Courier Tips: What to Carry in Cold Weather

If you are lucky enough to work courier jobs in the warmer areas, you won't have to worry about what you need to carry in your van when the cold weather comes to visit. However, if you are looking at covering for a friend in one of the colder areas, there are a number of considerations you need to think about in case you get stranded in a climate that is out of the ordinary for you.

Research a list

Do some research either via your favorite internet search engine or asking people who work courier jobs in the colder regions. They may not have a full list available, but they can start you off. Some people only think of the basics like having hot water or coffee available if you are a long way between truck stops. Obviously you will feel better with a nice warm coffee in you if the snow is falling, rather than your usual cold cola drink but there are other considerations too!

The always do it list

You should never set out for work without your cell phone fully charged, and because batteries have a life of their own and die without much warning, it's sensible to carry a second battery and your battery charger.

As you rely on your van for your cash flow - paying the bills, mortgage, food and entertainment - you should always check your tires, oil and water every day. You can't take a chance in hot weather, so how are you going to cope with sudden cold?

Screen wash is an essential working in today's air and environment. Keep it topped up. Gone are the days when you didn't need to fire up your screen wash more than once a month. Dare you leave home for one of your courier jobs without a full tank of gas? Sounds obvious but it amazing how many drivers are caught short.

The more desperate list

If you break down where it is snowing, you won't think of this as the desperate list any more. It will become your survival kit! While it is unlikely you could be stranded for so long your life could be threatened, it you fall off the road when the temperatures are below freezing, just as your cell signal fails, you will have wished you had been carrying these items.

First, you will need to carry a blanket to keep you warm. If you over use your auto's heating system, you will either run out of gas stopping you from driving homewards later, but you will also put an enormous strain on your vehicle. A blanket can do wonders, not just for you but even your car in an emergency!

If you are trapped overnight in a snow storm or worse, you may consider a sleeping bag a useful item. You will need to keep your body temperature high enough to stop you from freezing. A sleeping bag doesn't take much room but could be a literal life-saver.

A shovel will be useful if you get trapped in by the snow. For courier jobs that take you delivering goods in the colder zones, when snow falls while you are having a slow fast food meal, you might come out to your van and find it surrounded by deep snow.

Spare food and drink supplies are always useful for shorter journeys in case your body language tells you that you are feeling tired. You already know that plenty of sensible liquids are required if you are out in the hot sun for hour after hour, and your common sense gauge will tell you that extra food and drinks in the cold zones are potentially extremely useful.

What else would you add to the lists after checking your breakdown cover insurance is up to date? Everyone will have their personal ideas, but the above are universal and should be considered the very least of requirements.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

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Fume Extraction - Why Do You Need It?

Many individuals are exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace and occupational asthma is a growing problem within industry. The UK Health and Safety Executive estimates that each year 7000 people develop work related asthma.

Every UK company has to carry out a risk assessment and comply to the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations 2002, which highlights the steps needed to evaluate any potential hazards.

Hazardous substances can be catagorised as either:

chemicals
products containing chemicals
fumes
dusts
vapours
mists
nanotechnology
gases and asphyxiating gases and
biological agents (germs)

These substances are listed as: Toxic, Very Toxic, Harful, Irritant, Highly Flammable, Explosive or Corrosive

They can endanger health by: Inhalation, Adsorption, Swallowing or contact with the eyes.

Typical Symptoms can include Lung Damage, Runny Nose, Eyes, Sore Throat, Nose Bleeds, Dermatitis and Acne.

More serious illnesses can lead to occupational asthma or even cancers. Some of these symptoms can occur at home or at the weekend and not associated with work - this is called a 'late asthmatic reaction' and could be as a result of exposure to fumes in the workplace.

Installing the correct type of extraction can remove these symptoms completely and there are many different forms available.

HSG258 is a document that should be referred to as this highlights the different forms of extraction and helps with the design and choice of system. Typical fume extraction systems can take the form of high pressure tip extraction (as used in the electronics industry for solder fume extraction), or higher volumes systems that can be connected to a range of flexible arms and capture hoods.

For larger applications fume cupboards or fume cabinets may be the best solution.

Fumes that contain particles (such as solder fumes and smoke from resin fluxes) need to be filtered properly. Small low cost bench fans do little to filter these fumes and are no more than fume diffusers - blowing the fumes back into the workplace.

A more professional filtration system will usually consist of a brushless fan or pump unit and a multi stage filter - typically a pre filter for capturing large particles, a HEPA filter for removing particles down to 0.3 microns and a carbon or chemical filter for removing vapours and smells. It should be noted that for vapours only the HEPA filter can be removed and replaced with a much deeper bed carbon filter (of the right type for the substance being removed). HEPA or particle filters will do nothing to remove smells.

As an example, many nail salons use poor quality low pressure fans that capture some of the large dusts created from manicures, however the smells from the acetones and other ketones are not captured - this explains the strong smells associated with high street salons.

Many 'low cost' systems on the market that 'claim' to be efficient still offer low grade carbon filters as the fans do not have enough pressures to pull through deep bed carbons. A major problem is that these systems also fail to realise that ketones used in the salon environment can react to normal carbon filters, generate heat and can easily self combust and catch fire. A professional extraction system will be fitted with a specially treated deep bed carbon filter to avoid this and will ensure a dwell time of 0.2 seconds - the minimum required to adsorb chemical vapours. Never install or use systems with just 'normal' carbon filters - or you may have to invest in more fire extinguishers!

Written by Paul Riddick - Technical Director of Vodex Ltd - with over 25 years of experience supplying and installing fume extraction systems into many industries. More information can be found at http://www.vodex.co.uk or by calling 023 8081 5384
Email: sales@vodex.co.uk

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Workers Compensation Insurance: The Basics

WHAT IS WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE?

It is a policy issued to a business owner which provides them with insurance coverage for the costs of work related injuries to their employees. This type of insurance pays for all costs associated with a workers' injuries such as, medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and permanent disability or death. The benefits under a workers' compensation policy are set by the state's workers' compensation regulatory commission.

HOW IS WORKERS' COMPENSATION PREMIUM DETERMINED?

This is rather simple. The premium is a percentage of your estimated pay roll for the policy term. Since the risk of injuries to workers varies by the type of work they perform, each business is assigned a specific classification which represents the degree of hazard in their industry. For example, if you own a convenience store which stays open later than 11:00 pm, your workers' compensation classification code would be 8061 - Store- Convenience -retail. Note both the classification number and the description are set by the state under section 11658 of the California Insurance Code. There are approximately 500 classifications which are published by the state to cover every industry, and business in California. The premium rate for each classification is determined by the degree of hazard of injuries in the industry it represents. i.e. A convenience store's premium rate is lower than a construction contractor's, and higher than a telemarketing firm's.

DO I HAVE TO HAVE WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE?

If you are operating a business in the state of California, and employ any workers, you are required by the state labor commission to have workers' compensation insurance. The only businesses which are exempt from this rule are the ones operated solely by the owners with no employees. In other words, if you have any employees including occasional or seasonal part time help you must obtain workers' compensation coverage. If you operate without it you run the risk of heavy fines, and possible shut down of your business. An employee is considered to be anyone who works for the business, and is not a legal owner. The relatives including the children of the owner, who do any work for the business are also considered to be employees, even if such relative or children are donating
time without pay.

There is another reason for you to have workers' compensation insurance, and that is to protect yourself from financial disaster. The medical costs of treating an injured worker, the lost wages, and other costs associated with it could be extremely burdensome for any small or large business, and could put their assets in jeopardy.

ARE OWNERS COVERED UNDER A WORKERS' COMPENSATION POLICY?

They are covered only if they want to be. In other words, the owners have the option to include or exclude themselves from coverage. This would mean if they are included in the coverage, then they are also entitled to the benefits in case they are injured. If you choose to be included, then your pay roll would also be included in the calculation of your workers' compensation premium. You can also elect to be excluded from coverage; in this case you would not be charged the premium for your pay roll.

WHO IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN OWNER?

Who can be excluded is determined based on the legal form of ownership of your business. The three most common legal ownership entities used by businesses are as follows:

1. Sole proprietorship or individual ownership - in this case, the individual, their spouse and their resident relatives can be excluded from coverage.
2. Partnership - All partners can be excluded, spouses and relatives can not be excluded
3. Corporation - All share holders who are also officers can be excluded only if the officers own 100% of the stock of a corporation. Officers who do not have shares or share holders who are not officers can not be excluded. Spouses and relatives can not be excluded...

I hope this has been helpful in shedding some light on workers' compensation workers' compensation coverage for your business. Please feel free to call us for any question you may have. We would also like you to know that we offer some of the lowest cost workers' compensation policies for your type of business. We can provide you with a quote very quickly at no cost or obligation to you.

Come visit Nickieheath.com for all your business insurance needs! Nickie Heath Insurance Agency serves businesses in the San Diego and Orange County area!

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