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Inorganic Industrial Degreasing Solvents Present Safety Issues

Industrial degreasing solvents are used as a cleaning agent in professional parts washing and machinery washing. These chemicals might be sprayed, brushed, or wiped directly onto the surface of the contaminated part to remove grease, dirt, or dust. While these degreasers effectively remove contaminants from machinery and extend the useful life of these parts, some of these liquids contain unsafe compounds. When businesses do not properly research the chemicals that they utilize, they run the risk of harming employees and the environment by exposing them to toxic chemicals. This article will take a look at some of the most dangerous substances contained in the industrial degreasing solvents. Business owners should familiarize themselves with the compounds in this article so that they will be able to identify unsafe chemicals and keep them from harming employees and the surrounding environment.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organizations like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made a point to focus on the presence of VOCs in cleaning products. In reality, VOCs are safe when consumed in small doses but when individuals are exposed to a high level of VOCs they could experience health issues. Symptoms of high VOC exposure include nausea, headaches, kidney damage, liver damage, and a shutdown of the central nervous system. It is important for companies to evaluate the VOC levels in industrial degreasing solvents before making a purchase.

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)

Degreasers that contain HAPs are problematic because when these substances are used, they emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Individuals who work in environments where HAPs are present could inhale these pollutants and become sick. Depending on how long an individual is exposed to HAPs, he or she can develop dizziness, upset stomach, breathing issues, infertility, or nerve damage. Luckily companies can prevent the introduction of HAPs into the workspace by obtaining a list of HAPs from the EPA and using this list when evaluating the degreasers that are available on the market. Being thorough during a search will allow the company to save money by avoiding costly lawsuits and insurance price hikes.

Isopropyl Alcohol

Found in some degreasers, isopropyl alcohol is another toxin that can harm humans. The chemical leads to dry skin and drowsiness while irritating the eyes, nose, and throat. Another major risk associated with using isopropyl alcohol is that it is a very flammable substance, so its presence in a working environment can produce an unsafe workplace for employees.

Acetone

Acetone is another ingredient that is found in some industrial degreasing solvents that is also an extreme fire hazard. Employees who come in frequent contact with acetone have reported skin dryness, headaches, and even eyes, nose, and throat irritation.

Freon

Freon is not a common ingredient in industrial degreasing solvents but is still present in some solutions. While this chemical contains a low level of toxicity and low fire hazard level, it can still cause employees to experience dry skin and light headedness.

These are just some of the substantial number of harmful chemicals that can be found in industrial degreasing solvents. Businesses should protect their employees by doing their homework before purchasing degreasers, with the best choice usually being to buy organic.

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The Presenter’s Guide to Web-casting

Useful hints and tips about preparing to present a web-cast presentation.

It has become more and more common for conference presentations to be web-cast. This increase in popularity is due to a number of factors. For example:

o The demands on people’s time, or the reality of financial constraints, can result in many people being unable to attend conferences, especially if there’s a need to travel any distance.

o Most organisations are fully aware of the environmental issues involved when their staff have to travel distances, especially by car.

o Social factors, such as young families or caring considerations, can often influence people’s decision to attend a conference or seminar.

With these in mind, web-casting is a growing option for those who can’t attend an event but who are interested in the topics being covered. However, web-casting your presentation can be quite different from presenting to your live conference audience.

So, if your conference presentation is likely to be web-cast (and the likelihood is increasing) it might be helpful to understand what factors you should consider.

Most of the hints and tips contained in this bulletin are really just common sense and, dare I say it, plain good manners.

Consider the Remote Viewer as Part of the Live Audience

It’s very easy when you are in full flow to forget that you have people joining in via your web-cast. So, when you’re developing your presentation cues and reminders, make a note about acknowledging your remote viewers, both at the beginning of your presentation and frequently during it. It is equally important to build a rapport with your external audience as it is with the live audience in the auditorium.

A Different Perspective

When your presentation is being viewed by a remote viewer their perspective is different from that of a live audience.

On the following page is a typical layout of what a viewer would see during a live or archived web-cast.

You’ll notice from this graphic that the screen is divided up into different sections and that the video of the presenter appears at the top left of the screen.

To the presenter’s left is the area showing the presenter’s PowerPoint slides. It is therefore important for continuity and clarity that you always have your PowerPoint screen to your left when delivering your presentation to your live audience. This allows the remote viewer to follow your eyes or hands when you refer directly to the PowerPoint information. There’s nothing more distracting than a presenter referring to something to their right when you are seeing it positioned to their left on the web-cast screen.

A word about PowerPoint slides.

We’ve all suffered “death by PowerPoint” at some time or another. Why? Because too many PowerPoint users forget that their audience can read and they make the classic error of displaying long pieces of text on all but a few of their slides. Don’t do it.

The other common error in presentation is to read out what is up on the screen for all to see. Don’t do this either.

If you do decide to make these types of errors, we can just about guarantee that your audiences (live and web-cast) will lose interest. And that means your presentation will lose impact and the messages you’ve prepared may be lost.

Wherever possible, try to use graphics instead of text – but avoid the mistake of using Clip Art – if only because everyone else has already used it over the past 20 years and audiences have already seen all the clip art they can be expected to cope with in a life time. It’s also very unoriginal.

Probably the best book on creating PowerPoint presentations is Nick Oulton’s Killer Presentations. If you follow his basic rules you’ll be able to create truly memorable presentations to engage your audience and significantly enhance your presentation.

Incidentally, from a technical point of view, it’s always best to use a font size that’s no smaller than 12 points (bigger if you can) and try not to make the slide too busy.

Preparation

If your conference organizer asks you for your PowerPoint slides 48 hours before the event they are doing this for a very good reason. It’s because they need to get your presentation over to the web-cast company so they can upload it to their server and, if necessary, make any changes to the format if it’s not compatible with the web-cast.

If the organizers can’t access your slides until the morning of the conference, or you decide to make last minute changes, you create huge problems for the web-caster, the possibility of additional charges to the organizers and the potential for disaster when the cameras roll and 5000 people tune in to see your performance.

Again, it’s simply good manners, not to mention professionalism, to have everything prepared prior to the actual event.

Another little technical point is a microphone. If your conference organizer can provide a tie-clip microphone you’ll be in a much stronger position, since your audience will hear you clearly, especially those who are viewing via web-cast. And remember, unless the lectern has two microphones, one on either side, you run the risk of losing volume when you turn to address the screen.

Finally, a word about presentation style. Some people love to wander all over the stage. Because of lighting conditions and light-spill from the screen, this can cause headaches for the web-cast camera operator and, during your presentation, you may suddenly disappear into silhouette. If you must go for a walk, do it an hour or so before going on stage.

Questions from the Audience

If you are taking questions from the audience, it’s always helpful if you can either repeat them or rephrase them for the remote audience, especially if the organizer did not provide remote microphones for audience questions. Also make sure that you look over to the web-cast moderator who’ll indicate if there are any questions from the remote audience. The moderator will tell you who is asking the question and what the question is. When you reply, it’s nice to repeat the questioner’s name in your response.

If you stick to these simple suggestions it will help your organizer deliver a more effective and engaging conference to their remote viewers.

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Top Christmas Presents 2012 – 5 Fabulous Products To Help Your Female Friends Feel And Look Younger

Women have always been conscious about their skin. Though it may be of less importance to you now, when you hit a certain age, you would try every means to make your skin look younger, softer and smoother. Now that Christmas is fast approaching, why don’t you learn about the top presents for your best female friends?

Skincare products are one of the best gifts you can ever give nowadays. There are definitely lots of beauty and skincare products available on the market today. All promises impressive effects but not all of them are capable of living up to their promise. Make sure to choose products which have the ultimate capacity to help in combating the effects of ageing and promoting a healthier, dewy, plump and youthful skin.

Hand to Hand Combat Cream

A hand to hand combat cream makes an excellent choice for a Christmas present. It features a unique formula which helps in protecting the hands against elements which can negatively affect the skin quality. It contains a perfect combination of essential fatty oils, argan oils and Vitamin E which are known for their impressive effects on the skin. This amazing hand cream is also capable of keeping the cuticles under control and soft.

Glory Days Day Cream

Unlike other creams available on the market today, Glory Days Day Cream doesn’t just counteract dull and dry skin, it also creates a moisture barrier which rejuvenates the skin and makes it smoother and fuller. It is fortified with a perfect blend of borage oil, white flower oil and glucose which help in regenerating and re-energizing the skin leaving it dewy, tight and plump. It instantly makes the skin look brighter and younger.

Smart Balm Eye Care

Worried about the signs of ageing forming around the eyes? Try the Smart Balm Eye Care. This special eye care product is specially designed to get rid of puffiness, dark circles and fine lines around the eyes. It actually helps in transforming the skin around the eyes and makes it moist and plump. The product is composed of a high-tech blend of glucose, peptides and borage oil which re-energize the cells and stimulate cell regeneration. It also contains botanicals, yeast extracts and omega 3 fatty acids which help in leaving the skin tight and toned. Its licorice content makes the eyes look refreshed and rested.

Flashback Night Cream

Made from a perfect blend of phytoplids, botanicals and healing oils, Flashback Night Cream is one of the best skin products against the signs of ageing. It creates a barrier that traps and contains moisture inside which is absorbed by the skin. It also helps in moisturizing the skin, leaving it dewy and plump.

Trouble Shooter Neck, Jaw and Chest Firming

Get rid of sagging and jowls and replace it with a smoother and firmer skin through the Trouble Shooter Neck, Jaw and Chest Firming. This state of the art firming cream targets drooping jaw line and eliminates age spots. It contains a perfect blend of Vitamin C which helps in improving skin tone and quality as well as in getting rid of brown spots. The result? A moist and firmer skin that can never tell your age.

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