Quote of the Week John Wooden

Desk Job: Position for Safety and Comfort

Tips for selecting and adjusting ergonomic chairs, and sitting properly Today, in industrialized countries, many people spend the majority of their waking hours sitting; whether it's at home while watching television or on the computer, travelling to work in a car or bus, or working at a desk in front of a computer. Although sitting requires less physical effort than standing or walking, it puts stress on the lumbar area. The effects of a sedentary lifestyle combined with a job that requires sitting can lead to many health problems. Selecting the right chair and adjusting it properly is an important part in making your workstation safer. Also, learning and practicing how to sit properly can reduce stress and strain on your muscles, tendons, and skeletal system, and thereby reduce your risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder. Pick a seat If you work in a sitting position, selecting a suitable chair is a critical step in preventing health problems. Choose a chair with: controls that are easy to operate from a sitting position, a seat that adjusts for both height and tilt, a seat that does not put pressure the back of thighs or knees, a seat with a front edge that curves towards the floor, breathable, non-slippery fabric on the seat, a backrest shaped to support the lower back, a stable five-point base, wheels or casters suitable for the type of flooring, a swivel mechanism, armrests that can be adjusted to the elbow height when your upper arms are hanging down and your forearms are at about a 90 degree angle to the upper arms, and armrests that do not interfere with free movements within the workstation. Adjust your chair to suit Ergonomic chairs are designed to suit a range of people; however, a chair only becomes ergonomic when it specifically suits your body size, workstation, and the tasks that must be performed. Your chair should be fully adjustable. The optimal seat height is about one quarter of the body height - a general rule since the torso-to-leg ratio can vary widely. Stand in front of the chair. Adjust the height so the highest point of the seat, (when in the horizontal position), is just below the knee cap. Sit on the chair and keep your feet flat on the floor. Check that the clearance between the front edge of the seat and the lower part of the legs (your calves) fits a clenched fist (about 5 cm or 2 inches). Adjust the back rest forwards and backwards as well as up and down so that it fits the hollow in your lower back. Sit upright with your arms hanging loosely by your sides. Bend your elbows at about a right angle (90 degrees) and adjust the armrest(s) height until they barely touch the undersides of the elbows. Remove the armrests from the chair if this level can't be achieved or if armrests, in their lowest adjustment, elevate your elbows even slightly. Tilt the seat itself forwards or backwards if you prefer. A well-designed chair allows you to sit in a balanced position. Buying an ergonomic chair is a good beginning but it may not bring the benefits expected. The actual sitting position depends on your personal habits; you have to learn and practice how to sit properly. Take a good position A neutral body position is a comfortable working posture in which your joints are naturally aligned. Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system and reduces your risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) offers tips on how to maintain neutral body postures while working at the computer workstation: Hands, wrists, and forearms are straight, in-line and roughly parallel to the floor. Head is level or bent slightly forward, forward facing, and balanced - generally in-line with the torso. Shoulders are relaxed and upper arms hang naturally at the side of the body. Elbows stay in close to the body and are bent between 90 and 120 degrees. Feet are fully supported by the floor or a footrest may be used if the desk height is not adjustable. Back is fully supported with appropriate lumbar support when sitting vertical or leaning back slightly. Thighs and hips are supported by a well-padded seat and generally parallel to the floor. Knees are about the same height as the hips with the feet slightly forward. Working in the same posture or sitting still for prolonged periods is not healthy. Remember to change your working position frequently throughout the day by making small adjustments to your chair or backrest, stretching your fingers, hands, arms, and torso, and by standing up and walking around for a few minutes periodically. Also, remember that the chair is only one of the components to be considered in workstation design. All the elements such as the chair, footrest (if needed), work surface, document holders, task lighting and so on need to have flexibility and adjustability to be "designed in". Source:Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

Quote of the Week Unknown

Reflection & Action

I recently read a short essay by Patricia Katz, a management and human resources consultant.  I thought the message was very thoughtful and could be very valuable for the job seeker.  Please see below...... 

The motto of the University of Calgary (where I studied for my Masters degree in Continuing Education) reads  "MO SHUILE TOGAM SUAS”. It's a Gaelic phrase taken from one of the psalms. Translated, it means: "I will lift up my eyes." What an inspired call to action!

Participants in the seminars that I lead tell me their overloaded days are often spent heads down – not eyes up. With noses to the grindstone, preoccupied with tasks and details, they wade their way through each day's responsibilities, fretting about the details.

If that's true for you, try shifting that practice just a smidge. As you move through your day, take a moment here and there to lift up your eyes. Step out of the car – lift up your eyes. Step out of a meeting – life up your eyes. Tune in to the bigger picture and the reason you are about to pursue the tasks at hand. There is always a broader, higher, deeper purpose.

A realtor is not just brokering cash and property, he is helping someone make a home. A nurse is not just checking blood pressure, she is helping someone live a long and healthy life. I'm not just writing tips and sharing tools, I'm helping people find perspective and peace of mind.

Again and again, research in time management effectiveness shows that those individuals and organizations with a clear concept of their purpose have an easier time focusing on priorities. The biggest returns lie in wrestling down or teasing out the answers to those big, important, underlying questions of values and direction.

What larger purpose do you see when you pause to lift up your eyes?

Meet & Greet Boardwalk

Meet & Greet 

with

Boardwalk Rental Communities

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

10:30 - 11:30 am

YWCA Saskatoon

510 25th Street East

Mamawopiwin Room

2nd Floor Community Service Village

Meet with Boardwalk representatives to learn about opportunities for:

Maintenance Associates,

Non-Residential Customer Service Representatives,

Cleaning Associates and 

Landscaping Associates.

Bring your resume!

Quote of the Week Pierre Trudeau

Minimum Wage Saskatchewan

Minimum Wage and Minimum Call-out Pay in Saskatchewan

Minimum Wage

The minimum wage in Saskatchewan is $10.00 per hour and minimum call-out pay is $30.00.

Most employees covered by The Labour Standards Act must be paid at least the minimum wage for each hour worked for the employer, or spent at the disposal of the employer.

Minimum Call-out Pay

Most employees get a minimum payment ("minimum call-out" pay) every time their employer requires them to report for work (other than for overtime). Minimum call-out pay is three times the value of the current minimum wage.

Employees get minimum call-out pay even if there is no work for them. If an employee does work, he or she must receive either minimum call-out pay, or the employee’s regular wages for the time worked, whichever is greater.

Minimum call-out pay rules do not apply to:

1. students in Grade 12 or lower during the school term;
2. janitors, caretakers, and building cleaners;
3. school bus drivers; and
4. noon hour supervisors employed by a school board.

If these employees work, they are only paid for the time worked.

For more information on Labour Relations and Workplace Safety in Saskatchewan see this link to the government website: 

http://www.lrws.gov.sk.ca/

Remembrance Day

November 11 - Remembrance Day

we honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice 

for our freedom

We are closed from:

 Friday November 8, 2013 at 4 pm to Tuesday November 12, 2013 at 8 am.

Quote of the Week Thoreau

Today is 'Take Our Kids to Work' Day

Worker's Rights - Safety

Asset Building Workshop November 14, 2013

Assets Building Workshop 
for YWCA Clients and Community Members

Thursday, November 14, 2013
  9:30am - 11:30am
Room 302 - 3rd Floor Classroom
(child tending available)  

Assets-

What are your assets?  

How can we each recognize and value our assets? 

How can these help us be more financially stable and move us from poverty to prosperity?  

With a stronger asset base, people enjoy more sustainable and stable livelihoods. 

Join us to understand how to use assets as a tool for self-evaluation and improvement.

To register call reception @ 306-244-7043 ext. 131 

or speak to your Resource Coach/Employment Counsellor.

Presented in partnership with READ Saskatoon.

READ Saskatoon is a volunteer literacy organization that provides services to adults, families, workplaces and community. Last year we worked with over 2,000 members of our community: 870 adult learners received free literacy support from a program or trained literacy volunteer, 400 children and 300 parents participated in a Family Literacy program, and we supported the workplace literacy needs of over 12 businesses. For every $1 invested in our agency, we turn it into $8 volunteer labour.

Meet & Greet Friday November 8 (Crestline Coach & Kelly Services

Quote of the Week Ayn Rand