Tag Archives: respect

General Safety Issues

HOW TO BECOME THE TEACHER THEY WILL NEVER FORGET (GUEST POST)

A teaching career can be one of the most challenging, yet one of the most rewarding careers that a person can pursue. Most educators embark upon their careers with a determination to make a difference and to be a teacher that students remember and count as an inspiration. Chances are, you have had a teacher at some point in your academic career that truly stood out, perhaps even inspiring your own desire to become a teacher. If you’d like to make that same impression on your own students, these tips may point you in the right direction. Keeping this advice in mind while emulating some of the behavior that your own inspirational educator exhibited can help you become just as important of a figure in the lives of your students as a few great teachers once were to you.

Respect Your Students

In order to maintain control over a classroom full of kids, you’ll have to command their respect. One way to accomplish that goal is to play the role of the authoritarian teacher that refuses to accept anything less. More gentle educators know that getting students to feel genuine respect, rather than blind fear, depends upon the amount of respect they show those students.

Be Patient

Some of your students will learn differently than others, and have to go at their own pace. Others will have behavioral problems that prevent them from comporting themselves in the same manner as their peers. In every class, you will have at least one student that tries your patience, but it’s important that you do your best not to let it affect you. When your students look back at you through the lens of adulthood, they’ll be more likely to remember the wonderful teacher that was patient with them and coached them through their difficulties than the ones that couldn’t manage their needs.

Show Compassion

Your students will come from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. They’ll have different learning styles and different home lives that will affect the way they behave at school. Rather than lashing out at a student who’s clearly acting out due to anger or fear, take the time to work with them and show the compassion they need.

Teach Enthusiastically

In order to inspire enthusiasm for a given subject in your students, you’ll have to show that you’re excited about teaching the subject matter. Approaching every class as if it were the most exciting thing you’ve ever done and showing a sincere eagerness to share your knowledge and help your students learn can make a significant difference in the way they respond to you and how they remember you throughout the years.

Set High Expectations, and Help Your Students Meet Them

It is okay to set lofty goals for each and every one of your students, as long as you’re willing to put in the extra work it takes to help them meet those expectations. Work with students that need extra help, coach those that need a confidence boost and make sure that they know you’re behind them all the way. When your students look back at the time spent in your classroom, they’ll think of the sense of confidence you instilled in them and all the encouragement you gave. While the memories of apathetic or bitter teachers fade away, they’ll still remember the teacher that did everything possible to make them feel powerful and capable.

Engage Your Students

Getting kids to connect with the source material is a key to helping them retain it and to fostering an appreciation for it. Working in as many hands-on ways as possible and getting kids engaged and connected is a great way to not only help them learn, but also to help them feel secure in their environment and eager for each new day.

Get Involved

Teachers might have summer vacations and weekends off, but the truly great ones spend time outside of the classroom working with their students. Whether you’re coaching a sport, supervising an after-school activity or spending time in a tutoring program, your students need to know that you’re taking an active interest in the school. Kids can spot the teachers that are simply going through the motions until summer vacation arrives and those tend to be the educators that they don’t carry such fond memories of when their school days are over.

Our thanks to Rosa Wilson, of becomeananny.com, for this great article that has reminded each one of us of having that special teacher(s) that made all the difference to us.  Given the tragedies of Sandy Hook, and many other school shootings, our teachers have had another role to play: that of keeping our children safe.  This article is dedicated to those who saved the lives of many children during those devastating moments, and to the educators who continue to watch over our children to ensure their safety each day. pb

 

General Safety Issues

IMPORTANT ELECTRICAL WORKPLACE SAFETY ADVICE (GUEST POST)

By Kyle Mitchell

Electrical safety in the workplace, just like anywhere else, is of paramount importance. As an owner of any kind of business where it is required for employees/members of the public to interact with electrical equipment, it’s extremely important that the safety of those people is a high priority, and it is also important that those people at work are aware of the potential dangers of electricity.

The following table outlines just how much of an effect electrical current can have on the human body:

Physiological effect 50Hz AC
Generally not perceptible 0.5mA
Threshold of perception, tingling sensation 1mA
Maximum “let go” current                                            5mA
Painful, can’t let go 10-20mA
Severe pain, muscular contraction, difficulty breathing 30mA
Possible Ventricular Fibrillation after 3 s, death possible 0.1A
Skeletal muscle damage – death likely 1.5A

 As can be seen, electricity isn’t to be trifled with. It’s a very real danger, and it’s important to respect electricity, and find ways to prevent electrical accidents in the workplace.  Here are some common errors in the workplace that can be avoided, simply by following regulations and being vigilant.

Appliances and Faulty Wiring

Appliances are extremely common in the workplace. From computers to power tools, it’s likely that practically everyone within the organisation at some point will have to use electrical appliances.

When using these, it’s important that the user always makes sure that wiring supplying electricity to the appliance is in good, safe working order. Educating your workers on the correct appearances of wires, and how to inspect them for obvious damage such as common faults, frays, exposed wiring or cracks within the casing will allow them to determine whether an appliance is safe for work or not.

If there’s something wrong with the wire, the appliance simply shouldn’t be used. It’s as simple as that.

Correctly Hiding Trailing Wires

Live wires supplying huge amounts of power should never be left exposed – they provide a huge danger to everyone, particularly because accidents can happen at absolutely any time.

By making sure wiring isn’t exposed, and is installed behind walls etc, it ensures that all of your employees are protected from the vast risks that exposed wiring can have to your employees.

Heating Equipment, Ovens Etc.

Although it may seem obvious, these forms of equipment pose a massive risk to the workplace. They’re a huge fire risk, and leaving such items unattended for long periods of time could be an extreme danger.

It is particularly important to assess any heaters that come from external sources (IE, your employees) as these could be faulty and directly cause a fire. Portable Appliance Testing should be carried out on these forms of equipment to ensure their operation is safe, and they should be constantly monitored and ALWAYS switched off.

Electrical Repairs

No matter how minor it might seem, electrical repairs should NEVER be carried out by anyone except a qualified electrician. As can be seen by the table above, electricity can be an extremely dangerous form of energy, and without the correct knowledge and respect of how it works, it is very hazardous for anyone to tamper with who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

If something is faulty within your organisation and you need it repairing, always contact a fully certified electrician to carry out the work for you. It is your responsibility as an employee to ensure the safety of your workers, and tampering with electrical equipment puts them at a truly massive danger.

Don’t Overload Plug Sockets

Ever seen those pictures of people who’ve literally built what seems to be a LEGO-inspired collection of double adapters and then plugged them into a socket? They’re scary photos, particularly as the added weight and amount of power being supplied out to electrical items creates a huge danger.

It’s important to either use a designated surge protector with multiple plug sockets that can lie on the floor or to either plug in one or two items to a plug socket. This makes sure that the plug socket can’t overload, causing electrical burns, sparks, or even fire.

Wet Hands/Feet

It’s one of the most common electrical safety pieces of advice given for a reason. Electricity and water simply don’t mix, and it is important that your company makes sure that any employees that have been exposed to water are not interacting with anything remotely electrical.

This extends from anything from plugs to appliances like PCs. It simply isn’t worth the risk to mix water and electricity, particularly as water acts as a source for current and can cause massive electrical shocks to the person with wet hands.

Electrical Overhead Power Lines

If anyone in your organisation works at a height, it is important to relay the dangers of electrical power lines. These overhead cables carry massive amounts of power, and are more likely to cause death than injury if touched.

Absolutely anybody working at a height must always make sure to check carefully for electrical cables.

Perform Regular Testing Procedures

Under several regulations it is the organisation’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all employees. In order to do this you should regularly make sure all equipment is inspected and passed as being completely safe by a certified individual, although regular inspection checks can be performed by employees who can flag up anything that might be amiss within the organisation’s equipment.

Similarly it is also important to regularly check the status of fixed wire installations throughout the building, as these can degrade over time and become increasingly more dangerous.  If fixed wire points are dangerous, anything plugged into power points can then become a hazard, so make sure these are regularly checked over to make sure that safety within the organisation is as good as it can be.

Have Staff Complete an Electrical Awareness Course

Although they’ll decrease your productivity for a few hours, having staff take part in an electrical awareness course will help them to understand the potential dangers electricity can have, and how to avoid accidents in the workplace.

A lot of it may seem like common knowledge but there’s every chance an employee doesn’t know the procedures and regulations relating to electrical equipment. By educating them in this field you turn your workplace from a potential minefield of dangerous electrical outlets to an educated area full of people with a larger amount of respect for the power of electricity.

Similarly, developing an electrical safety regulations guidebook for your organisations for people to refer to can also be a great help in raising electrical safety. 

The article was written by Kyle Mitchell, an employer of PASS ltd who specialise in testing equipment, electrical training and wire testing in the UK. You can visit their new website tester.co.uk for more, or visit the electrical testing section for equipment information. 

 Equipment Sales: www.tester.co.uk – www.pass-thermal.co.uk

Training: www.electricaltrainingcourse.co.uk – www.pat-testing-course.com

Thank you, Kyle, for this very important information regarding safety while working around electricity.  Most workplaces should have first aid kits available.  Employees should be furnished the correct dielectric personal protective equipment, (i.e., hardhats, boots or rubber-soled shoes, and dielectric glasses.) pb

General Safety Issues

TEN LOST ARTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN TEACH THEIR CHARGES (GUEST POST)

Observe any group of children for any length of time and it’s clear that today’s children are different that those of yesteryears. While technology advances have definitely provided advantages to youth of the 21st century, when it comes to homemaking, communication and playtime, some things have become a lost art.

To rediscover things of times past, consider teaching your children:

1. The art of writing thank you cards. Many children today operate with a sense of entitlement and as a result, fail to properly acknowledge and thank people for the things they contribute to them. If someone has done something kind for a child, like give a gift or taken her on a special outing, writing a thank you note is an appropriate way to say thanks.

2. The art of handwritten notes. The handwritten word is a powerful and personal communication tool. With computers and cell phones that function as mini computers, hand written notes have become a thing of the past. Encourage children to write a handwritten letter to a grandparent, pen pal or friend. They’ll be excited to receive their own mail back.

3. The art of storytelling. Long before books, people used to tell stories. Stories can be used to teach a moral principle, share an educational lesson of for pure entertainment. Passing down folklores and fairytales, or sharing stories about your family’s heritage can instill a love of storytelling in your children.

4.  The art of being neighborly. Life is so busy the needs of others around us can go unnoticed. Encourage children to care for their neighbors. Bringing cookies to a new family that moves in, helping to pick up an elderly neighbors lawn or offering to take in the mail for a neighboring family that goes on vacation can help children learn the value of being neighborly.

5. The art of respecting elders. The way children talk to and treat adults and those in authority at times can be downright embarrassing. Reinforce the importance of respecting elders by modeling respect. Insisting children address adults using their proper title, hold and open doors for adults and listen to those in authority, like their teachers, can help reinforce the importance or respect.    There are many older students who are rude to their teachers.  In earlier times, students wouldn’t have even dreamed of being as disrespectful as some are today.

6. The art of thinking. Children need to learn how to think for themselves. Encourage them to consider information for themselves before accepting it as fact. If they think something doesn’t make sense, help them explore their thoughts and encourage deeper consideration of topics that interest them.  They also must learn to be kind to others, and helpful to someone who may be hurt.

7. The art of problem solving. Helping children to see problems as challenges can help to foster a desire to problem solve. Encourage children to face challenges with confidence and brainstorm with them ways to overcome obstacles.

8. The art of sewing. Mending a button or taking up a hem is a life lesson that is worth teaching.  Practice simple sewing projects and progress to other things, should the child express real interest.  How many of us have to take clothes to the dry cleaners because we don’t know how to mend?

9. The art of having manners. Looking at someone in the eyes when speaking to you, saying please, thank you and excuse me when appropriate and not reaching across the table are a few lessons all children could benefit from learning.

10. The art of free play. Never have children been so overscheduled. Play is a child’s work and too often, children aren’t given an opportunity to play. Free time provides the opportunity to children to explore their world around them and create fun for themselves.

Don’t let technology rob your children of learning the lost arts and valuable lessons that have stood the test of time.While making headway in the areas of science and technology are admirable, losing footing in the areas of kindness, courtesy and conversation is not so much.

Thank you, Carol Watson, for this great article, reminding us that teaching children the things learned by generations before them still matter.  Carol writes for National Nannies.

 

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

WAYS TO TALK TO YOUR BOSS

Yesterday, we offered some advice to those applying for jobs, and ideas for new hires.  Our main focus was to help them question what the company expects of them and if there are hazards associated with their job duties.  We’ve all had to start with a  first job, and it is overwhelming to learn each facet of the things you will be doing, and getting to know all of your coworkers.  The most important part of getting off on the right foot is to know when and how to talk to your boss.  This may not only include the top executive of the company, but your supervisor as well. 

Let’s begin with when to talk to your boss……..

  • You feel that you need someone to watch you do the job and make sure you are doing it right.
  • You know there is a hazard.
  • You need more training and information.
  • You feel there is something in the work that could endanger you or a coworker.
  • You have an idea on how to make the work safer.
  • There is any type of question about your job.
  • Anytime you feel there has been a change to a term or condition of your working arrangement. 
  • Wait until he or she is not in a bad mood!

How to talk to your boss…………

  • Be polite and respectful.
  • Write down your concerns so your boss may review it later. 
  • Don’t blame individuals.
  • Avoid confrontational words and behavior.
  • Keep a positive attitude and speak out of concern for your safety and others.
  • Watch your body language.
  • Make a suggestion to solve the problem if you can.
  • State your issue or what you would like, clearly and concisely.
  • Be positive about both your job and the future of the company. 

When asked about the things that most executives and supervisors appreciate about their employees, they answered:  those with positive attitudes, that are ready to help coworkers, are prepared by anticipating things that will need to be done in order to successfully complete the project, and have the initiative to do things without being told.  A smart worker knows how to save the company time and money.  A hard worker may stay up all night to complete a project; a smart worker finds a way to do it in half the time, or delegates the assignment in order to finish successfully.  It takes hard workers and smart workers, (many are both), to make a company productive. 

If you feel that you have been informed of the hazards or risks associated with the job duties you will be performing, remember that you should be equipped with the proper personal protective equipment, PPE, and that it fits and protects you.  If it doesn’t fit, let your supervisor know.  It won’t protect you if you don’t wear it, whether it’s safety glasses, gloves, coveralls, or a hardhat.  Follow the safety rules and policies and procedures that your company has posted.  Get the right training and work safely. 

If you asked questions about health or safety concerns, or if you don’t have the health and safety training you need, tell your supervisor immediately.  If he or she cannot or does not solve the problem, it is alright to say “no” to unsafe work.  You have the right to refuse work that you think is unsafe; this is the law.  Until the issue is resolved, you will be kept from the unsafe work.  A process that has been set out in Occupational Safety and Health Act will be followed.  This is fully explained on the OSHA website in the U.S., or in Canada, you can contact your Ministry of Labour. 

Sources: WorkSmart Ontario, OSHA