Gratitude at Work

copied from Verne's Insights (gazelles.net)

Toby Jenkins, CEO of Australia-based Bluewire Media, notes "we've been inspired (by Barrett Ersek's gratitude video BErsek video) to implement gratitude as a key part of our Daily, Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly rhythms.  Here's a blog post Toby wrote on their initiative - Gratitude At Work.  Our key is encouraging peers to show gratitude with each other for living the company's values and brand promises - a powerful way to keep your culture strong.  And here is another video from Barrett on the importance of Gratitude - something powerful to re-watch during this Thanksgiving season in the US.

National Safety Management Society News

This month's edition of the National Safety Management Society's newsletter is out and can be found at: October, 2012

Check it out.

Tim Wells speaks at AESC Tradeshow & Conference

09/24/12-Fort Worth, TX - Tim Wells, President/CEO of STS Solutions, Inc., presented at the 2012 Association of Energy Service Companies Tradeshow and Conference. Mr. Wells was joined by Wayne LeBlanc and presented on Community Relation Practices within the Oil and Gas industry. The speech discussed areas of opportunities within operational communities and provided guidelines for developing community relations.

Housekeeping is an Important Part of the Job

Your employer is not your mother!  What do I mean by that, you ask?  I mean, just like when you were young, your mother had to remind you to pick up after yourself.  Now that you are on your own, you still need to be told sometimes.  Housekeeping is a very important part of your job.  Not only does it improve the overall appearance of your shop or work area, it shows that you take pride in where you work.  The best way that you can help keep your work place clean is to pick up after yourself!  Don't leave it for the next shift or another craft to worry about.

Here are some reasons to keep your work area clean:

1. You reduce trip and fall hazards.
2. Increased production.  You won't have to waste time looking for a misplaced tool.  You will always know where your tools are when you put them where they belong after you use them.
3. If someone falls because of materials you left on the floor, you will feel guilty because you were a causal factor in the accident.  Also, the injured worker may want to remind you of that!
4. You reduce a potential fire hazard by removing unneeded combustibles from the work area.

Here are some tips to maintain a clean work area:

• Plan the job.  Make a list of the needed tools/materials.  This will help to minimize unnecessary clutter around your work area.
• Develop a routine for cleaning up at the end of the shift or periodically during the shift.
• Do not allow employees to eat, drink or smoke in the work area, not only because of litter problems, but also because of hygiene concerns.

This is not, by all means, all inclusive. The point I am trying to make is to take responsibility for yourself and your work area! Remember, a clean work area is a productive work area and also enhances safety!

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving continues to be a leading cause of vehicle accidents.  The National Safety Council has developed a section of their web presence to ending Distracted Driving.  Check out the following link for some great tools to assist your business with this major problem.

http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Pages/EmployerPolicies.aspx

Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies and Practices

In a March 12 memo to OSHA Regional Administrators and whistleblower investigative staff, OSHA's Deputy Assistant Secretary Richard Fairfax addressed workplace policies and practices that can discourage workers from reporting injuries and could constitute unlawful discrimination and a violation of section 11(c) of the OSH Act, or other whistleblower protection statutes.  Some of these policies and practices may also violate OSHA's record keeping regulations, particularly the requirement that ensures workers can report work-related injuries and illnesses.

Ensuring that workers can report injuries or illnesses without fear of retaliation is crucial to protecting worker safety and health.  If workers do not feel free to report injuries or illnesses, an entire workforce is put at risk: Employers do not learn of and correct dangerous conditions that have resulted in injuries, and injured workers may not receive the proper medical attention or the workers' compensation benefits to which they are entitled.  For more details read the memo (http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/whistleblowermemo.html)

Interesting read.  Safety should be a condition of employment.

Controlling Stress

Stress.  Many of us are faced with it everyday, but we might not know how to deal with it.  It is important to learn how to handle stress because it can affect our performance and relationships in our work and home.  At work, stress can lead to distraction and cause an unfortunate incident.  At home, stress can put a strain on family relationships.

Stress usually occurs when there are changes in our lives and we feel that we don’t have enough resources to deal with those changes and demands.  Which of the following do you think causes stress: getting married, winning the lottery, or having an argument?  It's all of them.  Stress can occur not only from negative life experiences, but also from positive ones.  People react and deal with stress differently, but common stress symptoms include upset stomach, fatigue, tight neck muscles, irritability and headaches.  Some people react to stress by eating or drinking too much, losing sleep or using tobacco or drugs.  Stress may also make you more susceptible to illnesses, including the common cold, ulcers, high blood pressure and some cancers.

The first step to managing stress is to identify your “stressors”; those things that are making you react.  Stressors may not only be events that cause you to feel sad, frightened, anxious or happy.  You can cause stress through your thoughts, feelings and expectations.  Look at the list below.  Which cause you stress?  Can you think of other stressors?

·       Not enough time

·       Unexpected change

·       Family problems

·       Extra responsibility

·       Personality clashes

·       Money difficulties

Everyone has to deal with life’s problems.  A key to dealing with the big and little everyday stressors is coping with stress in a positive way.

1.     Acceptance – Many of us worry about things we have no control over.  For example, a family illness, great deal of change at work, or finding out that your football team lost.  One way to manage stress is to accept when things are beyond your control.  It may be helpful to think positive thoughts such as, “Someday I will laugh about this,” or “It's a learning experience.”

2.     Attitude – Try to focus on the positive side of situations.  Ask yourself, “What good can come out of this?” “What can I learn from this situation?” and “How can I handle this better when it comes up again?”  Solutions come easier when you focus on the positive and your stress level will be reduced.

3.     Perspective – We often worry about things that never happen.  Keep things in perspective by asking yourself, “How important is this situation?” “Can I do anything about it?” “In five years, will I even remember it happened?"  

Think about the situations in your life that cause you stress. Are they important or unimportant? Are they controllable or uncontrollable? If they are controllable events, you can take action to change the situation; if they are uncontrollable, you can use your skills in acceptance, attitude and perspective to reduce the stress.