Safety Mobile Phone:Heavy Use of Mobile Phones Increases Cancer Risk, Study Finds

Heavy users of wireless mobile phones face increased risks of developing severe brain tumors, according to the most comprehensive study ever conducted on the possible link between cancer and the long-term use of cellular telephones.

Researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life and the University of Oerebro compared the mobile phone use of 4,400 people—half of them cancer patients, and the other half healthy people who made up the control group—and made some disturbing discoveries. [The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has since questioned the results of this study. For information, see FDA Questions Results of Study Linking Mobile Phones and Cancer.]

Heavy Mobile Phone Use Increases Cancer Risk

According to Kjell Hansson Mild, who led the study, heavy users of mobile phones have a 240 percent increased risk of developing a malignant tumor on the side of the head where they press the phone to their ear.

Published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, the study defines “heavy use” as 2,000 hours of mobile phone use in the course of a decade, which "corresponds to 10 years' use in the work place for one hour per day."

Of the 2,200 cancer patients in the study, who ranged in age from 20 to 80 years old, 905 had a malignant brain tumor and just under one-tenth of that number were heavy mobile phone users.

"Of these 905 cases, 85 were so-called high users of mobile phones, that is they began early to use mobile and/or wireless telephones and used them a lot," said the authors of the study in a statement issued by the Institute.

In addition, the study concluded that early users, defined as people who started using a mobile phone before age 20, are also at greater risk of developing a malignant brain tumor.

The study also took into account factors such as smoking habits, working history and exposure to other known cancer-causing agents.

Limit Mobile Calls and Use Handsfree Options

Hansson Mild advised that the best ways for consumers to lower their risk of cancer related to mobile phones are to use their wireless phones less frequently and to use handsfree options when they do make or receive mobile calls. He said the research report about the study is not intended to cause public alarm or to raise concerns about widespread risk for the majority of people who use mobile phones.

"It does however give reason to use caution when calling on wireless phones,” he said in an interview with Dow Jones. “Use handsfree and avoid wireless when possible.”

Swedish Study Breaks New Ground

The Swedish study is the first to show a significant link between long-term mobile phone use and cancer. Previous studies found no evidence that radiation from mobile phones is harmful, but those earlier studies looked at mobile phone use among fewer people over a shorter time.

The Swedish study is the largest and most comprehensive to date. Also, people in Sweden have been using mobile phones since 1984, longer than people in many other countries, so getting a large sample of people who have been using cellular telephones for a long time was relatively easy.

Phone Safety:Cell Phone Recycling: How to Recycle Your Old Cell Phone

As cell phones proliferate they are giving computers and monitors some competition for the dubious distinction as the largest contributor to the world’s growing e-waste problem. Indeed, toxin-laden electronics are clogging landfills and polluting air and groundwater supplies from coast to coast.

Cell Phones are Among the Fastest Growing Types of Trash

The average North American gets a new cell phone every 18 to 24 months, making old phones—many that contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, brominated flame retardants and arsenic—the fastest growing type of manufactured garbage in the nation. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans discard 125 million phones each year, creating 65,000 tons of waste.

Convenient Recycling Support for Cell Phone Users

Luckily, a new breed of electronics recyclers is stepping in to help. Call2Recycle, a nonprofit organization, offers consumers and retailers in the United States and Canada simple ways to recycle old phones. Consumers can enter their zip code on the group’s website and be directed to a drop box in their area. Most major electronics retailers, from Radio Shack to Office Depot, participate in the program and offer Call2Recycle drop-boxes in their stores. Call2Recycle recovers the phones and sells them back to manufacturers, which either refurbish and resell them or recycle their parts for use in making new products.

Recycling Cell Phones for Charity and to Help Developing Countries

The CollectiveGood organization takes used cell phones, refurbishes them, and then re-sells them to distributors and carriers for use primarily in developing countries, providing affordable communications to poorer citizens while helping to “bridge the digital divide.” They also recycle all non-functioning batteries through a partnership with the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation. When you donate your phone to CollectiveGood you can direct the profits from the sales to a charity of your choice.

Changing Attitudes about Cell Phone Recycling

Another player is ReCellular, which manages the in-store collection programs for Bell Mobility, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, Best Buy and Verizon. The company also maintains partnerships with Easter Seals, the March of Dimes, Goodwill Industries and other nonprofits that undertake cell phone collection drives as a way of funding their charitable work. According to ReCellular vice-president Mike Newman, the company is trying to change attitudes about used cell phones, to get consumers to “automatically think of recycling cell phones just as they currently do with paper, plastic or glass.

States and Provinces Lead the Way on Mandatory Cell Phone Recycling

Neither the United States nor Canada mandates electronics recycling of any kind at the federal level, but a few states and provinces are getting into the act at their own initiative. California recently passed the first cell phone recycling law in North America. As of July 1, 2006, electronics retailers doing business there must have a cell phone recycling system in place in order to legally sell their products, whether online or in-store. Other U.S. states considering similar legislation include Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia, while the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are likely to jump on the mandatory cell phone recycling bandwagon soon.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

Are Cell Phones and Microwave Radiation Really Unhealthy? :Seo Safety

Since the middle of the last century, technological advancements in telecommunications and other industries have led to significant increases in the use of radio frequencies. Equipment employing microwave and radio waves is today widely used not just in broadcasting and communications, but also in the health care industry, the food industry, and in a host of other industries in a wide range of applications.

Evidence Raises Concerns About Cell Phones and Microwave Exposure

Health advocates have worried for decades that exposure to frequencies emanating from these many sources might be harmful. And the ubiquity of such technology today--especially considering the quantum leap in cell phone usage in recent years--only makes such concerns that much more pressing.

How Do Cell Phones Affect Your Health?

Various studies researching the health effects of cell phone use have yielded mixed results. Some studies suggested a link between exposure to radiation from cell phones and an increased risk of acoustic neuroma--a tumor of the nerve connecting the ear to the brain--but more recent research found no such links.

The issue is primarily heat. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Department of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), “As high frequency radio frequency radiation…penetrates the body, the exposed molecules move about and collide with one another causing friction and, thus, heat…If the radiation is powerful enough, the tissue or skin will be heated or burned.”

According to CWA, “there is substantial scientific data that establishes negative health effects associated with microwave radiation.” CWA cites cataracts as one possible negative health effect from prolonged exposure, as well as well as nervous system damage and even reproductive problems in both males and females. This issue was in the news in 1992 over the issue of the safety of police radar devices, but subsequent studies were inconclusive.

Young Cell Phone Users May See Negative Effects in Middle Age As to cell phones, the results of a study recently published in the academic journal Environmental Health Perspectives do not bode well for habitual chatterers. Researchers documented brain damage in laboratory rats exposed to radio frequencies from cell phones at levels comparable to what people would experience during normal use. The study’s authors expressed concern that “after some decades of (often) daily use, a whole generation of [cell phone] users may suffer negative effects, perhaps as early as middle age.”

How Do Cell Phones Affect the Environment?

The environmental effects of radio frequencies are also largely unclear. Migrating birds have been known to fly right into cell phone and other communications towers. Some blame the radiation emanating from such towers for disorienting the birds and undermining their navigational abilities. Others chalk such incidents up to poor visibility associated with bad weather and nothing more.

Some farmers have observed that cows grazing near cell towers are more likely to experience still births, spontaneous abortions, birth deformities and behavioral problems, not to mention general declines in overall health. Moving cattle herds away from such towers has reportedly led to immediate health improvements.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

Safety Google : General Tractor Safety

Guidelines for Safe Tractor Operations

1. Be sure the tractor is properly serviced. Check lubrication, fuel and water. Check the radiator level when the tractor is cold. If you must check it when hot, use extreme care.
2. Never refuel your tractor while the engine is running. Static electricity, a spark from the ignition system, or a hot exhaust can cause the fuel to ignite. To reduce the static electricity problem, ground the tractor with a ground wire or by dropping mounted equipment so it contacts the ground.
3. Always fuel your tractor outside and store your fuel outside. Store fuel at least 40 feet from any building. Keep the area free of weeds or other burnable material.
4. Carry a first aid kit and approved dry chemical extinguisher. Tractors should have at least a five-pound extinguisher.
5. Be sure of good ventilation before starting the tractor engine. Exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, which is odorless, colorless and deadly.
6. Keep small children away from tractors. Tractors are designed to carry only one person -- the driver. Each year small children are killed by falling from the tractor. Their chance of being killed is just as great when they are allowed to ride on trailing equipment.
7. Keep wheels spread wide whenever possible. A tractor will overturn sideways much more easily if the wheels are close together. When wheels must be moved in for narrow row farming, use extra caution, especially when traveling at higher speeds on roads.
8. Reduce speed before turning. Doubling the speed of a farm tractor quadruples the danger of upsetting sideways. Centrifugal force tries to keep the tractor in a straight line. If you try to turn at a high rate of speed, the tractor will attempt to go straight rather than turn.
9. Reduce speed when using a loader. A loader in the raised position can increase the possibilities of overturns. Keep the loader as close to the ground as possible. Be alert for ditches, rocks or holes that might cause the tractor to overturn. The center of gravity is affected if the load is kept too high in the air.
10. Stop the engine before getting off the tractor. Operators can be killed by a tractor when the tractor has been left running with the operator off the seat, leaving when it has been put in gear, parked, or had the brakes locked.
11. Never hitch to the axle or other high point. Always hitch to the drawbar, take up slack slowly, and never jerk on chains or cables. Broken parts of a chain can act like shrapnel, and a cable can cut the legs from under a person. Nylon ropes have killed tractor operators and bystanders when the rope broke away from an implement. The stored energy in the rope catapults the rope end into the victim. Tractors also can upset backwards when pushing or using a front end loader, or when hitched to the front end by chains or cables that pass under the back axle. Keep the hitch as low as possible, preferably 17 inches. Never get above 21 inches.
12. Be extremely careful when driving up an incline. A tractor can upset if the center of gravity moves behind where the rear wheels are in contact with the ground. Try to back up if it's necessary to get up the incline. If you get caught on a steep incline, back down very slowly and apply the brakes lightly. Weight on the front of the tractor will help.
13. Disengage the power take-off when it's not in use. Use the power shield whenever equipment is in use. If you do not have a PTO shield, make one -- it may save your life.
14. Do not wear loose clothing while operating a tractor. Loose clothing can catch on moving parts and cause an accident.
15. Keep the tractor in gear when going down hill. This allows the tractor engine to serve as a brake. In Nebraska, it's unlawful to coast down a hill with the vehicle out of gear. Some tractors may have "free wheeling" in their transmission drive. Make sure this type of transmission is put in direct drive before attempting to use the engine as a brake.
16. Engage the clutch gently, especially when going uphill. "Jackrabbit" starts are dangerous to both the operator and the tractor.
17. Never attach a post or log to the rear wheels when the tractor is stuck in the mud. If the wheels are not free to turn, the tractor can pivot around the axle and upset. Try to back out. If this does not work, get another tractor to pull you out.
18. Follow all traffic rules on open roads. This includes proper lighting, hand signals, right-of-way, etc. Tractors may not use interstate highways.
19. Do not use a tractor for a job it wasn't designed to do. The tractor was designed as a source of power to do field work. It was not designed for chasing cattle, drag racing, or transportation to and from town.

Safety Rules When Using Tractor Attachments

• Keep all shields and guards in place. Do not operate equipment with missing shields or guards.
• Shut off engine and be sure implement motion has stopped before performing adjustments or maintenance.
• For some attachments, use counterweight for stability.
• Lift rear-mounted attachments and drive slowly when making sharp turns.
• Raise and lower attachments slowly and smoothly.

FDA Safety:FDA Questions Results of Study Linking Mobile Phones and Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is questioning the results of a Swedish study that claims to provide the first scientific evidence of an increased risk of brain cancer among people who use mobile phones.

Swedish researchers reported in March 2006 that the heavy use of mobile phones over a long period can increase the risk of malignant brain tumors by as much as 240 percent. [See, “Heavy Use of Mobile Phones Increases Cancer Risk, Study Finds”]

FDA Questions Study Findings and Methods

In a statement published on its Web site, the FDA said these findings “are difficult to interpret” and contradict a number of earlier studies that found no definitive link between cancer and mobile phone use. The FDA also questioned the methods used in the Swedish study, which relied on mailed questionnaires and follow-up telephone interviews rather than in-person evaluations.

The FDA said it “plans to convene a meeting in the near future to evaluate research conducted to date in this area and identify gaps in knowledge that warrant additional research.” No date was given for when that meeting might take place. The agency said it also “continues to monitor studies looking at possible heath effect resulting from exposure to radio frequency energy.”

Wireless Industry Welcomes FDA Skepticism About Study

An representative for the mobile phone industry, interviewed by Reuters, said most scientists already have concluded wireless mobile phones are safe.

"When you objectively look at the enormous body of science that exists, you have to conclude that there is no evidence of adverse health effects," said Joe Farren, spokesman for CTIA, a wireless industry trade association.

No Study Offers Conclusive Proof of Mobile Phone Danger or Safety

What both the FDA and the mobile phone industry failed to say, however, is that while no previous studies have shown a clear link between mobile phone use and increased risk of brain cancer, neither have they ruled it out.

Mobile phones have quickly become a common form of communication for people worldwide--perhaps too quickly to accurately assess the long-term health effects. In the United States alone, the number of mobile phone users reached 208 million in 2005, up from 340,213 in 1985, according to CTIA.

In the absence of irrefutable proof that prolonged exposure to radiation from mobile phones does not pose a health risk, it seems reasonable to take precautions. And that’s what the authors of the Swedish study advised in their published report and subsequent interviews with the news media.

Exercise Caution When Using Mobile Phones

According to Kjell Hansson Mild, who led the study, the research report is not intended to cause public alarm or to raise concerns about widespread risk for the majority of people who use mobile phones.

"It does however give reason to use caution when calling on wireless phones,” he said in an interview with Dow Jones.

Hansson Mild advised that the best ways for consumers to lower their risk of cancer related to mobile phones are to use their wireless phones less frequently and to use hands-free options when they do make or receive mobile calls.

What is Hot Tapping ? : safety/hot-tapping

What is a Hot Tap and why it is made?

Hot Taps or Hot Tapping is the ability to safely tie into a pressurized system, by drilling or cutting, while it is on stream and under pressure.

Typical connections consist:

• Tapping fittings like Weldolet®, Reinforced Branch or Split Tee.
• Split Tees often to be used as branch and main pipe has the same diameters.
• Isolation Valve like gate or Ball Valve.
• Hot tapping machine which includes the cutter, and housing.

Mechanical fittings may be used for making hot taps on pipelines and mains provided they are designed for the operating pressure of the pipeline or main, and are suitable for the purpose.

• Design: ANSI B31.1, B31.3, ANSI B31.4 & B31.8, ASME Sec. VIII Div.1 & 2
• Fabrication: ASME Sec. VIII Div.1
• Welding: ASME Sec. IX
• NDT: ASME Sec. V

There are many reasons to made a Hot Tap. While is preferred to install nozzles during a turnaround, installing a nozzle with equipment in operation is sometimes advantageous, especially if it averts a costly shut down. 

Remarks before made a Hot Tap

• A hot tap shall not be considered a routine procedure, but shall be used only when there is no practical alternative.
• Hot Taps shall be installed by trained and experienced crews.
• It should be noted that hot tapping of sour gas lines presents special health and metallurgical concerns and shall be done only to written operating company approved plans.
• For each hottap shall be ensured that the pipe that is drilled or sawed has sufficient wall thickness, which can be measured with ultrasonic thickness gauges. The existing pipe wall thickness (actual) needs to be at least equal to the required thickness for pressure plus a reasonable thickness allowance for welding. If the actual thickness is barely more than that required for pressure, then loss of containment at the weld pool is a risk.
• Welding on in-service pipelines requires weld procedure development and qualification, as well as a highly trained workforce to ensure integrity of welds when pipelines are operating at full pressure and under full flow conditions. 

Hot Tap setup

For a hot tap, there are three key components necessary to safely drill into a pipe; the fitting, the Valve, and the hot tap machine. The fitting is attached to the pipe, mostly by welding. In many cases, the fitting is a Weldolet® where a flange is welded, or a split tee with a flanged outlet (see image above).

Onto this fitting, a Valve is attached, and the hot tap machine is attached to the Valve (see images on the right). For hot taps, new studbolts, gaskets and a new Valve should always be used when that components will become part of the permanent facilities and equipment.

The fitting/Valve combination, is attached to the pipe, and is normally pressure tested. The pressure test is very important, so as to make sure that there are no structural problems with the fitting, and so that there are no leaks in the welds.

The hot tap cutter, is a specialized type of hole saw, with a pilot bit in the middle, mounted inside of a hot tap adapter housing.

The hot tap cutter is attached to a cutter holder, with the pilot bit, and is attached to the working end of the hot tap machine, so that it fits into the inside of the tapping adapter. The tapping adapter will contain the pressure of the pipe system, while the pipe is being cut, it houses the cutter, and cutter holder, and bolts to the Valve.

Hot Tap operation

The Hot Tap is made in one continuous process, the machine is started, and the cut continues, until the cutter passes through the pipe wall, resulting in the removal of a section of pipe, known as the "coupon". The coupon is normally retained on one or more u-wires, which are attached to the pilot bit. Once the cutter has cut through the pipe, the hot tap machine is stopped, the cutter is retracted into the hot tap adapter, and the Valve is closed.

Pressure is bled off from the inside of the Tapping Adapter, so that the hot tap machine can be removed from the line. The machine is removed from the line, and the new service is established.

Hot Tap Coupon

The Coupon, is the section of pipe that is removed, to establish service. It is very highly desirable to "retain" the coupon, and remove it from the pipe, and in the vast majority of hot taps, this is the case. Please note, short of not performing the hot tap, there is no way to absolutely guarantee that the coupon will not be "dropped".

Coupon retention is mostly the "job" of the u-wires. These are wires which run through the pilot bit, and are cut and bent, so that they can fold back against the bit, into a relief area milled into the bit, and then fold out, when the pilot bit has cut through the pipe.

In almost all cases, multiple u-wires are used, to act as insurance against losing the coupon.

Line Stopping

Line Stops, sometimes called Stopples (Stopple® is a trademark of TD Williamson Company) start with a hot tap, but are intended to stop the flow in the pipe. Line Stops are of necessity, somewhat more complicated than normal hot taps, but they start out in much the same way. A fitting is attached to the pipe, a hot tap is performed as previously detailed. Once the hot tap has been completed, the Valve is closed, then another machine, known as a line stop actuator is installed on the pipe. The line stop actuator is used to insert a plugging head into the pipe, the most common type being a pivot head mechanism. Line stops are used to replace Valves, fittings and other equipment. Once the job is done, pressure is equalized, and the line stop head is removed. The Line Stop Fitting has a specially modified flange, which includes a special plug, that allows for removal of the Valve. There are several different designs for these flanges, but they all work pretty much the same, the plug is inserted into the flange through the Valve, it is securely locked in place, with the result that the pressure can be bled off of the housing and Valve, the Valve can then be removed, and the flange blinded off.

Line Stop setup

The Line Stop Setup includes the hot tap machine, plus an additional piece of equipment, a line stop actuator. The Line Stop Actuator can be either mechanical (screw type), or hydraulic, it is used, to place the line stop head into the line, therefore stopping the flow in the line.

The Line Stop Actuator is bolted to a Line Stop Housing, which has to be long enough to include the line stop head (pivot head, or folding head), so that the Line Stop Actuator, and Housing, can be bolted to the line stop Valve. Line stops often utilize special Valves, called Sandwich Valves.

Line Stops are normally performed through rental Valves, owned by the service company who performs the work, once the work is completed, the fitting will remain on the pipe, but the Valve and all other equipment is removed.

Line Stop operation

A Line Stop starts out the same way as does a Hot Tap, but a larger cutter is used,. The larger hole in the pipe, allows the line stop head to fit into the pipe. Once the cut is made, the Valve is closed the hot tap machine is removed from the line, and a line stop actuator is bolted into place.

New gaskets are always to be used for every setup, but "used" studs and nuts are often used, because this operation is a temporary operation, the Valve, machine, and actuator are removed at the end of the job. New studs, nuts, and gaskets should be used on the final completion, when a blind flange is installed outside of the completion plug.

The line stop actuator is operated, to push the plugging head (line stop head), down, into the pipe, the common pivot head, will pivot in the direction of the flow, and form a stop, thus stopping the flow in the pipe.

Completion Plug

In order to remove the Valve used for line stop operations, a completion plug is set into the line stop fitting flange (Completion Flange).

There are several different types of completion flange/plug sets, but they all operate in basically the same manner, the completion plug and flange are manufactured, so as to allow the flange, to accept and lock into place, a completion plug.

This completion plug is set below the Valve, once set, pressure above the plug can be bled off, and the Valve can then be removed.

Once the plug has been properly positioned, it is locked into place with the lock ring segments, this prevents plug movement, with the o-ring becoming the primary seal.

Safety Radiation:What you need to know about Cell Phone Radiation and Health Risks

In the year 2000, a Maryland doctor, Chris Newman, filed an $800 million lawsuit against Motorola and Verizon. He claims using his cellular phone caused his brain cancer. That striking story, and other recent events, suggest that the rules are changing in the cellular world. Will public pressure force cell phone makers to do something about their phone's radiation?

Ironically, the cell phone radiations issue has started exactly the same way: According to Newsweek, in 1993, a man alleged that his wife had died of brain cancer from cell-phone use. He then sued the manufacturer but the case was dismissed.

But since then, many other newsstories have been published on cell phone risks and manufacturers are probably starting to sense the public's worries, since we now see initiatives coming from the industry. At the beginning of July, shortly after the World Health Organization (WHO) called for more cell phone studies, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) announced that phone makers would be starting to include radiation level information on their products, thus potentially allowing us to select a phone depending on its radiation level.

It's an important step, compared to their traditional attitude, which has always been to say: "There is no proof that cell phones involve a health risk." No proof... yes, but does that mean there are no risks? Certainly not! There might be risks but we can't prove it yet, and that's all their "reassuring" statements say.

What we really need is more studies... and stronger studies. There have been some but their scientific method is criticized. The stronger the upcoming studies, the more useful they will be. It's a very open field for researchers cause there are many things we need to know: do the phones harm us?; What about the base stations?; Are protective devices efficient?; Is this less damageable to wear your phone at your belt and use a headset?

In my opinion, we will soon see tens of initiatives burgeoning among the industry itself. As concerns about health risks raise and news stories continue to pile up, phone makers and network operators will have to do something else than just say "There is no proof" if they want to meet their exponential growth forecasts... It is said that worldwide cell phone users will skyrocket from 450 million in 1999 to 1.2 billion by 2003!

Such a market should motivate them to find workable solutions quickly if they don't want their potential customers to change their mind... before they boil it.

Go on to "The Headset Controversy" and find out why some now believe using a headsets is not a solution and can even be more dangerous!

Safety Smoke:Secondhand Smoke: The Basics of Secondhand Smoke and Its Effect on Human Health

What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is a byproduct of cigarette, cigar or pipe smoking. Secondhand smoke occurs when tobacco burns or when smokers exhale, and it is inhaled involuntarily by non-smokers.

Secondhand smoke is composed of two types of smoke. The first is called sidestream smoke, which is the smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette or cigar, or from tobacco burning in the bowl of a pipe. The second is called mainstream smoke, which is exhaled by a smoker.

Why is secondhand smoke dangerous?

When nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, they inhale many of the same cancer-causing chemicals that smokers inhale. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, including more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals, and at least 250 chemicals that are either toxic or carcinogenic.

Both sidestream and mainstream smoke are dangerous to nonsmokers. For example, because sidestream smoke is generated at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, it contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in cigarette smoke.

Secondhand smoke has been designated as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Secondhand smoke also is listed as an occupational carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

How can nonsmokers be protected from secondhand smoke?

According to the 2006 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke: even small amounts of secondhand smoke exposure can be harmful to people’s health.

A smoke-free environment is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings can help, but they cannot eliminate the exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Safety Glasses : Healthy Glasses / Safety Information

On the face of Pinhole Glasses or goggles therapy Aerobic Glasses look like ordinary sunglasses. But when viewed from close range carefully, you will find a few rows of a pinhole-sized holes, located at specific positions are not uniformly impressed magnifications.

For those of you who have good eyesight disorders myopi / nearsightedness (minus) farsighted (plus) or a cylinder, you will be able to prove themselves the truth of the working principle of these glasses when viewing or reading the paper that you can not see clearly with the naked eye by wearing these glasses you will be able to see clearly even without glasses lens. This proves that by wearing these glasses will make your eye muscles to focus, so that the shadow of the object falls right in the yellow spot of the retina and therefore you can see clearly.

Therapy should be run to address abnormalities in your eyes is to wear these glasses when watching TV or reading continuously for 30-60 minutes every day, so hopefully will naturally strengthen your eye muscles are already weakened.

Working Principle : Pin Hole Glasses :

To understand how the pin-hole glasses to work, you need to know the reasons why your eyesight becomes weaker

There are two types of muscle that circles the eye of the retina of your eye. One we call a muscle cylinder, serves to suppress the retina and make thicker. Another one is called a radical and muscle functions to pull the retina in order to be thin.

On the front there is a retinal eye. Image transferred to the receiver located at the back through the retina.

When you see a nearby object, the cylinder will push the muscle and muscle will radically expand, making a thicker retina and bring the retina closer to the receiver, then the object will be focused on the receiver.

When you see a distant object, the muscles will radically expand, making the retina is thinner and away from the receiver. With thhs object will be in focus to the top of the receiver.

Weak visibility is usually caused by an incorrect reading, poor diet, stress, pollution or contamination of natural and disease-related eye diseases. There is some pressure that causes the eye muscles are not normal pressure, resulting objects can not be properly focused onto the receiver. This then causes the vision to be weak, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and cylinders.

Pressure above the eye muscles will also inhibit blood flow and causes the muscles of the eyes and the eyes of the other components do not get the nutrients that should be taken. Therefore, rest your eyes when fatigue is very important.

Pin Hole glasses will rest your eyes by diverting pressures experienced every day. At the same time, a hole or cavity glasses make your eyes focus without aggravating your eye muscles work. These glasses reduce the emission of light entering the eye and increase the focus on you, thus making the object focused according denagn appropriate magnifications.

Who Needs : Pin Hole Glasses?

Pinhole Glasses are made specifically for those who wear glasses or contact lenses for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and cylinders. Can improve weak eyesight for all groups including elementary, junior high school and adults. Even though parents. Basically, since you use glasses, your glasses into a kind of stick in your eye. Your result is too dependent on your glasses, your eyesight weakened. Then drawback of glasses are glasses need to be replaced if your eyes are getting weaker because of the minus, plus or cylinder increases. By using a pin-hole glasses, make your vision will gradually recover.

These glasses can not work miracles in a day use only. You are wearing eye glasses have become weaker over the years due to dependence on crutches (glasses). Your eyesight is a good start at the beginning of therapy you wear glasses this is a temporary result. Learn the habit of focusing your eyes with goggles daily use of the therapy through the eyes a rest and exercises focus on the eyes.

Booking procedure / order for pin hole spectacles therapy, regardless of the number of both retail and wholesale, it is very easy. You can contact Customer Service is very friendly over the phone or SMS only.

1. You can contact our customer service and order glasses confirm how much therapy you want.
2. And confirm the name and address of who you are where the glasses will be delivered therapy.
3. You can make payment by the amount and price confirmed Customer Service by way of transfer
4. After payment, please confirm again by the Bank where you have to make payments. (nb: this is the most important point, because we will check)
5. Customer Service will confirm the delivery receipt number

 Price : $25 / PCS

Contact Person :

Email : qhsecapricorn@hotmail.com

Blog  : www.seosafety.blogspot.com

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Safety Google : Chainsaw

This article is about risk control methods specific to chainsaws and chainsaw operations. Chainsaws incorporate numerous safety features common to many engine-driven power tools. Manufacturers have invented numerous design features to improve safety. Some features have become de facto standards, and others are legal requirements in particular jurisdictions. Best practice dictates that an operator should inspect the saw before starting work and only operate the saw if all the safety features are properly functional.

Additional safety features are a significant commercial advantage to chainsaw producers. Companies continue to develop new features over time. Most chainsaw safety features are focused on the kickback problem, and seek to either avoid it (chain and bar design), or to reduce the risk of injury should it occur (chain brakes). In addition to the safety features built into the chainsaw, operators should also wear specific chainsaw safety clothing. Most older saws have few or none of these features, and extra care should be taken in their use.

Chain

The chain has to be properly matched to the guide bar and the saw. Chainsaw manufacturers specify a selection of suitable chains for each model of saw.

Best safety requires that the chain is properly sharpened. One key sharpening parameter is the depth gauge setting. The depth gauge is the small steel protuberance in front of each cutting tooth. The difference in height between the leading cutting edge and the depth gauge determines the thickness of the wood chip taken by the cutter. If the depth gauge is too low, the cutter takes too deep a bite from the wood, the saw becomes difficult to control and the chances of kickback increase.

Some chains also have guard links in front of each cutter link. The guard link reduces the tendency of the leading edge of the depth gauge to snag on small-diameter objects such as small branches, or to engage with ordinary timber if forced into contact with it.

Chainsaw bars

Kickback reduction

Chainsaw Kickback is primarily caused by cutting with the chain in the "kickback zone" on the bar, the upper quarter of the nose.[1] Some saws, usually electric saws intended for domestic garden use, shield this whole area from contact with a "tip protector". All cutting produces a reaction force on the saw: normally this should be the lower edge of the bar, where the chain is travelling towards the saw and the reaction tends to pull the saw safely towards the log, against the spur dogs. Where the chain is moving downwards, as at the tip of the bar, the same reaction force now acts upwards and will cause a kickback upwards.

Tip protectors are metal or plastic devices that fit over the bar tip and are usually fitted to small, domestic-class saws. While these are effective, they hamper the saw in terms of the type and capacity of cuts it can execute, and are not widely used. They find a useful application in pole pruners and one-handed battery-powered saws that are used for trimming, hedge laying etc. The hooked nose of the tip protector can be used to "grab" branches for cutting, and presents no great drawback since these very small saw units are not used for cuts where the bar tip is buried.

Carving bars

Chainsaw carving often makes deliberate use of plunge cuts, and cuts on the tip of the bar. By simply reducing the diameter of the chain nose, the amount of chain, and thus the force generated during a kickback, may be reduced. Specialist carving bars are available with small pointed noses.

Chain brake

Front handguard, and combined chain brake lever

Chain brakes prevent movement of the saw's cutting chain by applying a steel brake band around the driven clutch drum.[2] Clamping force for the brake band is provided by a powerful spring. The chain brake has two purposes. First, it can be used to secure the chain when changing position, moving between cuts or starting a cold saw, which requires a partly open throttle. This would otherwise lead to uncontrolled chain movement, a major hazard in older saws. Secondly, the chainbrake can activate under kickback conditions to prevent the operator from being struck by a running chain. Of course being struck by even a static chain may cause serious injury, but anything that can be done to mitigate the usually dreadful injuries caused by contact with a moving chain is of obvious benefit to operators. Kickback injuries usually occur to the head, face, neck and shoulders; when a running chain is involved, such injuries are usually very serious, often disfiguring and sometimes fatal.

The chain brake is principally operated by the top-hand guard being pushed forward to engage the brake, and pulled back to disengage. The spring-loaded action allows powerful braking under emergency conditions and can halt a chain under full power in a fraction of a second. Correspondingly, it may require considerable force to reset.

The chain brake may be activated deliberately by the operator, or automatically by the force of a kickback event. In the former, the operator usually rotates his left wrist and knocks the top hand guard forward with the back of his hand, re-setting it by reaching forward with his fingers to pull the top hand guard backwards. In the case of a kickback event the operator's left hand may be violently dislodged from the handle and the top hand guard will be thrown onto his hand, forcing activation of the chainbrake. Husqvarna models also incorporate a link between the top handle and the chain brake trigger, applying the brake if the saw's bar is forced suddenly upwards. This is known as an "inertia" chainbrake and will allow activation of the chainbrake even if the operator's left hand is not removed from the handle.

The chain brake may also be of use when sharpening a chain on a bar, as it allows robust filing to take place without the chain slipping about.

"Wrap-around" top-hand guards have made an appearance in recent years, but are unpopular.[who?] They restrict movement, and make no allowance for the fact that when the handle is gripped on the lower section of the handle (left side of the saw from the operator's viewpoint) it is usually for making lateral, right-to-left cuts. In this situation the operator's head, neck and shoulders are out of the cutting plane of the saw and will not be struck even if a kickback does occur.

Chainsaw kickback

Chainsaw kickback can occur when the tip of the bar comes into contact with a relatively massive or immovable object with the chain under power. The area of the bar tip most likely to be involved is known as the "kickback quarter". looking from the side of the bar, the kickback quarter is the 90° section of bar found between a line going along the centreline of the bar, and another line at 90° to the first, rising upwards from the centre of the nose sprocket. If this area of chain comes into contact with - for instance - a log, the chain will initially cut the wood, but will also produce a reaction force which pushes the bar upwards. As the bar rises, the chain is forced harder into contact with the wood and climbs upwards even harder. In a fraction of a second the chain may jam hard into the wood and hurl the bar upwards towards the operator, often causing very severe injury or death. The violence of a full kickback event is such that no evasive action is possible, and if the operator's head, neck or shoulders are in line with the plane of the bar, he will certainly be struck by it. At this point, he must rely on his chainbrake and PPE to save him from injury or worse.

Another form of kickback may occur where the top of the bar is used for cutting and becomes suddenly pinched by the wood moving. In this case the saw may be forced backwards towards the operator, or forced into a position where the tip is pinched and the saw transitions into a classic tip-driven kickback. Kickback may also occur as a result of a failed or improperly executed boring cut. Bore cutting is a specialised technique requiring proper training, and should not be attempted without such training.

Kickback reducing systems

By far the most effective tool in preventing kickback is operator training. By preventing contact between the bar tip and solid objcts, kickback may be avoided. By keeping their head and body out of the cutting plane of the bar, injury may be prevented if kickback occurs. A useful tip is that if the operator can't read the logo on the side of the bar, they are too close to the cutting plane and should lean left to ensure safety.

Correct chain sharpening is paramount to safety in this context. Blunt chain cuts poorly and leads to increased operator fatigue and increased bar loading. Depth gauges filed too low make the chain grab at the wood and may negate the benefits offered by safety chain.

Chain design plays a major part in kickback reduction. Older, non-safety designs carried only teeth and depth gauges. Since these present a solid leading edge at the depth gauge should an object be suddenly forced into the chain, they can easily be made to engage fully with the foreign body and launch into a full kickback. Careful filing of the depth gauges, making a radius down to the leading edge, reduces the risk somewhat. Newer chains with ramped drive links fill in the gap ahead of the depth gauge, reducing the tendency to grab still further. Full safety chains have extra bumper links between the cutting links, maintaining nearly full depth gauge height along the full extent of the chain and reducing the risk of kickback to very low levels. Full safety (bumpered) chains are often fitted as original equipment to domestic and entry level saws. Modern "professional" chains offer far higher cutting performance than full safety chain, and offset their increased risk with an assumption of a much higher degree of operator competence. In reality they are still safer than traditional chains due to the vastly improved depth gauge design, with a deep ramp ahead of the gauge point.

Bar design is another factor in reducing kickback risk. The larger the radius of the bar tip, the greater the risk of kickback as the degree of engagement with the log (or other body) will be greater for a larger tip. Domestic class bars, climbing saw bars and entry-level professional bars usually have very small tips. Professional bars designed for logging and felling may have much larger tips as they are often used for boring cuts to free trapped timber or fell difficult trees, and a tapered, small-tipped bar will wedge easily when boring, stalling the chain. A large-tipped bar with nearly parallel sides bores easily and does not tend to jam.

While kickback prevention is a great concern in the context of chainsaw use, it is not the only means by which an operator can be injured by a saw. Local conditions, operator competence and many other factors need to be considered before undertaking sawing operations.

Safety throttle

The engine throttle is operated by the trigger under the rear handle of the saw. Unless the lock-out switch above the rear handle is also pressed, the throttle cannot move from the idle position, and the chain will not be driven.

The safety throttle prevents the chain from being driven if the trigger is accidentally pushed by an obstruction, such as a branch in undergrowth. It also prevents throttle activation when hot-starting a saw on the ground with one boot inside the rear handle. The safety throttle is an additional layer of protection in this case, since the chainbrake should be applied before starting a saw in any context.

The pictured model has an enlarged lock-out or 'dead man' switch which, when released, also activates the chain brake, thus instantly halting the running chain as well as disengaging the throttle.

On/Off switch

The on/off switch stops the engine running by preventing the ignition coil from firing. It must be clearly marked with the stop position. There must be a positive click action, so that there is no chance that the switch will change position accidentally, even while the saw is vibrating under heavy load.

If the switch were to move to the off position while the operator was in the middle of a critical cut while felling a tree, there would at least be a delay, which increases the chance that the tree might fall in an uncontrolled manner. Also, the saw might jam in the cut, requiring that the operator spend extra time under the unsafe tree freeing it. A switch failing "on" would also present a hazard, since the saw may then start inappropriately, such as when testing compression or assessing starter function.

If the operator is injured while using the saw, a bystander might have to move in to turn the saw off. The bystander may be unfamiliar with the saw and needs to be able to identify the on/off switch by its markings.

The Stihl model shown combines the choke, throttle start setting and ignition switch into one unified control lever. Other brands of saw usually have separate controls for all three, or a combined throttle start setting and choke control with a separate ignition switch.

If the switch fails to operate, a saw may be reliably stopped by operating the choke control to flood the engine.

Centrifugal clutch

The centrifugal clutch disengages the chain from the engine when the engine is only at idling speed, engaging the drive automatically when the throttle is squeezed and the engine is at full speed. The purpose of this clutch is to avoid having a moving chain when the saw is idling and temporarily not cutting. At idle the chain should not move.

Many rear-handled chainsaws are used in a state, owing to poor maintenance, where there is some clutch drag and so the chain does move slowly at idle. For top-handled saws though, this is extremely dangerous and the clutch (and chain brake) on such a saw must always be functioning correctly.

Some early chainsaws used a manual clutch instead, but this is long obsolete. Anti-vibration system rubber bush metal spring

Excessive vibration over long periods can cause the user to develop hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), or white finger. This is a potentially permanent and debilitating industrial injury. To reduce vibration, saws are divided into two parts. One part is a rigid assembly of the cutter bar and engine. This part vibrates strongly when the chain is cutting. The other part is a rigid assembly of the handles and controls of the machine, the part the user holds. These two rigid assemblies are joined together by mounts which provide spring suspension and damping.

Both metal springs and rubber bushes can be used to provide suspension. Metal springs are more robust and longer wearing, but rubber bushes provide damping in addition to a spring action.

Many modern saws incorporate electrically heated handles. This can help prevent HAVS by encouraging circulation to the fingers. Husqvarna models with this option have a "G" suffix after the model number.

Rear handle

Rear-handled chainsaw and two-handed grip

The front and rear handles of a typical "rear handle" chainsaw are widely spaced,so as to provide enough leverage for good control,[6] and also to provide some degree of control in the event of a kickback.

The operating controls of the chainsaw, such as the throttle and the engine stop (or on/off) switch, are placed so that they may operated whilst retaining a good grip on the rear handle.

It is impossible to use a rear-handled chainsaw single-handed. Their balance is such that this is not merely unwise, but so impractical as to be beyond a reasonable chance of it even being attempted.

Top-handled chainsaws

Top-handled chainsaws are a form of chainsaw whose safety is deliberately compromised in order to permit them being used single-handed where this is essential. They are restricted to working at height, such as up a tree.In all other cases, it should be possible to arrange the cutting task so that it can instead be carried out with two hands and the safer rear-handled chainsaw.

In the top-handled saw, the rear handle and its operating controls are moved to the top of the saw.This gives a balance to the saw such that it can now be used one-handed. The front handle remains the same. The chain brake lever is usually separate, rather than being combined into the protective hand guard.

In most cases, the top-handled chainsaw is used two-handed.It is only used single-handed when this is essential, such as when one hand is required for climbing.At ground-level, top-handled saws should not be used.

Owing to the nature of work at height, and the difficulty of continually re-starting the saw, the engine will often still be running when it is not used for cutting at that moment. For this reason it is particularly important that the centrifugal clutch is operating correctly so that the chain doesn't rotate when the engine is idling.The chain brake should also be engaged manually when not actually required,which is why top-handled saws usually have an easy brake control lever.

In many jurisdictions, use and even purchase of top-handled chainsaws is restricted to those holding the relevant certificate of competence in their use.

Rear hand guard

The rear hand guard protects the users right hand from being struck by a snapped or derailed chain.It also allows the rear of the saw to be held down by the operator's boot for starting. This is especially useful for cold engines, and larger (70 cc+) saws.

Exhaust

The exhaust directs the hot and noxious gases coming from the engine away from the user. A faulty exhaust increases noise, decreases engine power, can expose the user to unsafe levels of exhaust gases, and can increase the chance that the user could accidentally touch extremely hot metal. Most models feature a spark screen which is integrated into the muffler. The spark screen prevents sparks from being discharged from with the exhaust and potentially igniting sawdust. The spark screen also reduces noise.

Hand/Eye/Ear Defender Symbols

Warning labels

In the EU at least, it is a legal requirement that chainsaws carry certain standardized warning labels which warn of the dangers of kickback as well as making clear the need for protective clothing.

Scabbard

The cutter chain is sharp enough to cause injury even when it is not being driven. The scabbard covers the chain when the saw is in storage or being transported. It also protects the chain from damage, for instance blunting by contact with concrete floors.

Safety: Fire Fighter Clothing Or Bunker Gear Information

Bunker Gear or "Turnout Gear" are terms used by many firefighters to refer to their system of outer protective clothing. "Bunker gear" and "turnout gear" can refer, depending on the context, to just the trousers and boots, and jacket, or the entire combination of personal protective equipment and personal protective clothing. The terms are derived from the fact that the trousers and boots are traditionally kept by the firefighter's bunk at the fire station to be readily available for use. This clothing is usually referred to as Fire Kit in the UK and Ireland. In Hong Kong it is referred to as incident gear.

Historically, firefighters did not have the same level of protective clothing used today. Because of this most fires were fought from the outside of burning buildings, and structures were rarely entered. Early in the history of firefighting, a firefighter's outer clothing were more for warmth and dryness than for protection from fire. In the early 19th century, felt caps were worn of various design and were more for decoration than service, this early headgear did not provide any protection against flame or head injury but did keep water off the firefighter's face. The forerunner of the modern firefighter's helmet was developed in 1830 by a luggage maker Henry Gratacap who was a volunteer firefighter in New York City. He saw a need for a better designed helmet that was both functional and provided protection to the wearer. This helmet is immediately recognizable today as the "New Yorker" style and little has changed in its general shape. The helmet had a high peaked front to retain a helmet shield which was usually adorned with a company name and number and it also featured eight rib sections on the dome (for added rigidity) and a long rear brim that channeled water away from the wearer's neck.

The early use of long trench coats, made of leather or canvas and later made of rubber, was the forerunner of modern turnout jackets. Early coats had felt or wool liners to provide warmth in the winter. These liners later developed in basic thermal protection liners found in today's modern coats. Earlier rubber coats were much longer than today's modern turnout jackets, reaching down to a firefighter's mid thigh and were worn with long rubber boots called "three-quarter boots" which came above the firefighter's knees. This interface of boot and coat left a large gap of protection against fire. This system has since been replaced by the modern combination of a jacket, pants with suspenders, and shorter rubber or leather boots, although some departments still wear the traditional old style of gear.

The combination of modern triple-layer turnout gear with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), PASS device, and modern communications equipment made it more feasible and survivable to enter burning buildings. Modern turnout jackets and pants are made of fire resistant fabrics (mainly Aramids such as Nomex and Kevlar) or polybenzimidazole (PBI) fibers The standard that the National Fire Protection Association has designated to firefighter protective clothing, NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, which specifies "the minimum design, performance, safety, testing, and certification requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and ensemble elements that include coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear, and interface components.

Station uniform

The first component of firefighting equipment is the uniform that a firefighter will wear around the station. Its purpose is to provide a comfortable clothing that they wear around the station, but will not become an obstruction when a firefighter is required to put on his turnout gear. Naturally, turnout gear is to be worn over the station garments during any call that a firefighter is called upon. Another aspect of the station uniform is the station safety shoes, commonly referred to as work boots. These shoes are required to be fitted with safety toes and puncture-resistant soles in most countries in case the firefighter goes out on a call that does not require his/her turnout gear.

United States

The United States follows NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire Fighters. NFPA 1975s main purpose is that no part of the uniform garment “ignite, melt, drip, or separate”[1] when exposed to a heat of 500°F for 5 minutes.

Turnout clothing

Turnout clothing can consist of a combination of trousers with a overall strap attached, boots, and a jacket. Most fire services seem to use a trouser/jacket combination. The advantage of this combination is the ability to take off the jacket in situations where the jacket is not necessary. Since bunker gear insulates the body from the outside air the body heats up rapidly, taking off a jacket helps considerably in keeping cool.

Materials

According to NFPA 1971 and similar standards in other countries, all turnout clothing must have three components: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier. In between these layers are pockets of air referred to as "dead zones". These layers of air along with the three protective layers help to further insulate the wearer from the extreme environments of fires. Usually turnout pants are outfitted with reinforced knees and leather cuffs.

The materials used for the three layers in turnout trousers and coats may vary but will very often include a Nomex/Kevlar combination of material. As an example, the materials used by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, as found in their 2005 recruit handout are as follows:

Outer Shell: Southern Mills, Advanced, Nomex/Kevlar blend in a "Rip stop Weave", with water repellent finish.

Thermal Insulated Layer: Southern Mills Caldura Batten Quilt Material. Thermal and Moisture barriers are sewn together for removal for cleaning, repair and replacement from Outer shell.

Moisture Barrier: Breathe-Tex material combined with Nomex/Kevlar blend laminated cloth.

NFPA 1500 (Primary Guidelines for the Fire Service) and similar standards mandate features such as protective collars and sleeves to protect the fire fighter from exposure to heat, (hot or polluted) water and debris :

Turnout trousers

Once the need arises for actual firefighting protective equipment to be worn, also known as turnouts, a firefighter must properly wear protective equipment required. Turnout trousers will be the first article of clothing that a firefighter will usually wear. Suspenders worn with the turnout trousers should be the heavy duty type in order to stand up against such heavy weights and rigorous activities they will face. Most experienced interior firefighters (firefighters that enter the structure in an emergency) will carry, in their turnout trouser pockets, various tools and equipment as well as rope they may need during an emergency. The turnout trousers, when not in use, are usually stored scrunched down around the boots for efficient and fast access when they are needed. The firefighter may then step into each boot and pull up the trousers and suspenders.

Turnout coat

A turn out jacket

A turnout coat is the type of jacket typically worn by firefighters. Oversized pockets allow for carrying tools and equipment, and reflective safety stripes ensure that firefighters remain visible to each other. Protective coats will usually have Velcro or zipper functions which will enable a firefighter to properly and efficiently don this piece of gear. There is also a storm flap which covers this closure area and protects it against damage and loosening and as an extra measure to the fire fighter as these areas can be exposed to fire and heat. Wristlets, 4 inch (according to NFPA 1500) 100% Nomex coverings along the distal end of the coat arms in with the thumb joint will slip through, fit around the firefighter's hand and provide redundant protection where the skin may show between the glove and coat. They are designed to prevent burns to the wrist, while preventing bunching and remaining flexible.

Overall

The overalls that are available are of the same materials and specifications. Usually an overall has a cord built in around the waist to make it fit better. Because of its size it's more difficult to scrunch up the overall around the boots.

Boots

Several pairs of surplus firefighter boots.

Firefighter turnout boots are usually sized as a regular shoe, but are made of rubber or leather with a Boron Steel toe insert. The boots are slipped inside the legs of the trousers to maintain a barrier from the heat given off by the fire. When the trousers and boots are not being actively used, the trousers will fold down and out around the shins of the boots, ready for quick access for the firefighter. Due to the enormous amounts of potential hazards at a fire scene to the feet, turnout boots are required to be able to handle a variety of different burns and blows. All boots are required to be outfitted with safety toes and a puncture resistant midsole plate to prevent puncture from sharp objects that may be stepped on. Such emphasis on the midsole plate is made that IFSTA has deemed that “if there is doubt about midsole protection, [one should go as far as to] x-ray the boot.” Flash hood/Nomex hood and other parts of the garments A firefighter wearing the face-piece component of an SCBA with Nomex hood

When helmets do not provide built-in protection for the ears, neck and part of the face a protective firefighting hood is worn by firefighters. These are fitted and designed to protect the firefighter’s ears, neck, and the parts of his face which are not protected by the SCBA mask.

They are designed to the guidelines set by NFPA 1975. Cal/OSHA Title #8 also has regulations in the state of California. They are made of Nomex Knit Fabric which weighs 6 oz./ Sq. Yrd.; they are most often double ply with only one seam running from the top center of the face opening, over the top and down the bottom of the bib. The Nomex Knit, which is standard, is why they are commonly referred to as Nomex hoods. First, the hood is tucked into the collar. The SCBA mask is then donned, and the hood pulled over the face seal to cover any exposed skin.

Firefighter helmet Main article: Firefighter's helmet The firefighter's helmet is built to withstand falling objects and high heat.

The fire helmet's first function was to shed water in early years. Today, it is first and foremost designed to protect a firefighter from falling debris and injury to the head while fighting a fire. The secondary job of the fire helmet is to protect from heat, and hence burns to the head. It provides a hard shell, electrical, heat, and steam burn protection, and in some types of helmets, goggles or a visor. Goggles or a visor are used to protect the firefighter's eyes during rescue and extrication operations. Fire helmets are constructed of various materials including non conductive materials for protection against electrical currents, carbon fiber and plastic combination for a lightweight design for comfort, and a Kevlar lining for strength and protection.

The design of helmets vary from fire service to fire service and depends on the service or department's requirements. Some helmets are fitted with a face guard or shield to protect the firefighter's face against heat, dust, water and debris when working on a rescue or extraction call as well as when performing fire exposure protection. In the case of exposure protection the shield works better for it keeps more heat from the firefighter's face, but the goggles give more eye protection in extraction and rescue ops.

United States

There are four basic components to firefighting helmets:

Helmet shell: Well balanced, lightweight, and designed to provide maximum protection. Contains a Front Brim (provides protection to "eyes and facial" area), Rear Brim (Protection to "neck" from debris and water run-off), and Raised Top (Provides stability from impact from above).

Impact ring: 3/8" thick sponge rubber Impact Ring to absorb impact energy Helmet liner: High Density plastic liner, made of fire retardant cotton and nomex; completely adjustable; "NAPE Strap" adjusts to firmly cradle the occipital portion of head.

Chin strap: 3/4" wide, black nylon w/ Velcro on one end, leather backed "postman" side buckle. The leather helps protect the skin of the cheek from the metal buckle. Previous types of helmets had been constructed of a steel outer shell with a ribbed construction for extra strength and compressed cork with a lacquer applied to the outer face of it. The design and shape of the helmet is intended to redirect water and debris from the head and neck area. It also prevents head or neck injury to the firefighter in the event of falling debris.

Colors

Some departments, such as the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) use the helmet color to identify officers and functions and is listed as follows per www.lafd.org

White : Chief Officer (Chief, Assistant Chief, Battalion Chief)

Orange : Captain I and Captain II (Reflective tape blue under the helmet number is a Captain I "Engine Captain" / Red is a Captain II "Truck Captain"

Yellow : Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Engineer, Apparatus Operator, Probationary Firefighter NO FRONT SHIELD

Red : Arson

Blue : Paramedic Single function non fire suppression certified or Firefighter Cadet/Intern

Yellow Helmet with Green Numbers : Specialized companies Hazardous Materials, Urban Search and Rescue, Fire Boats

Black : Fire Explorers (now called Fire Cadets)

Orange Helmet with Green Numbers : Captains of the specialized Companies

The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) issues a black helmet to all ranks except those of Battalion Chief and up. These officers receive a white helmet. The FDNY uses the front shield of the helmet to distinguish both company number and the function of that company. The following colors denote function in the FDNY:

Black : Engine Company

Red : Ladder Company

Blue : Rescue and Hazardous Materials Company

Yellow : Squad Company

Green : Marine Units

Orange : Probationary Firefighter

The Houston Fire Department uses a combination of colored helmets and colored leather shields and colored coat striping to distinguish rank and function.

Black: Firefighter and Engineer/Operator(E/O) with a black shield, Incident Command Technicians (ICT) also known as "Chief Chauffeur's" have a white shield

Red : Captain with a red shield (Engine Captains) and a white shield for Senior Captains (Ladder Truck Captains).

White: District Chiefs and above. Also all FF,E/O's and ICT's have yellow reflective on the bunker coats. Officers from Capt to Chief have red reflective.

Certain styles of helmets do not lend themselves to the use of leather helmet fronts. Typically these helmets use crescents on the side to distinguish function. These crescents come in a wide variety of titles and are usually reflective in nature.

In most cases here in the United states the colors will be as follows Fire chief, Assistant chief, Deputy Chief, Battalion chief : white Captain and LT's: red or yellow and vice versa. Engineers: red or black Firefighters: black in most cases, yellow at some departments Probationary: Orange, yellow Safety officer: Blue explorers and Jr's: Green and Yellow

Europe

In Europe and some Europe-oriented countries around the world the helmet designs vary from the U.S. designs in that they are moving towards a style without brims. The pilot-style helmets have a brim at the front of the helmet, and a shape that covers more of the head. The neck is protected by a combination of a Nomex (or similar material) flash hood, and a foil-faced neck curtain which connects to the rear of the helmet. In most designs the nomex fabric also protects the area around a SCBA facepiece and the front of the neck. A commonly used helmet is the F1 helmet although several other designs like the Dräger HPS Helmet are in use.

These helmets tend to have in-built face protection (visors) and eye protection that swivel into the shell of the helmet for protection.

EN 443:1997 (Helmets for firefighters) specifies the properties that are demanded for protection, comfort and durability. There are optional specifications to cater for national requirements. The new EN 443-2008 now replace the EN 443-1997.

Hand protection

There are many types of hand protection which are available to firefighters today, the most common being the work glove and the structural firefighting glove.

Work gloves are a must for all fire services. They are used when gloves are required, but actual firefighting gloves are not. They allow better mobility to perform various types of functions from relaying hose beds to vehicle maintenance.

Work gloves are usually made of leather or a leather-like material.

Extrication gloves are similar in design and appearance to auto mechanic's gloves but are made of a heavier rip-proof and puncture-resistant material such as Kevlar while still lightweight enough to allow the manual dexterity to operate rescue equipment and sometimes enough to take a victim's pulse. These are used in urban search and rescue, vehicle extrication and related applications, but are not rated for firefighting.

For an actual working fire, structural firefighting gloves must be worn. Structural gloves tend to be the last piece of protective equipment to be donned; usually because the free dexterity of the fingers are required to perform functions such as properly placing an SCBA mask on and accurately tightening a helmet strap. The gloves will fit over the wristlets and under the distal part of the coat sleeve, ensuring full enclosure of the latter arm. Gloves are designed to protect from extreme heat, various penetrating objects, and to allow dexterity. Usually the latter is sacrificed in order to give adequate protection to heat and sharp objects. Newer gloves are more lightweight and don't lose their dexterity when they dry after becoming wet, the way leather gloves may.