Safety & Security

Safety & Security brings together personal protective equipment, lighting and home monitoring. On the PPE side there are full-body fall protection harnesses and shock-absorbing lanyards, Dräger half-mask respirators, Z87.1 safety glasses, face shields, earmuff hygiene kits, kids' hearing protection and auto-darkening welding goggles. For the home, look for battery and wired video doorbells, WiFi water leak sensors, dry chemical fire extinguishers and fireproof document bags. Flashlights from Streamlight, Fenix and Nitecore cover work, patrol and everyday carry needs.

Each type of gear has a rating that tells you what it protects against. For eyewear, Z87.1 marking indicates impact testing; respirator cartridges are chosen for the hazard, P100 for particulates and organic vapour cartridges for solvents and paint. Hearing protection is compared by NRR or SNR in decibels. Fire extinguishers are graded by class: ABC covers ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and electrical fires. For fall protection, harness and lanyard must be rated for the user's weight, and lanyard length must leave clearance below the work surface.

For workplace gear in Canada, check which CSA standard your provincial occupational health and safety rules reference, since US ANSI marking alone may not satisfy an employer. Respirators need a proper fit check every time and cartridges replaced on schedule. Battery doorbells and leak sensors lose capacity in cold garages and porches, so check placement against the operating temperature range listed by the maker.

Frequently asked questions

What does ABC mean on a fire extinguisher?

It means the extinguisher is rated for Class A fires (wood, paper, fabric), Class B fires (flammable liquids such as gasoline and grease solvents) and Class C fires (energized electrical equipment). A 5 lb ABC dry chemical unit is a common choice for kitchens, garages and workshops, though cooking oil fires in commercial kitchens call for a Class K extinguisher.

Which respirator filter do I need for painting?

Spray painting produces both mists and solvent vapours, so a combination organic vapour cartridge with a particulate prefilter, such as OV/P100, is typical. A particulate-only filter does not stop vapours. Check the paint's safety data sheet for the hazards involved, do a seal check each time you put the mask on, and replace cartridges when you can smell or taste the product.

How often should a fall protection harness be inspected?

The user should inspect it before every use, looking for cut or frayed webbing, burn marks, damaged stitching and deformed hardware. A competent person should also complete a documented inspection at the interval set by your provincial regulations or the manufacturer, often yearly. Any harness that has arrested a fall must be removed from service.

Do battery-powered video doorbells work in winter?

They can, but lithium batteries lose capacity and charge slowly when temperatures drop well below freezing. Expect shorter run times between charges in January than in July. Check the operating temperature range on the product listing, and where possible, choose a model that can also be wired to an existing doorbell transformer to keep it powered.