Sean Kling
SPK Training and Compliance
http://www.spktraining.com/
215-600-1774
620 West Chestnut Street Suite 201 Perkasie, Pa. 18944
Bullying is a hazard in the workplace -- but it's not just an occupational hazard, like getting a bad boss instead of a good one, or ending up in an office with co-workers you don't really like.
Katherine Williams, an Ottawa author who's just published a book on the subject, says she always thought the bullying she'd suffered over her 38 years in the workplace was just part of the cost of being employed.
It wasn't until she started doing research for a report on workplace harassment a few years ago that she realized it's not an occupational hazard -- it's violence, and it's more widespread than she knew.
"It has no place in the workplace," Williams says firmly. "It is psychological, emotional violence -- it can be physical violence if things get out of hand. (The research) was just a light shining on a dark corner of my mind, the part of my mind (that thought) I just had to put up with the pain and humiliation."
Williams says before she took early retirement last June to dedicate herself to raising awareness about bullying in the workplace, she'd been the target of at least four major bullying attacks, and several minor ones -- and she has no idea whether those numbers are high.
"There are certain people who are targeted more than others: Good-natured people, because bullies think that being strong is causing pain and hurting people, and people who are good-natured are seen as being weak."
Women over 40 are also singled out, she says. But since the goal of most bullies is to gain power, the competent are also frequent targets of bullies, says Williams, author of Workplace Bullying: A Survival Guide.
"Competent people are strong, they're capable, they're getting awards, they're getting notice, attention, everything bullies crave. So a bully will see this as a threat to be driven out of the workplace."
Quite often, the workplace bully will "co-opt" vulnerable co-workers to help them in their attacks -- a phenomenon that Swedish researcher Heinz Leymann calls "mobbing," a phenomenon that builds on the human instinct to band against a common foe.
Victims of a bully's attack need to realize there is no way to stop being a target if both remain in the workplace -- there will be no agreeing to disagree and getting on with it.
That leaves victims with two choices, Williams says. The first is to fight back, to protect your reputation.
"And also look for another job. Because once a bully gets into a workplace it's really hard to dislodge them unless management's very much aware of the psychology of bullying and realize they've been suckered into hiring a bully. Leave kicking and screaming . . . because bullies thrive when there's silence."
EPA Lead Renovators Training, OSHA Training, CPR , Managment Training , Safety Consulting
http://www.spktraining.com/
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
EPA Lead Renovators Training Course
http://www.spktraining.com/
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Individuals can become certified renovators by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider. Learn how to become an EPA certified firm and where to take a training course near you.
Contractors must use lead-safe work practices and follow these three simple procedures:
Contain the work area.
Minimize dust.
Clean up thoroughly.
Read EPA's Regulations on Residential Property Renovation at 40 CFR 745.80, Subpart E.
Read about lead-hazard information for renovation, repair and painting activities in the EPA lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.1MB)
en español (PDF) (11 pp, 2.4MB)
Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) (32 pp, 5.5MB)
en español (PDF) (34 pp, 1.3MB).
Find additional EPA publications and brochures on lead-safe renovation, repair and painting and on lead poisoning prevention.
Beginning in December 2008, the rule requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint provide to owners and occupants of child care facilities and to parents and guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities built prior to 1978 the lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.1MB).
en español (PDF) (11 pp, 2.4MB)
The rule affects paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
Renovation contractors
Maintenance workers in multi-family housing
Painters and other specialty trades.
Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. The rule generally does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior, but this does not include window replacement, demolition, or prohibited practices.
Previously, owner-occupants of homes built before 1978 could certify that no child six years of age or younger or pregnant woman was living in the home and "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices in their homes. On April 23, 2010, to better prevent against lead paint poisoning, EPA issued a final rule to apply lead-safe work practices (PDF) (18 pp, 121K) to most pre-1978 homes, effectively closing the exemption. The rule eliminating the opt-out provision became effective July 6, 2010.
SPK Training and Compliance
620 West Chestnut St.
Suite 201
Perkasie, Pa. 18944
http://www.spktraining.com/
215-600-1774
Common renovation activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition can create hazardous lead dust and chips by disturbing lead-based paint, which can be harmful to adults and children.
To protect against this risk, on April 22, 2008, EPA issued a rule requiring the use of lead-safe practices and other actions aimed at preventing lead poisoning. Under the rule, beginning April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
EPA requires that firms performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in pre-1978 homes, child care facilities and schools be certified by EPA and that they use certified renovators who are trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices. Individuals can become certified renovators by taking an eight-hour training course from an EPA-approved training provider. Learn how to become an EPA certified firm and where to take a training course near you.
Contractors must use lead-safe work practices and follow these three simple procedures:
Contain the work area.
Minimize dust.
Clean up thoroughly.
Read EPA's Regulations on Residential Property Renovation at 40 CFR 745.80, Subpart E.
Read about lead-hazard information for renovation, repair and painting activities in the EPA lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.1MB)
en español (PDF) (11 pp, 2.4MB)
Read about how to comply with EPA's rule in the EPA Small Entity Compliance Guide to Renovate Right (PDF) (32 pp, 5.5MB)
en español (PDF) (34 pp, 1.3MB).
Find additional EPA publications and brochures on lead-safe renovation, repair and painting and on lead poisoning prevention.
Beginning in December 2008, the rule requires that contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint provide to owners and occupants of child care facilities and to parents and guardians of children under age six that attend child care facilities built prior to 1978 the lead hazard information pamphlet Renovate Right: Important Lead Hazard Information for Families, Child Care Providers, and Schools (PDF) (11 pp, 1.1MB).
en español (PDF) (11 pp, 2.4MB)
The rule affects paid renovators who work in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, including:
Renovation contractors
Maintenance workers in multi-family housing
Painters and other specialty trades.
Under the rule, child-occupied facilities are defined as residential, public or commercial buildings where children under age six are present on a regular basis. The requirements apply to renovation, repair or painting activities. The rule generally does not apply to minor maintenance or repair activities where less than six square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed in a room or where less then 20 square feet of lead-based paint is disturbed on the exterior, but this does not include window replacement, demolition, or prohibited practices.
Previously, owner-occupants of homes built before 1978 could certify that no child six years of age or younger or pregnant woman was living in the home and "opt-out" of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices in their homes. On April 23, 2010, to better prevent against lead paint poisoning, EPA issued a final rule to apply lead-safe work practices (PDF) (18 pp, 121K) to most pre-1978 homes, effectively closing the exemption. The rule eliminating the opt-out provision became effective July 6, 2010.
SPK Training and Compliance
620 West Chestnut St.
Suite 201
Perkasie, Pa. 18944
http://www.spktraining.com/
215-600-1774
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Winter Safety Tips
Sean
http://www.spktraining.com/
WINTER SAFETY TIPS
Winter Weather Terms
Watches
Winter Storm Watch: Issued for the possibility of severe life-threatening winter weather conditions including: heavy snow, heavy ice and/or near blizzard conditions. Forecasters are typically 50 percent confident that severe winter weather will materialize when a watch is issued.
Blizzard Watch: Issued for the possibility of blizzard conditions. Forecasters are typically 50 percent confident that blizzard conditions will materialize when a blizzard watch is issued.
Lake-Effect Snow Watch: Issued for the potential for heavy lake effect snow.
Wind Chill Watch: Issued for the potential of wind chills of -25F or less, which can cause rapid frostbite and increase the risk of hypothermia.
Warnings
Winter Storm Warning: Issued for a combination of heavy snow and/or ice, of which, at least one exceeds or meets warning criteria. Winter weather is expected to cause life-threatening public impact for a combination of winter hazards including heavy snow, ice, near blizzard conditions, blowing and drifting snow and/or dangerous wind chills.
Heavy Snow Warning: Issued when 7 inches or more of snow is expected in 12 hours or less, or 9 inches or more is expected in 24 hours or less. Heavy Snow Warnings are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be snow.
Ice Storm Warning: Issued for a ½ inch or more of ice accumulation which causes damage to power lines and trees. Ice Storm Warnings are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event is expected to be ice.
Blizzard Warning: Issued when blizzard conditions are imminent or expected in the next 12 to 24 hours. Blizzard conditions include sustained or frequent gusts of or above 35 mph AND considerable falling, blowing and drifting of snow reducing visibilities frequently 1/4 mile.
Lake-Effect Snow Warning: Issued for 7 inches or more of lake-effect snow.
Wind Chill Warning: Issued when the wind chill is expected to be -25F or less. Frostbite can occur in less than 10 minutes.
Advisories
Winter Weather Advisory: Issued for a hazardous combination of snow, and ice of which neither meets or exceeds warning criteria. Issued for winter weather that will cause significant inconveniences or could be life-threatening if the proper precautions are not taken.
Snow Advisory: Issued when an average of 4 to 6 inches of snow is expected in 12 hours or less. Snow advisories are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be snow.
Freezing Rain Advisory: Any accumulation of freezing rain that can make roads slippery. Freezing rain advisories will only be issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be freezing rain only.
Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory: Sustained wind or frequent gusts of 25 to 34 mph accompanied by falling and blowing snow, occasionally reducing visibility to a 1/4 mile or less for three hours or more.
Blowing Snow Advisory: Widespread or localized blowing snow reducing visibilities to a 1/4 or less with winds less than 35 mph.
Lake-Effect Snow Advisory: Issued for an average of 4 to 6 inches of lake effect snow.
Wind Chill Advisory: Issued for wind chills of -15F to -24F. Frostbite can occur in less than 30 minutes.
Home Safety
Family Disaster Plan
Families should be prepared for all hazards that affect their area and themselves. Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan:
Learn your communitys warning signals.
Meet with your family to create a plan. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school). Choose an out-of-area friend as your family check-in contact for everyone to call if the family becomes separated.
Implement your plan. Post emergency telephone numbers by the phones. Install safety features in your house such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Inspect your home for potential hazards and correct them. Have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures. Make sure everyone knows how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services phone number. Have disaster supplies on hand.
Home Emergency Supplies
Winter has arrived and you should stockpile the following supplies in the event a winter storm or power outage prevents you from leaving your home.
Flashlights and extra batteries
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Emergency non-perishable foods that do not require refrigeration
Non-electric can opener
Bottled water
One week supply of essential medicines
Extra blankets and sleeping bags
First aid kit and manual
Fire extinguisher
Emergency heating equipment, used properly
Winterize Your Home
Take the time now to get your home ready for the winter season by following these tips:
Have your heating system checked by a professional annually. This will ensure that your system is working safely and efficiently which, in turn, will save you money. If you heat by wood, clean your fireplace or stove. Have your chimney flue checked for any buildup of creosote and then cleaned to lessen the risk of fire.
Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate walls and attic. This will help you to conserve energy and reduce your homes power demands for heat.
Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. This will provide an extra layer of insulation, keeping more cold air out.
Inspect and flush your water heater.
Clean gutters. Leaves and other debris will hamper drainage.
Replace batteries of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors. If you did not do it when you set the clocks back, do it now.
To keep pipes from freezing:
Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers
Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture
Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing
Know how to shut off water valves
Sean Kling
SPK Training and Compliance
620 West Chestnut Street Suite 201
Perkasie, Pa. 18944
215-600-1774
http://www.spktraining.com/
OSHA, EPA Lead Renovators Course, American Heart Association CPR , LEED, Consulting and Training
http://www.spktraining.com/
WINTER SAFETY TIPS
Winter Weather Terms
Watches
Winter Storm Watch: Issued for the possibility of severe life-threatening winter weather conditions including: heavy snow, heavy ice and/or near blizzard conditions. Forecasters are typically 50 percent confident that severe winter weather will materialize when a watch is issued.
Blizzard Watch: Issued for the possibility of blizzard conditions. Forecasters are typically 50 percent confident that blizzard conditions will materialize when a blizzard watch is issued.
Lake-Effect Snow Watch: Issued for the potential for heavy lake effect snow.
Wind Chill Watch: Issued for the potential of wind chills of -25F or less, which can cause rapid frostbite and increase the risk of hypothermia.
Warnings
Winter Storm Warning: Issued for a combination of heavy snow and/or ice, of which, at least one exceeds or meets warning criteria. Winter weather is expected to cause life-threatening public impact for a combination of winter hazards including heavy snow, ice, near blizzard conditions, blowing and drifting snow and/or dangerous wind chills.
Heavy Snow Warning: Issued when 7 inches or more of snow is expected in 12 hours or less, or 9 inches or more is expected in 24 hours or less. Heavy Snow Warnings are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be snow.
Ice Storm Warning: Issued for a ½ inch or more of ice accumulation which causes damage to power lines and trees. Ice Storm Warnings are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event is expected to be ice.
Blizzard Warning: Issued when blizzard conditions are imminent or expected in the next 12 to 24 hours. Blizzard conditions include sustained or frequent gusts of or above 35 mph AND considerable falling, blowing and drifting of snow reducing visibilities frequently 1/4 mile.
Lake-Effect Snow Warning: Issued for 7 inches or more of lake-effect snow.
Wind Chill Warning: Issued when the wind chill is expected to be -25F or less. Frostbite can occur in less than 10 minutes.
Advisories
Winter Weather Advisory: Issued for a hazardous combination of snow, and ice of which neither meets or exceeds warning criteria. Issued for winter weather that will cause significant inconveniences or could be life-threatening if the proper precautions are not taken.
Snow Advisory: Issued when an average of 4 to 6 inches of snow is expected in 12 hours or less. Snow advisories are issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be snow.
Freezing Rain Advisory: Any accumulation of freezing rain that can make roads slippery. Freezing rain advisories will only be issued when there is a high degree of confidence that the entire event will be freezing rain only.
Snow and Blowing Snow Advisory: Sustained wind or frequent gusts of 25 to 34 mph accompanied by falling and blowing snow, occasionally reducing visibility to a 1/4 mile or less for three hours or more.
Blowing Snow Advisory: Widespread or localized blowing snow reducing visibilities to a 1/4 or less with winds less than 35 mph.
Lake-Effect Snow Advisory: Issued for an average of 4 to 6 inches of lake effect snow.
Wind Chill Advisory: Issued for wind chills of -15F to -24F. Frostbite can occur in less than 30 minutes.
Home Safety
Family Disaster Plan
Families should be prepared for all hazards that affect their area and themselves. Follow these basic steps to develop a family disaster plan:
Learn your communitys warning signals.
Meet with your family to create a plan. Pick two places to meet: a spot outside your home for an emergency such as fire, and a place away from your neighborhood in case you cannot return home (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school). Choose an out-of-area friend as your family check-in contact for everyone to call if the family becomes separated.
Implement your plan. Post emergency telephone numbers by the phones. Install safety features in your house such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Inspect your home for potential hazards and correct them. Have your family learn basic safety and first aid measures. Make sure everyone knows how and when to call 9-1-1 or your local emergency medical services phone number. Have disaster supplies on hand.
Home Emergency Supplies
Winter has arrived and you should stockpile the following supplies in the event a winter storm or power outage prevents you from leaving your home.
Flashlights and extra batteries
Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
Emergency non-perishable foods that do not require refrigeration
Non-electric can opener
Bottled water
One week supply of essential medicines
Extra blankets and sleeping bags
First aid kit and manual
Fire extinguisher
Emergency heating equipment, used properly
Winterize Your Home
Take the time now to get your home ready for the winter season by following these tips:
Have your heating system checked by a professional annually. This will ensure that your system is working safely and efficiently which, in turn, will save you money. If you heat by wood, clean your fireplace or stove. Have your chimney flue checked for any buildup of creosote and then cleaned to lessen the risk of fire.
Make sure your home is properly insulated. If necessary, insulate walls and attic. This will help you to conserve energy and reduce your homes power demands for heat.
Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out.
Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside. This will provide an extra layer of insulation, keeping more cold air out.
Inspect and flush your water heater.
Clean gutters. Leaves and other debris will hamper drainage.
Replace batteries of smoke, heat and carbon monoxide detectors. If you did not do it when you set the clocks back, do it now.
To keep pipes from freezing:
Wrap pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers
Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture
Let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing
Know how to shut off water valves
Sean Kling
SPK Training and Compliance
620 West Chestnut Street Suite 201
Perkasie, Pa. 18944
215-600-1774
http://www.spktraining.com/
OSHA, EPA Lead Renovators Course, American Heart Association CPR , LEED, Consulting and Training
Friday, October 15, 2010
Dangers of House Hold Garbage
Reducing the hazardous waste in landfills starts at home. Millions of households are producing billions of pounds of solid waste. Products used every day in our homes leach hazardous chemicals after entering landfills. There are a number of simple steps that average consumer can take to limit the damage that many of these toxic materials are doing to the environment.
When a battery in one of the products we use fails, we simply run out and buy a replacement. The dead battery ends up in the garbage and no one thinks about where it goes and what happens to it after the garbage is picked up. Sealed inside these alkaline cells are harmful materials which are not encountered by consumers during normal use. However, when the batteries enter a landfill, the casings can be crushed, or can easily degrade, which causes mercury and other toxins to leach into the environment. The problem of batteries in landfills is one of the easiest to solve. Using rechargeable power can significantly reduce the number of batteries which end up in landfills. Rechargeable batteries can be used again and again, up to 1,000 times. One rechargeable cell can replace up to 300 throwaway batteries, keeping the landfill free not only from the batteries themselves, but also from the paper and plastic materials that are used to package them. There are a number of manufacturers in the country today who deal in rechargeable products and some of them have a number of programs already in place to ensure that rechargeable batteries never enter a landfill at all. For example, one of the largest manufacturers of rechargeable products is now offering a lifetime replacement guarantee on all round cells. If the product ever fails to accept or hold a charge, the company will promptly replace it and recycle the used cell. If you have an environmental agency in your area, you might like to work on this issue with them, or perhaps they already have a program set up to dispose of used batteries. As a concerned citizen, your suggestions and input will be invaluable to them as they attempt to come up with some solutions. WWW.SPKTRAINING.COM Sean Kling SPK Training and Compliance 620 West Chestnut St. Suite 201 Perkasie, Pa. 18944 215-600-1774 | ||
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Halloween Safety Tips
Anytime a child has an accident, it's tragic. Having your child get hurt any day of the year would be horrible but the last thing that you want to happen is for your child to be hurt on a holiday, like Halloween! It would forever live in the minds of the child and family, ruining that special time of year.
Everyone wants to have a safe and happy Halloween for themselves, their guests and their children. Using safety tips and some common sense can help you make the most of your Halloween season, keeping it as enjoyable for your kids as it is for you! There are lots of simple ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when accidents and injuries are more likely to occur.
The excitement of children and adults at this time of year can sometimes make them not as careful as they would normally be. Simple common sense ideas can do a lot to stop tragedies from happening.Inside this guide, you'll find helpful tips and useful ideas to help make the most of everyone's favorite holiday of the year ........ Halloween!
By keeping Halloween a fun, safe and happy holiday for you and your kids, you'll look forward to many happy years of Halloween fun! by keeping good memories for your kids, they'll be more likely to carry on the traditions that you have taught to them with .
WWW.SPKTRAINING.COM
Sean Kling
215-600-1774
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
