Keeping your Children Safe at Home

The home is where children learn and grow, find love, comfort and care and get to see, touch, feel and experience the big world around them. It is therefore of utmot importance that we keep this a wonderful place where children can feel safe.

Here are "10 Tips to keep your Child Safe at Home"

10. Never leave children unattended near water, even if it's "just for a few seconds". It only takes a few seconds for drowning to occur.

9. Keep all cleaning materials and other chemicals away from children. Make sure to install cabinet guards where ever may be necessary.

8. All firearms should be unloaded and locked away in a safe. Talking with children about the dangers of guns is highly important.

7. Keep sleeping areas as clear as possible. An infants nose and mouth can be blocked by fluffy pillows and stuffed animals, restricting their breathing.

6. Cover all electrical outlets & protect children from electrical wires. Cover unused electrical points with plastic covers and repair any damaged wires/appliances.

5. Keep small items and food out of reach. Small items such as grapes, nuts, sweets, coins and jewellery must be stored away from child's reach to prevent accidental choking.

4. Install a smoke detector. If a fire breaks out, families have seconds to escape the smoke, heat and deadly gases.

3. Secure windows, block stairways & lock doors. Accidental falls are on of the most common injuries to young children.

2. Keep children safe around the family pet. Children should be taught to treat the family pet with care. Never leave your child alone with the family pet.

1. Be prepared for an emergency. Know all your local emergency response telephone numbers. Teach them to your children when old enough. Attend a first aid course to learn procedures such as CPR, Heimlich manouver, bandaging etc.

Home inujuries are largely avoidable through education and prevention. Parents can take proactive steps to childproof the home and to keep their children safe by teaching them a few practical rules in relation to the tips above.

Driven Machinery Regulations

We have received many questions in the past regarding what documents need to be in place before training commences on any Driven Machinery as stated in the Driven Machinery Regulations (DMR).

Below is an excerpt from the DMR highlighting all the issues around this.

THE DRIVEN MACHINERY REGULATIONS 18(11) PARAGRAPH 9.2  and 9.3 of the

NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT 85 OF 1993 states:

“9.2 Before commencing training or re-certification training every learner shall provide the accredited training provider with the following:

a.     A declaration or certificate from the employer confirming the medical fitness of the learner to undergo the intended training;

b.     Eye test results issued by a person trained to carry out such tests, confirming that the learner has adequate day and night vision, and depth perception (e.g. Purdue University standard vision test No. 3): Provided that a valid Professional Driver's Permit can also be accepted in lieu of the eye test results; and

c.     Shall wear the required personal protective equipment as prescribed by the employer under the General Safety Regulation 2 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

9.3  All new entrants intended under this code will be required to hold at least a General Education and Training Certificate, Grade 7 and must be at least 18 years of age.”

So there you have it. All the delegates being booked on any of our classes that invlove any machine as stated in the DMR, needs to abide by the terms stated above.

For all your course bookings, feel free to contact one our Client Service Agents on 086 100 7742 oe email skills@srg.co.za.