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MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2010
Ryan from Purchasing in Nova Scotia
Mold isn’t only the catalyst that gives blue cheese its color, mold is something that we live with every day, and is a necessary part of life. In nature mold helps break down and decay organic matter that helps re-introduce nutrients into our environment.
It’s natures cleaning crew.
Mold also provides us with penicillin, a common anti-bacterial medicine.
But what if mold is an unwelcomed guest in your home? Mold can be the cause of lots of problems from rotting boards in your house that can open up paths for inviting other unwanted guests (vermin) into your home, or it can cause all sorts of adverse health effects.
How does mold start? How will it affect me?
More commonly, mold starts with an untreated area that has been exposed to water for a period of time: high humidity, old meat and produce, spilt water on the floor, or an undetected drip from a leaky pipe, mold can begin just about anywhere there is moisture. If left to grow into large masses, mold can cause health issues such as allergic reactions, becoming short of breath, and in very extreme cases, can lead to hospitalization. In nature, it is common for 100’s of types of molds to grow, but not all of these are detrimental to health; most just decay their organic host. And this is what most restoration companies often walk into. Home owners hit by floods from large storms, or quick spring melts often are the prime targets for mold growth, and if not dealt with soon enough can cause $1000’s worth of damages.
How do you prevent mold from growing, or even starting?
Below are some common tips to help curb the development of mold:
- Use a dehumidifier in damp areas (above 50% humidity) of your home. Change the water frequently in the dehumidifier and disinfect to prevent mold from forming.
- Perform diligent housekeeping, clean with a solution of hot soapy water and bleach (if the item is colorfast). Use gloves and wear a mask to limit your exposure to chemicals.
- Dry and/or replace water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Look for mold or mildew in attics, basements, closets, bathrooms, dirty clothes, hampers, garbage cans and children's soiled stuffed toys.
- Try to improve air circulation in the attic, basement, closets and bathroom.
- Wipe down the refrigerator and freezer door seals. Clean the refrigerator often throwing away leftovers and old produce/meats.
- Dry damp areas in the kitchen, laundry room, under the kitchen sink and under the lid of the washing machine.
- Clean the lint filter after each load in the dryer.
- Clean and/or replace air conditioner filters periodically.
- Clean ceiling fans once per month.
- If closets are damp, keep the light on to prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
- Outside, have fallen leaves, decaying plants and compost heaps removed.
Although the suggested are not 100% guarantees mold growth won’t occur, they are great precautionary steps. It’s often hard to thwart a flood or out smart Mother Nature, but as long as we are aware of how mold begins we can prevent it from ever starting.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010
Bernie from Marketing in Ontario
High-visibility clothing ensures workers are seen by others (especially drivers) while on the job. This is an important factor when keeping workers safe, each job site should be assessed to see if high-visibility clothing is needed. There are three different classes of high-visibility safety apparel, each Class delivers different coverage and different levels of visibility.
Class 1
This class provides the lowest recognized coverage with good visibility. The picture below is an example of Class 1 apparel.
Class 2
This class provides moderate body coverage and superior visibility. This class provides more visibility that Class 1 and apparel has full coverage of the upper torso, this includes front, back, sides and over the shoulders. This class includes vests, jackets, bib overalls, or hooded coats. An example of Class 2 apparel is shown below.
Class 3
This class provides the greatest body coverage and visibility under poor light conditions and at a great distance. Apparel in this class meets the same requirements as Class 2 with the addition of bands around the wearer’s arms and legs. This can included jackets and overalls.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2010
Lindsay in Sales from Newfoundland
Living Green means making the conscious choice to value our environment. By understanding our daily actions and taking proactive steps we can made a positive impact on our planet.
Here are some tips on ways to be Green:
1. Take a few minutes to turn off electrical devices before you leave your home. And turn off the lights when leaving a room (Chances are the walls and floors won’t mind the dark)
2. Turn your hot water heater down to 120 degrees and wash your laundry in cold water.
3. Switch to compact florescent light bulbs
4. Choose products with less packaging. Buy in bulk and use re-usable packaging.
5. Buy Organic or local meats & produce where available
6. Car pool, take the bus, train or subway where possible
7. Few projects provide the instant gratification as planting your own tree does. You get exercise, visual stimulation & self-satisfaction. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, helping to reduce global warming.
8. Purchase products with recycled packaging. Compost your leftovers and keep your lawn well fed by leaving grass clippings after mowing.
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MONDAY, AUGUST 09, 2010
Shannon from Sales in Alberta
Many workers are injured and killed each year while working in confined spaces. An estimated 60% of the fatalities have been among the would-be rescuers. A confined space can be more hazardous than regular workspaces for many reasons. To effectively control the risks associated with working in a confined space, a Confined Space Hazard Assessment and Control Program should be implemented for your workplace.
"Confined space" means a space that:
(1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and
(2) Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and
(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Before putting together this program, make sure to review the specific regulations that apply to your workplace. All jurisdictions within Canada have regulations dealing with confined space entry. The regulations can vary slightly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A contact list for the jurisdictions is available at http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 03, 2010
Ryan from Purchasing in Nova Scotia
Often we think of workplace dangers as obvious hazards such as being aware of motorized vehicles, always using protective equipment when necessary and just generally being aware of your environment. However, there are other dangers out there that we seldom think of that can prove to be unfavorable to human health, and bring to mind Murphy’s law – if it can happen, it will.
Working in a messy workplace is an excellent source of injury. Not tidying up or cleaning up after your self can yield tripping hazards, obstructions to tumble upon and dangers that may be covered up and not visible. Having a conscious mind to put things back once you’re done with them will foster a culture of safety.
A clean environment is not only pleasing to your customers, but it also serves as a way to be safe.
Wet floors are also sources of injury – making sure to place down proper markers so people are aware is another way to prevent injury (and litigation).
Even something simple as making sure stapled sheets of paper do not have any sharp points sticking out is important to prevent small skin punctures.
All these things together will help save on workplace injury and liability, and works toward creating a culture of safety.
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MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010
Bernie from Marketing in Ontario
In 2003 overexertion or strenuous movement accounted for 26.4% of workplace injuries. Many – if not all- of these injuries are 100% avoidable. It is important that workers get trained on how to do the job properly, even basic tasks like lifting heavy objects. This poster is a great item to put up around the workplace to remind workers how to lift properly!
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MONDAY, JULY 19, 2010
Lindsay in Sales from Newfoundland
Safety Cabinets are necessary when you work with any substance that could be hazardous. Such as corrosive, flammable, poisonous chemicals, or products. These particular items need to be locked away in proper cabinets to prevent unnecessary incidents from occurring.
There are special cabinets for every type of substance that you work with, such as corrosives, flammables, poisons and pesticides. You many only need one safety cabinet if you have a small variety of substances. What type of cabinet should you get? Your cabinet should be as efficient as possible & meet all your specific needs.
Many companies store their chemicals and hazardous material in an improper manner. If you think this is acceptable, consider the fact that this is the main cause of fires within industrial settings.
All safety cabinets must meet very high quality standards. They should be constructed of 18 gauge steel with double-walled doors, have air space between the walls, secure locks, leak proof doors and warning labels. Cabinets can also be made out of high-density polyethylene. They must be lockable, have capped vents and adjustable shelves.
Your safety cabinets must fall under certain regulatory requirements.
Third party testing is your assurance of performance from such agencies as:
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MONDAY, JULY 12, 2010
Shannon from Sales in Alberta
1. What is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many industries.
Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.
2. What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?
People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems. Studies have shown that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen).
3. What factors affect the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease?
Several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, including:
· Dose (how much asbestos an individual was exposed to).
· Duration (how long an individual was exposed).
· Size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos fibers.
· Source of the exposure.
· Individual risk factors, such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease.
Although all forms of asbestos are considered hazardous, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. For example, the results of several studies suggest that amphibole forms of asbestos may be more harmful than chrysotile, particularly for mesothelioma risk, because they tend to stay in the lungs for a longer period of time.
How are asbestos-related diseases detected?
· Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness.
· A persistent cough that gets worse over time.
· Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs.
· Pain or tightening in the chest.
· Difficulty swallowing.
· Swelling of the neck or face.
· Loss of appetite.
· Weight loss.
· Fatigue or anemia.
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MONDAY, JULY 05, 2010
Ryan from Purchasing in Nova Scotia
It’s not often we think about it, and by the time we do it’s already too late. Quite often we forget about the hazards of breathing in hazardous vapours, maybe even assume if we can’t see something we are fine, or only treat known toxic material as instances to ventilate an environment. Regardless of the chemical and hazard, we need to ventilate it!
The fact is, as creatures on our planet, we were not designed to intake any form of chemical, and as a rule of thumb, oxygen (02) should technically be the only gas that we intake on a regular basis.
We’ve all heard of the damaging effects of first and second hand cigarette smoke, and some of us are very conscious about what it does to us, and choose to remove ourselves from that environment. This is the exact mentality we need to take when dealing with colorless vapors.
Here are two examples of common, yet toxic chemicals.
Chlorine Gas
The immediate effects of chlorine gas toxicity include acute inflammation of the mucous membrane, nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Irritation of the airway mucosa leads to local edema secondary to active arterial and capillary hyperemia. Plasma exudation results in filling the alveoli with edema fluid, resulting in pulmonary congestion. Or in other words: drowning.
Hydrogen Sulfide
More commonly known as "sewer gas" a colorless gas with the odour of rotten eggs. Excessive exposure has been linked to many confined space deaths. Hydrogen sulfide causes a loss of our sense of smell, causing people to mistakenly think that the gas has left the space. Hydrogen sulfide inhibits the exchange of oxygen on the cellular level and causes asphyxiation (suffocation).
Long term exposure to any kind of hazardous vapour can be very damaging. If you work with any chemical, always know proper first aid and procedures for any accidents involving them. Knowing this information will put you in a much better situation to control or even prevent injuries.
If you’re uncertain of a confined space, and what it may contain, there are many instruments you can use to help protect you, gas monitors and supplied air respirators are but only a few. And, when possible, ventilate accordingly. Proper ventilation of any environment that is considered “confined” is crucial to yours, and your co-workers health. You owe it to yourself to make sure you work safe. Simple tasks such as spray painting or treating your leather coat/shoes with water repellant requires adequate air circulation. Always read the label; check for written or symbolic warnings. And if you’re still not sure, ventilate it!
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MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010
Bernie from Marketing in Ontario
Here are some WHMIS basics to help you remember what these important symbols mean to you.
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is a Canada-wide system designed to inform people like YOU about hazardous materials.
According to WHMIS there are three ways in which information on hazardous material is to be provided to people like YOU:
1. Labels on containers of hazardous materials
2. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) with detailed hazard and precautionary information
3. Worker education programs
Below are the hazard symbols that are used to label containers with hazardous material. These symbols are on a lot of common products – review these to avoid potential dangers in your work or home.
Reviewing this information regularly is important to keeping you and the people you know safe. Print out the table and display it in your work or home.
Knowing the danger is half the battle!
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