After theft and fire, office floods are probably the one thing you really don't want to happen to your business but unfortunately with global warming and rising sea levels this is something every business owner faces, whether they like it or not.
Us mere humans can't stop the awesome power of Mother Nature so thinking we can truly hold a flood back is rather like Canute attempting to turn back the sea, however there a few common sense precautions we can take to help protect staff, vital equipment and documents in the event of the office flooding, especially flash flooding - one of the most dangerous deluges.
Here are some suggestions:
Check the Environment Agency's Flood map and determine what risk of flooding your office or business property sits in. Keep a regular eye on weather reports, more so if there is torrential rain happening (or you know its coming). Don't forget flash floods can travel many miles so be aware it does not have to be raining outside to suddenly floor your office.
Off site data back up - it is all very well having all your pc's, laptops and servers backed up but if its under 6 foot of water there probably isn't much you can do so MAKE CERTAIN you have an offsite capability - so either back up remotely OR back up locally and remove the back up yourself to a secure location. Don't wait till the day your office starts to flood to do this - the power will likely go out and without a generator you will not be able to do anything. Yes you can move your computers and servers to a higher floor but Flash Floods can happen in literally minutes not hours so don't count on this tactic as one to save your business data.
Ensure your business insurance covers flood damage, if your office is in an area, that has in the past, been subject to flash floods might find you with a lack of cover proving costly.
Water can travel very quickly across large expanses of concrete or tarmac areas - don't forget to move your cars out of the office car park to higher ground if possible. However if the flood is rising dramatically then don't endanger yourself or your staffs lives by rushing out to move cars, a sudden wall of water can forcefully shunt cars causing more destruction, injury or even death so take to higher ground or a higher floor out of the way.
Talking of staff - have a staff evacuation and/or disaster plan so you know what to do and where to head in the event of a flash flood or just about any emergency. This plan will be useful to reference in the event you need to make some fast decisions in extreme circumstances. If staff cannot be evacuated due to rising water then ensure EVERYONE moves to higher ground or floor - flash floods are not the time to be a hero - it is difficult for most humans to swim in currents of more than 3 knots, flash floods will be moving way beyond this speed.
Note in the video above the time it takes from 1:14 for the internal area to flood - also note the floor buckling beneath as the flood from underneath pushes up against it.
It might be prudent to store away blankets, torches and a wind up or battery powered radio as a minimum - just in case you are trapped overnight. If you hear of outside activity - possibly coastguards or rescue workers in boats or helicopters it may be worthwhile attempting to attract attention and await rescue.
If you do find yourself outside be very wary of water above your knees - you can stumble into drains effectively trapping you so be aware.
Remember if you are in a position of authority (either as a manager or business owner) your staff will look to you for leadership so remaining composed and keeping a cool head will keep everyone calm. Hysteria quickly spreads and can lead to bad decisions so authoritively advise staff of your plans BEFORE and during a flash flood - if you are unsure about any situation then a good leader will ask for team input and weigh up the potential consequences before making a decision.
Do not turn on any electrical items until the flood water recedes and the authorities give the all clear - if you have had no all clear then leave the area when safe to do so.
Once the flood has receded it would be wise to contact your insurance company and also start to look for quotes from Flood Clean-up companies who can help clean and salvage your property, getting you back to business as quickly as possible.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Why Professional Cleaning Costs YOU Less than you think
Most people would beg to differ with the above statement but with the years of experience we totally believe it.
We know that employers who try to clean their offices using a freelance single cleaner in our opinion is a recipe for disaster!
Using just one cleaner has the benefit of costing you less and having less admin so may be rather appealing but time and time again we get approached to take over the office cleaning because when the cleaner goes on holiday, is off sick or decides they no longer want to clean (which is quite common in our opinion) - who is left to hoover, clean, wash and polish the office?
Ultimately without anyone properly cleaning a downward spiral sets in, staff think someone else will clean up after them, the toilets end up in quite frankly an awful state (even worse if it is a hot summer!), the sight of grime and grubby dirty carpets lowers staff morale, the office ends up looking REALLY cluttered, you can never find a clean cup in the kitchen and the waste baskets are overflowing.
All in all not a pretty sight and one that believe it or not is costing you money in lost productivity.
So lets review this situation properly.
Check out some local office cleaners - ensure they are members of BICS.
Call the cleaning company for a quote - in fact call them to come visit you at your offices to discuss what will be done (and what won't).
Make sure you meet either the owner of the cleaning company or a manager - yes they will visit to promote their cleaning services to you but most will be there to help and advise you rather than hard sell their way in.
Make sure you ask for references - it pays to find out what their customers think of the cleaning they receive
Ask if any discounts - sometimes there is the possibility - though it depends on the size and type of cleaning you need!
Find out what happens in the event you are not happy - there should a be a 100% Cleaning Satisfaction Guarantee in place (with no quibbling either)
In the event the cleaner provided is suddenly off sick or disppears on holiday what steps are taken to ensure consistent cleaning is provided?
Ask, in fact DEMAND that all cleaners are vetted, insured and trained. Nothing worse than having office property broken to find out the cleaner you took on is not insured and is not in a financial position to pay for the repair or replacement due to damages.
What specialist cleaning skills, if any, are the company able to provide? You might not need them for now but its useful to know just in case you suffered from a flood or fire.
Does the company maintains best practise at all times when cleaning - what evidence is there to support this?
What training do the contract cleaners receive? How up to date are they with Health and Safety and other regulations?
How long is the contract for? What clauses and exemptions are there - check carefully to make sure you are getting a quality cleaning service.
Is the cleaning company driven by maintaining business relationships or is it only after a quick profit? (Note Clockwork Cleaning are highly driven by building and maintaining excellent business relationships on a long term basis)
You'll have to figure this one out but asking questions and listening for positive responses will help. Ultimately you'll want to hear that someone is always available to get in touch with, that cleaners and the level of cleaning is regularly audited, that they listen carefully to customers requirments and remain in touch to ensure a positive cleaning service is provided.
The benefits of professional cleaning remain clear: Better cleaning and higher standards long after the price has been forgotten....
We know that employers who try to clean their offices using a freelance single cleaner in our opinion is a recipe for disaster!
Using just one cleaner has the benefit of costing you less and having less admin so may be rather appealing but time and time again we get approached to take over the office cleaning because when the cleaner goes on holiday, is off sick or decides they no longer want to clean (which is quite common in our opinion) - who is left to hoover, clean, wash and polish the office?
Ultimately without anyone properly cleaning a downward spiral sets in, staff think someone else will clean up after them, the toilets end up in quite frankly an awful state (even worse if it is a hot summer!), the sight of grime and grubby dirty carpets lowers staff morale, the office ends up looking REALLY cluttered, you can never find a clean cup in the kitchen and the waste baskets are overflowing.
All in all not a pretty sight and one that believe it or not is costing you money in lost productivity.
So lets review this situation properly.
Check out some local office cleaners - ensure they are members of BICS.
Call the cleaning company for a quote - in fact call them to come visit you at your offices to discuss what will be done (and what won't).
Make sure you meet either the owner of the cleaning company or a manager - yes they will visit to promote their cleaning services to you but most will be there to help and advise you rather than hard sell their way in.
Make sure you ask for references - it pays to find out what their customers think of the cleaning they receive
Ask if any discounts - sometimes there is the possibility - though it depends on the size and type of cleaning you need!
Find out what happens in the event you are not happy - there should a be a 100% Cleaning Satisfaction Guarantee in place (with no quibbling either)
In the event the cleaner provided is suddenly off sick or disppears on holiday what steps are taken to ensure consistent cleaning is provided?
Ask, in fact DEMAND that all cleaners are vetted, insured and trained. Nothing worse than having office property broken to find out the cleaner you took on is not insured and is not in a financial position to pay for the repair or replacement due to damages.
What specialist cleaning skills, if any, are the company able to provide? You might not need them for now but its useful to know just in case you suffered from a flood or fire.
Does the company maintains best practise at all times when cleaning - what evidence is there to support this?
What training do the contract cleaners receive? How up to date are they with Health and Safety and other regulations?
How long is the contract for? What clauses and exemptions are there - check carefully to make sure you are getting a quality cleaning service.
Is the cleaning company driven by maintaining business relationships or is it only after a quick profit? (Note Clockwork Cleaning are highly driven by building and maintaining excellent business relationships on a long term basis)
You'll have to figure this one out but asking questions and listening for positive responses will help. Ultimately you'll want to hear that someone is always available to get in touch with, that cleaners and the level of cleaning is regularly audited, that they listen carefully to customers requirments and remain in touch to ensure a positive cleaning service is provided.
The benefits of professional cleaning remain clear: Better cleaning and higher standards long after the price has been forgotten....
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