Category: Safety

Do you prefer to be Proactive or Reactive?

8/16/2023

Over the past 16+ years we’ve heard many reasons why facility managers view a proactive maintenance program (PMP) as a smart investment.

Here’s the top 5 reasons why you should transition from a reactive to a proactive approach when maintaining a top-notch facility:

Cost Savings: A PMP can help identify and prevent equipment failures before they occur, saving you money on costly repairs or replacements. It can also help extend the lifespan of your equipment, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Improved Equipment Performance: Regular maintenance can help keep your equipment running smoothly, which can lead to improved performance and productivity. Properly maintained equipment is less likely to break down or cause downtime, which can negatively impact your business operations.
Enhanced Safety: Having a PMP can help identify potential safety hazards and prevent accidents, which can result in injuries or property damage. Regular maintenance can ensure that equipment is functioning correctly and safely, reducing the risk of accidents.
Compliance: Certain industries and businesses are required to comply with specific regulations and standards, such as OSHA, AIB, FDA, USDA. A PMP can help ensure that your equipment meets these standards, preventing fines and legal liabilities.
Reduce Surprises: When your equipment is well-maintained, you can rely on it to perform consistently and efficiently. This can improve your reputation among customers and suppliers, as they can trust that you will deliver products and services on time and to the expected quality.

In summary, a PMP can help save money, improve performance, enhance safety, ensure compliance, and increase reliability, making it a valuable investment for any facility.

Can we help you become proactive?

Do you know the 3 biggest safety risks associated with loading docks according to OSHA?

8/14/2023

We recently sat down with our OSHA Specialist to learn what their data says about the three biggest safety risks associated with loading docks.

Falls: Loading docks are raised platforms that can be several feet above the ground, and workers can easily fall off the edge, leading to serious injuries or fatalities. Falls can occur when loading or unloading materials, when workers are distracted, or when they fail to use appropriate safety equipment.
Struck-by Accidents: Workers on loading docks are at risk of being struck by forklifts, trucks, or other equipment used for loading and unloading. These accidents can occur when drivers are not paying attention, when loads are not secured properly, or when workers are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Early Truck Departures: Trucks departing away from the loading dock too early can cause serious injury to your employees. Truck drivers often assume that the unloading process may be complete and pull away too soon. Putting in the safety measures such as lights to communicate with truck drivers will ensure that they know when it is safe to depart from a loading dock and minimize risks at your facility.

Here's what OSHA recommends to prevent accidents and minimize risks:

Implement safety measures such as providing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment), training workers on safe practices, and enforcing traffic patterns and other safety rules on the loading dock.
Employers should also ensure that workers are properly trained to operate machinery and equipment and that they follow established safety procedures.

What are employees looking for when they work in an industrial or commercial facility?

8/14/2023

We asked this question of hiring leaders to better understand the challenges our clients face when maintaining top-notch talent in their operations.

Here’s what they shared:

Safety: Employees want to work in a safe environment and expect their employer to take appropriate measures to ensure their safety. This includes providing safety equipment and training, implementing safety protocols, and regularly inspecting equipment and facilities.
Comfort: Employees want to work in a comfortable environment that is well-lit, clean, and free from excessive noise or distractions. This can help them focus on their job duties and feel valued by their employer.
Fair compensation: Employees want to be compensated fairly for their work, including competitive wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
Opportunities for growth and development: Employees seek an employer that can provide personal development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and career advancement.
Recognition and appreciation: Employees want to feel valued and appreciated for their contributions to the company. This can include recognition programs, bonuses, or other incentives that reward hard work and dedication.

In summary, employees working in a facility with loading docks and doors are looking for a safe, comfortable, and supportive work environment that values their contributions and provides opportunities for growth and development.

Best of luck to you and your team!

Caution! Dock Slippery When Wet and Other Winter Weather Woes

9/19/2019

As we head into the fall and eventually winter, we start to focus on keeping warm. Keeping the cold air from blowing through our doors. Keeping the temperature in that sweet spot of not too hot and not too cold. But what about water? Not just from fall rainstorms but from melting snow and ice.

We know. It’s September. Are we really talking about snow and ice? Yep. We are.

Winter in the Midwest is hard. It can be brutal on your loading dock equipment and bottom line. It’s cold. It’s warm(ish). It’s sunny. It’s snowing. All of that can cause chaos with your loading dock equipment. Melting (and then refreezing) snow and ice pose serious safety concerns and performance problems at your loading docks.

Safety Concerns
Slippery docks are dangerous to your employees and visiting drivers alike. The potential for someone to slip and fall greatly increases if your docks are not properly sealed and water or ice is present. Forklifts going in and out of trailers will transfer water throughout your facility, creating even more chances for someone to slip and fall. This can lead to injuries, time off, workers comp – all of these can be avoided by paying closer attention to your loading dock and the potential for water infiltration.

Compliance Concerns
Ever smelled a stagnant swamp or bucket of water? Standing water can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. Bacteria poses numerous threats to the health of your staff and food facilities can be a major violation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requirements. FSMA requires you to have a food safety plan in place that includes an analysis of hazards and risk-based preventive controls to minimize or prevent the identified hazards.
A pest infestation can be another violation, especially in food and pharma facilities. Any gaps in your seals or equipment can lead to issues with requirements and compliance.

Performance Problems
Have you ever tried to pry something off the ground that good ole’ Mr. Winter has frozen? Say your garbage can after it’s been sitting for a week with constant thaw and freeze. Not a whole lot of fun and sometimes an unsuccessful venture. Now imagine that at your loading docks. Imagine melted ice and snow working its way down into your metal loading docks and thawing and refreezing. Over and over again. Many repairs we perform during the winter could be prevented by properly maintained and sealed equipment. A nagging or small issue in July can become a big problem in December

So, what should I do?

Be proactive. Schedule your Proactive Maintenance sooner rather than later. Find the small problems before they become big ones. If you don’t currently have a maintenance program in place, now is a great time to set one up – contact us today and we will get you started. If you are part of our program, work with your Account Manager to address any issues found during your last inspection.
Dock seals. Look at your dock seals. If you can see rips or tears, they need to be replaced. If you can see foam, they need to be replaced. Besides helping (along with dock bumpers) to protect your building from damage they are also an integral part of keeping that opening sealed. The correct seal or enclosure that is tailored for your facility, your trucks, and your budget are available through us. Contact your Account Manager for details or check out our website for more information
Consider installing HVLS, HVHS, or Dock fans. Don’t underestimate the value that proper air movement can provide to your facility. Energy savings, employee comfort, and safety are just a few.
Consider snow removal equipment for your fleet and incoming trucks. The Yeti could be just what you need
Rain units provide another level of protection against water ingress. They help divert waterway from your building and provide excellent barriers to water run-off from the tops of trailers

Check out our other blogs on facility modernization and safety for more ideas on how to improve your facility and your bottom line.

As always, we hope you find this information useful and you find something that you can do in your facility to help prevent the winter blues. Please contact us with any questions or concerns.

Impairment in the Workplace

6/25/2019

Impairment in the workplace is probably one of the trickiest safety issues faced by employers today. Sure it’s super easy to tell if someone is obviously drunk or high, but what do you do about it? And what about those that you just suspect may be impaired in some way but you can’t be absolutely sure?

There are many kinds of impairment from sleep deprivation to mental illness to chemical abuse. Let’s focus on the most detrimental and potentially costly – chemical dependency and abuse. Most companies have some kind of policy that they can refer to for corrective actions, but does that really help the person or the company? Or is it just designed for procedure and discipline?

The problem

According to the NSC, nearly 21 million Americans are living with substance use disorder. 15,750,000 of those people are employed. Employees dealing with addiction miss up to 50% more days than those who are not – on average 6 days more. That’s a crazy amount of work and productivity loss.

Employees with substance abuse issues have higher health care costs as well, up to three times that of someone not dealing with an addiction.

Signs of impairment

Substance abuse or dependency doesn’t typically happen overnight, but it can, with certain triggers or stresses. Luckily, there are signs that we can watch out for and address – usually without incident if handled correctly. Besides the obvious signs – smelling like a brewery or winery, stumbling, slurred speech, etc. what other, more subtle, signs should we be watching out for? Here are some changes to watch for in your employees that could signal there is something going with them:

Physical signs:

Deterioration in appearance and/or personal hygiene
Unexplained bruising
Sweating
Complaints of headaches
Tremors
Restlessness
Frequent use of breath mints / gum / mouthwash
The odor of alcohol on breath or clothing
Twitching or shaking
Incoherent or muddled speech
Excessive tiredness or hyperactivity

Psychosocial signs:

Family or co-worker disharmony
Major mood fluctuations
Inappropriate verbal or emotional responses
Inappropriate workplace behavior
Confusion or memory lapses
Lack of focus or concentration
Lying or completely ridiculous excuses for behavior or mistakes
Irritability
Isolation from colleagues

Performance signs:

Calling in sick frequently
Requesting a move to a position with less visibility or supervision
Arriving late or leaving early on a consistent basis
Extended breaks, especially without telling colleagues they are leaving
Forgetfulness
Judgment errors
Deterioration in performance
An excessive number of incidents / mistakes
Non-compliance with policies
Doing just enough to get by
Sloppy / illegible / or incorrect work
Sudden and noticeable changes in work quality

We’re not saying these are all signs of only a chemical dependency problem. They could be signs of a major change in their home life or signs of a psychological issue manifesting itself. Either way, they are definite red flags to pay attention too. Especially if they are exhibited by a one-time good or great employee. As employers, it’s our responsibility to maintain a safe and productive workplace for everyone. Being aware of changes like these in employees allows you to discover and address any issues that your employee is experiencing and possibly save someone from causing an accident, losing their job, losing their family, or even losing their life.

What can we do?

As employers, we are in a unique position to recognize and help any employee that is struggling with some sort of substance or chemical dependency. We see that person every day and know how they perform when not impaired, so we have a good frame of reference and a good reason to discuss the problem. However, most managers or supervisors are not trained to recognize the signs of impairment, when it’s not blatantly obvious. And most are certainly not trained to diagnose, offer treatment, or counseling. What we can do is address the job performance issues and from there take further action as we learn more about the situation as it is unfolding.

As employers and management we can:

Recognize and accept that this is a widespread issue that affects every company at some time in every industry. It’s dangerous, potentially deadly, and very costly
Develop a strong and clear company substance use policy
Set expectations and discreet methods for reporting suspicious activity or behavior
Develop a training program for managers / supervisors / leads / foreman / etc. so that they learn how to spot the signs
Develop an open-door policy for those that are struggling. Give them a safe space, within reason, to acknowledge that they have a problem and that they need help
Provide resources on local counseling centers, programs, or facilities near that your employee can talk with. If you want to be really great, make sure they accept your insurance
Setup a company meeting to discuss this issue and clearly communicate your policy, your expectations, and your willingness to help when needed

There’s no easy answer to this health crisis. All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open, learn to spot early warning signs and learn how to appropriately deal with the issue when it crosses our path.

As always we hope that we have provided some useful information and sources.

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Do you prefer to be Proactive or Reactive?

Do you know the 3 biggest safety risks associated with loading docks according to OSHA?

What are employees looking for when they work in an industrial or commercial facility?

Caution! Dock Slippery When Wet and Other Winter Weather Woes

Impairment in the Workplace

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