Tag Archives: management

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

Why Being A Lifeguard Is More Than Just A Name (Guest Post)

We love to think that being a lifeguard is just a name, and it has nothing to do with anything else other than the pool management. But if you think being a lifeguard is all about a teen in high school who is smeared with SPF 30 and stretching out in a chair, and all this lifeguard does is just double-checking on drowning children, you are totally wrong. This is because lifeguard is not just a useless title of a job. It has all the characteristics of being important. It’s a tough job, but yes, someone has to do it. 

So, you’ve finally decided that you want to make a career out of it, and you know you are proud to be called as a lifeguard? The thing is that you have to know that deep inside your heart; this is what you want. That is why we would like to tell you the importance of being a lifeguard. You are not just defending your own safety because every day when you go to work you are expecting the unexpected. That is why it is very crucial for someone who desires to become a lifeguard to go for a lifeguard training. The number one role of a lifeguard is to ensure that every swimmer at pools and public beaches have a safe environment. Lifeguards are advanced swimmers who are trained through swimming programs especially under International Lifeguard Training Program (ILTP). 

If you desire a job where you can make a difference every day and is full of challenges, the first thing you need to do is to apply for a lifeguard training with Jeff Ellis Management or with any other certified swimming programs. You will be trained about anything related to safety and rescue, public beaches and pool management, and your routine role as a lifeguard in monitoring all activities in the water. Other than that, you will also learn that instead of watching people from faraway, you will still need to interact with them by teaching swimming lessons and the safety rules.

Lifeguard1

Lifeguards are trained to be completely calm especially when it involves emergency rescue procedures. They are not just excellent swimmers; they are lifesavers. That is why you can see that whenever there’s an emergency where a swimmer is cramping, fatigued, injured, or at risk for any other unknown reasons, a lifeguard will dive into the water to save the swimmer. In some cases where it takes time for paramedics to arrive, a lifeguard will be the one performing the on-site emergency response. All of these are impossible to be performed if a lifeguard did not go through  lifeguard training. It also take a lot of confidence for a lifeguard to be able to do an evacuation and make a huge announcement should the place of recreation is not safe for public. 

Being a lifeguard is more than just getting the worst tan lines ever, or to smell like chlorine once you get back home. It’s about a commitment toward a responsibility of ensuring one’s life is secured while you’re on duty. If anything happens, you will be asked about it, and that is why getting the proper training will give you an insight of what exactly a public beach or pool management is. Since every day when you go to that same swimming pool or public beach, you get the chance to become the hero of the day. Does it sound interesting to you?

Note: We want to thank Mickey Colon of jeffellismanagement.com for this insight into exactly what it takes to become a lifeguard.  People who choose this profession will not only be working on the beaches, but protecting swimmers in college pools, city pools, and recreational centers.  It takes someone who can pay attention for hours to everything going on in and around the pool.  It does seem glamorous, but it is a very important job.  Knowing CPR and having the appropriate first aid equipment plays a huge part in saving lives.  pb

General Safety Issues

EUROPEAN WEEK FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK (GUEST POST)

European Week for Health and Safety at Work aimed to reduce number of workplace accidents

The European Week Health and Safety at Work week, which ran from October 22nd to October 26th was an initiative aimed at reducing the number of people harmed in accidents in their workplace. The scheme highlighted the key combination of good management and worker participation as essential to maintaining safety standards, and ran across Europe as a whole. 

It was organised by the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work and the group’s director Dr Christa Sedlatschek commented that when it comes to health and safety in the workplace, everyone is responsible, which is a sentiment I completely agree with. 

Employers are legally obligated to have strong health and safety codes in place to protect their workforce, but it should go beyond this – health and safety is a moral issue too, and any decent manager will not want to place their staff in harm’s way. 

However, staff also have a responsibility to behave sensibly, and to take personal responsibility for their own safety – if an employee follows instructions which they know to be unsafe the boss who gave them out is clearly to blame should injury occur, but so is the employee themselves. 

Dr Sedlatschek singled out the construction of the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Olympic Games as a great example of how “things can go well” when there is co-operation between employers and employees. She noted that “strong leadership, clear lines of communication and the engagement of staff and partners in health and safety” helped to make the build the first ever fatality-free construction of an Olympic stadium. 

As part of the campaign two documents detailing best practice management and worker participation have been created, and both contain checklists which staff and employers can use to rate the effectiveness of their own workplace behaviour.

 

About the author: Grieves Solicitors specialise in providing legal support and advice for victims who have suffered from an accident at work

General Safety Issues

SEVEN STEPS TO GET A JOB IN CONSTRUCTION (GUEST POST)

Jobs in the construction industry can be divided into two broad categories: labour and management. In either category, there are countless opportunities to secure jobs with sub-contractors, contractors, private organizations and municipal agencies. Construction as an industry can be very rewarding if you are willing to work hard. There are good employment benefits and the pay-rate is also higher compared to jobs in other industries. Here are 7 steps that could make getting a job in the construction industry easy for you. 

  • Know your vocational inclinations to understand which type of position in the construction industry would suit you the most. If you like physical work, a labour based position should be your choice. On the other hand, if you are not averse to paper-work, like compiling budgetary allocations, and co-ordinating projects, you might be better suited for a managerial post.   (It must be noted that managerial posts would require the candidate to have degrees in business, architecture management or engineering. Even in case of labourers, some sort of minimum qualification like a high-school diploma or an equivalent is required for minimum eligibility.) 
  • Research the various types of jobs available in the construction industry. There are general labour jobs like carpentry, wood-framing, drywall work and door installations. On the other hand, speciald labour would include electrical work, plumbing, painting, masonry and concrete work. You need to take time in properly researching the different aspects of the industry and look at them from the perspective of your vocation before starting your job hunt. 
  • You would need to narrow down your search based on the type of job you are looking for. For example, if you wish to occupy a managerial or general labour post, you will need to target general contracting companies which handle all aspects of a construction project. 
  • Keep tabs on the local construction activities in your area. This would allow you to predict accurately the demand for the type of employees. It will also allow you to sound informed about local trends in a job interview, further bettering your chances of landing the job. 
  • Look for trade schools and/or apprenticeship programs being offered in your locality by community colleges or trade unions. Possessing a degree in your chosen trade would keep you ahead in the competition. In case of an apprenticeship, you will get assistance in securing a job while taking classes at night to augment your skills in the chosen trade. 
  • Keep your eyes open for construction jobs listed in the local newspapers. Apply to the appropriate openings with your resume and then follow the instructions specified in the ad. It is also a good idea to constantly follow up on your applications through e-mails and phone-calls until you land a job. 
  • Take initiative in contacting prominent contractors or sub-contractors even if they are not looking to hire anybody new. It would be preferable to meet them face to face about your interest in working for them. If not, leave a letter and a copy of your resume.

 

Penny Cooper is an expert associated with CV Insight, a leading UK firm specializing in CV verification and pre employment screening services. For more details on their employment screening and verification services, click here.

Many thanks, Penny, for this good advice about securing a job in this industry.  The key is to be “willing to work hard” in many jobs; and, there are folks out there who need work, so we hope these suggestions will help them to emphasize their willingness to do just that when they are seeking employment.  It also would be wise to assure them that they will be a careful and safe employee.  pb