How Damaging Can Air Leaks Be to Businesses if They are Not Detected Rapidly?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Air Leaks|How Damaging Can Air Leaks Be to Businesses if They are Not Detected Rapidly?Considering how much of an asset compressed air systems are to a wide range of industries, it’s a thing of wonder why any industry would be hesitant to monitor their machines for air leakages. It is estimated that $138m (£100m) is lost every year to air leaks in the UK, but it’s quite understandable why one would think that a tiny bit of air escaping won’t make so much of a difference to your business. Think again. Businesses could be losing as much as $832/year (£600/year) from a 0.1inch (3mm) hole.

Identifying air leaks is important because in addition to leaks being the source of wasted air/gas and therefore increased operating costs, they can also be the point of ingress for contamination to the system. Leaks will grow and worsen if restorative action is not taken, which means small leaks can quickly advance to high hidden costs.

How to Detect Leaks

Industrial machines have a high degree of background noise which can veil any obvious evidence of small leaks, making it difficult to understand the scale of leakage. This makes it a secret expense for its operators. Identifying and rectifying all the leak points will reduce operating costs and improve the delivered air/gas quality.

Learning if an air compressor is leaking is a critical aspect of its operation, here we provide some of the easiest ways to detect air leaks:

  • Listening for leaks is only possible during a shutdown when the entire system is so silent that massive leaks can be audible. Smaller leaks can be below the hearing threshold, making it difficult to hear the characteristic leaking gas hiss. However, this does not suggest that there are no leaks because even if leaks are heard, they can be very difficult to pinpoint, particularly in areas difficult to access.
  • Ultrasonic leak detectors enable testing of out of reach areas to determine if access is required to pinpoint leaks quickly. With a range of up to 8m, it allows operators to promptly survey gas distribution systems with detachable sensors to simplify testing in confined spaces.
  • The traditional direct method widely used is to wash over any suspected joints with a soap solution. If there are any leaks, bubbles will form and judging by the number and size of bubbles, and the technician can pinpoint the fault. While this is a straightforward method, it is very time-consuming as every joint has to be tested individually. There are also potential issues for contamination and corrosion.

Why You Need to Fix Leaks

Leaks do not just have detrimental effects on your annual energy expenses; they also decrease operating efficiency and cause productivity loss due to the inevitable drop in air pressure of the system. This could result in reduced equipment life and inefficient operation of tools that rely on compressed air.

Reasons why you should fix air leaks;

Inefficient Tools and Lower Productivity

Drops in air pressure resulting from leaks can significantly impact the productivity of machines by causing tools to operate inefficiently, which in turn creates an overall less-productive environment.

Reduction in Equipment Longevity

Considering that leaks cause a higher demand for airpower than what is typically needed, compressors need to cycle more frequently, which results in a decreased lifespan of your compressed air system. This could be very expensive. It can be avoided through routine maintenance and inspection, so leaks are identified and repaired.

Losses Due to Downtime

If your system is experiencing unnecessary demands, and maintenance is the result, you may be faced with downtime, which can severely hamper productivity — and eventually, profits.

To run a productive and profitable industrial facility, you must keep your air compressors working efficiently at all times. To that end, any air leaks that occur must be identified and fixed before such problems spiral out of hand.

Increased Production Cost

A poorly-operated compressed air system can cost more than water, electricity, steam or even natural gas. Air leaks also can slow a plant’s operation by using more power than necessary to supply compressed air.

Services You Need To Protect Your Commercial Property

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Commercial Properties|Services You Need To Protect Your Commercial PropertyLooking after your commercial property takes a lot of work. Many responsibilities require your attention, and the to-do list is forever expanding.

Though the pandemic has inspired an uptick in virtual work environments, this does not mean that commercial environments will be flushed down the toilet completely. There will always be a need for them in one form or another. If you are heading up a business that cannot do without a base of operations, then looking after said base should ever be high on your agenda.
Still, certain services can ease the pressure here somewhat. Here are the ones you need to best protect your commercial property.

Water Damage Restoration Services

Commercial properties can suffer significant water damage from plumbing-related malfunctions or turbulent weathers. Depending on your location in the United States, you may be more susceptible to floods and storms also.

Still, there is no problem here that companies like PuroClean cannot fix. Armed with a flurry of positive customer testimonials, many of these comments specific how quickly this firm perform their services in times of crisis. They also use the newest advancement technology systems to clean, disinfect, and dry all your property, eliminating moisture across the board. Not only this, but they specify in mold removal, biohazard cleanup, and fire damage restoration services also, making them highly diverse in their respective field.

It is always a good idea to have the number of such services on file in the event of an emergency. Water damage can be incredibly damaging, as its presence can rot your commercial property inside and out. When these types of problems start to arise, dealing with them in a timely manner is absolutely essential, getting your company back on track as soon as possible.

Pest Control Services

Pest control is an incredibly important aspect of maintaining a commercial property. You will need to be ahead of the game here, as the mere sighting of any unwelcome beats is enough to cripple your reputation in the eyes of customers and clients.

Unfortunately, depending on your location and line of work, sometimes the appearance pests might be inevitable here and there. For example, rodent sightings can increase exponentially as soon as restaurants shut down, and during the pandemic era, this is obviously unavoidable to some degree. Therefore, pest control services can just help keep a lid on things, whether you are working at the commercial property or temporarily closed.

Ensuring that the workplace is both clean and tidy is the first solution to your pest problems. Make sure all bins are secure, and never at risk of overflowing. Still, everything that follows after that can simply be down to luck. Use expert services, like pest control frisco, and any problems that do arrive will be handled immediately.

Security Services

To truly protect your commercial property, you need to ensure everything is in good order even when you are not around. This is where security factors into things, enabling you to oversee everything that takes place in your workplace.

Security services can provide a plethora of technologies and staff members to help things along here. For example, at your request they may be able to deploy security guards and guard dogs. CCTV systems, hi-tech sensors, and a myriad of other resources could also be designed and strategically installed for maximum efficiency. There is really nothing like it.

The highlight of these types of services though is that the security they provide runs round the clock. 24-hour measures against any potential threats or concerns can be highly beneficial, their presence alone a deterrent against most common criminals. In the end, with these services nothing goes unnoticed on your premises, and you simply cannot put a price on that fact.

A Guide for Protecting Your Business Data

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | A Guide for Protecting Your Business DataThere are many threats to your business data on a daily basis. Taking the right steps to protect your business data in the best possible way will help your business to remain secure, and your operations fully protected.

Here is a guide on all you can do to make sure that your business data is protected.

Back Up Your Data on a Daily Basis

A huge threat to your data can be data loss, and it is very easily done. Even if you are completely careful with your business data and avoid human error, there are many reasons you could end up losing data if it is not backed up, such as computer viruses, system problems or even power failures.

Backing up your data at least once a day — ideally storing data offsite — will help your data to remain protected.

Implement Virus and Malware Protection Methods

Viruses, malware and other cyber crime will always be a threat to business data, and all you can do is put up the maximum defense measures to keep your data protected. This means installing the right anti-virus software and firewall protection.

When it comes to cyber crime, it is also about staying aware of any new or evolving threats. Training an internal team on how to recognize threats can help to increase your protection (such as how to identify a potentially threatening email or suspicious activity).

Be Secure When Sharing Data

Data sharing is when data can easily become compromised. If data is being shared in unsecure ways, this can risk data hacking or even lost data through human error.

A great method for ensuring safe data sharing — if your team needs to work together with data securely — is by implementing a data sharing solution you can trust, like the platform from ovatiotech.com. This means data can be regulated and shared through a secure software channel so that your team can comfortably manage data efficiently.

Make Updates a Regular Item on the Agenda

The technology you use in business and where you store your data will be able to work most efficiently when regularly updated. Outdated programs and systems will easily become more vulnerable.

For ease, you should try to install automatic updates so that updates can always be made when they need to be. If manual updates are preferable, be sure to create a schedule and reminders so that it is not neglected.

Dispose of Any Business Data Securely

Not all data needs to be kept, and there may come a time when you need to dispose of old business data. Even if the data is no longer relevant, it still leaves your business vulnerable if the data gets in the wrong hands.

If you have hard drives or data files to dispose of, be sure to use professional services to completely overwrite and remove any information, or understand how to successfully remove the data yourself, as most of the time simply deleting a file does not mean it cannot be recovered by an outside party if they gain access to a device.

Always take the right steps to fully protect your business data.

Where’s Your Business’s Safety Net?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Business Safety Net|Where's Your Business's Safety Net?Running a business can often feel as though you’re walking a tightrope. You’ve got to keep your balance and your composure or you could end up falling. However, there’s one big difference between running a business and walking a tightrope: there’s nothing impressive about running a business without a safety net. The reality is that the risks of running any kind of business are so high that having no potential protections in place if something goes wrong is simply irresponsible. With that in mind, here are just a few things to consider when making sure that your business has the safety net it needs.

Insurance

If you’re looking for a way to protect your business in the event that something goes wrong then there are few more obvious and effective things to consider than the right insurance. There are a lot of things to consider when choosing the right insurance for your business. Everything from how much it will cost to what kind of cover you need to the specific risks that your business poses. Click here to find the insurance that’s right for your business. Insurance can be a frustrating cost, especially in the early days, but the value it provides is absolutely worth the money you spend on it.

Investors

Investment is something every business needs. After all, it really doesn’t matter how great your business is, you’re never going to be able to get things off the ground without some form of capital. That’s where investors come in. They can provide the capital that you need and can often help to prop up your business if it requires a little extra nudge. Of course, you need to remember that investors are not just giving you money. If you can’t guarantee that you’re able to provide them with a return on their investment, they’re going to take their money and walk away.

Careful Planning

One of the most common reasons that a lot of businesses fall apart when things go wrong is that they were entirely unprepared for it to happen at all. This is because a lot of new business owners only ever plan for the things that they want. Instead, you should be planning for every possible eventuality. You need to know what your business is going to do if something were to go wrong. Do you have contingencies in place? If not, you need to go back to the planning stage and think more carefully about the areas where your business might be vulnerable.

When your business is doing well it’s often all too easy to assume that things are just going to work out and that you have nothing to worry about. The problem there is that it means that you’re going to be utterly unprepared for the moment that something does go wrong. As counterintuitive as it might feel in the short term, the reality is that it’s far better to have these protections in place and not need them than it is to realise too late how valuable they would actually have been.

How To Efficiently Protect Employees In A Warehouse

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article | How To Efficiently Protect Employees In A WarehouseWarehouses are characterized by much work that includes packaging, sorting, branding, and even storage. The workers who undertake these duties also interact with machinery pieces, other workers making any accidents inevitable.

Thus, safety and security remain a priority for warehouse managers, and thinking of security equipment supplier to cover the employees as they work comprehensively shares the same status.

Here are some of the ways to efficiently protect employees in a warehouse.

Get Rid of Any Possible Safety Risks

The pathways, i.e., floors should be free from any slip or trip risks. There should be a regular and thorough check-up by the staff on any split liquids, accumulated debris, and pits. These possible safety risks can not only harm the employees but also damage the machinery as well.

Always Use Safety Equipment

It is always crucial to use safety equipment like hydraulic lifts or forklifts to carry heavy luggage. This can help prevent any back problems in case the employees lifted the heavy baggage.

Classify and Seal the Risky Areas

Another method of keeping the warehouse safe and being economical at the same time is the use of signs and stickers. Risky zones, hazardous equipment, and some racks can all be marked clearly to prevent dangerous injuries. The emergency exits and safe routes also need to be labelled as well.

Equipping the Employees with Proper Training

Educating the employees on the safety measures and standards is one of the best ways of protecting them. This way, they know the consequences of hazardous working areas and can take the initiative of protecting themselves as they work. Educating them on the safety standards also aids them in following some simple but vital work protocols that can keep them safe as they dispense their duties.

Using the Right Costumes

Wearing the proper clothing is a vital initiative in keeping safe as the employees work. Wearing fitting clothes to prevent them from being caught by machines, helmets, eye-protecting shades, and reflectors are some of the right attires to keep employees safe at work.

Regular Communication

Alerting the workers of any potential safety measures reduces the dangers posed during work significantly. Promoting awareness of passing machines, forklifts, and possible risks is a great way of maintaining safety as the warehouse employees work.

Proper Ventilation

Poor ventilation leads to the accumulation of certain dangerous fumes in the warehouse that may threaten employees’ safety. Proper ventilation spells freshness, and installing exhaust fans may also help improve employees’ comfort as they work.

Vehicle Safety Measures

Operating the forklifts, lift trucks, and other vehicles in the warehouse require coordination to prevent accidents. This can be achieved by good training of the employees, keeping certain speed limits, and sensitizing certain blind spots. The managers also need to be thorough and non-accommodative of any reckless driving in the warehouse.

Proper Lighting

Proper lighting ensures good visibility for the employees to move around comfortably in the warehouse. It means that the routes are clearly visible, and they can easily spot any risk or threat from far before any collusion.

The managers can also set up mirrors along the corners or bends so that the reversing drivers can see clearly as they move. The pathways will also be clearer with proper lighting to avoid any collisions.

Fire Safety Measures

Most of the warehouse materials are flammable, and with the spacing, things can get smoky and charred in a matter of minutes. To avoid this, the warehouse managers can be conducting fire drills once annually. This is to check that the fire exit routes work and the staff is also acquainted with the escape routes in case of any fire incidents.

The fire alarms/alerts also need to be installed and checked to ensure that they are working properly. The managers can again develop a fire emergency plan that can be implemented quickly in case of any fire outbreaks in the warehouse.

In conclusion, those highly flammable chemicals can also be stored well and in places where they can’t start/ catch fire easily.