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Buying Guides

6 Tips for using a Standing Desk Correctly

As people are becoming more aware of their fitness levels and ways in which they can stay healthy, standing desks have increased in popularity because those who have previously had to sit behind a desk all day can now choose to stand instead, which feels like a more active option. There has been plenty of scientific research on the advantages and disadvantages of standing desks and whether using one has more health benefits than sitting down. Hence, people know exactly what to expect if they decide to make the switch. Advantages of Standing Desks Several health risks are associated with prolonged sitting periods, such as an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even early death in extreme cases. In addition,...


A guide to Workbench Worktop Materials

When walking into any workshop, one of the first things you expect to see is a workbench. Whether it's electronics or engineering, workbenches are very important pieces of equipment that allow people to go about their daily tasks. If you are on the hunt for a workbench, but you aren’t sure which worktop would be best suited for your job, then keep reading our handy guide to find out. Why is the worktop surface type important? Each job that is undertaken carries a certain amount of risk with it, and choosing the right workbench worktop for that job can help to reduce this risk. For example, electrical work should be carried out on an anti-static workbench surface to prevent static electricity...


Choosing the best Industrial Workbench

A workbench is the cornerstone of your workshop, whatever field you work in. Finding the best workbench for your requirements can boost your productivity and improve your comfort. There are a lot of factors to consider, though, to ensure you get the perfect bench for your needs. Here’s our guide to some of the areas that you should consider. Workbench Size The size of the bench you get will depend on a couple of different things. Firstly, how much space have you got? You can’t get a huge workbench in a small room or if there are doors, fixed cupboards or essential equipment or machinery that you need to work around. Secondly — what kind of work are you doing? Small, delicate...


Fire Extinguishers: The Complete Guide

Fire extinguishers are a critically important piece of Fire Safety Equipment and are a common sight in all workplaces, schools and public buildings. They can mean the difference between a small fire being put out straight away or the fire service being called. That is why it is important to know about the different types of fire extinguishers and their uses. Index:  What are the different types of Fire Extinguishers? How long do Fire Extinguishers last? When should a Fire Extinguisher be replaced? How should Fire Extinguishers be Stored? What are ABC Fire Extinguishers What are Fire Blankets? What type of Fire Extinguishers should I use for Lithium Battery fires? What Signage is used with Fire Extinguishers?   What are...


What is the difference between TIG, MIG, arc and oxyacetylene welders?

There are four main types of welding: MIG, TIG, arc and Oxyacetylene. Each differs in ease of use, accuracy, cost and finish, so it’s essential to ensure that you are proficient in the proper technique for the kind of work that you do. If you're looking for new welding Tools and Supplies, our handy guide is here to give you a quick overview of each type, with their relative positive and negative aspects compared. MIG Welding Also known as gas metal arc welding (or GMAW), MIG welding uses a handheld gun to arc an electrode to the metals you are trying to weld, melting and forming a bond between the materials. To protect the weld from oxygen contamination, you can either use a solid...


What Are Anti-Fatigue Mats?

 Anti-fatigue mats are ergonomic floor mats that minimise fatigue from prolonged standing on hard surfaces. Made typically from rubber or specialised foam, these mats provide a softer surface to stand on, offering cushioning and support to ease stress on the feet and legs. Anti-fatigue mats are often used in places where prolonged standing is inevitable, such as industrial sites, retail counters, kitchens, and offices with standing desks. This guide will detail what anti-fatigue mats are and the key factors to consider before choosing one.  What Are Anti-Fatigue Mats? Anti-fatigue mats are specialised floor mats designed to alleviate physical stress and boost blood circulation, thereby reducing fatigue. These mats play a crucial role in environments where standing for extended periods is a...


How to use Industrial Shelving safely

When installing shelving within your workplace, it is vital to ensure that it has been put together correctly and is suitable for its purpose. If not, the risk of the entire shelving unit collapsing and injuring someone or causing damage to stock becomes dangerously high. Follow our comprehensive guide to find out how to use shelving correctly and safely to protect people and goods in your workplace. Respecting limits Before purchasing a shelving unit, it’s essential to know precisely what will be stored on it. This guides you in the right direction to know what type of shelving unit to buy and what the maximum shelf capacity should be. Installing the wrong shelving type for your business runs the risk of wasting valuable...


The Law Around Health & Safety Posters

In the United Kingdom, it is the law for businesses to provide all their personnel with access to an up-to-date copy of the health and safety law. This is so that employees are familiar with their rights and responsibilities and can make more informed choices and access further information if they feel they are being put in unnecessary danger. Most sites will put up a standard health and safety poster in a communal staff area, like a break room, but there is also the option to provide every employee with a leaflet. Whichever option you choose, you should know that the poster and the flyer must be the current, up-to-date, Health and Safety Executive-approved versions — employers cannot make their own posters....


Guide to Workplace Safety Gloves

Workplace gloves are an essential piece of Warehouse PPE across a huge range of job types and environments — from working in cold storage to construction, landscaping to medical work. Specific tasks need gloves with particular properties, however. Someone using tools or manipulating components outdoors will need protection that allows for a good level of dexterity whereas personnel counting bulk stock in a walk-in freezer will benefit more from thermal protection at the expense of dexterity. Whether you work in an industry where gloves are a mandatory part of your personal protective equipment set-up, or you simply want to provide a more comfortable and safer option for your staff — the right gloves can provide the protection you’re looking for. Here’s...


Top 5 Uses for Kick Steps

Kick Steps, or Kick Step Stools, are handy to keep on site for most types of businesses, and are a common piece of School or Office Equipment. Used predominantly in stock and store rooms, they are also very useful in domestic kitchens, libraries and commercial or retail enterprises. Comprising of a sturdy step/stool mounted on retractable castors, the kick stool has earned its reputation as a safe, easy to use and convenient step. Here's our top five use cases 1. Garage/workshop  Using a kick step stool in the garage or in a workshop allows you to sit and work comfortably at lower levels, and also easily move the step stool around the site as required. 2. Improved storage  Using a kick step can...


How to Store Gas Cylinders Safely

Knowing how to handle compressed gas storage cylinders safely in the workplace is crucial. Many industries use different types of bottled gas for various purposes, but in the end, the risk they pose is the same. Thousands of gas bottle-related accidents occur annually in workplaces across the country, and many factors can contribute to this. These include poor staff training, incorrect installation and inaccurate filing procedures when handling sensitive compressed gas bottles. Keep reading this quick and handy guide for an overview of how to safely store and handle gas cylinders, as well as all the up-to-date legal guidance surrounding this issue. How should gas cylinders be stored? Gas cylinders should be stored in well-ventilated places, away from areas where there could be...


Top 10 Uses for Rubber Matting

Rubber is one of the world's most versatile substances; you can find it everywhere, from tyres to mechanical seals, hosepipes to conveyor belts, windscreen wipers to wellies. It’s so widely used because it is flexible, waterproof, hardwearing and resistant to oil and chemical damage. As you can imagine, these properties lend themselves exceptionally well to the world of matting and flooring, and so here are our top ten uses for rubber floor matting: 1) Stable Matting Horse and livestock owners love to use rubber stable matting as it provides a significant layer of insulation from cold and damp concrete flooring, provides a little bit of cushioning, which can be good for animal joints, is easy to clean and reduces the amount of...


How to deal with leaks and spillages from IBCs

Intermediate bulk containers, or IBCs, are typically used to store and transport hazardous and non-hazardous chemicals and waste. These reusable, pallet-mounted containers are convenient. However, there is the risk of spillage whenever any liquid is transferred from one container to another. Even with a dedicated, industrial-grade storage unit like an IBC, leakage is risky. The best way to deal with these spills and leaks is proactively by installing an IBC bund to immediately collect and contain the spill or leak before it becomes a hazard. Why should I use an IBC bund? If your business is storing, transferring or transporting bulk liquid chemicals, then a bund is not only extremely useful but is often a legal requirement. With a bund, spills and...


Understanding Hazard Labels and Their Meanings

If you're a manufacturer, importer or distributor of chemicals and gasses, you'll know the importance of using safety signage to correctly label hazardous substances. The vast range of labels to choose from can be confusing for everyone else. Are the colours important? What do the numbers on the labels mean? When do labels need to be used? This guide will provide a good overview of hazard labels, including their uses and meanings.  What are Hazard Labels?    Hazard labels are used to clearly and quickly identify potentially dangerous substances during transport or storage. You will almost always see these on the containers travelling around our roads, in the shape of a diamond with green, red, yellow or white colours.  If the lorry...


Types and Colours of Hazardous Storage Cabinets – Explained

Regardless of the type of industry you operate in or the size of your business, you will likely have to store potentially dangerous chemicals on-site at some time. These can range from obvious hazards like strong acids, pesticides and fuels to the less obvious, like bleaches and cleaning fluids. It is essential to keep these chemicals stored safely and to have well-defined plans for dealing with spills, leaks and dangerous mixtures, both to protect your staff, premises and customers and also to meet legal requirements.  Here are our top tips for the safe storage of hazardous chemicals, along with an overview of the types of dedicated cabinets available.  Basic tips for the safe storage of chemicals  Be proactive. Make a clear and easy-to-follow plan...


A Buyers' Guide to Wheel Clamps

If you’re parking your vehicle long-term or are a caravan or trailer user, you might be considering a wheel clamp to beef up the security of your vehicle. Clamps can be an excellent security device — both as a visual deterrent and an actual preventative — but you need to ensure that you get the right one for your needs. This article aims to give you all the information you should need to buy with confidence. Before proceeding, it is essential to note that if you are operating a private car park or are looking to use a clamp as a punishment measure, you should know that this practice has been largely outlawed since 2012. Ease of use Suppose you are simply...


Are Your Ladders to EN131 Standards?

EN131 standards cover the minimum requirements needed for portable steps and ladders manufactured from metal (and certain other materials such as GRP) to be considered safe to use. These are European committee for standardisation (CEN) harmonised standards which have been put in place to reduce risks and prevent ladder accidents from happening. Recently, these standards have been changed. Keep reading our quick guide to find out how they are different and how this impacts you. When did EN131 Standards change? The change has been spilt into three parts, with the full change coming fully into effect on January 1st, 2019. Part 1 - Terms, Types & Functional sizes (Effective from 1st January 2018) Part 2 – Testing (Effective from 1st...


Choosing the best evacuation chair

An evacuation chair is a very handy piece of equipment, allowing wheelchair users, injured or unconscious people to be evacuated from your premises safely and quickly in an emergency. They are a key piece of Fire Safety Equipment in buildings where workers are situated across multiple floors. There a few different evacuation chairs on the market, with distinct features and specifications, so choosing the right one for you, your staff and your premises can be tricky – but we’re here to help. How do they work? Perhaps the easiest way to think about an evacuation chair is as a combination of a stretcher and a wheelchair. The person who can be strapped securely into the chair and then moved up...


Top Ten Points to Consider When Buying a Sack Truck

Top Ten Points To Consider When Buying a Sack Truck Sack trucks are used in many environments and allow goods to be transported easily across warehouses, shop floors, workshops and other areas. Carrying heavy loads often risks injury, especially when carried by hand. Sack trucks and trolleys are designed to prevent injury and comply with health and safety legislation. Purchasing a sack truck is a big deal. There are many points to consider if you want it to stand the test of time while being reliable and robust enough for daily use. But with so many different options, knowing which one is best for you can be confusing. That's why we've created this handy guide with our top ten factors to consider when buying a sack...


How to Use Sack Trucks Safely

For some businesses, sack trucks are the backbone of efficient work. For others, they simply provide a convenient way of moving goods from A to B. No matter how heavily you rely on sack trucks in your workplace, it is very important to know how to operate them safely. Many workplace injuries occur due to incorrect manual handling, but the good news is that most of these injuries can be avoided. Follow our quick guide on how to use sack trucks safely and avoid unnecessary accidents. What is a sack truck? A sack truck can help you to carry heavy weight loads safely, without having to lift the load on to the trolley itself. It can be used in a...