ManagerPlus is at Waste Expo in Atlanta this week, providing waste management companies with a hands-on look at our maintenance management software and explaining how they can help cut costs and improve profit margins.
Continue reading “CMMS in Waste Management Part 2: Managing Regulations and Rising Costs”
If the housing and construction industries were “ground zero” of the Great Recession, the waste management industry was right there with them, enduring the worst consequences as building and production virtually came to a halt and the volume of waste materials fell precipitously.
And like the housing and construction industries, the path to recovery for waste management companies has been slow and painful. Profit margins still haven’t fully recovered, and companies must find ways to ramp up capacity to respond to recovering demand, without further eroding margins.
These challenges are playing out over a competitive landscape that has been undergoing a major shift toward privatization since the early 90s. This means that there’s more business to be won for private companies, and more pressure on public waste management organizations to run lean, innovative operations.
This is why CMMS solutions can be particularly beneficial for waste management companies: they help keep equipment running in top condition to minimize downtime, streamline workflow, and provide management with the hard operational data they need to make smart decisions about equipment life cycles and upgrades.
+ Minimize Downtime. In an environment where margins are thin, it is vitally important to reduce costs associated with sudden equipment/vehicle failures. Continue reading “How CMMS Can Increase Profit Margins in the Waste Management Industry, Pt. 1”
In a special guest blog this week, F Marie Athey of OSHAcampus.com details some of the key measures companies must implement in order to protect their workers from the dangers associated with asbestos and lead exposure. These steps can be easily incorporated into facility schedule groups and/or inspections with ManagerPlus.
By F Marie Athey, OHST
OSHA recently fined a New York real estate company over $2.3 million for asbestos and lead exposure violations after it was found that employees and contractors were exposed to these hazards while performing renovation and cleanup activities on a site.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said that the company knew that asbestos and lead were present at this site, and concluded that they therefore willfully neglected to provide for proper protection of its employees.
These infractions carry severe health consequences, as exposure to these hazards can cause disabling or fatal diseases and damage to the nervous and reproductive system. OSHA training courses can provide you and your employees with the information needed to deal with these hazards properly.
Check Your Asbestos Compliance Continue reading “Protect Your Employees from Asbestos and Lead: NY company Faces $2.3 Million in OSHA Fines”
Guest Post by Carrie Winans
The importance of safety regulations and the impact of not following such regulations, laws and rules are seen on the news daily. Failure to wear seat belts increases injuries in car accidents, oil companies cause massive oil spills by not taking proper precautions, and employees are injured on the job due to complacency. Most companies have regulations manuals that outline policies and guidelines that workers should adhere to, however, shortcuts, time crunches, and forgetfulness may slowly decrease the impact of the handbook. How can employers maintain a safe environment at work after they put down the regulations manual?
Visual Reminders
A visible reminder of the rules is a great first step. Consider signs, posters, and stickers that outline potential dangers and machinery use around the workplace. A sign serves as a reminder to double check surroundings and creates a prompt for operating new or unfamiliar equipment. Signs can also protect those outside the company in a workplace. For example, signs can alert drivers to construction worker presence in a high-traffic area. In the same construction zone, signs can also keep pedestrians safe by warning them of overhead or path hazards. Workplace safety ensures the protection of employees and non-employees. Signage can save the life of an individual who may not know your work area as well as your employees do. Continue reading “Beyond the Regulations Manual: How to Maintain a Safe Environment at Work”
For many companies in the food processing, food service, medical, and logistics industries, refrigerators are the most important type of asset that they must maintain. In addition to the typical disruptions associated with asset downtime, refrigerator problems can cause product to spoil, which can in turn pose further logistical problems as arrangements must be made for replacements.
And breakdowns are only part of the concern—efficiency is also a major issue when it comes to industrial refrigerators, as they often account for as much as 60% of energy use for some plants and facilities.
This is why industrial refrigerators serve as a perfect case-in-point for preventive maintenance: it is far less expensive to perform regular cleanings and replace small parts than to wait while major repairs are made following a full breakdown.
Some of the most common problems can be prevented or mitigated by regularly cleaning condensers, performing checks for cracks in seals and insulation, and checking to ensure that drains are kept clear.
+ Cleaning condensers. Dirty condensers place added strain on other components, and waste more energy. Fortunately, preventing premature or total breakdowns is easy if monthly cleanings are scheduled with your CMMS software. Continue reading “How Industrial Refrigerators Illustrate the Case for Preventive Maintenance Software”
