21 Feb 2012
health • wellness

The Growing Benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins you can take 

Vitamin D by Colin Dunn

Can boosting productivity be as easy as taking a vitamin?

It’s the tail end of winter, but the days are still short and the sunshine is minimal. During this season we lack the natural light that we get during the spring and summer seasons. A great way to boost some of the healthy affects of sunshine during the darker months is by taking supplement forms of Vitamin D, often dubbed the “sunshine vitamin”.

Vitamin D is naturally created in the body in response to sunlight. It regulates the immune system, is essential to maintaining blood calcium levels and bone density, and has been reported in studies to stave off certain types of cancers, autoimmune disorders and multiple sclerosis.

In several studies taken over 2007, Vitamin D was reported to lower the death rate of people over 50 by 7 per cent when 500 IU of vitamin D was consumed each day.

But the vitamin’s value may surpass general wellness and be a benefit to the business world as well.

In a soon to be published study, Minessotan pediatrician Dr. Greg Plotnikoff reports that Vitamin D not only helps in preventing many health issues, it can also aid in worker productivity.

In the study, Plotnikooff argues that an increase in the vitamin can save companies between $112 to $370 a year per employee in increased productivity and reduced sick days.

“Vitamin D may represent the single most cost-effective medical intervention we have today,” Plotnikooff said.

Although this is only one study looking into the added benefits of vitamin supplements, any added corporate gains at the hands of the supplements should be seen as a bonus compared to the very real health effects of boosting vitamin D levels.

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that individuals consume 1000 IU of vitamin D each day, although the supplements are likely unnecessary during spring and summer months when enough sunlight is absorbed through the skin to synthesize the vitamin in the body naturally.

In addition to supplements, the vitamin can also be consumed by eating fish, liver, and eggs, all foods that naturally contain vitamin D. Other sources include fortified foods like milk, soy drinks, and orange juice.

 

For more information on workplace wellness initiatives, check out the February issue of Wellness Zone.

Skilven | Comments
14 Feb 2012
health & safety

Safety Tips for Leftovers

Is there a hazard lurking in your lunch?
If you are eating leftovers there might be.

Food poisoning and food-borne illnesses can grow in food that has not been properly stored, heated or frozen. Once improper storage and temperatures are reached bacteria can grow in contaminated foods.

You may be trying to save money or eat better by packing a lunch each day, but if your midday meal is something from the back of the fridge, you could make yourself sick.

Food poisoning can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. To prevent food borne illnesses from growing in your favourite leftover meals, it is best to follow food safe guidelines immediately after the dinner is made:

Danger Zone

  • Throw out any cooked food that has been left out for more than 2 hours.
  • Do not keep food at temperatures of 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C). This is referred to as “the Danger Zone” and where bacteria will quickly multiply.
  • Always cool leftovers in the refrigerator, and not at room temperature.
  • Date leftovers to ensure food isn’t stored too long.

As a rule of thumb, if you have had leftovers for more than 4 days, throw it out. If you will not be eating the food within 4 days, move it to the freezer. Food left in the freezer can be kept for 2-3 months. Be especially careful when storing and handling perishable foods such as meats, dairy, seafood and eggs.

When ready to eat leftovers, thaw your meals either in the microwave or in the fridge. Do not thaw at room temperature.  Once foods have been reheated, consume them immediately.

To ensure that your food is ready to eat after heating, check that it has an internal temperature of 165ºF (74ºC) — and don’t ever refreeze a meal after it has been microwaved.

If you are ever unsure about a food item, sticke to the phrase “When in Doubt, Throw it out!”. Never rely on your sense of smell, sight or taste to see if an item is safe to eat. You cannot tell if a food is contaminated purely by the way it smells, looks or tastes.

To help ensure that employees and co-workers are eating safely, it is a great idea to invvest in a digital thermometer and keep it next to the microwave and provide posters or information on leftover safety.

 

Skilven | Comments
08 Feb 2012
safety first

National Burn Awareness Week

How will your company be acknowledging Burn Awareness this week?

 

Fire PreventionThis is National Burn Awareness Week. From February 5th to 11th, companies and individuals everywhere are encouraged to address the hazards and situations where burns, fires and scalding occur.

The focus of this week is undoubtably to prevent future burn and scalding incidents. A burn is defined as an damage to skin and underlying tissue that is caused by heat, chemicals or electricity. A scald is a subcategory of burns that is caused by hot liquids or gases, usually incurred by hot or boiling water or oil.

In the United States burns inflicted both in the home and in the workplace total over 2 million each year,  resulting in approximately 10,000 deaths. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that burns and scalds account for approximately 5% of all workplace deaths each year.

Like most workplace injuries, the best prevention against burns is awareness. Ensure that staff are aware of potential hazards by marking materials and equipement with proper warning signs, and provide signage and handouts that affirm what procedures to take should a burn occur.

This year in particular the focus of Burn Awareness Week is on preventing scalding injuries. Scalds can happen easily where any hot liquid or steam is present.

There are many factors that can lead to scalding injuries. One of the easiest ways to prevent a common scalding hazard, is to set set all hot water heaters to have a maximum output temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over 120 F can cause serious burns.

If someone sustains a scald injury, leave the area of injury and remove any wet clothing. Run affected area under cool water to slow the burning. Do not use ice or other home remedies. Seek immediate medical attention, be it company medics or by calling 911. While waiting for medical attention elevate the affected area.

If your company is looking for preventative materials to bring awareness to burns and scalding, check out Skilven Publications’ Posters and Safety Talks.

Skilven | Comments
03 Feb 2012
health & safety

Nighttime Driving Tips

 

The New York Times recently reported on a technology being developed by the Ford car company that will assist drivers stay in their respective lanes. This new technology is dubbed “lane-keeping technology” and aims to keep cars in the respective lanes should the vehicle swerve or the driver falls asleep at the wheel.

This system operates via cameras mounted to the rear view mirror and should work as long as the vehicle is maintaining speeds above 40 miles per hour and the turn signal is not on.

With this forthcoming technology is the possibility for drivers to relinquish responsibility for their actions on the road and rely on the car’s technology instead. In a worst case senario, a driver could fall asleep at the wheel and the “lane-keeping technology” could keep the car on the road for an extended period of time where many deadly situations could ensue.

The intentions of the device are good, but it can be argued that ensuring one is in the right shape to drive and is free of distraction is part of the responsibility of being a good driver.

So until the time comes that cars can drive — or fly — themselves, we will need to take more responsibility and make safe driving a priority. And to help you do this, here are some tips for driving at night.

Nighttime Driving Tips:

 

  • If you ever feel drowsy or tired, pull over and rest
  • Reduce your speed and increase your following distance
  • Use low beams when approaching other vehicles
  • Use low beams when following another car closely
  • Return to using high beams once the vehicle is a safe distance from other vehicles, and the on-coming lane is free of cars
  • Avoid glare from on-coming cars by focusing on the right edge of the road as a steering guide
  • Keep windshield clean, both inside and outside the vehicle
  • Extend your line of vision further down the highway. Look approximately 4 to 5 seconds ahead of you. This gap will give you more time to react in the instance that animals or other obstacles are in your path
Skilven | Comments
31 Jan 2012
health & safety

Vacation Safety: Mexico Edition

With three recent Canadian fatalities in Mexico, precautions should be taken when travelling south.

Mexican Beach

Winters in North America can be tough. Our days are made up of twelve hours of darkness and bouts of seemingly never-ending freezing temperatures. It is little wonder that many people plan for a mid-winter break from the cold and head down to Mexico for the warm weather, sunny skys and sandy beaches.

Mexico is a picturesque destination for a relaxing getaway, however the current political climate makes some areas of the country less than ideal and possibly very dangerous.

The country is embattled in a drug war, with organized crime vying for territory which often results in violence and fatalities at the hands of members of drug cartels.

Narcotics related deaths in Mexico is at an all-time high with an average of 51 people killed each day over 2010-2011, and a total of 18,600 deaths for 2011. Six of those deaths were Canadians.

These statistics, along with the alarmingly violent deaths of three Canadians during the first week of 2012, leave many people wondering if their winter trips to Mexico are worth taking.

In an interview with CBC, former Vancouver police detective and current security consultant living in Mexico, Walter McKay outlined and clarified some of the risks associated with travelling south:

When it comes to visiting family-friendly destinations like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta or Merida, if you stick to the tourist areas you will have no problems. The states of Campeche and the Yucatan are very safe.

You should, however, avoid the states of Ciudad Juarez, Mazatlan and Veracruz. These areas are known to be violent. Acapulco has also had growing levels of violence over the last eight months. Meanwhile, the US State Department warns about travel to Mexican border towns such Juarez, Tijuana and Matamoras.

Some activities should be avoided in Mexico. McKay recommends not backpacking through the country. In areas off the beaten path with high violence rates, tourist are seen as a source for money.

Instance where people are likely to jeopardize themselves is by frequenting bars, looking for drugs or getting involved in any illicit activity. These activities increase your chances of coming into contact with violence dramatically.

As McKay notes, violence is not usually targeted at tourists. The violence in Mexico is among organized crime groups fighting over territory and money. The fighting factions have little interest in tourist destinations.

For those looking to enjoy a beer on the beach and have family fun then there is very little to worry about.

Here are some safety precautions, care of ontheroadin.com:

  • Limit travelling at night
  • Never walk on a beach late at night
  • If there are drugs present, leave immediately
  • Only carry the money that is needed for the day
  • Travel in pairs or groups whenever possible
  • If you find yourself in any situation where you feel uncomfortable for whatever reasons, trust your judgment and leave.

For the latest information on Mexican Travel recommendations, check the US State Department’s Travel Warning for Mexico and the Government of Canada’s Travel Report for Mexico.

If you would like to know more information and maps on current violence rates, check out Walter McKay’s website policereform.org

 

References:

“How safe is Mexico for Tourist?” [CBC News]
“Play it safe, use common sense while in Mexico: expert” [Vancouver Sun] 
“Travelling Safe in Mexico” [ontheroadin.org]

Skilven | Comments
26 Jan 2012
health • wellness

Sugar Overload: Time to Rethink Daily Drink Choices

It has been said that we consume more sugar in one day than people consumed in their entire life just two centuries ago.

According to the USDA, the average American consumes approximately one hundred and fifty-six pounds of sugar each year. A large portion of this comes from foods and drinks that contain added sugar, sugar that would not naturally be consumed.

Everyone knows that soda has added sugar, but according to Sugarstack.com some orange juice also has 48g of added sugar.

Whether it’s a coffee loaded with extra sugar or a sugary soda at lunch, most people consume high quantities of added sugar in a given day.

This modern diet is affecting North Americans in drastic ways. Weight gain, obesity, tooth decay, heart disease and type II diabetes are all at record high levels and are a growing concern for many Americans.

Although the FDA has not released a specific recommended daily value for sugar intake, they do advise that solid fats and added sugars should not surpass 15% of daily caloric intake. Meanwhile, the American Heart Association recommends that men consume 36 grams of sugar, and women just 24 grams of sugar per day.

In contrast to these recommendations, a can of coke contains 65 grams. Fruit juices and “vitamin water” tend to be branded as a healthy choice, but contain almost as much sugar as carbonated beverages. Glaceau brand Vitamin Water contains 33 grams of sugar in each bottle.

When it comes to your daily coffee break, skipping the sugar is advisable in most instances to prevent future health problems. If you still find you have a sweet tooth, one great lesser-known sugar replacement is called Stevia.

Stevia is a sweet plant in the sunflower family that is a great substitution because it is sweet but does not affect blood sugar levels. It also makes it a great alternative to artificial sweeteners because it is naturally occurring and not processed.

 

If you are interested in lowering your daily sugar intake, check out the University of Maryland’s Carbohydrate Calculator for a personalized carbohydrate recommendation.

For healthy recipes and more articles on wellness, check out this months issue of Wellness Zone.

Skilven | Comments | Tags: , , ,
19 Jan 2012
occupational health & safety

Promote Safe Procedures with Posters

Put the writing on the wall
and get employees involved in Safe Procedures

Office Posters

Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother has made motivational posters cool again.

Ever since How I Met Your Mother‘s Barney Stinson made use of more than a few motivational posters on the walls of his office, there has been a greater interest in putting “awesome” and humorous posters up in many workplaces.

Posters are a great way to draw attention to issues that would benefit from reminders on a regular basis, such as safe procedures. The constant visibility of posters act as a perpetual reminder for safety and act as a visible resource should an accident or emergency occur.

According to the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, for every $1 invested in safety initiatives there are between $3 to $6 in savings. These are typically felt in a reduction of illness and injury costs somewhere around 20-40%. With this level of harm reduction hanging in the balance, why not place an investment in posters that will be of use to everyone who reads them?

At Skilven Publications, we have a variety of posters that cater to many subjects including quality assurance, safety, teamwork, motivation, health and wellness.

For those looking to impart a bit of humour with their reminders for a safe and secure workplace, we offer a range of Herman Posters that poke fun while still imparting best practices.

To receive sample images of the posters we offer, contact Art Hamilton at arthurh@skilven.com

Or check out a small sampling of our posters at www.skilven.com/posters_program

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12 Jan 2012
safety first

Taking Out the Trash—Safely!

Garbage Hazards

Do you ever take the trash? When was the last time you thought about the hazards of the job?

 

Garbage, it’s not pretty but it’s one workplace feature that almost every industry has. And with it, a looming workplace hazard for everyone involved.

One of the main ways that safety comes in to question when dealing with garbage removal is simply due to negligence. Many times people underestimate the dangers that exist when emptying garbage and waste bins and open themselves up to easily avoidable injuries.

The next time it’s your turn to take out the trash think safety first and take the task at hand seriously.

If you work in an industry with materials that are dangerous or contaminant, make sure that your waste removal procedures follow compliance and that all necessary information is posted in a prominent place to remind staff to observe the necessary protocol.

Here are some great preventative measures to take to ensure no one is injured as a result of taking out the trash:

  • When handling garbage always wear gloves.
  • To prevent injuries due to heavy bags, place a false bottom (a cardboard box) at the bottom of the garbage can.
  • Tie and remove bags when they are half full. This will keep garbage bags at a manageable size and weight.
  • Never push down or compact garbage. This could result in impaling a hand on unseen objects.
  • Test the bag load before attempting to carry it. This will prevent back strain.
  • When lifting always use both hands. This will protect your wrists and stabilize the load.
  • Each bag should be no more than 44lbs. You should be able to comfortably carry one bag in each hand without strain.
  • Ask for help any time you feel a bag is too heavy or too large to carry or lift safely.
  • When removing trash, scan the contents and the surface of the bag for sharp or pointy objects.
  • Minimize the amount of lifting done above the shoulders. Use a step stool or ladder when throwing garbage into a dumpster.
For more tips and articles on injury prevention, check out the January issue of Safety Talks.
Skilven | Comments | Tags: , ,
10 Jan 2012
health • wellness

Simple Workplace Workouts

Are you sedentary all day long? Try our workplace exercises to burn those extra calories.

Over the past twenty years there have been many studies concluding that physical fitness has a positive effect on employee satisfaction, productivity and number of sick days taken. This has a favourable effect on a company’s bottom line. On top of aiding business goals, exercise also improves individual wellbeing and body image.

For employees, working out can help combat depression and help others better manage stress in the workplace.

With such benefits weighing in for physical fitness, why not take a few minutes out of your day and get a bit of exercise?

It may come to mind that the workplace isn’t necessarily the best place for physical fitness, but where there is a will there is a way. If you work in an industrial position without a fixed location, or if you work a desk all day long, fear not. There are simple things you can do get added physical exercise during the day.

Stick to these tips and you can be burning calories at work:

    • If you are sitting all day the easiest way to burn calories is to trade in your desk chair for a yoga ball. Yoga balls are unstable meaning your core muscles will be activated to sit straight. It will also improve your posture.
    • Pick up a pedometer. A good average is between 6,000 – 10,000 steps per day.
    • Keep a pair of dumbbells close at hand. If ever you feel stressed do a few sets of bicep curls. This will take your mind off the immediate stressor and refocus your attention. (It may sound silly, but give it a try and decide for yourself!)
    • Take the stairs. Just do it.
    • Do grip squeezes. Keep a stress ball or grip strengthener close by and use them every day. This is quick way to release stress and burn added calories.
    • Get a headset for your phone. This will allow you to move around while you talk.
    • Leave your lunch in your car so you have an excuse to walk around.

Pair your simple workouts with a healthy lunch. For great recipes grab a subscription to Skilven Publication’s Wellness Zone.

Skilven | Comments | Tags: , , , , , ,
05 Jan 2012
health • wellness

5 Social Media Networks to help with New Year’s Resolutions

 

Whether it’s getting off the couch or putting down that cigarette, we all have ways that we would like to improve our lives. Right now is the perfect time to set in motion a new lifestyle and new habits.

For many, the hardest part isn’t making the decision to change but rather the endurance to keep our resolutions and goals going when times get tough.

Luckily, the digital age allows us to come together online around our respective goals and support each other during the toughest moments of achieving a goal.

No longer limited to Facebook and Twitter, social media outlets have been developed specifically for goal setting. When it comes to choosing a social media network that is right for you, there is most certainly one out there that suits your goals.

Here are 5 social networks to give a try:

 

 

43 Things is a social network that is built on the idea that you can set personal goals and realize them once they are written out. This site is not limited to the traditional resolutions such as losing weight; the are no limitations on what your goal can be — some are as simple as “go to sleep early.” The social aspect of the site keeps you accountable and let’s people lend their support to your goals. They also have a great service available designed specifically for new year’s resolution. www.43things.com

 

 

This site is devoted to those with fitness and weight loss goals. Daily Burn has many great apps that sync with smartphones, a video collection of workout routines and recipes, personal motivators and a discussion forum. There are various portals including workouts, nutrition, challenges and motivation. Daily Burn has recently been upgraded to a paid subscription service (with limited access via free accounts), although the Daily Burn Tracker still remains free of charge. For those looking to plunge head-first into fitness goals, this is the site for you. tracker.dailyburn.com    dailyburn.com

 

 

 

QuitNet is a site devoted to those quitting smoking. With over 60,000 individuals log on each month to share stories and lend support, this site is the largest network of ex-smokers and those quitting smoking on the web. The site features live chat, quitting and medication guides, local support programs and anniversary emails. www.quitnet.com

 

 

Daily Strength has a focus on giving emotional support through difficult moments in life. There are many topics that aid people undergoing difficult circumstance, including quitting smoking. This site has a great collection of message boards and forums that are open to all members, as well as support groups and health blogs. www.dailystrength.org

 

 

A lot like 43 Things, Moteevate is a new social network allows you to set any goal and connect with others who share similar aspirations. Moteevate also has a plan builder and a “quick fix” motivation system build in, as well as milestones to mark progress and experts in various fields to pose questions to. www.moteevate.com
For more help maintaining your new year’s resolutions, check out the January issue of Wellness Zone from Skilven Publications.

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