Author name: trivers@iofficecorp.com

As heat use rises, so do fire hazards: some checks to stay safe this winter

Leave a Comment / Facilities, fire, fire alarm, fire extinguisher, fire hazards, fire hydrant, fire safety, Maintenance, Safety and Regulations, smoke alarm, spinkler system /

This past November was colder than usual in the U.S. (though it was exceptionally warm elsewhere in the world), which is likely to prompt increased use of heating devices in facilities and cause a corresponding increase in fire hazards. According to government research, December fires account for an average of 415 deaths and 1,650 injuries, […]

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Using cmms to renegotiate supplier contracts: information is leverage

Leave a Comment / business strategy, cmms, Inventory, negotiations, price negotiation, reporting, tactics /

The “Great Recession” had an unexpected impact on the relationship between companies and their suppliers. At the depths of economic despair, companies reported concern for the welfare of their suppliers at roughly the same rate that they expressed worry over their own fortunes. Economic catastrophe, rather than straining these relationships, seems to have strengthened them

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2 simple ways to keep heating costs down this winter

Leave a Comment / drafts, Facilities, furnaces, Green, Maintenance, winter checks, winterization /

Over the past several decades, temperature fluctuations have made it difficult for facilities managers to estimate how much heating and furnace systems will cost to operate through winter. Regardless of how much these systems are used, however, there are some basic steps managers and maintenance staff can take to ensure that these systems are functioning

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The what, why, and how of barcoding

Leave a Comment / asset, barcodes, barcoding, cmms, Construction, data accuracy, data entry, data integrity, data management, EAM, Facilities, Fleet, Inventory, Manufacturing, parts tracking, scanners /

Barcodes have only been around since the 1960s, yet it would be hard to imagine a world without them. Over the past several decades, barcodes have become an everyday part of life. Everyone is familiar with the little black and white bars that are stamped on seemingly everything—and with the advent of smartphone apps that

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Recycling roi: what’s good for the environment is good for business

Leave a Comment / bottom line, Construction, Cost Cutting, environment, Fleet, Green, green movement, innovationt, Manufacturing, new technology, Recycling, Recycling benefits, Recycling ROI, sustainability, technology /

As the “green” movement has risen to prominence over the past decade, its mission of environmental consciousness-raising has helped to refine and expand recycling practices. Blue waste bins with the triangle arrow symbol, and the rules governing how trash must be sorted before going into them, are now a commonplace part of home and work

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How scaffolding helps explain the recent spike in osha citations

Leave a Comment / cmms, Construction, Facilities, Fall prevention, osha, safety, Safety and Regulations, Scaffolding, work orders /

Do you know whether your scaffolding can hold its own weight plus four-times the maximum recommended load? Does your staff perform regular checks on stairs, supporting transoms, footings, braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs, ladders, etc.? Do your employees inspect rigging on suspension scaffolds before each shift? If your answer is no to any of the

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Companies spend billions on safety but many accidents remain intractable: here’s why

Leave a Comment / accidents, Construction, Facilities, Manufacturing, osha, PPEs, safety, Safety and Regulations /

Sales of safety equipment and supplies totaled $11 billion in 2012 in the U.S.—an amount greater than the GDP of Nicaragua. Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is a $33.3 billion industry globally. Suffice it to say, businesses around the world are spending serious money to keep their employees safe and government regulators off their backs.

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