Category: Blog

Published: 09 July 2020

The gifts have been opened, the ornaments are starting to sag, and the fallen pine needles are multiplying daily – these are clear signs that it’s time to remove the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations from your home.  The longer they’re in your home, the more they dry out, making them a significant fire hazard. NFPA statistics show that nearly 40 percent of home fires that begin with Christmas trees occur in January. Although these fires aren’t common, when they do occur, they’re more likely to be serious. On average, one of every 40 reported home structure Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, as compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home structure fires.

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Category: Blog

Published: 08 July 2020

Behind their steel, concrete, and glass facades, buildings are pulsating energy hubs. In concert with the highly automated systems that deliver it, that energy can convey a sense that buildings approximate living, breathing organisms. In a sense, they are. Programmed HVAC systems hum around the clock, computer systems labor on, and security systems monitor the premises, even as they remain largely devoid of human life for half the day. Little wonder, then, that in a time of heightened concern with energy conservation, these complex structures with a life of their own — and the actions and decisions of those who own and inhabit them — are inviting more scrutiny. To read more on this important subject, click here.

Category: Blog

Published: 06 July 2020

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Personal Protective Equipment Standard (Subpart I) includes all clothing and other workplace accessories designed to be a barrier against the potential hazards that personnel can encounter at the workplace. The standard specifically lists personal protective equipment (PPE) for the eyes, face, head and extremities as well as protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, which include hearing protection.

The employer’s responsibilities for the standard can be broken into three main areas. To read what they are, click here: Help Them Help Themselves? | EC Mag