Tag Archives: professional

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

FOOTBALL ISN’T JUST FUN AND GAMES!

As hundreds of parents and grandparents have done, we have watched our grandson play football since the fourth grade – beginning with flag football.  The love of the game carried him through the rest of his middle school and high school years, finishing this season as a senior.  Fortunately, the only serious injury he received was a concussion in the seventh grade.  From then on, we, as so many others, were concerned that this might happen again.  Thankfully, it didn’t.  He enjoyed the years of playing with his classmates, some of whom had aspirations to play college ball.  High school students may need that scholarship in order to enroll in college and friends and fans alike support them in attaining that goal.  We sometimes don’t realize how many of those youngsters are under pressure to get it. 

College teams earn a lot of money for their schools, through ticket sales and college gear, shirts, etc.  Those whose records make them fortunate to make a bowl game will earn even more money for their school.  There is truly a spirit of comradery between team members, playing for the glory of their school, as well as being noticed by pro scouts.

The main attraction in professional sports is, of course, the huge paycheck that they earn.  It is amazing the amount of money that football, basketball, and other pro atheletes make.  Fans buy their gear and pay large sums of money for tickets to see them play in person.  Advertisements on television also draw attention to their team.  By the way, Texas America Safety has all the great team sports hardhats, for wearing to the games and work, to show your support of your favorite team, either professional or NCAA.

The more serious side of playing football, at all levels, but especially professional, is the risk of injury.  In glancing over the NFL Injury List for Week 17, it is amazing the amount of injured players that are questionable to play this week.  Ranging from eye, jaw, collarbone, shoulder, neck, concussion, and chest injuries, the list continues to include wrist, elbow, back, abdomen, finger, hand,  quadriceps, biceps, groin, hamstring, knee, achilles, thigh, ankle, shin, to toe injuries.  Also on the list were those who were not playing because of illness.  It’s easy to see how busy trainers and physicians are, trying to get their players back on the field.

There are many professional players who are now seeing their young sons wanting to play the game.  One pro was on the news the other day, who said at first, he wasn’t going to let him play; however, because the child wanted to play so badly, he would let him.  There was one catch: he would help coach the team.  He stated that it was very important that young players learn the right way to play, in order to avoid those injuries.  Concussions are being scrutinized more than ever, due to the number of past players who suffered numerous concussions, resulting in brain damage.

Protective gear is so important is all sports: whether it is eye protection. knee pads, or padding and helmets, schools owe it to their students to provide the best possible gear to keep their players safe.

We wish all those college teams and professionals who make the play-offs the best of luck, and injury-free games.  They provide much pleasure for fans who love to see them give it their all.

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

HOW TO HANDLE DISAPPOINTMENT OVER A RAISE (GUEST POST)

If your annual nanny (any job) review is approaching and discussion regarding a salary increase is on the table, or if you’re simply considering the wisdom of approaching your employer to request negotiations for a raise, it can be quite a nerve-wracking situation. Before you attend that evaluation meeting or approach your employers with a request for a salary increase, it’s wise to prepare yourself for the possibility that you may be turned down. The following tips can help you to handle your disappointment, so that you’re prepared in advance.  (I felt that this article applies to every employee, and their desire to achieve their annual raise, if that is still a possibility, so please know that these tips will help us all. Pat)

Understand That There’s a Possibility You Will Be Turned Down

Before you enter an evaluation, salary review meeting or discussion about a possible raise with your employer, you should keep in mind that there is a chance, however slim, that you won’t get what you’re looking for. The most crushing disappointment is the kind that comes unexpectedly, so remember that there are a variety of factors that could determine whether or not you’ll get a raise, many of which are out of your hands altogether. For some nanny employers, affording a nanny’s salary, employment taxes and any insurance can be enough to stretch their budget to the breaking point. Even if you’re the best and most qualified nanny in the area, your employers cannot give you a raise if it isn’t within their budget. Understanding that you could be facing the chance of a declined salary increase proposal won’t take all of the sting out of your disappointment, but it can make it a bit more manageable.

Stay Calm and Behave in a Professional Manner

If you’re absolutely certain that you’re going to get the raise you’re looking for, hearing that you’re not eligible for an increase for one reason or another can be shocking. It’s very important, however, that you maintain your professional demeanor and stay calm, at least until you’re alone. Your employers don’t need to see your reaction to know that you’ll be disappointed, but experiencing a petulant attitude or anger may only make them feel justified in their decision not to increase your salary, and more likely to make that same decision the next time the subject comes up . 

Ask What You Could Do Differently to Earn the Increase Next Time

While it won’t soothe all of your disappointment, learning how to better manage your work performance and what your employers are looking for before they’ll sign off on a salary increase next time will give you a concrete goal to work toward and a basic idea of how to get there. Don’t be afraid to ask your employers what you can do differently so that you’re a more valuable employee to them, just be sure that you do so calmly and respectfully, without a hint of anger or unprofessionalism.

Don’t Take it Personally

A great childcare provider who has established a strong rapport with both her charges and her employers shouldn’t take it personally when they’re turned down for a raise. In most cases, if you’re performing above and beyond expectations, enjoy a good relationship with your employers and are well-qualified for the position, your employers will do everything within their power to make sure that your compensation increases accordingly. Failure to secure a raise in such situations is almost certainly reflective of a reduced family budget, rather than a poor work performance or a reluctance to pay you what your time is worth.

Take Some Time to Privately Mourn

Part of dealing with any negative emotion, disappointment included, is to allow yourself to fully feel it in order to move on. While it’s not wise to feel your disappointment and express that emotion in the midst of your meeting, it is okay to show your disappointment when you have a bit of privacy. 

Consider Your Options

When a salary request is made because you’re facing serious job creep or are weathering an increase in hours, being turned down for that raise can make the post seem like it’s altogether not worth the time. If you’re feeling unappreciated and that your employers refuse to compensate you fairly for the extra duties you manage for them, it may be best to consider what options you have at your disposal. It’s likely that your morale will suffer noticeably if you’re already overworked and turned down for a pay increase, which will only leave employers feeling justified in their decision not to raise your salary.

Sent to us by Sarah Tucker.  Sarah is the regular contributor for http://www.4nannies.com/.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection

THE DANGERS OF WIRING AND HOW TO STAY SAFE (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Jake @ CustardMedia.co.uk

Working with electrical wiring can be very dangerous. This is particularly true for those who have never worked with wiring before. If you are planning to complete a do-it-yourself wiring job, you need to understand the dangers of working with wiring and how you can avoid these dangers. Safety should always be your primary concern. Even though it may be a bit less expensive to do your own repair jobs and home maintenance, it is always a much better idea to call in a professional if you are not completely certain of what you are doing. Electrical shock can be fatal and is one of the most common incidents that occur when homeowners work on their own wiring. Aside from electrical shock, you also risk a fire hazard if your wiring is not done properly. That being said, here are a few tips that will help you to ensure your safety when working with electricity. 

1.       Know when you are in over your head. Again, if you are not a professional electricity expert, you should know when to call one. If at any time you realize that you are completely unsure of what you are doing, stop and call in an electrician. It is much better to pay a few extra dollars and get the job done properly than to risk electrical shock or fire.

2.       Make sure that all power is turned off before you begin working on any electrical wiring. You should turn off the power at the main and check to see that it is indeed turned off. You can turn off each individual circuit as needed as long as you check to ensure that the proper circuit is turned off before you begin. If you are not certain as to which circuit runs the electricity you need to turn off, turn off the entire main just to be on the safe side.

3.       Wear gloves when possible to protect your hands. When working with electrical wiring, there may be sharp points or edges that can cause you to cut yourself. Protect yourself from injury by wearing work gloves whenever you can.

4.       Rubber boots can help to protect you when working with electricity as well. Remember that water and electricity do not mix well so if you are working with electricity and there is any chance that water or dampness may be evident, wearing rubber boots can help you to avoid electrical shock. Rubber boots will stop an electrical current from reaching your body. Make sure that you check your rubber boots to ensure that there are no holes that could allow water to touch your feet.

5.       Safety glasses are very important when working with electricity. These will help you to protect your eyes from dust and debris as well as electrical sparks. If you are working with electrical wiring and you need to cut holes or otherwise drill into a wall or ceiling, safety glasses will ensure that you do not get debris in your eyes that could cause infection or in very extreme cases, blindness. 

This article was written by Electric Point, electrical wholesalers in the UK.