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Why Your Warehouse Management Needs to Embrace the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been described for years as an emerging technology, so when will using it become universally accepted? Nobody will hoist a banner announcing the official victory for the IoT. You wouldn’t delay purchasing a piece of automation equipment like warehouse tugs, so why wait to add innovative technology?

The technology and devices of the IoT are already here. Warehouses should go ahead and embrace it.

Benefits of Warehouse IoT

David Akka recently detailed for Magic Software why warehouse IoT should be embraced just like other recent technology such as mobile apps. Customer-facing apps serve the dual purpose of benefiting the user experience and increasing sales through engagement. Similarly, the IoT has benefits for customers and warehouse management:

Capitalize on Big Data analytics
Smart barcodes for shipping and receiving
Plan for “burst capacity” and short-term extra storage
Enable warehousing as a service for third parties
Propagate changes to sales, customer data, shipping statuses, etc.

Embracing New Technology in the Warehouse

Sometimes waiting to implement new technology can be wise, especially if your customers or clients are unfamiliar with it. However, people already use the IoT at home and work. Shift to IoT integration, and your warehouse staff and customers will be quick to leverage it for a better experience.

Ultimately, the IoT represents just another important step in the warehouse automation trend. Automated equipment like warehouse tugs for your staff and smart technology of the IoT for your devices can drastically reduce costs and stay ahead of the game.

Find out more about warehouse tugs and other warehouse materials handling equipment from DJ Products.

IoT Connectivity is Revolutionizing the Modern Warehouse

Sophisticated technology has made it possible for you to control you home thermostat via your smart phone and order groceries through your refrigerator, but what does that mean for your business? Here’s how the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing warehouse operations and why you need to be prepared.

Creating “Smart” Warehouses

As technology continues its rapid advancement, the international market for warehouse management IoT devices is projected to reach an astounding $19 billion by the year 2025. Ian Jindal, editor-in-chief of InternetRetailing, predicts a seismic shift in “how companies handle and distribute orders.”

The most significant impact will likely occur in supply chain visibility. Accurate tracking of a product from origin to consumer has always been a priority, and devices such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags will allow a specific picture of a product’s real-time progress through the system.

Planning for the Future

So what steps should you take to begin preparing your warehouse for the IoT revolution?

Evaluate your current warehouse management system (WMS). If it’s been implemented relatively recently, it may be IoT-ready. If not, consider the net savings from upgrading your system compared to keeping a soon-to-be outdated one.
Start incorporating peripheral IoT devices, such as a system to control ambient features like temperature and lighting.

Modernize Labor with Warehouse Tugs from DJ Products

Take an immediate step to improve workplace safety with electric warehouse tugs like our CartCaddy5WP, which lets a single employee of any size or gender efficiently move loads of up to 10,000 pounds. Use our convenient online chat feature to learn more from our experienced sales engineers.

Garbage and Dumpster Safety – It’s Your Job!

Do you leave trash room and dumpster safety to your garbage removal service? It’s up to you to maintain a safe environment for everyone, whether they work for you or an outside company.

Be Proactive About Garbage and Dumpster Safety

Here are four tips to create a safe workplace that allows for efficient trash disposal.

1. Keep Dumpsters and Other Receptacles Free and Clear

If people have to run an obstacle course to get to the trash receptacles, the chances of injury are high. Make sure both indoor and outdoor containers are easily accessible.

2. Don’t Overfill Trash Receptacles

Overflowing dumpsters present an attractive home for mice, squirrels and other pests. If your trash containers fill up too quickly, consider adding more receptacles or getting larger ones.

3. Break Down Large Items

Boxes should never be tossed into a dumpster without being broken down or flattened first. Any large items such as furniture or equipment should also be broken down as much as possible or set aside for immediate pickup.

4. Maintain the Pavement

Can your garbage area support the regular stress and strain of a heavy trash removal truck? Damaged pavement can quickly become a safety risk. Make sure any cracks and holes are repaired promptly.

Maximize Safety with a Dumpster Puller from DJ Products

Many costly workplace injuries are due to overexertion as a result of pushing and pulling heavy objects such as loaded dumpsters. Visit our website to find out why clients consider a dumpster puller like our popular WasteCaddyLite to be “like having another employee on staff.”

Tips for Safe Trash Removal in the Workplace

Working in the trash room may not sound like hazardous duty, but did you know the average cost of a claim for an injury incurred there is more than $40,000? Most of these injuries are caused by excessive twisting, pushing and pulling of heavy loads.

Control expenses and reduce risk of injury with these valuable tips for safe trash removal.

Best Practices for Trash Room Safety

Always test the weight of a load before actually lifting it. Ask for help if necessary.
Multitasking may save time with some jobs, but not in the trash room. Never try to hold the dumpster lid open while tossing trash inside. Open the lid first, then use both hands to deposit trash.
Lifting above the shoulders puts undue strain on the upper body and torso. Empty garbage cans by placing them on their side and sliding the trash bag out.
Wear gloves to prevent injury from dangerous materials inside trash bags and dumpsters. Provide separate containers for glass and other sharp objects.
Don’t let trash pile up. Empty garbage cans regularly. If you find that the loads are frequently too heavy for one person to handle, consider changing to smaller cans and bags.

Dumpster Mover from DJ Products: “Like Having Another Employee on Staff”

Maximize your workforce with a one-time investment in our battery-powered WasteCaddyLite. Our clients find that use of a dumpster mover makes trash removal a one-person job, freeing up the other employee to work on other tasks.

Visit our website and use the convenient online chat feature to consult our sales engineers on the best dumpster mover for your business.

Manual Handling Injury Prevention with WasteCaddy Products

Preventing worker injuries is more than just the right thing to do. As one of our clients described to us, temporary staff replacements for injured regulars are “more expensive, and worse, they are really inefficient because they are not familiar” with the job’s demands. This client was a property manager who also said that staff injuries directly led to dissatisfied tenants.

Whatever industry you’re in, you can protect human resources and property by using WasteCaddy products to prevent injuries from manual tasks like pushing dumpsters.

From Small Trash Container Movers to Large Dumpster Towing

WasteCaddy products simply use a battery-powered motor to push or pull heavy loads at up to 3 mph. Even on ice or inclines, the employee keeps firm and precise control over the direction and speed.

These are powerful little haulers — even the WasteCaddyLite can haul dumpsters weighing up to 10,000 pounds, and we have larger options as well.

Our dumpster pushers prevent injuries in multiple ways. Primarily, the automation takes away thousands of pounds of stress and exertion. Ergonomics run down to the small details as well, such as the comfortable steering grip design.

OSHA’s ergonomics guidance recommends reducing excessive push-pull forces and designing material-handling equipment so it is easier to move. WasteCaddy can be the central component of reducing injuries among your workers such as lower back strains, rotator cuff injuries, tendonitis, and other musculoskeletal disorders.

If you have employees moving dumpsters by brute force, you are at elevated risk of worker’s comp claims. Talk to the ergonomics experts at DJ Products for help choosing automated equipment.

Grocery Stores May Lower Injury Claims with Proper Dumpster Protocols

Often, the grocery and retail industries focus on preventing injuries related to repetitive tasks and lifting boxes in the warehouse. After taking steps to improve worker safety and ergonomics, grocery stores see fewer claims for worker’s compensation and fewer injuries in general. For another area where you can reduce injury claims, you should also consider new protocols for how workers use dumpsters and waste containers.

Moving dumpsters manually (i.e., pushing a wheeled dumpster without the aid of a motorized dumpster puller) presents numerous risk factors for employee injuries:

• Heavy force

• Pushing to get started from a standstill

• Shoulder and back stress

• Awkward postures

• Unnatural motions

Factors such as a worker’s height relative to the dumpster, or whether a waste container must be pushed across gravel or inclines, can all add up to create a very dangerous situation for grocery store employees who move or operate dumpsters.

Our dumpster puller equipment such as the WasteCaddyLite remove the physical stress of pushing and maneuvering dumpsters. With the push of a button, the worker can move and control the container easily without the risk factors for musculoskeletal injury such as overexertion from breaking the inertia of a heavy dumpster.

Improved dumpster protocols should also include employee training, starting with OSHA guidelines for grocery stores. Dumpster areas should be kept clean to reduce slips and falls. All workers should know the proper motions for lifting heavy items.

Never neglect waste collection and dumpster moving protocols when trying to improve worker safety at your grocery store. Use a dumpster puller from DJ Products to keep everybody healthy while also keeping the workplace safe and productive!

North Dakota Offers Safety Grants – Could You Buy a Dumpster Mover?

As healthcare costs continue to spiral, companies are focusing on preventive measures to help reduce injuries and illnesses. In many cases, government agencies are offering financial incentives as encouragement for employers to implement workplace safety measures.

Promoting Ergonomic Safety in the Workplace

North Dakota administers an ergonomic initiative through the state’s Workplace and Safety (WSI) agency. The goal is to reduce the number of cumulative trauma injuries, which make up 35 percent of claims that were reported in North Dakota over the last five years.

One part of the initiative provides for a safety grant to be issued to qualified employers who participate in the program.

• The process begins when an employer submits an application.

• Once the application is approved, the employer selects a provider from the WSI network to perform an on-site assessment to identify problems, make recommendations and conduct training.

• If any equipment is recommended during the assessment, the employer completes the second part of the application requesting a safety grant.

• Upon approval of the application and completion of signed agreements between both parties, the employer purchases the equipment and submits the paid invoice for reimbursement.

Could You Use Your Safety Grant to Purchase a Dumpster Mover?

Many workplace injuries happen when moving heavy dumpsters by hand. One of our clients explains that a dumpster mover from DJ Products allows this task to be completed by a single person, so it’s like “having another employee on staff.”

Don’t let workplace injuries compromise employee productivity. Visit our website and let our friendly sales engineers help you find the right solution from our comprehensive selection of battery-powered movers and tugs.

Moving Dumpsters Manually Is Risky

Dumpsters are a perfect storm for employee injuries. The heavy weight and awkward size make them dangerous to push or pull manually without the aid of motorized equipment. The unnecessary risks include falls, slips, run-over feet, and collisions with cars or buildings.

More commonly, however, employees suffer musculoskeletal disorders from pushing or pulling dumpsters. These include muscle tears and strains, torn tendons, slipped discs, and other injuries to the neck, arms, back, and legs.

Why Workers Get Injured from Moving Dumpsters Manually

As Canada’s Ministry of Labour describes, moving a dumpster risks injury because it requires repetitive tasks and high force while promoting awkward postures.

Repetitive stress injuries: Workers can develop conditions due to repeated, stressful actions without proper mechanics or sufficient rest time.

Overexertion: Loaded dumpsters can weigh up to 10,000 pounds. No one can safely handle that weight 100% of the time.

Mechanics and posture: The body is forced into high-stress labor at awkward positions when rolling a dumpster — especially over gravel, sleet, inclines, or other uneven surfaces.

What is the Employer’s Responsibility for Waste Handling Safety?

The U.S. and Canada each have federal and state-level guidelines for employer responsibility. In all cases, the employer must take action to prevent injuries and educate workers on how to use equipment safely.

To be safe, provide workers with battery-powered dumpster movers and train them on proper technique for lifting, pushing, and pulling heavy loads. These steps also protect the business from lost days and injury claims.

Take injury risk out of the equation as much as possible. Motorized dumpster movers from DJ Products mitigate the risk of debilitating musculoskeletal disorders and avoid the dangers of manual dumpster moving. Call a sales engineer today at 1-800-686-2651, or feel free to Contact Us through our website.

Why You Need to Monitor Dumpster Enclosures

Everyone has seen a small bag of garbage or a piece of trash sitting right next to a dumpster, and you have probably thought, “Why couldn’t they have just put it into the dumpster?”

People shy away from using dumpsters with dirty lids, broken handles, or a general mess around them. All the hand sanitizer in the world could not make them want to operate a filthy dumpster enclosure.

Monitoring dumpster enclosures keeps your property clean, your tenants safe, and your brand’s image looking good.

As Universal Site Services points out, there are many reasons to monitor your dumpster enclosures:

Residents do more to keep the property clean when dumpster areas are clean and neat.

Prospective tenants will be turned off by unsightly common areas.

Local laws may impose fines for improper waste disposal.

Employees should have a safe and clean working environment.

How to Keep Dumpster Areas Clean

Make sure to provide the appropriate types of dumpsters for waste and recyclables, in enough locations that people will actually use them. A staff member should clean handles and lids at least weekly.

You also need a solution for moving and emptying dumpsters efficiently. Our battery-powered dumpster tugs let you move containers to different locations around the property. For special events like pool parties, a worker can relocate dumpsters nearby. It also makes operations easier when it’s time to move dumpsters to a pickup location.

Empower any employee to safely and quickly move dumpsters to strategic locations and transport them to dropoff sites with motorized dumpster tugs from DJ Products. Contact us for help selecting the right equipment for your property!

Dumpster Cleanliness Tips for Apartment Managers

There’s a lot riding on the appearance and reputation of your property. Apartment managers have to be careful about keeping dumpster areas clean in order to keep tenants happy and maintain curb appeal. At the same time, messy dumpsters create a health and injury risk for everyone.

Overfilled dumpsters also present an environmental risk. If your apartments are advertised as a green business, you especially don’t want stray garbage becoming a water pollutant. The Keep It Clean Partnership notes that litter and liquids from dumpster areas can contaminate stormwater. If the trash gets into a storm drainage system, filth and dangerous chemicals wind up in local creeks and rivers.

So, what can apartment managers do to keep dumpsters clean?

Locate dumpsters where employees and tenants can easily use them

Keep the outside of the dumpsters clean so people will get their trash in the dumpster, not on the ground nearby

Use dumpster tugs for a solution to safely transport dumpsters from collection areas to pickup areas

Frequently clean up spills and refuse that are left behind

Dumpster Tugs: Put Garbage Where It Belongs

Material handling equipment helps employees take care of difficult, strenuous tasks like pushing or pulling heavy equipment like dumpsters. What if one employee could safely move the dumpster bins from the collection area out to the curb, without the physical risk of doing it manually?

Dumpster tugs protect workers from injuries and make garbage collection a more tidy and efficient process. Contact DJ Products for more information about a variety of dumpster tugs, ranging from trash container movers to heavy-duty towing equipment.