Precautionary advice on cooking frozen vegetables

This article was originally posted by Food Standards Agency

Cooking Frozen Vegetables

People should always follow manufacturers’ instructions when preparing their food. If the product is not labelled as “ready to eat”, the cooking instructions should always be followed before eating the food hot or cold.

Frozen sweetcorn is the likely source of an ongoing outbreak of listeriosis affecting five European countries including the United Kingdom. Listeriosis is a rare but serious foodborne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that can be more serious for those individuals who have… continue reading 

Hidden Health and Safety Costs that are Easily Avoidable

VDU DSE

VDU or Video Display Units  and DSE or Display screen equipment are now widely used in the workplace and have been proven to be a significant factor to workplace injuries such as;

• Repetitive strain
• Eye Strain
• Back Injury
• Neck Injury
• Stress

Along with these injuries, it can also decrease productivity of employees if they are not comfortable in work and are developing injuries. As well as reducing these sometimes hidden and underestimated health and safety costs, carrying out a VDU DSE assessment has also been proven to contribute to business success. As well as general duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, there is a minimum health and safety requirements for work with display screen equipment, specific duties on employers and employees.

Who is affected?

Those who are covered by the VDU DSE regulations include;

• If the employee has no choice but to use the VDU to carry out her/his work
• If the employee normally uses the VDU for continuous periods of more than one hour
• If the VDU is generally used by the employee on a daily basis

Those who are not covered by the DSE and VDU regulations include;

• Drivers’ cabs or control cabs for vehicles or machinery
• Computer systems on board a means of transport
• Computer systems mainly intended for public use
• Portable display screen equipment not in prolonged use at a workstation
• Calculators, cash registers and any equipment having a small data or measurement display required for direct use of the equipment
• Typewriters of traditional design, of the type known as “typewriter with window”

Source – HSA

Solution

Employers are required to evaluate health and safety at work stations with particular references to eyesight, physical difficulties and mental stress. Work station analysis is an important component of ensuring a safe place of work for all employees.

At Elearn we provide a VDU DSE Office course that all employers and staff who use these work stations for any length of time should do to learn how to avoid the range of adverse effects on the arm, hand and shoulder (WRULD’s) and other parts of the body. Click here to find out more information.

Why is it important to have Food Safety training?

Every restaurant needs to take pride in serving safe and great food to their customers. It is one of the most important focuses in all food establishments. A thorough understanding of food safety is essential for food handlers to demonstrate food hygiene best practice, to prevent risk of contamination or foodborne illnesses. Food handlers and food businesses are responsible for the safety of the food that they provide to consumers. Their responsibilities include ensuring food is safe for consumption, and that its quality meets expectations.

The different types of foodborne illnesses

Chemical contamination

Chemical contaminants may be harmful to health at certain levels. It is necessary to manage their levels in food and reduce exposure to consumers. This type refers to food that been contaminated with some type of chemical. Chemical contaminants can enter the food chain from multiple sources. Contamination can occur during primary production from various environmental sources including:

• Pollution
• Waste from factories
• Landfills
• Incinerators
• Fires
• During cooking and processing
• Storage – mycotoxins
• Transportation and handling
• Time, temperature and humidity

Common types of chemicals are in cleaning products you use to clean the kitchen. However there are certain chemicals that occur naturally in food. There are many natural chemicals present in our foods, including nutrients such as vitamin C as well as chemicals responsible for the aroma and flavour that we love in our foods. Natural food chemicals may also be poisonous to humans, which is why some plants are poisonous to eat.

Physical contamination

This type refers to contamination by a foreign object at some stage of the production process. These objects have the ability to injure someone and can also potentially carry harmful biological contaminants, which causes illness. Examples of physical contamination include;

• Band-aids
• Fingernails
• Pieces of cooking equipment

These are the last thing you would like to find on your meal. That is why all bandaids must be bright blue by people working with food so it is easily identifiable as its an unnatural colour in the food industry.

Biological contamination

This type refers to the food that has been contaminated by substances produced by living creatures, such as humans, rodants, pests or microorganisms. This includes bacterial contamination, viral contamination or parasite contamination that’s transferred through;

• Salvia
• Pest droppings
• Blood
• Fecal matter

Baterial contamination is thought to be the most common cause of food poisoning worldwide. Bacteria need a constant source of food to survive, especially protein. High protein foods such as meat are particularly vulnerable to biological contamination from bacteria, which means they’re considered high-risk foods.

If you are looking to get qualified in Food Safety (HACCP)  have a look at our course breakdown here.

Fire Safety for Kids this Halloween

Fire Safety for Kids

Do you know what to do in the event of an out of control fire? Do you’re kids know? Taking fire safety precautions for yourself and your kids is vital but don’t forget to also education them about the importance of fire safety so they are able to carry out their own fire safety practises. its a vital skill to teach your children.

This Halloween night is the perfect time to talk with your kids, especially if they are attending or involved with organising a bonfire.

Put out the fire

Having a plan on place to put out a fire is vital, however also is showing your kids how to use the method you have selected. Most people will opt for a fire extinguisher, here are the simple steps you can go over with them;

1. Pull the pin – release the pin with the nozzle pointing away from you
2. Aim low – aim at the base of the fire not the flames its-self to suffocate the flames
3. Squeeze the lever slowly and carefully – so as to avoid control loss
4. Move the nozzle slowly from side to side – covering the surface where the fire is.

Teaching your kids these basic steps may prevent a bad situation and may even save lives. If there is no fire extinguisher to hand, the following is a list of alternatives that are suitable to grab;

• Salt – this disperses heat and minimises oxygen supply to a fire
• Baking soda – the powder substance smothers the fuel and cools the fire at the base of the flame
• Bucket of water – smothers the oxygen
• Bucket of sand – also smothers the oxygen

Although these are good to know alternatives to extinguish a fire, a conventional fire extinguisher is recommended to use where-ever possible.

Escape route Plan

Never put yourself in a position where if the fire spreads you have no route away from it. Ideally you should designate two ways away. Escape routes should be kept clear of all obstructions. Generally escape routes should be at least one meter wide which will ideally lead to an outside open space away from the building or the fire location. Security should never take precedence over safety.

When planning a fire, or not. All premises and events should have an escape plan that clearly identifies the action people should take in the event of a fire. This may include duties for an assigned fire officer to check areas are clear, close doors and assist others.

Stop, Drop and Roll

In the event that someone or your kids do catch on fire, its essential to teach them what to do in this event. Make sure they understand the ‘Stop, Drop and Roll’ procedure. Act it out with them and have them practise it a few times with you, the action should be quick and firm. Many fire related injuries could be avoided or greatly minimised if a child knows how to do this instead of the natural instinct of running.

Please keep yourself and your kids safe particularly this Halloween!

Childrens Safety in this Digital Age

Childrens Safety

​In a world where children are “growing up digital,” it’s important to help them learn healthy concepts of digital use and citizenship. Parents play an important role in teaching these skills of childrens safety.

Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting style. When used thoughtfully and appropriately, media can enhance daily life. But when used inappropriately or without thought, media can displace many important activities such as face-to-face interaction, family-time, outdoor-play, exercise, unplugged downtime and sleep.

Treat media as you would any other environment in your child’s life

The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children’s friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using, what sites they are visiting on the web, and what they are doing online.

Set limits and encourage playtime

Media use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Unstructured and offline play stimulates creativity. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority, especially for very young children.

Screen time shouldn’t always be alone time

Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens—​it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your kids. It’s a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Watch a show with them; you will have the opportunity to introduce and share your own life experiences and perspectives—and guidance. Don’t just monitor them online—interact with them, so you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.

Be a good role model

Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Because children are great mimics, limit your own media use. In fact, you’ll be more available for and connected with your children if you’re interacting, hugging and playing with them rather than simply staring at a screen.

Know the value of face-to-face communication

Very young children learn best through two-way communication. Engaging in back-and-forth “talk time” is critical for language development. Conversations can be face-to-face or, if necessary, by video chat with a traveling parent or far-away grandparent. Research has shown that it’s that “back-and-forth conversation” that improves language skills—much more so than “passive” listening or one-way interaction with a screen.

Their Limit digital media for your youngest family members

Avoid digital media for toddlers younger than 18 to 24 months other than video chatting. For children 18 to 24 months, watch digital media with them because they learn from watching and talking with you. Limit screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just 1 hour a day of high-quality programing. Co-viewing is best when possible and for young children. They learn best when they are re-taught in the real world what they just learned through a screen. So, if Ernie just taught the letter D, you can reiterate this later when you are having dinner or spending time with your child.

Create tech-free zones

Keep family mealtimes, other family and social gatherings, and children’s bedrooms screen free. Turn off televisions that you aren’t watching, because background TV can get in the way of face-to-face time with kids. Recharge devices overnight—outside your child’s bedroom to help him or her avoid the temptation to use them when they should be sleeping. These changes encourage more family time, healthier eating habits, and better sleep.

Don’t use technology as an emotional pacifier

Media can be very effective in keeping kids calm and quiet, but it should not be the only way they learn to calm down. Children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions, come up with activities to manage boredom, or calm down through breathing, talking about ways to solve the problem, and finding other strategies for channelling emotions.

Apps for kids – do YOUR homework

More than 80,000 apps are labelled as educational, but little research has demonstrated their actual quality. Products pitched as “interactive” should require more than “pushing and swiping.” Look to organisations like Common Sense Media for reviews about age-appropriate apps, games and programs to guide you in making the best choices for your children.

It’s OK for your teen to be online

Online relationships are part of typical adolescent development. Social media can support teens as they explore and discover more about themselves and their place in the grown-up world. Just be sure your teen is behaving appropriately in both the real and online worlds. Many teens need to be reminded that a platform’s privacy settings do not make things actually “private” and that images, thoughts, and behaviours teens share online will instantly become a part of their digital footprint indefinitely. Keep lines of communication open and let them know you’re there if they have questions or concerns.

Warn children about the importance of privacy and the dangers of predators and sexting

Teens need to know that once content is shared with others, they will not be able to delete or remove it completely, and includes texting of inappropriate pictures. They may also not know about or choose not to use privacy settings, and they need to be warned that sex offenders often use social networking, chat rooms, e-mail, and online gaming to contact and exploit children.

Remember: Kids will be kids

Kids will make mistakes using media. Try to handle errors with empathy and turn a mistake into a teachable moment. But some indiscretions, such as sexting, bullying, or posting self-harm images, may be a red flag that hints at trouble ahead. Parents must observe carefully their children’s behaviours and, if needed, enlist supportive professional help, including the family pediatrician.

Media and digital devices are an integral part of our world today. The benefits of these devices, if used moderately and appropriately, can be great. But, research has shown that face-to-face time with family, friends, and teachers plays a pivotal and even more important role in promoting children’s learning and healthy development. Keep the face-to-face up front, and don’t let it get lost behind a stream of media and tech.

What should I know about fire safety?

We are talking today about fire safety because it’s that time of the year again when temperatures start to drop, and you find yourself turning on your stove and cranking up the heat. Being up to date with the fire safety procedure is essential. To protect your family, you need to take the following steps to help prevent fires in the home—and to keep everyone safe in the event of one.

Install and Maintain Smoke Alarms:

Smoke alarms give you an early warning of a fire, giving you time to escape with your children before your house is filled with flames and smoke. Most fatal fires occur at night, when people are sleeping, so an early warning is crucial. Smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by 50 percent.

How Many Smoke Alarms Do You Need?

The amount of smoke alarms you should have depends on the size of your house. Bryant recommends a minimum of one alarm per level of your house. If your house is multi-leveled, he says you should have one at the top of the stairs, in every cooking area and in the living room. You should also make sure that there is an alarm outside every room that a person sleeps in.

Test your Smoke Alarms

Make sure that smoke alarms are in order and everyone in your family is familiar with its sound.  Educate them that this particular sound means danger and they must evacuate the building immediately.

Change Smoke Alarms batteries

Remind yourself to change smoke alarms batteries one or twice a year. Give it fresh batteries and your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping.

How to escape during a fire.

It is always important to make a family escape plan by highlighting two escape routes for every room and a safe meeting place for all family members to gather outside of your home. This worksheet offers a handy way to make a fire escape plan for your family. Once you’ve established your escape plan, practice it regularly with your family.  Choose a meeting place outside, so you would know that everyone has gotten out safely.

Fire is a dangerous thing but if you are fully prepared and have a plan in place it could help you to save your life and lives of your loved ones. Do not ignore safety procedures make sure that you are aware of the danger and comply with safety regulations.

Our Fire Safety training course can help you to control the risk of fire and trains participants how to act safely in case of emergency, get more information here.