Poster of the Month, June 2016: Preventing foot and ankle injuries

DON'T DO THE TWIST!


To prevent foot and ankle injuries,
wear sensible shoes and watch your
step – especially on uneven floors

If you find flaws in our floors, please report them


June's Poster of the Month is about preventing foot and ankle injuries in the workplace.

Coincidentally, a couple of months after I researched and wrote the words for this poster, this story came out in the news. It concerned a receptionist who was sent home from her job for refusing to wear high heels.

Her refusal was not without good reason. She claimed that her work involved nine hours on her feet, escorting clients to meeting rooms, and that she would be unable to do this wearing heels.

After posting the details of her experience on Facebook, the receptionist realised that other women had been put in the same position. The women in question were not all in desk jobs. Many were required to stand for long periods; some had to walk long distances, including up and down stairs; some had to carry heavy items; and some even had to run across shiny, slippery floors carrying emergency equipment.

It was after hearing some of these stories that the receptionist decided to start a petition to change the law, so companies can no longer legally insist on high heels as part of their dress code.

What's wrong with sensible, comfortable footwear?

High heels are well known for causing severe discomfort, ankle injuries and posture problems. They can also make you unsteady on your feet, more susceptible to slips and trips and more likely to fall over.

For jobs that involve long periods of standing, walking and carrying, we always recommend flat, comfortable shoes with good treads. Where there are additional threats from falling items or vehicle movements, proper safety shoes with steel toe caps are vital.
 
Having worked in health and safety for more than ten years, I'm appalled that women are allowed to wear heels in some jobs, let alone forced to.

Kodiak has many more workplace posters on the subjects of PPE; safety shoes; and slips, trips and falls.

To find out more, please give us a call on 01530 456 000.

Poster of the Month, March 2016: Are you really hungry, or just thirsty?

HUNGRY OR THIRSTY?

If you're not sure, try this:
If you feel hungry, drink a large
glass of water then wait 10 minutes

If you feel better, you were just thirsty

If you still feel hungry, have something to eat

Confusing a thirst with hunger can
lead to overeating and weight gain


March's Poster of the Month proposes a simple way to combat overeating and weight gain.

You don't always feel thirsty when you need a drink.

Sometimes your body will tell you you're hungry, when what it really needs is some liquid.

The knee-jerk response to these feelings is to eat something, but this is depriving the body of the fluids it needs. Plus, continually responding in this way over time can lead to weight gain.

Respond to feelings of hunger in a more conscious and mindful way.

The poster recommends drinking a large glass of water when the hunger pangs start, then waiting for ten minutes to see if the pangs subside.

It's a simple test that will help you determine what your body really needs.

Kodiak's innovative posters cover all kinds of health issues, including healthy diet and weight management.

To find out more, please give us a call on 01530 456 000.

Poster of the Month, February 2016: Managing anxiety

WHEN
PANIC
ATTACKS

Nine ways to calm your anxiety

February's Poster of the Month looks at ways to calm anxiety.

Anxiety is described by the NHS as 'a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe.'

Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point  — for example when taking an exam or in a job interview — but for some, this anxiety is hard to control, can flair up over small things and affects their daily life.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, in 2013 there were 8.2 million reported cases of anxiety in the UK.

Anxiety can be difficult to control at work.

In a pressured environment — where a person is subject to deadlines, demands and the expectations of others — the sense of anxiety can be heightened.

The poster shows nine different ways to calm anxiety, as recommended by people who actually suffer from the condition. In a survey of anxiety sufferers, these activities were listed as instrumental in restoring calm.

Kodiak's workplace posters cover all kinds of health issues, including mental health and wellbeing.

To find out more, please give us a call on 01530 456 000.

Dealing with poor personal hygiene in the workplace

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Personal hygiene at work is important.

When you work in close proximity to others, things like bad breath and body odour, can become a real issue. 

Raising these issues can cause embarrassment.

No one wants to be told that they smell — or to think this has been the subject of discussions and complaints among their work colleagues.

The conversation can be equally awkward and uncomfortable for the person doing the telling, no matter how tactful their approach.

Bad smells are only part of the problem.

Other culprits with poor hygiene habits can be more difficult to identify and may be causing more serious problems. For example: 

• Unwashed hands can spread germs, illness and infection; 
• Kitchen mess, like unwashed cups and dishes, can be a health hazard; and
• Poor toilet etiquette is unsanitary and leads to the spread of germs and bacteria.

Is there an alternative solution?

Kodiak has posters covering various hygiene issues, including:

• Hand-washing and hand hygiene;
• Transferable germs e.g. colds, flu, food poisoning;
• Dental health;
• Personal hygiene; and
• Kitchen area cleanliness.

Kodiak's posters can help you:

• promote good hygiene and increase awareness;
• educate employees on health and personal care;
• highlight the potential risks and consequences of poor hygiene; and
• address these sensitive issues without confrontation or finger-pointing.

If you need posters to address hygiene issues in your workplace, we have a wide range available via our sales team.

For more information, please call us on 01530 456 000 or visit our website: www.kodiak.co.uk

Poster of the Month, June 2015: Problem lighting in the workplace

FLASHING LIGHTS?

Flickering lights do not provide enough light to work safely

The continual flashing can also trigger headaches and migraines

Bring problems to light and report problem lighting to your supervisor

June's Poster of the Month deals with the issue of problem lighting.

Lighting is an important feature of any workplace as it helps employees to see clearly, work safely and exit the building promptly in an emergency.

Problem lighting may include:

• Dead, dirty or dim bulbs that do not provide proper illumination
• Flashing or flickering lights that could cause headaches and migraines
• Coloured lighting that impairs your ability to distinguish colours
• Lights that cause excessive shadows, reflections or glare
• Broken bulbs or covers that could contaminate your products or environment

Employees should report problem lighting for repair or review.

Kodiak posters regularly cover workplace lighting and the safety issues associated with it. 

If you need posters on this subject, we have a wide range available via our sales team.

For more information, please call us on 01530 456 000 or visit our website: www.kodiak.co.uk

Poster of the Month, April 2015: Workplace fatigue can be a killer

ZZZOMBIE?

Workplace fatigue can be a killer

Are you getting enough sleep?

April's Poster of the Month takes another look at workplace fatigue. It's a subject we cover often in the Kodiak poster programme and have covered previously on this blog, here.

Tiredness can have a devastating impact on your ability to do your job — especially if you have to drive, handle machinery or work at height. 

Kodiak posters regularly address the risks and dangers of workplace fatigue and give advice to employees on how to get a good night's sleep. 

If you need posters on these subjects, we have a wide range available via our sales team.

For more information, please call us on 01530 456 000 or visit our website: www.kodiak.co.uk

Poster of the Month, February 2015: Changes in the law on drug driving

DRUG DRIVING — the law is changing

From March 2015, it will be a criminal offence to drive with more than trace amounts of drugs in your system

Offenders will face a £5,000 fine, up to six months in prison and an automatic 12-month driving ban

Drugs and driving are a dangerous combination

February's Poster of the Month concerns changes to the law on drugs and driving. These changes will take effect from March 2015.

Taking illegal drugs increases the risk of a serious or fatal crash.

It is estimated that drug driving could be responsible for up to 200 deaths every year. The effects of illegal drugs are unpredictable as they are unregulated and affect individual people differently.

According to Brake, the risk of a serious or fatal crash increases:

• up to 4 times if the driver has taken cannabis;
• 2–10 times if the driver has taken cocaine / illegal opiates;
• 5–30 times if the driver has taken multiple drugs; and
• more than 23 times if the driver has combined illegal drugs with alcohol

All of these statistics apply when compared to a driver who is drug-free and sober.

Medical drugs can also be risky.

Medical drugs can impair driving ability by causing drowsiness or affecting the driver's vision, coordination or concentration.

Specific examples include:

• cough and cold medicines
• decongestants 
• sleeping tablets
• anti-histamines 
• anti-inflammatories
• anti-depressants
• anti-biotics
• epilepsy medication
• hayfever and allergy relief

Medication that affects a person's ability to drive or operate machinery is required to carry a warning. However, many drivers are unaware that such medications carry a risk. Research shows that one in six UK drivers ignores such warnings or fails to check the label at all.

Kodiak posters regularly cover drug driving — including both illegal and medical drugs. 

If you need posters on these subjects, we have a wide range available via our sales team.

For more information, please call us on 01530 456 000 or visit our website: www.kodiak.co.uk