Yearly Archives: 2013

General Safety Issues

Oklahoma Combats DUIs with Multi-Agency Mobilization (Guest Post)

The pervasiveness of Drunk Driving is a national, state, and local issue. Every community must find a balance between enforcing and establishing laws that promote responsible drinking and decision making, with the need to support local businesses. In Oklahoma, DUI trends have seen fluctuations over the last decade or so, but with a startling rise in alcohol-related fatalities in 2010, multi-agency initiatives have become a successful tool in combating this problem.

Since 2006, Oklahoma has seen a rise in fatalities in alcohol-related accidents from a low of 157 in 2006, to a high of 266 in 2008. Since that peak, the last three years of Oklahoma drunk driving statistics have shown that alcohol-related fatalities remain a difficult problem to fix. Even as alcohol-related crashes and injuries have seen a persistent drop since 2006 from 5,442 crashes and 4,223 injuries statewide in 2006, to just 4,411 crashes and 2,156 injuries statewide in 2011, fatalities remain high.

On a county level, Oklahoma County and Tulsa County have had the highest cumulative fatalities since 2006, with 142 fatalities in Oklahoma County since 2006. Recent efforts to combat DUI accidents in the County have shown a promising example of a multi-agency mobilization making a successful impact on the trend. On New Year’s Eve, metro-area law enforcement agencies reported 31 DUI arrests in the Oklahoma City metro area.
Between 7 p.m. December 31, 2012 and 7 a.m. January 1, 2012, multiple state and local agencies participated in 31 DUI arrests. The mobilization included the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma City Police Department, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission. While Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement officers patrolled establishments that served alcohol, and monitored 41 locations that sell alcoholic beverages, extra officers from all agencies patrolled city streets, keeping an eye out for impaired drivers.

31 DUI arrests in a twelve hour period in one metro area may seem like a large number, but when paired with the database statistics that showed there were no fatalities in the state during that same period, the efforts seem promising. New Year’s Eve is a historically dangerous night on the roads, but initiatives like this help to decrease the number of alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.

Sent to us by Noble McIntyre, Senior Attorney

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

AN EPIDEMIC: THE U.S.’s MOST RAMPANT ADDICTIONS (GUEST POST)

There can be no doubt that the United States is facing a health care epidemic. All across the nation, there are millions of people fighting addiction and the negative consequences it brings into their lives. These men and women are up against the toughest enemy anyone could ever face: their own mind. The neurochemistry of the brain releases pleasure hormones every time an illegal substance is consumed. It’s why people start using in the first place. It’s why, unfortunately, they get hooked. There are literally an infinite number of different addictions occurring simultaneously here in America. However, there are those addictions that are much more common than others. Here is a brief look at America’s epidemic: our most prevalent addictions and what we’re doing to stop them. 

Marijuana

For anyone over the tender age of 12, Marijuana has become the vice of choice. It is, statistically, the most consumed illicit drug in this nation. The pot industry (both regulated and deregulated) is worth billions alone. 
There is academic debate as of whether or not Marijuana is intrinsically addictive or harmful. Even if it doesn’t have a chemical component making it addicting all, there are a number of people who become addicted due to the pleasant high. A number of people simply outgrow their usage. Some states are fighting addiction by minimizing the illegality of the substance. Rehab services deal with thousands of cases a year in which people become lethargic after extended marijuana usage. So much so that they’re either living in squalor or are entirely dependent on another person.

Prescription Drugs

Prescription drug addiction is the fastest growing addiction in the nation. Every year, thousands of people become addicted to potent medications that should only be distributed by qualified medical professionals. However, that’s often the problem. People receive medication for pain and they become hooked. They seek out the continuance of pleasure and only find the negativity of their addiction.
Children are becoming frequent users of their parent’s medications. Pill parties are reported to be common affairs. The process to becoming detoxified from these drugs can be long and arduous.

Tobacco

Tobacco is the most addictive legally available item on the market. Although usage has gone down over the years thanks to the government’s efforts to prevent nicotine addiction, there are still millions of people who can’t quit smoking. The grip of nicotine is such that most people who try quitting will fail repeatedly– even with medical intervention. It’s a destructive process that can only be stopped through sheer will power and a lot of determination.
 
Author Bio: Annette Hazard is a freelance blogger that is currently promoting rehab with freedomdrugrehab.com/ups-and-downs-in-life-course/. She usually writes about health issues.
First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

FIVE TIPS ON PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR A HURRICANE (GUEST POST)

Byline: Alejandra Parada 

You don’t want to wait until last minute to protect your loved ones from a hurricane that can be dangerous and possibly deadly. Listening to hurricane warning messages–usually 36 hours before a storm hits–and figuring out a basic hurricane protection plan can save you a lot of time, money and worry. 

Below are five tips to keep your family, friends, pets, and belongings protected: 

Have an Evacuation Plan

First, contact the National Disaster offices for the closest shelter in your city. Make sure your pets are allowed into the emergency shelter of your choice, if not contact your local Humane Society for information on animal shelters. If the hurricane is heavier than expected, make sure to have an evacuation plan, meaning contact an out-of-state friend or family member that your family can call if separated. 

Gather Important Documentations

Have the following items at hand:

  • 1.  Driver’s license or personal ID
  • 2.  Passport
  • 3.  Social Security card
  • 4.  Proof of residence (deed, lease or utility bills)
  • 5.  Insurance policies, including home, auto, flood, and wind
  • 6.  Birth and marriage certificates
  • 7.  Stocks, bond and other business certificates
  • 8.  Personal checkbook, credit cards, overall anything important in your wallet
  • 9.  Wills, deed, and copies of recent tax returns 

Don’t make the mistake of running back in a damaged house to search for these materials. Remember personal belongings are irreplaceable, but people are not. 

Review Your Insurance Policies

Check if your home and auto insurances are up to date, in case any damages were to happen, confirm the following details: 

  •                Are you covered for additional living expenses?
  •                Do you have flood coverage?
  •                Do you have enough coverage for your valuables? 
  •                Do you have comprehensive car coverage? 

Consider Installing A Backup Generator  

When a hurricane is headed your way, electricity can be lost due to heavy winds, downed power lines and excessive rain. Your family doesn’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on disaster supplies if you invest in a standby generator. You’ll be able to keep your refrigerator on, eliminating the need to eat canned foods or dry fruits and vegetables. You’ll have the whole house working like normal, including being able to charge your cell phone, laptops, and any technological device. Also, you can feel safe knowing your alarm system is still working. Even though portable generators are cheaper, sometimes gas stations don’t have enough power to get gas out of the ground to run it during a hurricane. Standby generators, which are installed into your home permanently, don’t require gasoline.  

Stock Up On Essential Disaster Supplies

Have an emergency supply kit and stock your pantry up with at least a month worth of non-perishable items, such as:

  •               Safety kit
  •               Ropes, tarps, plastic bags as tools for repair
  •               Necessary medicine, including medicine and contacts    
  •               Personal hygiene items like toilet paper, tooth brush and tooth paste
  •               Fill up all cars, trucks, motorcycles, and any driving vehicles with enough gas just in case you are asked to evacuate. 

For more information on hurricane safety, please visit generatortogo.com/blog.

Back Safety, Ergonomics, General Safety Issues

WORK SMARTER: MOVING YOUR HOME WITHOUT INJURY (GUEST POST)

There isn’t a day that goes by where someone is hurt trying to move from one house to another. A lot of times, this is caused by haste and not taking the time in order to prevent injury. For what ever reason you need to move, you should always take the time to analyze how items need to be packed and whether or not they are too heavy to lift by yourself. There are many methods to practicing safety when you are loading up the truck.

1. Dolly – No, it’s not your 6-year-old’s companion. Using a dolly to move heavy objects can save a great deal of strain on yourself. It is also faster than trying to pack the item in and out of the house as it is on wheels. Using leverage to hoist and move an object, you can reduce your misery by utilizing one of these devices for nearly everything. The dolly isn’t merely for heavy appliances. You can stack a few boxes and make a single trip to the truck as opposed to walking back and forth.

2. Double-up – There is no shame in asking someone to help you carry a box to the truck. If a box is too heavy, it makes sense to ask for help. This can save undue stress on your back while protecting the items inside from accidental breakage. Instead of working against gravity by yourself, a more stable situation can be created by doubling-up on a heavy box or item. You have no one to prove yourself to and could look like a fool if you wind up getting hurt.

3. Less Packing – In order to reduce the weight of a single box, don’t pack it so full. Some of us may be accustomed to packing as much as possible in a space in order to not be wasteful. However, the more items in the box means the heavier it’s going to be. If you don’t have smaller boxes in order to adjust for the volume of packing, then realize that you don’t need to fill the larger one full if you are unable to lift the package.

4. Braces – Moving your home can be quite the grueling workout. Braces of all kinds can help keep your body from suffering during the process. As we get older, our bodies are wearing down and are unable to function as they once did. This is nothing to be ashamed of since it’s a fact of life. If you don’t have the benefit of having teenage children, wearing a brace on your knees, back, or elbows can help prevent a great deal of pain later on. After all, you don’t want to spend the first week in your new home in agony while popping painkillers.

5. Earlier Packing – If you have intentions of moving within the immediate future, start packing as soon as possible. Spending time packing your home can be more efficient than rushing it at the last second. When we are rushed to accomplish a task, there is a greater chance of having an accident. Take time to pack your belongings and ensure the safety of yourself and your valuables.

It doesn’t take much time or effort to realize that you may need help moving your stuff around. Set aside the macho behavior and ask someone for help. You don’t need to be Hercules and toss your stuff in the truck. Wouldn’t you rather use the energy to unpack your new home as opposed to laying on the floor popping ibuprofen? 

This is a guest post by Liz Nelson from WhiteFence.com. She is a freelance writer and blogger from Houston. Questions and comments can be sent to: liznelson17 @ gmail.com.

General Safety Issues

SECURING YOUR PROPERTY – THE TWO PERIMETERS (GUEST POST)

Vandalism; first defined by the Romans, this ever-present threat continues to give property owners something else to think about when maintaining their asset. In the absence of a single solution to eradicate this problem, those with something to protect must a construct a physical force field, covering both the outer and inner perimeters of their owned area.

The idea behind implementing a watertight security strategy is that almost immediately, the power is handed back to its rightful owner. Vandals like to think that they can stroll into a property, inflict hundreds, sometimes thousands of pounds worth of damage and exit without trace. This sense of control can be denied by introducing two lines of defence, policing key outer and inner zones of a property.    

These are two of the most important areas to protect and, along with natural access control, almost define physical security. With both inner and outer lines covered, here’s what a typical security plan will involve.  

The outer perimeter

Covering – The best way of halting a stream of attacks is to cut off the source – its entry point if you will. Vandals cannot inflict damage on your property without physically getting into it, so you must provide a strong line of security at the cut-off point. This is the outer perimeter, a line that can be crossed on foot or by car that defines where your property starts. This area, technically, is where you have made your initial investment and any damage inflicted from within will have to be repaired by yourself.  

Solutions – Possible solutions for policing an outer perimeter can be anything from a large hedge to more extreme measures, like a barbed wire fence. Some will decide to point their security cameras to this area, or hire a guard to stand by it. These solutions aim to draw a clearly visible line around the property, alerting criminals of where they’re not welcome. In deciding which type of what type of outer solution would suit your own business, you need to weigh up the risk of vandals and assess exactly what might be targeted.   

The inner perimeter

Covering – In the event of your outer perimeter being breached, you must have a second line of security to shield off attacks on your building. The inner perimeter is less of a line and is more or less attached to the asset, so think security measures for halting access via doors, windows and any other entry points.     

Solutions – Although a sturdy lock and key remains at the forefront of this strategy, technology plays an integral role in covering other areas of the inner perimeter. Protecting this line can usually be accomplished through the use of alarm systems and security cameras, which can stop vandals in their tracks without even being activated. A CCTV camera almost acts as a warning sign, informing vandals that if any break-in is attempted, their actions will be captured and relayed back to the police. The same goes for an alarm system, the use of which will be well sign posted to tempt vandals out of committing their act.       

Regardless of how big the requirement is, taking care of these two lines really will give you the protection you need. All you’re required to do is assess the risk at hand and contact a professional security company to discuss possible solutions. Never underestimate the threat and opt for the best you can afford. After all, your investment could save you a significant amount on damages.  

Author Byline:

Finley Talbot is a keen blogger with a deep interest in security systems and the upcoming technology in homeland defence. He is also a season ticket holder for Arsenal Football Club, as well as being an armchair critic of everything happening in football.

General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

HOW TO BOOST SAFETY IN UNDERGROUND MINES (GUEST POST)

Underground mines can be highly dangerous as a result of the high risk nature of the environment. As miners are subject to gas, dust explosions and suffocation, accidents can occur when minimal safety precautions are put in place.

Safety regulations that have come into play over the past decade have dramatically reduced such mining incidents. However, certain mine dangers never go away. Methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and other potentially hazardous gases are still potential threats and mean that modern mines can also be hazardous places to work.

Many in the mining industry choose to have sophisticated safety technology in place to protect their mine from dangerous gas levels and environmental conditions. If you are looking to improve the safety measures in your mine, think about the following:

Gas Detection 

Any changes to gas levels can compromise your workforce. Miners work in a restrictive area cut off from natural daylight and open air, where further oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and methane are present. This leaves them exposed to potentially hazardous situations as any dangerous gas levels can affect breathing and cause fires or explosions.

While an electric safety lamp can be used to detect methane and firedamp, many modern mines choose to use a state-of-the-art fixed Trolex – gas detector.   The live data the sensor provides allows you to monitor several gases, assess any slight changes and make the correct safety decisions before it becomes disastrous.Effective ventilation systems

An underground ventilation system can help miners to remain safe and comfortable. It provides a constant air flow that dilutes and removes high risk gases, minimising a worker’s exposure to any dangerous levels. So that a ventilation system continues to normalise gases effectively, many mines invest in a flow sensor that detects any alterations in performance of the ventilation system, immediately alerting you to any potential hazards.

Mining machinery

Miners are often working with heavy duty machinery. Therefore, you should have safety programs in place to protect employees from possible danger, including suitable safety training, permits and personal protective equipment. It is also important to regularly check machinery to make sure that it is safe to use and kept to a suitable maintenance schedule. A machine monitoring system with temperature, pressure, vibration and oil level sensors allows you to survey machinery and check for a change in conditions that could compromise the safety of your workers.

Safety and efficiency

Boosting your overall mine safety with a monitoring system also gives you an opportunity to devise a valuable safety management program. Through being able to regularly analyse environmental and machine conditions, you can notice and remedy any potential pitfalls so that danger is kept at bay.

A strong safety management program also allows you to improve mine production efficiency. As the monitoring system gives you a general overview of your environment and machinery, you can check for any changes in performance, setting up any necessary maintenance to prevent unplanned and costly downtime.

Lauren writes content for Safety monitoring and gas detector specialists Trolex, and has written many digital articles about the mining and industrial markets for both the Trolex website and external sites.

For other forms of respiratory safety, check out www.tasco-safety.com for quality safety products.  If you mention the blog, you’ll get a 5% discount.

General Safety Issues

FIVE THINGS YOUR HOME INSURANCE WON’T COVER (GUEST POST)

5 Things Your Home Insurance Won’t Cover

Most homeowners get lulled into a false sense of security after they purchase an insurance policy on their property investment. Unfortunately, your homeowner’s policy does not cover everything that could happen to your home. In fact, most people would be shocked to discover all of the potential issues that are specifically excluded from the average policy. Your best recourse is to make sure that you fully understand what your insurance will cover, and you should also find out if you are able to add optional coverage to protect you from specific high risk issues.

Fortunately, everything that is listed below will usually be covered if you buy an additional home emergency assistance policy. 

Five Things Your Home Insurance Will Not Cover 

1. Plumbing Issues – The standard homeowner’s policy will not provide any coverage for plumbing issues, so if you are looking to purchase your policy through a comparison site such as Monkey.co.uk, you need to check the policy wording first to understand just what you are covered for. If you are not covered and you have a massive backup or leak from any aspect of your home’s plumbing, you could be left with all of the expenses unless you have an emergency assistance policy. 

2. Pest Infestation – When most people think of pests in their home, they only consider the possibility of being temporarily inconvenienced while a pest management company performs the eradication process. However, there are some pests that pose a much greater risk to your home. For example, woodworm can cause extensive damage to your home’s woodwork, and even bees can end up costing you thousands if they set up residence inside your walls. 

3. Internal Water – If a flood causes your home to become filled with water, most insurance companies are not going to assist you. Unfortunately, whether the flooding is caused by an outside source or a massive plumbing issue, the internal water clause that is in most policies will allow your provider to deny your claim. Again, this is a good reason to consider buying a home emergency assistance policy in addition to your standard homeowner’s policy.

4. Damage Caused by a Radiator – Many policies will not offer coverage for damage that is caused by a radiator or other heating source. In other words, if one of these items starts a fire or causes any other type of damage to your property, you are unlikely to receive any financial assistance without a special policy.

5. Electrical Damage – The electrical system in any home could become fried due to a faulty appliance, bad wiring or even a thunderstorm. This issue is especially prevalent for homeowners who live in a building that was built more than a couple of decades ago. Sadly, without the proper additional coverage, most people could lose everything if an electrical issue causes the entire house to burn down. 

The best way to make sure that you receive the coverage that you need is to carefully read through the entire homeowner’s policy before you sign it. If there is something specific missing, you need to discuss whether or not it can be added before you move forward. Being proactive by adding on additional coverage options or a home emergency assistance policy is the best way to protect your investment. 

Georgina Clatworthy is a freelance writer and homeowner who understands the importance of ensuring comprehensive coverage when it comes to home insurance.  Insurance comparison websites such as Monkey.co.uk, provide a good way to search a wide number of providers and review the additional coverage options available.  

Georgina, thank you for this excellent information.  Understand your coverage.  Better to be safe than sorry! pb

 

General Safety Issues

WHAT TO DO AFTER A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT (GUEST POST)

Sent by Danny Duric

First of all let’s state the obvious. A car is much more powerful than a pedestrian. Of course pedestrians have to watch out and follow “the rules of the road” meaning that they should follow what they have been taught since the early age. These are advice and lessons people give to their children like: “Carefully cross the street, and always look both left and right before crossing it!”, “Cross the street only where you see the zebra crossing!”, “Wait for the green light!”, and all that jazz. Now, this is good advice, naturally, but when the time comes for these children to start driving cars, somehow, they do not seem to obey the rules of the road that much. 

Alarmingly, 10.8 million car accidents occurred in 2009 in America only, as some statistics show. At this point, it really doesn’t matter if these statistics are as accurate as they ought to be, the point is that they occur a lot. We all know that car accidents happen, and, unfortunately, as cars become more and more available to the general public, it is safe to say that, with this traffic system, the number of car accidents, or any other motor vehicle accidents for that matter, will increase. Some scientists are currently working on a safer, automated commuting system, but since it will take time for that system to even be accepted, not to mention installed and put to work, we will have to watch out, because getting hit by a motor vehicle can easily be lethal.

To get to the point, if by any chance someone gets hit by a car, one should know that he or she is entitled to make a free personal injury claim and get a compensation, the amount of which is proportional to the seriousness of the injury at hand. This is possible not only if you are a pedestrian, a motorbike driver or a car (or other vehicle) driver that has followed the rules, but also if the accident is partly your fault. Of course if you are driving down a one-way street in the opposite direction and you hit someone, then you are the only “culprit” and you will not get any compensation, and will have to pay. If the accident is partly your fault, you might be entitled to make a personal injury claim and receive a compensation for the suffered injury.

After suffering an injury related to a motor vehicle it is needless to say that one should go to the nearest hospital, because sometimes, people do not feel the pain immediately, but they start having experiencing health problems and pains a while after the accident. Always go to the hospital to check if everything is in order. After that you should contact the Police Department. You have to do this within a certain period of time after the accident. The law states that if you wait, for example a month or so, than you can no longer report the motor vehicle accident to the police, so be sure to do this at your earliest convenience. The next thing you should do is to find out what kind of compensations are you entitled to. This information is given to you by your insurance company, but they have proven to be not that well informed on the matter. Instead you should talk to a personal injury lawyer as they will give you all the information you need.

These injuries caused by a motor vehicle accident may lead to a compensation and:

  • ·You can receive payment of all medical expenses provided for you.
  • ·If you have lost a workday and therefore lost the money that you could have earned, this can be compensated
  • ·You can receive payment for any and all pocket expenses that might have occurred
  • ·You are entitled to receive payment for all travel expenses
  • ·You can receive some fairly reasonable funeral expenses if the injury proves to be a fatal one
  • ·You can get a lump sum compensation for the injury at hand

To find out exactly what you are entitled to, seek legal advice from any kind of motor vehicle accident compensation lawyer. He or she is bound to tell you your best option.

If the injury in a motor vehicle accident proves to be a fatal one, note that the family of the deceased is entitled to an injury compensation claim via the Compulsory Third Party’s insurance. If the accident occurs while a person is going to work or heading home from work, you can get to compensate your motor vehicle injury.

All in all, after reading this one can concur that there are a lot of ways to get something out of a car accident. But, it is this writer’s advice to always pay a lot attention when you are in traffic.  Finally, if anyone should try to somehow fake the whole situation, like, for example, jumping on a moving car and then crying for compensation afterwards, know that that is called “Insurance Fraud” and it is highly punishable by law.

Thanks, Danny, for this advice, but let’s hope our pedestrians stay safe in their designated areas. Most of the time, it seems that calling the police would be the first thing to do so they can make out a report while everything is fresh on the affected driver/pedestrian’s minds. pb

General Safety Issues

TEN TOOLS EVERY HOMEOWNER NEEDS (GUEST POST)

Sent by Ryan Edun:

Assembling a proper toolkit for basic home maintenance can seem overwhelming. There are so many tools out there to purchase, and you may not be sure which ones you really need. The fact is that you will naturally assemble a collection of tools as you tackle projects and make improvements around the home. However, there are ten tools you should purchase as soon as you move into a home, so you will be ready for most little emergencies and repairs.

The Basic Hammer and a Pry Bar
Hammers and pry bars do go hand in hand, and it’s wise to have at least one of each. The hammers will come in handy when you are hanging pictures and mounting new window treatments. If you have new carpet put in your home, then you will need the hammer and the pry bar for removing the old trim.

Mixed Set of Screwdrivers
Whether you choose a simple set of 10 or the deluxe set of 50, you need a quality set of screwdrivers. Choose a portable one that you can carry into the house for those occasions when you aren’t sure what size you really need. These are ideal for assembling new furniture, taking toys out of packages and odd household repairs like installing new hardware on the kitchen cabinets.

Vise Grips
Vise grips are also referred to as locking pliers. They have a screw drive in the handle that allows you to adjust the jaws and change the size. These are vital for handling most plumbing repair emergencies or tightening up a leaky faucet. Have a few on hand in different sizes.

Drill
Most items on this list are hand tools, but you really need a drill. You never know when you will need to drill a hole or drive a screw into a stud. Without the drill, you will get a workout with these chores, so invest in a decent quality drill that will last.

Tape Measure
When it’s time to buy furniture, you will need a tape measure to know what size you can buy. The tape measure will also come in handy when you are buying window treatments and when you start getting into home improvements like a new deck.

Utility Knife
From cutting open packages that arrive in the mail to cleaning up a crack in the wall before you repair it, there are countless uses for a good utility knife.

Level
You don’t have to buy a fancy laser level for most home project. A simple 9-inch torpedo level will work for most homeowners who are just dipping their feet into DIY projects. You will want the level for everything from hanging pictures and shelves to building a railing for the patio.

Needle-Nose Pliers
Every time you need to grab something small, you are going to wish for a pair of needle-nose pliers. This tool features a long, tapered head that starts out wide and narrows out at a tiny point. Make this tool even more useful by choosing one with a wire-cutting blade positioned near the handle.

Saw
Whether you choose a handsaw, a circular saw or a cool miter saw, you need to have a saw in the house. The right one for you depends on the types of projects you are planning on doing. If you aren’t going to get into any major renovation projects, then you can probably choose a handsaw or a small, battery-powered circular saw.

Wire Cutter and Stripper
Most homeowners can handle replacing a light fixture, and it’s a relatively safe DIY project. However, you will have to strip the wires a little on the new fixture for it to work. This tool makes stripping the wires safe, effective and easy.

When you are moving into a new home, there are certain tools you need to have on hand. This basic collection of tools is an excellent start for most homeowners. It will allow you to handle most small projects around the house yourself. Invest in quality tools that will last a lifetime, and you won’t have to worry about them breaking when you need them the most.

Thanks, Ryan for these great tips. 

 

 

General Safety Issues

LEVERAGING CLOUD TECHNOLOGY TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST NATURAL DISASTERS (GUEST POST)

There is a close relation between disaster preparedness and cloud technology. Many small and medium sized enterprises are adopting cloud technology with the aim of improving their preparation for disaster. This move is paying off for businesses that invest in cloud technology.

Today’s small and medium enterprises are in a unique position to adopt the cloud, which does not just provide a competitive advantage but it also improves the ability of businesses to recover from disasters while protecting company information.

Many small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) cannot afford lengthy downtimes. Such companies should have the ability to recover quickly from a disaster. Cloud technology offers sound solutions and comprehensive data security measures that enable businesses to be better prepared for disasters. The technology also enables companies to recover quickly from natural disasters such as floods and fires as well as man-made problems like theft and destruction to property.

Businesses that adopt the technology early, especially in the area of server virtualization, enjoy even greater disaster preparedness. It is very important for companies to embrace innovation so that they respond better to challenges. In order for business owners to take advantage of the opportunity to improve disaster preparedness, they should take the following actions:

Start planning now

Business owners should device a disaster preparedness plan now. The plan should have an evaluation of how strategic technology such as cloud computing can help in such efforts.

Implement strategic technologies

For better disaster preparedness, small and medium sized businesses should adopt integrated cloud backup which offers offsite storage and disaster recovery. Cloud computing also offers automated physical to virtual backup conversion which allows businesses to easily recover data from applications like accounting programs and customer relations software.

Protect company information

Business owners can exploit cloud technology’s comprehensive security and backup solutions to protect their physical and mobile systems. Many business owners opt to backup in the cloud.

Review

Conduct a quarterly review of the company’s disaster preparedness.

The cloud environment is quite stable. Clients are allowed to perform technical due diligence to estimate the level of risk in a cloud solution. When choosing a cloud service provider, find out how the cloud is structured. Many cloud service providers have their data centers in stable countries that are not prone to political instabilities or any other natural disaster such as earthquakes or volcanic activities. This minimizes data loss due to natural or artificial factors.

Many cloud service providers allow business owners to undertake site visits and audits to find out the providers’ recovery time and point and to calculate the impact on the business in case of a failure.

About the author

Zoe Maldonado is a freelance writer and blogger for TechBreach who enjoys writing about all things mobile and electronic and spending time with her very active twin boys.