According to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973, every employer in the state is legally obligated to provide a safe workplace that is free of hazards. As part of that regulation, each employer is also required to have an Injury and Illness Prevention program. The following are practical tips that can be implemented to help reach the above goals.
Use Personal Protective Equipment
Depending on the job, there are different types of personal protective equipment that are a necessity to keep employees safe. Goggles are a must in any workplace environment that involves dust, chemicals or other objects that could injure the eyes. In workplaces where heavy objects could fall on the heads of employees, hard hats must be provided. Steel-toe shoes are also mandatory if the environment includes hazardous and heavy materials that could injure the feet.
It should be noted that simply making the equipment available is not enough. Employees must be properly trained on its use and must not be cleared for work in areas where such equipment is needed until they are fully trained.
Keep the Workplace Tidy
Clutter and debris can seem like the norm for a workplace but they can increase the chances of an accident. Employers need to ensure that there are an adequate amount of space to store items neatly. Spills should be cleaned up immediately to help prevent falls or reported to the right person so that they are taken care of as soon as possible.
Ensure Company Vehicles are in Good Working Order
Many people are injured while driving company vehicles each year. Each month, a visual inspection, as well as one that test the working order of items such as turn signals, should be completed. If repairs are needed, they should be taken care of as soon as possible.
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The beginning of the new year is a good time to take stock of your financial situation. One of the best ways to put yourself on firm ground financially is to look over your homeowners insurance. While this insurance is mandatory when it comes to bank-financed mortgages, there is often much you can do to reduce your premiums.
Complete a Yearly Deductible Review
It is a good idea to get into the habit of looking over your homeowners insurance deductibles every year. If you are like many people, you probably have not thought about your deductibles since you first purchased your policy. Low deductibles that seemed like a good idea when you bought your first home could be costing you money now.
Purchasing a home is a big financial step that can leave you with little disposable income in the event of an emergency. It can make more sense to lower your deductible for your homeowners insurance at that point. As you begin to feel more secure in knowing just how much money home maintenance and other necessities take of your paycheck, you can add to your emergency fund.
Raising the deductibles of your homeowners insurance can help you balance out the premiums you pay. With a suitable emergency fund, for example, that is equipped to cover those emergencies like the deductible for a replacement roof caused by a storm, you can enjoy savings all year round.
Talk to Your Insurance Adjuster
For the best results, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your insurance company to sit down and go over your insurance policy. A few adjustments for your deductibles could save you hundreds of dollars each year.
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Spring is a popular time for adding to your home in the form of remodeling or putting up an addition. If you are like many people, you hire someone to complete the job for you. For most people, it is easier and faster to interview and hire a contractor to do the work instead of trying to muddle through it yourself.
Peace of Mind With the Professionals
One of the reasons for hiring a contractor to build that much-needed addition to your home or to remodel your outdated kitchen is to ensure that the job is done right the first time. Unless your career requires you to know the latest building codes, it is unrealistic to expect that you do so. Instead you rely on your contractor to know — as well as follow — the safety regulations put forth by your particular locality.
The Responsibility is Yours
Even though the contractor you hired is doing all the work, it is ultimately your responsibility for what occurs with your home. This is not to say that you are in this alone. Rather it is to caution you to be aware of the risks you face if your contractor does not follow the applicable codes when doing the work you authorized. This is one reason to use only those contractors who are licensed, bonded and insured.
Protect Yourself
One way to protect yourself is to check for the necessity of permits before allowing the contractor to start working. Request to see the permits if the contractor obtains them for you. Speak with your insurance agent to determine if additional coverage for the work is needed as well.
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Most people are always on the lookout for ways to save money. You might think that items that are mandatory, such as auto insurance, do not offer you many options to do so. However, you could be overlooking a quick and easy way of saving money each year on your insurance premiums simply by not accurately reporting your annual mileage.
Low Mileage = Discount
Insurance companies look at the risk you bring to the table when they determine the rate you pay. The lower your risk, the lower your premiums. If you drive fewer miles than their benchmark figure, you will likely get a discount. While the actual mileage varies with each insurance provider, most use a figure between 7,500 and 15,000 miles annually.
Annual Mileage Reporting
There are a few life circumstances that make it more likely that you are driving under the cap of annual miles set by your insurance company. Adding a second car that is only used for errands is one such example. Retirees who no longer commute to work each day could be eligible for a discount. If you work at home, your annual mileage figures could be reduced enough to allow your annual mileage to fall under the cap. Seniors that do not drive often are another segment of the population that could qualify.
Taking Advantage of the Discount
Depending on your insurance company, you could receive a survey in the mail about your driving habits. Filling this out and returning it to your insurance company gives them the tools they need to they can determine if you are eligible for the discount. Alternatively, you could also contact your insurance company and ask them if you qualify for the low-mileage discount.
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Some type of health exam is a requirement before you can take out many life insurance policies. The result of this exam can have a significant impact on your rates, and even on whether you qualify for a particular policy at all. Following these simple tips can help ensure that your health exam goes smoothly.
# 1: Eat a Healthy Diet
As soon as you know you are going to be taking the exam, start doing your best to eat a healthy diet. Many people feel that if their diet has been less than perfect in the past, there is no point in improving it before a health exam — but nothing could be further from the truth! In particular, try to minimize or eliminate your intake of fried, salty or sugary foods, as well as sodas and alcoholic beverages. Instead, eat a balanced, nutritious diet containing plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, complex carbs and lean proteins.
# 2: Stop Smoking
Never smoking at all, or at least stopping permanently, is of course the best course of action for your long-term health. However, if you do smoke, you can improve your exam results simply by not smoking for at least 24 hours prior to the exam; this will help improve your blood work, blood pressure and heart rate.
# 3: Cut Back on Physical Exertion
Normally, of course, physical exercise is very good for your health. However, for two to three days before the exam, avoid hard physical work and exercise. Such exertion can elevate the protein in your urine and be erroneously flagged as a kidney issue.
# 4: Rest
Go to bed early the night before your exam. Fatigue can negatively impact certain components in your blood, giving the appearance of a chronic health problem you do not actually have.
# 5: Avoid Caffeinated Beverages and Stimulants
Finally, avoid caffeine as much as possible during the days leading up to the exam. Caffeine can elevate your heart rate and blood pressure, negatively impacting the results of your exam.
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Roughly two million burglaries occur each year. Protect your home and family when you implement five landscaping tricks that don’t compromise your home’s exterior appearance or value.
1. Place Hostile Plants by Entryways
Burglars typically target easily accessible windows and doors. By placing hostile plants loaded with thorns, briars and brambles near these entryways, you discourage potential burglars. Several hostile plants to consider include roses, holly, raspberries, bird’s nest spruces, needle bushes and Spanish bayonet.
2. Trim Shrubbery Near the House
Overgrown shrubs, bushes and flowering plants look untidy, and they give burglars plenty of places to hide. They also prevent neighbors and anyone on the street from seeing suspicious behavior near your home. Protect your home when you keep shrubbery trimmed to lower than three feet tall all along the exterior of your home. Remember to trim plants away from the sides of your home too.
3. Use Noisy Ground Cover
Burglars try to be as quiet as possible, but noisy ground cover around your windows and doors alerts you to their every move. Pea gravel or other crunching stones do the trick, and you can find these burglar deterrents in colors that match your existing landscaping.
4. Install Short Privacy Fencing
Tall fences and tree barriers increase privacy, but they also obscure burglars. Install short fencing with an open design instead. If you already planted trees or shrubs, trim them so that the canopy starts at eight feet or higher off the ground.
5. Turn on the Lights
Most outdoor landscaping includes lighting of some sort. Opt for strategically placed motion-activated lighting as you reduce your chances of being burglarized. Place these lights near all your doors and windows and along pathways. They frighten burglars away and warn you when someone walks near your home.
Your home’s landscaping adds beauty and value to your property. It also deters burglars. Talk to your insurance agent today and discuss additional landscaping tricks that deter burglars and protect your home.
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