Yard Trucks Archives - Page 5 of 5

DoD Service Contract Program Change is on a Slow Track

In January 2016, the Department of Defense instituted a policy aimed at streamlining their services contracting with better oversight and control. While the new policy is expected to make the process more cohesive, it may take another dozen years before coming to full fruition.

“A 15-Year Effort”

More than half of the Department’s procurement budget is allocated to services, with the remainder for purchases such as contract equipment. According to Ken Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition, the goal is for contracts to become part of “the general culture and policy” rather than standalones.

In Brennan’s view, the new policy is “a 15-year effort” that is already about three years along. Brennan adds that is making significant progress, and he anticipates potential for guidance soon in the areas of small businesses and administrative services.

Functional Domain Experts

One major change involves the creation of functional domain experts, or FDEs, to lead each of the individual service sectors. Claire Grady, director of defense procurement and acquisition strategy, explains that this lets people with particular expertise create strategies to improve planning and execution while reducing costs.

FDEs will also implement metrics to monitor contract performance, determine best practices and recommend policies. Grady says will be paying close attention to the metrics established by these new domain leaders.

Military and Material Handling Solutions

DJ Products offers quality options for contract equipment. Our battery-powered tugs and movers handle applications like maneuvering aircraft in and out of hangars and pulling heavy engines and parts. Visit our website to have your questions answered online by one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.

Waste Caddy Purchases Increase Due to OSHA’s New Reporting Requirements

Trash Container Mover - Transparent — WasteCaddy Lite, Available from DJ Products

To many businesses, the new OSHA electronic record keeping rules sound like airing dirty laundry. The policies have been a subject of considerable controversy, but ultimately the message is clear: more than ever before, it’s time to step up efforts to prevent workplace injuries.

Leaders of business groups and labor have chimed in with reactions, rounded up by industrial news group EHS Today. Industry execs from ASSE and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce think that OSHA will be exposing confidential data and shifting the focus from preventive efforts. The AFL-CIO and COSH agree that the rules will protect workers and whistle blowers.

Reactions to New OSHA Electronic Record Keeping Rules

The tougher environment definitely has businesses placing greater emphasis on safety practices and ergonomic equipment.

Sales of automated tools like battery-powered waste caddys have risen as property managers and waste haulers seek to reduce the risk of severe injury incidents and long-term health problems.

Waste caddys and dumpster movers address a common cause of worker injury — the manual pushing of dumpsters that weigh thousands of pounds and take several workers to move. One worker can easily move any waste bin with an electric waste caddy.

With worker injury and illness data getting published to the public, businesses face intense scrutiny. Compliance is demanding. The data might dissuade job applicants from companies that appear to be dangerous. Some fear that the OSHA records could be used to justify lawsuits and claims more often.

Waste caddys are a smart investment to promote safety and reduce worker injuries, at any business where dumpsters must be moved. For more info, consider the WasteCaddy dumpster tow and other motorized equipment from DJProducts.com.

Hot Weather Safety Laws May Significantly Impact the Warehouse Industry

In an effort to keep you informed about legislation that impacts warehouse safety and performance, we wanted you to know about new legislation in California that may be embraced by other states. A proposed bill in California could impact the warehouse industry, including companies such as Inland. Supporters state that this bill is necessary in order to provide employees with protection from heat inside warehouses, while opponents claim that the bill could negatively affect growth in the warehousing industry.

Heat Safety Bill

SB 1167, authored by Senator Connie Levya, would require Cal-OSHA to propose health and safety standards to protect warehouse workers from the effects of high indoor temperatures, such as heat-related illnesses and injuries.

No standards are currently in place for indoor workers, although outdoor workers are protected by a bill that became law in 2005. In a report from 2011, 74 out of 101 Inland warehouse workers stated that temperatures inside these buildings reached up to 125 degrees, causing dangerous working conditions.

Those who oppose SB 1167 include John Husing, an economist in the Inland area. Opponents cite costs as the main reason for fighting the bill. This includes concerns over how much it will cost to develop and implement standards and how that cost could inhibit growth in the industry.

Levya states that the proposed measures would not have to include installing climate control systems in all warehouses. Instead, the focus is more likely to be on ensuring that workers have access to cold water at all times and giving workers an area to cool off. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Appropriations Committee.

If you need a cart puller or other industrial tugs to help employees lower strain to stay cool, please visit DJ Products. We offer a wide range of industrial tugs, including motorized and electric cart tug solutions.

How to Hire Only the Very Best Matches for Your Business

People with the right job skills for your warehouse may not already work in a warehouse. They might be office managers, bartenders, auto mechanics, community college students, or something else altogether.

Risk management expert David Leng has tips for sourcing better job applicants:

Ask HR and marketing to work together on job ads

Use an employee referral program

Promote from within as a motivator for everyone

How Do You Know Who to Hire?

Be thorough, track applicants throughout the process, and keep your eyes open:

Loyalty should be valued. Avoid workers who change jobs frequently. Give full consideration to workers with a disability or other hindrance to finding another job — as Leng says, they may actually miss work less and work harder.

Character matters when you need hard workers, self-starters, and team players. Conduct personality tests and other assessments.

Insight from current employees helps hiring managers to understand who will be a good fit for each position.

Get More Out of Existing Employees

The expense of hiring — HR, training, payroll — makes it very attractive to get more out of current employees. You can rely on overtime and even less-skilled temporary workers if you provide the right tools to maintain energy levels, morale, and job performance.

Industrial tugs that remove physical strain can let your best warehouse employees get more done, with fewer injuries and lost work time. It’s more cost-effective to outfit your workers with ergonomic tools like industrial tugs than to add additional employees to an injury-prone job involving manual labor.

For information about cart pushers, platform carts, and other kinds of motorized industrial tugs, visit DJProducts.com.