Ancient Greek Eroticism - An Introduction

Our knowledge about ancient Greek eroticism changes constantly, as more literary and artistic evidence is found and analyzed and as contemporary scholarship puts a new spin on old data. The Concept of Eros in Greece Ancient Greek society had different words for different kinds of love. Eros, for the most part, denoted love that had a sexual component. It could refer to the ideal marital affection between men and women, but also encompassed homosexual relationships. The concept of pederasty, which involved an older man who was both lover and mentor to a young man, also was connected to the idea of eros. This was not uncommon across all the varied Greek city-states. Sparta had homosexual relationships built into the structure of the training all young Spartan men received, although there is some disagreement among historians about whether the relationships were more paternalistic mentorships or primarily sexual. In other Dorian areas also homosexuality was widely accepted. Thebes saw in the 4th century the creation of a battalion of homosexual lovers—the Sacred Band. In Crete, there is evidence of ritualized abduction of younger men by older men. Contrary to popular belief, eros was not solely a sexual institution. In the case of pederastic eros, the relationships were considered educational above all else. Plato also theorized that eros could be directed towards mathematics and philosophy, rather than sexuality, in order to harness that driving energy towards improving ones mental and spiritual state. Sexuality, Myth, and History By the end of the 5th century BC, the concept of erotic and/or romantic homosexual love was enshrined in myth and art. Poets told stories in which male gods had relationships with young, beautiful human men, while myths also depicted similar relationships between human men or tweaked existing myths to fit this dichotomy of lover and beloved. One of the better-known myths of this sort is that of Achilles and Patroclus. According to the myths, Achilles, hero of the Trojan War, had an older and wiser companion named Patroclus. When Patroclus was killed in battle, Achilles completely broke down. The original Homeric texts did not specify a sexual relationship between the men, but later authors firmly interpreted their bond as romantic and sexual. The myth of Achilles and Patroclus was said to have inspired Alexander the Great in his relationship with his closest companion, Hephaestion. Again, however, the true nature of that relationship is unknown: whether they were lovers or had a non-sexual close companionship. In general, homosexual relationships between men were predominantly between an older and a younger partner. The idea of an adult male being the beloved of another man would have been frowned upon or outright stigmatized, since adult men were supposed to become dominant and not passive. Restrictions on Greek Women Women were considered the guardians of Athenian citizenship, but that didnt confer any rights. A citizen of Athens had to make sure all his wifes children were his. To keep her away from temptation, she was locked away in the womens quarters and accompanied by a male whenever she went outside. If she were caught with another man, the man could be killed or brought to court. When a woman married, she was a piece of property transferred from her father (or other male guardian) to her husband. In Sparta, the need for Spartan citizens was strong, so women were encouraged to bear children to a citizen who would sire well if her own husband proved inadequate. There she wasnt so much her spouses property as the states—as were her children and her husband. Because of this emphasis on the need for citizens, however, Spartan women had higher social standing, and the city-state honored the institution of marriage and the marital bond. Same-sex love between women was less recorded due to the role of women in society as a whole, but did exist. The most famous evidence of this is the poetry of Sappho, who wrote romantic poetry directed at women and girls. However, love between two women did not have the same usefulness as the educational/military bond of male-male relationships, and was therefore not supported socially. Plato and Current Theories of Greek Sexualities In Platos Symposium (a treatise on Athenian eroticism) the playwright Aristophanes offers a colorful explanation for why all these sexual options existed. In the beginning, there were three types of double-headed humans, he said, varying according to sex: male/male, female/female, and male/female. Zeus, angered at the humans, punished them by splitting them in half. From then on, each half has forever sought out his other half. Plato himself had a very wide range of views on homosexuality: early texts show him praising such relationships as preferable to heterosexual ones, but he also wrote later texts denouncing them. Scholars also continue to debate whether or not erotic love and sexual preferences were considered defining personality categories in ancient Greece. Current scholarship, including feminist and Foucauldian, applies a variety of theoretical models to the literary and artistic evidence we have about ancient sexuality. To some, sexuality is culturally defined, to others, there are universal constants. Application of Athenian literary evidence from the fifth and fourth centuries to preceding or succeeding generations is problematic, but not nearly so hard as trying to extend it to all of Greece. The resources below reflect a variety of approaches. Sources and Further Reading Cullhed, A, Franzen C, and Hallengren A. (editors). Pangs of Love and Longing: Configurations of Desire in Premodern Literature. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2014.Dover, KJ. Greek Homosexuality. 3rd editon. London: Bloomsbury Press, 2016.Ferrari, Gloria.  Figures of Speech: Men and Maidens in Ancient Greece. University of Chicago Press, 2002.Foucault M. The History of Sexuality. Volume 1: An Introduction. Vintage Press, 1986.Foucault M. The History of Sexuality. Volume 2: The Use of Pleasure. Vintage Press, 1988.Hubbard, Thomas K. A Companion to Greek and Roman Sexualities. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.Skinner, MB. Sexuality in Greek and Roman Culture, 2nd edition: Wiley Blackwell, 2013.

Crusades Effects on the Middle East

Between 1095 and 1291, Christians from western Europe launched a series of eight major invasions against the Middle East. These attacks, called the Crusades, were aimed at liberating the Holy Land and Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The Crusades were sparked by religious fervor in Europe, by exhortations from various popes, and by the need to rid Europe of excess warriors left over from regional wars. What effect did these attacks, which came from out of the blue from the perspective of Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land, have on the Middle East? Short-Term Effects In an immediate sense, the Crusades had a terrible effect on some of the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants of the Middle East. During the First Crusade, for example, adherents of the two religions joined together to defend the cities of Antioch (1097 CE) and Jerusalem (1099) from European Crusaders who laid siege to them. In both cases, the Christians sacked the cities and massacred the Muslim and Jewish defenders. It must have been horrifying for the people to see armed bands of religious zealots approaching to attack their cities and castles. However, as bloody as the battles could be, on the whole, the people of the Middle East considered the Crusades more of an irritant than an existential threat. A Global Trade Power During the Middle Ages, the Islamic world was a global center of trade, culture, and learning. Arab Muslim traders dominated the rich trade in spices, silk, porcelain, and jewels that flowed into Europe from China, Indonesia, and India. Muslim scholars had preserved and translated the great works of science and medicine from classical Greece and Rome, combined that with insights from the ancient thinkers of India and China, and went on to invent or improve on subjects like algebra and astronomy, and medical innovations such as the hypodermic needle. Europe, on the other hand, was a war-torn region of small, feuding principalities, mired in superstition and illiteracy. One of the primary reasons that Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade (1096–1099), in fact, was to distract the Christian rulers and nobles of Europe from fighting one another by creating a common enemy for them: the Muslims who controlled the Holy Land. Europes Christians would launch seven additional crusades over the next 200 years, but none was as successful as the First Crusade. One effect of the Crusades was the creation of a new hero for the Islamic world: Saladin, the Kurdish sultan of Syria and Egypt, who in 1187 freed Jerusalem from the Christians but refused to massacre them as the Christians had done to the citys Muslim and Jewish citizens 90 years previously. On the whole, the Crusades had little immediate effect on the Middle East in terms of territorial losses or psychological impact. By the 13th century, people in the region were much more concerned about a new threat: the quickly expanding Mongol Empire, which would bring down the Umayyad Caliphate, sack Baghdad, and push toward Egypt. Had the Mamluks not defeated the Mongols in the Battle of Ayn Jalut (1260), the entire Muslim world might have fallen. Effects on Europe In the centuries that followed, it was actually Europe that was most changed by the Crusades. The Crusaders brought back exotic new spices and fabrics, fueling European demand for products from Asia. They also brought back new ideas—medical knowledge, scientific ideas, and more enlightened attitudes about people of other religious backgrounds. These changes among the nobility and soldiers of the Christian world helped spark the Renaissance and eventually set Europe, the backwater of the Old World, on a course toward global conquest. Long-Term Effects of the Crusades on the Middle East Eventually, it was Europes rebirth and expansion that finally created a Crusader effect in the Middle East. As Europe asserted itself during the 15th through 19th centuries, it forced the Islamic world into a secondary position, sparking envy and reactionary conservatism in some sectors of the formerly more progressive Middle East. Today, the Crusades constitute a major grievance for some people in the Middle East, when they consider relations with Europe and the West. 21st Century Crusade In 2001, President George W. Bush reopened the almost 1,000-year-old wound in the days following the 9/11 attacks. On September 16, 2001, President Bush said, This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while. The reaction in the Middle East and Europe was sharp and immediate: Commentators in both regions decried Bushs use of that term  and vowed that the terrorist attacks and Americas reaction would not turn into a new clash of civilizations like the medieval Crusades. The U.S. entered Afghanistan about a month after the 9/11 attacks to battle the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists, which was followed by years of fighting between U.S. and coalition forces and terror groups and insurgents in Afghanistan and elsewhere. In March 2003, the U.S. and other Western forces invaded Iraq over claims that President Saddam Husseins military was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Eventually, Hussein was captured (and eventually hanged following a trial), al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan during a U.S. raid, and other terror leaders have been taken into custody or killed. The U.S. maintains a strong presence in the Middle East to this day and, due in part to the civilian casualties that have occurred during the years of fighting, some have compared the situation to an extension of the Crusades. Sources and Further Reading Claster, Jill N. Sacred Violence: The European Crusades to the Middle East, 1095-1396. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009.Kà ¶hler, Michael. Alliances and Treaties between Frankish and Muslim Rulers in the Middle East: Cross-Cultural Diplomacy in the Period of the Crusades. Trans. Holt, Peter M. Leiden: Brill, 2013.  Holt, Peter M. The Age of the Crusades: The Near East from the Eleventh Century to 1517. London: Routledge, 2014.

Team to Achieve Milennium Free Essays

CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF: USING TEAMS to ACHIEVE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS CASE STUDY FOR HCA 6225-01 California State University East Bay – Hayward 02/21/13 1. One feature of the team in this case is frequent turnover among team members. How might turnover among team members affect team performance? What approaches can team leaders to take to minimize potential negative impacts of turnover and gain advantages, if any? Employee/team member turnover may be mostly a negative issue, yet it can become positive if only controlled by the organization correctly and appropriately. We will write a custom essay sample on Team to Achieve Milennium or any similar topic only for you Order Now Turnover is often utilized as an indicator of the organization performance and it can easily be observed negatively towards the organization’s efficiency and effectiveness. Also, turnover is a natural outcome of an organization which is why it has to be kept to a minimum. In order to minimize the impact of turnover is to first address and understand the issue and cause of the turnover. The purpose of knowing is to raise alertness as to investigate for the â€Å"why†. Once the organization finds out the reasons and cause of turnover, there are variety of actions that the organizations and leadership can execute in order to prevent the effects and impacts of turnover. By ensuring that management learns the cause of turnover and act accordingly, turnover may be reduces or controlled. Lyman Coleman (1989) offers ideas on how to correct and prevent turnovers. His recommendation includes institution of exit interviews and other methods of finding reasons for people turnover. Also the following: * Get involved in finding our the cause of turnover Bring attention to bottom line figures and how turnover affects everyone * Have an open door policy style of managing to allow members to comment on what might be bothering them about their job and roles. * Realize there is more that one problem and pay attention to all. Stay alert * Execute periodic audits of job satisfaction * Have strict hiring standards * Develop and constant training strategies * Conduct m ember meetings One of the best recommendation is to have open door policy that will allows the team leaders/organization to hear of issues prior to escalating. Finding and learning about the member job satisfaction and exhaustion early can eliminate turnover. But on the other hand, turnover can be beneficial to the organization by learning which team member to elimination/terminating poor performances that affect the organizations performance, this allowing for internal promotion and hiring new team members with innovative ideas. New team members can often bring positive input into the organization that can help handle turnover (Cintron, p4) In class lectures, team characteristics are discuss which are the following: * Team size, composition, and diversity: Too few or too many members may reduce performance * Diversity affects way individuals perceive each other and how well they work together * Status differences: * May motivate others or act as source of conflict and tension * Psychological safety * Perceptions about consequences of interpersonal risks in work environment * Team norms * Standard shared by team members regulating member be havior * Team cohesiveness * Extent members are committed to group task As a result it will follow into the model of team effectiveness. (HCA 6225, CH5) 2. Consumers or patients are sometimes involved in quality improvement teams, but in this role, they may feel that their voices are unimportant or that participation is symbolic rather than substantive. Do you think that consumers should be involved in the improvement teams in this case? Why or why not? If consumer involved, how can team leaders and members most effectively utilize their knowledge and insights? Consumers or patients can play an important role in shaping managed care by expressing their voice on issues; by participating in governance, management or otherwise; through representatives; or by some combination of these. So I suggest yes that they should be involve on the team improvement teams. Their Participation refers to active involvement on implementation. They can participate in oversight, governance, operations, opinion surveys, and complaints. Also according to Rodwin, the aims of early Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) parallel those of consumer/ patient movements. Managed care offers many benefits. It can increase access to primary and preventive care (with minimal or no out of pocket costs). It can also monitor and improve the practices of physicians and other health care providers and coordinate and rationalize the services of specialists. It can also control spending. Consumer involvement can put managers in touch with the experience and desires of customers. It can provide balance and perspective. Although they are being part of the team performance, their voice should be limited and watch over. Consumer voice, participation and representation programs, however, need to be viewed critically because they might demand too many services and can become divided and polarize issues, leading to increased conflict. So therefore, future challenge is to foster balanced, appropriate and effective use of consumer voice. 3. Even when team improvement efforts achieve change, the sustainability of change remains a pervasive challenge. In fact, sustainability of the teams may be problematic. What are the particular obstacles to sustaining the improvements achieved by teams in this case? Similarly, what factors might lead to the dissolution of the improvement teams over time? As a team leader, what strategic might be used to sustain change and to uphold the vitality of the team over time? Although teams have the capability to boost productivity and improve quality, they can also have the potential to increase costs and stress. As a result it can lead to lack of communication and motivation that can lead to the dissolution of the improvement of the teams over time. Team leadership should have skills pertaining to conflict resolution, overcoming communication obstacles, and effective structure techniques. Understanding the five stages of team development, which are the following: Stage 1: Forming In the Forming stage, personal relations are characterized by dependence. Group members rely on safe, patterned behavior and look to the group leader for guidance and direction. Group members have a desire for acceptance by the group and a need to know that the group is safe. They set about gathering impressions and data about the similarities and differences among them and forming preferences for future subgrouping. Rules of behavior seem to be to keep things simple and to avoid controversy. Serious topics and feelings are avoided. The major task functions also concern orientation. Members attempt to become oriented to the tasks as well as to one another. Discussion centers around defining the scope of the task, how to approach it, and similar concerns. To grow from this stage to the next, each member must relinquish the comfort of non-threatening topics and risk the possibility of conflict. Stage 2: Storming The next stage, called Storming, is characterized by competition and conflict in the personal- relations dimension an organization in the task-functions dimension. As the group members attempt to organize for the task, conflict inevitably results in their personal relations. Individuals have to bend and mold their feelings, ideas, attitudes, and beliefs to suit the group organization. Because of â€Å"fear of exposure† or â€Å"fear of failure,† there will be an increased desire for structural clarification and commitment. Although conflicts may or may not surface as group issues, they do exist. Questions will arise about who is going to be responsible for what, what the rules are, what the reward system is, and what criteria for evaluation are. These reflect conflicts over leadership, structure, power, and authority. There may be wide swings in members’ behavior based on emerging issues of competition and hostilities. Because of the discomfort generated during this stage, some members may remain completely silent while others attempt to dominate. In order to progress to the next stage, group members must move from a â€Å"testing and proving† mentality to a problem-solving mentality. The most important trait in helping groups to move on to the next stage seems to be the ability to listen. Stage 3: Norming In the Norming stage, interpersonal relations are characterized by cohesion. Group members are engaged in active acknowledgment of all members’ contributions, community building and maintenance, and solving of group issues. Members are willing to change their preconceived ideas or opinions on the basis of facts presented by other members, and they actively ask questions of one another. Leadership is shared, and cliques dissolve. When members begin to know-and identify with-one another, the level of trust in their personal relations contributes to the development of group cohesion. It is during this stage of development (assuming the group gets this far) that people begin to experience a sense of group belonging and a feeling of relief as a result of resolving interpersonal conflicts. The major task function of stage three is the data flow between group members: They share feelings and ideas, solicit and give feedback to one another, and explore actions related to the task. Creativity is high. If this stage of data flow and cohesion is attained by the group members, their interactions are characterized by openness and sharing of information on both a personal and task level. They feel good about being part of an effective group. The major drawback of the norming stage is that members may begin to fear the inevitable future breakup of the group; they may resist change of any sort. Stage 4: Performing The Performing stage is not reached by all groups. If group members are able to evolve to stage four, their capacity, range, and depth of personal relations expand to true interdependence. In this stage, people can work independently, in subgroups, or as a total unit with equal facility. Their roles and authorities dynamically adjust to the changing needs of the group and individuals. Stage four is marked by interdependence in personal relations and problem solving in the realm of task functions. By now, the group should be most productive. Individual members have become self-assuring, and the need for group approval is past. Members are both highly task oriented and highly people oriented. There is unity: group identity is complete, group morale is high, and group loyalty is intense. The task function becomes genuine problem solving, leading toward optimal solutions and optimum group development. There is support for experimentation in solving problems and an emphasis on achievement. The overall goal is productivity through problem solving and work. Stage 5: Adjourning The final stage, Adjourning, involves the termination of task behaviors and disengagement from relationships. A planned conclusion usually includes recognition for participation and achievement and an opportunity for members to say personal goodbyes. Concluding a group can create some apprehension – in effect, a minor crisis. The termination of the group is a regressive movement from giving up control to giving up inclusion in the group. The most effective interventions in this stage are those that facilitate task termination and the disengagement process. Reference: Burns, L. Bradley, E. , and Weiner, B. (2012). Shortell Kaluzny’s Health Care Management: Organization Design ; Behavior, (6th Edition), Clifton Park, New York: Delmar Cengage Learning. Cintron, Rene. Employee Turnover: Causes, Effects, and Prevention. Retrieved on February 09, 2013 from www. renecintron. com/files/Employee_Turnover. doc Coleman, L. G (1989, December 4) Human Resources Management: An Exper imental Approach )2nd custom edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall. HCA 6225-01. Chapter 05 powerpoint. Retrieved on February 08,2013 from https://bb. csueastbay. du/webapps/portal/frameset. jsp? tab_tab_group_id=_30_1;url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D%20_396854_1%26url%3D Marc A. Rodwin, May 1998. Address comments to Marc A. Rodwin, Associate Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 47405 Tuckman, B. (1965) Developmental Sequence in Small Groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384-399.? Tuckman, B. ; Jensen, M. (1977) Stages of Small Group Development. Group and Organizational Studies, 2, 419- 427. http://www. drexel. edu/oca/l/tipsheets/Group_Development. pdf How to cite Team to Achieve Milennium, Papers

Frontiers In Occupational Health And Safety-Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Frontiers In Occupational Health And Safety? Answer: Introducation The Chairman kicked off by welcoming all members. Before passing over to the secretary to read minutes of previous meeting, the Chairman informed members that the principal role of the meeting was to review the progress of new project management and further define the functions and purpose of Occupational Health Safety Committee giving attention to the functions purpose and references of the committee. Review of previous meeting The minutes were read as confirmed as true record of previous proceedings. Health and Safety Audit Committee The Committee acknowledged the matters discussed in previous meeting of Health and Safety Audit Committee. The raised concerns were noted and forwarded to the Council. The Director of safety noted that accidents were minimal in the sites. Secretary gave progress on usage of asbestos. Terms of reference The secretary informed members that the Board had carried out investigations on the hazards of asbestos and finalized the report. Further, the Board sought ways of utilizing asbestos and assured of its safety. With reference to issues raised on existence of asbestos in the sites, the committee was briefed on use of asbestos and further discussed developments in place for monitoring. Members were informed that before use of asbestos in the 80s it was broadly used due to its qualities such as resistance to chemical erosion and heat, its flexibility and strength. The material was widely used in schools, apartments, office towers, libraries among others. Owners of building were required to identify the asbestos in accordance with law, either use it appropriately by repairing any faults, or remove them that are faulty. However, specialized technicians have safeguarded to ensure continued safety of building and good health to themselves and other clients. While asbestos may be found in certain buildings, it is crucial that its management is regulated. This management will ensure the safety and health of the people who occupy the buildings. Policies procedures and code of practice The Committee acknowledged and accepted the revised policy statements that would affect the organization. Policy on First Aid: the Occupational Health Director introduced a revised policy on First Aid. The Director emphasized the need of First Aid lifesavers in the various departments instead of engaging locally trained staff. He said all members of staff should be trained to handle the first aid and not merely wait for trained persons to take up the role when an issue arises. However, he agreed that in the departments that were restricted or sensitive, the Safety Director would ensure that trained persons are reachable fast. The Committee embraced the new policy and asked Occupational Health Director to ensure overall safety of the entire organization. Long-term maintenance. It was reported that there was need for long term maintenance of the buildings in which tenants occupy. The Director said he would in the next meeting produce paper giving details of all the work pertaining maintenance. Chair discussed the importance of understanding of the workings of projects which would lead to a financial position. It was announced that all projects would be reported through the projects division. The organization will then appoint a committee to oversee the specific projects. The Chair also emphasized the need for health and safety in all the projects undertaken. He also emphasized on need for disaster recovery . Members agreed that it was necessary to hold frequent meetings when a new project is launched to enable them address all issues. Health and safety consultative committee. The scorecard on workplace committee The scorecard have not been finalized yet but once they do, the chairman will share with the committee members. In January 2015 statistics reveal that many untrained manages had decreased (Ribeiro 2014). In many cases, the number of untrained teachers has drastically improved. Fieldwork. Among other things, the committee discussed field work preparation in which one member suggested that the Exploration Board would play a key role in preparing and guiding the team on field work. Rectors Award: in a bid to economics safety health practices, the Safety Director introduced an award system saying that it was an effective method of spreading the message to maintain uphold healthy and safety culture in the organization. The award he said would be publicized and nominations for various departments should be received before the end of the year. The Director encouraged the members to take part in the competition and further send their nominees by November. Waste disposal: The Estates Director reported about his concern about special waste which he had experienced earlier on in the field and would like the issue addressed. Waste disposal would be discussed in detail in the next meeting. Development of E-learning was underway and progressing well. A few representatives of the workplace have been briefed on the new initiative. A newsletter will be introduced with topics on health safety. All employees will be required to read the newsletter because it will be holding vital information that is crucial in the line of occupational health and safety organization. Office ergonomic videos. One member of the committee reported that ergonomic videos that supported good practice and control the risks of safety in the office were available. The chair stressed the need for all members to learn through the videos. Electrical safety. A status report was provided on the installation of RCD (Residential Current Devices) to the power circuits (Fingret 2013). It was said that most buildings had these devices that would protect all the buildings from power circuits. It was also said that portable electrical appliance testing frequency would be checked into to bring to line with the national model code of practice that is used to manage Electrical Safety in Workplace. The committee members were informed about a website that would be launched to encourage many people to maintain proper health and safety practices at their workplace. Occupational Health and Safety Communication Plan A committee was formed to carry on communication campaigns to minimize risk of accidents, and promote awareness amongst employees. Meanwhile, the committee members were briefed on national occupational healthcare safety communication plan 2016. Information had been given in the previous months. It was also said that there would be a national mourning day. A staff representative requested that members of the organization be added to the plan to prevent diseases such as influenza. Any other Business The secretary informed committee members that Audit committee had requested for a have a review of the organization. Another member inquired whether they will address issues pertaining disabilities. It was said that they will consider the disabled. Incidents: A few incidents were reported to have occurred in the building that were worth noting. One incident occurred due to slips, trips and falls when walking or running up the staircase. First Aid was administered timely to the injured persons. One of the staircase incidents involved the victim missing one step and slipping. In the process she stressed her body and got injured. None of the above incidents have resulted in an insurance claim by the victims so far. Three large mats have been placed on the entrance of the buildings and on the bottom of the staircase to avoid possible slip hazards. Another one incident involved a fire. Although it was a minor fire due to a short circuit that had taken place, the Occupational Health Safety Director, reported on the need to train staff members on how to use fire extinguishers. A training session with fire fighters will be organized by the Committee and see whether it is able to receive training together with the staff members. Some staff members have brought to the attention of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee a hazard alert regarding danger of column heaters filled with oil. It was suggested that such heaters be completely banned from the organization. After the Committee discussed the issue, it was agreed that communication would be sent to the overall director of the organization, and pose the danger of placing such heaters and consequently, get an alternative for heaters. The heating issue would be discussed in more detail during the next general meeting. Closing remarks The closing remarks came from the Chair who took the opportunity to outline the deliverables that came out of the meeting together with those to be further added to the agenda. The Committee was told there would be another meeting at national level on 6th November 2015. Reference List FINGRET, D. A., SMITH, A. (2013). Occupational Health. Hoboken, Taylor and Francis. https://grail.eblib.com.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=170405 RIBEIRO, M. G. (2014). Frontiers in occupational health and safety: accounting in the world of work and impacts on occupational health and safety, volume 1 volume 1. https://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1831416.