A few weeks ago, we analyzed the reasons it’s sometimes impractical for some facilities to install HVAC. Yet, productivity studies spell out the reasons why cooler work environments reduce errors and increase productivity. If your facility already has air conditioning, why would you need to add HVLS fans?

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Conveyors that are designed, tested and installed the right way are safe. They don’t cause a disproportionate amount of injuries and reduce ergonomic strains that can cause longer-term musculoskeletal injuries. Like any other machinery, however, conveyors come with hazards. A conveyor can be dangerous if people are allowed to touch certain moving parts. It’s best to always cover and guard those components.

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Where there are people, forklifts and heavy pallets, there is always the potential for damage. You can walk through just about any warehouse and see dented rack frames, crushed wall sections, damaged pallets and other telltale signs of facility wear and tear. This is why walking around is a great warehouse management technique, but there is more you can do.

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Pallet flow racks are the ultimate in high-density, space-saving storage. When you need to concentrate storage of similar SKUs into a tight space, flow systems are ideal. A single SKU can be loaded into the back of the system and stored multiple pallets deep in a pick position, first-in, first-out order. Like any gravity flow equipment, there is a possibility of jams, and those jams can sometimes be in the center of a packed rack system — and difficult to reach. What are some safe methods to deal with this problem?

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One of our core values at Cisco-Eagle is our commitment to our communities. This year, each of our offices chose a volunteer activity to participate in and took time during the workday to help those in need in our hometowns. Volunteerism and community service are built into our strategic plan, and our employee-owners are encouraged to take paid time off for community service.

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If you run a warehouse, you’re keenly aware of how hot and uncomfortable it can get on a scorching July afternoon—and you also know how much that affects your work force, their comfort, their error rates and their ability to get things done. Installing air conditioning may not be feasible for every industrial facility, but there are alternatives.

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Conveyors are essential for manufacturing operations, but in some areas where they are exposed to dust, airborne debris, moisture or chemicals, there may be issues with their mechanical components. These environmental factors impact performance, equipment lifespan, maintenance burdens and safety, but can be dealt with if the conveyor is properly designed, used and maintained. Let’s dive into these issues.

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We’re pleased to announce Cisco-Eagle has partnered with Big Ass Fans, makers of the world’s leading HVLS (high-volume, low-speed) fans, innovative direct fans and LED lighting systems.

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Anyone who works in a production facility or distribution center knows how loud these places are. The sound of forklifts, the constant whirr of conveyors, the thrum of generators, and the steady beat of all things mechanized can be overwhelming. There are also specific, distracting noise producers, such as small engines, stampers, and generators. Over time, people adapt to this environment, “tuning out” noise as much as possible.

Research from the National Institutes of Health is clear: sound affects productivity. It’s also unsafe on a number of levels for industrial workers.

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Jeremy Beckett has been named Cisco-Eagle’s ESOP Employee-Owner of the Year for 2018-2019, an annual award presented by Cisco-Eagle’s ESOP (employee ownership) Advisory Committee. The employee-owner of the year award is awarded by a committee of peers, based on nominations from all Cisco-Eagle employee-owners. This is a critical part of the award — employees award it, not management.

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