Workplace Blog

Recycling Campaign

Posted on December 03, 2012

A new campaign has been launched in Nottinghamshire to encourage locals to recycle more efficiently. Veolia Environmental Services, the county's waste collector, and Nottinghamshire County Council have been working together on a campaign called 'Are you Bin Smart?' to remind residents which items can and can't be recycled. This will not only help to reduce bin contamination but will also ensure that materials can be sorted efficiently at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) based in Forest Town, Mansfield. The campaign was first piloted in Mansfield and, following it's success, will be rolled out across Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe. 18,000 households across Nottinghamshire will receive an information pack from Veolia which will explain what household items can be recycled. The packs include a leaflet and a bin sticker and the public are being directed to the Are...

The Essential Guide to Scaffolding, Sheeting and Netting

Posted on December 03, 2012

Those who work in the construction industry may be very aware of scaffolding, sheeting and netting, including their benefits and purposes. If you are beginning a construction project and are unsure on the right type of scaffolding or scaffold protection then this essential guide will make your choices more informed and easier. Scaffolding – What is it and when do you need it? Scaffolding is actually defined as a temporary structure in itself. Put up by professionals you will find that scaffolding can come in various different materials such as metal and even wood. For example, in Asia they are very fond of using bamboo scaffolding on their buildings whereas in the UK metal pipes or tubes are used instead. Tubes, couplers and boards will make up the key components of scaffolding. ...

Reasons an Environmentalist Might Hate Christmas

Posted on November 28, 2012

It's that time of year again, Christmas! The annual event that brings everyone together, family, friends, work colleagues, includes events such as stuffing ourselves silly with Christmas treats, chocolate, party snacks and singing and dancing to cheesy classics such as Mistletoe and Wine by Sir Cliff Richard and John Lennon's Happy Christmas (War is Over). But does anyone think about the environmental implications Christmas has on the world? Facts about Christmas and the environment According to The Mirror online in 2009, 200,000 trees are felled to make the 1.7 billion Christmas cards sent in the UK and 750,000 letters are sent to Santa by children in the UK each year. In all honesty, how many people put their cards in recycling bins once January 6th comes around? In the 21st century, and all the technology we have today, why don't children and citizens of...

Case Study – Becoming a 'Greener' Company

Posted on November 06, 2012

In 2012 the Workplace Depot decided to become a more environmentally aware organisation and set a good example for staff and customers. Having implemented a number of ideas we applied for and won a Green Apple Award in recognition or our environmental efforts. A number of companies have asked us what things we did to win our green business credentials, so here is an outline of most of what we did. Reduction in paper use The Workplace Depot produces a 500+ page workplace supplies catalogue which we distribute to all our customers and network of distributors. The number of catalogues we send out runs into many thousands but our next edition will use a smaller paper size and require less paper. As part of this strategy to reduce ...

Four Essentials to Ensure the Perfect Business Meeting

Posted on November 05, 2012

Business in General If attending or conducting a business meeting there are many things to consider. What is the aim of the meeting? Who will be there? What input is expected from participants? Everyone has attended a meeting where you leave and feel nothing has been achieved or thoroughly discussed. So what key points should be considered to make the perfect business meeting? Communication For a successful meeting, communication is important from all participants. Not just verbal communication but areas of communication such as active listening. For a conversation to achieve a positive output, active listening is essential. Whether chairing the meeting or there as a participant, try not to let the conversation run off with a select few. If this happens, a true perspective of what attendees are trying to achieve will not come across, therefore leaving the meeting in tatters. As an individual, be firm in what you are saying, straight to the point statements which...

How to Prevent Ladder Accidents in the Workplace

Posted on October 24, 2012

Despite recent campaigns from the Health and Safety Executive to raise awareness of the risks of working at height, there are still hundreds of cases of falls from ladders in the workplace all over Britain. Just this month, it was reported that an employee fell from a ladder, injuring his collarbone, breaking several ribs and cutting his head, just months after a similar fall. These kinds of accidents should not happen in the first place – and when they do, it is vital that the appropriate safety measures are put in place. Before beginning any task involving working at height, it is vital to assess the task in hand to determine the exact equipment that needs be used. Many of risks associated with working at height are due to poor management control rather than the actual equipment – and is often the result of failure to recognise problems or provide a s...

The Importance of Storage Solutions - Guest Post

Posted on October 22, 2012

Space is at a premium these days so getting the right storage solutions is imperative. With a growing population and a national shortage of property and office space, if you want space you are going to have to pay for it. Depending on your current life or business situation, you might not necessarily be able to afford acres and acres of room to live or work in. All of this means that we have had to learn to be very economical with the space we do have. Make do with what you've got For first time buyers or those just setting up their own business, it is not always possible to afford buildings with lots of room. The chances are that you will be in a small flat or house for the first few years. Small office premises are also common for new companies until they have been able to establish themselves in the market place and grow the company. So, what can be done in the interim period to make the most of space? This is...

Equipping a First Aid Room

Posted on October 11, 2012

Employers should consider having a first aid room if their workplace has significant hazards or where access to medical facilities is difficult. If you set-up a First Aid Room you will need to think about the following factors regarding the room: Requirements for privacy Entrance needs to be able to accommodate a stretcher or wheelchair Ideally has a wash basin and nearby toilet facilities If possible a ground floor location Adequate ventilation/heating/lighting Someone needs to take responsibility for the room and its contents (out of date/stock items, cleaning etc) The First Aid Room The Medical or treatment room needs to be equipped in a way that is appropriate to your workplace – there's quite a difference between a large factory using hazardous materials/machinery and a medium-sized office. First Aid Rooms will require some or all of the following: ...

Wheel Clamping on Private Land Now Illegal

Posted on October 09, 2012

Under the Protection of Freedoms Act, it is now illegal to clamp, tow or immobilise cars parked on private land without lawful authority - anyone found breaking the law can potentially face an unlimited fine. This effectively means that clamping and towing will be restricted to the police, local authorities, the DVLA and other authorities acting in accordance with by-laws like airports and railways stations. Other changes that have also come in from 1 October include giving police more powers to remove cars parked on private land, while unpaid tickets can now be claimed from the registered owner of the vehicle, as well as the driver. There will also be an Independent Appeals Service funded by the British Parking Association (BPA) that will allow drivers to be able to appeal tickets issued on private land by a company that is a member of the BPA's Approved Operator Scheme. This has been criticised as a little bit like getting the Highwaymen clampers to simply register themselves...

Getting to Grips With Manual Handling

Posted on October 03, 2012

Over a third of injuries that keep people off work for more than three days at a time are caused by manual handling – falls and trips account for much of the rest. As a consequence there are many regulations governing activities such as pulling, pushing, carrying, lifting and loading. The following provides some suggestions on how to improve manual handling techniques and reduce accidents. The first thing to consider is whether the object needs handling at all – can the process be mechanised or made easier with handling aids such as sack trucks, pallet trucks, conveyors or other lifting devices. Has there been sufficient training for the person doing the moving, whether this involves the type of load, mechanical aids or other risk factors? Before doing any lift or handling of an awkward item it is advisable to have some kind of plan of action – this can include simple things such as removing obstacles out of the way or checking for potential trip hazards. For a particularly diffi...

One Step Beyond

Posted on September 07, 2012

The Workplace Depot has such a large variety of steps and ladders that we decided to make a page which brings together all the different types. They can range from a one step 'kikalong' to a monster 12 step double ended access platform – see our new office steps web page. One of the most popular items in the range is the Kick along step – variously know as the Kikalong, a Steppy or just a Kikkers step. These are a common sight in most offices as they are lightweight and mobile (many of them have castors which retract when used as a step) and are available in a range of attractive colours. The next step up (pun intended) in office steps are the plastic moulded steps made of tough medium density polyethylene which is resistant to most chemicals, easily washed and fitted with anti-slip abrasive strips to aid stability. In terms of mobile steps we have various glide along, sprung cas...

Don't Be the Fall Guy in Your Office!

Posted on August 21, 2012

Our range of office and external cable protectors are now on sale Thousands of people in the UK each year have accidents at work simply from tripping over. Some of these accidents are difficult to prevent if the individual isn't paying much attention to what they are doing! However, tripping over loose and trailing cables can be avoided by using cheap and easy to install cable protectors. Careful cable management can play an important part in helping to ensure a safer environment in your workplace, and cable protectors are needed for compliance with the Health & Safety legislation preventing accidents at work (Health & Safety Offences Act 2008). A cable tidy (protector) should be used in offices, shop floors or warehouse areas to prevent...