FEATURE WORKPLACE SAFETY DO NOT BE A FOOL -
TETHER YOUR TOOLS Andrew Egerton, head of Category Tools and General Maintenance for Brammer Buck & Hickman, explains the main benefits of tool tethering alongside the various tethering solutions currently on the market
T
ethering your tools is a preventative method of making sure that, when working at
height, your tools are not at risk of falling or being dropped. The process of tethering tools when working at
height usually involves three distinct components: tether point, tool lanyard and anchor point. Situated on the tool itself, the tether point is
usually a small hole designed to support the use of a lanyard. The lanyard then gets attached to the tether point situated on the tool and then to the anchor point. Lastly, the anchor point is the external object
your tool is attached to. For example, if using a lighter tool, the anchor point could be a work belt, wristband or harness worn by the operator. For heavier tools, the anchor point could be a fixed piece of beam or load rated rail.
CURRENT REQUIREMENT There are currently no regulations in the UK that solely define the mandatory use of tethering tools when working at height, despite the HSE Working at Height 2005 guidelines stating, “every employer shall, where necessary to prevent injury to any person, take suitable and sufficient steps to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, the fall of any material or object.” So, with no definite law, why tether your tools?
Safety is one of the biggest reasons as to why you should tether your tools but there are also
financial implications. On a basic level, these include potential equipment damage from a falling object alongside any downtime to conduct a repair. At the worse end of the scale, falling equipment could result in costly litigation from serious injury or even death, plus there is the reputational damage to contend with.
TETHERING SOLUTIONS So, what are some of the key features to look for when investing in a safety accredited tool tethering solution? Starting with the tethering points, the Safety
Chuck is a type of coupling used in shafted centre wind and centre unwind applications. When working at height it allows free rotation of the tool. A Safety Pin is used on socket holders to avoid a socket drop and can be secured and held in place by opening and closing the clasp. Another handy tethering point is a Safety Plate. The safety plate is a metal bracket which is attached to an existing product such as screwdriver or hammer and used as a tethering point for a lanyard to pass through. The safety plate can be incorporated into most tools without losing product functionality. Designed with wrenches in mind, a spring is a
THE HEALTH RISKS OF MAKING YOUR OWN HAND SANITISER Brammer Buck & Hickman
high resistance and flexible solution used on tools where drilling must be avoided. Not to be confused for a tool tethering ring which is specifically for high resistance tools with space limitation for drilling, a ring works best with pliers and wrenches
www.bbh-rubix.com S
ince the outbreak of COVID-19, more people are buying hand sanitisers than ever before. As one of the most sought after panic buy products,
most shops and pharmacies are selling out as soon as they get a chance to restock. The result of this, however, has been a trend of people making homemade hand sanitisers with limited knowledge of what works against the virus or how to produce safe hand hygiene products. Broadly, there are two types of sanitisers to be aware of: alcohol-based
and alcohol-free. Industry-standard alcohol-free sanitisers contain substitute chemicals that are just as effective in eliminating all microbes, including Coronavirus. The effectiveness of hand sanitisers will, however, vary dependent on the ratio and strength of their chemicals so this should be considered when making a purchase. Alcohol is present within hand sanitisers in two forms that should be
looked out for: Isopropanol Alcohol (IPA) and Denatured Ethanol (DE). Both of these types of alcohol are able to protect against the virus. There will also usually be a percentage found on any hand sanitisers, however, that is important. This percentage tells you the volume of alcohol present within the hand sanitiser. Sanitisers should contain more than 60 per cent ethanol or 70 per cent isopropanol to protect effectively against the virus.
While it may feel intuitive to go for as high an alcohol volume as
possible, those that are very high in alcohol content can actually be ineffective. This is because, the higher the alcohol content in sanitisers, the quicker they evaporate when applied to skin. While self-isolation can inspire people’s DIY spirit, it is important to
remember that there is a reason why hand sanitiser companies exist in the first place. From damaging or cracking skin after use (making them more susceptible to infection), to cross-contamination, making your own can hand sanitiser can cause more problems than it solves. IPA and DE also present a significant safety risk when handled outside a controlled environment, being highly flammable substances. There is also the risk that popular homemade sanitiser recipes are
actually not going to protect against the virus. One such recipe requires 91 per cent rubbing alcohol and one part aloe vera gel. This recipe should produce something with theoretically 60.6 per cent alcohol content. However, an IPA-based hand sanitiser should contain at least 70 per cent to be effective against COVID-19.
Cleanroom Supplies
cleanroomsuppliesltd.com
where the hole on the tool is small. Moving onto tool lanyards, for heavy-duty
tools, a Double-Loop Wire is ideal for hammers, wrecking bars dynamometric wrenches. Kevlar and Dyneema String are a popular choice for lanyards. Kevlar is considered seven times stronger than steel, while Dyneema is 15 times stronger than steel, making it the world’s strongest fibre. However, dependent on the type of work you’re doing, you might need to favour one over the other. Kevlar loses up to 25 per cent of material strength after two days of UV exposure, so is best used indoors, while Dyneema only loses five per cent of material strength after being exposed to the sun for the same period, so can be used externally. For a comprehensive tool tethering set up, consider the use of tools pouches and bags too.
ENSURING BEST PRACTICE Lastly, to ensure best practice, consider rolling out a tool tethering training programme. Covering all aspects of working at height and with tools, the programme should draw focus on how to handle equipment, to site safety protocols and what to do if a detached fallen tool situation was to occur. Be sure to consult your on-site Health and
Safety Officer or even your PPE specialist to tailor a tool tethering programme around your site.
14 SUMMER 2020 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
