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US State University Information

2008-09-06T04:13:01-04:00

In the United States, there is at least one university in each state to cater to the educational requirements of many aspiring youngsters. Most public universities in the US are state universities, which are set up and managed by state government. These colleges offer courses in various streams such as Arts & Sciences, Biblical Studies, Business Administration, education and Human Services, Nursing, Information Technology and Computing and many, many more to match the latest trends and needs of the society. Students can easily browse through the US state university information to hit upon the right courses that suit their needs. The handy US state university information available offline and online acts as a direction line for the students.

The oldest State University in the US is The College of William & Mary, which traces its origin to 1693. Every state has at least one university and there are large states with more than thirty universities. Some of the present day universities such as Missouri State University and Texas State University were started as teacher training institutions and were later expanded into full fledged universities with an impressive line up of courses. States typically charge higher tuition for students coming from other states as they do not fall under the state taxes net and hence are not contributing in subsidizing the university.

Most of the top universities are private entities and one of the reasons attributed to the fall in the number of public universities is the lack of State support. Many public universities run graduate programs in law, medicine and other subjects exclusively on private funding. So far the only federally chartered universities in the US, such as West Point has been those that are under the patronage of the U.S. military.

It is still obscure whether the US Constitution would make any amendments to establish a federal university system. The American Public University System is only a for-profit private university and not a public university. Students choose these prestigious universities to imbibe quality education in military and civilian public service. Most of the public universities are highly selective and are known as Public Ivies. In University of Michigan and University of California - Berkeley, belonging to this genre, most of the departments are top ranked, which take them to the prestigious league of the Ivy League University.

Some of the prestigious universities that fall under the top twenty include Columbia State University in New York, Stanford in California, Cornell in New York, and University of Chicago in Illinois among others. US state university information would help the students in selecting the courses as well as the institutions that would cater to their aspirations.

Online Education: 57 Leading Institutions

2008-09-06T04:09:40-04:00

Getting a college degree today is easier than ever before thanks to the number of institutions offering distance learning opportunities. Whether you are pursuing a undergraduate, graduate, or doctorate degree you can choose from scores of degree granting schools. 57 leading institutions are featured here.

1. Hr Training university

2. University of Phoenix

3. Walden University

4. DeVry University

5. Kaplan University

6. Everglades University

7. Ellis College

8. American International University

9. Capella University

10. St. Louis University

11. Regent University

12. Utica College

13. The University of Scranton

14. University of Saint Mary

15. Touro University International

16. Stetson University Virtual School

17. Nova Southeastern University

18. South University

19. St. Joseph's College of Maine

20. San Joaquin Valley College

21. Rasmussen College

22. Keiser College

23. Jacksonville University

24. Jones International University

25. LeTourneau University

26. Crown College

27. University of St. Augustine

28. Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

29. University of Northeastern Ohio

30. University of Southern Indiana

31. Florida Metropolitan University

32. Champlain College

33. Bellevue University

34. Pitt Community College

35. Stephens College

36. The College of St. Scholastica

37. Vincennes University

38. North Arizona University

39. St. Petersburg College

40. Barton County Community College

41. Simon Fraser University

42. Simmons College

43. A.T. Still University

44. Medical College of Georgia

45. ECPI College of Technology

46. Westwood College

47. Kettering University

48. Thomson Education Direct

49. South University

50. National American University

51. Columbia Southern University

52. Canadian Virtual University

53. Western Governors University

54. US Sports Academy

55. The Art Institute Online

56. Bryant and Stratton Online

57. ACCIS

OSHA 30 hour construction outreach training online

2008-08-19T06:33:04-04:00

Each year, over a thousand deaths cause by construction-related accidents have been recorded by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). You can minimize safety risks in the work site if not completely eliminate them by making sure that your employees take the OSHA 30 hour construction outreach training online. Under the law, all employees in the construction industry are required to undergo safety training. Neglecting to do so can result in legal charges filed against the company. As an employer, it is your responsibility to maintain a culture of safety in your workplace. With untrained people under your employ, you can expect to spend thousands of dollars merely for workers' compensation due to accidents.

Improving safety awareness

Employees are encouraged to take advantage of such courses as the OSHA 30 hour construction outreach training online provided by their employers because these training can potentially save their lives. Being aware of the many safety precautions as well as the proper use of construction equipment can effectively prevent the occurrence of work-related accidents. It may be impossible to have a totally risk-free work environment where the construction industry is concerned but sufficient training can help keep accidents to a minimum.

Online training

Thanks to the Internet, online courses are now available for people who cannot spare a lot of time for actual classes. The OSHA 30 hour construction outreach training online is designed to enable workers to set their own pace so that they can easily understand and remember the concepts being tackled in the modules. Disruptions in the company's work schedule are also avoided because the trainee has the option to adjust training in a way that makes it more convenient for him. The whole course can be stretched out to up to a period of six months which is more than enough time to cover everything in the course.

An OSHA 30 hour construction outreach training online course teaches workers and employers to be more aware about safe work practices. After all, prevention is better than cure. Proper education is required to ensure that everybody understands the risks surrounding construction work. CFM Enterprises LLC, through this website, offers some of the most comprehensive safety training course on the Internet. Each course is designed to keep trainees focused and interested in workplace safety. Established by an OSHA authorized outreach trainer, you are assured that CFM Enterprises can provide your employees with the most efficient training possible.

OSHA 10 Hour Construction Training Course

2008-08-19T06:27:28-04:00

Demonstrate your commitment to workplace safety & compliance by having the Certified Safety Professionals at OSHA Pro's deliver the OSHA Ten Hour Construction Safety Course for your company or organization.

One of OSHA-Pro's OSHA-authorized outreach trainers will come to your facility or jobsite to conduct the Ten Hour OSHA Construction course for your group of employees. The OSHA ten hour course can be conducted in one long day, or broken into parts on two consecutive days (your choice). We even train on Saturdays!

OSHA Pro's trainers are approved by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) Training & Outreach Division to deliver these classes at your site. Plus, we only use Certified Safety Professionals (CSP's) as instructors!

The first half of the OSHA 10-hour Construction Course covers certain OSHA-mandated topics, such as an overview of OSHA, tips on how to locate specific OSHA regulations, basic electrical safety, & fall protection. But the remaining 5 hours of the class can be customized to address other OSHA Construction training topics that pertain specifically to your operations (example: scaffolding, excavations, stairways & ladders, cranes, PPE, and tools & equipment . . .) ! So attendees leave the class armed with training, reference materials, and information that is truly meaningful. Each trainee also receives their own copy of the OSHA Code of Federal Regulations for Construction (29 CFR 1926)!

OSHA Pro's can also customize the 10 hour training course specifically for MI-OSHA or Cal-OSHA construction standards for our customers located in Michigan or California. Tailored courses for all other State OSHA plans are available as well.

After the class, attendees will receive a certificate of completion, plus the official wallet card issued by OSHA, to certify they successfully completed the course.

OSHA 10-Hour Construction Industry Outreach-Trainer Presentations

2008-08-19T06:24:59-04:00

These materials are designed to assist trainers conducting OSHA 10-hour Construction Industry outreach training for workers. Since workers are the target audience, these materials emphasize hazard identification, avoidance, and control - not standards. No attempt has been made to treat the ten topics exhaustively.

NOTE: The materials consist of PowerPoint® presentations and lesson plans, each presentation also includes instructor notes, we encourage you to review these before you give a training presentation.

Training Employees in a Tight Economy

2008-08-08T08:48:49-04:00

Unfortunately, in a tight economy the first item to be slashed on the company budget are training programs, when in actuality training should be increased. One reason you should be looking to increase your training dollars is that you want to retain your star employees and show them that the organization believes in them and is looking to develop their skills to be even more valuable to everyone.

Let’s look at the different types of training that may be important to your organization.

1. Job Skills Training - A responsible organization will take steps to provide employees the means to improve their skills. This is especially true with new hires, who are not fully up to speed and may need a program to help them not only develop their skills but to reinforce the company policies and procedures. This type of training will help off-set the time to answer questions or to re-do a job because it was not finished to company standards.
2. Compliance Training - Employment compliance issues are constantly in the news and are always changing. Staying current on compliance issues may be critical to the liability of the company and may be crucial for new supervisors and current management to take. If your company is mandated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) to provide safety training, you may be at risk if you do not comply.
3. Employee Development - Helps a company place employees in the right position to reduce turnover and poor morale. Effective training will not only address the needs of the individual employee, but also communicate to the employee the needs of the organization.
4. Succession Planning - Training of your star employees into lower, middle, and upper management will give them the opportunity to learn new techniques and to develop new skills. This type of training helps the organization to plan for growth and retirement issues.
5. New Supervisor Training - All too often, a good, hard worker is promoted into a lead or first line supervisory role - without any training. By taking the time to analyze the capabilities of the employee and training them into this new role, will safe the company time and money and the individual the peace of mind of knowing what is expected in this new role.

Training, just like other functions, is a process. If you plan ahead and put a good, solid program together, training will only benefit your organization. With proper training, you can transform disengagement into employee engagement.

OSHA and Modern Asbestos Regulations

2008-08-08T08:36:50-04:00

The use of asbestos for relatively modern industrial purposes dates back over a century, though partial knowledge of its dangers has existed for thousands of years. Despite concerns raised by medical doctors and scientists in the early 20th century, the asbestos industry avoided serious regulation for decades. Though laws like the Clean Air Act of 1970 did help reduce the use of asbestos , obstacles to stricter regulation were present as late as the 1990s, when an appeals court struck down an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation known as the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out rule. As a result, asbestos-containing products are used and produced even today.

Today, asbestos use and exposure is regulated by several government agencies, including the EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, otherwise known as OSHA.

Though virtually anyone can be exposed to asbestos, workers in industries such as construction, mining, and shipbuilding are particularly at risk. Furthermore, the families of these workers are also at risk from secondary exposure if precautionary measures are not taken.

According to OSHA, steps which can be taken to prevent excessive exposure to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) include:

- Limiting the time that workers spend working with or around ACMs

- Separating asbestos-heavy areas from the majority of the workforce

- Installing effective ventilation systems in and around ACMs

- Providing workers with approved protective gear and clothing

- Providing workers with showers to remove asbestos after work

- Educating workers and administrators about the dangers of ACMs

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos, even in small amounts and over a short period of time, can cause a deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer which attacks the mesothelial lining of the lungs, heart, chest, and abdominal cavity, and it is almost always associated with ACMs. In some cases, mesothelioma can take years to show up after exposure to asbestos, but can often kill within 6-12 months of diagnosis.

Though OSHA has set a limit of 100,000 fibers per cubic meter of workplace air, some experts contend that there is no such thing as a "safe" threshold of exposure, and advocate that the United States follow the example of other countries that have banned the use of asbestos entirely.

Hazardous Material Storage Cabinets That Are OSHA Compliant

2008-08-08T08:33:16-04:00

There are four categories for hazardous material storage cabinets, flammables, paints & inks, acids & corrosives, and pesticides. Each cabinet is designed to safely store each type of material to fit within OSHA guidelines.

All hazardous material storage cabinets have the same OSHA and NFPA (for flammable storage) codes where applicable in their design. These safety cabinets come in a wide variety of sizes ranging from 4 - 90 gallon capacity. As well as sizes to hold 1 - 2 fifty five gallon drums. Most sizes from 12 gallon and up will have at least one adjustable shelf. The larger the cabinet the more shelves that will be included. These safety cabinets are made from 18 gauge all welded steel. They will also have 1 1/2 inches of insulating air space to prevent buildup of explosive temperatures. The cabinet bottom will have a 2 inch lip to prevent leaks from spilling onto the floor. These cabinets offer two options in doors. One style is a manual closing door where the user must close the door in case of emergency. The other style is a self closing door. This type of door will have a fusible link that melts at 165 degrees which allow the doors to close automatically in case of an emergency. Flammable storage cabinets are yellow, paints storage & ink storage are red, acid storage & corrosive storage are blue, and pesticides are green.

The other type of storage cabinet is for cylinders. There are two basic types of the type we are all familiar with are the cylinders that are used with a gas grill. The other style is a much thinner and taller tank. There are vertical and horizontal cabinets. The vertical cabinets are for the taller thinner tanks. These cabinets have capacities ranging from 5 - 20 cylinders. The horizontal cabinets for the smaller tanks have capacities ranging from 4 - 16 tanks. These cabinets are generally yellow, however the horizontal cabinet can come in plain aluminum.

All hazardous material cabinets will come from the manufacturer will all required markings for a safety cabinet. Remember safety of your personnel and property is the most important task we all have. So if you store any type of hazardous materials be sure to use the proper hazardous material storage cabinet.

Confined Space Safety Policy - The 9 Policy Headings

2008-08-08T08:29:50-04:00

A Confined Space (CS) Safety Policy can be divided into 9 sections.

This article briefly describes the nine parts of a comprehensive yet efficient CS safety program.

1 - Purpose - This safety policy states the requirements for the identification and safe entry into both permit required and non-permit required confined spaces. The policy applies to areas of the workplace not designed for continuous occupancy and containing recognized serious safety or health hazards.

2 - Reference - OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146

3 - Scope - Applicable to all of the business's employees, visitors and contractors.

4 - Administration - Variable, but generally administration of the CS policy is by safety coordinators, supervisors, engineers and other trained managerial staff.

5 - Definitions - Can be standard, see: OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Act

6 - Descriptions -

A confined work location is an area/space where an employee: - has limited openings for entry and egress; - can bodily enter and which is large enough to perform assigned work; - could be engulfed by bulk materials; - is not intended to continuously occupy.

Non-Permit Required CS is a confined work area neither containing nor having the potential to contain any hazard.

Permit Required CS is a confined space with: - a hazardous atmosphere or potential for it; - material that could engulf an entrant; - converging/tapering walls/floors that could entrap or asphyxiate; - a recognized hazard.

Procedures Followed For All Permit Required Confined Space Entry

- Permit

- - Issuance - By the supervisor, mandatory for the employee, one shift in duration.

- - Cancellation - At shift end or on job completion.

- - Retention - Must be reviewed and kept.

- Alternate Entry/Space Reclassification - Specific ref: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (c)(5)/(c)(7)

- Pre-Entry Briefing - By permit issuing entry supervisor.

- Contractor Notification - Outside contractor adheres to procedures - compliance must be assured.

- Lighting Requirements - Natural, auxiliary, emergency.

- Special Tools and Equipment - Intrinsically safe in flammable or combustible atmosphere.

- Preparation and Hazard Control - Preventing engulfment, burns. Lockout/tagout procedures.

- Assuring adequate ventilation.

- - Pre-Entry Atmospheric Testing - Includes employee training with testing equipment.

- - Monitor Calibration and Testing - Field and Manufacturer Testing.

- Attendant Duties - Mandatory for permit required confined space entry, no other duties.

- Entry Supervisor Duties - Trained and authorized entry supervisor.

- Safety Equipment - PPE, non-entry rescue, rescue, general.

- Equipment Inspection - Per manufacturer's recommendation.

- Handling Problems.

- Rescue and Emergency Services - Documented, available, trained, equipped.

- Summoning Rescue Services Procedure

7 - Responsibilities - Employees and Entry Supervisor - Safety Coordinators - Supervisors - Contractors

8 - Training - Initial - Refresher - Annual

9 - Revision - Annually by Safety Coordinators

Workplace Safety - OSHA and Personal Protective Equipment

2008-08-01T07:42:00-04:00

One of the most important acts of Congress ever to affect worker health and safety was the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed into law by President Nixon in 1970. It established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is an agency of the Department of Labor.

OSHA has broad powers to set standards for workplace safety, and one of its areas of administration is known as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). According to their website, OSHA requires the use of appropriate PPE in the workplace, when engineering or administrative solutions are not available to reduce worker exposure to various hazards. Under current OSHA rules, it is up to an employer to decide if Personal Protective Equipment is necessary.

What kind of protective safety wear might qualify as PPE? To help answer this question, OSHA publishes a booklet called Personal Protective Equipment. The booklet covers eye and face protection; head protection; foot and leg protection; hand and arm protection; body protection, and hearing protection. The kinds of hazards in the workplace envisioned by OSHA include such things as sharp edges, falling objects, flying sparks, dangerous chemicals, fluctuating temperatures, dust, radiation, and so forth. Their publication offers guidance to employers in determining what level of PPE may be needed in their workplace.

In the area of hand and arm protection, the booklet notes that: "Potential hazards include skin absorption of harmful substances, chemical or thermal burns, electrical dangers, bruises, abrasions, cuts, punctures, fractures and amputations. Protective equipment includes gloves, finger guards and arm coverings or elbow-length gloves".

The OSHA booklet goes on to say that there are many types of gloves available today to protect against a wide variety of hazards. If you want to make sure you get the right kind of protective glove or safety wear for your tasks, be sure to visit the OSHA site. It is crammed with valuable information and further resources. As an example, the OSHA site suggests you think of the following criteria when selecting a safety glove or protective glove: type of chemicals handled; nature of contact; duration of contact; area needing protection; grip requirements; thermal requirements; size and comfort of glove; abrasion resistance of gloves. You will also find in the OSHA booklet a discussion of the various work gloves that are available to meet a variety of needs, including leather gloves, canvas gloves, fabric and coated gloves, chemical and liquid resistant gloves (neoprene, nitrile, pvc gloves, etc.), insulating rubber gloves, and more.

When it comes to workplace safety, understanding the different gloves and safety wear that is available is a top priority. We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the protective and safety gloves that we carry. For more reading on protective safety wear in the workplace,

Always remember to work safely!

Work Place Safety Policy - Better Than Sorry!

2008-07-25T08:34:16-04:00

We all seem to take safety at work for granted. As an employer, it is your ethical responsibility to take care of employees working for you, failing which, there just might be a disaster waiting to happen. Besides causing injury, work place accidents cost time and money. On a more practical note, you could also be held accountable and made to pay a penalty that could wipe out profits. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules punish violation of safety standards that could result in death or serious physical harm to an employee. Therefore, developing a work place safety policy and abiding by it is an absolute necessity.

Remember the following while putting a work place safety policy in place:

~ Even as an entrepreneur with few employees, you will have to abide by OSHA requirements. However, in American states where a federally certified plan has been adopted, the state plan governs. If you have hired non employee workers, such as independent contractors or volunteers, then you are not subject to the OSHA rules.

~ The first step to complying with the OSHA regime is to understand the published safety standards. Naturally, these will change depending on the industry you're in.

~ Also, just because you comply with the standards that specifically apply to your business or industry doesn't mean that your job is done. Standards are updated frequently, and new dispensations come into the picture from time to time - be sure to keep in touch with the latest developments.

To begin with, get in touch with your insurance company. Ask their safety specialist to visit your premises and make necessary recommendations. Insurance companies will be more than willing to help you devise an appropriate work place safety policy, as the safer your business, the fewer accident claims you will file. Some government organizations, generally supervised by the Labor Department or Department of Commerce, could also help you set up a safety program.

Industry trade associations and other business groups might offer seminars on safety at work and also provide training literature for a small fee. Also, there are private consultants who help businesses set up safety programs that meet OSHA regulatory standards. Your lawyer might be able to recommend a good consultant in your area.

Once you have the program in place, put it in writing and create the safety manual. The safety manual should explain what to do in the event of a fire, explosion, natural disaster or any other catastrophe your business might face. Ensure that you have well-stocked fire extinguishers and first-aid kits at all convenient locations throughout the work place. Check an organization which makes products such as fire extinguishers and medical supplies. Added to that, make sure your employees know where these are located and how to use them. The safety manual should also explain the proper procedure for performing a routine task that could have some inherent danger if not done the right way. Seeking employees' opinion as an input in this regard will be most helpful as they are closest to the jobs and know best about potential dangers which might not be obvious to you.

Finally, get an insurance professional, a government representative and your attorney to review the finished manual. This is a reflection of your company's commitment to safety, so make sure you get it right.

Conduct regular meetings and inspection, and even introduce an incentive program if need be, to increase awareness about safety measures at work. Try establishing a "Safe Employee of the Month" award, or run a contest inviting suggestions for improving safety.

Organized Labor and Collective Bargaining Or Extortion Tactics to Get More and Work Less?

2008-07-25T07:56:39-04:00

There are many sides to the debate of organized labor, for instance many believe that unions protect workers from unscrupulous corporations and make sure that the workers get a fair deal. Others will point immediately to the importance of a safe workplace, as proof of the need for unions.

Of course, there are mounds of OSHA laws, EPA regulations and employment rules enforced by the strong arm of the government and by class-action private lawsuits. Recently, a gentleman from Alabama, who taught Constitutional Law and wants to help the poor with better employment stated:

...and the regulations they sue over are very much needed because the name of the game is the bottom line, and I as a loyal worker wants my company to prosper, but I want a safe working place and the equipment I need to protect my lungs and my body."

Well, Unions always claim it's about safety, always about safety, fairness and such, but their actions speak a completely different language, and it can be quite disgusting at times to watch it. Even Teacher's Unions work to undermine the system, while they purport that it's about the kids, education and fairness? Consider their lobbying efforts with politicians to persuade regulators to attack "hooked on Phonics" or KIPP, as it might take away from their control.

Maybe the teachers, workers and those who belong to the union think that it's about safety and fairness, and make it like a religion have convinced themselves that what they are doing is noble, but the union leadership is not about that, it's about power and control and Machiavellian Politics, it always has been.

Therefore those who follow give up their integrity to get more, work less and cut off the very hand that feeds them, while all of us are forced to pay more for what we buy, as the union holds up a "patriotic message" telling us to buy American as they bend us over, cause inflation, lower standards of living and slowly steal our quality of life. I believe union folks know the truth about what's going on, and they go along with it, to get more for themselves no matter the cost to all we are and all we have built.

Unions are not a balance mechanism to management at all, rather they are a speed bump to progress and a tire spike strip to free-enterprise. I am quite disgusted with their behavior; it's similar to the radical fringe of either party. It's scary to think that the Unions garner such power, but good to see it has been somewhat reduced over the years.

This is the conservative viewpoint and more so the libertarian viewpoint. All-in-all America is a pretty darn good place, to live, work and raise a family, wouldn't trade it. People are dying trying to get in. Our way works, we should be happy - not attack or destroy ourselves from within.

Industrial Enzymes

2008-07-25T07:49:37-04:00

Historical background

Most of the reactions in living organisms are catalyzed by protein molecules called enzymes. Enzymes can rightly be called the catalytic machinery of living systems. The real break through of enzymes occurred with the introduction of microbial proteases into washing powders. The first commercial bacterial Bacillus protease was marketed in 1959 and major detergent manufactures started to use it around 1965.

The industrial enzyme producers sell enzymes for a wide variety of applications. The estimated value of world market is presently about US$ 2 billion. Detergents (37%), textiles (12%), starch (11%), baking (8%) and animal feed (6%) are the main industries, which use about 75% of industrially produced enzymes.

Enzyme classification

Presently more than 3000 different enzymes have been isolated and classified. The enzymes are classified into six major categories based on the nature of the chemical reaction they catalyze:

1. Oxidoreductases catalyze oxidation or reduction of their substrates.

2. Transferases catalyze group transfer.

3. Hydrolases catalyze bond breakage with the addition of water.

4. Lyases remove groups from their substrates.

5. Isomerases catalyze intramolecular rearrangements.

6. Ligases catalyze the joining of two molecules at the expense of chemical energy.

Only a limited number of all the known enzymes are commercially available . More than 75 % of industrial enzymes are hydrolases. Protein-degrading enzymes constitute about 40 % of all enzyme sales. More than fifty commercial industrial enzymes are available and their number is increasing steadily.

Enzyme production

Some enzymes still extracted from animal and plant tissues. Enzymes such as papain, bromelain and ficin and other speciallity enzymes like lipoxygenase are derived from plants and enzymes pepsin and rennin are derived from animal. Most of the enzymes are produced by microorganisms in submerged cultures in large reactors called fermentors. The enzyme production process can be divided into following phases:

1. Selection of an enzyme.

2. Selection of production strain.

3. Construction of an overproducing stain by genetic engineering.

4. Optimization of culture medium and production condition.

5. Optimization of recovery process.

6. Formulation of a stable enzyme product.

Criteria used in the selection of an industrial enzyme include specificity, reaction rate, pH and temperature optima and stability, effect of inhibitors and affinity to substrates. Enzymes used in the industrial applications must usually tolerant against various heavy metals and have no need for cofactors.

Microbial production strains

In choosing the production strain several aspects have to be considered. Ideally the enzyme is secreted from the cell. Secondly, the production host should have a GRAS-status. Thirdly, the organism should be able to produce high amount of the desired enzyme in a reasonable life time frame. Most of the industrially used microorganism have been genetically modified to overproduce the desired activity and not to produce undesired side activities.

Enzyme production by microbial fermentation

Once the biological production organism has been genetically engineered to overproduce the desired products, a production process has to be developed. The optimization of a fermentation process includes media composition, cultivation type and process conditions. The large volume industrial enzymes are produced in 50 -500 m3 fermentors. The extracellular enzymes are often recovered after cell removal (by vacuum drum filtration, separators or microfiltration) by ultrafiltration.

Protein engineering

Often enzymes do not have the desired properties for an industrial application. One option is find a better enzyme from nature. Another option is to engineer a commercially available enzyme to be a better industrial catalyst. Another option is to engineer a commercially available enzyme to be a better industrial catalyst. Two different methods are presently available: a random method called directed evaluation and a protein engineering method called rational design.

Enzyme technology

This field deals with how are the enzymes used and applied in practical processes. The simplest way is to use enzymes is to add them into a process stream where they catalyze the desired reaction and are gradually inactivated during the process. This happens in many bulk enzyme applications and the price of the enzymes must be low to take their use economical.

An alternative way to use enzymes is to immobilize them so that they can be reused. Enzyme can be immobilized by using ultra filtration membranes in the reactor system. The large enzyme molecule cannot pass through the membrane but the small molecular reaction products can. Many different laboratory methods for enzyme immobilization based on chemical reaction, entrapment, specific binding or absorption have been developed.

Large scale Enzyme applications

1] Detergents

Bacterial proteinases are still the most important detergent enzymes. Lipases decompose fats into more water-soluble compounds. Amylases are used in detergents to remove starch based stains.

2] Starch hydrolysis and fructose production

The use of starch degrading enzymes was the first large scale application of microbial enzymes in food industry. Mainly two enzymes carry out conversion of starch to glucose: alpha-amylase and fungal enzymes. Fructose produced from sucrose as a starting material. Sucrose is split by invertase into glucose and fructose, fructose separated and crystallized.

3] Drinks

Enzymes have many applications in drink industry. Lactase splits milk-sugar lactose into glucose and galactose. This process is used for milk products that are consumed by lactose intolerant consumers. Addition of pectinase, xylanase and cellulase improve the liberation of the juice from pulp. Similarly enzymes are widely used in wine production.

4] Textiles

The use of enzymes in textile industry is one of the most rapidly growing fields in industrial enzymology. The enzymes used in the textile field are amylases, catalase, and lactases which are used to remove the starch, degrade excess hydrogen peroxide, bleach textiles and degrade lignin.

5] Animal feed

Addition of xylanase to wheat-based broiler feed has increased the available metabolizable energy 7-10% in various studies. Enzyme addition reduces viscosity, which increases absorption of nutrients, liberates nutrients either by hydrolysis of non-degradable fibers or by liberating nutrients blocked by these fibers, and reduces the amount of faeces.

6] Baking

Alpha-amylases have been most widely studied in connection with improved bread quality and increased shelf life. Use of xylanases decreases the water absorption and thus reduces the amount of added water needed in baking. This leads to more stable dough. Proteinases can be added to improve dough-handling properties; glucose oxidase has been used to replace chemical oxidants and lipases to strengthen gluten, which leads to more stable dough and better bread quality.

7] Pulp and Paper

The major application is the use of xylanases in pulp bleaching. This reduces considerably the need for chlorine based bleaching chemicals. In paper making amylase enzymes are used especially in modification of starch. Pitch is a sticky substance present mainly in softwoods. Pitch causes problems in paper machines and can be removed by lipases.

8] Leather

Leather industry uses proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes in leather processing. Enzymes are used to remove unwanted parts. In dehairing and dewooling phases bacterial proteases enzymes are used to assist the alkaline chemical process. This results in a more environmentally friendly process and improves the quality of the leather . Bacterial and fungal enzymes are used to make the leather soft and easier to dye.

9] Speciality enzymes

There are a large number of specialty applications for enzymes. These include use of enzymes in analytical applications, flavour production, protein modification, and personal care products, DNA-technology and in fine chemical production.

10] Enzymes in analytics

Enzymes are widely used in the clinical analytical methodology. Contrary to bulk industrial enzymes these enzymes need to be free from side activities. This means that elaborate purification processes are needed.

An important development in analytical chemistry is biosensors. The most widely used application is a glucose biosensor involving glucose oxidase catalysed reaction.

Several commercial instruments are available which apply this principle for measurement of molecules like glucose, lactate, lactose, sucrose, ethanol, methanol, cholesterol and some amino acids.

11] Enzymes in personal care products

Personal care products are a relatively new area for enzymes. Proteinase and lipase containing enzyme solutions are used for contact lens cleaning. Hydrogen peroxide is used in disinfections of contact lenses. The residual hydrogen peroxide after disinfections can be removed by catalase enzyme. Some toothpaste contains glucoamylase and glucose oxidase. Enzymes are also studied for applications in skin and hair care products.

12] Enzymes in DNA-technology

DNA-technology is an important tool in enzyme industry. Most traditional enzymes are produced by organisms, which have been genetically modified to overproduce the desired enzyme. The specific order of the organic bases in the chain of DNA constitutes the genetic language. Genetic engineering means reading and modifying this language. Enzymes are crucial tools in this process.

13] Enzymes in fine chemical production

In spite of some successes, commercial production of chemicals by living cells using pathway engineering is still in many cases the best alternative to apply biocatalysis. Isolated enzymes have, however, been successfully used in fine chemical synthesis. Some of the most important examples are represented here.

13 A] Chirally pure amino acids and aspartame

Natural amino acids are usually produced by microbial fermentation. Novel enzymatic resolution methods have been developed for the production of L- as well as for D-amino acids. Aspartame, the intensive non-calorie sweetener, is synthesized in non-aqueous conditions by thermolysin, a proteolytic enzyme.

13 B] Rare sugars

Recently enzymatic methods have been developed to manufacture practically all D- and L-forms of simple sugars. Glucose isomerase is one of the important industrial enzymes used in fructose manufacturing.

13 C] Semisynthetic penicillins

Penicillin is produced by genetically modified strains of Penicillium strains. Most of the penicillin is converted by immobilised acylase enzyme to 6-aminopenicillanic acid, which serves as a backbone for many semisynthetic penicillins.

13 D] Lipase based reactions

In addition to detergent applications lipases can be used in versatile chemical reactions since they are active in organic solvents. Lipases used in transesterification and also used for enantiomeric separation of alcohols and separate racemic amine mixtures. Lipases have also been used to form aromatic and aliphatic polymers.

13 E] Enzymatic oligosaccharide synthesis

The chemical synthesis of oligosaccharides is a complicated multi-step effort. Biocatalytic syntheses with isolated enzymes like glycosyltransferases and glycosidases or engineered whole cells are powerful alternatives to chemical methods. Oligosaccharides have found applications in cosmetics, medicines and as functional foods.

Future trends in industrial enzymology

Industrial enzyme market is growing steadily. The reason for this lies in improved production efficiency resulting in cheaper enzymes, in new application fields. Tailoring enzymes for specific applications will be a future trend with continuously improving tools and understanding of structure-function relationships and increased search for enzymes from exotic environments.

New technical tools to use enzymes as crystalline catalysts, ability to recycle cofactors, and engineering enzymes to function in various solvents with multiple activities are important technological developments, which will steadily create new applications.

HR Outsourcing

2008-07-25T07:30:19-04:00

Companies and businesses that either lack time, expertise, or both, often outsource human resource tasks to an outside company. In the past, small businesses did not have the opportunity to outsource functions such as HR, as the market was lacking in options to do so. However, a comprehensive range of HR services are available these days to cater to companies of all sizes, including those with up to 75 employees. Human resources management is one of the most widely outsourced businesses in the market.

Until recently, companies used to outsource only payroll and benefits administration to other companies. However, it is a relatively new phenomenon to outsource practically all HR activities like business processes and employee management. HR business process outsourcing has grown immensely over the years. Recruitment outsourcing can perform all the recruitment functions like the assessment of departmental needs and placement of employees in appropriate departments.

Human resource outsourcing has become increasingly popular, especially for employee data organization and payroll calculation. However, many organizations prefer to handle recruitments and termination of employees locally. An external organization handling it may not understand the internal requirements of the company.

Outsourcing saves a lot of money as many service providers are able and willing to perform the tasks at low costs. Outsourcing enables companies to concentrate on their focal functional areas. However, the main disadvantage with outsourcing human resource functions is that there is no personal contact between the employees and the human resource department. This means that the personnel problems of employees cannot be easily addressed or communicated. Occasionally, outsourcing may also pose a security threat in terms of breach of sensitive employee information.

Cost is the deciding factor while selecting an outsourcing service provider for most companies. On the other hand, some companies place more importance on the compatibility of work ethics. It is advisable to hire outsourcing service providers that have adequate experience in human resource functions and the necessary infrastructure and staff to carry out the job.

Motivating People - Why it Doesn't Work

2008-07-25T07:26:06-04:00

A topic that I'm often asked about is how to motivate people. Executives are always looking for ways to improve the attitude and performance of their team. My clients will tell me about how they've met and worked with each of their team members to get them to improve their performance but can't seem to make a difference.

The answer is that you can't motivate people. It's not that your people are a peculiar breed or that they're an apathetic bunch. The fact is that you can't motivate anyone! Motivation only comes from within. People are only self-motivated. Think of it this way: If you get someone to do something they don't want to do, its coercion. People will only do what they choose to do. Don't take my word for it. Use your own experience with people as your best example. People will generally perform only to a level that matters to them. No amount of threatening, pleading or rewarding will motivate them into action.

Is that, then, the end of the story? Is there no hope for moving people beyond their current state? Not at all. There is a way to make a difference. And it's not a theory. I've seen it work on a regular basis. The key to getting people to rise above their present level of performance is to 1) develop a company culture, 2) recruit to a purpose, and then 3) appeal to that purpose to bring out the best in your people' performance and drive.

Developing a Culture

Most companies have policies and procedures, employee manuals and guidelines, effective marketing messages, and beautiful statements of mission/vision/etc. mounted on the wall. All of those are well and good, but they don't address the matter which has the greatest impact on their business and their teams. They don't address the Purpose of the organization and as such, have no yardstick against which to measure decisions, policies and strategies.

In the absence of a clear Purpose - the "WHY" of the organization - people are simply hired to fill vacancies, policies are developed which are unclear and don't further the attainment of a purpose, systems are lacking, actions are taken which would otherwise be in direct conflict with the Purpose of the organization, and decisions are made inconsistently, without regard to the culture of the organization.

In contrast, a business which has a clear Purpose ("Why"), a Mission ("What"), and a set of Values ("How"), hires smarter, has a consistent set of policies that support its Purpose, has a yardstick to measure its decisions against, has an easier time attracting and retaining the right people, and has the means to develop and deliver a clear marketing message.

Let's define and discuss the implications of having Purpose, Mission and Values in your organization.

Purpose is the "WHY" of the equation. It defines why we do what we do. Each decision and policy should take the business closer to achieving its "WHY".

Mission is the "WHAT" of the equation. It defines what the business will be doing to achieve its Purpose. Staying true to the broad "WHAT" will allow the business to focus on its core activities and strengths.

Values are the "HOW" of the equation. Values define how the Mission will be carried out in an effort to achieve the Purpose.

Purpose:

Purpose defines why we do what we do. It defines why we go to work each day. Without purpose, people just go through the motions and as most of us know, there's a great difference between activity and achievement. Having a clear purpose creates a yardstick, so to speak, to measure our decisions against. It helps us become passionate, helps us to select among the many options presented to us, helps us make better hiring decisions, and keeps us on track. It's possible to succeed without a clear purpose, but having one speeds and magnifies the results.

When a business has a clearly defined purpose it begins to act as a magnet, attracting the kind of people who will further the purpose; people who are like-minded. Not only will having a purpose attract the right people, but it will also act to retain them. This is the power behind the success of many not-for-profit organizations. Although they often are unable to pay their people great sums of money, they continue to attract and retain people who are dedicated and who work hard to achieve the purpose of the organization. While your organization's purpose may not be as altruistic as a not-for-profit's purpose, it definitely plays an important, almost critical, role.

Sales Manager Training - Expect the Best and You Will Get It

2008-07-25T07:22:20-04:00

One thing often missing in sales manager training courses is the section on expectations. No not the normal definition of expectations. This is the one that can really change your sales performance in a drastic way.

There is a great saying in life. That you get what you expect not what you want. Now some of us in the tough business world probably think this is not true. Especially in the fast paced world of a sales manager.

The current vogue of personal development; The Secret and now The Moses Code has put a whole new light on the metaphysical world and how this can relate to business.

Life is actually governed by universal law wether we like it or not. There is also a growing body of evidence to prove this theory. Have a look in any book store and you will see an array of books on quantum physics. An interesting fact that The Secret has remained on the best seller list on Amazon for the last couple of years.

Expectations are all part of the attraction cycle that most of us set up unknowingly in our life. You often get what you truly expect. There have been a number of studies conducted where instructors are fed false information about the team they are coaching. The results really are not that surprising.

The instructor who thought his team had the highest skill level , from false information he was fed then treats them accordingly.

The result is superior results when in essence the team had the lowest skill level of all. Expectations are really a self fulfilling prophesy.

The same is so true in the business world and especially sales. Generally sales managers allocate resources to their team members in proportion to their expectation of them. The ones they expect the most from get the most emotional support through non -verbal cues ( eye contact, smiles) frequent and valuable feedback and development. Along with surprisingly, challenging goals.

This starts a cycle. The sales team has more confidence, better support and encouragement and guess what they perform better. A positive belief has been installed with the corresponding positive result.

So the message for sales managers is expect great things. Tell your sales team verbally and in writing that you believe in them. Be realistic of course. Great expectations are good. Outrageous ones can be demoralising.

Oh one more thing. This expectation strategy works for you as well. How about expecting greta things. It just might work for you as well.

Brain Exercise That Boosts Your Psychic Intuition

2008-07-25T07:18:06-04:00

Can you boost your psychic intuition with brain exercise? You'll find out shortly.

We are all intuitive creatures by design. Everyone is capable of varying degree of intuition. Research has found that high level of intuitive ability is a critical success factor in career and life. The question is: How to strengthen the muscle of your psychic intuition?

What is the brain exercise that can increase your intuitive power? The answer is: Drawing!

How can drawing increase your psychic intuition? First, let's understand this from the point of how drawing functions as a brain exercise.

Drawing is a whole skill that makes up of a group of component skills, namely, the skills of perception of:

1. Edges
2. Spaces
3. Relationships
4. Lights and shadows
5. Whole, or gestalt

These perceptual skills become integrated into a whole skill that determines your ability to draw. Once you learn the principles of these skills, you can learn to draw relatively quickly.

In the process of learning to draw, your brain goes through a complex chain of brain exercise to learn how to control the way it handles information. The benefit of learning to draw is to link to other activities and the possibility of seeing things differently by tapping into your right-brain.

Understanding How Left-Brain and Right-Brain Work

Now, let's go a step further to explain what is right-brain and left-brain.

The right-brain relies on nonverbal cues to process perceptions. It's good at tasks that require the ability to see similarities, to make connections, to understand how parts fit together as a whole, and to perceive overall patterns instantaneously. It is capable of drawing insights that come from non-linear, multi-dimensional mode of brain exercise.

On the other hand, the left side of the brain excels at verbal, analytical, rational and logical tasks. It's the dominant buddy of the right-brain, taking over most of the brain's normal activities, especially when you are at serious work. It is the master of planning and systematic works. It has a penchant for using words to describe and define, figuring things out step by step, drawing conclusions based on facts and logic, and thinking in a linear way.

Despite being a linear thinker that has limited scope of thinking, the left-brain takes over most of our daily tasks. Only in situations when it finds a particular job undesirable, or if a certain task takes too much time, is too detailed or slow or simply too difficult, then the left side gives up.

If you want the right-brain, which is more creative and intuitive, to be involved more in your thinking process, you must create chances for it to participate. The trick is to present tasks in a way that discourage the left-brain, and hence create opportunities for the right-brain to demonstrate its capability.

When you engage in drawing, you create the chance for the right-brain to gain dominance. If you do it regular as a hobby, drawing is a powerful brain exercise that can increases your psychic intuition.

More Advance Way To Develop Your Psychic Intuition

One technique designed by Dr. Betty Edwards to develop subconscious intuitive power through drawing, is to draw with your non-dominant hand looking at images that are upside down.

The rationale is: This puts the left brain in a state of confusion so that it can't easily decipher shapes, lost its top-bottom orientation, unable to attach labels and categorize them to match stored memories. This process creates an opportunity to integrate your right-brain and allows it to become dominant. When presented with a confusing image, the left-brain gives up and the right-brain takes over.

You have probably heard of the saying that the best way to deal with a challenging issue is to sleep on it.

This problem-solving tactics is based on the same argument discussed above. After a long hard day cracking at the problem without success, the left-brain is exhausted. This is the perfect chance for the intuitive and creative right-brain to flex its muscle. It will sneak into the thinking space and come up with solutions that seem to have come from "The Higher Mind".

Am I Self-Employed Material? - What it Takes to Run Your Own Business

2008-07-25T07:15:26-04:00

Employee vs. business owner, it's a scary dream for most, but attainable. If you are seriously looking to become self-employed there are a few factors you should consider before taking the leap. Ask yourself these questions:

Do I have the long term drive to make my business a success
Will my values be met by the business I want to build
Do I know the legal and tax laws required for being self-employed
If I don't know how to do something, can I find a career coach or other help
Do I have a plan
Do I need a partner
Can I continue to pay my bills while I get my business up and running
What do I know about marketing my business
Are the products or services I plan to offer wanted by the public and are people willing to pay me for them

SELF-EMPLOYED IN A BETTER INDUSTRY

Kris was a college-level teacher and now in her 50's has made a decision to incorporate her interest in writing into a livelier, fun-in-the-sun environment. Searching and not finding employment locally, she is now revamping her resume to highlight transferable skills and looking for freelance work in the islands. Her Vermont apartment is tiny, and easy to maintain while she's away in her new career. Her new self-employed goal is to teach journaling workshops at various resorts and spas. Because of her love for islands, she is narrowing her search to destination resorts on islands only. She can expand her possibilities and think outside the box by asking what else could she do with her writing skills. She could expand her own business by offering to teach guests how to write a short play and then performing it during their vacation stay. Or, she could freelance her writing excellence into marketing vacation spots for host companies. She could even write and sell how-to books for other budding writers. Her list of possibilities is endless in a changing market and yours can be too. Just highlight your best skills and take them into an industry you find exciting.

SELF-EMPLOYED WITH A BUSINESS PARTNER

Another woman, Charlotte, from Pennsylvania, is finding the doors to her human resource expertise closing around her. How might she re-traffic her skills and abilities into a new market? She has a stellar background in planning, preparation and all behind-the-scenes work. Not particularly interested in being the front-woman for a company, she can now take her work history and switch gears slightly by becoming a wedding planner, or a consultant for the convention industry. When asked if she likes meeting and greeting people, her answer was a quick, "No!" So maybe a wedding planner wouldn't be the best choice for her. Knowing that she is more comfortable behind the scenes, she can now transfer her skills into an environment that needs what she has to offer, and although it may be a different industry, she will still be able to use her gifts well. If you are considering becoming self-employed, do like charlotte did and know whether you are best suited on the front line or behind the scenes. This is a perfect example of the need for a business partner who is better suited with public contact.

SELF EMPLOYED, BUT A MISMATCH OF VALUES

Kevin Manley started out his professional career as an entrepreneur. He formed his own band and toured the United States. He had natural skills in musical talent, stage presence and organization, perfect skills for someone who wants to build a band. To succeed, he says, "You must first have natural musical abilities, a love of center stage and awareness that receiving applause and admiration can be like a drug you will always chase." When I asked him why he is no longer self-employed in the music industry he explained, "I knew that I needed a home base and really got tired of the traveling. One day I was putting everything I owned into the trunk of a car, getting ready for our next gig, and realized I had forgotten where I was. I didn't even know which coast I was on." Today Kevin is employed as a Public Works Director for a town in Arizona and continues to sing karaoke in Laughlin, Nevada occasionally. He says it's hard to let go of the rush that audience applause provides, but if your most important value is a regular home life, then business is not for you. If you want to develop your own business, use Kevin's awareness as a role model and make sure your values match your business.

SELF-EMPLOYED, FIND A PROBLEM, PROVIDE A SOLUTION

Kate Cronan Sawert has made a career out of her interest in the health field. She is now self-employed in the same industry. She says she was disheartened by the American health care system and quickly began planning her own business. She truly believes that the only way she can make a quality difference is by becoming self-employed. Today she has formed her own company, Self Health, Inc. (www.sawert.com/selfhealth) that provides health education and wellness information to the general public. Her book, Self Health, is in the final stages of production and offers insight into what is causing your energy drains and strategies for healing them. What satisfies her most is the excitement on the face of her clients when they learn that anything is possible regarding their health. Kate knows that with her own business she can be more problem/solution oriented in her care. She advises anyone considering the option of running his or her own business to be skilled in willingness, tenacity and to have the ability to ask for help. For Kate, her Life's Work was built around what a problem in her industry. Because health education has become more integrative in the last twenty years, this entrepreneur has found a cutting edge position for her talents, skills and values in her own business. If you want to start your own business, use Katie as a role model; find a problem and provide a solution. If after careful evaluation of what it takes to operate your own successful business you find that this is the path for you, learn as much as you can from others who have gone before you and here's to your career success!

How Do You Get Qualified Prospects to Notice Your Business?

2008-07-25T07:10:34-04:00

Did you know many businesses go out of business before their best potential clients even know they exist? Those businesses run out of money, and close their doors before they even have a chance to succeed. You may think it happens because the business owner simply didn't have enough cash to advertise, but cash and cash flow are just an excuse. Yes, advertising costs money. And you certainly don't want to invest real dollars in real advertising until you know you have a message that produces results in the form of the receiver of that message taking an action. The action they take must move them closer to becoming your client. However, you can get noticed by the right people without spending any money. Sound impossible? Well it's not. One way you can get "free" advertising is through the use of a press release. Yes, you can pay to have someone else submit your press release for you to a number of outlets but you can also do the submission work yourself and pay nothing. The choice is yours. There are 3 essential considerations for an effective press release. Those considerations are: placement, message, and action. Get those three considerations right and you'll have a successful press release that gets you noticed by the right people who take the right action. Focus on getting these three essential considerations right before you even draft your press release. Doing so will make it easier to formulate your press release. Plus it will ensure your efforts produce the desired outcome...getting noticed by the right people who take the action you want them to take. If you don't already know; find out what publications your ideal clients read, or what radio or TV programs they regularly tune in to. Those are the places you want your press release published or broadcast. Identify the editors of those media, and find out how to submit your press release to them. Getting your press release in the right place will only happen if the editor perceives value for their audience in your press release. That means your press release must contain topically relevant information. Beyond that you want to include at least one of these other elements: timeliness, newsworthiness, trends, studies, relevance to that particular audience, urgency, and importance. In order for your press release to produce results it must get the audience to take a desired action. That means you first have to evoke curiosity and desire. You must trigger enough desire to get the receiver to take an action you've spelled out in the press release. Make sure you have the mechanisms in place to track your response rate from the various media placements. The actions produced are a first step in converting the right people into new clients for your business.

The Benefits of Taking OSHA Certifications and Annual Refresher Classes Online

2008-07-25T05:44:54-04:00

There can be a number of reasons why you should undertake OSHA online training.

It will enable you or your employer to reduce the costs of training. Class room training is relatively expensive compared to online training.

It also saves time. Rather than spending time in off-site attendance of training sessions including travel, the theory parts of the relevant OSHA courses – for example, Hazwoper 40 (for full time site workers) and Hazwoper 24 (for occasional visitors) – can be completed on your own work premises without the need to travel to a training site. This is particularly important for employees taking the annual refresher courses.

It is also more efficient and effective from a learning point of view because you can choose the timing of carrying out the training so as not to interfere with other work and you can repeat online modules and assignments if required to help you revise to ensure that the material has properly sunk in before taking the OSHA test online. It is also more flexible because different employees can do different training courses at the same time in the same work area or even work from home in the evenings.

It is important however to remember that online training can only substitute for classroom work and does not provide the practical experience necessary for OSHA compliance. From a common-sensed viewpoint, OSHA hazardous waste training and other courses (OSHA Safety Training and OSHA Construction Training) require an element of practical supervised work (despite some Internet sites which make claims to the contrary).

Recruiter Motivation

2008-07-25T04:40:00-04:00

Motivation energizes our efforts to keep taking the actions that lead to placements. Money has never been a true motivator for me. It's a nice reward for sure, but once there's plenty of money around the moment of truth arrives for each Recruiter. What is it that makes us want to do our job well?

A long time ago I put together a little system in my own brain that keeps me on track. I suspect most other Recruiters have done the same although many of those systems remain unvoiced.

I value freedom in both my work and personal life. Recruiting has provided a means for me to maintain my freedom. I'm also fond of efficiency. I set out each day to accomplish two important functions. I try and get those two things done within 4 hours. My commitment to recruiting revolves around this deal I made with myself. Each day I will work until two crucial tasks are completed. If I get those tasks completed within 4 - 4 and ½ hours the rest of the day is "free" if I so choose.

It's that simple. My productivity centers around getting 2 - 3 send-outs a week (which translates into 1 or 2 placements a week). So each day I either need to recruit a candidate to send out on an interview, or get a job order.

The thought of having an unfulfilled job order drives me crazy. The idea I may let a client down creates great agitation within me and pushes me to act. Some credit such tenacity to a mid-western work ethic. I think it's part that and part some kind of guilt. Guilt related to what I don't know. I also know that what pushes me forward to complete a task is self respect.

I focus entirely on whatever task is at hand. If I find a candidate on the 6th phone call of the day, I move on to a few reference checks and a new job order if my wonderful new candidate is not a match for any of my current job orders. I always interview a new candidate twice before scheduling a send out. I've found candidates need time for my questions and their responses to germinate. The second interview tends to have more substance.

Recruiting candidates, scheduling send outs, and getting new job orders are critical to any Recruiter's success. All the other steps involved in a placement are support tasks, in my opinion. I never do support type tasks unless one of the primary tasks are completed in any given day.

There are Recruiters out there who work 50 and 60 hours a week. They may even be making up to a million dollars a year. That is possible. I'm most content when I operate to please myself and in a way that produces balance in my life. I've owned businesses that did require me to work 60, 70, even 80 hours a week. Once those businesses started to succeed I was able to put managers in place to smooth out operations. I no longer want to work that hard and don't. I can no longer sustain 50 - 70 hours week for months at a time.

I know of recruiters who interview 18 - 20 people a week and make 4 - 8 placements a week. More power to them. Recruiter know thyself I say. March to your inner drummer and take pleasure in the ample rewards that accompany impacting the futures of businesses, candidates, and your personal circle of friends and family who interact with you everyday.

One final point. If there are parts of the recruiting process that you avoid...find someone else to complete those tasks. Don't fight with yourself. Know your strengths. Do 'splits' with other recruiters and you'll be able to maintain your motivation and enjoy everything this great profession has to offer.

Universal Laws For the Universe?

2008-07-24T15:45:00-04:00

In your teachings you state that your non-physical is not so very different from our physical. That the same Laws of the Universe apply to you in many ways as to us. You use the Law of Attraction as an example.

Would you please define that for me? Explain how that is and in what ways?

The Universal Laws apply to the entire Universe. In other words, there are other planets, many, many, other beings in the vastness of the Universe. All of these Laws also apply to them. For example, beings, whether non-physical or physical on other planets and in other places (levels of progress also) create. They do this by the same principles and laws that do you. It is all aligned (or not) by the same principles. For example, beings who are residing on another planet, for example, Saturn, create in the same way that you do. They may wish to create a safer environment to sustain a different form of life - other than that which you are familiar with. They may desire to have a different form of sustenance, I.e. fish, or a different plant. They may realize an evolved form of say, corn, would benefit their physical beings. They create through their desire, their intent, to increase the vibration of their physical, through the cultivation of maize, or corn. Their level of vibration is such that they are able to do so in a matter of "flashes" of time, rather than eons or generations (which is the way your physical being on Earth @ this time believes)

They intend it, and due to the level of vibration - and of their system of belief's - it is allowed to occur. Thus their 'evolution 'may' be intensified. Their creational vibration through intent of these Laws is advanced to equal their desires.

Now this is where the belief system is so important and valuable. You see, your planet, Earth and the belief's that have been handed down through so many generations, is such that your vibrational creation's have slowed in many areas. There is also the consideration of your belief's in the heaviness of your atmosphere and the belief that it is more difficult to absorb higher levels of energy. Of course, there are many ways in which the creation's have increased also, such as electronics, industrial and now you are entering a time when your environmental and healing natures are accelerating at a high vibration of creation. There are certain evolutions of insect life, plant life, weather patterns, that are changing very rapidly. In many physical beings this is for some reason creating a panic, an emotion of fear, of doom and catastrophe. This is from a mass viewpoint of panic, of negative creation. It can easily be shifted to one of creative balance and emotional joy and excellence. There is really no reason or need for the negative response to these evolutions. They are a part of the learning and opportunity to create from positive intent and desire. Each of you can, individually, and collectively, assist this acceleration with your new belief's you are excavating. This has always been a part of you; yet also a part of your journey's and lessons on Earth have been to rise above, challenge these beliefs and shift them to be further aligned with the Universal Laws - of Attraction, Allowing and Creation.

We now take this to another realm of "reality" as pertains to your understanding of this new knowledge for you. Angels and Guides and Ascended Masters also create knowing and data for you through the same Laws. As part of your chosen path for each lifetime, you have agreed and arranged for certain situations to occur and you have chosen those Guides, Angels and Masters to assist you and remind you. As this lifetime unfolds they are not only reminding you, nudging you and guiding you, they are also creating through the Laws, those situations that will be most beneficial for your alignment and advancement. They are at a vibrational level and a position of access from their perspective where they are knowing and seeing the overall evolvement. Therefore they are able to create faster, more clearly, definitive assistance for you. From their perspective of seeing all and knowing and remembering all that you have chosen, they are better able to, and more easily CREATE those situations, connections and lessons that you have chosen to learn.

Thus is also such an important motivation to connect with your Inner Being/Soul/Spirit. That is why we encourage you to listen to your Inner Being and your emotions. The emotions are the way in which we most easily re-mind you of your path, situations, choices and growth. You are still not grasping the vastness of the knowledge that being in touch with your emotions brings to you. That access to the Other Side and Inner Being is so basic and simple. Just be present with your emotions and your path will be ever so much gentler. This is a belief that must be "re-learned" by most physical beings on Earth. Here again has been a way that 'power' has been taken from each person and control exerted by others in order to keep you in alignment with THEIR desires for THEIR creations. When you do not understand, listen to, or give credence to your emotions, you are not connecting with You and therefore you do not hear what Your guidance is telling you, reminding you of.

Most of you, on this Leading Edge of Creativity, are awakening to this creative magnificence. And we are here to help you, to show you what you can achieve and create. We understand that there is not a crowd on this Edge; thus you have much room to "flap your wings", stand on that Edge and "fly like the Eagle. The mother eagle says, "fly, baby eagle, fly" and the baby eagle says, but I am afraid. The mother eagle says,"fly, baby eagle, fly. Why would you be afraid to soar above the clouds?"

So too, you have created a desire to fly above the clouds. You are standing on that edge of flight, of soaring, of being all that you can be. In your fear to fly, you are not allowing your life to soar. You have intended it, You have created it, Now Allow it - FLY.

Safety on the Job

2008-07-14T04:25:00-04:00

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration works to make the workplace a safe and healthy place to be. They provide literature and education to employers to help them make sure their workplace is safe and healthy. OSHA works to lower the number of job related injuries, illnesses and deaths.

For keeping people safe on the job the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible in the United States or OSHA.

A person usually learns about OSHA when they first are employed. Employers issue OSHA training to employees to ensure they understand what they must do in order to stay safe on the job. Such training is usually in the form of training videos and manuals. Such things that are talked about are working with chemicals or other dangerous products, safety gear and ways to safely do the job required.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been quite successful with making workplaces better for employees. Many of the issues that were present before OSHA was established are no longer a problem. This is proof that OSHA has been quite beneficial to employers and employees across the country.

OSHA has inspector’s who enforce their standard’s. These inspector’s go to job sites to ensure safety and health standards are being met and if violations are found they work with the employer to ensure the standards are met.

Practicing Safety on Your Job Site

2008-07-02T06:28:00-04:00

There are many benefits of having a written, comprehensive construction safety program. A construction safety plan can assist principal contractors to manage their workplace health and safety obligations.

Safety

Safety incidents will fall when you establish a make-ready planning practice coupled with following the rule of only doing work that is in a condition to be started and completed uninterrupted. Safety on the construction site is the responsibility of the contractor and the contractor supervisors. The goal is to improve safety and health for construction workers by making such information more accessible. Learn about the dangers of hand/power tools and equipment and necessary safety precautions. We believe that safety training and an up-to-date contractor safety manuals and proper Illness & Injury Protection Plans (IIPP) can help prevent future jobsite accidents. A practical guide for eliminating safety and health hazards from construction worksites, the Handbook of OSHA Construction Safety and Health addresses the occupational safety and health issues faced by those working in the construction industry.

Osha

OSHA and other organizations are great places to turn to if you need someone who can talk about ways to provide workers with up-to-date information in order for them to make it through the day with out hurting themselves. In some cases, written safety programs are also required by OSHA standards.

A typical construction safety program should be comprehensive, address the hazards workers may encounter during normal activities and identify potential emergencies. A principal contractor must prepare a construction safety plan before construction work starts.

OSHA Outreach Training - A Must For All Supervisors

2008-07-01T17:00:00-04:00

Why Outreach Training Is Smart Business

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Outreach course is the building block of any accident and safety prevention training program in the workplace.

This 10 hour safety course is designed for construction workers, foremen, job supervisors, and anyone involved in the construction or general industry. OSHA recommends Outreach Training Program courses as an orientation to occupational safety and health for workers.

Workers must receive additional training, when required by OSHA standards, on the specific hazards of the job. Upon successful completion of the OSHA 10 Hour course, participants will receive an OSHA construction safety and health 10 hour course completion card from the Department of Labor. There is no previous safety training or experience required for this course.

The 10 Hour classes emphasize hazard identification, avoidance, control, and prevention. Topics include an introduction to OSHA, electrical standards, and fall protection. Other topics include excavation, scaffolding, tool safety, materials handling, ladder safety, crane and hoist safety, and personal protective equipment.

This safety course has proven to be highly successful in reducing the number of on-the-job accidents and OSHA considers this course their "primary way to train workers in the basics of occupational safety and health."

OSHA outreach training can be delivered via in-person training or, if approved by OSHA, via online training. OSHA has specific guidelines for on-line safety training, and there are only a few on-line safety programs that OSHA has allowed. Make sure any online program has been reviewed and accepted by OSHA for online distribution.

Online safety training has a number of advantages. Employees (students) can train "anytime, anywhere" in the world-whenever there is an internet connection. No more lost time from work travelling to distant seminars. Business travelers can train while working out of town. Employees who work night shifts don't have to lose sleep to attend classes. No matter what your work schedule, online safety training can work for you.

Many online safety course providers allow employee to train at their own pace. Course can be started and stopped by the student when it is most convenient for them. Make sure you can pick up your place where you left off (bookmarking).

Most online training is affordable. Corporations save between 50-70% due to elimination of travel expenses according to Training Magazine. By training online you can eliminate costly hotel stays and training rooms, costly instructors and other incidentals that add up big time! Individuals save time and money travelling to and from home or business to the training site as well.

OSHA Needs Rules and Regulations Overhaul

2008-06-24T06:31:00-04:00

Did you know that the OSHA rules are so pervasive that if you take each page of the OSHA rules and regulations books and stacked them on top of each other they would go up in the sky 42-stories. Yes, it is true. Can you believe the amount of bureaucracy that OSHA is forcing on American businesses? Who does this really help? Not the workers, because the costs to comply with all the OSHA standards means there is less money in the company to pay the workers a higher salary and provide better benefits.

Additionally, the OSHA rules and regulations help the trial lawyers sue American companies to make money and further take money away from the company that could in fact be used to pay the workers a higher salary and greater benefits for their families.

Therefore OSHA rules and regulations need to be reduced or completely scrapped and start over in order to provide a better standard of living and quality life to all Americans. The OSHA rules and regulations also end up costing companies so much money that they must raise their prices and in doing so cannot compete with foreign manufacturers of goods, which are shipped to our country.

Since they are unable to compete the must close their businesses and this helps no workers. OSHA needs rules and regulations overhaul and they need them now. It is time to start over with OSHA rules and regulations and call Caesar to come in and take care of the trial lawyers and the lawyers in Washington D.C. who are supposedly our elected representatives and are suppose to be serving the will of the American people. Consider this in 2006.

Call Center Consulting Solutions

2008-06-20T08:27:51-04:00

Call center consulting solutions offer result oriented solutions to enhance the productivity of a business concern. Call centers are customer support departments that ensure customer satisfaction. Apart from product support, call centers also provide additional services to meet the entire customer strategy. Call center consulting solutions provide information resources to equip the client for real-world challenges. Call center consulting formulates a comprehensive solution to enhance the working strategy. Consulting solutions offer an efficient delivery of the results at the targeted time.

Call center consulting solutions are offered by experienced professionals. They analyze the issue and respond to queries depending on the overall strategy of the concern. They offer sophisticated tools for the complete evaluation of the scene. Call center consulting solutions provide workforce management with application integration. The required reporting and statistical analysis are incorporated with data integration. Performance optimization is enabled with self service automated systems and Internet contact. The maintenance of appointment scheduling is an integral part of call center consulting services. The real time personalized consulting helps to resolve problems immediately. The solutions are regularly monitored by a pool of professionals. They also customize the solutions in accordance with customer feed backs.

Call center consulting solutions are tailor made to suit various business domains such as banking, insurance, health care, financial services, travel, technology, telecom, pharmaceutical, and retail. The services usually include customer care, technical support, data conversion, collections, telesales, transaction processing and other value additions. Call center consulting solutions are available these days on a round the clock basis. Call center solutions can be either voice based or web based.

Consulting Rates - What Are My Competitors Charging?

2008-06-20T08:25:33-04:00

Consulting rates of your competitors provide an excellent starting point for your own billing rate analysis. If you know you competitor's consulting rates you can analyze various rate scenarios within a tighter range. You don't want to under or over price your own services and this information gives you valuable insight into what your target clients are currently willing to pay.

Techniques For Competitor Sleuthing

If you have friends or acquaintances that are niche technology providers, ask them what the going consulting rates are

Ask business partners, accountants and management consultants what consulting rate their clients pay

When you go to user group meetings, inquire about the going consulting rate in the area

Try to access government bid information - the consulting rates will be quoted

Look through old paperwork supplied by your clients and see if there is any mention of the consulting rate - purchase history, work billed, etc...

The Bottom Line on Consulting Rates

Setting your consulting rate requires knowledge. You have to know what your services are worth in the market. The best way to do this is to find out what your competitors' consulting rates are. Get creative: use your network, don't be shy about asking people outright, and do some snooping. Once you know the going rates in your area it is much easier for you to strategically position your own consulting rate.

Copyright MMI-MMVI, Computer Consulting 101. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Do Not Be Afraid to Seek Workers Compensation Benefits

2008-06-20T08:23:38-04:00

Things Every Employee Should Know About Workers’ Compensation
1.) In New Jersey, an employer CANNOT retaliate against an injured employee for seeking Workers’ Compensation benefits.
By a law known as the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act, you have the right to report your injury to your employer and seek benefits. There are thousands of Workers’ Compensation claims filed every year.
An employer that penalizes or terminates an employee for exercising his or her rights under the law exposes itself to civil and criminal penalties, including fines and possible imprisonment. In addition, the law mandates that an employee who is terminated because of having sought Workers’ Compensation benefits is to have his or her employment restored and is to receive all of the back pay to which he or she would otherwise have been entitled upon restoration to employment.
As a practical matter, we have found that employers virtually never terminate or punish in any way an employee who sought Workers’ Compensation benefits for a job-related injury. Employers know such action is illegal and understand that they will be penalized in the most severe way if they attempt to do so.
2) All New Jersey employers are required to make Workers’ Compensation benefits available to employees.
An employer’s failure to make Workers’ Compensation benefits available can result in severe penalties.
3) Workers’ Compensation benefits are paid by the employer’s insurance company, not the employer itself.
Your employer will not be paying for your benefits out of its pocket when you file a Workers’ Compensation claim. Benefits are paid by the insurance company which provides Workers’ Compensation coverage to the employer.
4) Consult an Attorney
When you have been injured on the job, it is essential that you protect your rights.
Your first step is to speak with an attorney who will help you understand your Workers’ Compensation entitlements. Those entitlements include lost wage replacement benefits if you are unable to work because of your injury. You are also entitled to medical treatment, paid by your employer’s insurance company. And, you can receive permanent disability benefits for the pain and loss of functioning you have suffered.
Your meeting with your PR&A attorney is strictly confidential.
The attorney cannot charge you a fee for the consultation or for any work that is done on your behalf in your case. The Judge of Compensation will assess a counsel fee at the end of the case that amounts to no more than 20% of the award you receive. In addition, in most cases, the employer’s insurance company will pay most of the fee.
5.) Don’t let fear silence you.
You should understand that if you do not protect yourself by consulting an attorney after you have been injured on the job, you risk losing your legal rights

Ohio Worker's Compensation - What is It?

2008-06-20T08:22:13-04:00

Ohio Worker's Compensation - What Is It? Worker's Compensation is a system of no fault insurance created statutorily by federal or state government to allow for a more efficient economy. The government places a legal duty upon all businesses to provide insurance for their employees for any work related injuries, but exempts them from negligence suits for such injuries.
The State of Ohio implemented a system for Ohio Worker's Compensation in 1924, with an amendment of Section 35 of the Ohio Constitution to provide "compensation to workmen and their dependents, for death, injuries, or occupational disease, occasioned in the course of such workmen's employment, laws may be passed establishing a state fund to be created by compulsory contribution thereto by employers, and administered by the state...Such compensation shall be in lieu of all other rights to compensation, or damages...and any employer who pays the premium...shall not be liable to respond in damages at common law or by statute..."

So in plain English, the Ohio Constitution mandates an Ohio Worker's Compensation system which provides for:

Worker's Compensation to employees for any work related injury, death, or occupational disease
Establish an Ohio Worker's Compensation fund to be administered by the state and funded by employer premiums
Exempt employers who participate in the Ohio Worker's Compensation fund from liability for work related injury, death or occupational disease under common law or statute

BENEFITS

The fund currently provides the following benefits for injured employes:

Temporary Total Compensation provides an injured employee with a percentage of wages lost due to time off.

Permanent Partial Compensation provides an injured employee compensation for the residual physical damage to his or her body. This is a lump sum payment.

Permanent Total Compensation is paid in a lump sum to any employee who cannot find ANY gainful employment due to their injury

Medical Compensation for all medical treatment resulting from a work related injury.

Building Support for Nonprofit Communications Among Your Colleagues and Leadership

2008-06-20T08:20:04-04:00

A panel of three communications pros at the recent Communications Network conference discussed how to build the support across your organization that is necessary for communications that really help to achieve your nonprofit's or foundation's goal (a.k.a. strategic communications). Here are key points from the discussion:

Place a communications staffer or consultant in each program team

Karen Lake, Director of Marketing, W.K. Kellogg Foundation defines her charge as "putting communications to work to build and to expand on the work of our programs." One resounding success is the Foundation's placement of a communications manager in each program department to ensure that communications strategies are integrated into each program, from planning to execution.

Cafeteria Communications

Develop "cafeteria communications" so you can select from a comprehensive menu of communications products (newsletters, website, etc.) and activities (block parties, speeches, community events) as needed.   Joanne Edgar, communications consultant and former Director of Communications of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, recommends that you and your colleagues maintain focus on your organization's substantative goals. This focus in turn will guide your communications goals and thus, your selection of the communications products and activities that will move your organization toward those goals.   Edgar emphasizes that community activities are a vital communications strategy too frequently left out of nonprofit communications agendas.

Clarify expectations from the start

Edgar cautions that nonprofit and foundation communicators must identify leadership and board expectations as early as possible in the planning process. For example, if your board chair anticipates a three-minute segment on "Good Morning America" while you are focusing on regional Hispanic media outlets that reach the communities you need to alert about your services, you have a problem. If those expectations (and the related communications activities) are not aligned with your communications goals, make a strong case for your strategy of choice. Doing so proactively will strengthen your relationships with leaders and the board.

Great advice from leaders in the field!

Communications Online

2008-06-20T08:17:54-04:00

Too busy with your daily routine? Interested in enrolling in an online school and attaining a professional degree? Now you can earn your Online Communications degree in the comfort of your own home. Online Communications Schools offer degrees with all the benefits but none of the hassles of traditional campus life.

Online Communications programs provide cross-disciplinary approaches that balance theoretical background and practical communication skills needed in today's workplace and public information environments.

Program objectives of Online Communications are to bring understanding of the history and theory of communication, principles of types of communication, communication strategies within different technologies, information gathering, techniques and applications of research, legal and ethical responsibilities, writing and editing for clear understanding, assessment and evaluation of skills and techniques, development of perspectives of communication practices, awareness of intercultural and international communication.

Online Communications programs are generally offered through journalism departments. The Online Communications degree is designed for people working in a public relations department, as well as those who would like to enter the field of communications.

Employee Forklift Truck Training

2008-06-19T06:10:14-04:00

In any industry where forklifts are used, OSHA has rules and regulations that govern their usage. One such area that OSHA governs it the training of employees. Anyone who will be operating a forklift must go through forklift truck training. In 1999, OSHA updated its regulations regarding forklift trucks, so anyone who is forklift certified prior to this year must go through a refresher course. OSHA also holds that everyone should have periodical refresher courses to keep them up to date on industry standards.

Manufacturer Training

There are several ways that you can get your employees trained and certified. One such way is to send them to a training course that a number of manufacturers and dealerships offer. For the employees that can not get away to attend on of these off site training sessions, many manufacturers and dealerships offer on site training courses. You will have to make sure that whatever training session you have for your employees are OSHA approved. This will ensure that your company is in compliance with OSHA standards.

Train Them Yourself

A more cost effective way to offer forklift truck training to your employees is to train them yourself. To do this you will need to grab up some training material from the National Safety Compliance. For starters, their 18 minute DVD or VHS tape will be used to show employees a number of areas in regards to the forklifts. Shown in the video are OSHA standards, types of forklifts, pre shift inspections, basic forklift driving, forklift stability, forklift handling, fuels and batteries and forklift attachments.

The video will come with a CD-Rom with all the material needed for the company to certify the employees themselves. A quiz is included that should be given to all employees to be certified, an answer key for the instructor, training log, certificate that can be printed out, wallet card, sample inspection form and a hands-on evaluation form.

Quiz And Evaluation

As you can see, the National Safety Compliance will give you everything you need to certify your employees yourself without the need to pay for outside training sessions. After watching the video, taking the quiz and completing a hands on test of the forklifts, the employee is ready to be certified and may operate the forklifts. Should an employee fail the quiz or hands-on evaluation then they should be put through the training again.

Avoid Fines

Whichever method you choose for your forklift truck training, just make sure they comply with OSHA standards. OSHA imposes fines when forklift drivers are not in compliance with their regulations. In addition, when a forklift driver has been trained by OSHA standards you can rest assured that they have been trained in the best safety procedures.

This means less accidents, less warehouse damage, less risk of damage to the merchandise due to careless forklift damage and less risk of damage to the forklift itself. According to OSHA, tens of thousands employees annually are injured or killed during a forklift accident because they were not properly trained.

Workplace Safety - OSHA and Personal Protective Equipment

2008-06-19T06:09:20-04:00

Always remember to work safely!

Large Number Of Portal Sites Indicate A Good Market

2008-06-19T06:07:43-04:00

So you're asking, what are portal sites, and what is it that they can do for me? A portal site is a website that doesn't really sell anything, but there is tons of information, and links to other sites on them. There are usually ads all over these sites, as this is usually how these sites make their money.

Portal sites can help you, because by determining how many portal sites there are in any given market, one can decide if it is indeed a good market to get into or not.

You can see, that by checking out these portal sites' alexa ratings, that they are getting just tons of traffic. Which is always good, especially if you would like to place a banner or ad on one of their websites. As this will link others to your website. It is important to remember that these portal sites are not competitors, but really just portals, or doorways, if you will, allowing more traffic to come to your site. Portal sites are great at getting search engine traffic, and can potentially promote your site if you advertise with them. You will have to pay them to promote you, and there are many ways that this can be done. You can offer content for their site, you could let them join your affilliate program, or just pay them for a banner space. In any case, portal sites are ideal for boosting traffic to your own site.

If, on the other hand, you are just looking for a good market to get into, you can do a search on any search engine for keywords in your market, and if a lot of portal sites come up, then you can be reasonably sure that it is a good market to get into.

My new website, Hammers Internet Profits, is a portal site. There are links to sites that offer not only website developement tools, but personal developement tools as well. Hopefully, my new website will soon have as much traffic as those other sites out there! May we all succeed at health, wealth, and happiness.

Link Provides Awesome Oppurtunity

2008-06-19T06:06:20-04:00

This article is being written in hopes to express that it is extremely simple to find valuable links on websites that you are visiting.

Just recently, I was checking out a self-help site, trying to learn how to "manifest" wealth, when I ran across a link to a site that provided all sorts of resources for building my own website. Now, personal developement is essential if you want to succeed in life, but website developement is crucial if you want to succeed at an online business.

The self-help site provided me with the ambition, and the belief in myself to actually go out there in the world and start doing things that might actually create wealth, and I did.

I followed through with their contacts, and let me tell you, that this stuff is awesome. It proves that one can have a successful online business, and there is no need to put out a fortune to do it. One does need to invest time, and effort, but very little to no money at all. It is virtually free to set up a profitable business online.

I have since acquired a mentor, who is guiding me step by step, to creating my own online business. My mentor would be much better at explaining the details of how to build your own website, and starting your own business, so I shall place their link at the end of this article. But I would also like to ask you to visit my website, Hammers Internet Profits, and let me know what you think of it. I have been trying to update it everyday, working a little here and there. You will find a link to the self-help site there, as well as a link to my mentor. Or, you can go now to visit my mentor, by using the link at the bottom of this article. I hope to see you at my site soon. Hoping you and yours have much success!

Practicing Safety on Your Job Site

2008-06-19T06:04:05-04:00

Safety

Osha

Bloodborne Pathogens

2008-06-19T06:03:01-04:00

The US department of labor estimates that 5.6 million workers risk exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), while on the job. An OSHA Standard Bloodborne Pathogens (1910.1030) Training Program is essential for any person who may be "reasonably anticipated" to face contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials as the result of performing their job duties. Professions at risk include, but are not limited to, healthcare professionals, educators, cosmetologists, tattoo artists, and construction workers. Industries whose employees have contracted infection from bloodborne pathogens while on the job run the risk of an OSHA citation up to $70,000 for facilities not in full compliance with bloodborne pathogens standard.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently begun to strictly enforce the bloodborne pathogens standard. Facilities not in full compliance with the standard, including failure to provide proof of OSHA standard bloodborne pathogens training to all employees, have received up to 70,000 dollars in fines.

A Bloodborne Pathogen program should include, but not be limited to:

Exposure Control

Methods of Compliance

Personal Protective Equipment

Housekeeping

Regulated Waste Control

Communication of Hazards to Employees

Recordkeeping

It is the employers' responsibility to train and inform their employees about hazards in the workplace. It is also the responsibility of the employer to pay for all PPE necessary to keep the employee safe.

OSHA PSM Audit List

2008-06-18T02:03:00-04:00

Avoid a visit from the OSHA police. Learning the rules and doing self evaluations will help employers stay on the right side of the law. As well as having a healthier, safer, workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for ensuring that workers can perform their jobs in a safe and non-toxic environment. Employers are directed to set up Process Safety Management (PSM) procedures. To avoid penalties, employers must pass OSHA audits and inspections.

Industries

If the business is in one of these industries:

* Aerospace & Defense

* Agricultural chemicals

* Ammonia refrigeration

* Automotive

* Batch process industries

* Coal mining

* Construction

* Electronics & semiconductor manufacturing

* Engineering companies

* Food processing

* Municipal water treatment

* Oil and gas production and pipelines

* Organic & inorganic chemicals

* Paints, coatings, resins and adhesives

* Petrochemicals

* Petroleum refining

* Pharmaceuticals & specialty chemicals

* Polymers and resins

* Propane storage and distribution

* Pulp and paper

* Rubber and plastics

* Ship Building

Processes

And one of the following applies:

* Concrete and masonry

* Confined space

* Cranes and riggings

* Electrical hazard/safety

* Fall prevention

* Fire prevention

* Forklift

* Gases, vapors, fumes

* Hand and power tools use and guarding / safety

* Hazardous materials and chemical

* Hazardous waste

* Illumination

* Iodizing and non-iodizing radiation

* Material handling

* Motorized mobile platforms

* Noise exposure

* Personal protective equipment

* Sanitation

* Scaffolding

* Signs signals barricades

* Stairs and ladders

* Steel erection (Subpart R regulation)

* Trenching and Excavations

* Ventilation

* Welding and hot work

* Workplace traffic

Compliance

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides standards to ensure the health and safety of workers and performs inspections to enforce compliance with those standards. To support compliance, OSHA offers Process Safety Management (PSM) guidelines. Employers need to know about these OSHA compliance areas:

* Pre-startup Safety Review-Verifies the he construction, equipment and processes of a new facility.

* Mechanical Integrity-Mandates written procedures for the safe operation grity of process equipment.

* Hot Work-Ensures that the proper permits are issued for welding and hot work operations.

* Management of Change-Again, there is a requirement for written procedures to manage changes except "replacements in kind" to facilities that effect a covered process.

* Incident Investigation-Requires prompt investigation of incidents which did result or could reasonably have resulted in catastrophic releases of covered chemicals.

* Emergency Planning and Response- Compels employers to develop and implement an emergency action plan.

* Disclosure-Sets Requires employers to make PSM information available to employees.

* Compliance Audits-Stipulates that employers must self audit and verify compliance with process safety requirements at least every three years.

A self audit may avert an OSHA compliance inspection. Smart businesses will plan these periodic self assessments and audits for PSM compliance.

Occupational Health and Safety - 40 Years of Progress

2008-06-18T02:02:04-04:00

The history of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) is one full of disputes, turmoil, and (finally) triumph. This is one government organization that had a very shaky start.

The OSHA was originally erected by Congress under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which was put into play by former President Richard Nixon. The act was instilled on December 29, 1970 in order to try and stop illness, death, and work-related injuries. Essentially, the OSHA set forth a number of law, rules, and regulations that all occupational health professionals had to adhere to. The history of occupational health and safety was a messy one before the OSHA was created.

Prior to the formation of the OSHA, many businesses did not have any type of safety regulation set in place to protect workers. In fact, many workers found themselves at the mercy of machines that were in no way safe. Once the OSHA began controlling the workplace environment, businesses were forced to change the level of safety within certain facilities. Of course, this instigated many different protests from companies that did not want to spend the time and money to update machinery. However, the OSHA prevailed, and many workplaces are safe today as a result.

Interestingly, the history of occupational health and safety took a curious turn when George H.W. Bush took over the presidency. During this time, a lot of the control that the OSHA had was weakened. However, it must be said, during his administration, the OSHA did implement certain hazardous exposure rules within the workplace (the right of workers to know about hazardous materials). Once the current president was put into power, he made a lot of OSHA's rules voluntary (at the discretion of the management).

The many things that happened from the time that the OSHA was first originated (1970) to the current status of the OSHA (2008) are worth looking into. Although this organization was first created in order to protect workers within a dangerous work space, many of the rules originally put into place are no longer in existence. Still, the OSHA is an important part of today's workplace.

As you can tell, the history of occupational health and safety really took a turn for the better once the OSHA was created. However, recent developments involving this government organization are quite curious. Regardless, thanks to this organization, many are able to work in a safer environment today.

Safety for Construction Workers

2008-06-18T02:00:10-04:00

Working in the construction industry can be dangerous. The nature of the work carries risks, and accidents can result in serious injuries or even death.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) law requires employers to provide a work place that is safe and free from hazards. Yet, everyday construction workers face dangers that threaten their health and lives. According to OSHA, each year

A 1000 workers die in construction related accidents

A quarter of a million workers suffer injuries resulting in lost work days

Construction accidents cost the industry $13 billion in workers compensation cost alone

OSHA statistics also show that 90% of the fatalities occur in four categories

Caught between objects

Struck by objects

Electrocution

Falls

These accidents are, therefore, preventable and can be avoided with the proper safety training, precaution, and common sense.

Construction work can indeed be dangerous. The line between a near miss and a fatality is thin. Although, the government will enforce safety and health laws and employers have an obligation to provide a safe and healthy workplace, it is still your responsibility, and you owe it to yourself and your loved ones, to stay safe and out of harms way.

Government regulators and inspectors cannot be present at construction sites at all times and, due the nature of the construction business, employers cannot guarantee a 100% safe work place. Simple things such as a change in the weather or the momentary inattention of a fellow worker can lead to a dangerous situation in an instant.

With the proper safety training, awareness of your rights and responsibilities, and vigilance against hazardous work conditions you can reduce, if not eliminate altogether, your risk of being injured at work. Here are some things you can do.

Take advantage of training programs provided by your employer, your union, and your safety society.

Observe safety rules and regulations at all times.

Know your equipment and use them correctly.

Wear and use the right personal protective equipment at all times.

Use proper barriers and guards always.

Don't take short cuts with fire, electrical, or fall protection safety equipment.

Be sure to crib, block and secure all loads as soon as possible.

Take the time to do the job correctly.

Report unsafe work conditions.

Refuse to work in unsafe conditions.

Watch a free construction safety video online by visiting http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/video/constructionsafety/video.html

Above all, be alert. It's your life and health that is at risk.

If you notice a hazardous situation at work you should bring it to the immediate attention of your employer, your craft steward, or OSHA.

To report an emergency, fatality, or imminent life threatening situation to OSHA call 1-800-321-OSHA (6742), TTY 1-877-889-5672.

To report other unsafe work conditions contact your local OSHA regional office. You can file a report online or by fax, mail, and telephone. You can request anonymity and OSHA will respect your request. Here are some useful links.

File online - http://www.osha.gov/pls/osha7/eComplaintForm.html

Complaint form - http://www.osha.gov/oshforms/osha7.pdf

OSHA Regional Offices - http://www.osha.gov/html/RAmap.html

Safety on the Job

2008-06-12T02:57:19-04:00

For keeping people safe on the job the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible in the United States or OSHA.

This agency was created in 1971 and has succeeded in greatly reducing the number of deaths and injuries at workplaces. They also implement standards by which companies must abide in order to protect the well being of employees.

Osha First Aid Kit – What Is That?

2008-06-12T02:55:57-04:00

Osha first aid kit. Hmm… is it a branded first aid kit?

Not at all. Osha stands for The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA for short), and it is a sub-agency of the US Department of Labor responsible for standards for the workforce. The goal of these standards is to ensure workplace safety.

The Osha enforces workplace safety with a team of staff inspectors who make periodic worksite checks. Fines are imposed for repeated infractions and violations of regulations.

So what is really in an Osha first aid kit? Federal OSHA Regulation Standard 1910.151.b requires "Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available." What is in the first aid kit should be at least able to treat minor injuries that occur in the workplace. However, there was no specification on the actual first aid items.

Nevertheless, there is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) compliant first aid kit which requires a minimum fill according to standard ANSI Z308.1-1998. This requirement is not made mandatory in every state yet.

Examples of items (this is not an exhaustive list) to be included in an Osha first aid kit are:

1. Items for cleaning – prep pads and towelettes

2. Items for treating – sting relief pads (for insect bites), antacid tablets, and burn cream ointments

3. Items for protection – bandages, adhesive tape roll, and eye pads

4. Additional items – thermometer, tweezer, scissors, hot/cold gel packs, and first aid guide

As you can see, it covers quite a fair bit of the minor injuries.

If your family or business needs a first aid kit, do watch out for an Osha first aid kit so that you are well covered.

Forklift Courses - Different Options For Training Your Operators

2008-06-12T02:52:13-04:00

Training is essential to the safe work environment when forklifts are used. Everyday, many accidents occur because of forklifts. A large percentage of these accidents results in serious bodily injuries or death. These numbers are reduced when the operators are fully trained in how to handle the equipment that they are using. While training can not eliminate all accidents, it is a great step towards reducing them.

There are several ways that an operator can take forklift courses. OSHA has regulations regarding forklift operations. As such, workers can not operate a forklift until they have been certified through a training session that meets OSHA standards and regulation.

Online Courses

One way that courses are offered is online. Most online courses will cover the safety procedures that meet OSHA standards. The downside with this method is that you can not receive a hands on evaluation to ensure that you know how to do what you have been told to.

These are not bad for refresher courses to just get you up to date on new standards and procedures though. Search engines can be used to find and screen through various online training courses. You need to make sure that the one you are considering to take meets OSHA standards for the training to be effective.

Dealership Training

Another way to go through forklift courses is to do so through a manufacturer or dealership that offers them. Most manufacturers will offer training sessions that you can send your employees to. All training sessions offered by the manufacturer or dealership will meet OSHA standards. Therefore, you have no worry that you employees will not meet OSHA standards for forklift operations.

On-Site

Most dealerships and manufacturers will also offer training session on-site at your facility. This will allow for employees who can not go to a training session away to still be able to receive training. With on-site training, the instructor can address specific hazards that are present in your work area so that the employees know how to handle them. Since each facility is different, this maximizes the employees' training.

OSHA Training Material

Your company can also offer training to the employees by utilizing training videos and material available through OSHA. This is the most cost effective method for forklift training available. Training material will not only include everything you need to train the employees but also the printable material for giving a certification. Since all of this comes from OSHA, you are ensured that it meets all OSHA requirements and standards.

No matter what method you use to offer forklift courses to your employees, you can rest assured that with training the risks of accidents are reduced. Reduced accidents save lives as well as increase productivity and company profits. With training, the risk of damage to merchandise is also reduced. Overall, it is a winning situation for everyone when forklift operators are trained.

OSHA Needs Rules and Regulations Overhaul

2008-06-11T07:40:21-04:00

Public Relations for OSHA Needed

2008-06-11T07:38:20-04:00

Too many business people simply cannot stand the onerous over regulations that have to do with OSHA and that is a shame that our own government is so hostile to the business community and yet there must be some way to change this perspective. Indeed, OSHA needs a much better public relations program.

I propose that we have OSHA inspectors join in the Neighborhood Mobile Business Watch Patrols and then they will be assisting businesses and business owners by reducing crime rather than being seen as criminal government extortionists by the business community. Why would OSHA join such a program? Well to promote goodwill and strong public relations. You see OSHA is perfect for such a program, consider if you will that;

OSHA INSPECTORS: These inspectors go to facility departments of large corporations, they go to construction sites, and they go to government agencies and even colleges and Universities to insure that there are consistent and safe working conditions. This is good because they too are trained observers, drive four door sedans and have a huge networking pool of people they deal with on a regular basis.

This makes OSHA a natural for community business policing efforts and therefore part of the solution instead of considered a problem for the businesses. Consider this in 2006.

The Benefits of Taking OSHA Certifications and Annual Refresher Classes Online

2008-06-11T07:31:49-04:00

There can be a number of reasons why you should undertake OSHA online training.

It will enable you or your employer to reduce the costs of training. Class room training is relatively expensive compared to online training.

What Every HR Professional Must Know to Stay Competitive

2007-07-24T10:28:11-04:00

Historically, the functions and responsibilities of HR personnel had to do with recruiting and orientating new hires, writing job descriptions, running job announcements in the newspaper, and making sure policies were adhered to.

Today, the role of HR professionals has expanded beyond that. Many interact with service providers, the executive team and depending on the size of organization they may even deal with customer and client issues.

As the work environment has changed and organizations have become increasingly global there is now a need for HR professionals to take on the role of strategic partners. In this role not only are interpersonal skills absolutely necessary, so are sales, marketing, and negotiation expertise.

For many "old time" HR professionals this may go against everything they believed their position to represent. Yet, with the changing times it is essential for beliefs about who they are, what they do and how they contribute to an organization to shift.

The reason sales, marketing and negotiating is so essential is so the HR leaders have the ability "get a seat at the executive table." It is about having the capability that allows for their ideas and projects to be integrated into the company's business strategies. The more an HR professional has the ability to market and sell ideas the more valuable to their organization they are.

At the core of sales and marketing is the power to negotiate a win/win outcome. Yet, many have never been trained in the art of negotiation.

According to the New Merriam-Webster Dictionary negotiation is "the art of arriving at a settlement with another person, or persons, on some matter. It is the ability to transfer to another by delivery or endorsement in return for equivalent value".

The following are a few guidelines for achieving a positive outcome regardless of what you are negotiating.

Know what you want to achieve. Before you begin the process of negotiation it is important to know exactly what you would like the outcome to be. Consider what you want and what you would like the end result to be for yourself and the other person(s). This helps you to stay focused.

Before you begin the process of negotiation it is important to know exactly what you would like the outcome to be. Consider what you want and what you would like the end result to be for yourself and the other person(s). This helps you to stay focused.

Far too often people will begin a negotiation process without first considering what they want to achieve. The more focused you are the more likely you are to achieve your goal.

What is your ultimate goal? What are your limits? What are you not willing to budge on and where do you have some flexibility. If you have no flexibility at all then you are not negotiating. You are playing hardball. The ultimate success in negotiation is a win/win situation for everyone.

What are your limits? What are you not willing to budge on and where do you have some flexibility. If you have no flexibility at all then you are not negotiating. You are playing hardball. The ultimate success in negotiation is a win/win situation for everyone.

Information. Have as much information about what you are negotiating on as possible. Do your homework. Be willing to ask questions.

Have as much information about what you are negotiating on as possible. Do your homework. Be willing to ask questions.

Setting. Where and when you negotiate are essential to a successful outcome. Try to avoid outside distractions such as phones, interruptions, clutter, or anything else that takes away from the situation at hand.

. Where and when you negotiate are essential to a successful outcome. Try to avoid outside distractions such as phones, interruptions, clutter, or anything else that takes away from the situation at hand.

Ask for more. You can always come down on an offer, but it is difficult to go up. Begin by asking for more than what you expect to get so you have flexibility.

. You can always come down on an offer, but it is difficult to go up. Begin by asking for more than what you expect to get so you have flexibility.

Maintain flexibility. There may be occasions that the person or persons you are negotiating with will change direction without much warning. This is where preparation is essential as well as knowing what you are willing to settle for. The more prepared you are the more you can handle unexpected situations.

There may be occasions that the person or persons you are negotiating with will change direction without much warning. This is where preparation is essential as well as knowing what you are willing to settle for. The more prepared you are the more you can handle unexpected situations.

Strive for a Win/Win. Ultimately, when you are focused on a win/win outcome you will achieve a better result all the way around. This does not mean you will get everything you want or the other party will get all they want. It simply means you achieved the most favorable result for all concerned.

Ultimately, when you are focused on a win/win outcome you will achieve a better result all the way around. This does not mean you will get everything you want or the other party will get all they want. It simply means you achieved the most favorable result for all concerned.

And isn’t that what you, as an HR Professional really want? The best for all concerned.

Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in sales and marketing. She is the author of several books including, Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions; 101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door; Street Smarts Internet Marketing and Workplace Miracles. She is a keynote speaker of choice at many national conferences and conventions. To learn more about Kathleen’s services or to have her speak at your next conference visit www.kathleengage.com

Compensation Consulting Companies "Feet to the Fire"

2007-06-30T10:59:43-04:00

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have long since instituted accounting and corporate reforms to increase public confidence in investment markets. Conflict-of-interest issues from overly optimistic research reports--written by analysts during the stock boom of the late 1990s caused investors to lose large sums of money. Now company research reports are written independently and require disclosure of any conflicts of interest.

Why are compensation firms allowed to have clear conflict of interest relationships with their clients? What compensation firm can expect to get actuarial or human resource consulting assignments without first ensuring that the pay packages for the executives making the decision are healthy enough?

Is anyone aware of a compensation consulting firm that advised top management that their pay was too high relative to others?

I don't understand how the compensation consulting firms have escaped legislative intervention. Finally, the House committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating this practice.

According to the Chairman of the committee, Henry Waxman, "The question, I'm looking at is whether potential conflicts of interest among compensation consultants and their corporate clients might play a role in some of the irrational compensation decisions."

You think?

Family Leave Survey By DOL Finds that Law is Working

2007-06-28T14:55:11-04:00

The Department of Labor released its report on comments from the public in connection with the Family Leave Act. The public was asked for their experience with the Act along with comments on the effectiveness of the law. More than 15,000 comments were received from workers, family members, employers, academics, and other interested parties.

There is broad consensus that family and medical leave is good for workers and their families, is in the public interest, and is good workplace policy. There are differences of opinion on how some of the provisions are being interpreted in accordance with the intent of the law.

This report is unusual in that DOL is not using the comments to seek changes in the law, but rather they appear to seem more interested in prompting further discussion about these issues amongst the respondents.

Most employers and employees seem to be satisifed that the law is working "generally well." However many employees wish they had greater leave entitlement, and many employers wish they could prevent employees from certain type of leaves that are disruptive, such as "intermittent" leave.

The DOL should be congratulated on this report which attempts to look at what is happening in the workplace and is attempting to help all of the interested parties to better understand each others challenges in making this law work better for everyone.