The Factors Influencing The Built Environment

The Factors Influencing The Built Environment Introduction The proposal assumes the role of a developer presenting to the client. This will help the client to understand the factors influencing the Built Environment (Moxon Street) site. The site would be developed for a Student Accommodation. Though details of the site are not given in the report but an overview of all the factors that would affect the site development, the techniques used, the precautions ought to be taken, etc. It is a general description of how a site will be developed keeping in mind the health, safety welfare and the environmental implications from the development of the site. Section 3 In a built environment it is necessary for the Designer to reduce the health risks that occur from the construction work and also to provide for the safety and welfare to the workers. So Health, Safety and Welfare play an important in the design process. It can be further divided into stages. The Design process which is a benchmark to identify the health risks that arises from the design as well as eliminate the hazardous to a reasonable extent. An onsite register can also be maintained in this regard to show that we have to consider the onsite risks. It would be mandatory for the chemicals contained in the product to be registered under REACH. For Health Hazard the services of a CDM coordinator will be hired and certain components would be assembled off site which would reduce the health hazard on site. The project risk review gateways will be linked to RIBA at the plan of works stages. There is a need for systematic risk assessment and solution will be assessed on the basis of risk control hierarchy. There would be a Red-Amber-Green list which can help the designer to identify and also to negate the hazards and to control risks as far as possible. The Development will have a negative impact on the environment. The Council stipulates that necessary Environment Impact Assessment and Environmental Performance Statement should be part of the development plans. The design should have provisions for natural sunlight, ventilation of air, energy consumption, etc. This should be able to reduce air and noise pollution. This will help the developer to create goodwill for himself as well. There will be ultra low flush toilet which would reduce the use of water. There are certain Risks Assessments which are to be carried out for the health and safety of the employees on site. They would be in respect of- As per the Control of Substance hazardous to health regulation precaution would be taken by a systematic approach. The services of an Agency would be hired for workplace monitoring for harmful dust, vapours, fumes and gases. This would be done as per the Workplace Exposure Limits given by E40. European Union Noise at work regulation would also be considered as per the guidelines- The 1st and 2nd Action Levels are 80dB(A) and 85dB(A) respectively. 1st and 2nd Peak Action Levels of 135dB(C) and 137dB(C) Peak respectively. A Maximum Exposure Level Limit of 87dB(A) and 140dB(C) Peak at the ear will be introduced which includes any hearing protection. There would be due consideration given to Fire Risk assessment of Catering Extract Systems with regards to the guidelines- BSRIA Fire Risk Assessment Catering Extract Ventilation Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order (RRFSO) 2005 HVCA DW172 Specification for Kitchen Ventilation Systems. Indoor Air Quality Sick Building Syndrome would be identified as this will affect the health of the occupants of the building. This complains could arise from a particular room or floor but could have a lasting impact on all the occupants. Odour Threshold analysis would also be conducted. This is relating to the strange smell i.e., presence of volatile organic compounds in the building that could affect the health to the occupants. The majority of these volatile organic compounds are present in very low concentrations i.e. 0.1-1ppb (parts per billion). Legionella risk Assessments and Asbestos Identification Surveys would be conducted as well. This would be in accordance with the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance L8, Legionnaires disease Approach There would be a Multi discipline approach taken in the risk management in the design process. This will be fruitful because of the vast experience of the Architect, Consultant, Engineer; etc would be integrated right from the design process. Design Implication This all will help us to have a safe and a sound design which would eliminate the hazards to the health and safety of the workers as well as of the occupants. This will also help us to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment. Primary Services Utilities It is necessary to accommodate these services in the early stages of the design process. There should be early checking of availability of these services Early decision on intended location of such services on the site This will ensure that there is a proper plan in place and will also help us to avoid complications in the future. Provisions should be made for- Telecommunications Gas Water Electricity Sewage services If there are issues with the availability of any of these services than a decision can be taken at the early stages of the design process. The Location of these services would be depended as per the acceptable framework provided by RIBA Plan of Work 2007. This will assist the design team to plan, coordinate and also to have a definite approach to the various services. Entry to the building would be given from all the four sides with the main entrance from the front of the building. There can also be distribution and scaling down of different services done by the Designers to meet the needs of our development. The provisions for accessibility and the maintenance of these services would be done at the early stages of the design process. We would hire competent staff which would look after the maintenance of these services with an access given to them on each floor for easy maintenance and repair. The environmental implications of these services would be- Create a sustainable environment for the communities Protect public health by giving safe drinking water, effective sanitation services, etc Safely recycling waste Comply fully with all the environmental legislation These above precautions and approaches will help us to achieve effective management of services with regular maintenance and also providing with a safe environment for the community. The Water extraction will be done by the he liquid ring vacuum pump contains a twin start helical rotor mounted eccentrically in a cylindrical pump casing and is designed to pump liquids or combinations of liquid, air and fine solids through long suction lines, generating suction lifts to up to 8.5m. For the waste Disposal there will be a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) in line with the DTI Code of Practice and associated good practice guidance. On completion the new building should be subject to Post Occupancy evaluation. Global Warning The building designs will be based on the UKCIP medium high emission scenario rather than that which is based on historical data. UKCIP predicted that the average temperature in UK will rise by 3.5 degree by 2080, therefore a mixed mode ventilation stems incorporating the passive and mechanical ventilation coupled with high thermal mass and complete solar shading are likely to cope with the effects of the climate change. Mayor of London commissioned a report stating that London is the most susceptible to flooding than any other urban area in the UK. The site is not in the Zone 3 established by the Westminster Council that specifies areas the areas affected during floods. In order to minimise the energy demand of the building we must increase the efficiency in the building envelope, using high efficiency windows, insulation in walls, ceilings and floors will be used. Passive solar building design could also be used. This will minimise energy demand. In order to control emission to water point of water treatment would be used. This improves the quality of water and also reduces the amount of water in circulation. Non-sewage would be used on site which would minimize demand on the local authority. There would be a good thermal insulation system in place this would minimise the emission to air. The ex filtration of warm air would result for 30% of the heat loss through a buildings envelope. A air leakage test would be carried out as well. Renewable Energy Issues Technical- The site will have a- Solar energy technology Heat pumps Energy from waste Co-generation This will help to reduce the impact on the environment. Economic- Initially the cost of the machines would be higher than the conventional equipments but over a period of time there would be a lot of savings due to a decrease in the bills. Social- This will have a positive impact on the occupants and the community. The carbon and the fuel emission would be quiet low. This would sub dued the hazards caused to the health and safety of the people. Range of Sustainable construction technique includes- Wind Solar Wave Biogas Landfill gas Hydro Waste to Energy 84 KW wind generator Double exterior walls with foam insulation Radiant slab heat for excess energy storage Section 4 The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 describes the risks associated with the construction industry and narrates the specific provision which ought to be taken to negate the danger. The CDM regulation 2007 encourages co ordination and co-operation among the various parties of the project. It works towards making health and safety an integral part of designing and construction. It recognises the hazards in the planning and construction stage of the project and helps to take corrective steps. The construction health, safety and welfare regulation 1996 are a set of rules to protect the health and safety of the people engaged on the site and the people who may be affected by the work. It is a leaflet which describes the regulation and precautions to be taken by the people on the site. The main focus of the Management of the Health and safety at works regulation 1999 is to reduce the damage on the site and to create a action plan for the emergencies. There is a need to comply with the specific regulation of the industry. Works at Heights Regulations 2005 is concerned with the injury that could occur to a employee as a result of a fall. It covers both the internal and the external areas of the building. There is present no height limit. It places duties on the persons who control the work on the site to take necessary care and precaution. Method Statement Site Foundation The site has a mixed structure type up to 30 metres. So mechanical handling is essential. There should be no public access until the construction work is complete. Adequate security is to be provided to see there is no theft or damage to the site. The site will be developed in two phases. Loading/Unloading of materials As the project is conducted in two phases here is sufficient space at the corner of the site for the loading and unloading of materials. This would also give rise to some risks but it would be handled by the experienced staff that operates the machines. Machines Non-maintenance of machine will pose a great threat to the workers engaged in site development. So a good maintenance schedule is needed to reduce the need of replacement. All machines should have the current safety inspection certificate and the person operating it should also be certified. Electrical Equipment There is a need to keep a check on the conditions of the equipments. Weather Condition When there are unsafe a situation arising from the weather conditions the authority is given to the site foreman to take the precaution which is deemed necessary. Individual Safety Clothing Individual safety clothing will be provided on site and it is necessary to wear them at all times. Safety Systems of Work It is divided into three parts It analyses the task at hand Hazards caused to health, safety and welfare Precautions to be taken to eliminate the hazards It is an extension of the Risk assessments and the method statement All this should take place from the planning stage, the design and also on the construction stage. (Example included in the appendix) Site Induction and Training It is the legal responsibility of the employer to provide induction and training relating to the hazards and risk associated to the health and safety of the employees and the contractors. It includes- The scope of work Amenities on the site such as toilet, water, etc Safety rules in place Safety procedures for high risk construction activity PPE required to be worn First aid arrangements on the site Good Site management It is necessary to hire Project Manager for a good site management. They coordinate all design and construction process. They assist the site from the development stage to the actual completion of the site. As the size of the project is reasonable there is a need to hire a Project Manager. Health and Safety Signage site safety signconstruction multi sign 1 Personal Protective Equipment Safety footwear Hard hats High visibility waist coats Goggles Life jackets Safety harness Insulated clothing for adverse climatic condition Mitts Gaiters Checklists is required for the safety of the employees on site It is necessary for-; Scaffolding Powered Access equipments Roof Work Hoists Cranes Fire Hazardous substance Noise, etc. Roles and Responsibility of the various parties under CDM 2007 Clients Competence of the contractors Suitable arrangements for the welfare facilities Provide pre construction information to the designers and contractors Planning Supervisor Assist the client Notify HSE Co ordinate health and safety in regards to design Ensure good communication on the site Prepare and update health and safety file Designers Reduce risk during design To check whether the CDM co coordinator is been appointed Make client aware of his duty Contractor Prepare and develop a written plan Site rules Ensure suitable welfare facilities are provided Ensure proper induction and training is provided to the workers Sub-contractor Manage and monitor own work and also of his workers Train own employees Provide them information Comply with the requirements of the part 4 of the regulations Users Report risks Check competence Co-operate with each other Health and safety Officer Check that health and safety arrangements are made Report any risks Impose fine if there are inadequate arrangements Supply Chain The materials are available in the free market however there are some materials which would be procured locally and some internationally through Wholesale Agency for Environmental friendly materials. International Procurement Reflective coatings and non structures Phase change material High efficiency insulation system Solar heaters Local Procurement Bricks Cement Concrete Pre cast structures Steel Electrical Fittings Elevators Furniture Wood for Flooring, etc. The access of the truck and the delivery of the material would be from the front entrance of the site with a possible provision at the back end of the site for the exit. A temporary warehouse would be constructed at the corner of the site depending on the construction phase. The handling of the material would be done by the employees who are trained beforehand. The eight rules of handling are included in the appendix Sustainability of resources Recycling facilities would be provided for paper and glass and with textile and plastics. Waste minimisation techniques will also be used to reduce waste and it will bifurcate into clean rubble, timber, general chemical waste, etc. Recycled and Eco friendly materials list is provided in the appendix Embodied energy issues We will try to include more renewable materials in the project which has lower embodied energy than non renewable materials. http://www.canadianarchitect.com/asf/perspectives_sustainibility/measures_of_sustainablity/images/images_optimized/eecontent.jpg Concrete produces 1 tonne of carbon dioxide for every tonne manufactured. Waste treatment and management techniques are important for bio degradability of materials at the end of their useful life. The techniques used are- Combustion or gasification Anaerobic digestion Mechanical treatment Biological treatment Modern Method of Construction It includes ready- made walls, floor and roof which are transported and then assembled on the site. They make construction faster. It also includes modular Kitchen, Bathroom, Furniture, etc which are factory fitted and help in reduction of project duration and also on site environmental hazards. The MMC houses are also energy efficient. Because only assembling is done on the site there are fewer accidents and produces less noise and dust. It also has a less impact on the local residents. References (The mentioned sites were accessed on 21st and 22nd of December 2009) Building a Better Quality of Life: a strategy for sustainable construction. DETR (2000) Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills. Department for Education and Skills (2003). Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). US Green Building Council (2001). Environmental Performance Indicators for Sustainable Construction The Movement for Innovation (M4I) Sustainable Construction. Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (HEPS). (2002) Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Building Research Establishment (2002). http://www.cskills.org/supportbusiness/healthsafety/cdmregs/index.aspx http://www.btinternet.com/~kendalhang/hands/INDG220_HS_Construction.pdf http://www.netlawman.co.uk/info/health-safety-work-management.php http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/safety/0505.shtml http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Sectors/Construction/Safe_System_of_Work_Plan_SSWP/ http://www.hydrostatic-testing-consultants.co.uk/Health%20and%20Safety%20Management%20System/ssp5wacg.htm http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos005.htm http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/ppe.aspx#what http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/sitesafchecklist.html http://www.processingtalk.com/news/tol/tol102.html http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/summary.htm http://earth2tech.com/2009/11/02/venture-firm-nth-power-names-5-next-gen-green-building-materials-to-watch/ http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/postpn209.pdf http://www.slrconsulting.com/slr_waste_management.pdf http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/occupational-health-surveillance.aspx http://www.futuregate.co.uk/Written_Health_Safety_Policies.html http://www.chas.gov.uk/downloads/appendix2.doc http://www.hcibib.org/bibtoc.cgi?file=bibdata/CHI99-2.bibabstracts=true http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/environment/guidance/building.html http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=633292.633466 http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=632919 http://www.hcibib.org/bibtoc.cgi?file=bibdata/CHI00-2.bibabstracts=true http://www.noiseatwork.info/occupational_hygiene.html http://www.healthandsafetytips.co.uk/News%20Archive/April%202004%20News%20Archive/April%202004%20Consultation%20on%20New%20Noise%20at%20Work%20Regulations.htm http://www.eckeleurope.co.uk/ http://www.noiseatwork.info/monitoring_the_built_environment.html http://www.lda.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.2445viewPage=6 http://www.lda.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.2445setPaginate=No http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070705090343AAtqBfl http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/environment/guidance/building.html http://www.noiseatwork.info/monitoring_the_built_environment.html http://www.processingtalk.com/news/tol/tol102.html http://community.benchmarkemail.com/users/simonreed/newsletter/Civic-09-14-Editors-Newsletter-30th-July http://www.fife.gov.uk/atoz/index.cfm?fuseaction=advice.displayadviceid=2E4DDB61-FA29-ACC7-48F889880B70CA8D http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/resources/index.aspx http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/occupational-health-surveillance.aspx http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/occupational-health-surveillance.aspx http://www.healthscotland.com/advancedsearch/index.aspx http://chas.gov.uk/Downloads/Appendix2.dox http://www.worldpumps.com/view/3626/seaquarium-choose-liquivac-liquid-ring-pump/ http://www.filtsep.com/view/3626/seaquarium-choose-liquivac-liquid-ring-pump/ http://news.hse.gov.uk/lau/2009/09/17/health-risks-at-work-do-you-know-yours/ http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/minimising-workplace-risks/HRatW.aspx http://www.masterytech.com/productpage.php?product_id=spmtlmpg http://www.mastery.com/productpage.php?product_id=spmtlmpg_htm http://www.training-classes.com/programs/00/19/1917_material_handling_safe_material_handling.php http://www.futuregate.co.uk/Written_Health_Safety_Policies.html

Sexual harassment at work

Sexual harassment at work Sexual Harassment In todays society, men in the organisation understand how to achieve higher positions than women. Indeed, culturally, character, style and ability between men and women are clearly different. There are several things that cause men to be more superior to women, regardless of physical affairs. For example, men are more rational and realistic, more competitive, more courageous, more initiative, and more aggressive. But that does not mean women should always be less than men. As women who live in the modern era of today, there should be a pathway to higher position and achievement in their careers. However women still need to be aware of various barriers that may prevent them from doing so. Nowadays, jobs such as director, manager or even chief executive officer (CEO) position are open to those women capable of filling these demanding positions. Now that women have slowly begun to make their way into organisation studies, the rate of issue such as sexual harassment is now becoming more popular, â€Å"when men and women involve in an emotional closeness may be a positive experience, but sexual harassment is not. Sexual harassment is illegal (Samson Daft, 2006). This assignment will further discuss how the issue of sexual harassment has an effect on womens participation in the workplace. Sexual harassment is any form of sexual connotation or behaviour that may be unilateral and unwanted by the person targeted. The result of sexual abuse may lead victims to feel ashamed, angry, humiliated, offended, and disgusted with the perpetrator. Sexual harassment can happen at any and all levels of an organisation. Women who are moving up the corporate hierarchy by entering male-dominated industries report a high frequency of harassment (Samson Daft, 2006). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) combats sexual harassment by making illegal the acceptance of harassment as a condition of employment, using compliance or not to affect employment decisions with regard to the individual or creating a hostile working environment which may affect the individual performance. Itzin (1995) conducted a major research project with an aim to improving womens position within a local authority organisation. Itzin describes a five part methodology using a survey, interviews, group discussions, statistical data and participant observation to explore the culture and practices of the organisation and to collect data on the position and experience of women. According to Itzins survey results (1995, p.33), the majority of women in the organisation were ‘breadwinners, they work either to support themselves or their families. Most women said they work because they want ‘to pursue a career and ‘self fulfilment. Therefore by looking at this result, Itzin (1995, p.33) suggested ‘that there may be a little difference between the reasons why men and women work and the economic and emotional significance which they attach to their work.† Aside from sexual harassment there are various reasons why women are still far behind men. Through this table (1995, p.34) and diagram, Itzin shows the percentage of women had worked for the local authority for more than seven years and still yet not made any progression to their career . Reasons for women not applying for or not getting another job Reasons % At a disadvantage because of job sharing 5 Lack of encouragement 8 Obstruction from supervisors 8 Sexist Attitudes 8 Racist Attitudes 9 Lack of confidence 24 Lack of interview or job application skills 28 Lack of skills or qualifications necessary for the job 28 Promotion is all what it takes for women to achcieve a higher position. Male management restrict womens chances of prmotion by not providing suitable child care facilities or flexible school holiday arrangements. Itzin (1995, p.38) stated that â€Å"Managers do not encourage women to go for promotion,they said, or administrative staff to cross over into profession. They drew attention to the fact that ‘admin is dominated by women, but men are at the senior level.They thought women were better organizers and lateral thinkers than men, but management jobs were less attractive to women because they take you away from dealing with people and consequently provide less job satisfication.† According to Itzin, Women have to out performed men to get equal recognition and position and tend to have less power than men in the same position. Even though sex segregation is not exactly sexual harassment, but it is still discriminates against women in the organisation. Williams (1995) says that sex segregation almost always occurs in every organization and workplace, where males are in higher positions with higher salaries than women. There are various researches that show that sex segregation is a major obstacle for career women. This manifests as inequality in terms of salary, authority, opportunity in promotions and career advancement. Women are more often placed in a lower position with a smaller salary and without the opportunity to gain promotion (Hossain Kusakabe, 2005). Glass Ceiling discrimination may leads women to have feelings of low self-esteem, slowing down of interest in their jobs and decreased their motivation. The glass ceiling effect is a distinct limiter to a womans advancement into the higher level of corporate management and directorship. ‘â€Å"Ceiling† stresses the limitation of upward progress a woman is subjected to and â€Å"glass† refers to the fact that though the limitation is apparently not written in any rule book, it is nevertheless a defeated fact understood by both the sexes. (ayushveda, 2009). In theory, the effect of the glass ceiling can generally be viewed from two sides such as the demand side and supply side. On the demand side, from outside of the womans appearance, such as discrimination in the workplace, a culture of office man who is very dominant, work rules, and so forth. The glass ceiling in some cases can usually be overcome by using the supply side; it is something that is offered by the woman herself. These aspects include the choice of labour supply, quality of resources, skills possessed, and so forth. Every company toughest challenge that they need to face is to deal with sexual harassment issues. One of the best ways to prevent this situation is to make a sexual harassment policy. Companies must make a written rule that contains the companys commitment to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The content of the policy should include the notion of what constitutes sexual harassment, grievance procedures, and punishments that should be meted out to the perpetrators. It should also have counselling available to the victims and the assurance that the complaint made is confidential. Ensure all employees, supervisors, managers, directors, clients are aware of the written rules. Hence the human resource people need to take serious action to ensure that rules are obeyed. In conclusion, there are many courses of action that can be taken by companies and individuals in addressing issues such as sexual harassment and sex discrimination in the workplace. One important thing to note is that the right to pursue a career does not solely belong to men but women are also equally entitled. Although awareness in the workplace of womens right is growing, there is still much to be done to truly have equal opportunity without the threat of sexual harassment and discrimination for women.

Women in the Middle East Essay -- Gender Roles, Oppression, Culture

In the book, Women in the Middle East, a Saudi Arabian proverb states, "A girl possesses nothing but a veil and a tomb" (Harik and Marston 83). The key words, "veil" and "tomb" lend evidence to the fact that many Middle Eastern women lack identity symbolized by the â€Å"veil† and lack the right of ownership except for their veil and the tomb. This statement further enforces the notion that many women in the Middle East are expected to serve and tolerate the oppression of the men in their lives throughout their lives on this earth. Moreover, it confirms that many of these women do not get the opportunity to obtain education, join the work force, and even participate in the political affairs of the country. This arrangement further helps the Middle Eastern men to view women as their properties, servants, or even as slaves. Ultimately, there are three main reasons why Middle Eastern men engage in the act of oppressing their women. One primary reason why Middle Eastern men oppress women is their deeply rooted belief system as well as their needs. For example, their belief that the Middle Eastern woman’s duty is being a dedicated homemaker encourages them to disallow her from seeking an education. Ramsay M. Harik and Elsa Martson, revisit this concept in their book, Woman in the Middle East, as they state that many males convince their women that education is unnecessary nor relevant to their household responsibilities. "The girl will spend her life cooking and having babies, why does she need to read or write? This was a common attitude in much of the Middle East until the last fifty years or so" (24). The common consensus was that once educated, these women would question many of the injustices suffered, would demand better treatment... ...emale relative is justifiable if she brings dishonor to the family" (86)... Many women do not stand up for their rights because they are scared from death; since many men killed women without feeling sympathy or without fearing from the consequences of laws. Therefore, laws are just another cause of the oppression of women. Middle Eastern women need to stand up for their rights and get educated to reverse the notion that they are servants and properties of their men. Furthermore, they need to rise up to their potentials and prove beyond doubt that they are equal to men. This practice would lead the path for future generations to follow and protect the inalienable rights of women. Finally, these women need to break the cycle of oppression by addressing these deeply rooted beliefs, gaining the tools to fight back, and joining forces to make lifelong changes.

Inadequate Secondary Education in the United States :: Educational Learning School Essays

Inadequate Secondary Education in the United States ‘Tis education forms the common mind; Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined. Pope – Moral Essays Two years ago, I used to work at a photo shop in downtown Philadelphia. Except for me, the only foreigner, there were five Americans working there. Once, we talked about the American life in the beginning of the twentieth century. To support my opinion, I used an example from a short story called â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† by a famous American writer O. Henry. It was a very shocking experience for me to find out that nobody knew who O. Henry was or what he had done for the world literature. Since then, I met a lot of American people with a lack of basic cultural knowledge and, at the same time, with an outstanding professional expertise. Very quickly, I figured out that the root of this problem is in the secondary school education. The American secondary school pays too little attention to producing students with well-rounded education substituting the â€Å"what† with the â€Å"how†. Placing an undue emphasis on the methods of teaching and studying (the â€Å"how†) at the expense of the material being taught and studied (the â€Å"what†) makes the choice of what to teach of secondary importance. A weak and disintegrated curriculum is a source of another problem. Excessive attention to the American culture and inadequate attention to the culture of the rest of the world lead American people to a false confidence in the superiority of the American culture. However, the fact is that American â€Å"high school graduates are ranked low compared to other countries† (Bowsher, 146). Many people may say that I exaggerate the problem, because the United States is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and this fact is directly associated with a quality education. As to some lack of cultural education, they say, it can be filled at the higher educational level in college. Thus, these problems cannot be so global. Unfortunately, they are just so global. Evidently, the college education in the United States retains high standards that enable the U.S. to maintain its technology at the cutting edge. But students coming from high schools are often not ready for a more advanced study and must waste their time in noncredit courses (Burstein, par. 1). Alexander Burstein, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the Iowa State University, describes his view of this situation: Inadequate Secondary Education in the United States :: Educational Learning School Essays Inadequate Secondary Education in the United States ‘Tis education forms the common mind; Just as the twig is bent the tree’s inclined. Pope – Moral Essays Two years ago, I used to work at a photo shop in downtown Philadelphia. Except for me, the only foreigner, there were five Americans working there. Once, we talked about the American life in the beginning of the twentieth century. To support my opinion, I used an example from a short story called â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† by a famous American writer O. Henry. It was a very shocking experience for me to find out that nobody knew who O. Henry was or what he had done for the world literature. Since then, I met a lot of American people with a lack of basic cultural knowledge and, at the same time, with an outstanding professional expertise. Very quickly, I figured out that the root of this problem is in the secondary school education. The American secondary school pays too little attention to producing students with well-rounded education substituting the â€Å"what† with the â€Å"how†. Placing an undue emphasis on the methods of teaching and studying (the â€Å"how†) at the expense of the material being taught and studied (the â€Å"what†) makes the choice of what to teach of secondary importance. A weak and disintegrated curriculum is a source of another problem. Excessive attention to the American culture and inadequate attention to the culture of the rest of the world lead American people to a false confidence in the superiority of the American culture. However, the fact is that American â€Å"high school graduates are ranked low compared to other countries† (Bowsher, 146). Many people may say that I exaggerate the problem, because the United States is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and this fact is directly associated with a quality education. As to some lack of cultural education, they say, it can be filled at the higher educational level in college. Thus, these problems cannot be so global. Unfortunately, they are just so global. Evidently, the college education in the United States retains high standards that enable the U.S. to maintain its technology at the cutting edge. But students coming from high schools are often not ready for a more advanced study and must waste their time in noncredit courses (Burstein, par. 1). Alexander Burstein, an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the Iowa State University, describes his view of this situation:

The Signalman by Charles Dickens Essay -- Charles Dickens Signalman Es

The Signalman by Charles Dickens 'Halloa! Below there!' †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ A small expression that once understood strikes you with an essence of alarm, fear and intrigue. Throughout the short story of The Signalman, this quote was used several times and was repeated by several characters. Coincidence? Charles Dickens invites you to decide. This dissertation from www.coursework.info For the duration of this half term we have studied numerous short stories from the book Telling Tales. Throughout this period, we have developed our skills of assessing characters (characterisation), identifying language style and structure plus various others, and I will try to use my newly developed skills to answer our assigned question. Ultimately, we came round to The Signalman. The Signalman is a grim but well sustained story about an alleged encounter with something not of the natural world. This dissertation from www.coursework.info Throughout his story, Charles Dickens uses a variety of methods to create an atmosphere of tension, mystery and suspense. Suspense is created through supernatural horror and ambiguity. I will explore these qualities, which make this a good suspense story. The methods of creating tension include leaving characters anonymous, using similar gesticulation and supposed 'coincidences,' plus many others. Throughout this essay, I will explain all of these methods.cogd gdr segdgdw orgd gdk ingd fogd gd; The author of this short story was a man named Charles Dickens who wrote during the 19th century. The motivation for Charles Dickens writing this story was a terrible train wreck at Staplehurst, Kent, on 9 June 1865, in which several passengers died. Dickens was a passenger, and although he was fond of ra... ...ies entertaining; I think this is due to the twist at the end of the stories. To me this shows that an unexpected twist makes a good short story. It is evident that Dickens creates a lot of suspense throughout the story with the opening words and as he descends the cutting, looking at the signalman whose actions are very strange, plunging you immediately into the setting. Suspense is created as the signalman tells the gentleman of the strange happenings recently. Mystery surrounds the settings, which are even prone to something like this happening; the mystery also surrounds the two main characters, the Signalman and the narrator. They remain anonymous throughout so the mystery stays with them constantly. I feel that due to Dickens' ability to bring mystery and suspense to life are the main reasons behind what makes this story so fluent and mind initiating The Signalman by Charles Dickens Essay -- Charles Dickens Signalman Es The Signalman by Charles Dickens 'Halloa! Below there!' †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ A small expression that once understood strikes you with an essence of alarm, fear and intrigue. Throughout the short story of The Signalman, this quote was used several times and was repeated by several characters. Coincidence? Charles Dickens invites you to decide. This dissertation from www.coursework.info For the duration of this half term we have studied numerous short stories from the book Telling Tales. Throughout this period, we have developed our skills of assessing characters (characterisation), identifying language style and structure plus various others, and I will try to use my newly developed skills to answer our assigned question. Ultimately, we came round to The Signalman. The Signalman is a grim but well sustained story about an alleged encounter with something not of the natural world. This dissertation from www.coursework.info Throughout his story, Charles Dickens uses a variety of methods to create an atmosphere of tension, mystery and suspense. Suspense is created through supernatural horror and ambiguity. I will explore these qualities, which make this a good suspense story. The methods of creating tension include leaving characters anonymous, using similar gesticulation and supposed 'coincidences,' plus many others. Throughout this essay, I will explain all of these methods.cogd gdr segdgdw orgd gdk ingd fogd gd; The author of this short story was a man named Charles Dickens who wrote during the 19th century. The motivation for Charles Dickens writing this story was a terrible train wreck at Staplehurst, Kent, on 9 June 1865, in which several passengers died. Dickens was a passenger, and although he was fond of ra... ...ies entertaining; I think this is due to the twist at the end of the stories. To me this shows that an unexpected twist makes a good short story. It is evident that Dickens creates a lot of suspense throughout the story with the opening words and as he descends the cutting, looking at the signalman whose actions are very strange, plunging you immediately into the setting. Suspense is created as the signalman tells the gentleman of the strange happenings recently. Mystery surrounds the settings, which are even prone to something like this happening; the mystery also surrounds the two main characters, the Signalman and the narrator. They remain anonymous throughout so the mystery stays with them constantly. I feel that due to Dickens' ability to bring mystery and suspense to life are the main reasons behind what makes this story so fluent and mind initiating

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Essay

Introduction When working in a health and social environment, it is important that the surrounding nature is safe and free of any potential harm. A hazard is something that can possibly cause you this danger. Hazards range from something being misplaced to a broken object. When identifying a hazard, risk assessments would take place to find out the best and quickest solution to prevent any danger. The definition of a risk is the probability or threat of damage, injury, liability, loss, or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through preemptive action. In this booklet I will be identifying and explain the potential hazards in a college environment and how they could affect people’s wellbeing. Classroom Hazard – Windows & Loose Wires There are a number of different potential hazards in a classroom environment. One example would be windows in the classroom. Even though most people wouldn’t consider this as a major issue however if on a higher level in a building and the window was not risk assessed – possible harm could be caused. All windows in school facilities need to be safety checked to make sure an individual will not be able to climb out and potentially fall. These checks will consist of making sure the window has a limit distance of normally around 3  ½ inches [1]. This would be essential in an infant or nursery school as younger children tend to be attracted to what is going on outside and will not be aware of the possible risk they are causing to themselves. Another example of a potential hazard in a classroom is loose cables and wires. This is a common hazard that teachers and pupils do not pay attention to as they do not believe a hazard is there. However a loose wire has the ability to cause numbers of harm to an individual; tangled up wires can potentially cause a fire. As well as this, people may trip over the wires and harm themselves alongside damaging the cables. To reduce the risk of this hazard occurring, wires should be covered once trailed or taped down. Canteen Hazard – Fire Exits & Food Preparation A canteen contains many existing hazards one of which is to do with food preparation. A hazard in regards to this would be if cross contamination between raw and cooked food (for example) occurs. This would cause food poisoning to anyone purchasing from the canteen furthermore spread diseases. To inhibit this from happening kitchen staff would prepare food on separate, colored chopping boards and make sure that hands are clean from any food to prevent spread. Fire exits are vital in not just a working environment but in every type of building. Fire exits ensure a quick and easy escape in the event of a fire. If the exit is blocked or damaged in any way, this could seriously delay time and harm a person. Toilet Hazard – Wet Floor & Taps In regards to toilets, a wet floor could cause a person to serious injure themselves. A toilet requires to be kept clean at all times because it is a facility that is constantly at use. To prevent this, a cleaner would regularly make sure that the toilets are kept at a high standard. A tap may not be commonly thought of as a hazard however if at the wrong temperature the, this could potentially harm and burn an individual. It is said that the temperature of washbasins should be around 41 ºC for about 30 seconds [2] Outdoor Hazard – Weather Conditions & Litter An outdoor area can be a more hazardous place as a lot of things are happening at different speeds. Cars will be driving past nearby; people will be rushing to lessons or taking their time walking around. These situations become more dangerous as the weather changes – which in England, it does a lot. During the winter, the temperature drops and everything starts to get cold additionally start to freeze. When this happens the ground needs to be covered in a layer of salt. If the ground is not covered then the whole collage would be a t risk of slipping over and hurting themselves. P2 Legislations Health and Safety Work Act 1974 The main features of the health and safety at work act is that it provides a framework for ensuring that all employees are in and a health and safety environment. The employer and staff have duty to ensure the health and safety not only of themselves but also other persons who may frequent the premises, such as children and their parents. Employees are due undertake an approved first aid course and a named person should be appointed to take charge in the event of an accident. As well as this, properly stocked first aid kit should be available – no medication should be kept in the first aid kit. In regards to a healthcare setting, this ensures that children and elderly are looked after as they may not be able to independently. This legislation requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health such as toxic, corrosive or irritant chemicals like cleaning  products or even bodily fluids. In a setting such as a Nursery, hazardous substances that are not stored properly and are easily accessible to children may cause consummation further poisoning or spilling on themselves. This hazard could be minimized by storing these substances in a high, possibly locked, area so that children are not likely to get a hold of them and harm themselves. Also, the incorrect disposal of soiled nappies etc, can cause germs to spread and could cause infection or cross contaminations within the Nursery. This can be avoided by having a specific bin solely for the disposal of soiled nappies to ensure that harm cannot result from this. Food Safety (general food hygiene) Regulation 1995 The aim of this regulation is to prevent the spread of food poisoning by ensure that food are kept clean and in the correct standard. Also makes sure that personal hygiene is maintained and food is cooked thoroughly. Anyone who owns, manages or works in a food business – apart from those working in primary food production such as harvesting, slaughtering or milking – is affected by these Regulations. They apply to anything from a hot dog van to a five-star restaurant, from a village hall where food is prepared to a large supermarket, or to a vending machine. The Regulations apply to all types of food and drink and their ingredients. But some businesses – generally manufacturers of products of animal origin, such as dairies or wholesale fish markets – follow their own product specific regulations. Some of the procedures include; [3] make sure food is supplied or sold in a hygienic way;  identify food safety hazards;  know which steps in your activities are critical for food safety; ensure safety controls are in place, maintained and reviewed. Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 The Manual Handling Operations Regulations are aimed at helping employers and the self-employed to reduce the risk of these injuries and work related accidents occurring by effectively managing the movement of staff, equipment and objects. As far as reasonably practicable the employer must remove any need for their employees to undertake any form of manual handling where  there is a risk of them being injured. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations require employees to make full and proper use of any system of work put in place by the employer to reduce the risk of injury during manual handling. This ensures that all people in a healthcare setting are being treated correctly and safely. Reporting of Injuries, Disease Occurrences Regulations 1995 Reportable injuries (including deaths) do not have to be automatically reported, but must be reported if they occur as the result of a work-related accident. For the purposes of RIDDOR, an accident is a separate, identifiable, unintended incident that causes physical injury. This specifically includes acts of non-consensual violence to people at work. When deciding if the accident that led to the death or injury is work-related, the key issues to consider are whether the accident was related to: [4] the way in which the work was carried out;  any machinery, plant, substances or equipment used for work; and the condition of the site or premises where the accident happened. This is essential in a care setting as it is important to document any injuries that occur. This is because it may influence an individual’s health in the future. Policies & Procedures Policies ensure that everyone must work within the law and meet the minimum care standards set out by the legislation. Procedures on the other hand are the steps that are needed to be followed to ensure everyone’s safety within the workplace. Safeguarding policy The purpose of this policy is to guarantee that every child in the UK is ensured a safe, free from harm upbringing regardless of their age, gender,  religion or ethnicity. The main aims of the policy are: [6] protecting children from maltreatment  preventing impairment of children’s health or development ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome. Based on the fact that almost one in five children today experience serious physical abuse, sexual abuse or severe physical or emotional neglect at some point in their lifetime [7], this policy is crucial in a health care setting such as a nursery as it aids teachers and all staff in knowing what to do if they notice a negative change on a child. They will be able to then take on further action such as contacting the parents, police or social services for example. Reporting Accidents The reason why staff need to report any accident or injury that happen with a health care setting is report informs the enforcing authorities (HSE, local authorities and the Office for Rail Regulation (ORR)) about deaths, injuries, occupational diseases and dangerous occurrences, so they can identify where and how risks arise, and whether they need to be investigated. This allows the enforcing authorities to target their work and provide advice about how to avoid work-related deaths, injuries, ill health and accidental loss. [8] The accidents that may occur may not be just on the patient, child or elderly person, they may even be on a member of staff. For example, if an employee were to catch an illness and had to go to hospital, this would be documented as it would be able inform other staff furthermore take further action such as informing parents or checking on patient’s health. Infection Control Infection prevention and control is a key element of social care and is vital to the wellbeing of those people who need care and support. It is essential to ensure that people who use health and social care services receive safe  and effective care and it must be part of everyday practice and be applied consistently by everyone. For the majority of care staff working in a residential care home or agency – including many who regularly work alone – infection prevention and control training is an important part of their induction. Ensuring the appropriate infection prevention and control training is provided, helps employers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to comply with their requirements. Some of the common procedures the staff will be trained to do in a health care setting would be: [9] †¢Disposable gloves and plastic aprons should be worn for all personal care tasks and when in contact with blood or body fluids. †¢Cuts and abrasions or skin lesions (broken skin, eczema and psoriasis) should be covered by a waterproof dressing. †¢Blood and body fluids spillages should be dealt with immediately. †¢Sharps should be disposed of into an appropriate container. †¢Clothing and bedding should be handled and machine washed. If these procedures were not put in place endless of disastrous outcomes could take place. In a nursery, a child may cut their finger furthermore start to grab fruit from a bowl therefore spread his/hers blood as well as possible disease. In regards to a residential unit, if a member of kitchen staff was not to dispose the lid of a tin can, a patient may find it additionally use it to injure themselves and others, causing a huge risk to everyone involved. M1 Legislations, policies and procedures are vital in a health care setting as it affects the way employees are trained and how they act towards an individual furthermore it also affects the environment in the setting and how the room/building, equipment and furniture is laid out. A health care setting such as Little Dreams Nursery, it is clear that they follow the law to ensure the safety of the children. As you can see, a fire exit is clear from any objects and potential hazards as well as a grip mat which promotes even more security guarantying that no children will fall  over (in wet weather) while doing a fire drill. The mat does not necessary cover the fire drill policy however does support the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The nursery also clearly state their procedure during a fire evacuation – some being stated below [5]: †¢ All staff and children to assemble in a calm manner to the nearest available fire exit †¢ Room Leader must take the register   Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Staff must then do a quick head count whilst nursery manager / person in charge is checking all areas of the nursery †¢ In a calm and quick manner staff must then safely lead all the children to the assembly point (bottom of the garden) †¢ Room leader must then do a thorough head count If this policy was not in place or was not practiced by both children and staff, consequence could result into serious injury and possibly even death. Children are dependent on staff to guide them to safety as they do not have the ability to do it themselves. This is why all staff at all facilities should know a fire drill procedure off by heart to certify a quick, swift and safe technique. Another example of how legislations, policies and procedures help to promote the safety and security of individuals in a health care setting is by having staff training courses for all policies and procedures that are involved in the workplace. For instance, staff that work in an elderly home have to take communication training course. This would range from while bathing them, to morning talks. Because elderly people do not have the same social and mental development as they did in earlier years, they get forgetful, confused and sometimes even aggressive. By having a training course like this, staff and patients will be able to communicate effectively; whether that is in regards to asking about their medications or any difficulties that the individual may be having to staff asking Mr Smith how was he feeling today. References [1] http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID= 273 [2] file:///C:/Users/14072941/Downloads/Codesofpractice_highrisk.pdf [3] http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/adlib/defra/content.aspx?id=000IL3890W.184SZ8ZDD965AA [4] http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg453-rev1.pdf [5] {FIRE DRILLS} http://www.littledreamsnursery.com/policies-and-procedures [6] http://www.safenetwork.org.uk/getting_started/Pages/Why_does_safeguarding_matter.aspx [7] Based on NSPCC research with 11-17 year olds – Radford et al (2011) Child abuse and neglect in the UK today. [8] http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg453.pdf [9] http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.leics.gov.uk%2Finfectious_control_procedure.doc&ei=GBI0VJHDM8Kf7gaz0oD4DQ&usg=AFQjCNHF4y68ut-9icdb_HuGbmClHig76w

DBQ on Sectionalism Essay

During the period of 1850-1861, America was struggling to stay united as debates over several major issues started to take the forefront. After the war with Mexico ended in 1848, America gained the territories of Texas, New Mexico, and California through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Soon after, disputes over whether these states should be free states or slave states erupted. By 1850, a solution was found in the Compromise of 1850 where California would become a free state, and New Mexico and Texas would have popular sovereignty, allowing them to decide for themselves whether they would be slave states or not. The Fugitive Slave Act was also written in 1850 in an effort to satisfy southern slave owners by requiring northerners to return any runaway slaves back to their owners in the South. The combination of the Compromise of 1850 and The Fugitive Slave Act, along with debates over the Constitution and popular sovereignty, started to impact the unity of the nation and potentially split the North and South even more. The actions of the government during the period of 1850-1861 contributed to the deteriorating conditions of America, particularly in the Constitution and the Fugitive Slave Act. In 1852, William Lloyd Garrison expressed the idea that the Constitution influenced slavery in America despite the fact that nothing about slavery was directly mentioned. He feels that a government in support of slavery is corrupt and cannot be trusted and that the people need to overthrow it. The Constitution’s inability to stop slavery leads to division among the people who support slavery and the people who do not. In this way, the government played a part in the weakening of the Union (Doc. E). The Fugitive Slave Act, a part of the Compromise of 1850, helped intensify tension between the pro-slavery South and anti-slavery North. In Boston, freed slaves had to be warned to avoid any interaction with watchmen and police in Boston, who now had the ability to send them back into slavery. The Fugitive Slave Act further divided the North and South because it forced the anti-slavery North to go against its beliefs and involve itself in the institution of slavery instead of preventing it (Doc. C). Ralph Waldo Emerson further describes the immortality of the Fugitive Slave Act by comparing the government’s varying  disciplines on the institution. In 1807, Congress had banned the importation of slaves into America, but by 1850, they encouraged the capturing of freed slaves in the North and sending them back into servitude. This contradiction adds to division because it proved to northerners that the government would bend to the South’s desire to keep slavery. Emerson viewed this act as immoral and felt that if the government implemented it, the Union would immediately fall apart. In a way, Emerson’s view was not wrong, as the Fugitive Slave Act did contribute to increasing division between the North and South over slavery (Doc. D). Another issue that led to the crumbling of the Union was the debate over popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty embodied the idea that the new states coming into the Union should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they would allow slavery or not. This belief is rooted in the Compromise of 1850, which was basically an effort to maintain the balance between the slave states in the South and the free states in the North. A map depicting the Compromise of 1850 shows the slave states in the South, the free states in the North, and the new territories that could be swayed either way. The reason the possibility of popular sovereignty in these territories caused controversy was because whatever way they went, they could potentially upset the balance between the North and South, which could lead to serious conflict over slavery (Doc. A). President Jefferson Davis further explains the debate over popular sovereignty in terms of the Constitution. Although the Constitution does address state power through amendments, it was unable to prevent opinions regarding a lack of state sovereignty from developing in the North. This proves that the Constitution was becoming weak and unable to meet the conditions of that time period. Also, the states are beginning to feel entitled to their rights and are forgetting that the Union existed based on a combination of the states (Doc. H). The Kansas and Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and gave the settlers of that land the right to decide whether they would be slave states or not. This act increased tensions around slavery amongst the settlers and thus led to violence because some settlers were advocates of slavery and then others were against slavery. The artist of this cartoon depicted a freesoiler being held down by Presidential  nominee James Buchanan and Democratic senator Lewis Cass on the â€Å"Democratic Platform,† which was a shot at the Democratic Party because many blamed them for the increase in violence towards anti-slavery settlers in Kansas. The platform is labeled with â€Å"Kansas,† â€Å"Cuba,† and â€Å"Central America,† which represents the alleged Democratic goals of spreading slavery outside of America. The freesoiler is being fed a slave by Democratic senator Stephen A. Douglas and President Franklin Pierce. This cartoon shows that many people felt that the new states were being forced to accept slavery by the Democratic Party (Doc. F). Sectionalism increased tensions between the North and South and thus contributed to the failure of the Union by splitting the nation apart on several key issues. Sectionalism is when a part of the nation, either the North or South, puts their owns interests over the whole nation’s concerns. Sectionalism can often lead to states breaking apart from the Union. From the period 1850-1861, the North and South were split over slavery and whether the new territories being added to the Union should be slave or free. The only way to prevent conflict over sectional issues is to have a strong Constitution that addresses the needs of each area of the country. Without that, the Union will inevitably fail (Doc. B). President James Buchanan, who felt that in order to preserve the Union, the Constitution must protect the rights of the South, further explains this idea. If the needs of the states are not met, then the states have the right to withdraw from the Union because of their own sovere ignty. To prevent the succession of the South, Congress should recognize slavery, protect the right of slavery in new territories, and support the Fugitive Slave Act (Doc. G). President Abraham Lincoln felt that sectionalism and succession would lead to the demise of the Union. To even consider leaving the Union, a state has to feel that it is better than all the others and will be more successful on its own. However, no state in America had ever been on its own, leading President Lincoln to believe that no state can truly fend for itself (Doc. I). Because it was believed that succession would lead to the failure of the Union, sectionalism was discouraged because it would split the country apart. In reality, sectionalism occurred anyway and resulted in the North and South being divided based on slavery. The actions of the government along with conflicts over popular sovereignty in new territories and sectionalism contributed to increasing tensions between the North and South, especially over slavery, and overall weakened the Union. The actions the government took during the period of 1850-1861 influenced the division between the North and South over slavery by passing the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act. The Compromise of 1850 created controversy over popular sovereignty because it would give new states the right to decide for themselves if they would support slavery or not. The combination of government actions and popular sovereignty resulted in sectionalism, which furthered the divide between the North and South.