Top 10 Safe Driving Tips (Cont.)

Last week we brought you tips 10 to 6 from our Top 10 Safe Driving Tips. This week we finish off the list with tips 5 to 1. So buckle up, look left & right, check your blindspots and let's get going.

5. Be Extra Careful in Bad Weather

If you're driving through thick fog, mist, heavy rain, a snow storm or on icy roads, be extra cautious. Drive below the speed limit and make sure you leave extra space between you and other vehicles.

If, for whatever reason, you have gone off the road, switch OFFf your lights. Should the weather not be very clear, when they see your lights, they'll drive towards you thinking you're driving on the road.

4. Don't Follow Too Closely

Always make sure there is enough space between you and the car ahead, leaving enough time for you to react should the car ahead come to a sudden stop or involved in a collission.

It's not always easy to recommend an exact distance, but experts recommend the "3 second rule".

3. Watch Out for the Other Guy

Unfortunately sometimes it doesn't matter how safely you drive, somebody else can always make an error and crash into you. Be prepared for unpredictable lane changes, sudden stops, swerving, unsignaled turns etc.

2. Practice Defensive Driving

Remember that one driver that came flying down the street out of nowhere, cut you off and almost caused a huge accident? We all know THAT GUY... don't be THAT GUY!

Aggressive driving is dangerous driving.


And our Number 1 Safe Driving Tip:

1. Keep Your Vehicle Safe

Vehicle maintenance isn't just a good way to extend your car's life - it's a major safety issue too!

Even though qualified mechanics service your vehicle, it's is still months between these services, so car owners need to be aware of any potential safety issues and get them repaired before they lead to an accident.


So there you have it, the Top 10 Safe Driving Tips. Use it, share it and make the roads we travel daily a safer place!

Top 10 Safe Driving Tips

Driving. An activity that a lot of us are involved in daily. Do we know how to perform this activity safely? We were taught the rights and the wrongs when going through classes and drivers tests, but how long ago was that? Do we still remember it all?

If some of  the questions above made you think a bit, then perhaps take a look at some of the safety tips below. Even if you are confident that you're a safe driver, it is always good to refresh your knowledge & skills.

So here are our Top 10 Safe Driving Tips:

10. Don't Drive Drunk

Most of the accidents on our roads is due to alcohol use. Intoxication reduces reaction time and coordination and lowers inhibitions, which can cause drivers to make foolish decisions.

If you have been drinking, rather ask a sober friend for a ride or call cab. With all the designated driver services available you really do not have an excuse!

9. Don't Speed

"Speed kills". Research shows that for every little bit faster you drive, the likelihood of your being in an accident increases by 4-5%.

Going fast may look like fun but it could cost a life, whether it be yours or someone elses.

8. Avoid Distractions

Texting or talking on your cell phone whilst driving is a big distraction that can reduce reaction time by up to 20%. Other activities such as eating, applying make-up, fiddling with electronic devices and interacting with passengers also divert driver's attention from the road.

"Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel" Jim Morrison.

7. Don't Drive Drowsy

We may think that a few yawns doesn't mean anything, but just being a little tired, drowsy or fatigued can increase your risk of being in an accident. AT highway speeds, one or two seconds of inattention can lead to disaster.

The solution is simple: get a better night's rest. Make sure you regularly get a solid 8 hours sleep every night.

6. Wear Your Seatbelt

If worn properly, seatbelts can prevent you from being thrown around the inside of a crashing vehicle. Event at low-speeds, wearing a seatbelt will prevent from from being propelled into the dashboard or windows shoudl there be an accident.

We all hear stories of people who would have survived if they had not been wearing a seatbelt, but even if true, those stories are exaggerated and also anomilies.


There are tips 10 - 6 that you can think about and apply to your driving. See how many you can stick to. Next week we'll bring you tips 5- 1.

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.

Safety in the Warehouse

All warehouses contain different types of goods, materials and equipment, which operate in different ways too. Safety meetings must be conducted focusing on Occupational Health & Safety standards and regulations. This helps refresh the knowledge the workers gained from their Safety Training and reinforces the safety of workers in the warehouse.

Here are some of the topics to be discussed:


Heavy Lifting Equipment/Driven Machinery

Such equipment includes Fokrlifts, lift trucks, motorized hand trucks, cranes, etc. It is important to ensure that all operators are legally trained and licenced and are aware of the safe operations of the equipment and of the people working around them.


Material Handling and Storage

All workers need to be trained on the safe handling and storage of goods and materials within the warehouse. If the mwarehouse makes use of any hazardous/dangerous materials, all workers handling and transporting such goods needs to be legally trained and licenced as well as made aware of procedures in cases of emergency.


Walking and Working Areas 

Warehouses run a high risk of having debris/obstructions in walkways within storage areas. It is therefore important to ensure that housekeeping policies are put in place and that all workers are trained on and adhere to such policies.


Personal Protective Equipment

Warehouse Safety Meetings is the perfect time to review the regulations for personal protective equipment and to ensure that each worker has the necessary equipment to protect his body. Any damaged or worn-down PPE should be replaced immediately. Make sure all workers know how, when and where to use the correct PPE as required, as well as when return PPE for replacement.


If you have identified any training requirements within your warehouse based on the topics discussed above and require a quote or further assistance, feel free to contact one of our Client Service Agents by calling 086 100 7742 or emailing skills@srg.co.za.

5 Key Elements of Training Employees on Safety

Workplace safety policies are not only designed to ensure that your company complies with national laws, but also allow employees to perform their jobs in a stable work environment. When you train employees on safety, there are five key elements that you should always cover.

PROCEDURES

When your employees know what procedures to follow in an emergency, they can act efficiently to prevent injury and property damage.

Procedures to include would be:

• Procedures for reporting potential safety violations;
• Phone numbers to call in an emergency;
• Different safety signs;
• Emergency alarms & how to respond to them.

EVACUATION

If a building needs to be evacuated in any case of emergency, it puts all employee lives at risk. It is therefore important to focus a little more attention on Building Evacuation.

Each department needs to be trained on its escape route out of the building, how to respond when an evacuation is called for and what process to follow once outside the building.

Remember to designate a safe Emergency Meeting Point outside the building and to develop policies to account for all employees once the building has been evacuated.

IDENTIFICATION

Workplace safety involves any activity that runs the risk of bringing harm to employees. Sexual harassment, physical intimidation, suspicious activity from visitors & fellow employees, verbal & substance abuse are all elements of workplace safety that employees should be familiar with and be able to identify.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

All employees need to understand their personal responsibility to workplace safety as well as the group's responsibility. Each employee should keep his/her work area free from obstructions that can cause accidents. When an employee sees obstructions in the hallway that can cause safety issues, they should either clear the obstructions if they are able to do so safely, or report the obstruction to their manager.

IMPACT

Highlight the importance of workplace safety by emphasizing the impact of time-lost accidents on the company. Show employees how much time-lost accidents cost the company in financial terms in the past, and how those losses affected the company's ability to give raises or hire new employees. This is an important aspect of employee safety training because it helps employees put safety into context of their own financial gain and the future stability of the company.


According to the Occupational Health & Safety Act and  Regulations, there needs to be specific Safety training in place to ensure that you are compliant. For more information and assistance with this, call one of our helpful Client Service Agents on 086 100 7742 or e-mail on skills@srg.co.za.

It's July!

A little motivational from our Training Division Manager, Dalwyn Diesel-Reynolds:

It has been said, that at the brink of death, one’s life flashes before their eyes. Kids, parents, childhood, choices, and work will be all that comforts you when your spirit checks out for the last time.

We, as human beings trying to survive in this world, spend so much time focused on the present, and the future, that we forget to reflect on the past. Neglecting life’s hard little teachings taught to us when we made calculated errors in judgment and choice.

Can any one of us truly say, “ok, I’ve done all I’ve wanted to do and achieved the best I could’ve done! Now lay me to rest"

We base our decisions on what we need now, rather than what will best tomorrow. Choosing to eat those delicious chocolates today, but cursing that decision when the belt had to be loosened for the ever widening waist line.

No one ever thinks of that day, but that day will come. When we will face our past again, stare it straight the face, and await it’s judgment.

How would you react?

A shake of the hand and a pat on the shoulder, with “Well done friend, we did it!” or would it be greeted with a shameful stare to the ground, with a “I’m so sorry, I wish I had another chance!”

Take a second to let that marinade in your thoughts a bit.

Now, right now, we all sit with the good and bad choices we’ve made, the happiness and sorrow we’ve been given and discovered.

And there’s nothing to do with it other than to reflect and learn.

Self-pity and depression must end, and optimism and positivity must take over.

We all sit at different places in the paths of our lives, but right now, all of us have come together in the twist and turns of life’s journeys.

It falls upon us, and only us, to make a success of what we have before us. To form a bond and friendship in the light of a single goal.

To take what we have been given, and make it blossom in the memories of our soon to be past and the ever so charming future.

To work together in unity and excellence, so that one day we can lift our fingers into the air and say, “I was a part of that group!”.

That group everyone will remember as being the best of the best. The group who prided itself as they walked victoriously down the road to success.

The group everyone will whisper to each other in awe and amasement...

the Skills Resource Group.