Poster of the month, September 2014: The power of ideas in the workplace

EVERY IDEA is a foundation just waiting to be built on

This is the first of a new series of monthly blog articles we will be posting.

Every month our design studio personnel will choose their favourite poster of the month and we will share it with you here.

September's poster of the month (shown above) is about developing ideas.

Good ideas lead to great improvements

When planning a project or improvement initiative, talk to your staff.

Your staff are the people who:

• deal with your customers first-hand
• experience problems and difficulties in your workplace
• are aware of the dangers and hazards in your workplace
• get frustrated when things are too awkward or complicated
• understand how your current methods waste energy, materials and time

Their input and ideas could help you develop:

• improvements to customer service and the customer experience
• solutions to persistent problems
• a safer environment and safer working practice
• more streamlined systems that are easier to operate
• initiatives to save energy and reduce waste

For more poster examples, please visit www.kodiak.co.uk

Workplace security: Reminding your employees of the risks

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The security of your workplace is vital to the safety of your employees, the security of your goods and the continued confidentiality of sensitive and classified information.

Here are six general security risks your employees should be aware of.

1. Unsecured access points
Doors or windows left open and unsupervised could be an invitation to opportunistic thieves – particularly if there are desirable goods on view inside.

Your employees can help to avoid tempting thieves by closing windows and doors they have opened and not leaving access points vulnerable.

2. Valuables on display
Opportunistic thieves will be looking for things that are easy to steal and inconspicuous to carry. Employees' personal valuables, such as wallets, handbags and mobile phones, which are often left on and under desks, are particularly at risk. Laptops, netbooks and other portable technologies are also vulnerable, as are goods left unsupervised near open doors.

Employees can help themselves by securing their valuables or hiding them from view – not just inside the workplace building, but also in their cars parked outside. They can also help you by dealing with deliveries as soon as they arrive and not leaving consignments unattended.

3. Strangers on site
Employees should always be alert for people they don't recognise wandering about on site.

Intruders who enter your premises with malicious intent are unlikely to dress conspicuously. They may be dressed to blend in, wearing clothes that mirror your employees' workwear, as tradespersons under the pretence of carrying out work, or officially, in smart suits, to deter any questions.

As an employer, you can help your staff by keeping them informed. You can make sure new or temporary staff are formally introduced to the workforce. You can also let the relevant employees know when tradespeople or official visitors will be on site.

Employees should be encouraged to be alert for suspicious and unidentified persons who may pose a threat to security. They can either challenge them directly or report them to a manager, depending on the situation.

Employees should treat all visitors with courtesy, respect and caution. They should not be worried about challenging an innocent person. Genuine visitors are often reassured to see that your company takes security seriously.

4. Incorrect handling of confidential data
Sensitive information can pose a threat to security if it ends up in the wrong hands. This information includes data such as customer/employee/personal information, account details, usernames and passwords.

Confidential information could be printed and filed or digitally encrypted on computer hard drives and data discs. It should be stored correctly and accessed only by those with relevant authorisation.

While not all of your data will be strictly confidential, there may still be information on site that you would not want to disclose to people outside the workplace. There should be rules in place to ensure that this data is suitably protected, especially if it is ever to be disposed of.

Make sure your employees know what constitutes confidential waste and how to dispose of it correctly.

5. A relaxed attitude to security
Employees with security responsibilities such as keys, door and alarm codes should take these duties seriously. For example, keys and alarm codes or company addresses should never be carried together and missing keys should be reported straight away.

Care should also be taken with company information. For example, employees should be wary of discussing company business with anyone outside the workplace – you never know who might be listening.

6. Suspicious packages
Any suspicious packages or unattended bags should be treated as a security threat, particularly in public spaces, airports, bus stations and distribution centres.

Employees should be vigilant and report anything they find immediately so that the appropriate action can be taken.

Workplace security is just one of the issues that we regularly cover in our workplace poster programme.

Our extensive database includes posters on all kinds of security issues including lone workers, computer security, key care, cash handling and access control.

If you would like to find out more about how our posters can help improve security in your workplace, please get in touch with us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Saving energy: Five ways to cut carbon, consumption and costs

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In the current economic climate it is more important than ever for businesses to reduce their overheads. Saving energy is a good place to start.

Here are five simple tips to help you cut carbon, consumption and costs.

1. Switch off at nights and weekends
It might sound obvious, but companies still waste thousands of pounds by leaving equipment switched on overnight.

The Carbon Trust has reported that office equipment is the fastest growing area of business energy consumption – it accounts for around 20% of total energy use.

Computers and their monitors are some of the worst offenders. Turning off your company's PCs at evenings and weekends could cut your running costs by more than two thirds.

Switching off vending machines, printers and water coolers during these times can also reduce their energy use by as much as 70%.

Endeavour to switch off all equipment at night and turn off any machines without on/off switches at the plug.

2. Don't leave equipment idling
You can make even more savings during the day by making sure equipment is not left running for nothing.

An idling hosepipe, for example, can waste up to 18 litres of water every minute. If it isn't in use, the tap should be turned off.

A computer screen can use as much energy when displaying a screensaver as it does during normal use. If you switch it to sleep mode instead, you could cut its energy consumption by up to 70%.

Chargers and adaptors should be turned off unplugged as soon as equipment has charged and whenever they are not in use.

3. Report defective equipment
Equipment and vehicles can waste both energy and resources if it not running properly or efficiently. A faulty piece of equipment may also present a risk to safety.

Defects may worsen during prolonged use and this may make the equipment more difficult and costly to repair.

Employees should be alert for any strange noises, changes in handling or process problems.

First-use checks should be carried out before using any vehicle or piece of equipment and any problems tshould be reported.

If a fault develops during operation, it should be reported immediately and further use should be suspended until the problem is addressed by a qualified service person.

Any defective equipment should stay out of service until the problem is rectified or until it is authorised for use.

4. Report leaks
Most leaks are a sign of energy wastage. They may come from a range of sources including dripping taps, perished hoses, cracked tanks, broken pipes and defective machinery.

Leaks may include steam/vapours, oil, fuel or water. Extra care should be taken if any leaked material also poses a fire hazard or slip risk.

Employees should be alert for visible steam, dripping liquids, puddles on the ground, sounds of air or liquid escaping and any drop in pressure from equipment they are using. Again, the advice is to report the problem as soon as possible.

5. Ask for suggestions
Employees working directly with your equipment, vehicles and machinery are generally more aware of the waste that is being created and often have clever suggestions that could help reduce it.

Asking your employees for help and ideas is proven to make them feel more valued and can improve their performance at work, so it could be a win-win situation.

Kodiak's motivational poster programme regularly deals with energy saving and waste reduction.

If you would like to find out more about how our posters can help your company save energy, please contact us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Housekeeping: Four good reasons to keep your workplace tidy

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I think it's fair to say that in every workplace there is at least one person who works in a constant state of apparent disorder. Whether it be a chaotic desk, a messy workstation or a general habit of leaving things lying about, they just can't seem to maintain any sense of organisation.

They may say it's how they work best and that they know where everything is. To some extent that may even be true. But what if they were suddenly off sick, leaving someone else to step into their shoes? What if an important visitor or potential customer was to drop in? What would happen then?

Here are four good reasons to keep your workspace clean and tidy.

1. Health and safety
Around 50% of all slip and trip incidents in the workplace are caused by poor housekeeping. This includes things such as packaging waste and toolboxes left on the floor, unattended spills and trailing cables.

Falling loads are one of the biggest workplace killers. Reasons items may fall include poor stacking and general untidiness.

Untidy floors can block access to safety equipment and emergency exits, which could prove fatal if an incident occurred.

2. Hygiene
It has been reported that some workstations accommodate more bacteria than a toilet seat – 400 times more according to a study by the University of Arizona.

The study found that telephones can accommodate up to 25,127 microbes per square inch, keyboards 3,295 and computer mice 1,676.

This is not to mention communal kitchen facilities, especially in small companies, where mucky microwaves. sinks full of dirty dishes and fridges containing festering food all provide breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.

3. Efficiency and productivity
According to time management experts, the average person spends a whole year of their life looking for items they have lost. In the workplace this time is not spent efficiently or productively, so it counts as waste.

One of the main benefits of keeping our workspace tidy is that everyone knows where everything belongs – where to find it and where to return it to.

4. Respect for others
An untidy work area might be normal for you, but consider how it looks to an outsider – a visitor who may also be a potential customer. To that person it may suggest that you are sloppy, disorganised and apathetic. Hardly the qualities of a company they would be happy to do business with.

Also consider your colleagues – it's not too pleasant working around other people's mess. It doesn't take much effort to stay organised by tidying your space each evening and returning communal items and tools to their proper place.

Kodiak's motivational poster programme regularly addresses housekeeping and its associated issues, as described above.

Our posters cover everything from keeping fire exits clear to cleaning up after yourself and keeping things organised.

If you would like to find out more about how our posters can help to improve housekeeping in your workplace, why not contact us for an informal chat.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Slips, trips and falls: What your employees should know

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According to the HSE, more than 10,000 workers suffered serious injuries as a result of slips and trips last year.

In fact, slips and trips are the most common workplace hazard, accounting for a third of all major injuries. A staggering 95 percent of major slips result in broken bones.

So why are slip and trip accidents so common?

For many adults, falling over is something that happens to children in the playground, or elderly people when they are unsteady on their feet. If one of these adults was to fall over they would expect to be mildly embarrassed and perhaps make a joke of it after work. They would probably not expect to be seriously injured.

Maybe it's not surprising then, that failing to take the risks seriously and a lack of understanding of the causes are cited as two of the main obstacles to putting problems right.

So what are the main causes?

Poor housekeeping is responsible for up to 50% of all trip accidents in the workplace. This includes things like unattended spills, trailing cables and obstacles left on the floor. All employees can take a personal responsibility to keep things tidy and make sure walkways are kept clear.

Unsuitable footwear can increase the risk of slipping over or losing your footing. Culprits include sandals, high heels and shoes with smooth soles. Employees should all know what type of footwear is suitable for them to wear, especially if it happens to be safety footwear.

Environmental factors such as adverse weather, humidity/condensation, longer hours of darkness and blinding glare from the sun can create or hide hazards. Simple solutions include turning lights on before entering darkened areas and wiping feet when entering buildings from outside.

Other contamination may include spilt liquids, oil, debris and manufacturing by-products such as dust. Employees can take a personal responsibility for cleaning up their own spills/mess and any other contamination they find – whether they caused it or not.

Cleaning can present slip risks in the form of mopped floors and trip risks caused by cables for vacuum cleaners and floor polishers. If cleaning is urgent or cannot be done out of hours, try to isolate the area being cleaned until it is safe to walk through.

Flooring can be problematic, especially if it becomes damaged. Employees can help by reporting things like potholes, broken slabs/tiles and loose carpeting/rugs as soon as they arise.

Human factors are an issue in most safety scenarios. Employees can be encouraged to take more responsibility for their own safety. For example, they can help themselves and others by attending to any slip or trip hazards they find immediately. They can make sure they only carry small loads they can see over and they can avoid distractions by not using a mobile phone whilst walking around the workplace.

Improving safety awareness in your workplace can help to prevent slips, trips and falls. With a greater understanding of the dangers, employees are more likely to report hazards, clean up spills, wear suitable footwear and keep their workplace tidy.

Kodiak's poster database contains a wide variety of posters on all aspects of slips, trips and falls.

These issues are also covered regularly in our workplace poster programme.

If you would like to increase awareness of the dangers of slips, trips and falls in your workplace, please get in touch.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Waste management: Four golden rules to avoid waste and save money

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 Recently there have been reports of a growing complacency in businesses with regard to waste – particularly with regard to wasting paper and other consumables.

In a survey, conducted by research firm Loudhouse on behalf of Kyocera, it emerged that the average office worker uses around 10,000 sheets of paper every year – an estimated 6,800 of which are wasted. And paper is just the tip of the iceberg.

With frequent warnings about climate change and other environmental issues, all businesses have a responsibility to be more eco-aware and protect the environment. This means cutting back on wasteful habits and keeping resources out of landfills, where they may take years to decompose properly.

So how can we cut waste, save money and be kinder to the environment? These four golden rules may be well-known in principle, but how do they fare in practice?

1. Reduce
Start by looking at ways to reduce the amount of waste you create. For example, turning off the photocopier at night could save enough energy to produce more than 1500 copies. Double-sided printing can instantly save you up to 50% on your paper costs and using an ink-saving typeface, such as Ecofont, could save you up to 25% on toner and printer ink. Better still, introduce policies to eliminate unnecessary printing, such as emails, altogether. These are simple savings, but they all add up over time.

2. Repair
How many times have you thrown something away because it was broken? A chair with a loose fixing? A computer monitor with a faulty button? An electrical item that just stopped working? A simple repair can often get more mileage out of your existing equipment for a fraction of the money, and carbon emissions, needed to replace it.

3. Reuse
Did you know that if everyone in your company switched to a proper drinking mug you could save around 700 paper cups per person, per year? You could even encourage your employees to bring in their own mugs.

How often do you buy things like paperclips, elastic bands, boxes and jiffy bags? Many of these things can be reused, but often end up in the bin without a second thought, while money is wasted on new ones. What about writing pads? A bulldog clip and a stack of waste paper does the same job for less money.

If you have waste that you can't reuse, why not look into passing it on to someone who can? Artists are always looking for new materials to work with and other companies might be able to use those small offcuts that you can't.

Investing in reusable items, such as rechargable batteries and dry-wipe boards might seem more expensive at first, but will save you money in the long-term compared with disposable alternatives.

4. Recycle
If there is no way to reuse or repair an item, recycling is the next best option. Your employees should be aware of exactly which items can be recycled, either in their entirety or as stripped down parts. They should also understand the importance of keeping recyclable items clean and not contaminating them by disposing of other materials in the same bin.

If you would like to improve eco-awareness in your business, maybe we can help. We have a wide variety oforiginal poster designs covering all aspects of waste reduction.

To see more samples and find out how our posters can work for you, why not contact us.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.

Wrapping up: Efficiency, economy and security over Christmas

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It's that time of year again when, hopefully, everyone is in good spirits and winding down for the holidays.

With all the festivities and merriment it's easy to forget those last-minute details that can be so important.

For example, leaving work unfinished. A loose end here and there may not seem like a big deal before Christmas, when it's all fresh in your mind. But what about after Christmas, when you return to work and realise you have forgotten what it was all about? Or, worse still, a colleague is unexpectedly off sick and you have to take over their abandoned task without any instructions?

The advice is simple: finish everything you can. If you can't finish a job, for any reason, leave a clear reminder for yourself, which would also serve as instructions for a colleague in the event of your absence.

Turning off equipment is another important detail that can often be forgotten. Especially when you consider that a business can waste up to £500 over Christmas just by leaving equipment on stand-by.

Finally, it's vital to ensure the security of the premises. An open window or door could be an open invitation to an opportunistic thief.

If everyone takes some responsibility for turning off equipment (at the mains wherever possible) and securing access points in their area the whole process becomes much simpler.

As the Kodiak poster programme is supplied on a monthly basis, it is geared to providing seasonal information and reminders like this, as you need them, throughout the year.

Anything specific to your site, that cannot be covered in the main programme, can be addressed via our excellent custom poster service.

If you would like more information on how Kodiak's poster programme can make your workplace a better place in 2011, why not give us a call. We'd love to hear from you.

For daily tips on dealing with common workplace issues, why not follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to find out how Kodiak posters 
can help your business work smoother, smarter 
and safer, please call us on: 01530 456 000 
or email us.