News

Very Good Service at The Workplace Depot

Posted on September 17, 2013

The Workplace Depot is delighted to be featured on the Very Good Service website. The website specialises in recognising and reviewing companies that have won awards for their services and products in a variety of different categories from shopping to finance, helping people to locate the very best companies in the UK for what they are looking for. The Workplace Depot is featured as the winner of the 2013 Online Retail Award. By acknowledging this accolade and placing us amongst a variety of other companies and businesses on the website that also offer great services. Other brands included as a part of this website are John Lewis, Pets at Home and amazon.co.uk. The Workplace Depot is highlighted on their “small biz services” page as providing very good service as a small business. On this page The Workplace Depot is listed alongside other brands such as Sage and Vodafone Small Business. We hope this will increase our already high level of trust and credibility amo...

The Workplace Depot Wins Prestigious Online Retail Award

Posted on September 09, 2013

The Workplace Depot is delighted to have won the 2013 Online Retail Award in the 'Office and Workplace Supplies' category. The Online Retail Awards celebrates those websites that offer the very best online shopping experience and deliver excellent customer satisfaction. Richard Bloomfield, Website Editor for The Workplace Depot, who attended the awards ceremony commented, “This is an amazing achievement for a website which is less than 18 months old, especially when you consider the awards are open to online retailers of any size and anywhere in the world. This goes to show that if you put a lot of initial research into making it as easy as possible for customers to browse and buy, it can deliver a high standard e-commerce website.” As well as providing an outstanding online shopping experience for customers, The Workplace Depot has also developed an exceptionally informative blog covering industry topics like health & safety, rec...

Are You a Motivating Employer?

Posted on August 20, 2013

The best method of motivation to ensure a person achieves their potential and works hard is, quite simply, reward! While threatening words and punishment might see that the job is completed, words of encouragement and the promise of a well-deserved treat at the finish line will result in a job that has been fulfilled through use of passionate dedication and therefore has been done well. So what kind of employer are you? The type to keep you after hours and make you work through your lunch break to simply get the job done? Or the type to reward you with a Christmas hamper full of treats at the end of a year of hard work? Here are just a few reasons why the possibility of a reward can inspire some of the greatest work... Moral boost Nobody likes putting in the overtime to receive nothing in return, and overworked, exhausted employees can cause the atmosphere...

Dangerous Substances - Fire and Explosion

Posted on August 20, 2013

Explosive atmospheres can be caused by flammable gases, mists, vapours or combustible dusts. If there is enough of a substance that is mixed with the air, then all it needs is a source of ignition to cause an explosion. Each year, hundreds of people are injured at work by flammable substances accidentally catching fire or exploding. Companies and businesses who are involved with using or creating chemicals, vapours, liquids, gases, solids or dusts that can readily burn or explode is hazardous. The effects of an explosion or a fire in the workplace can have devastating affects upon the employees and employer including, lost of lives, injuries, damage to the property and environment. If the workplace deals with the use or creation of these dangerous substances correctly, most fires and explosions are preventable. Employers and management have the responsibility for workplaces or other non-domestic premises to which any member of the public has access to, to be safe...

CE Marking - Road Traffic Signs

Posted on August 18, 2013

Under the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), from 1st July 2013 it is a legal requirement for any permanent fixed road traffic sign that is going to be sold to have the CE mark. This regulation has been in place for many years in other parts of Europe, but in the UK, a manufacturer has been able to self-certify. However, now they are legally obliged to comply with the requirements. Who will be affected? This will new regulation will affect the manufacturers, specifiers, buyers and distributors/re-sellers. For manufacturers to be able to apply the CE mark to its products they will have to go through an audit and testing process to show that they are compliant with Annex ZA of the applicable European standard BSEN 12899:2007. They also have to be accredited with a certificate from a notified body such as SGS or BSI. All components used to manufacture the product must have the CE mark including materials, sign faces and finished signs. Specifiers...

10 Essential Office Stationery Supplies

Posted on August 14, 2013

Ever since the evolution and introduction of technology into the office working environment, bosses and businesses have practically shouted from their corporate rooftops to espouse their ‘paperless office’ credentials. The reality is, of course, rather different. Anyone who works in an office knows it’s impossible to function without some kind of daily interaction without note pads, Post-Its and diaries. And even though your beloved Microsoft Office, Word and Outlook can perform a multitude of functions at the touch of button (or click of a mouse), there’s one thing they simply can’t do – and that’s replace those essential office supplies that have been the bedrock, indeed the life force, of the office world for decades. A PC might be able to do many things, but it can’t replace a ream of A4 paper. And with some of the basics of office stationery comes an extra dimension of something that’s a physical and tactile experience. Don’t tell me you haven’t opene...

Office Pool Bike - Putting it to the Test

Posted on August 13, 2013

After winning a competition as a team in the workplace, we received our prize, a folding bike. The bike that we won was a Dahon Vybe City Bike/Urban Concept Bike. Since we are a 'green' company, we were pleased that we had won a pool bike for the office. No one in the office has ridden or used a folding bike before so we decided to put it to the test and see what was different about a folding bike. Well to start, this bike can fold up and be stored away in a smaller space than an ordinary bike can. This compact design can be folded down so you can store it in a cupboard, under the stairs or in the back of your car. The design allows the user to take it on a tram or bus folded...

Using Chemicals at Work - Control Measures

Posted on August 01, 2013

You can find chemicals in most workplaces and are used in different ways. Factories, shops, laboratories, offices and farms are just some of the places you would find chemicals in some form. The chemicals we use in our workplace may include products you buy to use in your core business, maintaining equipment or in general cleaning equipment. The term chemical could also refer to hazardous substances you create as part of your work processes for example, dust created by cutting wood or stone. A user of chemicals could be: - a farmer - a hairdresser - a cleaner - a worker in a chemical plant - a technician in a laboratory - a pest control operator As an employer the law requires you to control the use of chemicals at work. You will need to assess the risks in your workplace, then implement and maintain effective control measures. What is COSHH for? COSHH stands for Control of Substances hazardous to health...

Good Food Hygiene in Business

Posted on July 25, 2013

Good food hygiene is essential if you intend to make, process or sell food. It is vital that you and your employees understand what good, safe food hygiene is. What is 'Good food hygiene'? Good food hygiene is about how you control harmful bacteria, which can easily cause serious illness. There are four things to remember when it comes to hygiene: - Cross-contamination - Cleaning - Chilling - Cooking These are known as the 4 C's. If you remember these, you will help to prevent most safety problems. Cross-contamination ...

Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable

Posted on July 22, 2013

The Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable is a free-rotating turntable for loads of up to 2,000kg, and has a ramped edge for easy pallet truck loading. The turntable has a wide range of industrial uses including the automotive & engineering industries, animal feeds, grain silos, aggregates and general warehousing. Virtually Maintenance Free One of the most impressive aspects of the turntable is the fact that it is virtually maintenance free. It is suitable for use in 'harsh' environments where there might be high levels of dust and grime – such as the aggregates and animal feed industries. It has a brush strip on the inner age which can prevent some of the worse aspects of a dirty environment. Although the Pal-Disc Pallet Turntable is not specifically designed to be used outdoors, it can and is used by some businesses externally. The manufacturer would however recommend carefully monitoring it and ensuring it is kept well lubricated when used outdoors. It can also be u...

Top 10 Worst Health and Safety Myths

Posted on July 22, 2013

We all know that health and safety can be a bit OTT at times and there is no doubt of many silly decisions. Over the past few years, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has dealt some incredible myths about what health and safety bans or laws people follow. Most of the baffling myths have one thing in common – they are not required by health and safety law. As part of HSE's Myth Busters Challenge Panel, they have published its top ten worst myths. 1. Children being banned from playing conkers unless they are wearing goggles Brought up in September 2007, this old chestnut is a classic myth. A headteacher decided that the children of the school should wear safety goggles to play conkers. So then a trend started and some schools banned conkers or made children wear goggles and padded gloves, on 'health and safety' grounds. In reality, the risk of injury from playing conkers is very low and just not worth the hassle. If children are deliberately hit each o...

British made Security Cages - Ideal for Gas Cylinders and more

Posted on July 17, 2013

Our security cages are a little reminiscent of what you might find at the 'Guantanamo Bay' detention camp although they are not designed to have quite such a high level of security! The most popular use of our cages is for the safe housing of cylinders and chemicals. Gas cylinders containing inflammable gas are legally required to be kept in well-ventilated areas, preferably outdoors, and on a flat, dry surface. They also have to be kept separate to areas with other uses and stored away from places that are vulnerable to impact hazard. (see Health and Safety Executive website for more details). As a consequence of these safety issues, the security cages are the perfect place to keep gas cylinders. Where are Cylinder Cages used? Businesses or organisations that use a lot of gas cylinders include hospitals, manufacturing companies (especially...