Housekeeping is more than just a buzzword. As an employer, it is a crucial component in your policy to ensure that your company is in tip-top shape. Good housekeeping practices can boost efficiency in the workplace regardless of the setting. You can control or eliminate workplace hazards that would have otherwise led to a costly incident.

Being effective in housekeeping is an ongoing process, not just an occasional or one-time clean-up. Here are a few tips to help you.

Keeping it clean.

Housekeeping is more than just telling your employees to clean up after themselves. It requires a thorough assessment of the workplace, considering the various moving and static parts, such as work areas, storage spaces, and even rubbish bins. Streamlining your workflow to ensure minimal handling of materials from storage to workstations while keeping the workplace orderly is the essence of housekeeping.

Keeping workers updated.

Ensuring that workers have the appropriate training is essential in a good housekeeping program. They would need to know how to handle the materials properly and, more importantly, how to dispose of them safely. In this way, they would protect themselves, other workers, and other workers and the company.

Keeping facilities maintained.

Maintenance is the name of the game. Maintaining the building and equipment is an important aspect of good housekeeping. The building, equipment, and machinery are in good working order. A good maintenance program should include inspection, upkeep, and repair of tools, machines, and equipment.

Overall, a good housekeeping program can keep your company functioning optimally, preventing any incidents that could lead to losses due to material repair or personnel accidents. Everything is cleaner and the workplace more hygienic, improving your employees’ health. It would provide more efficient use of the space while having better control of tools, materials, and even inventory.

Do you want to learn more about housekeeping? Head over to KC Supply Co today.

Tank cleaning can be a very hazardous business when not done properly. Working around storage tanks alone could pose several safety risks, so moving around or inside tanks for cleaning can be even more dangerous. It’s precisely why OSHA has certain regulations regarding storage tank cleaning.

OSHA requires that personnel working around the tanks for cleaning be given the proper training to know their way around the tank. Furthermore, they can’t simply proceed to clean the tank — a careful preplanning process is also required, determining who is assigned to do what, the purpose of each action, and most importantly, what to do in emergencies.

Beyond the OSHA regulations, here are also some critical reminders about tank cleaning:

Always wear appropriate clothing

It must be a requirement for all personnel cleaning the tank to be wearing the appropriate PPE. PPEs come in a variety of forms and levels of protection. Plant supervisors must ensure that the personnel is provided the right level of protection depending on what the tank contains and the work that needs to be done. For example, workers may need respiratory protection and full body suits if fumes are involved.

Always have a fire extinguisher or a fire protection protocol in place

OSHA reminds everyone that preparing for the worst is essential in ensuring that any untoward incident is addressed as soon as possible. Many materials stored in tanks are flammable, so it’s crucial to have a fire extinguisher or other similar options during tank cleaning. It’s even more critical to have these on hand when cleaning fuel tanks.

Double or triple-check all settings

It’s not enough to clean the tank — it’s also crucial to check all its settings and connected pipes. Check for pressure, heat levels, oxygen saturation, amount of material contained, and other process-essential settings. Before any cleaning, the tank should be in a state that is safe for personnel to approach and do their work, with no risk of machines starting up or material moving.

Tank cleaning is not just a maintenance job; it’s a major responsibility that requires an entire team to handle and manage. Schedule your tank cleaning regularly and ensure the safety of the entire plant.

Regular maintenance of storage tanks and their adjoining machinery ensures the smooth operation of the entire plant. Visit us today for more tips on keeping your plant running in top shape.

Tank safety should always be on your mind, whether working around, on, or inside industrial tanks. Industrial storage tanks for fuel, fluid, or material can pose unique hazards for all personnel around them.

Keep these safety concepts in mind:

Always make sure you have the correct type of tank for the suitable material

Remember that not all tanks are made the same. Some industrial tanks are specially designed to hold corrosive fluids better than others, while others are only used for processing and not long-term storage. Tank safety must use the appropriate type of tank for its holding. It would otherwise risk the tank’s structural integrity and storage ability, resulting in leaks or damage that could be catastrophic.

Clean the tanks before anything goes into them

Tank cleaning before material changeovers or maintenance purposes helps ensure tank safety by removing any accumulated material or stale product and dramatically reduces the risk of contaminants inside or outside the tank. Cleaning tanks before pouring into them also ensures no residue leftover from the previous use. Ensure that the procedures in the plant include regularly scheduled shutdowns for cleaning.

Eliminate fire hazards

One of the most significant risks to tank safety is flammable materials. Ensure that all personnel are well informed of the fire hazard area around the tank and install proper flame and detonation arresters. Eliminate all sources of ignition, if possible, from both the tank and the piping connected to it. You also must consider flammable material inside the tank, so you must carefully install protectors against flammable vapors.

Require PPE always

All personnel working in or around the tanks must be in PPE. Depending on what the tanks contain, the appropriate suits for personnel could mean the difference between life and death in the event of an accident. PPEs can also significantly reduce long-term health problems from exposure to the tanks’ toxic material.

Put tank safety first above everything. Through these reminders, protect the tanks, your plant, and your personnel from untoward incidents and formulate an airtight safety plan.

KC Supply Co prioritizes the health and safety of all personnel working around industrial tanks. Visit us today to find safety equipment and more.

Even conveyor belts are affected by low temperatures in winter. Temperatures that go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit can cause belts to harden. And when belts are set, they could wear down and cause backsliding. Moreover, depending on the material of the belt, they could become brittle, putting a risk to your processes. It’s precarious for belts that have become highly worn with age, weathered with use, or even belts positioned at odd angles, making some areas more stretched.

Here are ways to winter-proof your conveyor belts and keep them running smoothly throughout the winter.

Keep it warm.
Keeping the belts warm inside a heavy plant full of conveyor belts is easier. With adequate space heating or warming inside an enclosed space, belts can retain the proper temperature for optimal performance. However, belts dealing with outdoor environments may need alternative solutions, such as blowing warm air or installing electric heating on the belts.

Use anti-icing agents.
Consider if you can use anti-icing products or antifreeze products on your conveyor belts. Of course, this will depend on the type of material coming into contact with the belt itself. If you conclude that there is no risk to your product or material on the belt through these agents, you’re well advised to use them to prevent machinery from getting stuck in the cold.

Change the load.
Consider changing what is on the belts entirely. If you typically use the conveyor belt for wet materials or matter that easily clogs up, consider shifting the belts for use on different products and materials instead. Make it easier for your belts to do the work, and resume their usage on other materials once the temperatures aren’t so cold.

Defend against wear and tear.
Some special additives and agents can also be applied on rubber conveyor belts to withstand the elements and abrasive wear. This ensures that even if the low temperatures cause some hardening, the wear and abrasion on the belts won’t become so significant that it exacerbates the winter damage.

Since the belts keep products and materials moving, ensure to protect them in the best way possible this winter. It’s the lifeline that keeps production going.

KC Supply Co believes in winterizing all kinds of equipment to ensure the safety of everyone in the industrial workplace. Visit us today to find safety solutions of all varieties.

Protecting equipment, especially industrial machinery, during cold weather isn’t just part of good maintenance—it’s part of ensuring that the entire workplace adheres to strict safety protocols. Processes must always be put in place to handle a variety of cold weather scenarios.

For example, drainage systems or those that handle the flow of water must be protected against the cold, or there is a chance they could burst mid-winter. This could cost a company up to millions of dollars in damage.

Here are ways to protect equipment from the risks of cold weather:

• Insulate and protect your piping first. The pipes will be among those most at risk for weather changes, and often they are part of the most crucial systems, including maintaining heat through the cold weather. Ensure that freeze protection valves are in place, pipes are insulated, and heat tracing systems are enabled.
• Inspect and protect all vehicles. If your company has a fleet of vehicles that will continue working during the cold weather, it’s also essential to protect them. Do a vehicle inspection and maintain the undercarriage, clearing any mud, snow, or debris. When you protect equipment, you must ensure everything is in working order, from its fluids down to the tires.
• Install and maintain space heaters. At no point should the temperatures within your facility go below safe levels. Install enough space heaters to heat large areas and verify they are all in working order. If these heaters run on gas, make sure you also have sufficient fuel for them to run.
• Inspect your tools. It’s not just big machinery that needs protection. Compressors, pneumatic tools, power tools, and other similar items also need protection. Equipment like these must be correctly lubricated with tool oil and kept in areas away from the cold. Remember that if your power tools run on batteries, you could compromise battery performance when left out in the cold.

By ensuring that all kinds of equipment in your work area are adequately protected against the cold, you can expect safe and smooth performance and productivity even during the winter.

KC Supply Co takes equipment protection seriously. Visit us to look for protective equipment, supplies, and other great tips on keeping your industrial area in working order.

Last year, three men in Ohio died after entering a manure pit. Even cattle aren’t immune, as a farm hand and six cattle perished at their manure pit in Wisconsin back in 2016.

Manure pits are crucial to everyday farm operations. They generate much-needed fertilizer and material needed for farmers to prepare their lands for the spring planting season, helping crops grow and thrive. However, despite its boons, manure pit is dangerous for the noxious gases they emit.

Dangerous Gases

Manure being processed in the pit goes through anaerobic digestive fermentation to become usable fertilizer. However, during this process, it starts to release and accumulate numerous toxic gases.

• Methane – An odorless and flammable gas. The danger begins in concentrations of 15 to 30%. In this level of concentration, methane can displace oxygen. Personnel working in the manure pit may not even realize that they are being suffocated before it’s too late.
• Hydrogen Sulfide – This gas has a characteristic “rotten egg” odor which can alert farm hands of danger, but this usually happens in low concentrations. High concentrations can lead to their sense of smell becoming paralyzed. This gas is also heavier than air, often settling around the bottom of the pit. Anyone working low on the manure pit may become suffocated.
• Carbon Dioxide – While it’s a common gas in our atmosphere, high concentrations can also cause suffocation, leading to a distinct “cherry red” appearance in people who have been exposed to too much of it. It can lead to drowsiness, headaches, and nausea.
• Ammonia – The sharp odor of ammonia will make it familiar to anyone who has done cleaning around the home. But the concentrated ammonia levels in a manure pit can lead to eye and nose irritation and may damage the lungs.

Not only are all these gases dangerous upon human inhalation, but in a confined space, the combination of gases can become explosive. Therefore, beyond just ensuring that all farm personnel working in and around the pit are wearing protective respiratory equipment, it’s also crucial to ensure that no flammable or incendiary items are anywhere near the pit to prevent an explosion.

KC Supply supports ensuring the safety and protection of all workers in the farming industry. Contact us today to learn about our full range of safety equipment and gear.