Protection Against Fires In The Workplace

11/7/2022 (Permalink)

Fire prevention in the workplace is a serious matter, and not just because your livelihood is on the line. A fire can put your business at risk, but it can also do the same for the lives of you and your coworkers. Luckily, there are some basic steps you can take to ensure workplace fire safety for everyone who helps keep your business running. Check out the following seven expert tips to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your business and coworkers safe.

1. Create a fire prevention plan. Take the time to create a plan for workplace fire safety. Create guidelines for employees, make a calendar with inspection dates and important maintenance, and share it with everyone at your business.
2. Set a smoke policy. Smoking but it also introduces potential fire hazards. Consider the following as you create a safety-minded workplace smoking policy:
   • Designate smoking and non-smoking areas.
   • Have ashtrays available and make sure people use them.
   • Keep ashtrays clean of other material and away from flammable items.
   • Clean all ashtrays regularly.
3. Place and check fire extinguishers. Like sprinklers, fire extinguishers can sometimes prevent a minor fire from turning into a major disaster. Buy enough fire extinguishers as appropriate for the size of your building, and make sure they’ll be accessible when it matters. That means no junk or equipment making them hard to reach. Putting them under cabinets or on high shelves won’t do much good when a room is full of smoke, either.
4. Check for hazards. Make time on a regular basis to inspect equipment, areas where chemicals are stored and other identified high-risk areas. Perform maintenance on electrical equipment as soon as problems are spotted. Fires are often preventable, and the last thing you want is for your business to be destroyed by a fire that could have been averted through proactive maintenance.

Commercial Carpet Cleaning Services

11/7/2022 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO of Danville team is here to help.

Fire Sprinklers For Commercial Buildings

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

No business, wants to deal with the destruction caused by fire. One of the best ways to minimize potential damage and associated expenses is to maintain a commercial fire sprinkler system. A sprinkler system is a highly effective fire suppression strategy that can prevent many significant losses.

They’re Activated by Heat, Not Smoke

A sprinkler system is not activated by smoke. The heat generated by a fire rises to the ceiling, where the sprinklers heads are located. Sensors recognize the change in temperature and trigger the release of water. Only sprinklers in the area of the fire will be activated. It is possible that only a single sprinkler head will deploy. 

They Use High-Pressure Water

The pipes that feed the fire sprinkler system are filled with pressurized water at all times. There will be no delay between the activation of the system and the release of water. The volume of water from even a single sprinkler can help contain a fire, which reduces fire and water damage to the rest of the structure. By the time the fire department arrives, the fire will likely not have spread further. It may even be extinguished by the sprinkler system.

They Can Minimize Cleanup After a Fire

Minimal fire sprinkler cleanup is another key advantage of a sprinkler system. While there will still be fire and water damage, it is likely to be much less extensive than what you’d find in a building without a sprinkler system. The first damage should be limited to the area where sprinklers activated. The water damage from sprinklers is far less intrusive than water damage cause by fire hoses.

Any fire will cause structural and water damage. The primary benefit of a fire sprinkler system is that inevitable damage will be kept to a minimum, resulting in saved dollars and saved lives.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Services For The Business

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO of Danville team is here to help.

When The Lights Go Out, What To Do?

7/19/2022 (Permalink)

When power lines are down, you need a way to continue your business without losing important information. A power outage doesn’t have to bring your business operations to a halt. Here are three ways you can continue working even if you are temporarily without your normal power or internet sources.

1. Seek Alternate Locations

One convenient thing about the internet is that you can access it from almost anywhere. If you know your business is going to be without power for a few hours, use some creative restructuring to get work done. Allow employees to work from home until power is restored in your building. Take a working lunch to a restaurant with a strong Wi-Fi signal. There are many places where you can work comfortable while technicians are repairing power lines and restoration experts are fixing anything wrong within the building.

2. Use Backup Power

If you are able to stay in the building to work, a backup power source can help you do so. A portable generator or battery backup can get you through a temporary power outage. Use an uninterrupted power supply to avoid losing data on an unsaved document during a sudden outage.

3. Follow Internet Tips

If you have a limited data plan on your phone, you can use Wi-Fi if available. If you have unlimited data on your phone plan, you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot by turning on the “mobile hotspot.” This can help you finish what you have started if you experience a momentary lapse of service in your building. If power is limited, make sure that you only using the essential services you need. You may be tempted to log on to check social media or play games while you are waiting on the power to come back, but this can drain your battery quickly. Conserve energy by only using what you need until you have full service again.

A power outage can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be devastating. Having a backup plan can save data and allow your business to continue functioning.

Business General Cleaning Services

7/14/2022 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO of Danville team is here to help.

Priority Is Guests

4/22/2022 (Permalink)

It is important to think about what you will do to protect yourself, wherever you are, when the earth begins to shake.

When disaster strikes at a hospitality facility, the help of a specialized team is critical in assuring that normal operations resume as quickly and safely as possible. Whether the cause is a coat hanger on a sprinkler head, a fire, a traumatic event, or a natural disaster, our team will coordinate with your management and maintenance staff to prioritize spaces, isolate the damage, and restore the area to your complete satisfaction, while minimizing the inconvenience to you and your guests. 

Types of Facilities:

• Hotels
• Convention Centers
• Resorts
• Casinos
• Entertainment Venues

Our professionals are available 24-7/365 to help remediate any damage, regardless of the cause, scale of the loss, or the size of your facility. 

From small entertainment venues to large convention centers and everything in between, we work quickly to assess your restoration needs and work with your staff to prioritize spaces so that basic operating functions can continue normally, and your guests can enjoy your services with minimal impact.

Our Experience Includes:

• Facilities Cleaning and Restoration
• Flooding and Water Damage Cleanup
• Biohazard
• Odor Removal
• Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning
• Smoke and Soot Cleanup
• Mold Removal
• Vandalism Cleanup
• Document and Records Recovery
• Total Project Management

Fire In The Workplace

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

Fire prevention in the workplace is a serious matter, and not just because your livelihood is on the line. A fire can put your business at risk, but it can also do the same for the lives of you and your coworkers. Luckily, there are some basic steps you can take to ensure workplace fire safety for everyone who helps keep your business running. Check out the following seven expert tips to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your business and coworkers safe.

1. Create a fire prevention plan. Take the time to create a plan for workplace fire safety. Create guidelines for employees, make a calendar with inspection dates and important maintenance, and share it with everyone at your business.
2. Set a smoke policy. Smoking but it also introduces potential fire hazards. Consider the following as you create a safety-minded workplace smoking policy:
   • Designate smoking and non-smoking areas.
   • Have ashtrays available and make sure people use them.
   • Keep ashtrays clean of other material and away from flammable items.
   • Clean all ashtrays regularly.
3. Place and check fire extinguishers. Like sprinklers, fire extinguishers can sometimes prevent a minor fire from turning into a major disaster. Buy enough fire extinguishers as appropriate for the size of your building, and make sure they’ll be accessible when it matters. That means no junk or equipment making them hard to reach. Putting them under cabinets or on high shelves won’t do much good when a room is full of smoke, either.
4. Check for hazards. Make time on a regular basis to inspect equipment, areas where chemicals are stored and other identified high-risk areas. Perform maintenance on electrical equipment as soon as problems are spotted. Fires are often preventable, and the last thing you want is for your business to be destroyed by a fire that could have been averted through proactive maintenance.

What To Do After A Storm

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

• Avoid storm-damaged areas. Stay away from downed power lines and never try to drive through a flooded roadway.
• Replenish your emergency supplies and repair property damage promptly, before the next storm strikes.

When disaster strikes at a hospitality facility, the help of a specialized team is critical in assuring that normal operations resume as quickly and safely as possible. Whether the cause is a coat hanger on a sprinkler head, a fire, a traumatic event, or a natural disaster, our team will coordinate with your management and maintenance staff to prioritize spaces, isolate the damage, and restore the area to your complete satisfaction, while minimizing the inconvenience to you and your guests. 

Types of Facilities:

• Hotels
• Convention Centers
• Resorts
• Casinos
• Entertainment Venues

Our professionals are available 24-7/365 to help remediate any damage, regardless of the cause, scale of the loss, or the size of your facility. 

From small entertainment venues to large convention centers and everything in between, we work quickly to assess your restoration needs and work with your staff to prioritize spaces so that basic operating functions can continue normally, and your guests can enjoy your services with minimal impact.

Our Experience Includes:

• Facilities Cleaning and Restoration
• Flooding and Water Damage Cleanup
• Biohazard
• Odor Removal
• Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning
• Smoke and Soot Cleanup
• Mold Removal
• Vandalism Cleanup
• Document and Records Recovery
• Total Project Management

Putting A Plan In Action

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

Fire escape plans are essential for any business, not only for the safety of your employees but also for those who come and go from the offices. Not having a strategy can cause confusion that can lead to unnecessary injuries and an increased amount of property damage. Include these four must-have items in your emergency escape plan.

Roles

Put together a chain of command. Delegate one person to take charge of the evacuation plan from start to finish. Pick individuals to escort employees, customers and contractors from the building to a pre-planned meeting area. Others to include in the emergency escape plan are those in charge of the shutdown of utilities and those who aid disabled or injured people.

Evacuation Routes

Design a map showing all evacuation routes. Due to the drills you have, your employees will know where all the exit doors are; however, customers and contractors who are not familiar with the building need a map that is easy to read. Several websites have templates for devising a fire escape plan.

Headcount

Choose someone to keep a headcount of everyone exiting the building. As part of your business, if applicable, use a sign-in sheet to keep track of people going in and out of your offices. The person in charge of the headcount can utilize the sign-in sheet and check off those accounted for.

Employee Training and Drills

After putting together the fire escape plan, it’s time for the drills. Practice at least twice a year, preferably more. Include medical preparation as part of the exercise. The American Red Cross provides training and certification classes in basic first aid and CPR for businesses and organizations.

What do to when Power goes Out?

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

When power lines are down, you need a way to continue your business without losing important information. A power outage doesn’t have to bring your business operations to a halt. Here are three ways you can continue working even if you are temporarily without your normal power or internet sources.

1. Seek Alternate Locations

One convenient thing about the internet is that you can access it from almost anywhere. If you know your business is going to be without power for a few hours, use some creative restructuring to get work done. Allow employees to work from home until power is restored in your building. Take a working lunch to a restaurant with a strong Wi-Fi signal. There are many places where you can work comfortable while technicians are repairing power lines and restoration experts are fixing anything wrong within the building.

2. Use Backup Power

If you are able to stay in the building to work, a backup power source can help you do so. A portable generator or battery backup can get you through a temporary power outage. Use an uninterrupted power supply to avoid losing data on an unsaved document during a sudden outage.

3. Follow Internet Tips

If you have a limited data plan on your phone, you can use Wi-Fi if available. If you have unlimited data on your phone plan, you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot by turning on the “mobile hotspot.” This can help you finish what you have started if you experience a momentary lapse of service in your building. If power is limited, make sure that you only using the essential services you need. You may be tempted to log on to check social media or play games while you are waiting on the power to come back, but this can drain your battery quickly. Conserve energy by only using what you need until you have full service again.

A power outage can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be devastating. Having a backup plan can save data and allow your business to continue functioning.

Commercial Professional Cleaning Tips For Carpets

10/11/2021 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO Of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO Of Danville team is here to help.

Restore Your Business After A Water Loss

7/14/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding and water damage to commercial properties can be very complex, requiring a knowledgeable yet flexible response to solve the numerous issues that can quickly present themselves. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large-scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate any and all areas affected. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we work diligently to restore the damaged areas.

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. SERVPRO understands that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. When an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there with the help you need.

SERVPRO can also help your business prepare for a disaster with an ERP (Emergency Response Preparedness Plan).

Call us today: 925-856-8180

Mold In Your Commercial Building

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

Mold is one of those things that you do not give too much thought to in life except for when for some reason, an area of your commercial building starts to smell a little musty or you notice the tell-tale dark patch on your drywall.  The truth about mold is that it is everywhere.  Like dust or pollen, mold spores are just a part of our natural biosphere and they actually do serve a useful purpose.  Mold is nature's great decomposer and is valuable in recycling any organic waste.

Whether you like it or not, your commercial property is currently filled with microscopic mold spores. It doesn't pose any problem until the day that the mold spores are introduced to a little bit of moisture. With just a little introduction to moisture, that mold spore can grow into a colony.  That is when you might start to notice a musty odor or start to see the dark shadows.  First things first, you need to contact a plumber to find the source of the water.  Cleaning the mold without fixing the leak will just lead to more mold. 

What Does IICRC mean anyway for your commercial facility?

4/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is an IICRC firm. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) creates the standards for the restoration industry and provides training and certification to restoration companies. IICRC Certified Firms have the right to display the IICRC Certified Logo.

IICRC Certified Firms must

• Present accurate information to consumers and conduct business with honesty and integrity.
• Require a technician on all jobs who has been formally trained and passed all required tests.
• Require a continuing education program to keep technicians up-to-date on the latest changes in the industry.
• Maintain liability insurance to protect all parties in the event of an accident.
• Maintain a written complaint policy and agree to Better Business Bureau or similar arbitration to resolve disputes, and accept the conclusions and recommendations of arbitration.

The IICRC Develops The Standards For The Restoration Industry

The IICRC has been the driving force in establishing the main industry standards and reference guides for professional carpet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remediation. These IICRC standards take years to develop and require the coordination of experts in the field: manufacturers, industry organizations, insurance professionals, training schools, contractors, and public health professionals.

Every five years, the standards are reviewed and updated. The water damage restoration field changes rapidly with advancements in technology and science, and therefore the standards must evolve to keep pace.

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration and we are an IICRC Certified Firm. We believe in continuous training: from initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

• AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• OSHA - 30-hour General and/or Construction Industry Training Program
• CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
• IICRC Certified Firm
• ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
• SRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
• OSHA - 10-hour General and/or Construction Industry Training Program
• WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
• OCT - Odor Control Technician

Natural Disasters for Small Businesses

10/27/2020 (Permalink)

Natural disasters have an enormous impact on small businesses, especially start-ups and cash-only businesses. The livelihood of both the owner and employees are jeopardized, an a plan must be in place to protect all parties involved. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that 40% of small businesses fail to re-open after a natural disaster. With preparation, you can greatly increase the chance of your business recovering.

An emergency plan should be formed when the business is formed. Insurance becomes a key component of this plan, requiring careful consideration of all assets and deciding on the best insurance policy. For example, will natural disaster or looting insurance be included or added on later? Use the following steps as a guide to develop a post-disaster plan to keep your business running after an emergency.

• Follow up with employees: Address their concerns, and note if they are able to find temporary work or aid in the recovery process.
• Develop a communication strategy: Delegate someone trusted to communicate with disaster relief services, suppliers, and financial institutions
• Keep your data safe: Have a back-up of your business' files in multiple locations. Consider cloud based services since the data is stored remotely and can be accessed from multiple devices.
• Seek a restoration expert: Restoration companies such as ours will come to your aid to listen to your concerns, minimize loss, fix damages, and find the best value out of your insurance coverage.
• File an insurance claim: Examine policy and make sure there are no gaps. Also ask the questions, "Are additional damages covered? What are my deductibles?"
• Disaster loan assistance: There are various government agencies and organizations that can help your business recover. Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration website to learn about their Disaster Loan Program to help fix property and restock supplies.

Fire Safety In The Work Place

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

No matter what type of business you conduct at your workplace, fire safety should always be a main concern. Here are a few fire safety tips you can distribute to your staff.

Fire Prevention

• Keep your work area free of waste paper, trash, and other items that can easily catch fire.
• Check on your electrical cords. If a cord is damaged in any way, replace it. Try not to lay cords in places where they can be stepped on, as this will contribute to deterioration of the protective outside coating.
• Don’t overload your circuits.
• Turn off electrical appliances at the end of each day.
• Keep heat producing equipment away from anything that might burn. This includes copiers, coffee makers, computers, etc.

In the Event of a Fire

• Upon finding a fire, call 911 immediately and don’t hang up with the emergency responder until told to do so.
• Close doors when exiting to help limit the spread of smoke and fire throughout the building.
• Never use elevators during an evacuation.
• Follow the escape plan and meet at a pre-determined place outside of your building and away from danger. Conduct a headcount to ensure all of your staff has evacuated.
• The best way to ensure the safety of your staff is through fire prevention and preparation. Talk with your staff about fire safety in the workplace today.

SERVPRO of Danville is always here to help. Our experts are available 24/7. If you’re dealing with fire damage at your business call SERVPRO of Danville at (925) 856-8180.

Putting Together A Fire Escape Plan

10/22/2020 (Permalink)

Fire escape plans are essential for any business, not only for the safety of your employees but also for those who come and go from the offices. Not having a strategy can cause confusion that can lead to unnecessary injuries and an increased amount of property damage. Include these four must-have items in your emergency escape plan.

Roles

Put together a chain of command. Delegate one person to take charge of the evacuation plan from start to finish. Pick individuals to escort employees, customers and contractors from the building to a pre-planned meeting area. Others to include in the emergency escape plan are those in charge of the shutdown of utilities and those who aid disabled or injured people.

Evacuation Routes

Design a map showing all evacuation routes. Due to the drills you have, your employees will know where all the exit doors are; however, customers and contractors who are not familiar with the building need a map that is easy to read. Several websites have templates for devising a fire escape plan.

Headcount

Choose someone to keep a headcount of everyone exiting the building. As part of your business, if applicable, use a sign-in sheet to keep track of people going in and out of your offices. The person in charge of the headcount can utilize the sign-in sheet and check off those accounted for.

Employee Training and Drills

After putting together the fire escape plan, it’s time for the drills. Practice at least twice a year, preferably more. Include medical preparation as part of the exercise. The American Red Cross provides training and certification classes in basic first aid and CPR for businesses and organizations.

Professional Carpet Cleaning For Your Business

10/22/2020 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO of Danville team is here to help.

Your Guests Are Your Top Priority

10/19/2020 (Permalink)

When disaster strikes at a hospitality facility, the help of a specialized team is critical in assuring that normal operations resume as quickly and safely as possible. Whether the cause is a coat hanger on a sprinkler head, a fire, a traumatic event, or a natural disaster, our team will coordinate with your management and maintenance staff to prioritize spaces, isolate the damage, and restore the area to your complete satisfaction, while minimizing the inconvenience to you and your guests. 

Types of Facilities:

• Hotels
• Convention Centers
• Resorts
• Casinos
• Entertainment Venues

Our professionals are available 24-7/365 to help remediate any damage, regardless of the cause, scale of the loss, or the size of your facility. 

From small entertainment venues to large convention centers and everything in between, we work quickly to assess your restoration needs and work with your staff to prioritize spaces so that basic operating functions can continue normally, and your guests can enjoy your services with minimal impact.

Our Experience Includes:

• Facilities Cleaning and Restoration
• Flooding and Water Damage Cleanup
• Biohazard
• Odor Removal
• Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning
• Smoke and Soot Cleanup
• Mold Removal
• Vandalism Cleanup
• Document and Records Recovery
• Total Project Management

Commercial Mold remediation

10/19/2020 (Permalink)

Commercial Mold Remediation Presents Unique Challenges

Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. As in this case when the builder unknowingly put a few holes in the pipes during construction. 

Commercial property can quickly become infested with mold if a source of water is present. Mold can spread throughout a property in as little as 72 hours. Since mold can produce allergens and irritants, you should call us 24/7  to inspect your building if you suspect you have a mold problem. If mold is found, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation quickly, which will keep your business running and loss of revenue to a minimum. 

Mold can spread quickly through a property if left untreated. SERVPRO of Antioch can respond quickly, working to first contain and isolate the infestation to help prevent its spread to other parts of the building. Which is essential when you need to keep business going. 

Next, we will begin the remediation process, working safely and effectively to manage the situation. We have the training, experience, and equipment to contain the mold infestation and remediate it to pre loss condition.

Commercial Fire Sprinklers System

10/19/2019 (Permalink)

No business, wants to deal with the destruction caused by fire. One of the best ways to minimize potential damage and associated expenses is to maintain a commercial fire sprinkler system. A sprinkler system is a highly effective fire suppression strategy that can prevent many significant losses.

They’re Activated by Heat, Not Smoke

A sprinkler system is not activated by smoke. The heat generated by a fire rises to the ceiling, where the sprinklers heads are located. Sensors recognize the change in temperature and trigger the release of water. Only sprinklers in the area of the fire will be activated. It is possible that only a single sprinkler head will deploy. 

They Use High-Pressure Water

The pipes that feed the fire sprinkler system are filled with pressurized water at all times. There will be no delay between the activation of the system and the release of water. The volume of water from even a single sprinkler can help contain a fire, which reduces fire and water damage to the rest of the structure. By the time the fire department arrives, the fire will likely not have spread further. It may even be extinguished by the sprinkler system.

They Can Minimize Cleanup After a Fire

Minimal fire sprinkler cleanup is another key advantage of a sprinkler system. While there will still be fire and water damage, it is likely to be much less extensive than what you’d find in a building without a sprinkler system. The first damage should be limited to the area where sprinklers activated. The water damage from sprinklers is far less intrusive than water damage cause by fire hoses.

Any fire will cause structural and water damage. The primary benefit of a fire sprinkler system is that inevitable damage will be kept to a minimum, resulting in saved dollars and saved lives.

How Professional Carpet Cleaning Impacts Business

10/19/2019 (Permalink)

What message are your business’ carpets sending to your employees and those who come into your workplace?

The importance of commercial carpet cleaning is often underestimated. Dirty carpets can have a bigger impact on companies and their employees than most people realize.

A successful business must consider not only the appearance of their building, but how dirty carpeting can affect the health of employees. Also it’s worth mentioning; a dirty office with soiled carpets creates an uncomfortable work area and can kill motivation. If you own or manage a business that has customers or clients that enter your work space, it is crucial to make a good impression. What are your carpets saying about you?

You might not even realize how services like commercial carpet cleaning can benefit your business. Here are seven advantages of the service.

Gain Customers and Keep Them Coming

Let’s face it, appearances matter when it comes to attracting and keeping customers. Your products or services may be amazing, but as long as your business looks dirty, grungy, and unkempt it will deter customers. After all, you don’t take care of your business then its likely customers will get the impression your services or products are second-rate.

Higher Quality Cleaning by Professionals

Some companies attempt to make their employees do the carpet cleaning. You take the risk in damaging or tearing carpets if the process isn’t done properly. Every style of carpet requires specific chemicals and water temperature that only professional carpet cleaners have access to and are trained on how to use.  Having a professional clean the carpets typically entails a more thorough cleaning process then someone who has no training and will end up having a more lasting effect.

The SERVPRO of Danville team specializes in cleaning – and one thing our team likes to clean is carpets for your commercial business! A dirty carpet isn’t something any business wants to have. It looks unprofessional and unkempt. Luckily, our SERVPRO of Danville team is here to help.

Fire Safety Tips for the Workplace

10/18/2019 (Permalink)

No matter what type of business you conduct at your workplace, fire safety should always be a main concern. Here are a few fire safety tips you can distribute to your staff.

Fire Prevention

• Keep your work area free of waste paper, trash, and other items that can easily catch fire.
• Check on your electrical cords. If a cord is damaged in any way, replace it. Try not to lay cords in places where they can be stepped on, as this will contribute to deterioration of the protective outside coating.
• Don’t overload your circuits.
• Turn off electrical appliances at the end of each day.
• Keep heat producing equipment away from anything that might burn. This includes copiers, coffee makers, computers, etc.

In the Event of a Fire

• Upon finding a fire, call 911 immediately and don’t hang up with the emergency responder until told to do so.
• Close doors when exiting to help limit the spread of smoke and fire throughout the building.
• Never use elevators during an evacuation.
• Follow the escape plan and meet at a pre-determined place outside of your building and away from danger. Conduct a headcount to ensure all of your staff has evacuated.
• The best way to ensure the safety of your staff is through fire prevention and preparation. Talk with your staff about fire safety in the workplace today.

SERVPRO of Danville is always here to help. Our experts are available 24/7. If you’re dealing with fire damage at your business call SERVPRO of Danville at (925) 856-8180.

When Your Business Loses Power, Here's What You Can Do

10/18/2019 (Permalink)

When power lines are down, you need a way to continue your business without losing important information. A power outage doesn’t have to bring your business operations to a halt. Here are three ways you can continue working even if you are temporarily without your normal power or internet sources.

1. Seek Alternate Locations

One convenient thing about the internet is that you can access it from almost anywhere. If you know your business is going to be without power for a few hours, use some creative restructuring to get work done. Allow employees to work from home until power is restored in your building. Take a working lunch to a restaurant with a strong Wi-Fi signal. There are many places where you can work comfortable while technicians are repairing power lines and restoration experts are fixing anything wrong within the building.

2. Use Backup Power

If you are able to stay in the building to work, a backup power source can help you do so. A portable generator or battery backup can get you through a temporary power outage. Use an uninterrupted power supply to avoid losing data on an unsaved document during a sudden outage.

3. Follow Internet Tips

If you have a limited data plan on your phone, you can use Wi-Fi if available. If you have unlimited data on your phone plan, you can use your phone as a mobile hotspot by turning on the “mobile hotspot.” This can help you finish what you have started if you experience a momentary lapse of service in your building. If power is limited, make sure that you only using the essential services you need. You may be tempted to log on to check social media or play games while you are waiting on the power to come back, but this can drain your battery quickly. Conserve energy by only using what you need until you have full service again.

A power outage can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be devastating. Having a backup plan can save data and allow your business to continue functioning.

What to Do After Your Business Suffers Fire Damage

10/17/2019 (Permalink)

A fire is a devastating incident, and you may feel overwhelmed if your business in Danville, CA has been affected by fire damage. There are some key steps you should take in the aftermath of a fire in order to ensure that your business is up and running again as seamlessly as possible. Here are some tips to guide you through the fire restoration process and ensure that everything returns to normal again.

Stay Away From Danger

While you may be tempted to try to repair objects that have been damaged by the fire, it is best not to touch any damaged items in your business. Take the following precautions when surveying the effects of the fire:

• Avoid washing walls or painted surfaces
• Do not turn on lighting fixtures if walls or the ceiling is wet.
• Keep your hands clean to avoid spreading soot particles.
• Refrain from cleaning damaged electronics.

Call Your Insurance Company

Make sure to call your insurance company as soon as possible to report the fire damage. The faster you inform them of your loss, the faster you can focus on fire restoration and the less likely you are to miss important deadlines. Once you’ve spoken with an agent, you can make a fire insurance claim. Taking care of the logistics after an incident can help you be well informed during a stressful situation.

Turn off Utilities

Until help arrives, it is crucial to do what you can to minimize further damage. Turn off all the utilities in your building, including gas, electricity, and water. You can shut off the water at the main valve and turn off gas and electricity at the meter. Once you’ve done this, refrain from using any utilities until a professional has inspected them properly. Whether you need smoke cleaning services or water removal from firefighting efforts, a skilled fire restoration professional can conduct a fire damage assessment and help bring your business back to normal.

Protect Against Workplace Fires

10/17/2019 (Permalink)

Fire prevention in the workplace is a serious matter, and not just because your livelihood is on the line. A fire can put your business at risk, but it can also do the same for the lives of you and your coworkers. Luckily, there are some basic steps you can take to ensure workplace fire safety for everyone who helps keep your business running. Check out the following seven expert tips to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your business and coworkers safe.

1. Create a fire prevention plan. Take the time to create a plan for workplace fire safety. Create guidelines for employees, make a calendar with inspection dates and important maintenance, and share it with everyone at your business.
2. Set a smoke policy. Smoking but it also introduces potential fire hazards. Consider the following as you create a safety-minded workplace smoking policy:
   • Designate smoking and non-smoking areas.
   • Have ashtrays available and make sure people use them.
   • Keep ashtrays clean of other material and away from flammable items.
   • Clean all ashtrays regularly.
3. Place and check fire extinguishers. Like sprinklers, fire extinguishers can sometimes prevent a minor fire from turning into a major disaster. Buy enough fire extinguishers as appropriate for the size of your building, and make sure they’ll be accessible when it matters. That means no junk or equipment making them hard to reach. Putting them under cabinets or on high shelves won’t do much good when a room is full of smoke, either.
4. Check for hazards. Make time on a regular basis to inspect equipment, areas where chemicals are stored and other identified high-risk areas. Perform maintenance on electrical equipment as soon as problems are spotted. Fires are often preventable, and the last thing you want is for your business to be destroyed by a fire that could have been averted through proactive maintenance.

Four Must Haves for your Business's Fire Escape Plan

10/16/2019 (Permalink)

Fire escape plans are essential for any business, not only for the safety of your employees but also for those who come and go from the offices. Not having a strategy can cause confusion that can lead to unnecessary injuries and an increased amount of property damage. Include these four must-have items in your emergency escape plan.

Roles

Put together a chain of command. Delegate one person to take charge of the evacuation plan from start to finish. Pick individuals to escort employees, customers and contractors from the building to a pre-planned meeting area. Others to include in the emergency escape plan are those in charge of the shutdown of utilities and those who aid disabled or injured people.

Evacuation Routes

Design a map showing all evacuation routes. Due to the drills you have, your employees will know where all the exit doors are; however, customers and contractors who are not familiar with the building need a map that is easy to read. Several websites have templates for devising a fire escape plan.

Headcount

Choose someone to keep a headcount of everyone exiting the building. As part of your business, if applicable, use a sign-in sheet to keep track of people going in and out of your offices. The person in charge of the headcount can utilize the sign-in sheet and check off those accounted for.

Employee Training and Drills

After putting together the fire escape plan, it’s time for the drills. Practice at least twice a year, preferably more. Include medical preparation as part of the exercise. The American Red Cross provides training and certification classes in basic first aid and CPR for businesses and organizations.

It is ultimately your job to ensure the safety and well-being of those in the building. A fire escape plan can make your staff more confident they can get themselves and others out of a dangerous situation. A fire damage specialist in Danville, CA is a great person to speak with to organize the best safety plan for your business. SERVPRO of Danville is available 24/7, 365 days a year and would be more than happy to have a fire damage specialist come out and create a safety plan for your business.