Something we’re quite proud of is Vigil’s range of Weatherproof Safety Equipment Cabinets. This range also includes fire extinguisher cabinets. But today we’re focusing on the PPE, First Aid, and Spill Kit Cabinet. I’ll be covering each one’s strengths and associated contents, but first, let’s talk about general specifications.
What Makes a Good Safety Cabinet?
Durability, accessibility, and identifiability. And if the last two sound similar, think of access as relating to controlling the use of the cabinet. And then think of identification as how easy the cabinet is to find and understand what it’s used for. These are all factors that tie back into the security of valuable safety equipment. That means keeping it safe from natural hazards as well as improper use and tampering.
Much of the consideration that goes into buying a safety cabinet comes from worksite conditions. For example, a lightweight first aid kit that’s wall-mounted or just sits on a desk is fine in an office. But if we’re talking about, say, a factory, then there are all sorts of things that could damage such vital equipment. And, any worksite that is primarily outdoors can encounter frequent wear and tear on fixtures like cabinets. That, of course, is one of the driving forces behind providing weatherproof safety cabinets.
Rain, dust, snow, scorching heat, corrosive substances flicked around by heavy-duty, hazardous work. Our cabinets are designed to withstand it all, utilising a weather seal in their construction and durable injection-moulded polypropylene to facilitate this impressive level of durability. They also, as you can see above, all come boldly coloured. The colours are chosen to best represent the nature of the intended contents, and aid identification and general visibility greatly.
Another feature all of our safety cabinets share is the option to be purchased with an STI Mini Theft Stopper. These compact alarms are easy to fix to the interior of the cabinets, and are effective at deterring unauthorised access. This is something we offer, whether the cabinet comes with a lock and key or not.
What Goes in a PPE Cabinet?
It’s right there on the tin – personal protective equipment. This is also the green one, by the way. It has two internal shelves as standard, but these can easily be removed. Storing eyewear, gloves, masks, and more specialised breathing apparatus is the main intention here. But the bottom line is that anything you want kept safe, and can fit in a cabinet, is fair game.
The bright green signifies general safety and health, and also means you can see the damn thing from miles away. The label on the front makes it clear from up close what one can expect to find inside. It also has two windows, which can be especially helpful when looking for a specific piece of equipment. All that makes this cabinet suited to being kept close to workstations where the aforementioned gear will be needed.
The nature of the cabinet’s construction keeps the contents dry as well as safe from impacts. In the same vein, the contents will remain uncompromised in terms of hygiene. This is particularly important with any kind of facewear, for which peace of mind should not be undervalued. So, the PPE Safety Cabinet is designed and intended to facilitate consistently easy access to equipment that you either need for a premeditated task or to grab in an emergency.
What’s a First Aid Cabinet for?
It might sound a little trivial to even ask, but, this isn’t how first aid kits are normally stored. You’ve probably mostly seen first aid kits in quite light and even flimsy plastic carry cases or bags. And that makes sense. You want that kind of equipment to be mobile and easily accessible. But if you want your first aid gear in a fixed location, possibly outside, a cabinet becomes a sensible option.
Take care when installing this cabinet, though. Its bright white colour could just as easily blend in with a pale background as contrast with a dark one. Thankfully, we decided to plaster the front with a bold first aid label, but still, keep it in mind. After all, keeping one of these visible and accessible is extremely useful for helping both staff and visitors to a building find and make use of it.
Much like the PPE one, this safety cabinet is fully sealed when closed. It keeps out rain, dust and debris. All these things are potentially detrimental to the function and hygiene of first aid equipment. It also comes supplied with two removable shelves as standard. They are sturdy, and you can have them both in, both out, or just one at a time in either slot. But whatever way you spin it, the cabinet helps keep essential medical items organised. This is in contrast to how they may end up when kept in a case or bag that is being moved around all the time.
Why would I need a Spill Kit Cabinet?
To keep a spill kit in, of course. Perhaps I should explain. This is the most specialised of the Weatherproof Safety Cabinets, as spill kits are less common than general first aid or PPE. It also potentially benefits the most from the weatherproof and corrosion-resistant properties that all the cabinets share. This is because the equipment in this cabinet will be interacting with such harmful substances. Of course, you would want to cleanse, sterilise, or even replace the equipment between uses, but nothing is guaranteed.
The striking yellow colour is in keeping with tones that indicate hazards, especially on a heavy-duty worksite. This makes it suitable for storing any emergency equipment on such a site, as it will always be unmissable. But, we’re primarily thinking about sites where corrosive or otherwise hazardous substances are common. As such, this cabinet should be made visible beyond its bold colour, placed where everyone can see and access it. This might make a theft-stopper even more tempting, given how important the equipment stored within may be.
So, hopefully that makes clear the distinction between these cabinets, both between each other and the generic fire extinguisher that we also provide. But if they still seem quite similar to you, that’s fine, because they are! Really, the idea behind this range is to provide visual, rather than functional distinctions. So you could keep a fire extinguisher in the green one, but why would you?
Green is probably the last colour people think of when it comes to fire. But green does invoke safety, white is in common with medical environments, and yellow is somewhat indicative of spillages and hazards in general. But, if you want more information, then feel free to browse the full range here, or check out the demonstration video below!
