Uses of Safety Sign Effectively

Colour	Meaning or Purpose	Instruction and Information
Red	Prohibition sign Danger alarm	Dangerous behaviour; stop; shutdown; emergency cut out; evacuation
Yellow Amber	Warning sign	Be careful; take precautions; examine
Blue	Mandatory sign	Specific behaviour or action e.g wear PPE
Green	Emergency escape First aid sign   No danger	Doors; exits; escape routes; equipment and facilities   Return

Prohibition Signs. 

Signs that indicate that an action or activity is not permitted. Prohibition signs indicate an action or behavior that is not permitted. The sign is shown as a Red Circle with a red slash over a black icon of the action. Text is black on a white background.

Mandatory Signs. 

Signs that indicate that an instruction must be carried out. Mandatory signs provide specific instructions that MUST be carried out. The icons are in white reversed out of a blue circle. Text is black on a white background.

Danger Signs. 

Signs warning of a particular hazard or hazardous condition that is likely to be life-threatening. Danger signs communicate a hazard, condition or situation that is likely to be life threatening. The sign is shown as the word Danger on a red oval over a black rectangle. Text is black on a white background.

Warning Signs. 

Safety Signs warning of a hazard or hazardous condition that is not likely to be life-threatening. Warning signs warn of hazards or conditions that are not likely life threatening. These Safety Signs consist of a black triangle and icon on a yellow background with supporting black text if required.

Fire Safety Signs. 

Fire safety signs advise the location of fire alarms and firefighting equipment. They contain white symbols and/or text on a red background.

Emergency Signs. 

Emergency signs indicate the location of, or directions to emergency facilities (Exits, First Aid,  Safety Equipment etc.) These signs feature a white symbol and/or text on a green background.

General Information Signs. 

These signs are not referred to in AS 1319:1994 however are available due to popular demand (Notice Signs, Parking Signs etc.) They communicate information of a general nature and often refer to housekeeping, company practices or logistics.

 

 

Traffic Signs

Traffic signs and road markings are silent speakers to the road users. Every road user should know the marking and signs on the road and the meaning there of. Many different traffic signs are to be seen on the roads. They give advance information about road conditions ahead. Road markings also give orders, warning or guidance to drivers or riders. Learn the meaning of these signs and markings and look out for them when on the road. You will not then be surprised by a bend, a one-way street or a junction ahead. Good drivers and riders are always prepared.

Mandatory Signs:

These signs are used to inform road users of certain laws and regulations to provide safety and free flow of traffic. These include all signs which give notice of special obligation, prohibition or restrictions with which the road user must comply. The violation of these signs is a legal offence. Some of the signs, which fall under this category, are provided as follows.

 

 

Cautionary Signs:

These signs are used to warn the road users of the existence of certain hazardous condition either on or adjacent to the roadway, so that the motorists are cautious and take the desired action. Some of the signs, which fall under this category, are provided as follows.

 

Informatory Signs:

These signs are used to guide road users along routes, inform them about destination and distance, identify points of geographical and historical interest and provide other information that will make the road travel easier, safe and pleasant.

417 Fire Ocurrences in Lagos within 2 months

LAGOS State has recorded at least 417 fire incidents and other emergencies in the first two months of 2015, destroying property worth billions of Naira. Vanguard newspaper gathered that the Lagos State Fire Service has responded to 10 fire disasters within the first eight days of March.

This came barely a week after the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA said that 1,064 persons were displaced by major fire disasters recorded in Lagos. The state had in 2014 recorded over 1,621 fire incidents and 1,537 fire incidents occurred in the state in 2013. A breakdown of the statistics showed that the state recorded 263 fire incidents and others in January. And in February,154 were recorded. March disasters In March, one of the fire disasters occurred at 12b Ereko Street, Lagos Island, where a 3 storey building stacked with textiles materials was razed. On March 2, another serious fire outbreak occurred at Baruwa village, Igboefon, Eti-Osa Local Council where the topmost floor of a two storey building was razed, destroying properties worth several millions of Naira. Four days into the month, fire engulfed the state Magistrate Court, at Igbosere. The fire burned Court 13 on the fourth floor, destroying furniture and other electronic appliances in the court room. Also on the fourth day, a storey building at ADRAO International School located beside Nigerian Television Authority, NTA at Victoria Island was razed. On the fifth day, Ewutuntun Grammar School, in Mafoluku axis of the state was engulfed and furniture were destroyed. On March 8, a local rubber processing company at Gberigbe road, Ikorodu and a shop on the 1st floor of a four storey building at 23 Obun-Eko Street, Lagos Island were razed.

Speaking on the state of fire disasters in the state, the Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasaq Fadipe said that the above statistics represent the number of fire incidents and other disasters they responded to. He blamed residents for the increase saying, “larger percentage of the disasters was due to unprofessional handling of domestic equipment especially gas cookers.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/lagos-417-fire-incidents-others-in-two-months/
  

Ladders: Safe Use of Ladders

Employees should follow certain rules when placing, ascending, and descending ladders which include:

• Hold on with both hands when going up or down. If material must be handled, raise or lower it with a rope either before going down or after climbing to the desired level.

• Always face the ladder when ascending or descending.

• Never slide down a ladder.

• Be sure shoes are not greasy, muddy, or slippery before climbing.

• Do not climb higher than the third rung from the top on straight or extension ladder, or the second tread from the top on stepladders.

• Carry tools on a tool belt not in the hand.

• Never lean too far to the sides. Keep your belt buckle within the side rails.

• Use a 4 to 1 ratio when leaning a single or extension ladder. (place a 12 foot ladder so that the bottom is 3 feet away from the object the ladder is leaning against.)

• Inspect ladder for defects before using.

• Never use a defective ladder. Tag or mark it so that it will be repaired or destroyed.

• Never splice or lash a short ladder together.

• Never use makeshift ladders, such as cleats fastened across a single rail.

• Be sure that a stepladder is fully open and the metal spreader locked before starting to climb.

• Keep ladders clean and free from dirt and grease.

• Never use ladders during a strong wind except in an emergency and then only when they are securely fastened.

• Never leave placed ladders unattended.

• Never use ladders as guys, braces, or skids, or for any other purpose other than their intended purposes.

• Never attempt to adjust a ladder while a user is standing on the ladder.

• Never jump from a ladder. Always dismount from the bottom rung.

Ladders

Ladders are used when employees need to move up or down between two different levels. Slips, trips, and falls are significant contributors to accidents. Slips, trips, and falls can occur when wrong ladder selection is made and when improper climbing techniques and/or defective ladders are used.

Appropriate ladders must be used for the corresponding job and defective ladders will not be used. When hazards exist that cannot be eliminated, then engineering practices, administrative practices, safe work practices, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and proper training regarding ladders must be implemented.

Basic Ladder Safety Rules:

• All wood parts must be free from sharp edges and splinters; sound and free from accepted visual inspection from shake, wane, compression failures, decay, or other irregularities.

• Ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times, the joint between the steps and side rails must be tight, all hardware and fittings securely attached, and the movable parts shall operate freely without binding or undue play.

• Metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys, etc., shall be frequently lubricated.

• Ladders must be inspected frequently and those which have developed defects must be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged or marked as "Dangerous, Do Not Use." 

• Ladders with broken or missing steps, rungs, or cleats, broken side rails, or other faulty equipment shall not be used; improvised repairs are not allowed.

Information on Cholera

With the recent outbreak of cholera in some states in Nigeria, please read here... I want to enlighten us on what cholera is and all its prevention and cure.

Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated. It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholerae.

Cholera Causes

Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera, is usually found in food or water contaminated by faeces from a person with the infection. Common sources include:

• Municipal water supplies
• Ice made from municipal water
• Foods and drinks sold by street vendors
• Vegetables grown with water containing human wastes
• Raw or undercooked fish and seafood caught in waters polluted with sewage

When a person consumes the contaminated food or water, the bacteria release a toxin in the intestines that produces severe diarrhea.

It is not likely you will catch cholera just from casual contact with an infected person.

Cholera Symptoms

 

Symptoms of cholera can begin as soon as a few hours or as long as five days after infection. Often, symptoms are mild. But sometimes they are very serious. About one in 20 people infected have severe watery diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, which can quickly lead to dehydration. Although many infected people may have minimal or no symptoms, they can still contribute to spread of the infection.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Loss of skin elasticity (the ability to return to original position quickly if pinched)
• Dry mucous membranes, including the inside of the mouth, throat, nose, and eyelids
• Low blood pressure
• Thirst
• Muscle cramps

If not treated, dehydration can lead to shock and death in a matter of hours.

Cholera Treatment and Prevention

Although there is a vaccine against cholera, the CDC and World Health Organization don't normally recommend it, because it may not protect up to half of the people who receive it and it lasts only a few months. 

However, you can protect yourself and your family by using only water that has been boiled, water that has been chemically disinfected, or bottled water. Be sure to use the bottled, boiled, or chemically disinfected water for the following purposes:

• Drinking
• Preparing food or drinks
• Making ice
• Brushing your teeth
• Washing your face and hands
• Washing dishes and utensils that you use to eat or prepare food
• Washing fruits and vegetables

To disinfect your own water, boil it for one minute (or 3 minutes at higher elevations) or filter it and use a commercial chemical disinfectant. You should also avoid raw foods, including the following:

• Unpeeled fruits and vegetables
• Unpasteurized milk and milk products
• Raw or undercooked meat or shellfish
• Fish caught in tropical reefs, which may be contaminated

If you develop severe, watery diarrhea and vomiting -- particularly after eating raw shellfish or traveling to a country where cholera is epidemic -- seek medical help immediately. Cholera is highly treatable, but because dehydration can happen quickly, it's important to get cholera treatment right away.

Hydration is the mainstay of treatment for cholera. Depending on how severe the diarrhea is, treatment will consist of oral or intravenous solutions to replace lost fluids. Antibiotics, which kill the bacteria, are not part of emergency treatment for mild cases.  But they can reduce the duration of diarrhea by half and also reduce the excretion of the bacteria, thus helping to prevent the spread of the disease.

Symptoms of Cholera

LSSC TAKES SAFETY CAMPAIGN TO JETTIES

In its resolve to stem the tide of boat mishaps, injury or deaths, the Lagos Safety Commission (LSSC) has taken its safety campaign to various jetties in the State.

Flagging off the campaign at the Tazan Boat jetty, Lekki,  the Director General, of the Commission, Mrs. Dominga Odebunmi stated that the exercise is to deliberate on operational challenges and way forward.

According to Odebunmi, safety is a critical tool for development and protection of lives and proprieties, stressing that boating, which entails the use of canoes for fishing and transportation, has been part of the cultural heritage of Lagosians.
The Director General said further that the decision to embark on safety advocacy was necessitated by the unfortunate boat disaster in Majidun area of Ikorodu  in which no fewer than 18 people lost their lives last year.

Odebunmi emphasised the need for operators to maintain their boats and jetties for safe operations.
She also called on boat operators and passengers alike to abide by laws guiding boat operations in the state and to avail themselves of boating courses and other modern techniques in boat operation to ensure safety of lives and properties on Lagos waters.

Reiterating the State Government’s decision to reduce accidents to the barest minimum, Odebunmi stressed that the Commission is empowered by law to regulate safety activities through policy formulation, advocacy, research, standard setting as well as quality assurance and monitoring, among others.

Also speaking, Dr. Mashileya of Gani Tazan Marine Enterprises noted that the number of boat mishaps have reduced as a result of the state government’s determination and cooperation with boat operators in the state.

While imploring government to provide ambulances on waterways, he urged operators to ensure that passengers wear their life jackets before embarking on boat ride.

Mr. Ajayi Michael, Deputy Director, Lagos State Fire Service spoke of the need to be safety conscious always, giving assurance that the state Fire Service will soon commence operations on the waterways as the state government recently commissioned 34 fire fighting vehicles as part of its resolve to combat fire incidence.

An official of LASWA, Mr. Bayo explained that the decision to discourage  night trips  by government  had become imperative because  a good number of boat mishaps  occurred at night.

He therefore solicited for the cooperation of operators in respect of regular inspection of vessels, maintenance of life jackets and the need to discourage over loading.

A jetty in Lagos

CMS Jetty