It’s no secret that your technology company depends on the capabilities of your computer systems to function. You should be aware that simple actions your employees take could be putting your company’s equipment and networks at risk of cyber crime, including cyber attacks, cyber theft and other computer security incidents. The average cost of a single cyber attack is incalculable—cyber attacks can directly target finances and ruin a business’ reputation. Your business is at stake, and you should do everything you can to protect yourself. The Risks of Web Searches As an employer, you should educate your employees about searching for certain topics on the internet due to the risk of coming across websites encrypted with viruses or malware that could be detrimental to your computer systems. Stress that the potential for cybercrime could affect employees individually as well as the business as a whole. More than 90 percent of companies surveyed by the DOJ incurred ... [...]

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According to the American Staffing Association, there are roughly 17 million temporary and contract workers in the United States. With temporary workers making up a large portion of the workforce, it’s imperative that their health and safety be made a priority. It is the joint-responsibility of staffing agencies and host employers to provide the proper safety training and working conditions for temporary employees. The Importance of Temporary Worker Safety Temporary workers are often utilized for hazardous jobs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has found that temporary workers are at a greater risk of workplace illness and injury than permanent employees. A number of factors contribute to this higher rate of injuries and illnesses among temporary workers, including: Insufficient training for the hazards of the job Quick turnover among temporary workers Decreased access to safety equipment Inferi ... [...]

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Pallets are used in a variety of industries and promote the transportation and storage of goods and products. However, when they are not in use (idle), pallets can create a significant fire hazard, particularly if they are stored incorrectly. Not only are most pallets made of combustible materials like wood or plastic, but they can also render a sprinkler system ineffective if they are stacked too high. This is because, in the event of a fire, more water is needed to reach pallets at the bottom of the stack. Furthermore, stacked wood pallets can act as a chimney or flue that promotes the rapid spread of fire. To help businesses manage fire risks associated with idle pallets, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has specific guidance related to idle pallet storage— NFPA 1: Fire Code and NFPA 13: Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. This Risk Insights provides a general overview of these requirements, helping organizations to mitigate ... [...]

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Advancing technology and environmental pressures are likely to significantly increase demand for solar panel installations in Pennsylvania in the coming decade. Although our state doesn’t rank in the top league for sunshine in the US, we have ambitious solar targets to eventually reach at least 10% penetration of Pennsylvania's energy generation. Longer term, its full potential could be as high as nearly one third of all the state's energy requirements.  Earlier this year, Pittsburgh's City Paper, reported that growth in solar industry jobs here is now outpacing other energy industries. In fact, while solar industry jobs nationwide fell by 3.2% last year, Pennsylvania's take-up jumped 10%. This has resulted in a shortage of skilled labor, which turns out to be just one of the major business risks now being faced by the industry in our state. But it's far from the only risk. How to Identify and Avoid Solar Panel Installation Risks Traditionally, installing s ... [...]

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You're about to embark on a major new construction project. If you're a wise and experienced professional -- contractor, architect or engineer, say -- your first thought likely might be: What could go wrong? That's a sound starting point. Research a couple of years ago* showed that 75% of construction industry participants had suffered a claim or dispute arising from their role in a project in the prior five years. In other words, you're lucky if you can manage to escape those disputes, which cover a whole range of endgames -- from rectifying minor issues to facing years-long legal actions. However, there are several key steps that can strongly mitigate those risks and keep you in the complaints-free 25% zone. What Causes Construction Defects? There are, of course, countless sources of defect complaints but nearly all of them fall into one or more of four categories -- defects in: Design, usually the result of errors, incomplete information, incompetence or negli ... [...]

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The violence that occurs in U.S. neighborhoods and communities has found its way inside the schoolhouse doors. While we can take solace in knowing that schools are among the safest places for young people, school officials, administrators and teachers must do more to prevent violence, as it is a preventable danger to children. Education and training is the first step in preventing school violence, and a safe school plan is among the many solutions that will assist in curbing this national epidemic. These plans address behavioral and property protection, and foster an environment where children can learn and teachers can educate without fear. As with all violence prevention initiatives, the best plans involve the entire school and the community at large. Early Warning Signs of Violence There are many early warning signs in most cases of violence, behavioral or emotional signs that, when taken in context, can signal a troubled child. Such signs may not indicate a serious problem or ... [...]

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According to a report by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Education and Labor, a staggering 69 percent of all workplace injuries and illnesses may not be represented in the Bureau of Labor and Statistics Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, which many trust as a gauge of the safety of American workplaces. On a corporate level, not reporting or under-reporting workplace injuries can have serious ramifications for the organization and the employer, which can include fines, exorbitant and unnecessary, health costs and more. Research has found that the employer’s behavior, policies and attitude are key determinants in a worker’s decision to report an injury. Not only is it essential that employees are educated on the importance of reporting injuries, it is also important to examine your company policies so you are not inadvertently discouraging reporting. The consequences of under-reporting can be severe. Consequences of Under-reporting The ... [...]

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Turnover of industrial and commercial property is a fact of life. And not always because of lease expiry. Owners and investors may not like it, if it continues for too long. Yet it also gives them an opportunity to re-evaluate strategy, review rents, remodel, re-purpose, or even sell. But making the most of opportunity also calls for safeguarding what you already have. Protecting your vacant commercial property means not only protecting your investment but also, potentially, saving money and the hassle that comes with damage, leakage, pollution, neglect and other perils that empty buildings face. Every year, tens of thousands of vacant buildings in the US are damaged or destroyed by fire, defaced and damaged by vandals and other intruders, seriously affected by water leakage, and targeted by opportunist thieves. Even garbage dumpers have been known to drop all manner of trash on vacant sites, from mattresses to concrete and other building waste. Yet, a few smart precautions, ... [...]

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Can saving lives or avoiding injury be reconciled with saving time and money -- more commonly seen as a route to cutting corners -- on construction sites? Yes, of course. Because following correct safety procedures to protect yourself and others avoids stoppages and the associated costs. Even though there has been a steady decline in fatalities and injuries over the past couple of decades, there is still huge scope for improvement in safety in the construction industry. In particular, electrical safety on work-sites is a key target for improvement The construction industry still accounts for more than half of all fatal electrical injuries and a loss of an average of 10 days per non-fatally injured person (of whom there are more than 2,200 every year in the US). Construction site ground-fault protection provides a powerful safety case in point. Every year, one out of every 40 workplace fatalities is caused by exposure to electric current,* but that number would likely be s ... [...]

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Don’t miss an important meeting or family gathering, and don’t be that person who makes everyone else wait in line. Real IDs are set to become a new requirement in the security process for flying in the United States, and if you don’t take the necessary steps to prepare for the changes, you won’t be going anywhere. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, all travelers 18 years of age and older will be required to have a Real ID-compliant driver’s license, or another acceptable form of identification, to fly in the United States. Minors do not need Real ID-compliant identification as long as they are accompanied by a compliant adult.  The Real ID Act was originally passed by Congress in 2005 following a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission that the federal government increase standards and security for identification. The legislation established new regulations for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and instructs federal agencies not to accept ... [...]

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