As The Toilet Turns
Custodial/Maintenance Staff Newsletter
December, 2006—Volume 5, Issue 7
Science
Corner
How Does A Smoke Detector
Work?
They save lives.
They’re
inexpensive. They’re everywhere
in our schools. But how do they
work?
There are two main types of
smoke detectors.
Photoelectric
and ionization.
Photoelectric
smoke detectors use a laser and
light sensor much like a beam
across a door that beeps when
broken. When smoke enters the
chamber with the laser, the smoke
particles scatter the light and some
of the light is deflected to a sensor.
The sensor in turn sets off an
alarm warning of smoke.
Ionization detectors use a small
amount of radioactive material
such as americium 241 which has
a half-life of 432 years and is a
good source of alpha particles.
The actual chamber of an ionization detector contains two plates
with a voltage across them and the
radioactive source. An electric
current is produced by the
“ionization” or ‘knocking off of’
an electron from an atom and the
subsequent attraction of positive
and negative charges to the plates.
When smoke enters the chamber,
the electronics detect a disruption
in the current and in turn set off an
alarm.
It should be noted that the alpha
radiation produced is only dangerous if airborne.
Therefore,
NEVER poke or disrupt the canister containing the radioactive material.
Although simple, smoke detectors are a must for every structure
and thousands of lives are saved
each year because of them.
(For more interesting information on smoke
detectors, go to the following link:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/smoke.htm)
RSI—A Groaning Concern
An ache in your arm. Sore muscles.
Numb fingers. Fatigued tendons. Have you
experienced any of these symptoms? Do you
know what the cause might be? Only a doctor’s diagnosis will tell, but it could be one of
any number of problems categorized under a
condition known as RSI or Repetitive Strain
(Stress) Injury. Due to an accumulation of
repeated movements that slowly cause damage over time, this condition is also known as
Cumulative Trauma Disorder.
Wikipedia defines RSI as “a loose group
of conditions from overuse of the computer,
guitar, knife or similar motion or tool. It is an
occupational overuse syndrome affecting
muscles, tendons and nerves in the arms and
upper back; hence it is also known as work
related upper limb disorder or WRULD.
The medically accepted reason it occurs is
when muscles in these areas are kept tense for
very long periods of time, due to poor posture
and/or repetitive motions.”
The most well-known repetitive strain
injury is carpel tunnel syndrome. Other injuries in this category include DeQuervain’s
syndrome, intersection syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy
syndrome (RSDS),
stenosing tenosynovitis, tendonitis, tenosynovitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, trigger finger
or trigger thumb and ulnar nerve entrapment
also known as cubital tunnel syndrome.
(Continued on page 3)
Tricks of the Trade
To create a pleasant aroma while vacuuming, take a Glade Plug-In packet, peel the back off and throw it inside
your vacuum bag or in the bottom of your backpack vacuum underneath the cloth insert. As the vacuum warms up,
the pleasant scent of the Glade Plug-In will fill the air making for a fresh, clean atmosphere.
Next Month
Microwave ovens. What do you know
about them? Are there precautions that
need to be taken? How safe are they?
Inside this issue:
Fill Your Mind’s Empty Spaces 2
With These Tidbits—Part 3 of 4
Intriguing Questions to Ponder
Paid Holidays
Christmas: December 25 and 26, 2006
New Year’s: December 29, 2006 and
January 1, 2007
Something Extra!
Why Do Most Locomotives Use A Combination of
Diesel and Electric Power?
2
Answers to Intriguing Questions 2
to Ponder from the November
Issue
Let’s Try Again
2
Something Extra! continued
2
The Up’s and Down’s of Eleva- 2
tor and Escalator Safety
Do You Remember?
3
Elevators continued
3
RSI continued
3
The basic reason is the pulling and pushing power that can be
obtained with a relatively small, easy-to-maintain train “engine.”
Compared to steam-powered or electric locomotives, diesel-electric
locomotives are more versatile and more efficient.
But why can’t these locomotives just use diesel to fuel one motor
that ultimately would move the “engine” on the tracks? The Association of American Railroads Rail Fan Club website sheds light on the
answer. “It would be impossible to have the diesel engine deliver the
power directly, like with an automobile drive-train. Cars rely on transmissions to drive power evenly to the wheels. Yet with large locomotives, such giant transmissions would require scores of huge gears, and
ultimately more trouble with reliability and maintenance. The gearbox
would have to handle up to 6,000 horsepower!”
How does the diesel-electric locomotive solve this problem? The
Rail Fan Club continues. “Diesel-electrics do something ingenious.
They generate huge amounts of electric energy and use that generated
energy to drive the wheels. That is why they are called diesel-electric
(Continued on page 2)
As The Toilet Turns
Intriguing Questions to Ponder
December, 2006—Page Two
What do you know about things in the world ? See if you can answer these questions. Check next month’s issue for the answers.
Let’s Try Again
This month we’ll once again open the contest to
anyone in the Tahoma School District to win a gift
bag from Amy at West Coast Paper and products from
Paul at Coastwide. Simply answer the three questions
in Intriguing Questions to Ponder at the right. Then
return your answer to Rick Bergum. The winner will
be announced on December 6th. Have fun!
1.
2.
3.
In basketball, how far is the three-point line from the basket?
In science what does aDNA stand for?
What is a pixel?
Fill Your Mind’s Empty Spaces With These
Tidbits—Part 3 of 4
Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable.
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange,
silver, or purple.
Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose
and ears never stop growing.
Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite .
Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
"Stewardesses" is the longest word typed with only the left
hand and "lollipop" with your right.
The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.
The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon
of diesel that it burns.
The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a
radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket.
The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy
dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.
(Continued from Something Extra!)
or hybrid locomotives. So railroad locomotives use a diesel engine to
generate huge amounts of electric power, and then use the electric power
to run individual motors at each wheel. So what we really have is a combination of a large diesel engine, a generator, and many smaller electric
engines.
“By going with a hybrid setup, the main diesel engine can run at its
most efficient speeds, turning an electrical generator. The electric generator sends power to a traction motor at each axle. The axle then powers
the wheels. The traction motors can produce adequate torque at any
speed, from a complete stop to speeds beyond 100 mph, without needing
to change gears.”
Years of using different styles of power to move such huge machines
has brought us to where we are today when it comes to train locomotives. As the years go by, who knows what newer, more fuel-efficient
and power-producing machinery we might see riding the tracks of technology.
of Elevator and Escalator Safety
The following are excerpts taken from a brochure by the Department of
Labor and Industries on how to ride safely on elevators and escalators.
Escalators:
1. Step on and off with caution.
2. Keep loose clothing clear of steps and sides.
3. Don’t use an inoperative escalator as a stairway.
4. Don’t use an escalator to transport freight.
5. Hold children or small packages firmly in one hand.
6. Keep feet away from the sides.
7. Never ride barefoot.
8. Don’t run.
9. Never sit on the escalator step or moving walk.
Elevators:
1. Don’t try to stop closing doors. Wait for the next elevator.
2. Hold children and pets firmly.
3. Stand clear of the doors—keep clothes and carry-ons away from the
opening.
4. Passengers nearest the doors should move first.
5. Hold the handrail, if available.
6. If the doors do not open when the elevator stops, first push the DOOR
OPEN button. If doors still don’t open, ring the ALARM button, and/
or use the telephone or intercom. Wait until qualified people can
assist you.
7. Never try to leave a stalled car.
Myths and Truths About Escalators and
Elevators
Escalators:
Myth: The steps will flatten out and all the people will slide down.
Truth: This is impossible. Each step is a full triangular structure consisting of tread and riser supported on a track and cannot flatten out.
Myth: The steps fall into the basement and have to be restacked each
(Continued on page 3)
Answers to Intriguing Questions to Ponder From the November Issue
1.
2.
3.
Q—Why do radio stations on the east coast begin with the call letter “W” while those on the west coast begin with a “K?”
A—According to several sources, the US government used these call letters from the very beginning when radio stations were licensed. Currently, radio stations west of the Mississippi river are designated by the sign “K” while those east of the Mississippi
are given the sign “W.” There are some variations due to changes over the years, but this is the generally accepted standard today.
Q—When did Einstein publish his paper on the general theory of relativity? A—1915. He published his first paper on special relativity in 1905. The general theory of relativity expanded on his first theory.
Q—How many dimples on a golf ball? Various sources state 300—500 although 336 seems to be the most common.
December, 2006—Page Three
Answers to fire extinguisher quiz.
From top to bottom they are as follows: {3,4,1,2,4,3,2,1}
As The Toilet Turns
Do You Remember?
What do you remember from our article last month on fire extinguishers? See if you
can match the extinguishers below with the correct class of fire. Some extinguishers
may have more than one use. Answers are above.
(Continued from Elevators)
morning.
Truth: Escalator steps move on a continuous
chain system. At the end they rotate under and continue on the chain and reappear at the opposite end.
Myth: Escalators can reach out and grab you.
Truth: No part of an escalator can do this. Riders
should keep away from the sides and hold handrails.
Loose clothes, untied or long shoelaces, high heels,
long hair, long jewelry, etc. can get caught in an escalator.
Elevators:
Myth: Elevators are held up by only one rope that
can break.
Truth: Elevators are supported by multiple steel
cables. Each cable alone can support a fully loaded
car.
Myth: The hall doors can open when the elevator
is not there.
Truth: The elevator car controls whether the hall
doors open. If the car is not at the landing, the hall
doors can’t open because their opening can only be
triggered by the arriving car engaging an unlocking
device after the elevator has stopped at the landing.
Myth: An overcrowded elevator will fall.
Truth: This will not happen. An overloaded elevator will usually not move. The doors will stay open
and a buzzer may ring until enough people get off the
elevator to reduce weight.
{For further information go to www.eesf.org}
(Continued from RSI)
Other common names may include
tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and
housemaid’s knee.
Some of the symptoms of these
repetitive strain injuries might include
such things as pain or soreness in the
upper back, arms, neck , shoulders,
wrists or hands. Sometimes numbness, tingling, coldness or loss of sensation may be present. A loss of grip
strength, weakness and fatigue may
also present themselves. The area
affected may also be red, swollen, hot
and tender. It may be painful enough
to wake you in the middle of the
night. Since many of these symptoms
are interrelated, the entire upper body
may be considered when a medical
evaluation is done.
What can you do to prevent or
minimize RSI? Good posture when
using a computer or doing other work
is a must. Take regular breaks to
prevent “repetition” of the same job.
Exercise, stretch, and work the muscles and tendons regularly.
Get
enough sleep, drink plenty of water
and avoid such things as smoking.
Find a way to practice regular relaxation so as to give your body time to
rest and heal. If you feel pain, stop.
Allow your body to dictate when it
needs a break and listen to what it is
telling you. Try to do jobs differently so as not to
use the same muscles and tendons over and over
again. Use different parts of your body to do repetitive work. Use other tools to help you accomplish your task. Look for ways to carry, move,
lift or maneuver items using carts, hand trucks
and other helpful devices.
If you already are experiencing RSI or suspect
you have it, then what? See a doctor for treatment. Follow their advice. They may indicate a
cessation of usage for the particular area of the
body affected. Some type of brace or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory may be prescribed.
Cold compresses, massage or physical therapy
may be necessary. As a last resort, surgery may
be needed.
Repetitive Stress Injury doesn’t have to be a
concern for you. By maintaining a good regimen
of rest periods on the job, proper work techniques, good exercise and common sense, RSI
may be avoided completely.
For further reading, see the following websites:
1. http://www.arthritis.ca/types
2. http://eeshop.unl.edu/rsi.html
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Repetitive_strain_injury