OSA Magazine | Issue 2
Articles you will find in this issue include:
Ear Protection
Waste of money or good investment?
In noisy workplaces hearing must be protected with hearing protectors. Often the results are poor, however, which makes the ear protection a bad investment. The key to successful ear protection is the careful planning and deep understanding of things that can go wrong. Failing to do so means the numbers suffering hearing loss will not decrease.
Author | FIOH (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health)
Face Fit Testing
Although workplace legislation and Health and Safety practices vary from country to country, some technical aspects of respirator fitting are fairly consistent. This article highlights UK practices, which may also apply to other countries throughout the world.
Author | Scott Campbell
Gas Detection
Gas detectors for the Chinese market
The certification process for gas detection equipment can be complicated in China. Gas detection manufacturers from other major trading blocks around the world will find that exporting products to the Chinese market doesn’t follow a similar route to those for European or North American approval, for example. Differences in national standards, and a stringent approval route makes Chinese approval for gas detection products confusing and time-consuming, but not without its economic advantages.
Author | Adam Garner and Bill Chen
Height Safety
Industrial rope access developments in Singapore and South East Asia
At the Construction Safety, Health and Security campaign in Singapore, the minister of State for Trade, Industry and Manpower announced key initiatives to raise the safety and health standards of the construction industry in Asia. The speech stressed the responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring safety in the workplace.
At the meeting, the minister addressed the need for a Fall Protection Plan, highlighting that over the last three years Singapore’s construction and marine sectors accounted for more than 70% of the fall from height accidents. The HSE substantiated this claim reporting 34 fatalities in the six months to September 2008 for the sector including construction.
Author | Haidee Yatim
Respiratory Protection
Relax and take a deep breath
An airborne contaminant is any type of material or gas that does not normally occur in the natural ambient atmosphere. Unlike other types of hazards in the workplace, airborne contaminants are often invisible because of their small size or ubiquitous nature. You may not be able to see, feel or even smell them, however, the lungs are an extremely efficient filter and quickly absorb contaminants from the air we breathe.
Author | David Moore and Michael Lazarus
Workwear
Occupational safety plus optimal comfort
Whether on a building site, in the fire service, or working in foodstuffs manufacturing: In times of hard competition, more and more companies are emphasising a homogeneous company look. After all, correctly and cleanly clad employees in harmonising outfits always cut a good figure as brand ambassadors. Today’s occupational clothing has to do with much more than ‘just look good’. In many sectors, safety aspects also play a large role. Anyone wishing to save on costs in the purchase and maintenance of occupational clothing relies on professional hire service suppliers.
Author | ETSA and cws-boco
As well as information about the following new Regulations
