When You Should Consider Hiring a Lawn Care Service

Whether you are new to homeownership or you have owned your home for decades, you may be considering doing some work on your outdoor space. However, lawn care requires more than mowing and watering, and you may feel overwhelmed with all the work involved. These are examples of times you should consider hiring a lawn care service.

You Need a Landscape

Whether you have no landscaping or you just need to refresh your landscape, you may consider a professional lawn installation North Shore. A professional understands what will make your home look the best and can balance that with what your family needs. They also dig all the holes, add topsoil and do the planting, all the work that isn’t so fun. These individuals understand the plants that will grow best in your area.

You Need Lawn Maintenance

After you receive your lawn installation services, it needs to be maintained. Depending on your landscaping, your maintenance could be time-consuming and the equipment necessary may be expensive. Therefore, you should determine whether you have the time, equipment and knowledge necessary to maintain your lawn and landscape. In addition, consider what you want to do with your time, e.g., spend more quality time with your family, travel or enjoy local events.

Consider calculating your hourly wage and multiplying it by the time you will spend in your yard. Don’t forget the time you need to spend picking up supplies and the equipment maintenance, such as yearly tune-ups or blade sharpening, and fuel. Also, calculate the cost of equipment, fertilisers and herbicides. Then, compare this amount to the weekly or monthly cost of working with a lawn care service.

You Have Problem With Your Lawn

At some point after your lawn installation Northern Beaches, your landscape may experience an invasion of pests or other diseases on your plants. When you have a regular lawn care service, these professionals can diagnose a problem early, before it kills your plants. They also know the exact method for taking care of these problems. For example, if your landscape is overcome with weeds, a lawn service can identify the weed type and find the herbicide that will work best to get rid of it.

If you can find and treat a problem lawn early, your lawn will receive less damage and can recover more quickly. Services can also help you with your issues, such as mosquitos, fleas and ticks. Some plants naturally repel these insects, and your lawn care provider can regularly spray for pests.

You Need Tree Care

Trees and shrubs need special care. Trees need yearly pruning to improve their growth and prevent falling branches. Shrubs need pruning to remove uneven branches and improve their shape and appearance while opening up their middles so they can breathe. Fruit trees need additional care to improve their production. Many trees and shrubs are also susceptible to diseases and insect infestations, so regular care can catch these problems early. These plants also need regular fertilisation. These plants are costly, making them a long-term commitment, and you don’t want to lose them due to improper care.

You Need Irrigation

In addition to your lawn installation services, you may consider irrigation installation. If you aren’t a plumber, you may have difficulty installing irrigation. Regular watering improves the health of your landscape, and proper irrigation goes a long way to keeping your plants healthy. These professionals understand the best locations for each sprinkler, what type of irrigation is best for each plant and how to set your system up so that all your plants get the water they need.

These individuals understand state and local laws and your homeowner’s association rules. They also understand and can perform regular checks and maintenance to quickly identify leaks and keep your sprinkler system working properly.

You Are Concerned About Safety

Landscaping care can be dangerous. Lawnmowers and weed whackers can pick up and throw debris, which can damage your home and hurt your family. Also, you and your family should avoid some landscaping chemicals, and a professional will know which ones to spray that won’t harm you or can warn you if a toxic chemical is used.

If your home, vehicle or lawn is damaged, professional lawn installation services have liability insurance to protect you financially. Also, if they are hurt while completing your lawn services, they are covered.

You can have an outdoor space that is just as enjoyable and useful as your indoor space, and when your landscape looks great, your home looks great.

Continue Reading

Risk Management – Are Your Employees Really Making Your Workplace Safer?

Effective risk management is vital for every business, large and small. Without it, you constantly run the risk of something escalating into a major problem. Risk management is more about prevention than cure, as it’s much more desirable to prevent an issue from occurring than having to go into damage control to solve a problem once it’s unfolded.

As a business owner, you can put as much focus and attention on risk management as you like, but if your business relies on employees to operate, your risk management efforts are only as good as the effort your workers put into it as well. Are your employees helping to make your workplace a safer environment, or is the opposite actually taking place?

Employees Need To Be Screened and Monitored

Employees can only be screened so much at the job interview phase. After a worker is hired, it’ll be a matter of monitoring their workplace behaviour to truly determine if they are a positive team player or detrimental to the workplace.

When it comes to the issue of risk management and maintaining a safe, secure and hygienic work environment, all employees need to be on board.

Anyone with the wrong attitude and someone who doesn’t want to follow the rules is ultimately going to put your other workers and your business at risk, somewhere along the line.

Risk management isn’t just about monitoring business processes, but also everyone who works in the business.

Regular Meetings and Training Sessions Should Be Held

Even if all of your employees have the right attitude and are on board with maintaining a compliant and safe workplace, everyone needs to both be aware of what’s required and be informed of any changes in the rules or procedures to ensure a risk-free workplace as much as possible. The easiest way to keep everyone informed is to conduct staff meetings regularly, perhaps once a month. With everybody gathered together, it’s a relatively simple process of informing all employees on the latest information.

These meetings also present the perfect opportunity to seek feedback from everybody. Ask your workers if anyone has noticed a potential problem area that needs to be addressed. Also seek suggestions for improvements in general. This is both good for risk management and will also improve business operations and profitability.

A third component of these meetings could include some staff training. Whether this training relates directly to the latest risk management initiatives, or is focused on updating workplace skills, this all bodes well for establishing a safer workplace, a more efficient work environment and improved risk management protocols.

Put Someone In Charge of Risk Management

Having an employee tasked with risk management is an effective way of ensuring your business operations are in good hands. If no one is tasked with focusing on this all-important aspect of successfully operating a business over the long term, risk management might inadvertently be put on the back burner. Having an employee in the role of risk manager, or hiring a professional risk manager with experience, will virtually guarantee that proper risk management will be taking place at all times.

To help your risk manager in this vital role, you could arm them with dedicated enterprise risk management software, also commonly known as ERM software. The software can assist in monitoring your business and alerting the risk manager to likely problem areas. These suspect areas of operation can then be rectified before they result in an issue that affects the business.

Your risk manager is also the one who will regularly monitor your staff, interact with all members of staff and ensure everyone is up to date on what’s required. It’s a team effort that’s made easier with someone constantly overseeing risk management.

In Conclusion

Effective risk management is only as effective as the quality of staff you have on board. Ensure everyone has the right attitude towards business risks and is willing to do what’s required to ensure ongoing success.

Continue Reading

3 Ways To Stay Safe At The Grocery Store During The Pandemic

 

While going out of the house can always come with certain risks, one of the riskiest places you can venture out to now is the grocery store. In addition to things like slips and falls or car accidents, going to the grocery store now makes you vulnerable to getting sick from the coronavirus.

 

Luckily, there are some things you can do to help prevent this. To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to stay safe at the grocery store during the pandemic. 

 

Avoid Going Inside, If You Can

 

To be as safe as you possibly can, the best option is to avoid going inside of the grocery store, or any store, if you can. But since this isn’t possible for most people, it’s best to find an option that allows you to get the things you need while limiting your exposure to the most people possible.

 

According to TJ McCue, a contributor to Forbes.com, the most ideal way to get what you need without going into a store is to either sign up for grocery delivery or order groceries for pickup. By doing this, you’ll be able to get the items you need without having to interact with others at the store. And, in some instances, you won’t have to interact with anyone at all. 

 

Spend Little Time And See Few People

 

If you do have to go into a store, including the grocery store, you should try to do whatever you can to spend as little time in the store as you can and avoid seeing or interacting with others as much as possible.

 

To help you with this, Maria Godoy, a contributor to NPR, you should try to go to the store when there will be as few people there are possible. This will usually be early in the morning or later in the evening. Additionally, by having a list or at least knowing exactly what you need and where it is in the store, you can be as efficient as possible so that you can get in and out fast.

 

Wipe Things Off Before Using Them

 

When at the store, your goal should be to limit the number of things you touch that others may have touched. While it’s generally more dangerous to be interacting with someone who’s sick, you can still pick up germs and the virus from items. 

 

Because of this, Adrianna Rodriguez, Veronica Bravo, and Janet Loehrke, contributors to USA Today, advise that you bring your own sanitizing wipes with you so that you can wipe off anything that you’ll touch that others may have touched before you. This includes grocery carts or baskets, doors, screens, and more. 

 

When you need to go grocery shopping during the pandemic, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do so as safely as possible. 

Continue Reading

What We Can Learn from National Consumer Protection Week

Did you know there’s a National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) every year? In 2020, it took place during the first week in March. If you missed it, don’t sweat it. The great thing about this event — powered by the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general offices and community partner organizations — is its principles hold true year round.

As the FTC writes, “NCPW is a time to help people understand their consumer rights and make well-informed decisions about their money.”

We can all benefit from brushing up on our knowledge on topics like dealing with debt collectors, avoiding financial scams and bouncing back from identity theft.

Debt Collection: Know Your Rights

Many Americans will fall behind on a debt repayment at some point, so it’s crucial to know your rights when it comes to dealing with debt collectors. If a number pops up on your screen that’s almost certainly a debt collector, what should you do?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advises taking these steps:

  • Find out who you’re talking to, the name/address/phone number of the collection agency and the name of the original creditor.
  • Ask the debt collector for the amount owed, the name of the creditor and how you can dispute or verify the debt as your own.
  • Request a formal written verification of the debt before agreeing to pay.
  • Keep records of all communications you have with collectors.

It’s also important to remember debt collectors must follow certain rules when communicating. They cannot harass you, use profanity, make false threats of harm or call you early in the morning or late in the evening.

Avoiding Common Financial Scams

Another pillar of protection is avoiding common financial swindles such as:

  • IRS scams: A fraudster will impersonate an IRS representative, claiming you owe back taxes and threatening to take immediate action if you don’t pay.
  • Bank scams: A scammer will email you and ask for your login information or pretend to be a bank representative calling for your account information.
  • Investing scams: Scammers encourage unsuspecting buyers to invest in certain falsely inflated stocks or operate a “Ponzi” scheme in which they use one client’s money to pay another client rather than actually investing the funds.
  • Credit card scams: A fraudster may call and say they’re a credit card representative investigating a suspicious charge, then ask you to verify your account information.
  • Debt relief scams: Scammers try to take advantage of consumers in debt by promising to eliminate their debts “for pennies on the dollar.” Keep in mind legitimate settlement companies like Freedom Debt Relief will never ask for any payments up front until after they’ve resolved debts; scammers often illegally charge fees right off the bat.

Scams come in all shapes and sizes, which is why it’s important to thoroughly vet every offer and every communication you receive about your finances. A little due diligence up front can spare you a major headache down the line.

What to Do About Identity Theft

Nobody thinks identity theft will happen to them — until it does. In 2018, 14.4 million people became the victims of identity fraud with a median loss of $375 per case.

If you find yourself in a similar situation, you’ll want to take actions like:

  • Freezing your credit
  • Placing a fraud alert on your credit reports
  • Strengthening the security on all your financial accounts
  • Filing a report with the FTC
  • Notifying the IRS
  • Monitoring your accounts for unauthorized activity

While National Consumer Protection Week is just one week per year, we can apply its core principles to protect our finances all year round.

Continue Reading

The Features of Construction Towers

There are many features of construction towers that need to be paid attention to for safety's sake
Photo by CC user 422737 on Pixabay

Scaffolding is one of most important tools in real estate and other types of construction. For anything to be built, it has to be done properly. This can be done in many different ways, but scaffolding is almost always present there. It doesn’t matter whether you work for a construction company, for yourself, or if you’re doing a DIY job, you have to get to know scaffolding, what it is made up of, and how it works. Scaffolding is dangerous if not used properly, which is another reason why you should properly acquaint yourself with the key features of construction towers. Doing so may just save your life.

Thinking about the Platform

In order for scaffolding towers to be safe, the platform has to be just right. There has to be a stable and firm plane for the scaffold to be erected on. If this platform is made from soil, then the experts have to firstly make sure that it is able to hold the structure without subsiding once erected an in use. The platform is perhaps the most important feature of a scaffolding structure of all, as important as a building’s foundation. Without a solid foundation, you basically don’t have a safe construction.

Thinking about Guard Rails and Ladders

You also have to consider how the ladders and rails are constructed. These are very important for the safety of the workers and must comply with OSHA standards. The rails have to meet certain measurements and the ladders have to be inspected first to make sure they fit properly. The height of guard rails, for instance, has to be near 45 inches at all times. Ladders, meanwhile, cannot have a gap large than 10 inches to the top most point of the rest of the construction. Once you know that all of this is in place, you have to start thinking about the strength of the structure itself.

Aluminum Is Best

The majority of scaffolding towers now rely heavily on aluminum. It is very important that the construction is able to carry its own weight, that of the workers, and that of the materials that they carry. This is why a lot of companies now choose aluminum, which is known to be very strong. While traditional constructions would use galvanized steel poles, this is becoming less common. Aluminum is able to hold very high weights, more than most other materials can. As an added benefit, it is very lightweight and resistant to corrosion. These factors make it an ideal product.

These are just some of the details that you have to be aware of when it comes to scaffolding on the site of any construction business. You have to prioritize these issues, as they are the ones most related to keeping the structure itself safe. Once you know the structure is safe, you have to make sure that those who use it also know how to maintain their own safety and that of others in the vicinity. Put together, you should be able to avoid any of the often fatal scaffolding accidents.

Continue Reading

The Top Choking Hazards for Children and Toddlers

Do you know what the Top Choking Hazards for Children are?

For parents, there are many safety concerns regarding their childrens well-being. One of the biggest safety concerns is choking, as children not only tend to put everything in their mouth, their airways are much smaller, which means that food that is too large can easily get stuck and block their airways.

For parents, it is extremely important to know how to handle a situation in which their child is choking, as being calm, cool, and collected could save their childs life. From taking a CPR course to knowing what objects are the biggest choking hazards, parents need to be prepared in order to accurately handle a situation and, hopefully, prevent it altogether.

Here are some of the top choking hazards that put children at risk:

Coins

Toddlers often put anything they find in their mouth, and spare change can pose a big threat to your childs well-being. Many people leave spare change in their purse, on the counter, or in other locations that are accessible to their children. In order to keep them from choking on change, do your best to make sure your change is placed in a childproof place.

Hot Dogs

Due to their size and shape, hot dogs are extremely dangerous for children. Many parents feed their children hot dogs, because their soft texture is easy for their children to eat, but their size and consistency pose quite a threat, as they can easily slide down their throats without being chewed, thus blocking their airways. By cutting them in small, irregular shapes, you can help to prevent them from choking.

Hard Candy

While many kids love hard candy, the small size and slippery texture is easy to choke on, especially if your kids are laughing or running while eating the candy. Many doctors recommend parents should avoid giving children under four hard candy, as they are typically not old enough to handle hard candy properly.

Safety Pins, Paper Clips, and other Household Objects

Small household objects are extremely hazardous, especially if they fall on the floor or are left sitting in a common area. Objects like safety pins, paper clips, nails, thumbtacks, batteries, buttons, and other household objects of similar sizes should be kept out of reach of children. Plus, if you throw away any of these items, make sure to put them in a trashcan that your child cannot get into, as many children often get into trashcans and pull out dangerous items.

Nuts and Raw Veggies

While many parents like to give their children small finger foods they can gnaw on, raw veggies like carrots or celery are easy to choke on because they are so hard to chew. Similarly, nuts and popcorn are so small that eating them whole can pose a big risk to their safety, especially if they have an allergy. Try to avoid giving your children whole nuts and popcorn.

Grapes

The size of grapes are particularly dangerous because of their circular shape. In order to keep them from choking on grapes, make sure to cut in them half or quarters, and if they have seeds inside, make sure to remove them.

Knowing the top choking hazards for children can help you take preventative measures to keep them as safe as possible.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/en/child-eating-kids-childhood-meal-881200/

Continue Reading

Road Safety in 2016: Top 10 Causes of Car Accidents in the US

Within just a few days it will be the official first day of spring and within just a few weeks the weather will turn warm and sunny. During late spring and early summer, an increased number of motorists hit the road after being cooped up all winter due to snow and freezing temperatures.

This year, take the time to re-check your road safety tips to ensure that you, your passengers and occupants of another vehicle are safe from crashes that could have been avoided. As a preventative measure, read and understand the following top 10 causes of car crashes in the United States.

First Some Gruesome Statistics

According to ASIRT, The Association for Safe International Road Travel, more than 37,000 individuals will lose their lives in car accidents in the United States each and every year. In addition to that, it is estimated that almost 2 million others will be injured or become disabled as a result of a car crash. Here is where it gets really sad, although loss of life is sad at any time:

  • More than 1600 of those that die every year will be children under the age of 15.
  • Of those that die in car crashes, almost 8,000 deaths involved drivers between 16 and 20 years of age.
  • Of those US citizens traveling abroad, car crashes are the leading cause of death in foreign countries.

And if those statistics aren’t gruesome enough, consider the cost. It is estimated that driving accidents cost US taxpayers almost $231 billion each and every year. Not only is there a cost in human life but a financial cost as well.

Leading Causes of Crashes in the US

Although these may be off by a place or two in the actual ranking, the only one that is for sure would be that in the number one position as the leading causes of crashes. The top ten causes of car crashes in the US according to the latest statistical data released by the Department of Transportation include:

  1. Distractions while Driving – Typically this is due to illegal use of cell phones but other causes include reaching over to tune the radio, talking to passengers and believe it or not, lighting a cigarette while trying to handle the wheel. Many driving teachers suggest using disposable e-cigs that can simply be puffed with no distractions as they aren’t ever lit up.
  2. Over the Speed Limit (Speeding) – Many times the driver is going anywhere from 10 to 30 miles (or more!) above the speed limit and it is a fact that driving fast does reduce reaction times. Want to avoid an accident? Obey the speed limits.
  3. DUI (Drunk Driving) – Each state has a legal blood alcohol limit but no matter what it is, the rule of thumb is that even if you’ve had a single drink you should let someone else do the driving.
  4. Reckless / Careless Driving – This can be the result of a number of careless behaviors when behind the wheel. From speeding to improper change of lanes to tailing too close, if you are not obeying the traffic laws, chances are you are being careless.
  5. Weather (Especially Rain) – Not only does heavy rain create poor visibility but rain on oil-slicked roads makes it difficult to stop on the drop of a dime. Snow and high winds are also weather-related causes of traffic accidents but not nearly as numerous as those related to rain.
  6. Failure to Stop at Traffic Lights – What needs to be said about running a red light? If you fail to yield the right of way while another car is traveling through the intersection, an accident will probably ensue with you being at fault.
  7. Failure to Obey Stop Signs – Next in line is failing to stop at stop signs. Just as in failure to yield the right way at red lights, failing to stop at stops signs is a leading cause of crashes.
  8. Teen Drivers – No one is singling out teen drivers to be mean. The reality is that they are simply inexperienced and typically more careless than older, more seasoned drivers. With age comes experience so if you are a teen, it is better to be slow than sorry. Slow down, learn the rules of the road and be patient. Good driving will come in time.
  9. Impaired Vision of Night Driving – Typically it is elder drivers who have trouble with night vision but there are younger adults who also suffer this impairment as well, so if you have trouble seeing at night either find an alternate driver, wait until daylight to travel or simply slow down and take it easy.
  10. Defects within the Design of the Vehicle – Every day you hear of a class action lawsuit involving recalls that were never made. Defects within the design of the car come in as number 10 in the leading causes of traffic accidents in the United States.

So here you have the top ten causes of car crashes in the United States and some pretty gruesome statistics. Don’t leave yourself open to being on the wrong side of the coin so learn these causes and work to avoid them. Your life and the lives of those you love could depend on it.

Continue Reading

Don’t Fall Victim to a Sexual Assault

Whether it is in the workplace or at home, sexual assault is a terrifying ordeal that no one wants to go through. That said it happens all too often to so many people.

One venue that should seem safe is college.

soul-623423_640

Unfortunately, some schools get bad grades when it comes to educating the public and preventing sexual assaults on campus.

For many victims (oftentimes women), recovering from a sexual assault can take a long time. In some cases, the recovery time can seem infinite.

With that in mind, what are some of the warning signs of sexual assault on campus and what can be done to prevent it?

Be Pro-active in Preventing Attacks

First and foremost, those sexually assaulted on college campuses should never feel like they brought the crime on themselves.

Yes, some activities on campus (especially excessive drinking) can put students in harm’s way, but that still does not legitimize someone being sexually assaulted. Whether it was one drink too many or the manner in which someone is acting and/or dressed, the bottom line is that sexual assault is never justified.

That having been said, here are some ways to be pro-active in lessening the chances of becoming a sexual assault victim, along with how to deal with the crime if you’re a victim:

  • Environment – Always be sure to put yourself in as safe an environment as possible. Sexual assault criminals look for individuals that they feel are “soft” targets. If you’re out partying, always use the buddy system, especially on the way home. That means not leaving a bar or other venue by yourself if you’ve had too much to drink (oftentimes, individuals feel like they’re capable of getting from one location to another after a few drinks). If you or your friends call a cab or other form of transportation for you, ride with a friend. Placing someone that has had too much partying in a cab etc. by themselves is not a 100 percent guarantee they will arrive home safely;
  • Aggression – If you’re at a venue on or off campus, be on the lookout for individuals that are too aggressive towards you or your friends. Aggression can be either verbal or physical, including unwanted advances, lude comments, asking for lots of personal information etc. If someone is being too aggressive towards you, let them know immediately that you want them to stop. In the event they continue such acts, report them to friends or security;
  • Assault – In a case where you feel you’ve been sexually assaulted (sometimes it is not immediately apparent if the victim is not aware of what is taking place or happened), seek help as soon as possible. Not only should you report the matter to authorities, but also look to get a sexual assault defense attorney on your side. Those that perpetrate sexual assault crimes oftentimes figure and/or hope the victim will not file charges. This can be due to a number of reasons, including not remembering all that happened, fear of retribution, embarrassment etc. Never feel like you did anything to warrant the crime against you;
  • Educate – In the event you have been sexually assaulted, use your experience to educate others. While you may feel it was your fault or you are scared of speaking out, know that you could help prevent the next attack. Oftentimes, such crimes go unreported, leaving the criminal or criminals to act out on others, this being a casual encounter or someone you have known for some time now.. If your experience can prevent one other person from going through a similar ordeal, educating others on the signs to look for of a possible attack are well worth it. Lastly, seek the support of others that have been victims. Joining sexual assault groups, talking with those that have had similar experiences, can be mentally rewarding, reminding you that there are others out there having gone through sexual assaults.

While it would be nice to live in a world where sexual assaults are not reality, the bottom line is they happen far too often.

Preventing yourself from becoming the next sexual assault victim is something you should not have to worry about, though the possibility is always there.

Don’t fall victim and become the next statistic.

 

 

Continue Reading