Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Safe at Work

Dear Rink Rats:

I am constantly worried about my wife every day when she leaves the house for work. Is she protected? Is she safe? It seems weekly there are shootings, attacks all across the country in the workplace. Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases go unreported. The truth is, workplace violence can strike anywhere, anytime, and no one is immune. Research has identified factors that may increase the risk of violence for some workers at certain worksites. Such factors include exchanging money with the public and working with volatile, unstable people. Working alone or in isolated areas may also contribute to the potential for violence. Providing services and care, and working where alcohol is served may also impact the likelihood of violence. Additionally, time of day and location of work, such as working late at night or in areas with high crime rates, are also risk factors that should be considered when addressing issues of workplace violence. Among those with higher risk are workers who exchange money with the public, delivery drivers, healthcare professionals, public service workers, customer service agents, law enforcement personnel, and those who work alone or in small groups.

What can be done to prevent this?

Signed,
Joe Friday

Dear Joe Friday:

In most workplaces where risk factors can be identified, the risk of assault can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions. One of the best protections employers can offer their workers is to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence. This policy should cover all workers, patients, clients, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may come in contact with company personnel.

By assessing their worksites, employers can identify methods for reducing the likelihood of incidents occurring. OSHA believes that a well written and implemented Workplace Violence Prevention Program, combined with engineering controls, administrative controls and training can reduce the incidence of workplace violence in both the private sector and Federal workplaces.

This can be a separate workplace violence prevention program or can be incorporated into an injury and illness prevention program, employee handbook, or manual of standard operating procedures. It is critical to ensure that all workers know the policy and understand that all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and remedied promptly. In addition, OSHA encourages employers to develop additional methods as necessary to protect employees in high risk industries. In addition make sure your wife “pays attention, stays alert” in the workplace; for strange behavior or non-routine behavior in fellow workers or guests.

Follow these steps and you can feel confident in the safety of your wife’s workplace.

Sincerely,
Rink Rats

ELECTION 2016 DEBRIEF - -- Net: Republicans have gained 7 Senate seats, 12 House seats and 3 governorships.

Days until the 2016 election: 727

Takeaways from the GOP Romp: The Republican takeover of the South is finally complete. ... Democrats failed at distancing themselves from the president. ... Voters crave authenticity and hate phonies. ... Republican governors thrived in blue states. ... Mary Landrieu is vulnerable, but her chances of winning might have just gone up. ... The 'war on women' fell flat this year. ... North Carolina is Republicans' to lose in 2016. ... Virginia is a purple state, and Ed Gillespie could be its next governor. ... The Democratic field program did not live up to the hype. ... Self-funders had a very good night.

-- Pelosi: 'It's a difficult night: As Tuesday night turned into Wednesday morning, GOP gains surpassed double digits, and it was possible that their numbers would climb higher. Some Democratic officials privately conceded that the GOP number could reach as high as 15, which would give them 249 seats - their largest majority since ... Herbert Hoover was president.

-- Big win for conservative big money: Establishment Republican money finally got what it paid for - an electoral wave. After two cycles during which conservative mega-donors' record spending was plagued by flawed candidates and internecine squabbling, their side's big money operatives got to do some gloating on election night. Conservatives tweaked their playbook to spend bigger and earlier to crush tea party insurgents and define Democratic candidates.

-- No Obama pivot after midterms: Voters demanded change from Washington on Tuesday, and Republicans say it's now up to President Barack Obama to deliver it. But don't count on that happening. The White House that emerges after the midterm elections won't look, act or sound drastically different than the one battered for months by Republicans and abandoned by Democrats desperate to hang onto power. The president will seek some common ground with Republicans, but there are limits to how far Obama wants to go - and Senate Democrats will let him go.

THE NEXT BUSH -- Yet another George Bush wins an election in Texas: George P. Bush, the nephew of former U.S. President George W. Bush and grandson of President George H.W. Bush, declared victory ... in the race for Texas land commissioner ... Bush, 38 and an attorney, also becomes the first person in his political dynasty family to win in his first major election.

2014 CASUALTIES -- Say goodbye to these ousted incumbents:

Republicans
Gov. Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania; Rep. Steve Southerland, Florida; Rep. Vance McAllister, Louisiana

Democrats
Sen. Mark Begich, Alaska; Sen. Mark Pryor, Arkansas; Sen. Mark Udall, Colorado; Sen. Kay Hagan, North Carolina
Gov. Pat Quinn, Illinois

OPEN-SEAT PICKUPS

Republicans

Sen.-elect Joni Ernst, Iowa; Sen.-elect Steve Daines, Montana; Sen.-elect Mike Rounds, South Dakota; Sen.-elect Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia

Rep.-elect Rod Blum, Iowa; Rep.-elect Elise Stefanik, New York; Rep.-elect David Rouzer, North Carolina; Rep.-elect Mia Love, Utah

Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas; Gov.-elect Larry Hogan, Maryland; Gov.-elect Charlie Baker, Massachusetts

COLLEGE CHRONICLES - A CASE FOR COLLEGE GOVERNANCE: As public trust in the leadership of higher education has faded over the last several decades, the success of the sector has become more important than ever to the nation's economic and societal well-being - meaning college and university boards must change the way they operate, a new Association of Governing Boards report argues. Trustees and board members must abandon their insular focus and embrace a broader perspective on the "value and values" of higher education as a whole, AGB says. That means delivering high-quality education at a lower cost, attending to administrators' leadership development, and spending less time on reviewing routine operations and more time on strategic issues such as oversight of affiliated organizations. "Higher education continues to enjoy substantial societal and political support, an asset that is at risk of being lost," AGB's National Commission on College and University Board Governance writes. "Re-earning the public trust in institutional leadership is necessary to sustain and build that support for the future.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week to: Ed Asner (85), Hugh Bonneville (51), Leonardo Di Caprio (40), Miranda Lambert (31), Al Michaels (70), Chris Noth (60), Condoleezza Rice (60).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/15, 3:30 PM ET, CBS; #1 Mississippi State Bulldogs (9-0) visit #5 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1). Tide rolls 35 – 21. Season to date (5-6)

SMALL COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICK OF THE WEEK – Saturday 11/15, 4:00 PM ET, Fox Business Channel; The Claremont-Mudd Republicans: Endowment-$599.1 million (4-4) visit The Pomona-Pitzer Endowments: Endowment-$1.82 billion (1-7) in the 6th Street Bowl. Yes that is correct, the 6th Street Bowl, pretty lame. Republicans handle the Endowments 42 – 21. Season to date (4-6)

NFL PICK OF THE WEEK – Sunday 11/16, 4:25 PM ET, Fox; Detroit Lions (7-2) at Phoenix Cardinals (8-1). These long time losers are winning this year (so far), we like Phoenix to win 28 – 24. Season to date (6-4)

THE SWAMI’S WEEK TOP PICKS –

(NCAA, Nov. 15) The Cranberry Bowl – Massachusetts Marine Buccaneers (3-6) 17 at Bridgewater State Bears (4-5) 24

(NCAA, D-III, Nov. 15) Ithaca College Bombers (7-2) 35 at Cortland State Red Dragons (4-5) 20

(NHL, Nov. 15) Anaheim Ducks (10-3-3) 3 at Los Angeles Kings (8-4-3) 4

(NFL, Nov. 16) New England Patriots (7-2) 24 at Indianapolis Colts (6-3) 21

Season to date (67 - 55)

DRIVING THE WEEK – President Obama is in Beijing today for a bilateral meeting with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia followed by meetings with leaders of the TPP nations, a bilat with Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia and remarks at the Chinese National Convention Center to the APEC CEO Summit ... In the evening, Obama "will travel to the Beijing National Aquatics Center to attend an APEC welcome banquet. He will be greeted by President Xi Jinping of China before participating in an APEC family photo. ... Obama's Asia trip continues in Myanmar and then Brisbane, Australia for the G20 where he will be joined by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew ... Lame duck session of Congress begins this week with the main agenda item the need to pass a CR funding the government past Dec. 11. Democrats will want a long-term bill but some Republicans want to punt the issue only to early next year when they take control of both houses in the 114th Congress ... NFIB survey Thursday at 7:30 a.m. expected to dip to 95.0 from 95.3 ... JOLTS report Thursday at 10:00 a.m. expected to show job openings at 4.835K ... Retails sales Friday at 8:30 a.m. expected to rise 0.2 percent both headline and ex-autos ... Univ. of Michigan sentiment at 9:55 a.m. Friday expected to rise to 87.5 from 86.9.

Next week: words of the month and bitchy resting face.

Until Next Monday, Adios.

Claremont, CA

November 10, 2014
#V-30, 239


CARTOON OF THE WEEK – The New Yorker, David Sipress

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