Do Good Luck Symbols, Charms, Talismans & Remedies Really Work ?

Symbols and symbolism are popular in almost every civilisation, culture and religion that has evolved on Earth. They are deeply ingrained in the way of our life itself. Symbols impact our subconscious mind and if their influences are strong enough, then they could stimulate confidence, effort and good outcomes. Whether we realize or not paintings, pictures, jewellery, statues, birds, animals and so forth have meanings and effect on us.

Mankind, after closely watching nature, events and environmental life over a period of centuries, has developed a vast and time tested database of Positive Symbols. When the geometric shape, size, meaning and their other nuances are properly understood and activated, it results in transmission/amplification of "energy" - the vital life force that governs everything in the Universe.

Some classical examples are Crystals, Pyramids, Vedic Yantras, Sacred Geometry, Maha Meru, Pancha Boodha Stupa, Vajra, Viswa Vajra, Rahu (Dorje Phurba), Fengshui Objects, et cetra.

Usage of positive symbols can alter energy flow and enhance the surrounding space. It is the easiest way to introduce positivism in our environment. They are normally categorised into 2 types : to remedy/cure a problem, to heal a situation; to act as a booster or enhancer to bring about harmony and prosperity. There are symbols (like Crystals) that when placed (after processing), can dissolve negative energy and also stream out purpose-solving, high positive energy. These symbols, when processed and positioned correctly, will definitely yield results.

By creating an environment rich with positive symbolism that elicit positive thinking, focused minds, confidence and innovativeness, progress and prosperity will result. We will then become aware of the life force in the environment in which the energy had been altered by us, thus enabling us to empower it. This powerful symbolism will reinforce our energy levels to benefit in every aspect of our lives.

For example, a Black Tourmalene Crystal Pendant can balance the emotions and calm the mind; a pair of Pink Mandarin Duck statuettes can bond a couple more strongly; a Viswa Vajra can protect one from negative entities; a Five Element Stupa can balance the five elements of nature and correct the vaastu/fengshui energy of land and building; a set of Sailing Ship Coins can instigate cash flow in Business; a Pyramid can accumulate Positive Energy; a Shri Yantra can remove financial blocks, a custom built Crystal Energy Field can bring in Health, Wealth, Harmony & Happiness, et cetra.

But how can merely the statue of a Phoenix bird bring motivation and new opportunities?

The shape and design of the gadget determines the nature of the energy that the remedy can receive and transmit. (2) The raw material and size decide the storage capacity and life of the remedy, when energised. (3) Programming of the remedy defines the problem to be solved or the purpose to be realised and the Programming only fully dedicates the energy of the remedy to the purpose and binds it to the person.

It is thus important to realise that the remedy by itself is only the hardware part (like a computer). You have to supply the electricity (energising) to switch it on and keep it running. But ultimately you have to supply the proper software (programming) to make it work. Appropriate placement then completes the circle.

There are some who would argue that the "shape" of the talisman or remedy itself does signify a specific energy and hence does not require any other processing. Sure it does : that's why it has been selected as an energy tool. For example, the shape of a majestic Elephant does signify the energies related to strength, shrewdness and long memory - but that alone is not suffiecient. The image or statue should definitely be energised in ways where it stores enough to last for a few years, not weeks. Then the stored energy should be programmed as to whom and for what purpose it should work. The programming also helps the remedy from being corrupted from the onslaught of negative energies that it surely has to face (on behalf of it's owner), once activated. This way, if and when the vital positive energy of the remedy is critically overwhelmed by negativity at one stage, the remedy simply breaks and declares it's inability to serve (it's owner) further, rather than damage it's owner.

Will a Laughing Buddha or a Crystal or a Yantra bought off the shelf give results?

The simple answer is a firm "no", if it has not been programmed and energised. Merely energising will not help. The energy needs to be stabilised, sealed and then directed through "specialised" programming.

In fact, the source of the energy remedies play an important role in determining the effectiveness. Many who buy the same Fengshui product from two different sources will find that one is working so well and the other may not. But they never bother to ask why that happens. The answer is subtle, the source determines the "root energy" stored in the products.

(1) It is a key element (the root energy) that the qualified expert (who is going the sell/channel the remedies) checks before selecting. Then the products are (2) cleansed (of negativities that arise during manufacturing/changing hands), (3) instilled with auspicious and positive energy and (4) kept in proper storage area that has a strong positive energy belt before being sold. Finally, when sold, (5) the expert programs the remedy to the purpose and the user and explains the (6) ideal placement of the energy tool in his/her place.

Then and only then will these remedial tools yield results.

In modern living, where the environment at macro level is highly influenced by many factors beyond our control, micro level energy correction done with empowered remedies can effectively bring in and retain Health, Wealth, Harmony and Happiness.

This is copyrighted work. Permission is granted to republish (both in electronic media as well as print media) the article in it's entirety only, including the full bio of the author and his website links. An acknowledgement will be appreciated.

The Author of this article Janarrdhana Guptha is an Energy Consultant, Crystal Master and a Clairvoyant Reader. His speciality is in Remedial Solutions, especially Crystal Energy Fields. His wife Kalpana Guptha is also a Psychic Reader. The Energy Couple can be reached through crystalvaastu@yahoo.com or either of their websites:

http://www.newage-kabbalah-numerology.com or http://www.crystal-vaastu.com/home.htm

Janarrdhana Guptha has authored the book titled "Guide to Fengshui Good Luck Symbols". He writes regularly in English & Tamil Magazines from India. Some more of his articles can be read at his blog: http://www.spaces.msn.com/members/crystal-vaastu/

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Seven Reasons to Eat Organic Food - Important Things You Ought to Know

There has been so much fuss recently about "going organic" and "eating organic." What exactly is "organic" and why is eating organic food highly recommended?

Organic foods are those that, by law, are produced without using pesticides and other synthetic chemicals. While tests conducted by the various government agencies already reveal a reduction in the various toxins in the food we eat, the movement towards eating organic food is gaining steam. Here are seven reasons why we ought to eat organic:

1. Studies from various organizations have consistently shown that organic food is higher in nutrients than traditionally-grown (read: farmed with pesticides and fertilizers) foods. Organic produce has higher levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, and the minerals calcium, iron, chromium, and magnesium. They taste better, too.

2. Organic produce has also been shown to be free of neurotoxins. Did you know that pesticides contain organophosphates which were originally used as toxic nerve agents in the First World War? When the war was over, the leftover organophosphates were adapted to become pesticides. Why are they harmful? Organophosphates are damaging to brain and nerve cells. Many pesticides are still considered neurotoxins. Organic produce, however, do not use these neurotoxins in the growing process. Being toxin-free, organic produce is ideal for children's growing brains and bodies. Organic food feeds and strengthens their bodies without risking exposure to pesticides and genetically-modified organisms. This is one of the biggest pluses in going organic.

3. The use of pesticides pollute our drinking water. Through organic farming practices, pollution in our drinking water is greatly reduced. To support this effort, we ought to buy organic produce as well. Moreover, organic food production has always been used by our forefathers and has been found to be sustainable and earth-friendly as compared to the current agricultural practices that have destroyed the environment in all the parts of the world that it has been used. Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers have done nothing but destroy our soils.

4. Small-scale organic farms help create a livelihood for local farmers who used to be left out when big corporations started taking over and running the show. Farms that employ organic practices are safe places in which to work in too. A Harvard School of Public Health study found that Parkinson's disease among people exposed to pesticides was 70% higher in those environments were pesticides were used. When we buy organic, we are supporting working environments that are safe and disease-free.

5. Organic food reduces your cancer risk. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60% of herbicides, 90% of fungicides, and 30% of insecticides to be cancer-causing agents. With cancer as one of the leading causes of mortality in the Western world today, there is good evidence to point an accusing finger to the use of these carcinogenic pesticides. Non-organic meat have also been heavily treated with antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and drugs. This is not the case with organic meat.

6. Organic food is real food and have been tried, tested and proven safe. Genetically-modified food, however, currently makes up 80% of the average person's diet but whose long-term effects and safety have not been well-established.

7. Organic farming techniques supports greater biodiversity in our food sources. Biodiversity is natural and basic to life on Earth. On the contrary, genetically-modified and non-organic food is only concerned with producing high yields for one particular group of plants and/or animals.Lastly, remember to look over these Blendtec blender reviews and use this Blendtec promotional code.

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Bad Eco-Tourism Does More Harm Than Good

Tourism is a booming industry. With many travellers flocking to different destinations around the globe, tourism is becoming one of the most viable business markets in the world. However, air travel, car travel and other aspects of tourism are adding to the planet's pollution crisis and this is becoming a problem. Travel operators and hospitality corporates realised that some action needed to be taken, and Eco-tourism was created as a solution to this problem.



Eco-tourism is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry. Eco-tourism involves the conservation of biological and cultural diversity through education of locals and tourists alike. By protecting ecosystems it has had a positive effect on the local communities and their livelihoods through their participation in projects and lessening the impact on the environment.



Why Eco-Tourism?

A tourist operator who offers eco-tourism is basically an operator who makes no negative impact on the environment and helps to sustain and promote the life of the local ecosystems.



Their activities should not pollute the local surroundings and have a mutually beneficial relationship with local residents through education of how to sustain themselves without damaging the environment. In South Africa, teaching locals how to make crafts from empty cans and used containers to minimise litter and help create a source of income is one example of this. The tour operator should also be involved in the education of locals concerning the environment and teaching them how to live in harmony with it, instead of destroying it.



There are many benefits to eco-tourism, yet many hospitality providers claim they offer eco-tourism holidays and accommodation when they do not. Governments and tourism providers are leaning towards the promotion of anything which involves nature as eco-tourism, allowing activities which are not based upon sustainable development of the environment and communities.



Tourism ventures such as low-impact tourism, green tourism, bio-tourism and ecologically responsible tourism are advertised as eco-tourism when they do not fall under this category realistically.



The Problems with Fake Eco-Tourism

"Green washing" is a term used to describe the occurrence of a tourism operator claiming to offer eco-friendly holidays when they are in fact, environmentally destructive. This practice involves the commercialisation of tourism involving nature and some ecological projects as eco-tourism. Many people flock to these tourism operators and end up doing more damage to the environment than if they had not used a 'green' operator. They are destructive towards the environment, are insensitive towards cultural needs and exploit the tourism economy. They are also misleading to tourists as they appeal to the desire to help the environment which tourists have, yet destroy the environment, not giving the tourists what they have asked for.



Despite some operators meeting the guidelines, there may still be a negative impact on the environment and local communities. Eco-tourism operators need to have a thoroughly positive impact on the environment with few, if not no negative impacts. If there is a negative impact, this should be counter acted by some kind of compensatory action such as planting trees and so forth.



South Africa is currently reaping many economic benefits from eco-tourism but there are still problems with displacement of people, violations of constitutional rights and negative impact on the environment from tourism activities.



An eco-tourism operator should be involved in investing in the local ecosystems and conservation. Rejuvenation of the natural resources and the education of locals in living in harmony with these ecosystems is paramount to eco-tourism. Education of tourists, assisting the livelihoods of locals in supporting themselves without negative environmental impact and the conservation of biological and cultural diversity should be not only endorsed but achieved through eco-tourism. Money generated from eco-tourism should also be invested in furthering conservation efforts.



About the Author:

Grootbos Private Game reserve is a nature reserve in Gansbaai which is an eco-tourism venture with eco friendly luxury accommodation, nature adventures for guests and is responsible for founding the Grootbos Foundation. Grootbos conserves the local flora and fauna, helps locals with sustainable development and educates tourists and locals in how to conserve the habitats and ecosystems occurring in Gansbaai and to live without having a negative impact on the environment.

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How to Live Frugally and Simply to Save Money and the Environment

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How to Live Frugally and Simply to Save Money and the Environment

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Outdoor Lighting: Beauty, Security, Safety

Add dimension to your home with professionally designed landscape lighting. Nothing is more majestic than seeing your home illuminated at night. As light gently washes the walls, accents architectural features and illuminates the trees, your home will take on a new dimension and announce its presence in the night. Outdoor lighting has become extremely popular as homeowners have discovered that it adds beauty, security and safety to their property.

Beauty:

Outdoor lighting, when designed properly, will add dimension to a home that once was unnoticeable after dusk. Lighting designers will use different types of light to achieve various tasks. If illuminating an entire surface of a home is the desired effect, then a flood type light would be used to wash the wall. Maybe there is a row of columns, where it would be dramatic if each one were lighted individually. A lighting designer would use a beam of light that has a narrow light pattern, spotlighting each individual column. A majestic tree in landscape might call for soft lighting, illuminating the branches and highlighting one of nature’s original pieces of art. As all of these lighting types are used in one design and begin to harmonize with one another, a very special effect will be created. Outdoor lighting can produce an effect so endearing that you will find yourself eagerly awaiting and appreciating the approach to your home like never before.

Security:

Another added benefit of outdoor lighting is the security that it can help provide. Many homeowners will have a security system installed in their home, but what they don’t realize is that a properly lighted home will not be as likely targeted for theft as a home that sits completely in the dark. A criminal will not be as likely to enter a door or window where he has to do his work in a brightly lighted area. Effectively planned lighting, in concert with your home security system, can help to keep your home and family safe.

safety:

All of us love to use our outdoors, but unless you have proper illumination at night, it can be difficult to navigate around your property. There are many types of lighting that an outdoor lighting company can install to make the grounds around your home more accessible at night. If you have a retaining wall along your driveway, lights can be installed to illuminate your path to the garage. If you have difficult steps leading up to your home in the front or back, then lighting can be used in the riser portion of the step to define each step. Lighting can also define a walkway connecting the house and the garage. This type of safety lighting is very useful for the elderly as well. While these are just a few examples of how outdoor lighting can add safety to your property, an expert lighting designer can help you to identify your problem areas and incorporate them into their overall design.

After the successful installation of an outdoor lighting project and the night falls for the first time to reveal the results, you will find that you have made a decision that means your money has been well spent. Also know that for energy efficiency, outdoor illumination can be placed on a timer that turns it off at dawn and on at dusk. Outdoor lighting adds beauty, value, security and safety to your property while letting your home be a glowing star in the night sky.

Camping Safety Tips: Part 2 � Camp Fires, Wild Animals, Dangerous Activities

Camping provides a great temporary escape from the stresses and dangers of suburban and urban life. However, the camping experience is fraught with its own set of dangers. The wise camper must take these into account and prepare in advance how to make safety in the woods a high priority and counter the inherent risks.

In part 1 of this two-part series, we looked at safety related to food preparation, preparing clean drinking water, and how to minimize the risk of illness from ticks.

In this second and final part, we will now turn our safety focus to properly handling camp fires, avoidance of wild animals, and giving caution due consideration while walking through any wooded areas.

CAMP FIRES

For many people, the thought of sitting, talking, or singing around a camp fire lies at the heart of the outdoor experience. No fire, no fun. However, a fire handled improperly can lead to inadvertent disaster. So safety is of the essence.

When starting, enjoying, and later putting out a fire, use common sense.

For example, if you are camping when the weather has been dry for a lengthy period of time, it would be safer to skip the camp fire altogether. This issue itself may actually influence your decision on selecting a time to camp.

Additionally, only build fires in camp ground provided areas, such as fire rings. Otherwise, clear out a small area in your camping site, and place rocks around a circle to set the parameters for your fire. Within the circle, dig a hole several inches deep for the wood you will burn.

If you have not brought your own wood on the trip, gather wood that is already dead and lying nearby. Make sure that any leaves close to the fire pit are raked several yards away and that there are no paper products lying on the ground. Throw those in the trash.

Once the fire is started, let it build slowly with smaller twigs and dead branches, only placing larger pieces of wood on the pile as the flame grows. Make sure small children remain several feet away from the flame, as the heat can become intense while it grows. And they certainly should not be close enough that they could slip or trip and fall in.

And finally, never leave a camp fire unattended. When leaving the area (say for a walk) or going to sleep for the night, extinguish the flames. Use a lot of water to douse the flames, saving your clean drinking water when at all possible. Stir the ashes and use more water until the remains are cool enough to the fingers.

WILD ANIMALS

Most people do not encounter wild animals when camping in the woods, certainly not up close and personal. But that does not mean they are not living in the habitat and posing a quiet danger to humans. It can definitely be entertaining to spot them from a distance, not to mention serving up great snapshot opportunities with a raccoon, deer, or even a bear. However, in such a situation, distance between you and the animal is one of your best friends.

Never (ever) attempt to feed an animal you encounter. It is not your pet dog or cat and may attack! That is an instinctive response. Even if you make no gestures that seem threatening, the animal may interpret it that way.

If a wild animal approaches you, back away slowly and do nothing to invite its approach.

Minimize your risk of an animal encounters in the first place by wrapping all food securely and putting it away when you have finished eating. Then throw away food-related trash in camp provided trash receptacles.

PERILOUS ACTIVITIES

There is nothing quite like a long, quiet walk in the woods. Remain on paths that have been designed for walks. Use common sense.

* Refrain from hanging on tree branches. Old, dying, or thin wood can easily snap off.

* Avoid walking close to or leaning over steep cliffs, whether they are primarily rock or brush. It would be easy to slip or lose your balance. A subsequent fall could be disastrous.

* Do not attempt to conquer gravity in the opposite direction either. That is, refrain from climbing steeply angled rocks. You are on a camping trip, not a mountain climbing expedition.

* In the winter, never walk on frozen water. Regardless of surface appearance, there is no method to assess how thin and weight-bearing capable the ice may be.

As you can see, the camping experience is not a danger-free zone. The great outdoors certainly provides compelling motivation to seek quiet time with nature. But this activity cannot be done with reckless abandon. In fact, making safety in the woods a habit actually assists with maximizing the many positives of the camping experience.

Therapy for Grief

The best therapy for grief is time and community. We humans have been dealing with death since we began, and every culture, every clan, every family, has created some kind of ritual.

For example some cultures still throw spears over the body to ward off spirits.

In our culture, homes from a more rural time were built with a "death room" included, and when a village member died, the village participated in the ritual, the wake, and the funeral, and the bereaved wore black to symbolize their grief, which meant in part that they were going to withdraw from the normal village transactions for awhile.

I think it is interesting to read of the evolving funeral industry from its ancient roots, and also the evolving interest of my profession in grief and the grieving process.

By the way, grief does not always deal with just human death. We grieve pets, possessions, marriages, ideas, ideals, traditions, anything important to us which is gone suddenly.

I remember from my own youth, very young in the early 1950's, our family car, which was one of the first models available after WWII, burned in the barn on our farm, and how my parents wept.

The car was important for my Dad to get to and from work, and it represented upwardly mobile success for my parents also, and the setback was hard to take.

Fast forward a few decades, to when I began working in the addictions field, and becoming amazed at what intense pain often lay under or within addictions.

So grieving and grief therapy became an informal part of the addiction recovery process.

Men spoke of physical abuse, women spoke of sexual abuse, as a rule of thumb, the point being that many addicts experienced a betrayal of trust at the hands of family members, and had there been grief therapy available, perhaps the pain could have been cleared more effectively.

The purpose of grief I believe is to clear away the wreckage of the old, so that the new can grow, and if we do not process grief effectively, it is very difficult to trust in closeness or relationship.

Grief is like the winter of emotional life, and necessary for the spring and rebirth.

However we humans can get stuck in our grief, and it is then that perhaps a grief therapist is necessary for us to let go and move on.

I have been to many experiential workshops, holotropic breathwork, New Warrior Adventure Weekends, where folks have opened the door to unfinished grief from decades prior, from veterans working on survival guilt, or father's grieving the loss of sons and daughters, children grieving the loss of parents to death, or addiction, and the healing from that grief therapy process can be profound, when the folks involved in the community trust in the sacredness of the work.

In my own anger management and domestic violence programs, I routinely have clients who tap into a deep pain around a loss, and I need to have a model for them to make sense of what is happening.

A great model for that kind of grief therapy is psychodrama, but what we counselor's call "set and setting" is integral to safety and trust, and psychodrama may not be appropriate for an educational class or workshop.

There are other models for dealing with complicated grief, or disenfranchised grief, for example, which are aspects of grief being delineated in more current research on grief therapy.

The first model of grief that I came across in my professional development was the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross model, with its five stages, denial, bargaining, anger, tears, and acceptance, and it has proven to be very useful in letting folks know there is a rhyme and reason to their experience.

Just knowing that they are not "going crazy" is a relief, and the relationship between anger and sadness is a very important piece of what I teach my anger management and domestic violence classes, so that they can be aware that anger is a great way to get out of a vulnerable feeling state, but anger, like all emotions, demands an action which will of course be different than tears, with its own consequences.

Of course, acceptance is what all of us are striving for, that day when I wake up and think of my loss and do not experience that intense feeling, maybe a bit of nostalgia or melancholy, but then I get on with the business of living a life that respects the memory of the dear departed.

Technology in the Workplace: The Benefits of Video Conferencing

Technology in the workplace: The Benefits of Video Conferencing Copyright 2005 Octocat Ltd

What once required the physical presence of a number of individuals in a common location is now being accomplished through video conferencing. Thanks to the technological leaps of the past several years, any number of people can attend the same meeting from all points around the globe at any given time.

The ability to engage in video conferencing offers a multitude of benefits and, today, is widely utilized among most large companies, as well as a number of smaller firms.

One of the many benefits that can be realized when integrating the use of video conference technology into the workplace is an increase of productivity. Taking no more time or effort than a simple telephone call or walk to the office next door, video conferencing allows individuals to attend meetings from their own location, freeing up their time to continue doing business without the loss of travel time. As a result, hundreds of hours can be saved over the course of a year, which adds up to a significant amount of time that can be utilized for the purposes of performing other critical tasks.

Video conferencing also offers the benefit of economic savings. Those same individuals who, in an earlier time,
would have had to travel – sometimes, extensively – in order to attend certain meetings and conferences, can now participate from their own offices, saving substantial amounts of money. If the conferences were scheduled to last for more than one day, hotel expenses also needed to be factored into the budget, as well as airfare for those who were traveling from a distance. When you add up the savings over the course of a single year, your company can save tens of thousands of dollars or more.

Due to the concerns surrounding travel – particularly air travel – in our society today, a video conference is ideal for ensuring the safety of the participants. Though there are always risk involved with travel of any kind, those that plague contemporary society puts the safety factor very high on the priority list.

Currently, even the bravest hearts are apprehensive regarding this issue, and most would not consider this to
be a risk that they would be willing to take for their job. Video conferencing offers the opportunity to avoid having to make this type of decision, while ensuring the safety of all concerned.

Customer relations may also be improved through the use of video conferencing. This is a great way to stay in touch with significant clients or those who are viewed as potential clients, without the need to make a physical visit or take up too much of the client's time. Since the most effective meetings are those which can be attended in a face-to-face environment, video conferencing provides the ability to meet that goal while avoiding the inconvenience of travel, time and expense.

If you're not currently tapping into the benefits of the video conference forum, it's in your best interests to do a
bit of research into the possibilities of utilizing this form of personalized communication in the future.

With the wide variety of benefits that it offers, and virtually no drawbacks, there's no reason to put it off any longer. By saving productivity, money and time, your company will be that much closer to achieving and maintaining a successful and productive year.


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Mike Spencer provides helpful reviews of new technology and exciting business services to help small and home office businesses make the most of online communication tools. Discover how video conferencing could dramatically cut your business expenses and increase profits at Mikes site here: http://www.video-conference-reviews.com

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Why Should You Make Friends With Co-workers?

Cooperation is the key to success in any business and workers who can work together can mean the difference between success or failure. By making friends with co-workers it can ease competition for the affection of the boss and help allay any suspicion that you are going to stab the other folks in the back to further your own career. Being friends does not necessarily mean going out to dinner and having family picnics in the park together, but it does mean that in the workplace, a spirit of cooperation can go a long way to show that you and your friends have the best interests in the company at heart.

There may also be times when you fall behind in your work and with friends in the office, they might be more tempted to help you through a few rough spots than if you treat them as adversaries in the workplace. They will also be more amenable to come to your defense if a project is not done exactly right.

On the flip side, you will have to repay them in kind, by covering for them while they are on vacation or they require assistance on a project in which they are involved. The hard part comes in when the friendship exceeds the boundaries of the office. If for some reason the people develop a dislike for each other while participating in an activity outside the office, it could have detrimental effect on their workplace demeanor.

While friendships between co-workers on the same level in the pecking order are generally acceptable, it is never a good idea to try to be friends with the boss. Others may see this as an attempt to cozy up to the boss and if the supervisor does become friends with an underling, it could prompt accusations of favoritism. Any one who supervises others should never begin a friendship outside of work with a person who reports directly or indirectly to them.

If a friendship develops between to people on the same rung of the corporate ladder, they should keep in mind the possibility of one being promoted to higher position and know the friendship will most likely be in trouble as a result. It can really cause a friendship to become strained if one is appointed as the other’s supervisor on a temporary basis, as there may be attempts to use the friendship to receive special considerations. Whenever one is promoted over the other, regardless of what they say, there will probably be hard feelings directed at the one with the new position.

Romantic friendships in an office rarely work out, and when they break up it can lead to uncomfortable consequences for them as well as for their co-workers. Friendships can work out in the office, provided they are maintained on a professional level.

Ergonomic: Work Design Principles and Anthropometrics

Work Design Principles

The two primary objectives of the ergonomics process are to enhance performance and reduce fatigue. The ergonomics process is a multi-step method to evaluate work, study how the body responds to these work demands and then use this information to design or improve work areas to best meet these two objectives. The design of a work area or equipment can have significant effects on worker fatigue, safety and worker performance. In addition, with the expansion of machine technology, new and different equipment is continually introduced to the work place each year. This expansion of technology in the workplace can both ameliorate workspace problems, as well as, create them. For a work area to flow efficiently and productively, both the equipment and the people must be operating smoothly. Any obstacle, difficult reach, congestion or confusion can impair work output and may, at times, compromise worker safety.



In work design or modification, we need to answer the questions-

• " Does the person fit (body size) in a work place?"

• "If one worker fits in a workplace, do all workers fit in a workplace."

• "If all workers fit in a work place, are some individuals more likely to experience fatigue, injury or diminished work performance due to poor fit into a workplace?"

• " Does the design of the equipment have any adverse effects on the worker's safety and productivity?"



It is essential to be aware of the potential effects, both positive and adverse, that work design issues can have on both worker performance and fatigue. When designing or modifying equipment or a work area, the following factors need to be considered:

1. Safe clearances or heights, such as for doorways or walkways.

2. Safe reach distances, such as for safety cords or equipment controls.

3. Code requirements, such as for reaches or work heights.

4. Safety features including machine guards and protective shields.

5. Equipment control configuration or devices.

6. Work station or work flow designs

7. Handicap access adaptations with compliance with ADA laws.



Work areas and equipment are designed and built based on human capabilities and capacities. Obviously, there are some limitations to work design, as the worker population, most like is quite variable in size, shape and weight. In addition, there is no such thing as the "average "person. That is why the principles of anthropometrics have become so important.



Anthropometrics Defined

Anthropometrics is the science of the physical dimensions, size, shape and weight of the human body. The word anthropometry comes from the Greek words "anthro", meaning "man" and "metrein" meaning "to measure". The study of anthropmetrics is based on the concept that the population morphology is variable and that there are individual size and strength capabilities and differences. By measuring human body dimensions, one can establish normative data, which describes the frequency distribution of the population's size. Anthropometric principles can then be applied to work place design and modification to enhance worker performance, reduce fatigue, and determine safe working conditions.



The basis for anthropometry is the careful measurement of human body dimensions of a set population. The dimensions that are measured include:

1. Height

2. Weight

3. Reach, both horizontal and overhead

4. Stoop

5. Grip strength

6. Circumferential measurements

7. Limb length



In addition, gender, age, race and nationality are variables that should be considered when evaluating standard anthropometric tables or creating specific population tables. Anthropometric data is compiled to make guidelines to make the work areas, equipment, tools and product fit the size, reach, grip, clearance and capacity of the working population. Worker populations contain individuals who are male and female, large and small, short and tall, young and old, and strong and weak. The goal of applying the principles of anthropometrics to the workplace, as part of work area and system design is to enhance human performance, control fatigue and prevent accidents.



Anthropometric Tables

In the science of anthropometrics, measurements of the population's dimensions are obtained based on the population's size and strength capabilities and differences. From these measurements, a set of data is collected that reflects the studied population in terms of size and form. This population can then be described in terms of a frequency distribution including terms of the mean, the median, standard deviation and percentiles. The frequency distribution for each measurement of the population dimension is expressed in percentiles. The xth percentile indicates that x percent of the population has the same value or less than that value for a given measurement. The median or average value for a particular dimension is the 50th percentile. In addition, 100-x of the population has a value higher than x.



In ergonomic design, we do not design for the average person, or the 50th percentile, we design for the 95th percentile. In other words, 95% of the population can use the work area safely and efficiently, and 5% of the population may need to be accommodated. Conventionally, the 95th percentile has been chosen to determine clearance heights or lengths. That means 95% of the population will be able to pass through a door, while only 5 % of the population may need to be accommodated. In addition, the 5th percentile female has been chosen to determine the functional reach distance, that means 95 % of the population will be able to perform this reach, and only 5 % of the population may need to be accommodated.

Summary

Standard Anthropometric tables can be used, or an Anthropometric table can be created of a specific worker population. These data tables can be used to help determine safe and efficient work area and workflow designs. Anthropometric tables provide useful information on population size, shape and strength capabilities and differences so that work areas can be built or modified to improve work design and increase efficiency.

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