Archive for February, 2010
February 25th, 2010 | 
Author: What are the Management Standards for work related stress?
The Management Standards define the characteristics, or culture, of an organisation where the risks from work related stress are being effectively managed and controlled.
The Management Standards cover six key areas of work design that, if not properly managed, are associated with poor health and well-being, lower productivity and increased sickness absence. In other words, the six Management Standards cover the primary sources of stress at work. These are:
* Demands[1] – this includes issues such as workload, work patterns and the work environment.
* Control[2] – how much say the person has in the way they do their work.
* Support[3] – this includes the encouragement, sponsorship and resources provided by the organisation, line management and colleagues.
* Relationships[4] – this includes promoting positive working to avoid conflict and dealing with unacceptable behaviour.
* Role[5] – whether people understand their role within the organisation and whether the organisation ensures that they do not have conflicting roles.
* Change[6] – how organisational change (large or small) is managed and communicated in the organisation.
The Management Standards represent a set of conditions that, if present, reflect a high level of health well-being and organisational performance.
The Management Standards:
* demonstrate good practice through a step by step risk assessment approach;
* allow assessment of the current situation using surveys and other techniques;
* promote active discussion and working in partnership with employees to help decide on practical improvements that can be made;
* help simplify risk assessment for work related stress by:
o identifying the main risk factors for work related stress;
o helping employers focus on the underlying causes and their prevention; and
o providing a yardstick by which organisations can gauge their performance in tackling the key causes of stress.
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How to Use Herbs
So you’ve decided you want to incorporate herbal remedies into your health regimen. Congratulations! You’re embarking on a journey that will help your body heal itself from the inside out in a way that is much more natural, safe and gentle than conventional medicine.
It’s also a journey that can be a little confusing. There are many different types of herbal remedies out there. Sometimes you will find the same herb sold in many different preparations. What do all those different terms mean? Here’s a rundown of some of the most common ways medicinal herbs are sold and used.
Tablets and Capsules: Like conventional drugs, herbs are often packaged and sold in tablet and capsule form. Tablets involve compressing an herb into a round or cylindrical shape, usually with some sort of binder, colorant, flavorings and coating that prevents them from breaking down in the body too quickly. Capsules are usually made of gelatin and the herb is placed inside the shell. Other ingredients can also be mixed in to make the herb taste better or to prevent it from being digested too quickly. Vegetarians can find capsules made of vegetable cellulose, but check the label to make sure you know you’re not getting any animal products.
Extracts: Herbal extracts may be sold as tablets or capsules, but the herbs contained in an extract are far more concentrated than those in a standard pill. Extracts are made by soaking the herbs in alcohol or water (or a combination) and filtering and drying the herb at low heat. Much like culinary herbs become stronger when dried, herbal extracts are highly concentrated remedies, allowing you to take many fewer pills to get a large dose. The liquid part of an extract can also be taken as an herbal remedy. Liquid extracts are usually taken sublingually, that is, under the tongue. This allows for immediate absorption of the herb.