Tag: Electricity

Keeping Your Business Running When The Power Isn’t

by nancyrubin, posted in backup, Business, business finances, Internet, Internet of Things, property management, risk management, small business, telecommute

Power cuts happen all of the time. Our internet goes out when the weather is poor. The lights flicker in high winds, and we face the occasional complete power cut, where we are left without lights, heat, hot water and electricity. We can’t get online, and we’re literally in the dark.

When you’re at home, this can be a little scary. We’re so used to be online all of the time, switching our lights on when we move room to room, using the phone, watching TV and grabbing a snack from the fridge. Suddenly not being able to do these things can be more than a little unnerving. But, it’s also an opportunity. There’s nothing to stop you using a power cut as an excuse to get an early night, or to light some candles, fetch a takeout and read a good book wrapped in blankets. Sometimes, we need an excuse to relax and this could be a great one.

But, when you are at work, especially when it’s your own small business, a power cut can be much worse. Most small businesses are either completely online based, or they at least do most of their work online. If you’ve never looked into Generators for Sale and you suddenly find yourself completely without power, you might not know what to do. You might be tempted to just close your doors and go home for the day. But, this can lead to a loss of money and customers, and become an even bigger problem if the power outage lasts for longer. Here are some things that you can do to keep your business running when the power isn’t.

Work Remotely

Whether your whole business is online or not, you probably use the internet a lot. Social media, digital marketing, email campaigns and online sales are a big part of business today. Just because you can’t work from your office computer doesn’t mean that you can’t work. Can you use the data on your mobile phone to tackle some simple tasks? Is your power on at home? Or, could you send some of your staff out to work remotely from other unaffected areas? In the modern world, we are rarely tied to an office.

Get Stuck in

There are jobs that most of us put off. Things like stock taking, cleaning, staff appraisals and organizing our shelving. These might seem like small jobs, and you might not have time from them in a normal week. But, they need doing. If you have no power, try to find other things that you can do that you might not always have the time for.

Move Some Meetings

If you’ve got any meetings planned in the next week, see if you could bring any forward, and if you could meet somewhere with power. Chances are, if you are meeting people in the same area, and they are also experiencing a loss of power, they’ll be happy to find something to do.

Find a Pen

You might not be able to send emails, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t draft some out with a pen and paper. Don’t underestimate the power of old-school tools. If you’ve got a candle and a pen, there’s still plenty that you can do.

3 Office Security Tips to Decline the Risk of an Electrical Fire

by nancyrubin, posted in property management, Safety, workplace safety

As a manager you have many responsibilities to many different parties. However, there is one responsibility that should come before everything else. This is ensuring that your employees have a safe work environment. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,147 fatal workplace accidents in 2017. Just because your employees work in an office doesn’t mean they’re necessarily safe either. Electrical fires, for example, can certainly be deadly. With that in mind, below are three tips to use to prevent office electrical fires from happening. 

Be Careful with Plugs and Outlets

One of the most common causes of electrical fires is the misuse of electrical plugs and outlets. This is the case both for residential and commercial fires. While in the office, make sure to routinely check plugs and cords before plugging them into an outlet. Old cords tend to get frayed and can present a fire hazard. Don’t overload an outlet with adapters either. One plug should go into one outlet as a default to prevent fire hazards. You should also consider installing ground fault circuit interrupters to increase your protection against electrical fires from overloaded circuits. 

Maintenance

People tend to falsely assume that once an electrical system has been installed into a building it can be forgotten about completely. This is simply not true. Like all the systems of a building, an electrical system also requires routine maintenance to keep it working properly. Routine maintenance can also allow an electrician to spot and correct problems before they actually manifest into serious issues like electrical fires in your office. 

Create a maintenance checklist and stick to it. A professional will probably have to perform a good deal of this maintenance. Your employees are probably not qualified to work with a custom hermetic cable harnesses for example. 

Surge Protectors

Something else that can help to protect your office is the use of surge protectors. These are devices that can be used to prevent power surges from overloading a circuit. They can prevent electrical fires. They can also help to protect appliances during a power surge. All significant pieces of equipment in an office like computers, printers and fax machines should be plugged into a surge protector instead of directly into an outlet. 

Providing a safe work environment is your number one priority as a manager. Workplace accidents are common, and they can be deadly. This is even the case in office workspaces. Removing the threat of electrical fires can certainly make your office much safer for your employees.

Guest author, Kara Masterson, is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.

3 Types of Utilities You Want to Schedule Regular Maintenance on for Your Business

by nancyrubin, posted in Business, customer service, home office, metrics, Office

Maintaining your business property requires regular attention throughout the year. While you may take numerous and regular steps to avoid serious repair issues and to promote the quality of your workplace, you may be overlooking the importance of utility maintenance. Your business likely relies heavily on access to electricity, water, and even gas, and these utilities require periodic maintenance in order to keep them functioning well in the years to come. A closer look reveals why these maintenance services are essential.

Electricity Service

If you do not think about calling an electrician unless an issue arises, you are not alone. However, electrical system maintenance should not be overlooked. This type of maintenance work may involve testing the existing system and identifying problem areas that require attention. Through electrical work, serious repair issues may be thwarted. Keep in mind that these issues may otherwise result in accessibility issues or even electrical fires in some instances when they are not identified and repaired as soon as possible.

Water Service

Regardless of the type of business that you run, the ability to access fresh water and to dispose of wastewater efficiently is essential. Any water service issues may result in water damage, sewer damage, an interruption of business activities and more. This type of maintenance service may include looking for small and hidden leaks, repairing minor issues that may be easy to overlook, clearing drains and pipes and completing other similar tasks.

Gas Service

While some commercial properties do not use gas, many properties do have a gas line running through the ground and leading into the structure. Gas lines may run through the building’s walls to a heating system, a water heater, a commercial kitchen, and other areas. Gas maintenance service usually includes an inspection of the main gas line and other gas pipes as well as all connections to identify leaks. Even a minor gas leak can have dangerous consequences and should be fixed immediately.

Some issues with utilities may be easy to identify, but others may remain hidden from the property owner or tenant for weeks or months. Many issues with utilities may result in significant property damage and even physical harm to you, your employees and your customers. If you have not serviced your utilities recently, now is the ideal time to schedule maintenance. Remember to add this type of property maintenance to your annual schedule so that you do not overlook it in the future.

Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.