24 September 2020
Welcome to another Highways.Today newsletter!
This week is Hard Hat Awareness Week, and the big question is - when did you last replace your hard hat? They have a limited lifespan, so do need replacing every few years!
A couple of weeks ago I was treated to a virtual tour of the MIPS lab in Sweden, where we explored the kinds of brain injuries that occur on construction sites, and how falling injuries are responsible for the most severe injuries. With this in mind, the question is - does your hard hat have a chin strap? If not - is your head protection useless?
MIPS work with helmet and hard hat manufacturers to include their MIPS layer that helps protect the brain from damage in falling injuries. If you are going to invest in a hard hat, make sure it has a MIPS layer!
Headway is a brain injury association in the UK. They are currently holding a raffle to raise funds to promote hard hat safety awareness, and to promote best practice in the industry - please support them, and you could also win some brilliant power tools.
We have also been looking at mental health over the last couple of weeks. In the UK the suicide rate in the construction industry is three times the national average. A subject we all need to be aware of.
Please check out the Mates in Mind charity and help support your colleagues.
Thanks again and stay safe.
Anthony Davis - Editor
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