Benefits of Elearning
The way we learn, consume and digest information is forever changing and improving. Elearning has significantly changed the way we learn and we teach. There are many benefits of Elearning for students;
1. Independence & Flexibility
Lectures can be taken be taken at your own pace, you define your own speed. Its a very convenient and flexible option, you don’t have to depend on anyone. Lectures are not going to be canceled or rescheduled as with some classroom environments. Unlike classrooms, if you miss the day or hour of that lesson being taught, unfortunately you have just missed it. With elearning you can take the class any day at any time at your own pace.
2. Quick delivery of Lessons
Lessons start up and finish quickly compared to a traditional classroom setting. Lessons are kept on track, there is no set up and winding down period. This allows the individual to complete a series of lessons or a course much quicker. Learners learn what they need to know and can skip elements of the subject matter that they don’t need to learn, saving more time.
3. Lectures can be taken multiple times
If you didn’t understand something or found the lesson confusing in any way, you can go back and keep learning until you fully understand, then you can move onto the next lesson. There is ongoing access to key resources.
4. Content is not stale or outdated
Depending on the subject, lecturers might not be up to date with the latest content or technology as they are not working in the industry. Because of the competition in the Elearning industry it has set very high standards for courses.
5. Reduced cost and time and travel
The biggest cost of training and courses in organisations and individuals is the cost of attending the training course, rather then the direct delivery costs in terms of trainers, course materials, travel and time. This is especially evident with companies or individuals working or living in remote locations. There is also a reduction in cost for breaks and meals; For breaks the cost of your time might be better spent on something else especially if its a night course and you are trying to get home. You may go to a cafe or buy lunch or dinner during a break which are sometimes unexpected costs.
6. Environment
Digital learning is an effective way to significantly reduce energy usage and your carbon footprint by up to 90%. It cuts down on travel, eliminates the need for paper or textbooks, and reduces the resources needed to maintain a facility, accommodation and equipment.
10 Rules for Food Safety in the Workplace
What is meant by Food Safety in the workplace?
If your workplace has a fridge, a microwave, or a kitchenette of any type, food safety rules apply to you. If your work has ever held a potluck, food safety rules apply to you. If your workplace has ever ordered in food, food safety rules apply to you. If you bring a lunch to work, food safety rules apply to you. Essentially, food safety rules ought to be followed anywhere that there is food! Below are ten rules for food safety. These are general tips that apply to all workplaces.
Rule #1
Keep raw food separate from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination. If raw food is spilled, or comes in contact with cooked food, clean it up and discard cooked food.
Rule #2
Know the Danger Zone! Bacteria can grow in temperatures between 40F and 140F, so keep hot food hot (above 140F) and cold food cold (below 40FC)!
Rule #3
Place raw food on the bottom of fridge. Avoid having raw food thaw and rip on other refrigerated items by placing raw food on the lowest shelf.
Rule #4
Wash fresh fruits, vegetables, and bagged salads and spinach. Washing produce ensures that harmful pesticides or raw food bacteria are removed before consumption.
Rule #5
Clean your work fridge out from time to time. Removed outdated products, questionable looking items, and any Tupperware that looks like a science experiment.
Rule #6
Keep the work refrigerator cool (below 40F). Install a thermometer in the fridge to be sure.
Rule #7
If you work has a microwave, be sure to keep it clean and free of debris. Have all employees cover their food when microwaving to prevent food from splattering.
Rule #8
To avoid harmful bacteria growth after a pot-luck lunch, ensure that all left overs get packaged up separately, and refrigerated right away.
Rule #9
If your work has a barbeque and hosts cook-outs for staff, ensure that meat is grilled to the appropriate internal temperatures. Have a meat thermometer on hand.
Rule #10
After preparing your lunch, heating a dish for a pot-luck or a BBQ, or dishing out some ordered food, ensure that proper clean up and disinfecting of all prep areas is completed.
What is the No 1 Rule of an Employer?
Look after your employees and they will look after your Business. A happy employee is a more productive employee
There are so many reasons to look after your employees in the work place and make sure that they are happy.
Research suggests that a happy person works better and lives better. It’s a stressful world around us and sometimes it can be difficult to stay happy in all aspects of life, and to get a good work-life balance. Of course, working better can further improve your employees’ happiness if it leads to promotions or pay rises. So why not make them happy and look after their wellbeing. In return you should see your own benefits with reduced absence management levels.
So how can you look after their health and wellbeing at work?
- Talk: It’s a simple action done all day – but the important part is talking about what matters. It can help hugely in general wellbeing to just learn to let it out and deal with those times with others, rather than alone no matter how small. Everyone has moments when they feel overwhelmed and sometimes it helps to just talk to someone.
- Eat Well: The better your employees eat the better they will feel about themselves and everything around them, mentally and physically. Provide a free fruit day in the office to promote healthy eating.
- Have fun with friends and family: Spend time with those you are close too, encourage laughing as it is infectious!
- Stay Active: Employees don’t need to run marathons but they can just go outside and take a stroll. They’ll get fresh air, they’ll get exercise and they’ll enjoy the sun (when it’s there!). There are experts that believe exercise releases chemicals in the body that make people feel good – so go grab those walking shoes!
- Do something you love: It doesn’t matter what it is just something it!
- Sleep: People do not get enough of this; there is always something that needs to be done, something they want to watch on TV, but trying to ensure and encourage your employees to get enough sleep is essential in their wellbeing.
Everyone deserves to get the most out of themselves and their life and it’s amazing how one thing can affect everything else around you in your personal and professional life.
Always have a health and safety plan in place because you never know when you will need to put this plan into action. Educate and inform employees of the dangers in a work place.
Are you safety aware in the work place?
Take a moment to think about how your employees look after their wellbeing and what you do as a company to help.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
What does EFSA do?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides independent scientific advice on food-related risks.
EFSA issues advice on existing and emerging food risks. This advice informs European laws, rules and policymaking – and so helps protect consumers from risks in the food chain. Its remit covers:
- food and feed safety
- nutrition
- animal health and welfare
- plant protection
- plant health.
EFSA’s work involves:
- gathering scientific data and expertise
- providing independent, up-to-date scientific advice on food safety issues
- communicating its scientific work to the public
- cooperating with EU countries, international bodies, and other stakeholders
- boosting trust in the EU’s food safety system by providing dependable advice.
Structure
EFSA is governed by a management board with 15 members. The board members act in the public interest. They do not represent any government, organisation or industry sector.
The board sets EFSA’s budget and approves its annual work programme.
EFSA’s executive director is responsible for operational and staffing matters. He also draws up the annual work programme together with the Commission, the European Parliament and the EU countries.
The advisory forum advises the executive director. In particular, it advises him on drafting the proposal for the work programme.
The forum is made up of representatives of national bodies responsible for risk assessment in the EU countries. There are also observers from Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and the Commission.
EFSA’s scientific work is led by its scientific committee and its 10 panels, made up of leading scientists.
If more specialised knowledge is needed, a panel may set up a working group. These groups include both EFSA scientists and external experts.
EFSA also works closely with other EU agencies active in the field of health and safety issues relating to humans, animals and the environment:
- European Medicines Agency (EMA)
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- European Environmental Agency (EEA)
- European consumers – among the best protected and informed in the world about food chain risks
- EU institutions and national governments in charge of managing public health issues and authorising the use of food and feed products.