Did you know on any given day, a visit to any work site in the country will unveil fall protection equipment being used that is potentially dangerous because of wear, neglect, misuse or age/exposure.  The combination of fall hazards not addressed and neglected fall protection equipment is deadly.

 
As declared in WAC 296-24-88050(6), personal fall arrest systems must be on a regular basis inspected.  Any component with any crucial defect, such as cuts, tears, abrasions, mold or undue stretching; alterations or additions which could affect its efficiency; damage due to deterioration, contact with fire, acids or other corrosives; distorted hooks or faulty hook springs; tongues unfitted to the shoulder of buckles; loose or damaged mountings; broken parts; wearying or internal deterioration in the ropes must be withdrawn from service right away , and should be tagged or marked  as unusable, or destroyed.   WHEN IN DOUBTFULNESS THROW IT OUT !

Please note each component in your fall arrest system will have specific inspection criteria and required inspection dates.  For example full body harnesses have tags like these pictured at:  

http://www.osha-safety-regulations.com/fall-protection/fall-arrest-systems-must-be-inspected-regularly

Each tag gives instructions for right on fit, safe fall clearance distances and an inspection grid, that has the  serial publication number of equipment .  These tags are also clearly marked DO NOT REMOVE TAG.  You must    inspect your harness and lanyard before each use; it takes all of three minutes.  A competent person must inspect your harness and lanyard every six months and mark or punch your grid on the tag.  Don’t forget to mark your initial date of service you put it into use.    This is very important if you purchased fall protection equipment and it sat on the shelf in your warehouse for 18 months.  We always mark our harnesses with DOS (date of service):  and the date, so there is no question when these components went into service.

It clearly states in the ANSI A10.32-2004 service life of fall protection equipment manufactured of synthetic fiber shall be five years unless otherwise specified by manufacturer. (from date of 1st use DOS ) and Semi-annual equipment inspection is required .  Who’s responsible for inspection and proper use and training ?  It’s the company or employers responsibility.  Adopt a smart policy; train your employees , inspect your equipment, review job hazards and have a fall protection plan.   Safety Training Works, Inc. can help you .

Call Valerie – (425)531-2246 cell telephone our office  (503)356-0403 ext 210.    

The majority of electric bicycles come in two varieties – throttle activated or pedal activated.

With the pedal activated bicycle the electric bike motor kicks in when you start to pedal. So, not only are these types good for longer distances, but because of the pedaling action, you still get the beneficial exercise too – but without the strain and sweat.

You also get the same benefits from a throttle activated electric bike too. But with this type, you activate the motor with a grip on your handlebars, similar to a motorbike.

The other major component of an electric bicycle is the battery. The type of battery to use depends on the kind of terrain you will be traveling and the riders weight.

So, the main advantages of an electric bike are :

• Riding one will not make you hot and sweaty

• There are no toxic fumes

• The motor is silent

• Running costs are very cheap

It only takes about 3 hours to recharge the battery , and at around 5 cents per charge. You do the recharging from any regular household wall electrical outlet.

A wide range of electric bicycles are available in different styles, sizes and speeds, so you can be sure to find one that is just right for you.

An electric bicycle is ideal for commuting short distances every day . Just think, no more traffic jams, no more high fuel costs and insurance, and no more hunting around for a parking space when you arrive at your destination. And an electric bicycle is ideal when you need to pop to the store for one or two items.

Maybe you are thinking how fast can these bikes go? Well, they can reach a top speed of around 30mph, which is a lot faster than you can go in a car on a traffic congested road. And unlike a car, the cost of maintenance is practically zero .

You do not have to buy an electric bicycle to experience the sheer joy and fun of riding one. If you already have a bike, you can simply upgrade it by fitting one of the easily obtained electric bike conversion kits. These come in various flavors for all types of regular bikes.

Once you have experienced riding an electric bicycle, you will never go back to riding a regular bike – the experience will spoil you for life.

1. Consume Less Gas – you can walk short distances, which is good for you as well as the environment, and will also save you money. When you do need to drive , set up your trips so you may carpool, organize your errands so there is less running around, and make fewer trips to buy necessities.

2. Save Energy to save the environment – remember to turn off the lights when you aren’t in a room. Replace non working ligh bulbs with energy efficient ones, such as compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. These use far less energy than conventional incandescent light bulbs . You can also keep your thermostat set a little cooler in the winter and only use air conditioning if it’s exceptionally hot in the summer months (fans work well the rest of the time).  A programmable thermostat can lessen the demand for energy even more while you are not at home.

3. Conserve Water – water is our most precious and oft taken for granted as a natural resource. Take shorter showers, and turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Don’t buy new bottles of water to drink every day, use a bottle you can carry with you and replenish it as many times as you like using filtered water.

4. Reuse Clothes and Furniture – there’s no shame in purchasing used items that are clean and functional. You can find many such items in like new condition online, at yard sales or in stores that specialize in pre owned goods . Likewise, when you are finished with something don’t just put it in the trash , but give it to someone in need, donate it, or at least sell it.

5. Grocery Shop With Awareness – shop locally whenever possible. There are many farmers’ markets and community supported agriculture centers where you can buy fresh produce and fruits. Buy your meat from local organic farms rather than factories. Reducing meat consumption helps save the environment, as a large amount of energy is needed to raise livestock.

6. Clean With Non-Toxic Products – you can buy green and organic cleaning supplies rather than commercial ones, which are made from harmful chemicals. You can also make your own cleaning sprays from baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar.

7. Reduce Paper Use – do more tasks on the internet to save on paper bills and other paper clutter. Remove yourself from junk mailing lists. Bring your own re-usable bags to the store so you don’t require paper or plastic bags every time you shop.

These are some examples of simple things you can do to save the environment. It mainly takes attention of how the little things you do add up!

Most currently cultivated, commercially grown fruits and veggies are hybrids, basically, plants that have had their genetics altered by cross-breeding or just plain genetic adjustment. They have been bred to be cultives in l vast quantities and to be disease- or drought-resistant, and plus to last a long time when they are transported over vast distances. Therefore, flavor itself has oftentimes been sacrificed to accomodate mass production, long life, and to increase the monetary bottom line. And oftentimes these genetic modifications mean that there might only be a very few different varietyes of specific fruits or vegetables grocery store , replacing the multitude of varieties of the same plant that was previously grown.

Most folks don’t realize that this situation, this “monoculture” as it’s referred to, can put those few varieties in true danger. One monolithic variety could be susceptible to a specific deadly virus, and that whole kind of food could truly become extinct if the disease strikes. On the other hand, having lots of different kinds increases the chance of the survival of the fruit or vegetable, as one breed might fall to a virus which others resist.

For these reasons and lots of others, groups and individuals have arisen that seek to save and increase the food and other plant types that have fallen out of commercial favor. The seeds they save from the growing of these older varieties proceed as organic by definition, because they have not been altered by non-natural means, nor have they been chemically treatedtreated with chemicals. Yet their planting, fertilization, and harvesting could still end up not falling into the “organic” category if pesticides or herbicides are used, or if non-organic techniques are used in the horticulature.

It’s obvious that while heirloom gardening has many of the same goals as organic gardening, they aren’t always one and the same.

The true organic hobby gardener who wishes to grow heirloom varieties will use these preserved seeds, and and will absolutely employ the methods associated with organic gardening on top of that. He or she will avoid the synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, will use natural methods of dealings with insects and other pests, and will always use natural composts and fertilizing techniques to keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients. Even the pollination of the blossoms that produce the fruits or vegetables will be accomplished by “open pollination,” that is, via bees, insects, or the wind. This will result in vigorous seeds that breed true in the succeeding(a) generation, unlike lots of of the hybrids that don’t always produce the same results in the second or third generations.

An organic gardener may plant hybrid varieties, yet use organic methods in the actual gardening. And conversely, an heirloom gardener could begin with organic heirloom seeds, but use non-organic techniques. It’s only when the two are conjunctive that a person is a true organic heirloom gardener.

Most 21st century , commercially grown vegetqables and fruits are hybrids, which is to say , plants that have had their genetics adapted through cross-breeding or outright genetic engineering . They have been bred to for production in big volumes and changed to become disease- or drought-resistant, and so the produce and fruits can last as they are transferred over vast distances. As a result, the flavor has often been sacrificed for the sake of mass production, longevity, and profit . And oft these alterations mean there might only be a few different particular vegetables or fruits on the market , rather than the hundreds of varieties of the same plant that used to exist pmce exosted.

Most people don’t realize that this situation, this “monoculture” as it’s called, can put those few varieties in actual danger. One monolithic variety could be susceptible to a specific deadly virus, and that entire kind of food could actually become extinct if the disease strikes. On the other hand, having many different varieties increases the chance of the survival of the food, as one breed might fall to a virus while others are resistant.

For these reasons and many others, groups and individuals have arisen that seek to preserve and increase the food and other plant varieties that have fallen out of commercial favor. The seeds they save from the growing of these aged varieties start out as organic, by definition, because they have not been altered by non-natural means, nor have they been chemically treated. But their planting, fertilization, and harvesting could still end up not falling into the “organic” category if pesticides or herbicides are used, or if non-organic methods are used in the actual gardening.

So you can see that while heirloom gardening has many of the same goals as organic gardening, they aren’t always identical.

The true organic gardener who wishes to produce heirloom varieties will use these preserved seeds, and then will utilize the methods associated with organic gardening on top of that. He or she will avoid the synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, will use natural methods of dealing with insects and other pests, and will employ natural composts and fertilizing systems to keep the soil healthy and full of nutrients. Even the pollination of the flowers that produce the fruits or vegetables will be completed by “open pollination,” that is, via bees, insects, or the wind. This will result in vigorous seeds that breed true in the future(a) generation, unlike many of the hybrids that don’t always produce the same results in the second or third generation of the plant.

An organic gardener may plant hybrid varieties, yet use organic methods in the actual gardening. And conversely, an heirloom gardener could set out with organic heirloom seeds, but use non-organic methods. It’s only when the two are combined that