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immigration

Top 5 Tips For A Successful Integration In Your New Country

Learning a new culture, finding one’s bearings in a foreign country, finding the right balance between adapting to a different environment and maintaining one’s original identity… Successfully integrating into the host country is one of the main challenges of expatriation. According to the 2011 report of the Expatriation Observatory, 83% of expatriates believe that understanding the country’s culture is the main factor in successful mobility. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things you need to know about migrating to a foreign country.

1. Learn the language of the country

account

Whether you leave with a near-total lack of knowledge of the local language or with only a few rudiments, you will inevitably be confronted with the language barrier. While knowing English allows you to “get by” in many non-English speaking countries, you will not be successful in the long run. Beyond the simple, practical aspect, mastering the language of the country of expatriation is an undeniable vector of integration. Efforts to express yourself in a language that is not your own will also change the way you are perceived and even welcomed abroad.

Learning the language can begin well before the expatriation, but it can be done once you are there, in immersion. You will learn a lot on the job, but if you are a complete beginner, it is recommended that you take a few courses. Everyone has their methods for learning, improving, or becoming bilingual: taking intensive courses, watching television and reading the local press, participating in group activities, joining a language exchange club…

2. Explore the country, your city, and your neighborhood

What if you had to get lost for a while to really discover a new place? To feel at home in your new country, it’s not enough to have memorized your home-office itinerary or to have visited the must-see monuments, as a tourist would. Getting off the beaten track by gradually moving away from the main tourist routes, exploring the city in the company of friends or expatriates who have been there for a long time, organizing a road trip: to understand the specificities of a country, to find your favorite addresses and to unearth little corners of paradise, you must venture out.

3. Adopt the local way of life

friends

As soon as you set foot in Thailand, you rush to a specialized supermarket to find the products you used to eat in your home country. Expatriate in the United States for a few months, you watch mostly foreign TV channels that are familiar to you, you are very interested in the ex-pat community, and you spend hours on Skype… If this way of working can be reassuring at first, it does not facilitate your integration into your adopted country.

To immerse yourself in a culture, you must live and experience it by freeing yourself from prejudices. Curiosity becomes your best ally. Get away from your circle of ex-pat friends from time to time, taste local food, attend cultural events, and become familiar with different codes of politeness… In other words, accept to be surprised. The goal is not to become someone else and adhere to all the local habits but to discover the culture of the country you are living in.

4. Build a social life

Is the ability to make contacts with both locals and other expatriates a determining factor in the success of an expatriation? A newcomer may learn as much from both sides. Getting to know expatriates who already have some experience in the country will not only help you avoid isolation upon your arrival but will also provide you with a lot of practical advice: how to open a bank account, recommended doctors, how the health system works and how to choose an expatriate insurance, schools, work permit renewal… Find expatriate networks and associations and… exchange!

After the beginning of the expatriation, it is by establishing links with locals that you will increase your knowledge of the country and reinforce a sense of belonging. Depending on the country, it is more or less difficult to meet the local population, but seize every opportunity: club activities, school outings, professional environment, CouchSurfing, friends of friends…

5. Maintain ties with your home country

man-

Expatriation certainly transforms the way you look at your own country, but integrating is not synonymous with abandoning your culture of origin. Rather, the challenge is to build a kind of dual culture. Therefore, it is best to maintain contact with friends and family that you have often temporarily left behind. Chatting via social networks, exchanging emails, returning to your country of origin from time to time… These are all steps that can also help reduce the shock of returning from expatriation.

Looking for help?

Do you want to immigrate to Canada? Then look no further than Arrivals Canada Immigration. They help people from all over the world successfully navigate the Canadian Immigration process. If you’re interested in applying for Canadian Citizenship today. They are well established Immigration firm that serves individuals and families who need assistance with immigration services.

Arrivals Canada Immigration has the knowledge and expertise to guide you on the right path to apply for Canadian immigration. They are known for their way of paying attention to small details. Their system works to ensure applicants have the smoothest possible immigration process in Canada. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with them today and make your immigration dreams a reality.

4 Interesting Facts About Food

When you light the oven, you’ve probably already decided on the dish you want to cook or the basic ingredients you want to use carefully. But do you also know the story behind those dishes and ingredients? We have compiled a number of fun and interesting food facts for you. So that you not only continue to serve the best dishes to your guests, but also talk to them about their history and other fun facts.

1.The Pasta Shape

Do you choose the shape of pasta based on what you always buy, or do you prefer different types for variety? Each pasta shape has its function and the differences are greater than you think. However, always keep in mind that the shape of the pasta is to allow it to absorb the sauce. Hollow types of pasta, such as penne, paccheri or bucatini, are for thick sauces, while flat or thin types of pasta are generally used for thinner sauces. For smooth sauces, a smooth or slightly ribbed type of pasta is best, and for thicker sauces, pasta types with substantial grooves or strongly curved shapes are best.

There are at least 300 different types of pasta with about 600 names. Because it happens that a certain variety has several names. But there is a certain logic. Mostly, they are literal translations. For example, orecchiette means little ears and conchiglie means shells. Rigate means fluted. Penne Rigate are therefore hollow tubes with a fluted shape. If the name of the pasta ends with “-ini” or “-ette”, it is a smaller variant. The types of pasta ending with “-oni” correspond to a large type of pasta.

2.The Hamburger’s Origin

When it comes to hamburgers, there is often a reference to the United States. The thick, round slices of ground beef are a true American barbecue classic, but that’s not where the hamburger originated. Rumor has it that the history of the hamburger begins in the 13th century in the Mongol Empire. There, Mongolian warriors would put pieces of beef under their horse’s saddle to make the meat more tender; the result was raw beef. This is how it is believed that raw beef arrived in Western Europe. Whether this is true remains to be seen…

However, it is certain that it was the German city of Hamburg that came up with the idea of heating this slice of ground meat. German immigrants introduced the hamburger to the United States, where the meat was first sold as a steak, then served with a bun. It was in this form that the hamburger took over the world. The other toppings on the burger can be varied endlessly.

3.The Red Gold

Saffron, made from the pistils of the saffron crocus, is the most expensive spice in the world. That’s why it’s also called red gold. The pistils are the top part of the pin and each crocus has three pistils. For 1 g of saffron, a total of about 150 saffron crocuses are needed, all of which are harvested by hand! This explains the exclusivity of the product. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of saffron to add the taste, color and aroma of this fantastic spice to a dish, such as a good paella.

4.Pizza

Originally, pizza was mainly a dish for the poor population of Italy. Until the Italian Raffaele Esposito, the most famous pizza maker in Naples, at the end of the 19th century, was invited by the then King of Italy and his wife Margherita to come and cook this specialty at the palace. Especially for this occasion, he created a pizza with red, white and green colors, the same as the Italian flag; with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. The queen loved this pizza and so began the pizza success story, with the Margherita pizza, named after the queen, at the forefront. Pizza was no longer just a meal for the less fortunate in the population. From that moment on, almost everyone had taken pizza to heart.

There you are, now you know some interesting facts about food and their origin. Are you in the mood for a delicious pizza? Check out Table 55 in Seaford.

 

 

 

 

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting: Choosing a Winter-Resistant Model

Rainwater Harvesting: Choosing a Winter-Resistant Model

 

Summary

  • Principle and operation of the rainwater harvesting system
  • Installation of a buried water collector to withstand winter
  • What material should a rainwater harvesting system be made of to resist freezing?
  • Protecting your rainwater harvesting system from the cold

Rainwater harvesting is very convenient, especially for watering your garden at a lower cost. But how to install a system that is operational all year round, capable of withstanding both winter and freezing temperatures?

Here’s our tip.

Principle and functioning of the rainwater harvesting system

The rainwater harvesting system allows you to collect and store rainwater for later use.

– Collecting rainwater requires specific arrangements that are more or less complex depending on the use you intend to make of the water.

– This type of arrangement has undeniable economic and ecological attractions and can also be installed in areas with poor water supply or no running water.

The advantages of the water collector are numerous:

– It allows for considerable water savings, especially if you have a garden.

– You can use recovered rainwater to:

◦ wash floors;

◦ wash the car;

◦ water garden plants;

◦ fill the pool;

◦ clean the washroom.

Installing an underground water collector to withstand winter

To protect your rainwater harvesting system, you must install it about 40 cm underground. At this level, temperatures are not ordinarily negative. Opting for a buried tank that will not be less than 40 cm from the ground’s surface is advisable.

Using an underground tank has many advantages:

– the water collected by an underground tank will not be exposed to UV light;

– it will not stagnate;

– it will not damage the pipes.

Good to know: the water recovered in this way is not pure, it can contain various elements that are harmful to health (plants, animal droppings, insects, etc.), so it must be filtered before being used for washing clothes, for example.

Which material for a frost-resistant rainwater collector?

Concrete tank

The concrete tank has outstanding qualities. Indeed, it:

– preserves the quality of the water;

– is particularly recommended for urban areas where the water is more acidic: its pH can be rebalanced thanks to the alkaline elements in the concrete.

Homopolymer polypropylene skimmers

Homopolymer polypropylene can change the pH of the water but is highly resistant to temperature variations and water pressure.

Good to know: to filter the water, place gravel at the bottom of the tank, where bacteria will settle, and partially filter the water.

Plastic skimmers

Rainwater Harvesting

Recyclable plastic skimmers can hold up to 500,000 liters of water. These tanks are:

– very resistant to frost;

– extremely easy to maintain in winter, as they do not require winter emptying.

The significant advantage of this tank is that it does not have to be buried because it is not afraid of frost.

Protecting your rainwater collector from the cold

When autumn arrives, it is necessary to install a protection grid at the level of the gutter of your tank so that residues do not penetrate there.

If you do not have one of the rainwater harvesters described above, you must protect your tank outdoors.

You will need to drain your plastic skimmer and cut it when the weather gets cold so it doesn’t break when it freezes, so it is best to put them under cover.

Read more:

– Pipes and Wrenches | Installing a Rainwater Harvesting System

– Gutter for Rainwater Harvesting;

– 5 Steps to Install a Rainwater Harvester.

Hope this post and the above link help you with your rainwater harvest project. Do let us know what you think about this article in the comments below.

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

 Summary

 – Focus on Cockroaches

 – Method 1: Use roach traps

 – Method 2: use roach gel

 – Method 3: dehydrate roaches to exterminate them

 – Method 4: use boric acid baits for roach treatment

 – Method 5: kill cockroaches with an insecticide product

 – Method 6: hire a pest control company

 The sight of a cockroach usually causes an intuitive feeling of repulsion, which is based on the reality that this insect, which reproduces at an astonishing speed, is often a vector of viruses and bacteria.

 In an individual house, it is possible to get rid of it, mainly with traps or gels, preferable to insecticides, which are very effective but toxic for animals and children. When you live in a collective building, individual treatment of cockroaches may not be sufficient: a pest control company can then intervene to treat all apartments simultaneously.

 Discover how to fight against cockroaches.

 Focus on cockroaches

 The words “cockroach”, “cockroach,” and “cockroach” refer to the same insect. Cockroach (from the Latin Blatella) is the scientific term, while the standard language uses the words “cockroach” or sometimes “cockroach”. In Quebec, we speak of “cockroaches”, in the West Indies of “ravets”.

 During the day, the cockroach buries itself in a dark corner; especially at night, the insect comes out of its hiding place to look for food. Omnivorous, it feeds on vegetables, fruits, sweet foods, meat, fats, paper, cardboard, fabric, and the corpses of its fellow humans.

 The adult cockroach can enter a building through a tiny crack of 1.5 mm. It then circulates along the technical ducts and garbage chutes, contaminating all the apartments in a building. Gravitating in suspicious places, the cockroach is often a vector of pathogens (virus, bacteria) and can also cause respiratory allergies in some people.

 The cockroach reproduces amazingly, and an infestation occurs very quickly. In addition, after single fertilization, the female cockroach stores the male’s semen and can lay 100,000 eggs during her lifetime without repeating the mating.

 Necessary: as soon as you see even one cockroach, react immediately and alert the neighbours, the owner, the property manager, or even the city’s sanitation department.

 Method 1: Use cockroach traps

 Cockroach traps are small boxes you place on the floor or sometimes vertically on the walls for adhesive traps.

 Set up traps:

 – first, in the kitchen and water rooms,

 – but also in other rooms, allowing you to determine how far the cockroaches go.

 There are two types of roach traps: glue traps and insecticide traps.

 Use glue traps

 Harmless to humans and pets, glue traps contain a bait that attracts roaches and are coated with a sticky substance that captures them.

 These traps are not sufficient to exterminate all cockroaches (a subsequent insecticide treatment is necessary), but rather to:

 – Determine the degree of infestation and the most frequent points of passage according to the number of roaches caught in each trap.

 – Verify that there are no more roaches after insecticide treatment.

 Use traps with insecticide

 Insecticide traps also contain a bait that attracts roaches, plus an insecticide that does not kill them immediately but allows them to return to their lair, where they die after infecting others.

 Hermetically sealed, these traps are harmless: there is no risk of a child or pet getting poisoned by playing with them.

 Method 2: Use an anti-cavity gel

How to Get Rid of Cockroaches

Cockroach gels are pretty effective, come in a ready-to-use syringe, are safe for people and animals, and don’t need any particular safety measures. After ingestion, the cockroach is killed in a few hours or days, depending on the product. Its corpse, devoured by its fellow cockroaches, will also exterminate them.

 With the pusher of the syringe, apply small points of gel in all the dark corners:

 – under sinks and basins, behind and the bathtub;

 – under toilet drains;

 – behind the refrigerator and other major appliances;

 – in the corners of closets;

 – around the garbage disposal or in garbage rooms.

 Tip: after an infestation, repeat this treatment, both curative and preventive, every 6 months.

 Method 3: Dehydrate roaches to exterminate them

 Another way to get rid of cockroaches is to sprinkle a little diatomaceous earth in all their favourite places and areas of passage, which, containing particles of silica, cracks their shell and causes their death by dehydration.

 The diatomaceous earth acts physically and not chemically. It has the advantage of not being toxic for humans and pets.

 Use diatomaceous earth sold for insecticide use in small powdered cans: you will avoid inhaling silica particles that are irritating to the lungs.

 Tip: the ancients used to sprinkle baking soda on roach nooks and crannies, which, when ingested by the insects, also kills them through intestinal disorders and dehydration.

 Method 4: Use boric acid baits for roach treatment

 Boric acid is sold in pharmacies in the form of powdered sachets. It is cheap and very effective, killing the roach within hours of ingesting pellets containing this product. To make these pellets:

 – Mix boric acid with sweetened condensed milk (which cockroaches love) so that you get a paste that you shape into pellets; soft at first, they harden in 30 minutes.

 – Place the pellets near air vents, in dark, hot corners, and anywhere roaches are likely to be.

 – Repeat after 3 weeks to destroy the next generation of roaches.

 Important: Do not place pellets within reach of small children. Wear disposable gloves and wash your hands afterwards, as boric acid is toxic.

 Method 5: Eliminate cockroaches with an insecticide

 Cockroach insecticides are highly effective and come in powder, spray or canister form. Spray or fog products are best because they make it easier to treat the dark corners where roaches hide.

 – Spray them in all dark areas.

 – Also, spray baseboards and door frames.

 Important: these insecticides are toxic to animals and children.

 Method 6: Call a pest control company

 If the cockroach infestation is recurrent, especially if you live in an apartment building, call in or ask your landlord to call in a pest control company.

 Using adapted products and treating all apartments on the same day will eliminate the infestation.

toronto

Top 5 Reasons To Immigrate To Toronto

As the capital of the province of Ontario and the 5th largest city in North America (after Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago), Toronto is the ideal destination for those looking to relocate to Canada. In addition to its great cultural diversity, beautiful scenery, and lifestyle, Toronto is a city where you will enjoy countless career opportunities, not to mention an excellent work-life balance. If you’re still not convinced, we’ll give you 5 good reasons to move to Toronto.

1. A multitude of career opportunities

toronto

According to the latest Global Cities Report by A.T. Kearney, Toronto is one of the 20 most influential and attractive cities in the world to invest, launch a start-up and boost your career. Along with other metropolises such as New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, and Paris, Toronto is an influential city that encourages entrepreneurship, invests in human capital, and offers an abundance of cultural experiences.

All of these elements contribute to providing expatriates with an unparalleled living environment, allowing them to succeed. If you are looking for a job in Toronto, sales, consulting, engineering, accounting, healthcare, aviation, and manufacturing are the most promising sectors. The travel and tourism industry is also booming, with Toronto’s airport being the 4th busiest in North America. The hospitality sector employs nearly 250,000 people.

2. A vibrant arts scene

Toronto is the 3rd largest film hub in North America. On your way to work or out to dinner, you’re likely to run into film crews anywhere in the city. In fact, nearly a quarter of all Hollywood films were shot in Toronto. What’s more, the Toronto International Film Festival, which takes place every September, attracts large numbers of film lovers and visitors alike.

If you are interested in a career in the film industry, this is the place to be! There are many positions available in this field. In addition to the film, Toronto has a rich arts scene with the National Ballet Company, the Canadian Opera Company, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. After New York and London, Toronto is also a leader in English-language theater. Needless to say, the city is rich in culture and history, with over 200 public monuments and art objects.

3. A culture of tolerance and mutual understanding

toronto

When you move to Toronto, you will never feel like a foreigner forced to connect with expatriate communities or to withdraw into yourself to better cope with the experience. Quite the contrary! Nearly half of Toronto’s residents were born outside of Canada, and one-third of them speak neither English nor French as their first language.

However, due to the wave of immigration that has hit Canada in recent decades, Toronto is home to large Italian, Portuguese, South Korean, Greek, and Chinese communities. Today, these neighbourhoods are a symbol of the city’s cultural diversity and culinary richness. Moving to a city where nearly 200 ethnicities are represented and live together in perfect harmony will be an exceptional opportunity for you to learn more about the world’s cultures and, why not, to share your own.

4. A safe city

The Economist newspaper named Toronto the safest city in North America and the 4th safest in the world (6th in digital security, 11th in health, 14th in infrastructure, and 5th in personal safety) after Tokyo, Singapore, and Osaka. Of course, as in all major cities in the world, incidents are reported.

Some areas such as Jane & Finch, St. Jamestown, Regent Park, Moss Park, Cabbagetown, and Malvern are best avoided at night, especially if you are traveling alone. On the other hand, it is generally a pedestrian-friendly city, well-lit and with exciting nightlife almost all week long.

5. A healthy work-life balance

toronto

One of the advantages of living in Toronto is that it is a city that offers all the advantages of a metropolis in terms of professional development, active social life, original leisure activities, infrastructure, and transportation, although there are always improvements to be made. Toronto is a medium-sized city with a relaxed atmosphere.

Families and outdoor enthusiasts are not disappointed, thanks to the presence of nearly 1,500 parks covering about 18% of the city’s total area, not to mention the clearly defined bicycle paths and the splendid beaches that are only about 10 km from downtown and on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario. Despite the drastic temperature drops from December to March, Toronto generally enjoys 300 sunny days per year.

Looking for help?

Do you want to immigrate to Canada? Then look no further than Arrivals Canada Immigration. They help people from all over the world successfully navigate the Canadian Immigration process. If you’re interested in applying for your Canadian Citizenship today. They are well established Immigration firm that serves individuals and families who need assistance with immigration services.

Arrivals Canada Immigration has the knowledge and expertise to guide you on the right path to apply for Canadian immigration. They are known for their way of paying attention to small details. Their system works to ensure applicants have the smoothest possible immigration process in Canada. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with them today and make your immigration dreams a reality.

6 Steps for Removing a Tile

6 Steps for Removing a Tile

 

Summary

   1. Removing a thin tile

   2. Drill the tile to be removed

   3. Break the tile

   4. Removing tile from a thick floor tile

   5. Remove the tile

   6. Remove the remaining adhesive

When a tile is broken or damaged, you must remove it. This is a quick process but requires some care to avoid damaging the surrounding tiles.

To remove a tile, strip the joint around it, break it, and remove the pieces.

Note: Protect your eyes from splinters by wearing safety glasses for the duration of the work.

1. Removing a thin tile

Before removing a tile, you must remove the joints around it:

    – Scrape the joints around the tile with a tile scraper.

    – Make sure to scrape the joints all the way down.

If you don’t have a tile scraper, use a flat chisel and a hammer to remove the grout:

    – Place the flat chisel on the joints, tilting it slightly toward you. You can replace the chisel with an old wood chisel.

    – Use the hammer to tap the joint.

    – Be careful not to damage the surrounding tiles.

2. Drill the tile to be removed

6 Steps for Removing a Tile

Start by drilling the tile to be removed. This will make it easier to remove the tile.

Equip your drill with an earthenware drill bit (or ceramic drill bit):

    – Drill the tile in several places, starting in the center.

    – Stick adhesive paper in the places you are going to drill. This will prevent the drill from sliding on the tile.

    – Start drilling slowly, then gradually increase the speed of the drill.

3. Break the tile

Break the tile with a chisel point:

    – Place the chisel in the center of the tile, positioning it over the hole you drilled beforehand.

    – Give blows until the tile cracks.

4. Removing tile from a thick floor tile

If you need to remove a large, thick floor tile, use a grinder equipped with a diamond wheel to remove the joints and cut it.

4.1 Clear the joints with the grinder

Joints must be thick enough to allow the grinder disc to pass through; if they are too thin, the grinder may damage the tile.

To remove grout with the grinder:

    – Turn on the grinder, tilt it down slightly and run it over the grout to clear it.

    – Make sure the joints are clear all the way through. Move slowly to avoid letting the grinder slide over nearby tiles, which could crack them.

Cut the tile with the grinder

    – Turn on the grinder and angle it down to cut the tile.

    – Cut the tile crosswise (make both diagonals).

5. Remove the tile

Once the tile is cracked or cut with the grinder, use a flat chisel and hammer to remove the tile fragments:

    – Place the flat chisel in the center of the tile.

    – Hammer to loosen the pieces.

    – Work from the center to the edges to remove the tile pieces without damaging the surrounding tiles.

6. Remove the remaining adhesive

6 Steps for Removing a Tile

Finally, remove any remaining traces of adhesive (tile glue):

    – Scrape off the traces of glue with the flat chisel. Use the hammer to go faster.

    – Clean up debris and dust with a brush or vacuum.

    – Use a damp sponge to get rid of the last traces of dust.

Equipment for removing tile

Vacuum cleaner, depending on the performance

Flat chisel Starting at $5

Pointed chisel starting at $10

Tile scraper about $8

Safety glasses are about $6

Hammer Starting at $4

Grinder Starting at $40

Drill Starting at $30

 

How to Maintain a Forklift

How to Maintain a Forklift

Contents

  • Maintaining a forklift

  • Mandatory maintenance checks

Checks and maintenance are mandatory for the staff’s safety and the forklift truck’s reliability

. Therefore, forklift maintenance must be constant to ensure smooth ongoing earthworks while avoiding accidents.

Maintaining a forklift

To ensure safety and avoid disruption of the flow, the forklift truck must be maintained regularly and undergo a minimum of mandatory checks.

In their training, the personnel who are to drive the forklift truck have been taught the imperative rules for controlling the maintenance of the forklift truck.

Mandatory maintenance checks

The maintenance rules include:

  • daily checks to be carried out on hiring;

  • systematic controls before any use;

  • periodic maintenance follow-ups, depending on the number of hours of the machine.

The checks must be carried out by the forklift operator who is in charge of the forklift truck, under the responsibility of the forklift driver.

Daily checks

Each time the driver is hired, before starting the forklift, he/she should check:

  • the general condition and cleanliness of the forklift’s components;

  • the absence of objects deposited on the bodywork or floor;

  • the height clearance for manoeuvring the forklift;

  • freedom to operate around the forklift;

  • the presence of the mandatory fire extinguisher;

  • the absence of puddles around the trolley indicating a leak;

  • the levels (fuel, lubricant, cooling) of the thermal trolleys;

  • the charge of the batteries and the state of the connections (plugs in place, batteries fixed and protective cover in place) of the electric trolleys;

  • the condition of the lift mast (bolts, hydraulic hoses, chains);

  • the state of the forks and apron;

  • the shape of the tyres and tyres and any pressure;

  • the operation of horns (horn and reversing), lights (changing, indicators, flashing beacon) and dashboard lights.

Checks before use

Before each use of the forklift and while driving it, the operator must constantly check:

  • the condition of the seat belt;

  • the correct automatic operation of the brakes (safety brake, parking brake, brake pedal);

  • the progressiveness of the clutch (converter and hydrostatic);

  • the absence of play in the steering;

  • the operation of all mast components (full lift and lowering, forward and reverse tilt);

  • the lack of abnormal noise and leaks during operation;

  • the functioning of all indicators on the dashboard.

Periodic maintenance

According to the maintenance booklet and the safety rules, you should carry out a complete inspection and maintenance of the forklift truck at certain defined intervals.

This maintenance does not replace the daily and pre-use checks.

As a general rule, the following table can be applied:

Component

Check

Change

Grease

Hydraulic system

50 h

Engine oil

50 h

200 h

Hydraulic oil

50 h

1 000 h

Fuel tank

200 h

Cooling

50 h

Fan belt

50 h

Radiator & Fittings

50 h

Battery electrolyte

50 h

Tyres and tires

50 h

Mast (hydraulic and chains)

50 h

Forks

50 h

Brakes

50 h

Transmission

50 h

Decanter filter

50 h

Brake fluid

200 h

Air filter

50 h

2000 h

Wheel nuts

200 h

Mast studs

200 h

Lifting system axes

200 h

Bridge oil

200 h

1000 h

Hydraulic pump filter

2000 h

Converter filter

2000 h

Wheel bearings

1000 h

Table of responsibilities in the event of a handling accident

Responsible for

Responsibility

Causes of accidents

COMPANY

Failure to organise work in the company

  • Lack of training for truck drivers.

  • Production constraints (speed and stress).

  • Gaps in the attachments or accessories of the trolleys.

  • Incorrect allocation of tasks to drivers, incorrect use of trucks.

  • Lack of maintenance of trolleys.

  • Outdated trolleys.

COMPANY

Lack of layout of the trolley manoeuvring area

  • Narrow, congested, or crowded alleys.

  • Blocked junctions and access doors.

  • Excessive traffic in the trolley manoeuvring area.

  • Pedestrian traffic and work in the trolley manoeuvring area.

  • Differences in the coating of ramps and accesses.

  • Condition of loading platforms.

COMPANY and CARRIER

Mechanical defects and lack of maintenance of the trolley.

Absence of mandatory controls

  • Brake failure.

  • Management failure.

  • Clutch or transmission failure.

  • Failure of the lifting mechanism.

  • Leaks in the hydraulic system.

  • Missing, inadequate or defective safety devices.

  • Emissions of polluting gases.

  • Blind spots or obstructions to driver visibility.

  • Poor layout of controls and displays.

CARRIER

Risky behaviour and dangerous activities of truck drivers.

  • Failure of reverse driving technique.

  • Poor driving practice on bends.

  • Failure to use sound devices.

  • Failure to communicate during shared tasks or in shared areas.

  • Taking a passenger on a trolley or a load.

  • Incorrect parking.

  • Failure to chock the wheels of a trailer or railway wagon.

  • Games, acrobatic, abrupt or erratic driving.

  • Failure of the maintenance check of the trolley.

CARRIER

Incorrect loading of the trolley.

  • Poor stacking or stacking of loads on the pallet.

  • Pallets in poor condition.

  • Load too high.

  • Unstable load or load that obstructs the driver’s view.

Freezers

Localbiz Has Selected for You… The 5 Best Freezers

A freezer is a practical appliance for storing food for a long time. But with so many different models on offer, it’s hard to know which one to choose. To help you, Localbiz has selected 5 freezers according to their performance, the options they offer, and the opinions of those who have bought them. All you have to do is compare.

Freezers

Best freezer: Localbiz top 5

Siemens GS58NAW41

With a total volume of 360 L, this 4-star freezer (the stars indicate the freezing possibilities) allows you to freeze many foods. Its 7 drawers will enable you to organize your food, which is easy to see thanks to the LED light. Not to be overlooked, this freezer is rated A+++ in terms of energy efficiency. Other strong points: in case of power failure, the autonomy of this freezer is 25 hours, and an alarm sounds if the door is left open. This model also has an anti-frost system.

The only drawback is its high price, which is explained by the features of this freezer.

The pluses

LED light

7 drawers for better storage

Interesting capacity (360 L)

A+++ rated model

25 hours of autonomy in case of power failure

4 stars, the highest level of freezing

Anti-frost system

The –

Very high price

A freezer for small spaces

Faure FFT1104WA

This freezer model is particularly suitable for small spaces (61 cm deep); it can be installed under a work surface, for example. This compactness does not prevent it from being practical; the 3 storage drawers allow you to organize your food storage. This freezer has a capacity of 91 L, so it is unsuitable for large families. This model can store frozen or deep-frozen products (3 stars) and is rated A+ in energy efficiency. In case of power failure, it has a 22-hour autonomy.

The pluses

Freezer suitable for small spaces

22 hours of autonomy in case of power failure

A+ rated

The –

Minimal capacity (91 L)

The practical daily freezer

Whirlpool UW8 F2Y WBI F

With a capacity of 260 L and 7 storage bins, this Whirlpool freezer can freeze a large quantity of food. With 4 stars, this model can freeze one food. Regarding energy efficiency, it is rated A++, which means that it consumes little energy. This appliance has 24 hours of autonomy in case of a power failure. An anti-frost system is also available.

The pluses

24 hours of autonomy in case of power failure

7 storage bins

4 stars, the highest level of freezing

A++ energy efficiency

Anti-frost system

The –

We found nothing!

The freezer for large families

Electrolux EC5231AOW

This chest freezer has a capacity of 495L, so that it can be particularly suitable for large families. This 4-star model allows you to freeze food. In terms of energy efficiency, it is rated A+. In case of breakdown, this freezer has 31 hours of autonomy.

A minor drawback: no anti-frost system is offered on this model. Also, note that this is a “chest” freezer model; you cannot put anything on it, and this system can be less practical for finding your food quickly.

The pluses

Large capacity of the chest (495 L)

31 hours of autonomy in case of power failure

A+ energy efficiency

4 stars, the highest level of freezing

The –

Trunk design makes it less convenient to search for food

No anti-frost system

The low-cost freezer:

Beko MinFrost technology

If you want to buy a freezer at a low price, this BEKO model may suit you. With a capacity of 104 L, it is more suitable for a single person or a couple. It has a 4-star rating and is therefore ideal for freezing food. It is rated A+ for energy efficiency. In case of power failure, it has an autonomy of 18 hours.

As for the previous model, it is a chest freezer. Therefore, you can put nothing on it, and the food search can be more complicated. It’s up to you to decide if this is a problem for your needs and uses.

The pluses

A+ energy efficiency

4 stars, the highest level of freezing

A small price for the size and characteristics of the freezer

The –

Small freezer capacity (104 L)

The “chest” system is less practical for searching for food.

Freezer comparison: criteria for choosing

There are several criteria to consider to choosing a freezer that meets your needs. Localbiz takes a look at the elements to check before making your choice. 

The type of freezer

Freezers

There are 2 freezers: the “chest” freezer, which has an opening on the top, and the cabinet freezer, which has an opening on the front, like a door.

The “chest” freezer is more imposing than a cabinet freezer. Because of its imposing size, it is more adapted to people having a garage or a cellar. Its capacity is generally between 100 and 600 L. The cabinet/upright freezer is more compact and can be installed anywhere. Its capacity is generally between 105 and 300 L. Your choice will depend on the space you have and the power you need (depending on the number of people in your household).

The comfort of use

Cabinet freezers have several drawers, while chest freezers have storage baskets. So it’s all a matter of preference. A chest freezer involves bending over to grab a food item, while you’ll have to kneel to grab one from the last drawer of your chest freezer.

The degree of freezing

To know the temperature performance, you have to refer to the number of stars in the freezer: each star is equivalent to -6°C. The stars allow you to distinguish between different types of preservation. The fewer stars, the shorter the storage time. An actual freezer will have 4 stars.

The storage capacity 

This depends on the composition of the household. Thus, choose a volume lower than 150 L if you live alone. A freezer between 150 and 250 L capacity is more suitable for 2 or 3 people. Finally, a capacity greater than 250 L is the one to be preferred for families of more than 4 people.

The energy class 

The freezer works continuously. Therefore, choosing an appliance that consumes little energy is better. For that, turn to a freezer belonging to the A-class.

Advantages and disadvantages of a freezer

Today, more and more households have a freezer. It is indeed a practical and valuable appliance in everyday life. 

It allows you to preserve or even freeze food for a long time.

Freezers are available in a variety of designs to meet all expectations.

Good to know: in the case of a chest freezer, the cold remains more inside when the lid is opened than with a cabinet freezer.

A freezer consumes energy. Therefore, choosing a model with low energy consumption is necessary. On the other hand, it is essential to know the disadvantages as well:

The price of a freezer can be high, depending on the model.

If you choose a chest model, note that these large appliances do not necessarily fit in a kitchen. Because of the opening system, you will not be able to place anything in the freezer either.

What is the Role of a Wedding Planner

Summary
1. What is a wedding planner?
2. What is the role of the wedding planner?
3. How to find that special person?

If you lack the time and energy to organize your wedding, why not call a wedding planner? He will manage everything for you from A to Z or just a part of your wedding. You should know that this concept comes from the United States and that it has been widely used for more than 50 years, it is a profession in its own right.

1. What is a wedding planner?

There are two possibilities for the wedding planner:
– He will take care of all the wedding preparations and the planning of this fabulous day.
– He will manage only a part of the wedding planning.

The wedding planner will, therefore, manage the preparations from A to Z until the “D” day, that is to say:

– finding the reception venue (wedding hall), the caterer, the decoration, the photographer and other suppliers necessary for the smooth running of the wedding;
– help you define the theme wedding;
– finding accommodation for the guests;
– advise you on the animation of the wedding.

He can also accompany you in more personal choices, such as:

– Wedding attire;
– wedding rings.

On the “D” day, he will be a real coordinator: he will of course be on site to manage all the last minute unforeseen events and the smallest details to make this day an exceptional success.

Management of the wedding

You don’t have to entrust everything to him; you can ask your wedding planner to intervene only on a part of the organization of your wedding.

For example, he can be present on the day of the wedding celebration to oversee all the preparations and the day’s progress.

2. What is the role of the wedding planner?

Before and during the wedding

The wedding planner must have a lot of quality and talent, namely: be meticulous, have a sense of initiative, know how to anticipate, be quick, efficient, have good interpersonal skills, be diplomatic, know how to communicate.

He has to offer you tailor-made services, that’s why you call for his services.
His major asset is that he is a good negotiator. He knows many quality service providers to satisfy you and lighten your budget. He will, therefore, get information, call, visit the premises, taste, test, and compare prices.

Once he will have all the elements in his possession, he will debrief you on his different searches, you will only have to decide and choose what suits you best in all serenity and especially without stress on the “D” day.
You will be able to fully enjoy this unique day as well as your guests. His role will be to act as the conductor by coordinating the service providers and centralizing the information.

After the wedding

The wedding planner will also be able to manage the after-wedding in the following cases:

– take care of the refurbishment of the reception hall;
– sending out thank-you cards;
– contact the wedding photographer and cameraman for the elaboration of the wedding photo album and the wedding film;
– manage the administrative part.

3. How to spot that special talent?

The wedding planner should be contacted at the beginning of the organization of your wedding: 10 to 12 months before.

There are several ways to find a good wedding planner:

word-of-mouth: the most efficient way to contact your quality service provider.
the eternal yellow pages;
the websites specialized in marriage;
peel the magazines;
taking down names and contact information on TV shows.

Questions to ask your wedding planner
Once you have selected several wedding planners, make an appointment with them, and ask them the right questions, such as:

– Is the staff competent and do they have the necessary know-how for the wedding?
– What are the wedding themes he can offer you and what are his rates?

Ask to see their portfolio, photos, or videos to get an idea of their work and whether it corresponds to your selection criteria. Don’t hesitate to tell him all your wishes and your story. He needs to get to know you in order to elaborate on a wedding that resembles you and that is in harmony with your couple.

Last but not least, he must stay in regular contact to find out how the organization of your wedding is progressing and to reframe it if necessary. He must be available and listen to you, and not influence you.

mobile3

Designing An Effective Mobile Online Store – Part 2

These days we do pretty much everything on our phones. We chat with friends on our phones. We video conference our colleagues on our phones via team communication tools. We find our significant others on our phones. We bank on our phones, stream shows on our phones, and we certainly love to shop on our phones. That’s exactly why e-commerce sites need to be mobile-first.

That’s the growing consensus among many of today’s industry leaders. In this article, we’re going to be discussing everything you need to know about mobile-first design and the seven reasons why every e-commerce site should be adopting this design model in 2022 and beyond.

What is Mobile-First?

So, what exactly is the mobile-first concept? Mobile-first is a concept whereby websites are designed for smartphones first and then scaled up for use on desktops and laptops later, where traditionally websites have been designed in the reverse direction – for desktop first.

This mobile-first approach forms part of a methodology known as progressive enhancement. Progressive enhancement, as opposed to graceful degradation, proposes that instead of developing all features from the start, websites should be founded upon those features that can be supported by all browser versions. By contrast, a graceful degradation methodology would build an application upon a basis of full functionality then downgrade this enhanced version for different browser versions (e.g. old browsers or, in our case, mobile devices).

The latter method can often result in mobile sites that simply aren’t good enough. That’s why mobile-first designing is now transforming e-commerce with improved mobile experiences that support omnichannel sales. By focusing on mobile first, mobile shoppers benefit from exceptional designs and functionalities both on the small and the big screen.

Mobile-first vs. Mobile-friendly

It’s important to note that mobile-first design is not the same thing as mobile-friendly design. Mobile-friendly (also known as mobile-responsive design) does not start from the smartphone and scale up. In fact, it does the opposite.

Mobile-friendly designs might work on smartphones, but they are principally geared towards desktop use. The design must be compromised for the small screen. That means that the scaled down mobile version tends to be lower in quality, less intuitive, and usually offers an inferior user experience.

Mobile-first methods benefit online stores in particular, because they consider the needs of mobile users first, and design websites precisely for use on smartphones. Since that’s where most purchases take place, it makes a lot of sense to go mobile-first.

mobile4

7 Reasons to Consider Mobile-First Ecommerce Site Design

Since so many customers shop via mobile devices, a mobile-first approach is guaranteed to support increased conversions, and improved experiences. Still not convinced? Read on.

1. Economical Website Design Strategy

Switching to mobile-first site design can save you both time and money. Why? Because mobile-first design is essentially a one-size-fits-all solution to great cross-platform user experiences. For example, instead of creating a beautiful website for desktop then having to adapt it heavily just so that it functions at a basic capacity on mobile, you’ll achieve a user-friendly site for all platforms first time around.

Furthermore, mobile-first design promises to be a great financial investment. We live in an undeniably mobile age where optimized mobile experiences are critical for success. Going mobile-first promises to increase client engagement, and extend your reach over a wider demographic. It is true that mobile-first strategies can be expensive in the short term. But the value added by truly great mobile functionality makes it a solid and cost-effective long-term investment.

2. Cross-platform Responsiveness

A mobile-first website will be compatible with a variety of different platforms. In today’s day and age that’s incredibly important. It means that your users can engage with site content, video marketing, and much more from whichever platform is most convenient to them at the time.

3. Better SEO with Mobile-First Indexing

Google has switched to mobile-first indexing. That means that Google uses the mobile version of your site when indexing and ranking content. If you’re already running a site on WordPress or Shopify, for example, Googlebot will now automatically use the mobile version of your site.

Any enterprise marketing agency will tell you that designing mobile-first should be part of any comprehensive search engine optimization strategy. That’s ever more important since three out of every five searches now happen on mobile.

Smartphone usage is on the up and great mobile experiences are essential. By offering higher level mobile experiences, users are more likely to return to your site regularly, improving visibility, relevance, and reach both in the eye of the customer and the search engine.

4. Better Use of Content

Designing for mobile encourages content creators to be more concise – because who wants to be scrolling through pages and pages of lengthy information on a small screen? When sentences are kept short, content becomes more clear, concise, and easier for the reader to digest. Did you know that nearly half of users will stop using a website on a mobile device if they find the content to be useless or the layout overly complicated?

When we design for smaller screens first, we are forced to differentiate between content that is valuable and important, versus content that is glorified filler. When we do this, we also strengthen our brand messaging by picking out content that really tells the customers who we are, what we do, and why they should purchase from us. Remember, you can always scale up your content for the desktop site later on.

mobile5

5. Add Value to Customer Experience

Today, going mobile-first could be the key to improving customer experiences. Mobile adoption has become a critical part of the customer experience and providing high quality mobile services is key to keeping customers happy.

A bad mobile experience speaks poorly of your brand. In fact, 50% of customers will stop visiting a website if it isn’t mobile friendly. So, what is the best way to add value to your business? By giving customers exactly what they want.

6. Higher Growth Potential

E-commerce has boomed in recent years. But it’s now being taken over by M-commerce. We live in a mobile-first world, so it goes without saying that mobile-first design is the route to higher growth potential. Mobile is starting and ending more consumer journeys, and voice controlled devices are fast becoming a massive driver of sales. In fact, 40% of consumers now use voice technology to make online purchases.

7. Gather Insightful Customer Data

Last but not least, M-commerce is a great way to gather more customer data. The more data you collect, the more you can then use it to offer your customers exactly what they want and need. Collecting customer data improves shopping experiences in the long run. Plus, mobile data collection is a great way to expand your email and SMS marketing lists.

The Future of Design is Mobile-First

The future of web design isn’t on PC – it’s on your Androids and iPhones. As you’ve seen, going mobile-first offers some tremendous benefits, from heightened customer experiences to increased growth potential. If you haven’t considered mobile-first, it’s time to make the switch with Deliver by Linkeo.

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