Here are some signs that tell you if the noise in the work environment is too loud.
1) You have to raise your voice to be heard.
2) You feel a ringing sound in your ears (called tinnitus) at the end of the work shift.
3) You listen to the radio in the car at a higher volume while heading back home compared to the volume you listen to when coming to work.
4) You experience difficulty in understanding conversations in crowded places.

Sound-level meters measure noise levels which are represented in decibels or dBA. The higher the noise level, the louder the noise. You can listen to sounds at 70 dBA or lower, as long as you want. Sounds at 85 dBA can lead to hearing loss if you listen to them for more than 8 hours at a time. Sounds over 85 dBA can damage your hearing faster. The safe listening time is cut in half for every 3-dB rise in noise levels over 85 dBA.

To protect your ears during loud activities and events, move away from the source of loud noises and try to take a break from the noise every 15 minutes. Give your hearing about 18 hours to recover after exposure to extremely loud noise. Consider wearing earplugs. 

It is important to use suitable hearing protectors to safeguard against overexposure to Noise.Using the right Hearing Protection equipment is vital in a specific industry situation. Choose the one as per the area of application. You can use Ear Plugs in In grinding, drilling, milling operations, newspaper and press industry etc. Ear Muffs are apt for in Industrial applications like agricultural, construction, heavy machinery, etc.

Ear Plugs are an ideal choice for Ear Protection during long hours of exposure in areas prone to a high decibel sound. They are inserted inside your ear, with the purpose of blocking your ear canal.Ear Muffs are versatile, apt for usage during a shorter duration of exposure to unwanted sound and come with different features, like helmet-mountable, foldable etc. 

Wipe dirt or debris from earplugs before reusing. You can clean the Ear Muffs by cleaning it with warm soapy water. Replace foam Earplugs and Earmuffs when they become damaged or when they no longer recover to their original shape, softness or expansion characteristics . Store Ear Plugs or Ear Muffs in their original packaging or ina clean and dry polybag

Those who are frequently exposed to loud noises have a higher risk of suffering permanent damage to their hearing. People who work in noisy environments (e.g construction and manufacturing), regularly participate in noisy activities (concerts, hunting, riding motorcycles) or are employed in professions where sudden loud noises are common – such as law enforcement and the military should use proper ear protection have their hearing checked once a year

Yes, noise-induced hearing loss is common with the age. 

Eye protection protects the wearer's  eye from  chemical splashes, laser radiation and/or flying debris. Face protection is achieved by wearing face shields. These shields extend from the eyebrows to below the chin and across the width of the wearer's head.  Face shields protect against potential splashes or sprays of hazardous liquids.

The employee who wears prescription lenses while engaged in operations that involve eye hazards must wear eye protection that incorporates the prescription in its design, or wear the safety eyewear that can be worn over the prescription lenses without disturbing the position of the prescription lenses

Yes, they can. As there are safety spectacles especially designed for people who wear prescription glasses.

Yes. You may do this. However, you must disinfect shared protective eyewear after each use. If the goggles or spectacles do not have to be individually designed to incorporate an employee's corrective lenses and you disinfect the eyewear between uses by different employees, more than one employee may use the same set of protective eyewear.

The best defence against eye injuries is to prevent them. Ninety percent of trauma-related blindness can be prevented by using simple precautions, such as using protective eyewear. You need to protect your eyes from the sun as well. Use sunglasses whenever going outside, even when the sky is overcast.

Workplace eye protection is needed in the case of the following potential eye hazards: Projectiles (dust, concrete, metal, wood and other particles), Chemicals (splashes and fumes), Radiation (especially visible light, ultraviolet radiation, heat or infrared radiation, and lasers), Bloodborne pathogens from blood and body fluids. 
Occupations with a high risk for eye injuries include: construction, manufacturing, mining, carpentry, auto repair, electrical work, plumbing. Welding, maintenance etc.

Three main types of eye protection exist, based on the area of application and usage. These are Safety eyewear, Goggles and Face Shields. Choose the one which is certified and provides the optimum level of protection.

The most common eye disease associated with near-infrared radiation is cataracts. Prolonged exposure to IR radiation causes a gradual but irreversible opacity of the lens. Other forms of damage to the eye from IR exposure include scotoma, which is a loss of vision due to damage to the retina. Even low-level IR absorption can cause symptoms such as redness of the eye, swelling, or hemorrhaging.

 Clean safety eye-wear with mild soap and water.Wash lenses with water before wiping. Store eye protection preferably in a clean dust-proof case o Replace the safety eyeear,  if lenses are scratched or pitted.

No. Health officials do not recommend Face Shields as a substitute for masks. A right N95/FFP 2 /surgical mask is required to provide the optimum level of protection against covid-19. However, those who want extra protection may want to wear a face shield in addition to a mask.

While wearing gloves, carefully wipe the inside, followed by the outside of the face shield using a clean cloth saturated with a neutral detergent solution, cleaning wipe or hospital disinfectant solution.  
Fully dry (air dry) or use a clean absorbent towel to wipe the residue. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.
Face Shields must be stored in a clean dry area away from sunlight, not subjected to extremes of heat, cold or humidity.It is recommended that only standard packaging provided by manufacturer should be used for Storage of Face Shields.

A full body harness can be used when the user is working at height, ideally at more than 2 mtrs above the ground level or any working surface, or in any situation where the user is exposed to a risk of fall. 

There are many types of full body harnesses with respect to their usage and are of application. As per Indian Standards-IS 3521, the harnesses are classified as Classes-A, D, E, L & P. In the same way, EN as well ANSI standards give different categorization depending on the usage of harnesses.

Any space which meets any or all three following criteria would be referred as ‘Confined Space’:
-    When the space is not large enough and so cramped that an employee cannot bodily enter and perform assigned work.
-    If the space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit
-    If the space Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Examples of Confined Spaces include chamber, tank, pit, well, sewer, tunnel, pipe, boiler, shaft or silo.

The normal winch used for lowering or raising a user while working in confined spaces is called two-way winches. 
3-way winches also act to fall arrest in addition to lowering or raising the user.

Yes. SRL ( Self Retracting Life lines) is a fall protection device. It is an ideal choice in conditios where the dall clearance distance is less. In case of a fallthe self braking system within the Block activates and locks the fall immediately 

As per EN 795, the anchors should be able to withstand a static load of 12kN.

Yes. SRL ( Self Retracting Life lines) is a fall protection device. It is an ideal choice in conditios where the dall clearance distance is less. In case of a fall the self braking system within the Block activates and locks the fall immediately 

As per EN 795, the anchors should be able to withstand a static load of 12kN.

Components of a PFAS (Personal Fall-Arrest System):  A-Anchor, B-Body Support ( Full Body Harness) C- Connecting element/connectors and D- Descent devices for rescue constitute the Personal Fall Arrest System. In addition to these,  E- Education or training should also be considered.

A shock-absorbing lanyard absorbs shock during the fall arrest and it ensures to limit force to less than 6kN.

This is the storage life of the product before it is put to first use. Shelf life starts from the date of manufacture until the date of first use. 
Refer to the  user instruction manual provided by the manufacturer.

As per EN 795 :2012, there are 5 types of anchor devices: A, B,C, D & E. Out of these only B & E Anchor devices are considered as PPE. 

Harness selection is based on applications like fall arrest, suspension work, rope access or rescue and 
along with area of application as well.Based on these two criteria one can select harness as per his need
 and requirement 

A person can fall even while walking on slippery surfaces. Fall protection can be used anywhere 
where there is risk of fall by slip, trip or from height. 

Both can be used depending upon the application. If the fall clearance distance is not available, it is always advised to use a Self Retracting lifeline. Energy absorbing lanyard extends by deploying during fall so there can be a risk of fall on ground if being used at a place where fall clearance of atleast 6m is not available.

According to the BS 8437:2005 and EN 365, it is mandate that the Harness should be inspected at least once in every 12 months (from the date of first use). Inspection should be conducted by Authorized Service Center or a competent person appropriately authorised by the manufacturer. However, It is recommended that the user should visually inspect the PPE before each use.
There is a full list of parameters for inspection like: cut/ abrasion/ discolouration/ burns etc.

Rope inspection is done visually and by touching. It can be done only by a competent person or team authorised and trained by the manufacturer. There is a full list of parameters for inspection like: cut/ abrasion/ discolouration/ burn etc.

Harness selection is based on applications like fall arrest, suspension work, rope access or rescue and along with area of application as well. Based on these two criteria one can select harness from a wide range of harnesses of KARAM.

Karabiners are classified as per the usage: Classes M,B,A,T & Q
M:Multi-use connector
B:Basic Connector
A: Anchor Connector
T:Termination hook
Q: Screw link connector

Lanyards can be made up of polyamide twisted rope, Kernmantle rope or polyester webbing. 

Lanyard attachment means the attachment arrangement in which one end of the lanyard is connected to the user's 
harness and another end to the anchorage point. There are different combinations possible depending on the structure
 available at site.

Restraint Lanyards: These Lanyards can be used to restrain movement of users so that fall doesn't happen. 
Work positioning Lanyard: These are used in applications where the user has to perform a task at height and wants his hands free by positioning himself safe at height. 
Fall arrest lanyards: These lanyards are used when working at height and there is risk of fall. These lanyards have energy absorbers which act to absorb shock of the user in the event of fall.

Not all Fall Protection Harnesses can be used for rescue. For carrying out rescue activities, Harness should have attachment points on sternal and ventral position along with attachment point on dorsal position. 

Certified Harnesses are equipped with fall arrest attachment points. For carrying out rescue activities, 
harness should have attachment points on sternal and ventral position along with attachment point on dorsal position. 

Not necessarily. Shoulder D rings act just to lower down or raise the user up from confined space. For complete safety we should have harness with other attachment points too for example Dorsal D ring, Sternal D-ring etc

The very first thing is to bring the victim down on the ground from a hanging position. Once the victim is brought down,  immediately give him basic first aid and inform the officials. In severe cases, call medical help from the nearest medical centre/ hospital. 

Tie-back lanyards can be wrapped around a structure like scaffolding and beams and hook onto itself – creating an anchorage point without the anchor.

Orange color vest jacket are meant for Traffic signallers & Construction site workers, Yellow are meant for Construction workers, Emergency responders etc.

All safety vests are rated and approved by American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Safety vests are classified  as Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3, based on the amount of both reflective material and high contrast (orange or lime color) fabric making up the vest.The degree of reflectivity in the tape and intensity of the background fabric colors are specified in the ANSI standard. The more hazardous your workplace, the more visible your team needs to be.

High visibility jackets are an article of PPE or safety clothing made of retro reflective materials. These jackets
are worn by people working on roads or rails, construction industry, ports, airports, shipyards, workers working in bad weather or in  areas having low visibility, cyclists, motor cyclists, traffic police, etc. They make the wearer conspicuous in low daylight or  in the dark when illuminated by headlights. The colors are also flame buoyant and contrast with surroundings for quick detection and accident avoidance.

Vests in safety yellow color is one high visibility safety standard. Safety in Yellow color means preventing 
accidents and keeping people safe. The human brain mostly notices this color, this is the reason why most  warning signs, hazard symbols and personal protective equipment are in this color. This type of safety vest can be seen worn by construction workers and other workers who work outdoors. Also, it is widely used byemergency responders and other road workers alike. When yellow vest gets dirty, the yellow shade will brighten more for some kind of dirt like oil. However, if the dirt is dark it will be highly noticeable.

Store the equipment in a well-ventilated area away from heavily acidic or basic environment.  Never place heavy items on top of it. Also ensure that it is stored away from chemically hazardous environment preferably stored in a dry environment.

KARAM Products are certified to ISI (Bureau of Indian Standards) along with various International Standards like CE (European), 
ANSI (American), AS/NZS (Australia/New Zealand), CSA (Canadian), ATEX and UIAA etc

PPE is required in all the activities and sectors where the user is exposed to injurious physical, chemical, ergonomic, mechanical or biological hazards.
Some of the activities and sectors are as follows:

Activities:

Manufacturing and Construction, Painting, Repairing, Welding, working near sharp edges, Drilling, Mining, Handling sharp objects, Glass and metal sheets, Assembly tasks, etc.

Sectors: 

Healthcare, Construction, Automotive, Energy, Manufacturing, Transportation, Agriculture, Pharmaceuticals, Textile etc.

PPE must always be used when the user is exposed to injurious physical, chemical, ergonomic, mechanical or biological hazards. 
Also, Employees must use PPE as outlined in their workplace guidelines, which should follow government protocol.

Yes! PPE user needs to be trained on the following:
•    When PPE is necessary
•    What PPE is necessary
•    How to properly don and doff the PPE
•    Limitations and replacement of the PPE
•    Proper care, inspection and maintenance.
•    Lifespan, and disposal.

Yes,there is a duty on employees, having regard to their training and instructions, to wear/use the correct PPE. As per Factory rule 1950, employees should:
•    Wear/Use the PPE when exposed to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These injuries and illnesses may result from contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards.
•    Carefully inspect, store and maintain the PPE in its original condition.
•    Participate in trainings or instructions provided on PPE.
•    Inform a supervisor of the need to replace the PPE 
•    Always wear PPE according to the signage mentioned in that working area.
•    Use the certified PPE in accordance with the relevant standard.
•    Inform the employer of any medical issues they have that might be affected by the use of the PPE provided.

According to the BS 8437:2005 and EN 365, it is mandate that the PPE should be inspected at least once in every 12 months 
(from the date of first use). Inspection should be conducted by Authorized Service Center or a competent person appropriately authorised by the manufacturer. However, It is recommended that the user should visually inspect the PPE before each use.

In case of any doubt arising about the condition PPE, it needs to be replaced immediately. There is no legislation or Code of Practice stating the life expectancy of any PPE. In general, it is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

Download the relevant document- https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/Retail/Gen_Apps_PPE.pdf

PPE can be certified by Bureau of Indian Standards and Internationally by 3rd party certification bodies such as SATRA, INTERTEK, APAVE, INSPEC, BSI etc

Certified Eye and Face protectors will always have certification marking stamped or engraved on the lenses, frames (front and temples)

It is mandate that the user should get the comprehensive training on eye and face protectors. At a minimum, it should address:
•    Why eye and face protectors are necessary
•    How improper fit, use, or maintenance can compromise its performance
•    How to inspect, put on, and remove the eye/face protectors
•    Maintenance and storage
•    Limitations and replacement  
•    Recognition of medical signs and symptoms that may limit or prevent effective use
•    General requirements of OSHA's eye and face protection standard

If your glasses fog up while wearing a mask, it is possible that the mask does not fit properly. Look for a mask with an adjustable nose clip.
Once your mask is in place, press the nose clip to adjust the fit over the bridge of your nose. A snug-fitting mask will help keep puffs of warm breath from fogging the lenses.

Yes, you can buy and get authentic safety shoes from credible online sources. 

Having the right equipment is key to serve the intended purpose, and hiking/trekking is no exception. If you don't have traditional hiking boots, wearing work safety shoes can be a viable option. However, it is always advisable to wear the special-purpose trekking boots.

Yes. A certified Safety Shoes will always have certification marking on it

Different variant of Safety Shoes have different shelf lives.

Refer to the relevant Standard- 
https://bis.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/PM-IS-15298-2-cmd2.pdf

As of now we do not have safety shoes designed especially for a warm environment.

Yes, we do have Safety Shoes designed for working in wet environments. These shoes are waterrepellent and provides extreme comfort in long working hours.

Yes, we have many models of Safety Shoes especially designed for working with oil and acids

Steel toe cap is  designed to protect your foot from unanticipated injuries

Sizes are mentioned under the sole. Refer it for better fit

US Size- 3 to 13. Measure you foot size as per your standard fit.

There are two kinds of toes in Safety Shoes- Steel and Composite toe

Safety shoes can be certified from ISI (Bureau of Indian Standards) and CE (European) standards

composition of a shoe sole-PU, PU/PU, PU/Nitrile, PU/TPU, EVA/Rubber, Nitrile

Polyurethane is a chemical in liquid form and is used for making shoe soles.

A TPU is a outsole of a shoe and is made from thermoplastic polyurethane.
Benefits of TPU:
•    Rigid
•    Lightweight
•    Highly resistant to most oils and chemicals.
•    Provides abrasion resistance

Nitrile Rubber Sole is made from a type of higher heat resistant rubber which can sustains surface resistance to hot contact upto 300 degree C for one minute. Also, shooes with this sole are lightweight, flexible and offers good slip, tear, oil and abrasion resistance.

Shoes having Single Density Sole are injection moulded once onto the Shoe. Single Density outsole imparts high level of energy absorption.Shoes having Double Density Sole are injection moulded twice onto the Shoe. These Double Density outsole offer excellent abrasion resistance, slip resistance, extra comfort and flexibility

different types of shoe outsoles are as follows: PU, PU/PU, PP/Nitrile, PU/TPU, EVA/Rubber, Nitrile

 Antisistic non-woven Insole and Punture resistant Insole made from Aramid

hese are the protection classes offered by EN ISO standards. This merely refers to the extent of a hazard to which the shoe protects against.
S1 - As well as basic toe protection and slip-resistant sole, S1 means the shoe also has antistatic protection, is oil resistant and offers energy absorption in the heel. Other safety features may be added.
S2 - All of the features as S1, along with waterproof exterior so prevents water penetration and offers absorption in the upper shoe.
S3 - All of the features as S2, along with midsole penetration resistance . in simple words,  these shoes are puncture proof. For example, a steel midsole prevents sharp objects from piercing through the sole.

•    Wipe your shoes regularly with dry cotton cloth to remove the dust and enzymes accumulating on the upper surface of leather.
•    Use wax polish on your leather shoes at least once in a week. This increases the shoe life by penetrating the leather surface and protects from moisture or water spills.
•    Even water repellent shoes are not water proof, so avoid getting your shoes drenched. If they do become wet, immediately soak up the moisture inside-out using newspaper and allow to air-dry
Shoes should always be stored in a clean box or in their original shoe boxes.

1. Cut resistant Gloves: These types of gloves protects the  the hands against mechanical hazards, like cut, abrasion, etc.
2. Fabric and Coated Fabric Gloves: These types of gloves are made of cotton or other fabric.  They generally protect against dirt, chafing and abrasions. Insulating rubber gloves: These gloves are used for protection against electrical hazards.  
3. Chemical resistanct Gloves Chemical and liquid resistant gloves: These Gloves are intended to protect the hands from chemicals with a high acute toxicity, working with corrosive materials in high concentrations, handling chemicals for extended periods of time 

Glove tested to the EN 388:2016 standards passes the specific test of puncture resistance . Also,the certified gloves 
will always have the  performance level rating as a marking on it.

Palm-dipped water-based polyurethane-nitrile coating are flexible, resist oil and water, 
and provide a secure grip. Water-based polyurethane-nitrile coatings are dimethylformamide 
(DMF)-free, making them more environmentally friendly. Whereas,  Polyurethane Gloves are highly felxible, comfortable 
and provde a perfect grip in dry environments  

Mostly, knitted cut resistant gloves are cut resistant all over and not just on the palm. 
The HPPE or Aramid liner gives the gloves its cut resistant property. The coating provides a better grip and good level of protection from abrasions, cuts, and snags, oils and chemicals.

HPPE gloves are made from high performance polyethylene yarn specially designed to protect the hands from cuts and abrasion. These gloves are machined knitted gloves woven with other fibers for enhanced level of protection.

People above the age of 2 and more should wear a mask.

•  N95 respirators are considered respiratory protection. If worn correctly, N95 respirators offer excellent protection upto 95%  against COVID-19 due to their advanced filter material and snug fit feature

•  A Surgical mask is meant to be used by medical personnel during surgeries

•  Face coverings are not considered respiratory protection. Made from cloth it does not efficiently filter Covid-19 as it does not have filtering fabric 

Only reusable mask should be washed whenever it gets dirty. Reusable mask can be washed with tap water and soap and can be hanged in direct sunlight to dry completely.

Reusable masks can be cleaned with warm soapy water, disinfectant spray or in a washing machine  whenever it gets dirty. If you have a disposable face mask never attempt to wash it. 

You can store your mask temporarily to reuse later. Remove your mask correctly and wash your
hands after touching a used mask. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) 
to keep it clean between uses. 

•  Hold the Mask with clean hands and place it on your nose and mouth. 
• Place the ear loops and headbands. 
• Adjust the fitting
• Press nose clip to close gaps.
Ensure the Mask should perfectly seal your nose and mouth and takes the shape of your face perfectly. 
Conduct the fit test by exhalaing to check whether the Mask has sealed completely.There sohuld be no air leaks.

Only reusable mask you can re-used. Surgical mask should be change after every use.  N95 and FFP Mask can be worn for for a total of 12 hours

No. it is strictly not recommended to pull or remove your mask while talking as it can deafeat the purpose of wearing a mask.

As per Covid-19 guidelines, children above the age of 2 are recommended to wear the mask. It is important for parents to follow local and state requirements for masking in any situation

A respirator is a type of PPE  designed to protect the wearer against the inhalation of hazardous fumes, vapours, gases and particulate matter such as dusts and airborne micro organisms.

The disposable particulate respirator can be worn for a total of 10-12 hours and should immediately be discarded when Mask filters gets cloggedwith dust particles which is indicated by increase in breathing resistance

Facial hair, like beards, can potentially hinder the sealing of Mask over the face. To have a better fit, people with beards can shave their beards or trim their beards

Some people are allergic to the protein component of natural latex. Therefore its advide to use a product
 which is made up of latex free components.

You can store your mask temporarily to reuse later. Remove your mask correctly and wash your hands after
touching a used mask. Keep it in a dry, breathable bag (like a paper or mesh fabric bag) to keep it clean.

A helmet certified to either EN 397:2012+A1:2012 or IS 2925:1984 is tested for various stress parameters defined in these standards which help the users with effective protection.

Safety Helmets can be certified to EN 397:2012+A1:2012 (European), IS 2925:1984(Indian) and  ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009(American) Standards

As a general guideline, most hard hat manufacturers recommend replacing hard hats every five years regardless of outside appearance. If you work under extreme conditions, such as exposure to high temperatures, chemicals,or sunlight, hard hats should be replaced after two years of use

Nothing, as it can reduce the effectiveness of a safety helmet.

Helmet should adhere to the following colour scheme on sites :  White - for site managers, competent operatives and vehicle marshalls Black - for site supervisors. Orange - for slingers and signallers. Blue - for all other site visitors.

According to OSHA It is recommended not to use adhesives or stickers on Safety Helmet unless you receive specific approval by the manufacturer

As per OSHA, safety helmets sohuld be worn the way they were designed
unless the manufacturer certifies that a it can be worn backward.

You can clean your safety helmet with lukewarm soapy water and soft cloth. If your helmet remains filthy, replace it. Using dissolvent for cleaning is not recommended.

In general terms the helmet should be replaced every three years based upon industry testing,however to maintain the helmet, the complete head harness insert must be replaced every two years.
Some customers elect to replace the entire helmet at this time or sooner dependent on its overall condition.

Safet Helmets should be cleaned with warm water and soap, on a regular basis. It must be stored in a clean dry area away from sunlight, not subjected to extremes of heat, cold or humidity.
Replace the Helmet immediately, if it is cracked, dented or shows any signs of wear and tear