ModernTiMes

MonThly

November 1, 2013 Volume 7, Issue 11

For a brief period, all of Los Angeles swelled with pride for their home base-ball team, the Dodgers. They had qual-ified for the National League champi-onship series for the first time since 2009.

At Modernica, we decided to take part in the excitement as well. A limited number of chairs were made in Dodger blue and even fewer were made with the Dodger logo. At the showroom, one of the window displays was redone with Dodger and baseball decorations.

Although the Dodgers didn’t make it to the World Series, the fun was good while it lasted. Additionally, it made for an excellent photo shoot.

Editor: Tony TranContributor: Nohemi Castro Advisor: Richard Tuttelmondo

The Dodger Excitement Spreads to ModernicaPor un período breve, todo Los Angeles hinchó de orgullo por su equipo de bé-isbol, los Dodgers. Habían para la serie de campeonato de la Liga Nacional por primera vez desde el 2009.

En Modernica, decidimos participar en el entusiasmo. Un número limitado de sillas se hicieron en azul de los Dodgers y aún menos se hicieron con el logotipo de los Dodgers. En la tienda, uno de los escaparates se rehizo con decoracio-nes de béisbol y Los Dodgers.

Aunque los Dodgers no llegaron a la Serie Mundial, la diversión fue buena mientras duró. Además, se hizo una excelente sesión de fotografias.

birthdays

1 year2 years2 years3 years13 years19 years

Donald WhatleyLuis GomezFrancisco RomeroEduardo AlfonsoSalvador ManriqueRichard Tuttelmondo

Mauricio ChavarriaRolando DiazAndre Van Groeningen

Nov 10Nov 11Nov 19

anniversaries

Hearing aids can cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on how customized you want them to be.

Leafblowers and lawnmow-ers generate enough noise to warrant using ear plugs.

Safety Review: NoiseThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) re-ports that noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common oc-cupational ailments and the second most self-reported occupational illness or injury. NIOSH also reports the following:

•Approximately 30 million workers are exposed to hazardous noise on the job.•Hearing loss is one of the 21 priority areas for current research.

Exposure to high noise levels can cause hearing loss, as well as physi-cal and psychological distress. According NIOSH, noise-induced hearing loss is completely preventable, but once acquired, hearing loss is per-manent and irreversible.

Because hearing loss is a workplace safety and health issue, preven-tive measures must be taken by both employers and workers. When engineering controls are not enough to reduce the hazards, 29 CFR 1910.95(i) requires employers to supply hearing protection “to all em-ployees exposed to an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 decibels or greater.” There are several different types of hearing protection that can be used, including:

•Expandable foam plugs — made of a formable material designed to expand and conform to the shape of each person’s ear canal.•Pre-molded, reusable plugs — made from silicone, plastic, or rubber and are manufactured as either “one-size-fits-most” or are available in several sizes.•Canal caps — often resemble earplugs on a flexible plastic or metal band, which is convenient because they can be inserted or taken out quickly.•Earmuffs — block out noise by completely covering the outer ear and come in many models to fit most people.

Unfortunately, some equipment, like saws and punch presses, cannot be made to operate any quieter, so it’s up to the employer to evaluate working conditions, take the steps necessary to reduce noise levels, and provide proper hearing protection if required.

Safety on Facebook

This month’s participants each won $15 cash.

Prolonged Sitting and Your HealthYes, exercise is good for you. This we know. Heaps of evidence point to the countless benefits of regular physical activity. Federal health officials recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking, every day.

Studies show that when you adhere to an exercise regimen, you can im-prove your cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure and improve me-tabolism and levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. You can reduce diabe-tes risk and the risk of certain cancers. And, finally, exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, which can boost all of these benefits even more

But now, researchers are beginning to suspect that even if you engage in regular exercise daily, it may not be enough to counteract the effects of too much sitting during the rest of the day.

Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, ex-cess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body. When you sit, these processes stall — and your health risks increase. Even if you exercise 30 minutse a day, that does not counteract 8 hours of sitting. However, if the 8 hours of sitting is disrupted by any activ-ity, health risks decrease.

A recent study compared adults who spent less than 2 hours a day in front of the TV with those who spent more than 4 hours a day. Those with greater screen time had:

•A nearly 50 percent in-creased risk of death from any cause

•About a 125 percent in-creased risk of events asso-ciated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack