Monthly Archives: December 2018

Working in a cold environment creates a unique set of health and safety issues so you need to think differently about health and safety practice.

Here are some things to consider:

Whilst it’s not something that often happens in cold stores or conditions, a failure to prioritise health and safety could result in serious health issue like hypothermia or it could exacerbate existing health conditions such as asthma or skin problems.

Any recruitment practice for freezer work should involve checking whether employees suffer from chronic conditions so that a health and safety assessment can be undertaken to assess whether the employee can work in a cold environment and whether any special measures need to be implemented.
Putting in place effective training for staff members and providing the right type of clothing for freezer work can keep you and your employees safe. But it’s also important to choose the right size of clothing because if it clothing is too big or loose then its insulation qualities will be affected.

At CIS, we can advise you on freezerwear clothes to suit your business and our range of clothes includes everything from freezer salopettes to trapper caps to keep the head warm.

X240 FREEZER SALOPETTES £68.96

TRAPPER CAP, NAVY £12.95

Freezing injuries include frostbite and damage to the skin when it comes into contact with the cold.
To avoid this, the right clothing should be worn at all times, and skin should not be left exposed to the elements.
Hand protection is particularly important. Freezing injuries are more likely to occur if people find it difficult to work in gloves and remove them.
Our Tegra Pro Acrylic Lined Velcro Wrist Glove is a very durable glove with excellent grip and offers a comfortable form of hand protection for work in cold temperatures.

TEGRA PRO ACRYLIC LINED VELCRO WRIST GLOVE £20.99

The Polarpaw 650 is one of our most popular freezer gloves with heavy duty dual-layered leather sections, hollow fibre insulation and UltraGrip technology. With the added protection of an artery guard, rawhide leather back and dual stitching, this works well for those who operate in cold, harsh environments.

POLARPAW HD FREEZER GLOVE WITH GRIP PADS £25.47

Finally, in cold environments it’s important to pay attention to how you, and the people around you, are feeling. If you or your team start to feel cold, thirsty, or ill in any way, it’s time to take a break and look after yourself. Additionally, creating a work culture where colleagues look out for each other and prompt each other to take a break can make a real difference - it can really reduce the risk of cold-related health issues occurring.

If you’d like to know more about what suits you or your company, our team would be happy to talk you through the safety guidance and to let you know the latest products which might best suit your
needs. Contact us on 01726 74264 or email sales@cisafety.com

It’s easy to overlook the role of janitors and facilities staff but without them, an office can turn to chaos with overflowing bins or workspaces that aren’t clean and safe for employees and visitors.

Duties can range from light cleaning duties through to fixing and maintaining office facilities when things go wrong. It’s important to make sure that staff have the right tools to do their job effectively. They will also need appropriate workwear, as this can help to avoid potential accidents from happening as they carry out their work.

Equipment

Basic equipment such as brushes, scourers and disinfectant are an obvious requirement and having these colour coded so that equipment can be used in appropriate zones is helpful. You might also want to consider things like specific boxes to dispose of sharp implements (such as knives) if you work in an environment where you are using these regularly.

VIKAN NAIL BRUSH STIFF, 48MM X 118MM RED, £1.99

SHARPS BOX, £11.68

Workwear

Facilities staff also need a basic level of personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe from chemicals and germs. Even a mild cleaner can cause problems if it gets splashed in a person’s eyes, so it’s best to provide staff with goggles, gloves and protective uniform.

When it comes to clothing long sleeves and trousers with padding in the knees for jobs which involve kneeling can make life much more comfortable.

For footwear, look for rubber-soled safety shoes or shoe covers as these can help to prevent accidents due to slips on wet floors.

OZONE LIGHTWEIGHT SAFETY TRAINER SHOE, BLACK, £33.25

V-NECK SWEATSHIRT, NAVY, £13.78

MASCOT LERIDA TROUSERS - BLACK, REGULAR, £53.95

Another important consideration you need to think about is preventing the spread of germs and bacteria. By taking some very simple steps and encouraging facilities staff to change gloves regularly and wash hands thoroughly after cleaning restrooms, you can significantly reduce the risk of germs spreading into other parts of your office.

£3.65 DISPOSABLE P/F VINYL GLOVES BLUE

As always if you would like any advice or a review of what equipment and workwear are right for your business, please contact our team as we’re happy to help you with any requirements for your business. Email sales@cisafety.com or call 01726 742642.