise level(s) and exposure time for each source. Information from manufacturers or suppliers about noise levels produced by the equipment can be used to calculate the daily exposure unless there is reason to believe it is not valid, for example if machinery or equipment is being used in a way not specified by the manufacturer or supplier, or in other circumstances where the noise exposure may be increased or altered. There are also noise measurement phone apps available. They are usually limited in accuracy but can give an indication of the noise emission levels.

 Download the Noise in Manufacturing PDF  

Further information

This fact sheet has been developed using the following resources:

> UK Health and Safety Executive’s FAQ page on Noise in Manufacturing

> WorkSafe New Zealand’s ACOP for the Management of Noise in the Workplace

Knowing the cost and impact of a workplace injury can help you understand what you need to do to protect your staff from an accident. In 2015 230,200 claims were made to ACC for a work-related injury – with 31,000 of these for entitlement (ie more serious) claims.

Dexters can help keep your workers safe know matter what industry you are in. Because we’re passionate about workplace safety, we can provide solutions from materials handling equipment to traffic management barriers.

Risks, Hazards and the Workplace

In an industrial setting, in a warehouse or the logistics industry, hazards are very real and very present in the everyday running of a business. Workplaces consisting of heavy machinery operations and materials handling need to have proper procedures in place to protect workers. This is required under law, and should be regularly reviewed and updated to review hazards.

One of the biggest issues industrial workplaces face is pedestrian safety. Simply speaking, those on foot are the most at risk in areas where machinery is being used. The pedestrians can be both workers and members of the public. Either way, as a manager or business owner you need to make sure they are protected.

Protecting Pedestrians Around Machinery

In situations where vehicles or machines are in use, areas where those on foot should not be, need to be designated. It’s not enough to assume people will not stray near these hazards. Those in charge of an industrial workplace need to properly ensure a pedestrian walkway is made extremely obvious. Making it clear to pedestrians that they are to stay in a certain area due to the risk posed by machine operation.

The best thing for a workplace is to make areas where people are going to be walking very clear, separate and predictable. Drivers will then know which spaces to avoid and take extra care around. Walkers will know where they should be at all times. It’s just as important to show people where they are allowed to be, as it is to show them where they should not be.

So how do you do this?

How does a workplace make it obvious to workers and visitors where they should be on foot, and where they shouldn’t?

Improving Safety with Effective Signage

Signage is a great way to start. Signs that clearly indicate to people in concise language where they are restricted to for their own safety. These signs should be bold, bright and appropriately placed. Signs should be poised in positions where they are unable to be missed.

However, simply telling people is not enough. It’s an all too frequent occurrence for workers and pedestrians alike to ignore signs. People ignore signs when they do not understand the risk, when they rush and when they think that they know better, or they take workplace safety for granted. These are all perfect breeding-grounds for incidents to occur.

Signage cannot be your only way of protecting walkers in your warehouse. It’s essential to show people the designated area for walking in a workplace.

Designating Walkways in the Workplace

This is achieved through several means. The most effective being the implementation of bollards, railings or cones. These clearly indicate where the safe walking area is located. Safety systems providing a physical barrier between those on foot and those operating machinery are the most successful in preventing accidents.

Achieving Safety Through Barrier Systems

Educating Workers About Safety Systems

Even the most obvious and effective safety system in the world is not going to work if people do not use it. It’s essential that once a barrier system is installed in a workplace, workers are taught to understand how important it is for risk reduction.

It’s important for all that use the area to understand the potential consequences if people do not take the proper precautions available to them. Helping employees understand this can help to promote an environment of safety. This will ensure visitors and workers alike are encouraged to use the safe ways of navigating areas.

Which Safety System Should You Use?

Depending on your specific workplace, you will need to consider what the right barrier system is for your area. Some warehouses may not be required to install a full system, perhaps it is only necessary in certain areas where forklift operation or similar is a factor. In these cases, it is important to analyse where exactly pedestrians and workers may be at risk, and follow system installation accordingly.

In certain workplaces it may be crucial to install some very heavy duty bollards due to the nature of the work being undertaken. These situations will require more in depth analysis and observation of risks and hazards. Mounted bollards help you achieve workplace safety from vehicle operational hazards.

The Importance of Physical Barriers

There is really no substitute for physical barrier protection from heavy machinery hazards. Pedestrians need to be protected in areas of operational hazards. Those on foot are at the largest risk of injury or death from accidental incidents.

Every work site has different needs in terms of safety system. Some require more extensive equipment than others. Through thorough assessment of the risks posed to workers and visitors, you should be able to work out what you need to operate your area safely. If you are ever unsure about safety procedures, it is always a good idea to consult with a professional in the safety and logistics industry. This will ensure you equip your warehouse with the proper safety systems.

Types of Physical Barriers

There are a few different types of safety barrier equipment. Each of these have specific purposes, and are used for different reasons in the workplace. Some are solid and permanent, while some are flexible and temporary for portable purposes.

Here are the different types of barrier systems available on the market:

Versatile and Portable Solutions

• Bollards - Suitable for protecting equipment, people, floors and tools. Bollards can be mounted and steel, or they can be used simply as visible guides.

• Cones - While cones may not provide a physical barrier, they are highly visible. Cones can be used as guidelines for pedestrian walkways. They can also be placed to indicate risky areas and to cordon off hazards.

• Blockades - Blockades are both portable and durable. They’re generally inexpensive, yet tough enough for most warehouse environments. These barriers are popular in roadworks, as they provide a highly visible form of protection.

• Expandable Barriers - This equipment provides a mobile safety barrier for areas that periodically require access, and at times require to be restricted. Expandable barriers offer a visual and physical deterrent from specific areas at certain times.

Fixed Barriers

• Machine Guard Barriers - Machine guard barriers are generally very durable, able to protect certain areas from machinery. Many stockists (including Dexters) offer fully customisable guard barriers. These are suitable for thoroughly dictating where is, and where is not suitable for vehicle operation.

• Pedestrian Specific Barriers - Pedestrian safety barriers provide strict walkway restrictions to keep pedestrians safe in workplaces. Pedestrian barriers keep those on foot away from those in machines, offering a very particular area for walkers.

• Steel Barriers - Steel barriers are purposed for forklift and other machine protection. These barriers offer a tough, physical barrier in the workplace. They’re strong enough to stop machinery, ensuring safety beyond their parameters.

We Help Businesses Reduce Risk

The Dexters Method

Dexters can help you from the very beginning of your risk reduction journey. Our safety experts can consult with you and your workers needs. We will figure out a specialised safety system that protects and enforces your workers and visitors safety.

Complete Workplace Safety Services

These systems are not just restricted to warehouse safety either. Outdoor operations require similar, if not more protection due to the chances of civilians entering the area. Barrier systems can be essential safety additions to a large amount of areas. Many businesses can benefit to a great extent from the installation of proper safety systems. Workers, pedestrians, visitors and civilians alike will be safer with the implementation of quality barriers.

Protect Workers With Our Expert Advice and Quality Safety Systems

Nobody wants to chance the risk of a fatal incident occurring in an area they are charged with managing. Dexters can help you to find, install and implement the use of an effective barrier system in your workplace or warehouse

Importance of colours in branding

As research shows, it’s likely because personal preference, experiences, upbringing, cultural differences, and context often muddy the effect individual colours have on us. There are, however, broader messaging patterns to be found in colour perceptions.

In a study titled “Impact of colour on marketing,” researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about products can be based on colour alone, depending on the product. Regarding the role that colour plays in branding, results from another study show that the relationship between brands and colour hinges on the perceived appropriateness of the colour being used for the brand (does the colour “fit” what is being sold?).

It can be seen in the image below that different colours create different emotions. Companies & brands use these emotions to trigger different feelings about their products.

How do we see yellow?

This bit is about to get technical…

To understand what makes yellow unique, we need to know how the human eye is built. The back of the retina is covered in light-sensitive neurons known as cone cells. There are three types of cone cells, blue (short-wavelength), green (medium-wavelength), and red (long-wavelength).

When light enters the eye, and hits the cone cells it sends a signal to the brain, depending on the colour you see, different wavelengths of light excite different combinations of cones. The brain then turns the signals into colour information. To see yellow, your brain finds the difference between this luminance signal and the excitement of your blue cones. This is the yellow-blue channel.

­

Seeing yellow is what happens when BOTH the green AND red cones are highly excited near their peak sensitivity. This is the biggest collective excitement that your cones ever have, aside from seeing pure white, and is why yellow appears to be the brightest colour in the spectrum, making it a unique and useful colour.

Yellow in the safety industry  

Now that you understand the emotions & the science behind colour, companies with a health and safety focus usually use yellow as their dominant colour.

Why? Because safety products should be seen. Yellow is also colour-blind-safe, this ensures that your product will be seen by everyone. Creating safety products in yellow means they will stand-out. Safety barriers should, at their very core, put prevention of accidents as a priority. They do this, quite simply, by their visual prominence, both in colour, but also in size.

Yellow is used in many warning signs and safety equipment, it is the most visually grabbing colour to humans and doesn’t usually appear in our modern world, this means that it is immediately noticed.

DexSafe use a specially-selected, high-visibility yellow as standard on their products. The DexSafe Yellow stands out, guides, and protects. And although DexSafe barriers will always withstand impact forces from vehicles in the workplace, the sheer visual prominence of the company’s barriers prevents accident after accident.

For more information on DexSafe barriers go to dexsafe.com or call us on 09 275 5580

Source: https://visual.ly/blog/the-use-of-yellow-in-data-design/ https://www.helpscout.net/blog/psychology-of-color/ 

Managing safety performance of farm can be a daunting process but doesn’t have to be hard, it’s about planning ahead to make your farm a safer place for you and your workers. There are many aspects to consider when creating a health and safety plan for your farm, Worksafe NZ have put together a range of resources to help you through the process. 

Download the Worksafe NZ "Managing health and safety: A guide for farmers" 

My Farm will help you start a plan to help make your farm healthier and safer. Keep safe, keep farming.

Source: http://saferfarms.org.nz/my-farm      http://saferfarms.org.nz/guides/managing-health-and-safety-a-guide-for-farmers/#legal-responsibilities

Safety Signs are crucial in any work environment. The primary importance of displaying Safety Signs is to prevent injury and ensure staff and visitors are well aware of the possible dangers and hazards ahead in certain situations and/or environments.

We have put together a few guides to help with your search to find the safety sign for your needs. 

Here are some creative ways to re-use old shipping containers. 

There are many reasons why plastic water filled barriers are chosen over steel barriers. For many, it is a matter of cost while for others it is the ability to transport the barriers when needed. Although there are many benefits to plastic barriers there are some disadvantages too.

What are plastic barriers?

Plastic barriers are hollow plastic structures that are formed from polyethylene. They are manufactured to be lightweight and portable, some gaining additional strength and stability from being filled with water or sand once they are onsite. They are effective for traffic control on highways and around work sites. Plastic barriers are also very useful for crowd control and pedestrian walkways. They are available in various shapes, sizes, colors and price ranges.

Advantages

Light Weight

Plastic barriers are made of a light weight polyethylene which is much lighter than other barriers. The lighter design makes these barriers very portable and a great option for temporary work sites and events. Trucking costs are also substantially lower due to the lighter design. Since they are not permanently attached to the ground, they can be reused many times which will save the cost of having to purchase new barriers.

Less Labor Intensive

Their portability and lightweight also means they are less labor intensive and can be handled and installed easily by two individuals. Many designs allow for movement of the barriers with a forklift. Special 6” wide grooves designed into the barriers allow for easy lifting and relocation. The male / female interlocking design makes it easy to create a continuous wall without the use of cables or pins.

Color Variations

The polyethylene plastic comes in a wide variety of colors which allow them to be easily seen even from a distance. Visibility is a vital component of the plastic barriers effectiveness. An ultraviolet light inhibitor is added to the plastic to insure the colors won’t fade when exposed to long periods of sunlight. Since the barriers are made from polyethylene, they are 100% recyclable and will not end up in landfills.

Durability

Each barrier is molded to a thickness of 8mm to ensure they do not burst upon filling. They will not crack or break under normal use and are built to withstand the elements over long periods of time. They also have large drains to prevent water from backing up behind the barriers.

Barrier Sizes

There are a variety of sizes and design available, the lower heights are ideal when visibility may be impaired by utilizing a higher barrier. Plastic barriers are a great choice for temporary projects which may require continued relocation of the barriers. They can be moved between worksites or events with ease and stored when not in use.

Disadvantages

Strength

Most are based on their strength limits when utilized in areas where large vehicles like tractor trailers and construction vehicles are more apt to collide with the barriers. They will not provide the same level of protection against workers and equipment that steel barriers are able to.

Conclusion

Plastic barriers are a great choice for roadway safety, crowd control, and parking installations. They are lightweight, portable and more cost-effective than concrete barriers while providing the level of safety necessary for your project. However, it is important to understand the weaknesses they do possess to allow for proper adaptations and precautions to be taken in specialty situations.

Source:http://www.tamiscorp.com/press/articles/traffic-safety/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-plastic-barricades/ 

In many jobs heat stress is an issue all year round (such as boiler rooms, bakeries, laundries, foundries and smelting operations), but this information is also applicable during the hot summer months where there may be an increased risk for some people.

In addition, age, weight, degree of physical fitness and acclimatisation, dehydration, metabolism, use of alcohol or medications, and a variety of medical conditions all affect a person’s sensitivity to heat.

Heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal (core) temperature starts to fail. As well as air temperature, factors such as work rate, humidity and clothing worn while working may lead to heat stress.

Managers and workers must be aware of how to work safely in heat, the factors that can lead to heat stress, and how to reduce the risk of it occurring.

The Effects of Heat on the Body

As the body’s temperature rises, the nervous system goes to work to stimulate the eccrine glands to release sweat. Sweat is made up of water, sodium and other substances, and as it evaporates it helps cool the body down. When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, generally through a lack of body fluids (water and salts (sodium)), you may not have enough body fluids for your body to carry out normal functions easily. If left unchecked, heat-induced illnesses, such as heat stress, heat exhaustion, and the more severe heat stroke, can occur.

What is sodium?

Sodium is an essential electrolyte that helps maintain the balance of water in and around your cells. Sodium is important for proper muscle and nerve function, and also helps to maintain stable blood pressure levels.

Heat Stress

Heat stress occurs when your body can no longer regulate your temperature and you become too hot. Heat stress can affect individuals in different ways, and some people are more susceptible to it than others.

Typical symptoms of heat stress include; an inability to concentrate, heat rash, severe thirst and fainting. Heat stress naturally leads to two other heat-induced disorders – heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion happens when someone sweats excessively and does not drink enough fluids and/or take in enough salt.

Causes of heat exhaustion include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when combined with high humidity, and strenuous physical activity.
Typical symptoms of heat exhaustion include; fatigue, heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, giddiness, nausea, headache, slightly elevated body temperature and pale and clammy (moist) skin that may be flushed.

Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke – a life-threatening condition.

Heat Stroke

With heat stroke, the body can no longer maintain its core temperature, sweating stops, and the body temperature rises. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can lead to death. Typical symptoms include; hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness.

Tips on avoiding Heat Stress, and other heat-induced disorders

When temperatures climb, remember to:
1. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-coloured clothing and avoid sunburn.
2. Seek a cooler workplace (work in the shade)
3. Limit/reduce time spent in the heat (rotate workers/reschedule rosters).
4. Apply cooling measures (introduce fans or ice towels).
5. Drink plenty of fluids (before, during and after); especially when working in the sun (avoid caffeine and alcohol).
6. Take extra precautions with certain medications (seek medical advice if necessary).
7. Avoid hot spots (boilers, heat exchangers, dryers). 8. Let your body acclimatise to the heat.

Training

Management and workers should be trained to identify the risks of heat stress associated with their work, what symptoms to look out for, safe working practices to avoid or mitigate the effects and emergency procedures for dealing with heat stress. Safety ‘n Action have put together a training course on Hazard and Risk Management which may benefit your company.

Monitor Health

As with other risks that may affect the health and safety of workers, it may be necessary to monitor workers exposed to the risk of heat stress. Where necessary, you should seek advice from occupational health professionals with a good working knowledge of the risks associated with working in heat stress situations.

If you are working in the heat and you start to sweat, start to worry.
If you are working in the heat and you stop sweating, really start to worry!

Source: https://www.safetynaction.co.nz/avoiding-heat-stress-heat-induced-disorders/

Download the Bollards infographic here. 

Ever wondered what the logistics industry will look like in the next 5 - 10 years?
PwC recently released a report “Shifting Patters: The Future of the Logistics Industry.”

PwC identified four key areas of disruption that will have the largest effect on how the sector will look; new customer expectations, new technology,
and new business models and new market entrants.

Logistics companies are facing an era of unprecedented change as digitisation takes hold and customer expectations evolve. New technologies are enabling greater efficiency and more collaborative operating models; they’re also re-shaping the marketplace in ways that are only just beginning to become apparent. New entrants, whether they be start-ups or the industry’s own customers and suppliers, are also shaking up the sector. 

Consumer Expectations

With things moving faster than ever individuals and businesses expect to get goods faster, more flexibly, and ideally at low or no delivery cost. Manufacturing is becoming 

more and more customized, which in turn is good for customers but hard work for the logistics industry. Add it all up and the sector is under acute and growing pressure to
deliver a better service at an ever lower cost.

New Technologies

The intelligent use of technology, from data analytics, to automation, to the ‘Physical Internet’ is how these new expectations will be met. This promises lower costs, improved efficiency,
and the opportunity to make genuine breakthroughs in the way the industry works. But ‘digital fitness’ is a challenge for the sector, which is currently lagging many of its customers in this respect.

New Business Models

The dominant theme in this scenario is the growth of collaborative working, which allows the current market leaders to retain their dominance. This could for example see a greater use
of ‘Physical Internet’ solutions, based on a move towards more standardized shipment sizes, labeling and systems.

The sector will see Uber-style approaches to last-mile delivery, to more formal JVs and partnerships at corporate level, the whole sector is redefining collaboration. But much of this is
hampered by inconsistencies in everything like shipment sizes, processes or IT systems.

Platform technology has given rise to new business models, often driven by start-ups that enter the logistics industry. New ‘sharing’ business models could have as much of an impact on the sector as new technology. And the industry’s current customers and  suppliers may end up being the biggest new entrants. 

New Entrants

Some of the sector’s own customers are starting up logistics operations of their own, and new entrants to the industry are finding ways to carve out the more lucrative elements of the value
chainby exploiting digital technology. New entrants in the form of startups make a bigger impact. The most challenging and costly last mile of delivery, in particular, becomes more
fragmented, exploiting new technologies like platform and crowd-sharing solutions. These start-ups collaborate with incumbents and complement their service offers.

As a result of these four disrupters, PwC predicts what they call complex competition. The competitive set evolves in a different direction, as large industrial or retail customers
and suppliers become players in the logistics market themselves, not just managing their own logistics but turning that expertise into a profitable business model. Scale matters: and finally,
in this scenario, the current market leaders compete for a dominant market position by acquiring smaller players, achieving scale through consolidation, and innovation through the acquisition of smaller entrepreneurial start-ups.

Source: http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/transportation-logistics/publications/the-future-of-the-logistics-industry.html

DOWNLOAD OUR STRESS & FATIGUE GUIDE NOW!

Stress and fatigue can create safety hazards in the workplace, particularly in safety-critical or safety-sensitive jobs and are especially critical where other workers of members of the public may be affected.

Managers need to be able to recognise stress and fatigue when it develops in their employees and leads to impairment, and should have the training and systems to make sure they can recognise impairment and its potential causes, and act to prevent problems.

DOWNLOAD OUR PURCHASING GUIDE NOW!

Keeping your warehouse flooring clean and tidy requires special equipment and some regimented cleaning procedures. When the trucks start moving and the forklifts start lifting, there’s barely any time for cleaning in a busy warehouse. Most companies forget about the important cleaning jobs such as the floor, the aisles, and the unloading dock.

Most larger industrial styled companies use a large range of cleaning methods such as floor scrubbers, floor cleaning chemicals, floor sweepers and other tools to facilitate a fast and efficient cleaning process. The problem can be that the variety of flooring substrates are tricky to clean. An example is tiles, screen walls, interior walls, poised ceilings, lighting, furniture and window cleaning.

Why is Cleaning the Floor Important for Health and Safety in Big Commercial Warehouses?

Employers are required by the Health and Safety act to make sure the health and safety of all workers is as good as it can be. This means ensuring cleaning regimes are documented and all staff know when the machines will be operating and where they will be in the warehouse. A floor scrubber or floor sweeper have a considerable weight in them and although they move relatively slowly they still can be dangerous to a foot or by crushing someone if the driver does not see them.
Coupled with that there are forklifts in warehouses and these do travel fast.

Employees actions require that the hazards should be identified and noted. This includes taking steps to manage slip and trip risks.

Slips along with trips are the main frequent origin of major injuries at jobs. About 90% of these are broken bones and minor injuries. The expenses to business are considerable and there is immeasurable human charge and pain to those hurt. Floor cleaning is important to avoid causing slip and trip accidents, both to cleaning personnel as well as others.

The most efficient approach is to make sure that slips and trips hazards are planned out of a structure. Consulting with the cleaners if the cleaning of the warehouse is outsourced can offer important information on the appropriateness of the planned usage of cleaning tools.

Three Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Floor Sweeper

Your Floor Sweeper Does Not Work Consistently.

It’s frustrating to deal with a floor sweeper that does not work well on a consistent basis. At times, your sweeper works with no problems, but on other occasions, it’s difficult to turn on. Perhaps your floor sweeper shuts down when you’re in the middle of cleaning your floors or drops debris and dirt while it’s being used.

These problems can be the result of many different issues, but you simply cannot work efficiently with a floor sweeper that doesn’t provide a high level of service every time you use it.

Your Floors Still Look Dirty After a Cleaning.

A quality floor sweeper should do a great job cleaning your floors during each usage. If your floor still feels dusty or looks dirty after a cleaning, your sweeper is not working properly. Even worse, a faulty sweeper can actually cause damage to your flooring.

Cleaning Your Floors Is Taking Longer and Longer.

In business, time is money. You want your cleaning staff to be able to clean your spaces as quickly as possible. However, you still want to maintain a high level of quality. Dirty floors don’t give a favorable impression of your business to your current customers or potential clients.

When a floor sweeper is not working efficiently, it can take twice as long to complete your cleaning tasks. The operator should not have to clean the same areas of the floor over and over to get the desired results. Instead, an efficient floor sweeper will get the job done right the first time, every time. This allows your cleaning staff to get the job done right without any wasted time or effort.

If you are experiencing any of these problems on a regular basis, it’s likely time for a new floor sweeper.

Any business with large-scale storage and shipping needs requires cost-effective solutions. While it is possible to approach and resolve these matters separately, businesses can save a good deal of money if they can use the same product to address both aspects of their business. Box pallet storage containers are the ideal products to use for both storing and shipping bulk items. Collapsible box pallets are even more advantageous, reducing costs and making a business even more efficient.

Buying collapsible box pallets can be a challenge, though. Consumers should understand a few important things about these items, such as what a box pallet is and exactly what a collapsible one’s advantages are.

Important Points About Collapsible Box pallet Storage Containers

Any business that needs to store and ship large quantities of goods can benefit from using collapsible pallet storage containers. Understanding what a box pallet is and what the advantages of using a collapsible one are helps consumers to realize that these products can be valuable to their businesses and are often worth the added expense that is associated with them.

What Is a Box pallet?

A box pallet is a container that is used to store and ship products. The bottom of a box pallet has the same dimensions as a pallet does, which is a flat platform on which a product sits. Pallet sizes are standardized with a couple different sizes being available. They are designed to fit well onto forklifts, making for easy loading and unloading when products are shipping. Placing a pallet beneath a product ensures that the forklift will not damage the product.

Many products do not fit neatly onto pallets and pallets are often unusable for groups of smaller products. The solution to this is to use a bin with four walls into which the products can fit. The bottom of the bin has the same length and the same width as one of the pallet standards does, enabling a forklift to handle the entire bin. Because the length and width of these bins are the same as those of pallets, they are called box pallets.

Why Use a Collapsible Box pallet Storage Container?

There are numerous advantages to using box pallets over other types of storage containers and a few advantages to using collapsible box pallets specifically. Collapsible box pallets have walls that fold down and lay flat on the base of the bin. Benefits of these box pallets regarding storage space, packing and shipping costs, reuse, transportability, and product security can save a business significant amounts of money and can help the business to run more efficiently.

Storage Space

The primary benefit of having box pallets that collapse is that they create more efficient storage space. They take up less space when they are collapsed, freeing up storage space for other items when the box pallets are not in use. A user can easily fold the walls of the box pallet down by releasing latches and can tuck the folded up bins away until they are needed.

Packing and Shipping Costs

Box pallets in general are protective containers that often preclude the need to find packing solutions that adequately safeguard products. Their rigid materials are capable of keeping products safe on long and bumpy journeys. Collapsible box pallets offer the added bonus of reducing return shipping costs. The receiver can fold the bins up to take up less space for the return journey, lowering shipping company rates. Collapsible box pallets can therefore reduce both packing and shipping costs.

Reuse

Receivers being able to return collapsible box pallets highlights is another advantage, in that they are reusable. Wooden and corrugated containers are perishable and are subject to damage that significantly diminishes their reusability. Collapsible box pallets are very durable, helping to reduce the cost of purchasing new storage containers on a regular basis.

Transportability

As mentioned above, box pallets are designed to have the same length and width of pallets, making it easy to move the bins with forklifts. Some collapsible bins have a square base with a four-way forklift entry while others feature a rectangular base with a two-way forklift entry. Smaller collapsible box pallets have handles, making for easier manual transportation of the bins and the products that they contain.

Product Security

The walls of a collapsible bin offer good protection for products when the walls are in the up position. Even though the walls are collapsible, latches are usually quite strong, and the walls do not collapse unless a user releases the latches. The sturdy walls ensure that the box pallet maintains its shape and that the products inside maintain their integrity.

Features of Collapsible Box pallet Storage Containers

There are a few important features, including size, material, doors, walls, and lids, that consumers should pay attention to when shopping for collapsible box pallet storage containers. These features determine how well a collapsible box pallet suits a consumer’s storage and shipping needs.

Size

The "footprint," or length and width, of a collapsible box pallet is one aspect of its size, and wall height is the other. These dimensions can influence which types of products are suitable for a collapsible box pallet, so it is important to compare product dimensions with the dimensions of the bin in order to maximize the bin’s storage capability.

Material

Box pallets can be made from wood, from plastic, or from metal, but collapsible box pallets are usually made from plastic or from metal. Most collapsible box pallets are made from plastic, though. Plastic is lightweight, durable, and odorless, making it ideal for storing and shipping. Metal and wood can both be hazardous when they become damaged, with sharp points possibly protruding.

Doors

One beneficial feature to have on a collapsible box pallet is at least one door. This is built into one of the bin’s walls, and it gives users access to the goods inside, making both packing and unpacking a large pallet easier. The door usually folds back outward from the top of the bind, with some collapsible bins having two doors. There is also the option for a bulk door that opens along the lower side of the wall.

Walls

It is possible to buy collapsible box pallets with interlocking walls. This enables walls to be stacked on top of one another to create deeper box pallets. The walls of a collapsible box pallet may also be perforated or solid. The former option allows for the viewing of products inside the bin while the latter enhances the security of the products by preventing unwanted objects from entering through the pallet walls.

Lids

A lid is good feature for a collapsible box pallet to possess because it helps to protect the items inside. However, they do make bins slightly less space-efficient. Lids are often sold separately from collapsible box pallets, so it is possible to add one later if a consumer determines that it is necessary.

Source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/The-Advantages-of-Collapsible-Pallet-Bin-Storage-Containers-/10000000177634466/g.html

With the rise in Health & Safety in New Zealand today it is important to stay up to date with the latest news and technologies to keep up to date with legeslative changes and keepign up to date.

There are many Health & Safety apps on the market today so we have narrowed it down to help you out. 

SAFELY is a powerful Safety Management App, customised to Kiwi industries. Our software helps ensure every area of your business is compliant with health and safety legislation and industry best practice.

Starting at $50+gst per month

Pro's 

1. Create meetings and record who attended, what was discussed and set alerts to ensure actions are completed on time.​
2. Identify the most serious hazards and measure the risk making them easy to correctly manage and review.
3. Upload and manage your company records, including insurance, consents and permits. Easily track expiry dates.​

Use the PeopleSafe Health and Safety Policy to make your commitment to following our simple processes to find and manage your risks. Your team can download the mobile app and start having conversations and communicating safety events today. 

$50+gst per month

Pro's 

1. Easily record Safety Stories that happen to staff
2. Simply record the decisions you make about those stories
3. Communicate changes or updates quickly without paper

Get Home Safe provides welcome reassurance during any activity where you feel vulnerable about your personal safety. Get Home Safe will check up on you throughout your chosen activity, to make sure you have got home safely!

Request a Trial 

Pro's 

1. Will proactively alert you if one of your lone workers is potentially in need of assistance

2. Has enough information on hand to make a quick, informed and measured decision about what steps to take next

3. Is simple, quick, easy for everybody to use

The system is available for free to all Small to Medium sized businesses in New Zealand. The app allows users to report the key safety messages to their company, Incidents, Near Misses, Good Practice and Suggestions in real time!

FREE

Pro's 

1. The system makes your workers more efficient, not just in the field, but in understanding the real safety issues in your business
2. Reports Incidents,Near Miss,Good Practice and Suggestionsdirect from thier phone or tablet.
3. Shows the reports in a Map viewer, Interprets the reports in Charts and lets you access reports in Real time

Blerter Core enables and empowers your wider workforce (including contractors) to take a proactive role in health and safety while giving health and safety managers more control, faster ways of communication and a simple way to capture and monitor all health and safety activities.

The result is a more engaged and more productive workforce.

Starting at $5 per user

Pro's 

1. Ensure everyone always has the latest, most up-to-date health & safety information.​
2. Identify potential risks and near misses before incidents happen. 
3. Include all your contractors in your health & safety efforts to ensure you meet your duty of care​

The St John NZ CPR mobile app teaches the life saving skills of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR. This life-saving app is available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV, along with Android and Windows Phone handsets.

FREE

Storing hazardous substances safely is an important part of protecting you and your staff.

Decanting

It’s best to keep your hazardous substances in the containers they are bought in. However, many businesses purchase hazardous substances in drums or large containers and then decant smaller amounts of the substance into other containers for use. While this may seem like a simple task, it needs to be done safely to avoid accidents. 

Incompatibles

Not all hazardous substances can be stored together safely. Different types of substances can cause a fire or explosion if they come into contact with each other. These substances are often described as “incompatible” and it’s important that they are stored separately to prevent the substances from mixing if a leak or spill were to occur. The safety data sheet for a hazardous substance will tell you which substances and materials it should be kept away from, but the box below provides some general guidance.

Store Only What You Need

Keep the amount of hazardous substances you store to a minimum. This will make it easier to manage what you have and may reduce your compliance needs and costs.

Signs

Depending on the types and amounts of hazardous substances you have, you may need signs to warn people that hazardous substances are present. The signs should tell people about the hazards of the substances and the precautions and emergency actions to take.

Be Prepared For A Spill

Your workplace needs measures in place to control any hazardous substance spill or leak. For small spills, a spill kit might be sufficient to contain and clean up the spill. If you have large amounts of hazardous substances you are likely to need secondary containment also known as bunding.

Put A Lid On It!

Keep lids on your hazardous substance containers to keep the vapours inside. This stops the fumes and vapours from contaminating the air that you and your staff breathe. Keeping the lid firmly on the container also reduces the chance of a spill if the container were to fall over.

Gas Cylinders

If your business stores gas cylinders, it’s important that you handle and store them carefully to make sure that the cylinder isn’t damaged. If a cylinder is weakened, the contents of the cylinder can explode. Empty or near-empty cylinders should also be handled carefully

Worksafe New Zealand, New Zealand Government and Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment have put together a Hazardous Substance Toolbox to help you manage your hazardous Substances. 

You can download their practical guide here or visit hazardoussubstances.govt.nz

1. What Are Anti Fatigue Floor Mats?

These mats are specially fabricated to offer a gamut of health advantages to people who use them. The primarily created for people who stand for long periods of time on a consistent basis such as employees in processing lines, factory workers and just to mention a few. From receptionists to bartenders, to hairdressers and also the obvious industrial and factory jobs, these mats will provide the best health solution in a time of need. Employers should concern and touched when a worker is standing on a hard floor for longer than forty minutes. The blood will start to constrict after this time which can lead to cramps along with a plethora of other stressful occurrences. If you are looking for the best way to combat the pain and stress attached with long-standing jobs, anti-fatigue mats remain the perfect solution.

2. What Are The Anti Fatigue Floor Mats Made Of?

The materials used in designing anti-fatigue mats are dependent on the usage and the place where it resides. There will be ergonomic wonders when matching the material to the environment of these mats. With this simple phenomenon, the materials used in the design of anti-stress mats are highly categorized. Foam anti-fatigue mat is one of the comprehensive categories to deal with in this paragraph. The category is the most common type of anti-stress mats for home use. They are usually between one-quarter inch and three-quarter inch thick. They provide both moderate anti-fatigue feature and support.

In most cases, these categories of mats are designed with denser foam rather than cushy material. Nevertheless, a thin cushy mat will create a great impact when standing on concrete or porcelain tile. If the mat will be used in any source of water such as shower or sink ensure it is anti-slip. These mats can be embossed and printed and will provide a variety of aesthetic alternatives.

3. Why Use Anti Fatigue Floor Mats?

An ergonomic mat is worth your investment when it comes to workplace flooring. Flooring, where employees stand for prolonged periods can lead to several health disadvantages. These mats are excellent products designed to help enhance the well-being of employees who stand for the majority of their working hours.The truth is that ergonomic mats are simply not a fad. They have a lot of benefits within the work environment. You are risking potential health issues without the use of these ergonomic mats to your workplace or yourself. Your body will become fatigued after standing for more than forty minutes and this is a short-term impact.

Fatigue or stress will eventually cause a lack of concentration. This is the last thing you will ever want to occur in your workplace. The lack of concentration reduces productivity. For instance, when a worker is operating heavy-duty machinery and lacks focus, it can lead to disastrous negations. Short-term problems are as well back pain, swelling of joints and bad posture. Poor blood circulation and varicose vein issues are long-term results of standing for prolonged periods. Ergonomic mats remain a great solution to boost concentration and reduce health risks. There is a gamut of anti fatigue mats and each of them functions for different applications. Ergonomic mats used at home are designed of memory foam or gel and can be purchased on the high street.

4. When To Use Anti Fatigue Floor Mats?

Without any plagiarism of facts, ergonomic mats should be used if you plan to stand for more than forty minutes while working. If you are engaged in a standing job that lasts for several hours, it is recommended to purchase an anti fatigue floor mat. For people who often experience frequent joint pain or lower back complications, ergonomic mats will help to resolve the problem quickly. In a nutshell, if you are planning to perform an activity while standing for longer periods of time, it is expedient to make use of an ergonomic mat. It is environmentally friendly and will help you overcome dangerous or severe health complications.

5. How Do Anti Fatigue Floor Mat Work?

When you stand for periods of time on hard floor platforms it can cause to physical fatigue and remains uncomfortable. Your leg muscles will become constricted and totally static as they work for a long time to keep you in an upright position. When this occurs, blood circulation will be highly minimized causing discomfort and pain. In this condition, your heart will be coerced to function harder to pump blood through the static areas.

In fact, your body will run out of energy in the entire process of standing for a long period of time on hard floor surfaces. When you stand on an ergonomic mat, your muscles will subtly expand and contract as you adjust to the flexibility of the mat. The muscle motion will help to boost the amount of oxygen reaching the heart and as well increase blood-flow. Nevertheless, you will discover that stress is highly minimized. This is exactly how ergonomic mats work for people using them. These mats are designed from a plethora of materials. The primary materials are closed cell PVC, nitrile, and rubber.

Anti fatigue mats are fabricated in a way that enforces your body to make frequent adjustments. It will help enhance weight distribution and blood supply. The weight distribution will help get rid of the amount of swelling and relieve the joints that may be caused by standing for longer periods without any support.

The simple mechanism of operation with an ergonomic mat is cascaded on blood flow and supply. It affected the heart and the blood pumping system of the user. If these mats are not used in a time of need, you may end up spend thousands of dollars on your health condition. On this note, you should play safe and maintain your well-being by making use of anti fatigue floor mats, time and again.

6. How Long Do Anti Fatigue Floor Mats Last?/How Often Should Anti Fatigue Mats Be Replaced?

The lifespan of ergonomic mats can vary dramatically depending on a couple of factors. It can be found in the amount of foot traffic, the number of shifts per day, caustic fluids or chemicals, exposure to oils, excessive temperatures, maintenance schedule, cleaning, and compound.

Most ergonomic mats are designed to last over a period of one year or more. Since much maintenance may not be required, you can use your anti fatigue mat for several years with a guarantee. Another important thing to know is that the durability of ergonomic mats comes along with the material used during production. Floor mats designed from closed cell PVC may last longer than other products on the market if properly used.

Some people may be confused when it comes to replacing their ergonomic mats. Well, replacing these mats should not cause any problem. Immediately you notice that the primary purpose of purchasing the floor mat is not met, it is time to make a replacement. It implies that is you are unable to change the mat at its due date, then be prepared to experience some difficult times.

To play safe, it is an excellent idea to replace ergonomic mats when they can no longer offer the benefits for which they are purchased. It will help you maintain your health condition subtly and as well save money in the long run. In fact, when the mat starts showing any sign of reduced performance, you can quickly make a change. PVC sponge’s modes can last for 6-12 months. Molded vinyl floor mats can last for 1-3 years. SpongeCote ergonomic mats can last for about 3-5 years. Urethane mats are the best and can last for five years or more.

7. How To Clean Anti Fatigue Floor Mat?

Ergonomic mats should get planning cleaning for better results. Since they are easily maintained, you will not need tons of dollars to clean your mats. To keep your mats functioning effectively and looking great there are certain instructions to follow. Just in the same way you maintain your carpet, these mats can as well be maintained and cleaned equally. You can shampoo them when dirt piles up and apply vacuuming.

PVC Floor And Molded Safety Mats: Use a high-pressure host for drainage mat or wet area. Apply hot water to get rid of oils from the mats. These oils can cause slip hazards. Use a mild detergent or soap with a pH between 4-9 for better results. Do not make use of degreasers, steam or caustic chemicals. Do not mechanically scrubs or machine wash your mats.

PVC Sponge, SpongeCote And Urethane Mats: Dry-mop the surface or sweep dry area frequently. You can wet mop with mild detergent or soap. Make use of a detergent with 4-9 pH value for better results.

Runner Floor Mats: You can simply vacuum or sweep the surface with a broom.

Ergonomic ESD Mats: It is crucial to dry-mop or sweep the surface frequently when cleaning ESD floor mats. You can wipe off or wet-mop with a static control solution or mild soap that will not leave any residue on the ESD mats. It will enable your mat to function effectively.

Entrance And Carpet Mats: Users can easily take them outside the house and shake properly to get rid of excess debris and dirt. If the condition is tough, you can make use of a hose to wash the dirt off. Before bringing in the mats into the room, ensure that they are dry. It will help get rid of any odor that you may perceive while using the mat.

8. How To Choose Anti Fatigue Floor Mat?

When it comes to selecting an ergonomic floor mat some people often get it wrong. The below tips should be kept in mind:

• You should always take the size of the mat into consideration before buying one.
• The type of work that the mat will perform is another great question to ask.
• Remember that the lifespan or longevity of the mat will help you save money. On this note, it is an excellent idea to check the lifespan of the product.
• Availability and portability should not be left out of the equation when planning to buy an ergonomic floor mat.
• Being subjected to any wheeled carts will help you make the best decision on the type of anti fatigue floor mats to purchase.
• Make a quick decision if the mat will be used for the preparation of your food area.
• The maintenance and cleaning factors will also play a great role when searching for the right ergonomic floor mats.
• Above all, do not break the bank because you want to buy an anti fatigue mat.

9. Where Can I Buy Anti Fatigue Floor Mats?

We stock a large range of industrial matting for your workplace. If you are looking for anything from anti-fatigue matting to entrance matting we can help. You can find our range of products here or give us a call on 09 275 5580

Source : http://www.sheep-mats.com/9-frequently-asked-questions-anti-fatigue-floor-mats-know/

A commercial entrance matting system helps businesses of all kinds provide a safer, healthier and more attractive environment for their employees, customers, patients, students, tenants, guests and visitors.  
From indoor air quality improvement to interior flooring protection, there are many features and details of a proper entrance matting system to consider. 
However, I have curbed my matting enthusiasm to discuss mostly just the benefits.

Safety

Entrance matting systems consists of a variety of products, each with a specific job, scraping off dirt, removing debris & moisture, & drying any moisture on the bottom of shoes before reaching the interior flooring.  
All of the products work together to improve safety and reduce the risk of liability from potential slip and fall accidents.  
Inferior matting products curl at the edges or slide on the floor which can result in a tripping hazard and work against the safety benefit.  
Durable matting products with quality backing and edging will ensure that mats remain flat and securely in place.

Interior Flooring Protection

Terrazzo, ceramic tile, marble, granite, and hardwood are popular floor coverings used in commercial buildings and a valuable investment for building owners and managers.
Tracked in dirt and moisture can cause scratches, scuff marks and staining on interior flooring surfaces. 
Entrance matting can eliminate damaging particles from the bottoms of shoes before reaching interior flooring and will help prolong its new appearance.

Reduce Interior Maintenance

Studies have shown that 80% and more of the dirt and debris in a building are tracked in on the bottoms of shoes.  
With just 16 linear feet of matting, 75% of dirt, dust and moisture can be contained at the entrance to help reduce interior maintenance. 
If space allows, installing 30 linear feet of matting will ensure that each foot makes contact with the matting approximately 6 times to remove nearly all of the dirt. 
This allows for most of the cleaning to occur in one convenient location and less dusting, mopping and vacuuming around the building

Clean First Impressions

Choosing the right mix of products will influence the effectiveness of the entrance system and the first impression of your building.  
Foot grille products are best for scraping off dirt and keeping it out plain view for a clean image at the entrance. 
Some fiber matting products are better than others at hiding the dirt but even when it can’t be seen, daily vacuuming of commercial entrance matting is important to make room to capture more dirt.

Indoor Air Quality

People track in all sorts of dirt, pesticides, chemicals and other pollutants on their shoes. 
An entrance system that is at least 10 linear feet will reduce exposure to hazardous particulates and chemical pollutants. 
Keep in mind 30 linear feet is the recommended amount of matting for the best results and will help maximize the impact it will have on improved indoor air quality.

Source: http://matsinc.com/blog/architect-designer-news/5-most-important-reasons-for-entrance-matting

 Download the 10 Essential Steps to Traffic Management for your workplace. 

Moving vehicles and equipment on manufacturing sites can be fatal if not used correctly and safely. Known as mobile plant, they have the potential to cause serious injury or kill someone by striking them or colliding with other vehicles or equipment. Examples of mobile plant could include forklifts, delivery trucks and other light vehicles.

How can traffic hazards in the workplace be managed?

As an employer, you have a duty to eliminate, isolate, or minimise hazards to your employees. To manage traffic hazards at the workplace consider three main areas:

   -  Safe site
   -  Safe vehicle
   -  Safe driver.

Safe site

The layout and traffic flow of a workplace is important in keeping people and plant safe as they move around. Consider:

   -  One way systems.
   -  Well marked road/pedestrian areas.
   -  Training and inductions for staff and visitors on pedestrian areas and traffic flows.
   -  Mirrors on blind spots.
   -  Separate entrances for people and plant.
   -  Designated crossing points.
   -  Sufficient lighting.
   -  Speed management (bumps, signage).

These can be of a temporary or permanent nature depending on the site. For example, a small manufacturing site could use pedestrian walkways with crossing points, and temporary barriers when trucks are loading/unloading.

Also assess what other activities are taking place around the workplace, and ways these can be managed. For example, if reversing, loading/unloading, and manoeuvring with loads is taking place, consider:

   -  Reversing/turn-around areas.
   -  Designated loading/unloading areas.
   -  A designated safe area for drivers (while loading/unloading).
   -  Spotters to assist vehicle positioning.

Physical barrier segregate plant and pedestrian areas. For more information on our barrier systems go to Safety Systems or go to www.dexsafe.com 

Safe vehicle

Vehicles used in a workplace must be safe for the intended use.

Consider:

   -  The design specification of the vehicle.
   -  The loading/capacity of the vehicle.
   -  Safe means of access and egress from vehicle cab or trailer unit.
   -  Fuel source – for example, if used inside, an electric fork lift may be safer than an LPG fuelled fork lift.
   -  Visibility – for example, rotating lights, running lights, mirrors, reversing alarms/cameras.
   -  Protective structures – for example, falling object protection, roll protection.
   -  Seat belts – for example, older fork lifts may need to have a seat belt retro-fitted.

Vehicle maintenance is also important. You must make sure that vehicles systems/safety controls are working. Vehicles should be maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and by a competent person.

Consider:

   -  Pre-start checks (kept and logged with vehicle records).
   -  Regular maintenance inspections.
   -  Monitoring/auditing checks and inspections to make sure they are being completed and that remedial work is fixed.

Designated driver safe area

Safe driver

Drivers of vehicles must be trained and competent to operate the vehicle safely.

Drivers with less experience need to be supervised and monitored to ensure they are operating the vehicle safely. Consider:

   -  Initial and refresher training for drivers by competent persons/providers.
   -  Driving observations, with feedback on driving habits.
   -  Motion sensors/equipment monitors that log driver behaviour.
   -  Guidance material on specific vehicle training eg ACOP for training operators and instructors of powered industrial lift trucks.
   -  Training records for each driver.
   -  Medical checks to ensure drivers are fit to operate vehicles (being aware of medical issues).
   -  Drug and alcohol policy and checks.

Barriers and floor markings indicate designated loading area

 Download our Traffic Management Checklist Now

To find out more information 

WorkSafe New Zealand

Vehicles at work (HSE UK)

General guide for workplace traffic management (Safe Work Australia)

 Source: http://manufacturing.worksafe.govt.nz/fact-sheets/workplace-traffic-management/

DOWNLOAD OUR SAFETY GUIDE NOW!

The layout of a warehouse may need to be changed to accommodate new product lines or to add greater flexibility to the warehouse operations. When a new warehouse layout is proposed a detailed planning process should be followed to ensure the success of the project. The planning process should include the following six steps.

Define Objectives

When deciding on the layout for a warehouse, the objectives should clearly be defined. The objectives should be aligned with the overall warehousing strategy of the company. Objectives can be defined at a high level such as to reduce warehousing costs or to provide maximum customer service. Equally, the objectives can be more specific, such as maximizing warehousing space, providing maximum flexibility in the warehouse, or increasing warehousing efficiency without increasing resources.

Collect Information

The specific information of the proposed warehouse should be collected. This includes the specifications of the warehouse from the architectural drawings that can affect storage and material handling. The details should include a physical map of the warehouse space to show columns, doors, height restrictions, docks and storage racks. External features that can affect the receiving, storage and shipment of materials should also be noted.

Analysis

After the specific information about the warehouse has been collected the analysis can commence with respect to the objectives that have been defined for the warehouse layout. The analysis should determine if the overall objectives can be met and if not how the objectives can be modified. At this point in the planning process, decisions need to be made by warehouse management to determine what actions need to be taken if the overall objectives cannot be met or will need substantial changes.

If the objectives can be met based on the analysis of the information, the detailed implementation plan can be created.

Create Plan

The detailed implementation plan should show all the steps that are required to create the warehouse layout. The objectives and the analysis of the information gathered should be used in creating the plan. The plan should first be at a high level showing the major tasks and then each of those should be sub-divided into the individual tasks that are required. Each task should be reviewed and an allocated the appropriate resources, as the allocation of estimated time required to complete the task. The plan should indicate when a task is required to start and finish based on the availability of resources, either internal or outside contractors, or if it is dependent on another task. The plan should be checked to ensure that all dependencies have been correctly linked. Once the plan has been created it should be checked to see if the timeline is attainable and if there are enough resources are available. 

 Download our Warehouse Template to help design your new warehouse. 

Implementation

Sometimes the warehouse layout that is implemented is not the one that is in the plan. This can occur due to unrealistic timelines in the plan, lack of resources, unavailability of outside contractors or poor analysis of the information that was gathered. To ensure that the plan for the warehouse layout is achieved the implementation should be timed so that there is little or no movements of materials in the warehouse. An ideal time for this would be during a plant shutdown or at a weekend if the implementation was of a smaller size. However in modern warehouses, this is not always possible so often additional warehouse resources are needed to keep shipping products during the implementation. If this is the case then this will need to be factored into the plan. The implementation should ensure that all changes made in the warehouse are replicated in the warehouse management system that is operated so that each item can be found. A physical inventory of the products in the warehouse after implementation should be carried out to ensure that the system accurately reflects the warehouse.

Post Implementation

After the layout has been implemented, there should be a series of checks to ensure that the layout is exactly as defined by the approved drawings. Every item should be stored according to the overall plan and this should be checked to ensure the layout is correct. If there are errors, this could lead to picking errors or lost material within the warehouse. Shipping could be disrupted if the warehouse systems have not been updated accurately with the correct layout information or if items have been stored in the wrong locations. For a period of time after the new layout has been implemented, regular checks should be made to ensure that the layout is working and that there are no operational problems that have occurred due to the new layout.

 For more information download 7 Ways to Organise Your Warehouse. 

Source: https://www.thebalance.com/planning-your-warehouse-layout-2221065

Need a bit more help? Download our information sheet to stay up to date with ladder safety.

Dexters stock a range of ladders from step ladders to platform ladders and we are happy to help you with all your safety needs.

Scissor lifts are an excellent choice when workers or materials need to be raised above ground level, without the obstructions caused by overhead cranes or machinery that lifts the item from its side (such as forklifts). With a scissor lift, the entire lifting mechanism is contained beneath the lift platform or table, providing lifting capability with a minimal footprint.

A scissor lifts power comes from hydraulic cylinders. This provides abundant force to raise the load on the platform. The "scissors" are crossing struts with hinge pins in the middle and at the ends. These provide stability for the platform. Shafts between the struts keep the two sets of scissors separated at a fixed distance, preventing sideways collapse.

Depending on the lifting height, a single pair of scissors may be used or multiple pairs that are stacked one above the other. Since the lift becomes more unstable the greater the scissors are extended, manufacturers limit the amount of extension that any one pair of scissors can perform. This is most easily controlled by limiting the stroke of the hydraulic cylinder.

Parts of a Scissor Lift

While there are numerous types of scissor lifts, they all have a common design. Many of the same types of parts will be encountered on almost all scissor lifts.

Strut

The diagonal arms of the scissors are called struts. They are always in pairs, which cross in the center. A pair of struts will always have a matching pair opposite it, on the other side of the lift.

Shafts

The rods that separate the struts are called the shafts. These are located at both ends of each strut, forming the "hinge" of the scissors.

Arm Pin

The arm pin is the hinge pin that connects the strut to the shaft. This must allow for some rotational movement as the lift raises, while at the same time retaining rigidity to prevent wobble of the platform.

Slideway

One side of the scissors will be fixed in place, but the other must move as the lift raises. This is accomplished on a track, referred to as the slideway. There are slideways on the base and on the bottom of the platform.

Hydraulic Cylinder

The lifting power of a scissor lift comes from hydraulic cylinders. Extension of the cylinder rod raises the lift. As a safety measure, in the case of power loss, the cylinder will not collapse.

Hydraulic Power Pack

All scissors lifts are hydraulically powered. The hydraulic power pack consists of a motor driven hydraulic pump, which provides the hydraulic fluid to power the hydraulic cylinders. This may be battery powered or require connection to an electrical source.

Legs

Scissor lifts which are intended for high reach will often have outrigger legs for added stability. These legs are deployed and pressed into the ground before the lift is raised.

Bellows

Some lift tables come equipped with bellows to cover the working components of the lift. This is a safety feature, done to prevent the accidental pinching or severing of fingers and toes from getting them trapped between the struts.

Selecting a Scissor Lift

More than anything, scissor lifts are selected based on their intended use. This use will determine the capacity and style of the lift, along with the quality level required and any optional features which might be needed.

Before shopping for a scissor lift, it is important to fully examine and analyze the intended use for it. In this process, a list of minimum specifications should be developed, which will be used in the process of qualifying or eliminating contenders from the selection process. Call one of our sales team at Dexters NZ and we can help you decide which scissor lift is the best option for you.

Some of the characteristics which must be considered include:

Mobility

Decide whether the scissor lift is going to be used in a fixed location, such as to hold up an assembly on a production line, or if it needs to be mobile, such as for maintenance or construction.

Load

Decide how much weight the lift will need to handle. The limiting factor is usually the size of the hydraulic cylinders. The struts will be designed with a safety factor (to carry more weight than the hydraulics can lift).

Load Centering

Scissors lifts are designed to have the load's center of gravity in the center of the lift; any more than 30 percent offset can cause premature wearing of the lift. This premature wear can be offset by using a lift with a higher weight capacity than the intended load. A lift with a 50 percent greater weight capacity will be able to handle an offset load, without damage.

Lift Height

Figure the maximum height to which a load will need to be lifted. Lifts can be used to raise a load to only a portion of this height, without problem.

Folded Height

Figure out how tall the lift is in its collapsed state. When buying a lift for maintenance, it may need to be able to fit through a doorway. When used as a means of raising workpieces on an assembly line, the folded height must accommodate easy loading of the parts to be worked on.

Duty Cycle

Most scissors lifts are not designed for a rapid duty cycle, but rather to lift their load less than 20 times per hour.

Specialty Application Scissor Lifts

Although the general design of a scissor lift is consistent, the applications in which the lift is used will often require special features or options. Scissor lifts which meet these various applications are readily available on the market; however, it is important to think of what is needed, before making a selection.

Determining the Quality of a Scissor Lift

Whenever working with a scissor lift, safety is a major concern. This is an important consideration when choosing a scissor lift. The quality of the material and workmanship in the lift will determine its safety. A few key components to review include:

• Bearings: All scissor lifts should have ball-bearing or roller bearing construction, especially lifts with high weight capacities. Sleeve bearings are a sign of a lower quality construction. The bearings should also be fully sealed or have lube points.
• Material thickness: This is one of the first places where manufacturers of low-cost lifts try to save money. Thinner material can reduce service life.
• Hydraulic cylinder seals: The first point of failure on any scissor lift is usually oil leaks at the hydraulic cylinder seals. Lower quality cylinders are likely to leak sooner than high quality ones.
• Motor size: When comparing various lifts, compare the motor size in the hydraulic power pack. A higher horsepower rating will indicate a higher quality lift. This is another place where manufacturers of low cost lifts attempt to save money.

As always, manufacturers of high-quality scissors lifts will have a good reputation. By buying name brand products, you are more assured of a higher quality scissors lift. While a low-cost lift may very well meet your needs, specifying a lift which provides a greater safety margin helps prevent any safety issues.

For more information on our range of Scissor Lift Tables go to our scissor lift tables page or call us on 09 275 5580 

Contact us today for more information about how we can help your warehouse stay safe. 

Worksafe New Zealand have put together a range of animations to manage manufacturing risks at your work. 

These animated floorplans have been created to highlight some of the more common serious risks found on construction and manufacturing sites. Even if your business isn’t in these sectors – check them out anyway! The videos help to explain the concept of managing risk as well as how some of the concepts from the Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) – like overlapping duties, worker engagement and participation and upstream duties – can be applied to help create healthier and safer work environments. They’re intended to be shared – show them to the people you work with and then talk about what this might look like for your own business. They’re perfect for supporting your worker participation practices. If you want some additional inspiration, have a look at our case studies.

[Source: Worksafe New Zealand  - http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/worksafe/hswa/tools-and-resources/floor-plans#manuf ]

Lifting heavy pallets from point A to B can be energy draining, time consuming, and may require more than one person to get the job done. This is where a pallet truck can come handy.

What is a Pallet Truck?

Also known as a pallet jack, a pallet truck is a tool commonly used to lift and then move pallets from one location to another with relative ease. It is used to lift heavy loads with minimal effort while also protecting the person operating the machine from any possible physical injury that may otherwise occur from over exertion.

Simply put, pallet trucks are integral parts of racking systems.

Different Types of Pallet Trucks

There are different types of pallet trucks available in the market today to help those that run a warehouse carry and handle any pallet load possible with ease and convenience.

Manual Pallet Truck

This is the simplest and most common type of pallet pump available. It features a basic steel machine combined with a hydraulic-pump. The operational mechanism of this pallet truck is as easy as it can be. All you need to do is pump the handle up and down. It has a lever on the handle to lower or disengage the lift action.

The manual pallet truck has the capacity to a carry load up to 2,500 kgs, not more.
This type of pallet pump is a low-lift sort used to move pallet-loads over small distances.

Electric Pallet Truck Walk Behind

Unlike a manual pallet pump, this type is powered by a battery. Since it features electric assist, a simple press of the button is all you need to lift and lower heavy loads.

This kind of pallet pump is ideal for moving pallet-loads over larger distances.
They are best for use on loading-docks and staging areas.

Summary

To find the right pallet truck for your warehouse, it’s extremely important to keep your load-lifting requirements in consideration and distance you would want to lift and move the load to. Remember, there is a large variety available, so take your time to navigate through the choices to find the right pallet truck that suits your warehouse needs the best.

For more information on our range of pallet trucks contact us on (09) 275 5580 or email us sales@dexters.co.nz