Monday, May 31, 2010

REMEMBER THE BABY IN THE BACK OF THE CAR!

It seems astounding that this could be true; the National Safety Council reports that there are about 30 children per year that die of Hyperthermia when left inside vehicles, even when the temperatures are not especially hot. Many of these incidents are as a result of forgetfulness and not just neglect that happen when parents and caretakers inadvertently leave their children in the car. There is an increased sense of awareness around this issue. Jannette Fannell of KidsandCars.org is trying to make a difference by working with Auto Makers to make a reminding device to warn drivers that a child is left behind. However, her efforts to get child-left-behind legislation was unsuccessful. As a result, Kids and Cars is proposing other safety belt latching reminders. The proposed regulation would also mandate child-left-behind warning which could share electronics with the belt reminder. http://www.theprofessionalhousekeeper.com

Sunday, May 23, 2010

HOW TO GET ORGANIZED

Getting organized can be a constant chore if everything in the house is in a disarray. Start with the simple stuff and see how these efforts can make a huge difference:

*Put keys in a bowl at the entry way near door that you exit daily.
*Keep shoes you use often on a wooden or metal rack near door.
*Keep umbrellas stored standing up for air circulation so that they dry effectively
*Buy section boxes for your drawers so that you can keep specific things in them
*Keep your desktop free and clear so that you have room to write, open mail and review files comfortably
*Designate a recycling area that includes containers for newspapers, bottles, etc.
*Keep a list of emergency numbers, take-out menus, notepads, pens near the telephone
*Make sure your nightstand is large enough to hold a book, light, alarm clock, but also have a drawer to conceal items such as television remotes, medicines. A shelf underneath is useful for magazines and books to be read.
*Group your undergarments by type and color in row using a divider or box. Plastic compartments can also be snapped together to customize your drawer.
*Keep our cotton, q-tips, make-up and creams in decorative containers, trays or in a box.
*Keep your utensils on a lazy Susan with compartments for cooking oil, and basic condiments.
*Making meals is easier when organizing canned good by type and maintaining visibility. It makes shopping and replenishing easier.
*Put all spices in a tiered wire or wood spice platform that lets you store them with the labels out.
*Store pots and pans in nesting fashion: smaller one in larger to reduce amount of space.
*Keep tub toys in separate bin near bathtub
*Organize floss, toothpaste and mouthwash in one area of the medicine cabinet
*Use hampers, baskets and separate mesh garment bags for sorting dirty laundry according to what goes to the cleaners, colored and white, hand washing, etc.
*Keep laundry and cleaning supplies separated according to type

Start getting organized!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

OSHA - Injuries in the Housekeeping Industry

Housekeepers are prone to repetitive stress injuries from such continual work as changing sheets, washing bathroom floors and vacuuming according to several researchers who studied three years of government-related injuries at 5 union-represented hotels. It was surprising that the Hispanic housekeepers had a proportionally higher rate of injuries than the non-Hispanic cleaners, according to the study. But there was no explanation for this. The union - UNITE HERE which represents Hospitality employees funded this research. It has now captured the attention of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Injuries come from lifting patients in nursing homes; lifting mattresses leading to musculoskeletal disorders. In many of these cases, people are not supported with additional staff members to do such lifting or provided with the proper tools and equipment to do the work.

If you have any household employees, it is important that you carry homeowners insurance for injuries in your home and/or worker's compensation for any employees on payroll.

http://www.martaperrone.com