Workplace Safety Tips and Guides - QSS Safety Products https://www.qss-safety.com/category/qss-blog/ QSS is a safety solutions provider for the workplace and household with a comprehensive range of protective equipment Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:35:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.qss-safety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/QSS-Approved-2020-logo-1-Copy-100x100.jpg Workplace Safety Tips and Guides - QSS Safety Products https://www.qss-safety.com/category/qss-blog/ 32 32 How to wear safety harness properly https://www.qss-safety.com/the-proper-way-of-wearing-a-safety-harness/ Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:26:30 +0000 https://www.qss-safety.com/?p=17846 Did you know that your fall arrest system is your last line of defense when working at heights? Let's learn how to use safety harness correctly

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Did you know that your fall arrest system is your last line of defense when working at heights? This fall arrest system consists of A, B, and C: Anchorage, Body Safety Harness, and Connecting element. Although all of them are equally important and can’t function without one another, a Body Safety Harness is the one that attaches you and the Anchorage point. The fall arrest system will fail to protect you if you do not use the Body Safety Harness properly.

Body harnesses are designed to ensure that the fall impact forces are equally distributed onto the stronger and fleshy parts of the body. And this article will explain step-by-step how to wear a full-body safety harness properly.

Step-by-step guide

1. Hold the harness by the Dorsal D-ring and shake it

Holding the harness by the Dorsal D-ring and gently shaking it will let the straps fall into the right place, making the putting on process easier.

2. Undo the buckles and release the straps​

If the chest or the leg straps came in buckled conditions, unbuckle them and release the tension on the straps.

3. Slips the strap over your shoulder and adjust the fit​

Ensure the Dorsal D-ring is placed in the middle of the back, in between of the shoulder blades.

4. Connect the leg straps​

The chest straps should fit snuggly and keeping the body harness to remain in place.

5. Connect the chest straps​

The chest straps should fit snuggly and keeping the body harness to remain in place.

6. Adjust the straps so the harness fit snuggly but still allows a full range of motion

When the leg straps are buckled, it should fit snuggly without impacting you to stand straight.

Things to keep in mind

Three more things to pay attention to before putting on the body harness:

  1. Check for any damage, such as frayed or missing threads, cracked webbing, or foreign materials on the harness.
  2. Ensure no crack or bent of metal buckles and D-rings.
  3. Once you put on the harness, always tuck the loose ends of the straps into the strap’s retainers.

Conclusion

The importance of using a body harness correctly is critical since it’s the only thing that attaches you to the fall arrest system. Always ensure your body harness fits snuggly and allows a full range of motion by following the steps above.

If you have any questions about the fall arrest system we provide, feel free to contact our specialists. We will help you evaluate all the factors and provide you with the best recommendation!

Infographic teaser - 6 steps to put on a full body harness
Download infographic
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QSS Safety Products (S) Pte Ltd

Nov 7, 2022

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]]> Safety Helmet vs Bump Cap https://www.qss-safety.com/safety-helmet-vs-bump-cap/ Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:55:54 +0000 https://www.qss-safety.com/?p=17742 Learn about the difference between a safety helmet and a bump cap and how it can protect you from head injuries.

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Helmet vs Bump Cap

If you enter any construction site or industrial area, you will be required to put on a safety helmet as your head protection. But what if you need to work in a confined space? Wearing a safety helmet might not be practical in this situation, and safety helmets are not the only type of head protection in the market. Workers are usually advised to use a bump cap for their head protection when working in confined spaces.

After a glance at the cover image of this article, you must already get the hint that a safety helmet and a bump cap have significant look differences, which will also affect the level of protection you will get. In this article, you will understand the difference between a safety helmet and a bump cap and how it can protect you from head injuries. 

What is a safety helmet?

Also known as hard hats, that are made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) designed to protect your head against high impacts, such as falling objects or being struck by a swinging object that can result in serious head injury. A safety helmet is best suited for industrial or construction settings since the risk of falling objects is higher, leading to more serious head injuries.

A safety helmet’s hard, plastic shell on the outside is designed to dissipate the force and energy upon impact, reducing the amount of force applied to your head. On the inside, a harness works as the cushion between your head and the hard outer shell upon impact. The harness also helps to reduce the amount of energy that collides with your head.

What is a bump cap?

Some bump caps might look like your everyday hat, but don’t let it fool you! Bump caps have a removable safety insert made from various material such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) to protect your head from low impacts, such as minor head bumps, when working in confined spaces.

A bump cap is designed to be used when the risk of bumping your head into something is more likely than the risk of falling objects. The bump caps offer a lower level of head protection because the outer hat only provides a thin layer of protection. The safety insert on the bump cap acts as a cushion between the cap and your head. Like the harness on the safety helmet, it also helps reduce the energy that collides with your head.

Side-by-side comparisons

You can see the table below to see the side-by-side comparison:

Download infographic

Conclusion

So, which type of head protection should you choose? It comes back to the type of work and your workplace. A safety helmet is the best type of head protection if your workplace has a high risk of falling objects from above your head. Meanwhile, if the risk of you bumping your head is higher than falling objects, then a bump cap is for you.

If you need help deciding which head protection suits your workplace, feel free to contact our specialists. We will help you evaluate all the factors and provide you with the best recommendation!

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QSS Safety Products (S) Pte Ltd

Sep 21, 2022

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]]> The importance of a Flammable Liquid Storage Cabinet at your workplace https://www.qss-safety.com/importance-of-flammable-cabinet/ Wed, 12 Oct 2022 07:05:28 +0000 https://www.qss-safety.com/?p=17564 Let's understand the hazards of having flammable liquids, and how flammable liquid storage cabinets have an important role at your workplace.

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In the previous post, we learned about how FR clothing protects you from serious burn injury during a fire incidents. Continuing the trend on fire-related topics, Let us explore the importance of having a flammable liquid storage cabinet at your workplace! 

Risks exist everywhere, and we are constantly exposed to them, whether it is in an industrial area, construction site, laboratory, or even office. Thus it is important to know the risks you may face and what can be done to prevent you from injury when such risks occur. One method to aid in managing risks is through The Hierarchy of Control, but that is a topic for another time.

In this article, we will share how to identify potential flammable hazards that require safety storage and the importance of having one at your workplace.

Identifying and understanding the hazard of flammable liquid at your workplace

Firstly, you need to identify flammable liquids at your workplace. Although the types and quantity might vary, here are some of the most common flammable liquids found across most industries:

Acetone

Adhesives

Ethanol

Gasoline

Methanol

Paints

To dive in further, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) categorized any liquid with a flashpoint at or below 93 °C as a flammable liquid and split it into four categories:

  1. Category 1 shall include liquids with flashpoints below 23 °C and a boiling point at or below 35 °C. 
  2. Category 2 shall include liquids with flashpoints below 23 °C and a boiling point above35 °C.
  3. Category 3 shall include liquids with flashpoints at or above 23 °C and at or below 60 °C. 
  4. Category 4 shall include liquids having flashpoints above 60 °C and at or below 93 °C. 

Why is OSHA categorizing it in such ways? During the testing, a small flame appeared in the vapor zone (generated by the heat) above the liquid’s surface, within the mentioned temperature range. 

The vapor generated by the heat is the primary factor in why the liquid becomes volatile, and it can be hazardous when left unsupervised. Especially when vapors of a flammable liquid are mixed with air in the right proportions and meet with any ignition, an explosion can occur. To learn more about the regulations in Singapore in terms of flammable materials, please refer to SCDF website.

How to choose the right flammable liquid storage cabinet for your workplace?

After identifying and understanding the hazard, there are a few steps that you can follow to ensure that you are getting the right type of cabinet for your workplace.

Why is it so important to have a flammable liquid storage cabinet?

Handling such a hazardous material requires protocols to handle it safely, including storage guidelines. If your workplace has flammable liquids up to a certain amount, you might be required by local governing law/regulations to have a flammable cabinet to store your flammable liquids.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has developed NFPA 30 as the primary code for flammable and combustible liquids to avoid and reduce the risk of flammable liquids. OSHA and other local agencies in different countries use NFPA 30 code to base their flammable liquid storage compliance standards. Here are some of the minimum criteria for a liquid storage cabinet based on the NFPA 30 code:

  • Double-walled fireproof steel with an insulating temperature space on all sides
  • Weld joints (or other similar methods)
  • The door spill must be 51mm higher than the ground
  • Reflective label of “Flammable – Keep Fire Away” on the cabinet

Every criterion serves its purpose and ensures the maximum level of protection for the users, and some countries made the criterion mandatory which will have some legal penalty if it doesn’t comply with the standard. But, having a flammable cabinet is not only to just comply with the regulatory standards. Here are some other reasons for how important a flammable cabinet is at your workplace:

Safely organize flammable liquids

Keeping your flammable liquids correctly labeled and stored away from the fire will help you to focus more on the bigger stuff, like completing your project on time. This also will help you to prevent grabbing and mixing the wrong chemicals. Having an organized workspace is also suggested can help with increasing productivity.

Accident prevention

Accidental spills, leaks, or breakage can happen to everyone, and when this happens unnoticed, this can cause facility damage and turn into a fire when it is exposed close enough to ignition. One of the reasons why the door spill needs to be 51mm higher than the ground is that when this kind of accident happens, the cabinet will safely collect the leaks. It is advised that users check the sump area periodically to dispose of any accumulated leaks.

Limit unauthorized access

You could work at the industrial level or an educational institution, but one thing for sure is that not everyone should have access to flammable liquids. Suppose the chemicals fall into the hands of a curious student or someone with bad intentions, which can lead to a very difficult situation for the person and the organization, especially if it causes harm to the public. 

To prevent explosion

As mentioned in the previous section, the flammable liquid could turn into an explosion if mixed with air proportionately and met with an ignition source. So, keeping the flammable liquids in the cabinet can help prevent an explosion since the cabinet is designed with double-walled fireproof steel with at least 10 minutes fire rating or up to 90 minutes if it’s multi-layered fireproof walled. 

Do's and don'ts of using flammable liquid storage cabinet

While now we understand why it is important to have a flammable cabinet, let’s talk about do’s and don’ts on how to utilize a flammable liquid storage cabinet!

Do always ensure that the lid is tightly closed before storing it in the cabinet

Although it may seem like a common practice, it is still a good habit to double-check the lid, especially before storing the flammable liquids back in the cabinet, to reduce the chance of spill or leakage inside the cabinet or when you take it out. 

Do check the sump area for any leaks or spill collection periodically

This check avoids any vapor build-up from the chemical spills and leaks that will eventually increase the fire risk and compromise the sump capacity.

Do ensure the door is closed and locked when not in use

This is not only to prevent unauthorized persons from having access to the flammable liquids but also to protect the flammable liquids stored inside. 

Do keep away any ignition source at least 3m apart from the cabinet

Once flammable liquids ignite, it wouldn’t take too long for the fire to spread and becomes unmanageable. So always check that there are no ignition sources surrounding the cabinet area.

Don’t overload the cabinet

Overloading your cabinet is not only dangerous, but it will get you into trouble if you get caught during random inspections. The maximum storage volume of each cabinet was there to ensure that the cabinet could give its maximum protection at all times. 

Don’t use the sump area for extra storage

If you use the sump area for storage, this indicates that you have overloaded your cabinet. The sump area’s main purpose is to catch any accidental spill and leakage. If you use the sump area as storage, you are limiting the amount to contain spills and leakage.

Don’t store other incompatible hazardous materials substances

Each class of hazardous materials requires different handling methods due to the behavior of each material itself. Storing different materials in the same cabinet might trigger dangerous reactions that can put everyone at risk.

Conclusion

Having a flammable liquid storage cabinet is not only because it’s a requirement to comply with the local agency standards but also a way to protect flammable liquids for a certain period. This extra time allows the users to take control of the situation by using fire suppression equipment or the time to escape the area. The cabinet is also built with other safety features to ensure maximum user protection.

We currently have a brand new range of safety cabinets that complies with various standards from Sysbel. Sysbel flammable liquid storage cabinets are multi-layered fireproof walls built with high-strength welded steel and gypsum board insulation that makes the cabinet fire-rated for up to 90 minutes.

If you’re having difficulties deciding which flammable liquid storage cabinet fits your workplace, feel free to contact our specialists. We will help you evaluate all the factors and provide you with the best recommendation!

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QSS Safety Products (S) Pte Ltd

Sep 21, 2022

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]]> Understanding FR Clothing https://www.qss-safety.com/understanding-fr-clothing/ Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:00:01 +0000 https://www.qss-safety.com/?p=16770 Are you required to have FR clothing for your workplace, but you are unsure what FR clothing is and which type can protect you in the workplace?

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Understanding FR clothing

Are you required to have FR clothing for your workplace, but you are unsure what  is it and which type can protect you in the workplace? If so, you have come to the right place!

What is FR clothing?

When it comes to workplace or industrial safety, the acronym “FR” represents either “Flame-Resistance” or “Fire-Retardant” clothing. Both provide the same type of protection for its user, but there is a minor difference between them:

  • Inherent Flame Resistance clothing uses inherently flame-resistant materials to produce. Thus, whenever the fabric catches on fire, it will self-extinguish.
  • Cotton Treated Fire Retardant clothing is produced from cotton that has been chemically treated to make the fabric self-extinguish when it catches on fire (similar effect to Flame-Resistance clothing). 

* Coolderm™ Technology offers enhanced moisture management to promote body temperature regulation and breathability

What types of protection does FR clothing provide?

FR clothing protects you from getting higher level of burned injury when a hazardous situation does occur; like flash fire or electric arc flash. They are less likely to catch fire when exposed to flames or combustibles, and if it does, they will self-extinguish. Another protection that FR clothing provides is that it acts as a barrier to slow down heat transfer through the garment and insulates the body against the heat source when an incident occurs.

One very common question:” Is Flame-resistance equal to fireproof?” Although it may seem likely, the answer is NO; flame resistance does not equally mean fireproof. Most FR clothing will still catch fire and transfer heat in extreme situations. However, still, it will self-extinguish within a short period, reducing the severity of potential injuries to the users. For demonstration, please see the video below.

demo for FR clothing

Which FR clothing is suitable for my workplace?

To ensure that you have the right FR clothing to protect yourself at the workplace and prepare you on how to maintain the quality, we have prepared some questions with answers to ask yourself:

In most cases, companies will provide you with the list of products you need to purchase, including any particular fabrics required. If you’re not being provided with the requirements, you are recommended to do research based on your industries or talk to someone experienced in the field. 

It is recommended to have a slightly looser fit for FR clothing to add a layer of air between you and the FR clothing. This adds extra insulation against the heat or flame you’re exposed to. Skin-tight FR clothing is not recommended since the heat or flame will land almost directly on your skin. Subsequently, very loose fit or baggy FR clothes are also not recommended since they may get stuck to surrounding objects or even rip the fabrics; thus making you more vulnerable to other hazards.

Let’s start with: do not bleach FR clothing under any circumstances. If you wash your FR clothing with bleach, you will degrade the fabric and reduce the protection it offers. You should also avoid hydrogen peroxide when washing FR clothing.

When it comes to maintaining it, it is important to learn about its fabric materials. Cotton-treated flame retardant clothing usually has a wash count due to the fabric’s chemical treatment, giving it a certain lifespan. For inherent flame resistance clothing, it doesn’t have a wash count due to the materials of the fabric.

For example, our Quebee Flame Resistance (QFR) uses FR Cotton Treated materials that can last up to 50 wash. Meanwhile, our QB Tecasafe Plus FR uses inherent flame-resistant materials so it won’t wash out. But it would be best if you also kept in mind, no matter what the materials are, once the FR Clothing has worn off and is beyond repair (meaning it has holes that can’t be patched up), you must replace it immediately.

When in doubt, always check the garment tag for laundering instructions. It’s important that you follow the instructions carefully to ensure the quality of your FR clothing.

Conclusion

In summary, having FR clothing as part of your personal protective equipment is very important, especially when your workplace has fire-related hazards. They help to reduce the severity of potential injuries to the users and provide extra crucial seconds to escape the flash fire. They aren’t fireproof, but FR clothing is specially designed, so they are less likely to catch fire and break open even when they do.

Although inherent flame resistance and treated fire retardant clothing can protect you from fire-related hazards, you will still need to evaluate how much you are willing to invest in your FR clothing. For example, treated flame retardant clothing can be an affordable option, but they have a shorter lifespan than inherent Flame resistance clothing, whereas inherent Flame-resistance clothing is more expensive but last significantly longer under normal circumstances.

It can be tough when choosing the right FR for you and your colleagues, so if you are ever in doubt, feel right to reach out to one of our specialists, and we will help you evaluate all the factors and provide you with the best recommendation!

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QSS Safety Products (S) Pte Ltd

Sep 21, 2022

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