Tag Archives: businesses

General Safety Issues

SIX QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK YOURSELF BEFORE SELECTING AN ALARM COMPANY FOR YOUR BUSINESS (GUEST POST)

With so many options to choose from, finding the right security provider to protect your business can be difficult. While there are a lot of great providers who offer, upfront, honest and quality service, there are a still a few that you should look out for. This is why it’s important to properly evaluate your potential alarm company before you sign. You’ll want to shop around and carefully consider your options.  A major part of this involves taking the time to learn as much as you can about each company in your area. To help you get on the right track, we’ve provided six essential questions every business owner should ask them self before signing with an alarm company. Find answers to the questions listed below before you choose your alarm service provider to make sure you’ve found the best option for protecting your valuable investment.

1.       Does the company meet industry accepted standards?

This is arguably one of the most important aspects of an alarm business. This is because the equipment they use and services they provide will determine the quality of your alarm system overall. To find out if your potential company is up to par, research the industry standards for your area and compare them with the features list provided by the company. You may also want to call the company’s corporate headquarters to make sure that you have properly evaluated the services and equipment they offer. 

2.       Are there any hidden costs?

Hidden costs are all too prevalent in the alarm industry. Rather than wait to be shocked by your monthly bill later, carefully read the fine print and be sure to ask your dealer to clarify each cost. It will also be beneficial to ask them if there will be any additional fees or charges for installation and support services.

3.       Do they provide 24/HR customer support?

Even though business hours typically run from 9-5, problems with the system or potential threats to your workplace’s security can arise after hours. Having fast and friendly support available when you need it is of utmost importance when it comes to your alarm monitoring. Look for this detail in the printed information provided by your dealer or on the company website.

4.       Have surrounding businesses used their services?

Chances are, your dealer services other offices in your business complex. Speak to neighboring business owners who you’re familiar with and ask friends and family for recommendations. Referrals are typically the best way to find a good company as they provide insight on the company’s quality of service after the sale has been made.

5.       Does the security system offer everything you need?

You will want to make sure that their systems provide options for protecting your business from every potential danger. Be sure to get a full list of standard features and options from your dealer. Your needs will be a bit more complex than those of a homeowner, including things like 24-hour surveillance and motion detectors. Once you’ve determined that the company is able to provide you with a system that can meet your needs as a business owner, ask for pricing information to see if there will be any additional costs for the features you need.

6.       Is the central monitoring system fully redundant?

Your alarm company’s central monitoring station monitors the activity of each alarm they’ve installed. If their central monitoring provider is fully redundant, it ensures that your workplace will remain protected should a problem occur at one of the monitoring stations. You will want to ask your service provider for information on their central monitoring station to ensure that it is capable of providing full redundancy. 

Overall, the most important thing to remember is to take your time during the purchasing process. Although a good sales representative can be pretty persuasive in getting you to sign on the spot, carefully considering each option to find the company that can meet your needs will make all the difference in the quality of protection and service you receive from your provider in the future. After all, you’ve come this far in building a successful business. Isn’t it worth taking a little time to make sure that it’s fully protected?  

 

COSETTE JARRETT | RED OLIVE ® 

Marketing Specialist | cosette@redolive.com

General Safety Issues

APPOINTING A COMPETENT FIRE RISK ASSESSOR (GUEST POST)

Having a comprehensive fire risk assessment for your premises performed by someone suitably qualified could save you a lot of money and heartache in the long run.  The safety of yourself, your staff and potential customers is priceless.  A fire risk assessment is not an option – the responsible person for the business is legally required to undertake an adequate fire risk assessment for the business premises.      So what is a fire risk assessment?A fire risk assessment is about a qualified person performing a critical evaluation of your premises to achieve two main goals.  Firstly, the assessment seeks to identify the likelihood of a fire starting by detecting all potential fire hazards, and evaluates the ways in which these fire dangers can be eliminated or minimised.  Secondly, it identifies the people who will be at risk should a fire actually occur on your premises, and helps you to develop a plan about how you can keep everyone safe.So the fire risk assessment will look at both fire prevention, and how to deal with an actual fire on your premises.

A good fire risk assessment should include written records of how existing fire controls measure up, what changes need to be made or what additional controls should to be incorporated.  It is not about recording all findings, just anything that is significant.  Like many other aspects of your business, a fire risk assessment is not something static – it changes as your business premises and activities change, so it is something that needs on-going review.

How to appoint a competent fire risk assessor

A fire risk assessment is an organized process carried out by assessors who understand the principles of fire safety.  However, the duty of care for the safety of everyone on your premises remains with you, not the fire risk assessor.  As the duty holder, you need to make sure the assessment being carried out is adequate.  As a start, you need to take reasonable steps to ensure you are hiring someone competent to do the job.  This could involve checking that the potential assessor has registration with, or certification from, a professional body such as BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment), or in the U.S., certification from the U.S. Fire Administration.  Being registered with a professional body is a sign of the assessor’s competence, so look for BAFE approved companies to carry out your particular assessment, or those registered on the BAFE SP205 scheme. 

Another way of ensuring that you hire someone competent is to look for people or companies with a third party certification for their competence by a UKAS accredited body.  

Other ways to attain an adequate assessment include checking that your potential assessor has experience in assessing your type of business, as well as asking for references as proof of their previous work.  The scope of the work to be carried out should be documented, and you should get a few quotes so you can compare them.  Be wary of anyone who offers to do the same job for a significantly lower fee.

It is vital that your business takes the time to source a qualified and certified fire risk assessor. This will give you and your staff peace of mind that the business premises is free from any fire risks, and should the worst occur, the correct equipment is place and in full working order.

In the U.S., the same would apply; as contacting the Fire Prevention Association or other Fire Officials are certified to do the risk assessments.

 

General Safety Issues

WHY SELF-STORAGE IS SAFE AND SMART FOR BUDDING BUSINESSES (GUEST POST)

As a business begins to grow it tends to accrue more items, which in turn may prompt the demand for a larger space. Having sufficient space is crucial to running a successful business. That’s why finding the right storage space for your company’s belongings is a must.  Instead of having to worry about expanding, relocating or adding more room, look into storage to accommodate your ever-growing business needs.

Having a self-storage unit will benefit any business, whether office, retail or commercial, by freeing up space and cutting down on needless clutter. When a business effectively uses an office space to its advantage, it can help reduce the rising cost of operations and daily functions. Storing items such as paperwork, seasonal products, or extra office machines in a storage unit can help cut costs by opening up space, which will in turn help increase office productivity. While self-storage does cost money, it can easily outweigh the expense of having to expand or even relocate in the future.

Ensured & Secured

If a business owner is looking for a safe place to store their piles and piles of office documents, then self-storage is the perfect solution. Most self-storage facilities allow you to access your unit any time of day, 365 days a year. Insurance plans offered by your storage unit will also grant you peace of mind when storing your office’s belongings there.  Because most businesses go through seasonal cycles, storing excess or unneeded items can be a lifesaver.  Having a clutter-free office means not having to worry about where everything is, which helps increase annual productivity. Having more space within the building will not only help create a natural flow of output, it will look more appealing to potential clients. 

Effectively Utilizing Office Space 

By cutting down on excess items and helping to file and store all your business’ documents, you’ll be able to use your office layout to its fullest potential. The aesthetics of an office are one of the first things your business may be judged on, and many people will not want to visit an office that has a large amount of clutter. Storage enables you to rid your office of all of the extra things lying around that are blocking workflow and taking up space, not to mention the fact that this could be hurting the way a business presents itself to customers and potential clients. 

Choosing a self-storage unit for your influx of documents, furniture and everything else will help an office look organized, safely secure company files, and will allow you to utilize the extra space to your advantage. Whether you are an office, retail or commercial business owner, a self-storage unit is the perfect solution to any budding business and can drastically improve the quality of office life.

Written by Caroline Casetti for Storage Post, which offers top-notch customer service, as well as 24-hour security surveillance and 24-hour key card access. Storage Post also offers flexible month-to-month contracts, so if expanding or relocating your business is a viable future option, you can simply cancel your agreement.

Caroline Casetti is an aspiring artist, a humanitarian, freelance writer, and new homeowner. While she typically writes about community involvement, she has taken the time to recognize a few advantages of storage and why it is smart  for many businesses.

Thanks for this take on the importance of storage space.  Having worked in a brand new hospital, the thought of storage seemed to have been left out of the planning stage.  Very quickly, we ran out of room to keep unused equipment and file boxes of paperwork, which led to clutter, a common hazard.  Renting storage space, as you stated, cuts down the cost for building additional space.  Keeping a business organized is also very important to tracking down paperwork later down the line. pb

 

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Health Issues

PROTECTING HEALTH AND SAFETY WITH AED’S AND MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEMS (GUEST POST)

After a bad night working second shift, Joe feels too keyed up to go straight to bed – but a workout at his 24/7 gym sounds like a great idea! 
He swipes his member card, changes into gym clothes, and jumps on the treadmill.  It’s great to be there alone – until the chest pains start.  Joe staggers towards the locker room where his phone is safely tucked into his pants pocket – but he doesn’t make it.  By the time the early morning crew arrives, it’s too late to call for help.

This isn’t just a personal and family tragedy: it can be a legal liability issue for any business that fails to take adequate safety measures to protect employees and customers.

Prepare For Medical Emergencies
If there’s a medical emergency at your business, do your employees know what to do?  What if no employees are present – or someone working alone suffers a fall or other emergency?  It’s not enough to just point out the first-aid kit during employee orientation because the most serious (and common) medical situations require more than a band-aid solution.

Heart attacks, for instance, are quite common.  According to OSHA, almost 900 people per day die from coronary heart disease in locations other than hospitals.  The federal safety agency estimates that up to 60% of the 6628 workplace deaths during 2001-2002 could have been prevented if the proper equipment had been on-site to help the injured person.  That’s why many federal, state, & even local laws require that public buildings and some private businesses maintain automated external defibrillators (AED) on site and train employees to use them.

Health clubs and similar facilities are most often the targets of state and local AED regulations for the simple fact that people go there primarily to exert themselves – sometimes they over-exert and become ill.  For instance:

•        In 2011, Kara Kennedy, sister of the late Senator Edward Kennedy, died of a heart attack after a workout at her health club.
•        In 2007, Massachusetts required all health clubs to have AEDs.  Even before the law took effect, Planet Fitness in Weymouth purchased one – and soon used it to revive a 36-year-old member who collapsed during a workout.
•        In 2011, a personal trainer in Illinois revived two people in two years using an AED.

And yet, some health clubs resist regulations that they feel are too restrictive.  When the Kingston, MA Board of Health required all health clubs to have an employee trained in the use of AEDs on hand during all business hours, the owner of a local 24/7 facility protested.  His facility was open to members, but unstaffed overnight. The owner explained that customers knew they were exercising at their own risk because they “sign contracts saying they take personal responsibility for use of the gym after staffed hours.”

Those contracts may not be enough. Even in the absence of government regulations, health clubs would be wise to take precautions to protect employees and patrons.  A 2004 article in Trial magazine explained that federal regulations “make it difficult for health clubs to argue that AEDs are not yet recognized as necessary safety devices or that there are legal obstacles to having or using them.”  The article provides tips to help other attorneys litigate these types of lawsuits.

Solo Employees & Customers Are At Greatest Risk In A Medical Emergency
Still, the club owner in Kingston did point out a flaw in the over-reliance on AEDs for safety: you can’t use one on yourself.  That puts both employees and customers at risk if only one person is present.  Think of convenience stores and gas stations that have just one person on duty or a health club where someone exercises alone late at night. That’s why many businesses are installing personal medical alert systems.

Health clubs typically place the medical alert console somewhere in the center of the facility and provide alert buttons for the patrons to carry with them during their workout. Typically, the medical alert devices attach to a belt, wristband, or are worn as a necklace.  They don’t impede mobility but do allow the person to push a button and call for help.  Bay Alarm Medical has worked with many companies to install these systems.

Unlike AEDs, there are no regulations requiring medical alert systems, but they can provide an important element of safety and security for employees and customers.  Workplace safety requires a combination of training, infrastructure, and equipment.  Many companies now find that maintaining a safe and secure workplace also means keeping up with the latest technology.

Written by Danielle Garza

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Respiratory Safety

OSHA’s TOP TEN MOST CITED VIOLATIONS SO FAR THIS YEAR

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At the National Safety Council (NSC) Congress and Expo, which wrapped up yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the Top 10 most cited safety violations at workplaces so far this year.

The deputy director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, Patrick Kapust, presented the agency’s findings during a lecture at the Expo.  The Top 10 violations present key areas where OSHA can more actively enforce regulations as well as provide more training, outreach and assistance.

“”While great progress has been made in safety over the past 100 years, today’s presentation reminds us there is more to be done to make our workplaces safer.  We appreciate our colleagues at OSHA sharing their most recent data at our Celebration of the Century,” Janet Froetscher, the President and CEO of the NSC, said in a press release.

Business owners and managers can use this year’s Top 10 to better protect their employees. Many of the areas listed as the most frequently violated are simply overlooked in the workplace, either from overexposure or or lack of knowledge.

The Top 10 for 2012 so far are:

1. General lack of fall protection
2. Failure to communicate hazards
3. Improper scaffolding construction and safeguards
4. Insufficient respirators and masks
5. Unsafe ladder usage
6. Inadequate machine guards
7. Improperly maintained or used industrial trucks
8. Unsafe wiring methods
9. Lack of lockout/tagout tools
10. General lack of electrical protection

Number one was cited in 7,250 inspections of businesses so far this year, a staggering number given the priority OSHA has placed on the use of fall protection harnesses in the workplace. Be sure that your business is in compliance with this incredibly important safety regulation.  Those employees who are required to work at heights should have full protection from the risk of falls.

Companies that fail to comply with OSHA regulations are taking a chance with the lives of their employees first of all, plus having to pay large sums of money in fines, and lost time and productivity.  It seems it would be much easier to follow the rules than be reported as irresponsible.

General Safety Issues

IMPROVE YOUR SECURITY WITH CCTV DVR TECHNOLOGY (GUEST POST)

Two articles regarding security are featured today were written by Mike Hassebrock.

The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance systems today are no longer standalone devices. CCTV camera systems began making tremendous technological progress in the last decade due to the invention of DVR (Digital Video Recorder) technology.  Once CCTV systems moved off the VHS tape technology platform and started converting video images into a digital format, it opened up a whole new world of opportunities to integrate CCTV cameras with other security and information system technologies.  Originally, CCTV surveillance systems were simply designed as deterrents and delivered low quality, black and white images. Today they are much more than just standalone devices. Using digital technology and the vast improvements in camera lens technology CCTV systems can do many functions to better secure and protect a business, home or even an entire community. 

The versatility of CCTV DVR camera systems allow them to work alongside other technologies: 

  • Integrating it with alarm systems to send a security alarm signal if a person enters a restricted area.
  • Work with access control systems to verify the person that is swiping their card is the actual person requesting access.
  • Ability to link into cash registers to oversee cash register transactions, verify receipts and identify theft. 

These are only a few basic ways that CCTV DVR systems are able to work with other security and information systems. 

At a much more advanced level, CCTV systems can be designed to work on local area networks (LANs) and interface with other databases.  For example, CCTV cameras can capture a license plate number and then convert that number into a digital format so it can be cross-referenced against a national database to see if the vehicle is stolen. 

As video recording and imaging software technologies continue to advance, the CCTV camera system will become a video analytics tool that can anticipate events based on movement and behaviors.  Intelligent video algorithms, such as sophisticated motion detection, can identify unusual walking patterns and alert a guard to watch a particular video screen. Also, object-recognition algorithms can identify someone who might simply be loitering, or even a briefcase or a suspicious object that is left in an unusual or unsuspecting location. 

These video surveillance capabilities will become even more sophisticated as IP Cameras continue to advance.  In the future, IP cameras will be able to process the intelligent video algorithm right inside the camera.  Being an IP camera on the network, this information can be sent to any device or security agency in the world for analysis and decision processing.
When investing in a CCTV surveillance camera system consider the possibilities and numerous benefits of integrating with monitoring devices, alarm systems and access control devices.  This will help identify and interrupt security breaches as they’re occurring or even before they take place. 

Written by Mike Hassebrock from The Security Product Depot 

The Security Product Depot is an established online provider of physical security products. As an innovative supplier of online security solutions, they are committed to offering the broadest array of CCTV camera systems, door hardware, locks, and safes for securing government, school facilities, commercial businesses and residents.

 

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FIRE ALARMS AND SMOKE ALARMS? (GUEST POST)

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Alarms are the first line of defence in the event of a fire. They act as an early warning sign giving you the chance to evacuate premises and escape any fire-related danger.  Everyone wants to protect their homes and by law, any facility used for a commercial purpose must protect those that work inside it, but there is often some confusion as to the difference between a fire alarm and a smoke alarm.

Well, the clue really is in the title. One detects smoke, and the other detects fire. But as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire, so both are equally important. In fact, more people will suffer from inhalation of smoke than they will from fire burns. Here’s why the two are so different and where they are best suited:

Smoke alarms

What are they?

Smoke alarms are devices that are able to detect smoke or fire, giving an audible alarm as a result. They are fantastic at detecting a fire in its early stages, allowing you adequate warning to evacuate before inhaling any harmful gases.  Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of fatality when it comes to fire-related deaths. In fact, in the majority of cases, the victims are asleep when the smoke enters their lungs, cementing the absolute requirement for smoke alarms.

What are the benefits?

Because they are simple yet effective, they are ideal for domestic use. Ideally, one should be placed on each level of the home, and in particular where you can hear it from the bedroom. It is advisable not to place them in areas that may cause frequent activation such as the kitchen or bathroom.

Many of these can be combined with carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon Monoxide is an odourless, tasteless and invisible gas, meaning you can be killed by it before you even know it existed. Combined smoke alarms can protect from this as well as smoke particles. 

Smoke detectors are the most basic device available on the market and are cheap additions to a building considering their vital role. They are best suited for homes, where people can exit the property quickly and easily. 

Fire alarms

What are they?

A fire alarm detects the presence of fire by monitoring the changes in environment associated with combustion. This can include the detection of smoke which is why they are commonly confused with smoke alarms.

In commercial environments, where fire alarms are best suited, if you employ more than five people, you need to have a written record of your fire assessment by law. This will affect how many fire alarms are required and what fire precautions should be made in order to protect the facility and its staff.

What are the benefits? 

Fire alarms can be linked with other systems making for an efficient and safer system. For example, when a fire alarm is triggered, sprinkler systems can be activated, or the local fire station can be alerted.

For this reason, and for their ability to be more complex, fire alarms are generally not used in domestic environments.   

When you consider how much damage could be prevented, and how many lives are saved a year from their simple installation, their cost is minimal in comparison. 

Author Bio: 

Karen Asbury is Firemart’s Fire Safety Expert. Firemart are an online fire safety equipment retailer in the UK.

 We appreciate this informative article regarding the importance of  fire alarms  in large buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, schools, theaters, and places of work where many lives are involved.  Let this also be a reminder to keep your smoke detectors working, by checking the batteries every so often. pb