Protect Yourself in Cold Weather Working Conditions

Certain jobs require employees to spend long hours working outdoors in extreme cold weather conditions. It is important to always be prepared, as weather can be unpredictable. Work zones, such as construction sites, have building deadlines and don’t always stop for cold temperatures. This can present a danger to members of construction crews if they are not fully prepared for conditions on the jobsite.

Negative 18 degree weather didn’t stop a crew in Jordan, Minnesota from finishing up a project drilling through a 2,500 foot rock formation. The crew worked through blizzards and freezing rain in order to meet deadlines and still remain within work hour budgets. They would not have been able to do that without proper cold weather clothing.

Risks involved working outdoors in cold and inclement weather are often overlooked. Cold weather can cause hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the body reaches abnormally low body temperatures. While not always fatal, hypothermia can become life threatening if the body reaches a temperature below 32.2 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Frostbite leads to damages in tissues as a result of the formation of ice crystals within cells. Extreme frostbite can also result in the loss of fingers or toes. In addition, musculoskeletal injuries often referred to as MSI, can be a result of prolonged hours spent working outside. In cold climates it’s important to dress appropriately to preserve body heat while still allowing for the body to breath and expel moisture.

The best way to prevent risks on the worksite is to dress properly for the type of weather you’ll be working in. Work Wear Headquarters (http://www.WorkWearHeadquarters.com) provides top of the line attire for such conditions. The Big Bill Work Wear line provides the outdoor clothes necessary for safe outdoor working conditions. If working outside in snow, ice, or rain, a thermal lined hooded fleece jacket could be vital to keep you going on the job. If you are working in a climate that is between fall and winter, your best bet is probably a duck vest. Its design clings to your body, keeping your core warm, but allowing more mobility at the sleeves.

Puffy coats can keep you warm, but hinder your ability to perform work tasks. It can be hard to bend down, pick up tools, and operate machinery in traditional bulky, long jackets. Duck insulated chore coats are meant for this particular purpose. That way, it’s easier to stay warm and move about your jobsite freely. For optimal warmth, a pair of wool pants can keep your legs warm and help trap in heat below the waist. It is always a good idea to “layer” your clothing since the air space between layers is a very effective insulation. Layering also allows one to adjust their clothing throughout the day to match temperature changes.

Many of the cold weather work clothes also come in different colors, so they keep you warm while still maintaining your style. Jackets, fleece, and pants can be worn for work purposes, as well as around the yard, outside on ski and snowmobiling trips, and when going out. Big Bill Clothing offers affordable and durable clothing that allows you to perform your job effectively while keeping you safe from harsh weather conditions.

Avoid outdoor cold related injuries by visiting http://www.WorkWearHeadquarters.com to learn more about the attire you need to perform your job safely.

Sources:
http://www.go-explore-trans.org/2007/jan-feb/winterconst.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothermia
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/frostbite/article_em.htm

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How Do Central Air Conditioning Units Run, and How Much Do They Cost?

How do you find a good central air conditioning system? The way

that central air conditioners are rated is according to their

seasonal energy efficient ratio (SEER). The seer is a

calculation of the cooling output divided by the power input,

which brings up an approximate climate average. Therefore, the

higher the seer the better the central air conditioner you will

be getting.



What is a good seer number to base on? Many older air

conditioners are going to have a number around six or seven.

However, new standards that will be in effect in 2006 will set

the seer requirement at 13, which is an improvement of 30% from

what it currently is at 10.



What a central air conditioner is doing is cooling and

dehumidifying the air. What the system uses to accomplish this

is a condenser, evaporator coil, and refrigerant piping to

operate. The central air conditioner has a couple different

kinds of units, a split system and a packaged central air

conditioner.



A split system has an actual split system, meaning there is a

separation between the condenser and evaporator. The condenser

and compressor are in a cabinet outside the house, as the

evaporator is in its own cabinet inside. As hot air is removed

and transported to an evaporator coil as a warm liquid, the

expansion of the liquid causes it to cool, thus cooling the air.

If your home has a furnace but no air conditioner, then this is

the way to go.



Another type of central air conditioning unit is a packaged

central air conditioner. With this system, the condenser,

compressor, and evaporator are all in one cabinet placed on the

roof or next to the house. This kind of air conditioner often

includes electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace. This

type of unit eliminates the need for a separate furnace indoors

as the air conditioner and central heater are combined.



The price of getting a central air conditioning unit varies like

everything in life from company to company. Some of the

determining factors include whether you're getting a 2 Ton

system through 5 Ton system, if you need the compressor

installed on your roof, and where you live. A base price for a

2 Ton system without it being installed on the roof is going to

run around $2700. A good site to check out prices for a central

air conditioner is listed below:



http://www.costestimator.com:8080/contractor-consumer/central_air_conditioning.jsp



If you are looking to upgrade your air conditioner, or get one

put in your home for a first time, there are plenty of places

you can go to look. The good thing about central air

conditioning is that it is quiet and environmentally friendly.

In order to find what kind of air conditioner is best for you,

it is smart to contact a professional. The article link below

discusses certain characteristics to look for to find a quality

contractor.



http://www.airconditioningandfurnaces.info/air-conditioning-contractor.html



If you are replacing an air conditioner, you're going to have to

match the size of the previous one to make sure the unit is not

to big and not too small. To get more quotes to find the best

air conditioner for you, check out the site below:



http://www.esmarts.com/air-conditioners/central-air-conditioners.html



Central air conditioning is going to be more efficient than room

air conditioners. As stated above, they are out of the way

creating a quiet environment, and they are good for the

environment. If you are hoping to save some money, it is

recommended that you buy an energy-efficient air conditioner.

This will reduce the energy that is being used by your central

air conditioner, thus lowering your electricity bill.



There are several different routes that can be taken when

considering whether you want a room air conditioner or central

air conditioner, what kind of central air conditioning unit, and

where to buy from. That is why research and getting quotes from

many places is recommended to ensure that you get the unit for

you at a reasonable price.

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20 Amazing Quotes About Veterans Day! Famous Veterans Day Quotes.

This wonderful collection of quotes about Veterans Day is an excellent way to pay tribute to the military veterans of our country. Veterans Day is a national holiday honoring military veterans and is observed in the United States each year on November 11. Veterans Day is also observed in other parts of the world and is often referred to as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.

This list of quotes about Veterans Day will help you remember and honor the veterans of our country. Whether you have a family member or friend that has served our country...I'm sure you'll find a Veterans Day quote that will help you celebrate their bravery and effort.

20 Memorable Quotes About Veterans Day

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

-Elmer Davis

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.

-Jose Narosky

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

-Joseph Campbell

Freedom is never free.

-Author Unknown

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!

-Maya Angelou

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.

-Author Unknown

Lord, bid war's trumpet cease; Fold the whole earth in peace.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, Mother, what was war?

-Eve Merriam

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

-Cynthia Ozick

The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war.

-Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.

-Gary Hart

Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.

-G.K. Chesterton

They may take away our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!

-William Wallace

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.

-John F. Kennedy

Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.

-Michel de Montaigne

When our perils are past, shall our gratitude sleep?

-George Canning

In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

-Mark Twain

Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.

-Otto Von Bismark

The most persistent sound which reverberates through men’s history is the beating of war drums.

-Arthur Koestler

But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, Is their monument to-day, and for aye.

-Thomas Dunn English

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Short animation ...(save the environment):Utpal Singh

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Short animation ...(save the environment):Utpal Singh

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Five Strategies To Strengthen Your Company�s Financial Management

Too many businesses wait until a crisis occurs before they start to focus on improving their financial management. Often, by that time, it can be too late. By setting aside an hour now to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your company’s financial management activities and systems you can save a lot of time and aggravation. It can also help increase your profits, and at the end of the day that is what it is all about.

The following are five strategies that will help you start to build a strong financial foundation and build value in your company.

1. Set up a financial control system

The first thing you need to start with is a control system so that there is consistency in your process and procedures. A control system is designed to prevent and detect errors in your daily activities. For example, is there is a standard way of processing your receivables, payables and inventory? If there are no standard guidelines to follow, there is probably no control system.

2. Have daily access to your account information

Make sure that you can access your account information every day; it is invaluable to managing your cash effectively. With most banks providing internet access at a reasonable cost, there is no reason not to have instant access to account information.

3. Manage your cash components

Concentrate on managing your three main cash components: accounts receivable, accounts payable and inventory.

Let’s take a look at each component:

Accounts Receivable

Make sure your credit and collection system is working efficiently. Any excess investment in accounts receivable increases the need to borrow more money to avoid a cash flow deficit. That means that if you are carrying excess receivables you are probably carrying excess debt and you have a direct cost of having to carry that extra debt in interest payments. Even if you finance the receivables through internal equity, there is still an indirect cost; the opportunity cost of using that equity elsewhere which could include expanding your inventory to increase sales, reducing debt or earning interest on cash balances.

Your accounts receivable collection period defines the relationship with the cash flow process. Every month you should be calculating your collection period and comparing with previous periods and relating those results to industry averages. Any material differences should be investigated.

Your credit policy can influence your cash flow and earnings. Longer credit terms can increase sales and earnings, but any decision to offer more liberal terms requires an estimate of the trade-off between the cost of the larger investment in accounts receivable and the bottom-line benefits of a higher sales volume. Remember that increasing your credit terms will bring in less credit worthy customers which can increase your bad debt expense. You can, however, use price increases to offset more liberal credit terms.

When you develop a receivable policy, consider the following:

• Check the financial health of customers before offering them credit. Consider obtaining cash on the first order.
• Do not make your invoice terms too generous.
• Charge interest to customers who pay late.
• Give discounts for early payment.
• If you are offering discounts, the terms should be attractive enough to encourage customers to take the discount. This can also serve as an early warning signal; if a customer doesn’t take the discount, or all of a sudden stops taking the discount, then you may want to investigate further before extending credit as it could be a sign of financial trouble.
• Do not wait longer than 30 days for a late payment before you take action; you need to minimize your company’s exposure to bad credit. Put it into dollar terms, if you have a $1,000 bad debt write-off and a 10% profit margin, you need to generate an addition $10,000 in sales just to make it back.

Inventory

First, keep in mind that because of carrying costs such as warehousing and insurance it is more expensive to carry inventory than to carry accounts receivable. That is, reducing an investment in inventory provides you a larger bottom-line benefit than a comparable reduction in accounts receivable because you are also reducing the carrying costs.

As with your receivables, it is important to complete a monthly analysis of average inventory held in days. Compare to previous months and industry averages and investigate any material difference or change.

A periodic inventory count is a fundamental requirement; any items that are overstocked should be investigated.

A sales forecast is vital, without it you lack the necessary management information for inventory control.

Your target inventory investment should equal your normal investment for core sales plus a built in safety stock (for example if a re-order is delayed you want some extra stock on hand) plus some amount for any anticipated growth in sales.

You can use the following equation to determine your economic ordering quantity: SQRT (2SO/CP) where

SQRT = square root
S = anticipated annual unit sales
O = fixed costs per order
C = annual inventory carrying cost, as a % of a products purchase price
P = unit purchase price for product

Note that the above equation attempts to minimize inventory cost by answering the question of how much and how often you should order inventory. It is not perfect; the equation does not take into account volume discounts and assumes that your demand is constant. However it is a tool that can be used to help in your decision making process.

The following are 10 questions you can use to review you inventory process:

1. Do you have a sales forecast? Do you compare forecast to actual sales and adjust the next forecast accordingly?
2. Do you know which items account for 80% of your sales? These items should be managed closely.
3. How fast can you get inventory?
4. How do you order inventory?
5. How much inventory do you order? Do you order extra just to save a few extra cents?
6. Do you know the cost of holding your inventory?
7. Do you rely on just one or two suppliers?
8. How frequently is inventory analyzed to determine obsolescence and makeup?
9. Do you have a policy of determining what is obsolete inventory and how and when to get rid of it?
10. Do you have an inventory reporting system to provide the necessary tracking information?

Accounts Payable

Although you want to stretch your payables as long as possible, much like you offer attractive discounts to your buyers you should also take supplier discounts as often as possible if the terms are attractive enough.

Make sure your payables are tracked on a regular basis - such as weekly - and that your payment system runs smoothly.

As with receivables and inventory, complete a monthly analysis of your accounts payable and compare to previous periods and industry averages. Any material difference or change should be investigated.

Make sure vendors understand your company in case there is a situation where you need to stretch your payables. You need a plan to deal with those situations where you may have an unexpected spike in your payables.

You should re-evaluate you vendors on a regular basis to make sure you are getting the best value.

4. Budget

It is fundamental, you need to plan for growth and you need to forecast for problems. You need to prepare a budget. Besides completing a budget for expected sales, you should also complete a budget for a disaster situation, like your sales are cut in half. The benefit is very straight forward; it forces you to ask yourself how you will be able to keep the company running in such a situation. It will also point to areas where you may be able to save money right away and free up cash flow. It’s like having a disaster plan; you only have to act on it when disaster strikes, but it is much easier to concentrate when you do not have a crisis at hand.

5. Develop a strong relationship with your Bank

Devote attention to building relationships with your bank. Always keep them up to date on where your company stands. If you hit a difficult patch it is much easier to get your bank on board if they understand your business. Contrary to opinion, banks do not necessarily jump ship as soon as you fall into trouble. They are willing to work with small business through tough times, and gaining their trust to do so is much easier the more confidence they have in you and your company. They way to accomplish this is to be transparent in your dealings and to give them timely financial information.

Use you bank as a resource for cash management. There are products available that can increase your cash flow, or arrangements that can be put in place to increase your interest returns. But you still need to make sure they are cost effective.

Canadian Regulations and MSDS Authoring Software

By both Canadian and American law, hazard information pertaining to harmful chemicals must be transmitted on Material safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) that must be distributed to the customer at the time of first shipment of the product. Although regulatory laws may appear universal among the two countries, there are different regulatory companies which chemicals within each country, regardless of whether they are in transit, need to comply with. MSDS authoring may become confusing at this point, as it is nearly impossible to know every countries guidelines, therefore purchasing a current MSDS authoring software is strongly recommended.
According to Canadian federal regulations, chemical manufacturers and importers are required to update material safety data sheets within three months of learning about new or significant information pertaining to the chemical's hazard potential. It is mandatory for a company to update any pertinent material safety data sheets a minimum of every three years, according to Canada's WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems) standards. The WHMIS supplier MSDS and label requirements are more prescriptive than those set out under the U.S. OSHA HCS. If there is no new information on a particular controlled product within three years, the product information and MSDS must be checked, signed and dated in an effort to comply with all regulations.
Within Canada, all information, including hazard symbols, which must be disclosed on a WHMIS supplier label must be translated in both English and French and must be enclosed within a "hatched" border. For companies who are not aware of this process a MSDS authoring software will provide details.
Many companies attempt to avoid proper MSDS authoring by simply providing the information on the internet, however this practice is not appropriate in every situation. Making a MSDS available on the internet without ensuring that the purchaser is able to access this information does not comply with federal or global regulations. According to WHMIS, using the internet to transmit MSDS would be acceptable if the supplier is able to prove that the purchaser has downloaded the complete and correct MSDS, the MSDS sheet was obtained at the time of the sale of the controlled product or chemical, and the downloaded material safety data sheet file is readable. For companies interested in using the internet for MSDS authoring, MSDS authoring software will make this process quick and easy, saving the company potential problems. In an effort to satisfy federal regulations, written confirmation may be provided to the supplier from the purchaser specifying that the above conditions have been met.
When new information becomes available for a chemical, controlled product, an ingredient in that product, the supplier must revise the MSDS. All revisions must be made before selling the product; however it is not mandatory for a supplier to send a revised MSDS to a previous customer in the absence of a subsequent sale to that customer.

After the MSDS authoring has been finalized, chemical manufacturers and importers must obtain a material safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they produce or import. Employers must also have a material safety data sheet in the workplace for each hazardous chemical which they use.

Resource Box

Canadian federal regulations pertaining to MSDS authoring are different than the U.S.A. regulations. For more information on global regulations or if you are looking for MSDS authoring software, contact MSDS Compliance.

Ergonomics & Preventing Shoulder Injuries

Cumulative Trauma Disorders (CTDs) are injuries that are related to, or are a direct result of work characteristics and performance. CTDs are related to the exposure of an individual to specific ergonomic or work-related risk factors. A risk factor is any attribute, experience or exposure that increases the probability of the occurrence of a disease or disorder, although it is not necessarily a causal factor. workplace risk factors that are thought to increase the likelihood of CTDs include; forceful exertion, repetition, static and dynamic work, awkward postures, environmental factors and confounding factors.



Jobs that have multiple risk factors present are thought to be at an increased risk for the development of CTDs in the workplace. The level of risk for developing CTDs is dependent on the exposure to the ergonomic risk factor. Factors of exposure include: intensity of risk factor, duration of exposure and frequency of exposure. The level of risk is also dependent upon individual characteristics, including the capacity to meet job demands.



Since CTDs are injuries that result from exposure to workplace risk factors, it is logical that by identifying workplace risk factors and reducing or eliminating them that we can reduce the incidence of CTDs in the workplace. This is the goal of the Health Ergonomics approach to injury reduction. Reducing work-related injuries can be accomplished effectively by correctly identifying the ergonomic risk factors that are present and by providing a method for reducing the ergonomic risk or the exposure of the worker to the ergonomic risk factor. Both methods ultimately reduce the likelihood of the work-related injury and CTDs from developing by reducing the tissue fatigue and micro trauma thus facilitating optimal worker performance and minimizing worker fatigue.



Principles of Workplace Injury Prevention

The principles of workplace injury prevention are based on the foundation that if we reduce the ergonomic risk factors at the workplace, we can effectively reduce worker fatigue and the tissue microtrauma that occurs when the tissues are overloaded and insufficient recovery times. Reducing work-related injuries can be accomplished by correctly identifying the ergonomic risk factors and providing a method for reducing the ergonomic risk or the exposure of the worker to the ergonomic risk factor. The methods for reducing the risk factor or the exposure to the ergonomic risk factor are called control measures. Control measures use the principles of workplace injury prevention to provide suggestions for reducing the ergonomic risk.



The principles of workplace injury prevention include any work modification that will reduce the degree and severity of the ergonomic risk factor or will reduce the worker's exposure to the risk factor. Principles of injury prevention are based on the two health ergonomic objectives of reducing worker fatigue and improving worker performance. By reducing the amount and degree of tissue fatigue and introducing additional recovery times, the working tissues will recovery at a higher rate thus minimizing and preventing the onset of tissue micro trauma and CTDs. Injury prevention principles for the shoulder focus on improving blood flow to the local working tissues and reducing the degree of stress on to the working joints and muscles of the shoulder region.



Injury Prevention Principles for the Shoulder Joint:

1. Reduce High Repetition. Reducing high repetition will both reduce tissue stress and allow increased blood flow to the working muscle tissues, thus preventing tissue overload and microtrauma. This is especially critical in high stress activities such as; overhead lifting and reaching; forward lifting; forward reaching; and activities that require shoulder abduction and horizontal abduction positions.

2. Reduce Forceful exertions. Reducing forceful exertions will both reduce tissue stress and allow increased blood flow to the working muscle tissues, thus preventing tissue overload and microtrauma. The proper use of body mechanics is important to reduce the strain on the shoulder structures. Use the whole body and larger shoulder muscle groups to exert force and accomplish work tasks as opposed to using the smaller shoulder muscle groups or the shoulder joint only, when generating a force.

3. Reduce Static Work and Static Muscle Contractions. Reduce static work and static muscle contractions to allow increase blood flow to the working muscle tissues, thus preventing tissue overload and microtrauma. If static work is required, emphasize good posture and the use of the stronger, larger shoulder muscles. Rehabilitation should focus on the strength and endurance of the stabilizing muscles including the scapular stabilizers and the rotator cuff. If dynamic work is required, emphasize good posture and the use of the stronger, larger shoulder muscles. Rehabilitation should focus on the strength and endurance of the stabilizing muscles including the scapular stabilizers and the rotator cuff.

4. Dynamic Work-rest Cycles. Ensure dynamic work cycles are adequate to allow sufficient blood flow to working tissues to prevent tissue overload and microtrauma.

5. Reduce Postural Joint Forces and Awkward Positions. Reducing postural joint forces and awkward positions this will both reduce tissue and joint stress while allowing increased blood flow to the working muscle tissues, thus preventing tissue overload and microtrauma. For the shoulder joint, promote and maintain, as much as possible, the ideal positions of the shoulder joint that produce the least amount of exertion and compressive stresses to the joint and shoulder structures. Minimize lifting and reaching over 90 degrees of shoulder abduction, flexion and horizontal abduction. In addition, minimize shoulder extension activities beyond the midline. It is important to promote good postures of the neck, elbow and wrist joints, as awkward positions at adjoining joints may result in awkward positions and excessive tissue strain in the shoulder region. By minimizing the awkward postures at the joints above and below the shoulder joint, proper postures of the shoulder joint will be encouraged and therefore the risk for CTDs will be reduced.

6. Reduce Environmental Risk Factors. Reducing environmental risk factors to acceptable exposure limits will reduce tissue stress, enhanced worker performance and allow increased blood flow to working tissues, thus preventing tissue overload and microtrauma.

7. Reduce Confounding Risk Factors. Reducing confounding risk factors will enhance worker performance and reduce local tissue fatigue, thus preventing workplace injuries.



If a job task involves high repetition; the risk factor is high repetition, the injury prevention principle is to reduce the tissue stress and allow increased blood flow to the working tissues, the control measure will be to reduce the repetition rate or work rate and/or implement more frequent rest breaks. In effect, reducing the tissue stress and allowing a better recovery phase for the working tissues, thus preventing the CTDs from developing.



If the job task involves static postures; the risk factor is static work or static postures, the injury prevention principle is to reduce the tissue stress and allow increased blood flow to the working tissues, the control measure is to reduce the amount of static work by implementing dynamic work or by changing the work-rest cycles and allowing a longer tissue recovery time.



If the job task involves awkward postures; the risk factor is awkward postures, the injury prevention principles are to reduce the joint strain and promote a more neutral joint position, the control measure may be to implement ergonomic tools to improve the position of the joint to a more neutral position. This will reduce the joint stress and reduce the likelihood of tissue microtrauma from occurring, thus preventing the CTD.

Stress @ Work

Everyone experiences some degree of Stress at work, and a degree of positive pressure can help improve performance and productivity. But in a recent report,1 the leading mental health charity, Mind, warned that excessive levels or prolonged periods of stress can have adverse effects resulting in both physical and mental illness.

The report lists a number of disturbing facts about stress in the workplace:

1. More than 5 million people complain of extreme stress in their jobs, putting them at risk of a breakdown.

2. In a recent Health and safety Executive (HSE) report on work-related stress, 20% of those questioned reported that their work was "very stressful" or "extremely stressful".2

3. Nearly 10% of the UK's gross national product (GNP) is lost each year due to work-related stress.

4. Stress is the highest cause of absenteeism from work among non-manual employees.

5. An estimated 12.8 million working days were lost in Britain in 2003/4 as a result of work-related stress.3

The report identified a number of factors that can increase stress at work, including:

1. poor working conditions (e.g. long hours, travel, noises, smells, work overload and work underload)

2. a lack of a clear role in the company (e.g. ill-defined expectations, conflicting priorities and responsibility for others)

3. poor relationships at work (e.g. low levels of trust and lack of support).

At the end of 2004, the HSE launched a new guide for managers, aimed at preventing stress in the workplace.4 The guide identified 12 management standards, providing a step-by-step approach to tackling the different causes of stress in the workplace, together with advice on identifying those at risk from stress and on how to prevent problems occurring.

The Mind report supports these standards, recommending that all organisations should have a stress prevention policy that lays down the way the organisation deals with stress issues.

The reports' key recommendations to reduce/prevent stress at work include the following:

1. Employees should have genuine control over their work and be allowed an appropriate degree of self-management of workload.

2. Roles, responsibilities and expectations should be fully defined.

3. Employees should have a role in planning and decision making.

4. The physical workplace environment should be of a high standard, including natural light where possible, good ventilation, and good health and safety practices.

5. Employees should be actively discouraged from working excessively long hours.

For those who have been made ill through stress at work, the report recommends that:

1. on-the-job support and mentoring schemes should be provided.

2. flexible hours should be introduced to take account of regular GP/hospital visits.

3. those who have had to take time off after illness should be allowed to return to work gradually.

4. positions should be kept open during sickness absence.

The HSE report states that employers now have a duty in law to ensure that their employees do not suffer from stress-related illness. Employers who do not take work-related stress seriously may therefore leave themselves open to compensation claims from employees who have suffered ill health from work-related stress.

References

1. Stress and Mental Health in the Workplace. http://www.mind.org.uk

2. The Scale of Occupational Stress: The Bristol Stress and Health at Work Study. HSE Contract Research Report 265, HSE Books (2000).

3. Health and Safety Executive (2004). Health and Safety Statistics Highlights 2003/04. Available at www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overpic.htm.

4. Tackling Work-Related Stress: A Managers' Guide To Improving And Maintaining Employee Health And Well-Being hse.gov.uk/stress/information.htm

For more information on stress at work and essential oils, visit the websites Stress at work and aromatherapy at work pages: www.aromatherapy-stress-relief.com/stress_atwork.html

Try Aromatherapy and inhale away the stress of your day!

Copyright © 2005 Gillian Hale (CUS Busting Ltd)

Felicity Lightbody

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5 Hairstyles, for a beautiful you, on your wedding day

A bride on her wedding day wants to look her best. Exquisiteness and trend play a part in her hairstyle preference. Also, the tone of the wedding, is it a casual beach wedding or a dramatic enterprise, then you have the bride's personality to factor in to... Read >

How to Correctly Perform a Fire Drill?

Fires are one of the leading causes of office damage and are something that can potentially injure and kill workers. That is why it is very important to create a fire protection program in a workplace and to make sure that every worker under the roof know... Read >

Safety Advice To Follow When Using Straighteners

Your hair is precious and dangerously fragile. Unfortunately, in order to (quickly) tame your locks, you have no choice but to douse them with harsh shampoo and hot water, blast the moisture out with a fiery hair dryer, and possibly iron out the kinks wit... Read >

Where Can You Buy Ghd Straighteners

If you are looking for a hair straightener there are many reasons to choose the ghd hair straightener versus the cheaper models. With the use of a professional tool the daunting task of straightening your hair becomes less time consuming, leaving the hair... Read >

GHD Red Lust straighteners - New this Season

The official GHD website for the latest in hair products is now showing 4 new GHD straighteners that come in a variety of colours. These latest in hair straighteners styling models are well known for their effortless adaptability to straighten, curl, flic... Read >

Blackberry Pearl 3G: The First Blackberry without a qwerty!

April 26, 2010 phone manufacturer Research in Motion; famous for their Blackberry line of phones with qwerty style keypads announced they would be releasing an upgrade to the previously popular Blackberry Handset. The Blackberry Pearl 3G will feature many... Read >

New Blue Serenity GHD Hair Straighteners - the must have accessory of the moment!

Your destiny awaits with the new limited edition colour collection from GHD! As you already know, GHD is one of the top leaders of hair products in the UK and throughout the world. With tons of celebrity fans ranging from Gwyneth Paltrow to Madonna, GHD p... Read >

Keeping Your Kids Safe At Home

If you are like me (and thousands of other people) we all have dangerous household cleaners in our home. In fact, kids, and even teens, are at risk with these dangerous cleaners in our home.

Cleaning the kitchen can be hard work. Most people have a variety of household cleaners under the sink for each cleaning problem. To get things clean it takes a lot of muscle and ‘elbow grease’ to get the job done. Unfortunately, the harder you work, the more you breathe in dangerous fumes.

Problem: Keep Out Of Reach Of Children

Have you read the precautions and warnings on the back of those cleaners under your sink? STOP --- go to your kitchen right now and grab one of your household cleaners. Read the back of the product. Pretty scary stuff.

I have glanced at many of these warnings and precautions on the back of the household cleaners, and until recently - I continued using these cleaners. Many of these cleaners suggest using the products with adequate ventilation. I do not know the size of your bathroom, but most bathrooms are tiny with poor ventilation. Your eyes burn and you try to hold your breath. You try to clean the bathroom quickly so you don’t breathe in too many of the fumes.

Solution: Safe Non-toxic Cleanser

There is an alternative to many of these household cleaners and it is a safe, non-toxic all-purpose cleaner called Botanic Gold®. But first, here are some of the warnings posted on many of the products you probably have in your home right now:

Comet with Bleach® Liquid Cleaner - CAUTION: MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION, KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Contains bleach. Use with adequate ventilation. Do not mix with other products, especially toilet bowl cleaners, acidic cleaners, or products that contain ammonia as irritating fumes may result.

Formula 409 Spray All Purpose Cleaner® - Keep out of reach of children. Causes eye irritation. Do not get in eyes, on skin or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.

PineSol Cleaner® Eye and skin irritant. Harmful, if swallowed. Do not get in eyes. Avoid prolonged or repeated skin contact.

Lysol Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner® - Keep out of reach of children. May cause eye irritation, avoid contact with eyes or skin.

Dow Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner® - Causes burns to skin and eyes on contact.

I mention these household cleaners because I have used them to clean my own house. I remember cleaning my oven with the Dow Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner® and although I had gloves on --- I could still feel the vapors burning my hands through the gloves.

Easy and Wipes-off Clean

Now imagine if you had one all multi cleaner that cleans grease off the stove with ease. In fact, this same cleaner will remove wax from votive candle holders. It can clean the grime off your car and gummy price tags wipe-off clean.

This one product I use every morning to wash my face. I am amazed how squeaky clean my face feels after I wash my face. I could go on with more testimonials but the truth is you, the results are in the bottle.

I leave you with one last testimonial. One of my customers uses it to clean her cat box. She said it was the only thing she has found that neutralized (removed) the smell of cat urine from the plastic litter box.

Be safe, healthy and well. Thank You

Copyright © 2006 Wayne McDonald. All rights reserved.

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