3 Common Causes of Mold Growth in a Restaurant

10/16/2024 (Permalink)

Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator

3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant

Mold spores are microscopic airborne particles that develop into colonies if they are given the proper conditions. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of a building in Florence, TX. Their role in nature is to decompose rotting objects, and they can cause major damage to the natural construction materials of buildings. Fungus thrives when given the conditions of:

• Warmth
• Humidity
• Nutrients
  
  

In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible. Here are three attractions for mold in a restaurant:

1. Dishwashing Stations
The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold, especially if the pipes or water supply lines leak. Should a leak occur and cause water damage to a wooden cabinet, mold spores will attach themselves and develop into colonies. Areas with constant water usage will also create high humidity levels. To prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system.

2. The Refrigerator
Though the refrigerator has lower levels of humidity, it will not stop mold from growing. Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator. If you have found mold, clean it thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar. Inspect any foods that were close to the area of growth for additional fungus.

3. Fruits and Vegetables
Perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are a common source of nutrients for fungus. Inspect any fruits and vegetables for mold before you purchase them to prevent it from spreading to your restaurant. You can salvage some of these if they have sprouted mold colonies by cutting off the parts that have begun to rot. To prevent food waste, purchase only the amount of fresh foods that you will use throughout the week.
If you have found mold growth in your restaurant, contact a mold remediation service to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.

How to Get Ready for a Storm

7/26/2024 (Permalink)

Collect an emergency kit.

Use The Following Tips To Get Started

As a business owner in Georgetown, TX, you know you can't prepare for every eventuality. There are too many problems that can crop up with your commercial building. However, you can prepare for some worst-case scenarios. With the help of a commercial storm damage repair crew, you can create a storm preparedness plan to help you be ready for the aftermath of bad weather. 

1. Collect an Emergency Kit

Having a first-aid kit on hand during bad weather can give you and your employees peace of mind. Your kit should be full of bandages, blankets and nonperishable foods. Make this kit available even when you're not there to help keep everyone who uses your building safe.

2. Institute an Evacuation Plan

How should people leave the building during a storm? Create an evacuation plan for every situation that may affect your area. During flooding, for example, you may want people to go to higher ground. During a tornado, however, your employees may be better served by finding a structurally sound place inside of the building to hunker down.

3. Write Up a Contact List

You may not always be there when a storm strikes. Your employees need to know who to call if a storm damages your building. Part of good property management is creating a contact list. This can include emergency service numbers, and you may also want to include phone numbers for plumbers, storm damage remediation teams and the like.

4. Make a Backup Plan

Think about what you would do if your building can no longer be occupied. In this part of a storm preparedness plan, you may want to come up with a business continuity plan. This can include having interruption insurance or setting up a temporary office space.

You may never know how a storm is going to affect your building until it is over. You can create a storm preparedness plan to help yourself get ready for the worst-case scenario.

Mold in your Florence Restaurant

4/9/2024 (Permalink)

Dishwasher station leak in Florence Texas restaurant caused this mold damage. SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City cleaned up the mold

Mold has a role in nature.  It is to decompose organic materials.  Mold in your Florence Texas restaurant does not have a role.  Mold can cause major damage to the construction materials in commercial buildings.  While mold spores are everywhere in our environment, they need moisture, warmth, and a food source to thrive.  In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible.  Call SERVPRO® of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City to clean up the mold.

Three common places mold can grow in a restaurant are the dishwashing station, the refrigerator, and under sinks.    

1. Dishwashing Stations
   The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold. Pipes or water supply line leaks are common causes. This area has all the factors mold needs to grow, warmth, moisture, and organic material.  To help prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system.
2. The Refrigerator
   Behind freezers and refrigerators is a location mold can be found. Mold found behind appliances is a by-product of the cooling system. The motor produces the warmth.  Moisture is produced by the condensing unit.  The food source is items that end up underneath and behind the appliance.
3. Under sinks
   Both the kitchen and bathrooms have sinks that are prime locations for mold to grow. High volume of people going in and out of these areas make them even more prone to mold. People track debris into these rooms providing a food source for mold.  Running faucets and flushing toilets contribute to standing water in these areas. 

If you find mold growth in your restaurant, contact SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.

SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City should be your first choice for any residential or commercial water damage.  Our team of professionals is trained to assess the damage, identify potential threats, and respond quickly to restore your property to preloss condition.  SERVPRO of Georgetown, Florence, Sun City is available 24/7 by calling 512-843-5943

Business Survival After a Fire

10/6/2023 (Permalink)

Commercial fire and water damage in Andice, TX.

Business Survival Following a Fire

The fire department has left. The fire is out, but fire, water and smoke damage remain. Now it is time to resurrect the business from the ashes. This is where traditional fire insurance comes into play. It will help with the cost of fire restoration and, in time, the company can resume normal operations. Until then, however, there are still bills to pay. This is where interruption insurance enters the picture.

Financial Impact: Direct

A business that is partially shut down has less revenue. A business completely shut down has none. A shutdown impacts customers and stockholders, but at least they won’t be looking for payments from the business. For the landlord, utility companies and government, it’s a different story. Regardless of the situation, business owners still have to pay the following:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Taxes

In addition, other vendors may also come to collect. An interruption insurance policy can help the business deal with these problems and minimize the financial impact of the fire.

Financial Impact: Indirect

A business interruption can result in several other one-time expenses that don't directly impact revenue but affect profitability. Insurance can help with this as well. For example, if the operation can be temporarily moved to another location, the cost of relocating both ways could be covered. If employees need to be retrained to use new equipment, that could be covered. Even lost profits or some portion of lost revenue could be covered. A good interruption insurance policy can be the difference between a successful recovery and a dismal failure.

The Real Job

With the insurer handling the financial aspects of the fire, the business can focus on fire restoration. It is in everyone’s best interest that this gets done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Therefore, the business needs a qualified and capable restoration expert from Andice, TX, on the job. Soon, the business will be up and running again, better than ever.

A Basic Guide To Treating Burns at the Office

7/27/2023 (Permalink)

Know how to respond if someone gets burned.

How To React If Someone In Your Office Experiences A Burn

When an uncontrolled blaze breaks out, the fire damage that results is a minor concern in comparison with someone being injured. The structural impact of fires in Serenada, TX, may be able to be mended by a team of commercial restoration professionals, whereas a co-worker's life is irreplaceable. 

Major Versus Minor Burns
First, you must determine the severity of the injury to administer the appropriate level of burn first aid. Minor burns are characterized by:

• Blisters
• Redness
• Sizes no larger than 3 inches in diameter
  
  

Major burns feature:

• Dryness
• Leathery qualities
• Brown, black or white discoloration
• Sizes larger than 3 inches in diameter
  
  

Move the patient away from any fire damage to avoid the risk of further injury before making your assessment.

Minor Burn Treatment
Follow these first aid procedures if you determine the burn to be superficial. Remove jewelry before swelling occurs. Run cool water over the affected area or apply a wet compress. After the pain has subsided, apply a burn cream and then wrap the harmed surface with sterile gauze. Do so loosely, making sure there is no tightness and air can flow underneath. Administer an OTC pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil.

Major Burn Treatment
Prepare major burn victims before professional assistance arrives. Check that the individual is still breathing. If not, administer CPR immediately. As with minor burns, accessories should be quickly taken off. Place a clean cloth or a moist bandage over the burned flesh. Elevate the burn zone above heart level and watch for signs of shock. Make note of and write down your observations. Inform those providing medical treatment of everything you've seen.
Fire damage extends beyond charred walls and seared office equipment. In worst-case scenarios, blazes threaten the lives of employees. Know how to respond if someone working by your side ever gets burned.

3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant

4/6/2023 (Permalink)

Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator.

3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant

Mold spores are microscopic airborne particles that develop into colonies if they are given the proper conditions. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of a building in Florence, TX. Their role in nature is to decompose rotting objects, and they can cause major damage to the natural construction materials of buildings. Fungus thrives when given the conditions of:

• Warmth
• Humidity
• Nutrients

In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible. Here are three attractions for mold in a restaurant:

1. Dishwashing Stations
   The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold, especially if the pipes or water supply lines leak. Should a leak occur and cause water damage to a wooden cabinet, moldspores will attach themselves and develop into colonies. Areas with constant water usage will also create high humidity levels. To prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system.
2. The Refrigerator
   Though the refrigerator has lower levels of humidity, it will not stop mold from growing. Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator. If you have found mold, clean it thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar. Inspect any foods that were close to the area of growth for additional fungus.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
   Perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are a common source of nutrients for fungus. Inspect any fruits and vegetables for mold before you purchase them to prevent it from spreading to your restaurant. You can salvage some of these if they have sprouted moldcolonies by cutting off the parts that have begun to rot. To prevent food waste, purchase only the amount of fresh foods that you will use throughout the week.
   If you have found mold growth in your restaurant, contact a mold remediation service to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.

Smoke Damage In Your Building

10/8/2022 (Permalink)

After fire damage

Smoke Damage To Your Building

If you are a property owner in Georgetown who has experienced a fire, you are likely aware that there is more than one type of damage that can result. While it's no secret that fires cause extensive physical damage to your building and its contents, they can also cause less visible but equally destructive smoke damage. This article will explain how smoke damage occurs, why it happens, and how to spot if it has happened on your property.

Smoke Causes Damage

Smoke damage can be a serious issue that you may not be aware of until after the fire has been extinguished. The smoke from a fire can cause damage to your property that isn't apparent until the smoke starts clearing and you begin cleaning up. However, even if there is no visible evidence of fire-related damage, your insurance policy may cover repairs for smoke damage.

In short: Smoke damage doesn't necessarily mean fire-related physical property damages; it could also mean exposure within areas affected by soot accumulation due to excessive heat/smoke levels caused by fires burning nearby which leads us nicely into our next point about what kind

Smoke Damage and Your Insurance

Smoke can cause serious problems for your property, which can lead to costly repairs or replacement of items. In some cases, even if there was no physical damage to an item—for example, if it wasn't charred or melted—it could still have been affected by smoke-related chemicals that would necessitate replacing it anyway.

If a fire breaks out in your building and you have smoke damage as a result, it is important to know that the damage is covered by the same policy that covers fire damage. That's because even though smoke damage may not be visible, the materials are still being damaged.

This type of coverage is referred to as "secondary coverage" because it covers any damages sustained by your home or business that are not directly related to the original cause (the main event) of loss on your claim. As an example of secondary coverage, if someone driving down the street runs into a tree stump and smashes their car's right front fender, they would have collision coverage under their auto policy; however, if they hit a tree stump while backing out of their driveway without hitting anything else along with their car's front bumper falling off from impact with said tree stump—that would fall under secondary coverage since it wasn't caused by another vehicle but rather just something unfortunate happening in their own driveway!

The Basics of Commercial Property Insurance Coverage

7/30/2022 (Permalink)

Talk with your insurance agent if you have questions about your commercial insurance policy

Every business owner knows the importance of property insurance to protect their property against damage from fire and other disasters. Frequently, a commercial insurance package will include protection for various scenarios in addition to property protection, such as general liability insurance and employee practices liability.

Property Insurance Considerations

Your insurance agent considers a number of factors when determining the best property insurance coverage for your business in Georgetown, TX.

Geographic location - If you live in an area with ample fire hydrants and a nearby Fire Department, your cost will usually be lower than if your home is situated in a rural location with limited resources.
Type of business - A restaurant or mechanical shop will typically have higher rates than an office building. Even if your business has a low fire risk, if you share a space with one that has a greater risk, your premiums tend to be higher as well.
Construction type - The type of materials used to construct your building affects your premiums. If your building is made with fire-resistant components, your commercial insurance rates will usually be lower than in buildings made from combustible materials. Your insurance agent looks at internal structures, such as stairways and floors, as well as the construction of the exterior of the building when determining your coverage.

Examples of Property Insurance Protection
The most common commercial property insurance claims involve some sort of damage caused by a fire or natural disaster. However, the typical policy also protects your business from theft and vandalism.
If you need help renovating your business after a devastating fire, don't wait to contact a fire damage repair service. Further damage can occur if you wait too long for help. Professionals are trained to assess the damage and develop a plan to get your business back to normal as soon as possible.
Talk with your insurance agent if you have questions about your commercial insurance policy.

Mold Cleanup Standards in Your Area

5/26/2022 (Permalink)

Mold cleanup in Andice, TX.

How Can You Tell That a Mold Problem Has Been Appropriately Addressed?

The good news is that in Andice, TX, mold clean-up and recovery professionals are held to specific mold standards. These standards have been established by several agencies:

The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, focuses on how mold may affect the environment in your building and on the environment. It also offers insights into who should handle the cleanup efforts.
The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification is the go-to source of training, standards, and certification. In addition to establishing high standards for professionals in the industry, the IICRC also oversees the quality of mold removal and cleanup within the industry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, also provides a lot of helpful information about upholding the standards established by the EPA. It also provides official recommendations pertinent to specific mold growth situations.
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is another source of cleanup standards. This agency covers details about how to cleanup specific types of mold, such as black mold and gives specific information about business and property owner responsibilities.

The IICRC Mold Remediation Standard
It's important that you understand the mold standards that affect your business property. Familiarity with these standards can help you ensure that you have a clean, safe place for people to live or work. Technicians in your area may uphold the IICRC S520 Standard which protects the health of the workers and the people using the building, outlines the use of equipment, governs removal of contaminated materials, and dictates how the original moisture problem is addressed.

Standards and Your Confidence
When professionals adhere to mold standards established by the government and industry leaders, you can be confident that remediation has been carried out appropriately and thoroughly. You can also feel confident in the well-being of your building.

The Benefits of Using the Same Company for Mitigation and Restoration

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

This gym had smoke damage very high up on the walls and ceiling.

The Benefits of Using the Same Company for Mitigation and Restoration

If a fire ravages your commercial building in Florence, TX, you want to make sure that the areas with fire damage are repaired and rebuilt in a timely manner. There are several benefits of using the same team of fire restoration specialists to do all the work.

Saves Time
Hiring one company can save you a significant amount of time in the long run. Any time you have repairs done on your building, there are some steps that are typically a part of the process:

• Contact
  
• Consultation
  
• Assessment
  
• Debriefing
  
  

When one team handles both fire mitigation and restoration, you only have to go through each of these steps one time. This one-stop-shop approach streamlines the overall process, which gets your building back in order more quickly.

Improves Communication About Fire Damage
It's good to have everyone on the same page. No matter how many people are working on the cleanup, they need to know what others have done. It is especially important for them to know any problems other team members have encountered when mitigating damage.
Restoration is easier when it's handled by the same company that completed the mitigation portion of the process. The ones who tear out ruined materials and remove soot and smoke damage from the remaining surfaces report on their work. Then those who are rebuilding your structure can check their own company's records to verify what still needs to happen before they proceed.

Helps Claims Process
Your insurance adjuster needs a lot of information for the evaluation of your claim. After the walkthrough, you can provide pictures and video of the damage as well as confirmation of how much it will cost to replace the items that have been destroyed. Being able to submit one list of expenses from the beginning of cleanup to the final touches of restoration helps to verify your claim.
Both mitigation and restoration are necessary to get rid of fire damage. It makes good sense to hire the same company to do both.

4 Things To Do To Protect a Company From Mold

4/14/2022 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Andice, TX.

How To Protect Your Property From Mold

If you are a business owner or property manager, it is important that you understand how to protect your property in Andice, TX, from harmful mold. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent mold from growing in your building, just as there are ways to streamline any mold insurance claims you might have to file. Here are some tips to help you navigate this tricky situation.

1. Keep Your Property Clean and Dry. Although mold loves moisture, it is unlikely to grow out of control unless your building is extra humid or has experienced a water problem such as a flood or a leaky pipe. A rapid response by professionals to any leaks in your facility is key to preventing mold growth.

2. Talk to Your Insurance Agent. It can be difficult to ascertain what aspects of mold growth an insurance company will cover and how much it will payout for a mold claim. Talk to your agent at least once a year to get an idea of your coverage, and to see what policy options are available. A good understanding of your policy might put your company in a better position to handle a mold outbreak.

3. Talk to Legal Counsel. If you rent or lease properties to tenants, it is a good idea to know about liability issues related to mold. 

4. Take Fast Action With Mold Remediation. A mold mitigation franchise can do several important things for your company. A team of trained technicians can discover the presence of mold as well as its cause. They will work fast to remove the mold, limiting any property damage as well as restoring the air quality in the building.
With the right steps, mold insurance claims can be handled successfully by your company. This is true whether you are dealing with property damage or liability concerns.

What To Do If a Toilet Floods

1/23/2022 (Permalink)

What to do if a toilet overflows?

If a Toilet Overflows, What Should You Do?

A flooded toilet in a commercial property can cause serious sewer damage. As soon as this situation is brought to your attention, a business or property owner should take the following steps to address the problem. If a toilet floods more than one floor, more extensive cleaning and restoration work may be necessary.

1. Contact a plumber or sewage company. It is important to have a skilled plumber fix the source of the leak as soon as possible. A company that provides sewage cleanup and restoration may not be able to fix the cause of the flooding.

2. Hire a service to clean up sewer damage. A commercial damage restoration or sewage service can ensure that the area affected by a sewage leak is cleaned and sanitized in a timely manner to prevent mold or bacteria from proliferating.

3. Obtain a restoration plan. Make sure that the cleanup and restoration service you contact is aware of the extent of the leak. Building materials such as carpet, drywall, or insulation may need to be replaced in order to eliminate all contamination, odors, and staining.

4. Make sure that the work gets finished. You should only restore or replace contents in the part of a commercial property that has been affected by a flooded toilet or sewage leak after the area has been cleaned, sanitized, and dried.

If your commercial property in Florence, TX has sustained sewer damage, you can contact a sewage company that exclusively specializes in this type of damage or a full-service commercial restoration company certified to clean up sewage and restore your property to a functional and safe condition as soon as possible. You may find that the best way to make sure that all of the necessary cleanup and restoration work is performed in a timely manner is to hire the same company for cleanup and restoration.

How To Remove Mold From Air Ducts

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Remove mold from your air ducts.

Removing Mold From Air Ducts

Mold colonies seem to favor HVAC systems. The heating and cooling system in your building, in Serenada, TX, is no different. What is the reason mold growth is such a problem in air ducts? How can you prevent mold from taking root in your AC system? Here are some of the reasons why mold is such a problem in commercial heating and air systems:

• Mold, such as black mold, makes airborne spores that enter the ductwork via the intake system.
  
• Particles get trapped in ducts due to buildup of dust and dirt in the system.
• Particles thrive and become colonies due to the moisture and availability of an organic-based food supply.
  
  

If you smell mold but you haven’t found the source, start checking out the vents. Do you see any specks of discoloration around your vents? Do you smell musty air when you are near vents or when the system is running? If the answer is yes, you may have a mold issue in your ducts.

Clean Your Ventilation System

Cleaning should be done frequently, with some recommendations suggesting every 3-5 years, but may be needed more frequently depending on the situation. For example, if you have had any construction or remodeling, you should have your ducts cleaned. When your system is cleaned, professionals remove dust and debris that serves as food for black mold and other mold colonies. There are two basic steps a professional will take to make sure you have clean ducts:

1. Loosen contaminants. Agitators such as brushes, air tools, and vacuums may be used.

2. Contain contaminants. Negative air pressure is utilized to collect contaminants as well as to prevent them from spreading into your building.

A professional will be thorough, cleaning the entire system, including coils, ducts, motor, drip pans, vents, blower, and more.

Conclusion

Cleaning your air ducts and HVAC system periodically will help prevent the growth of black mold, improve the quality of your indoor air and keep your HVAC system running more efficiently. Rely on professional mold remediators to help ensure proper cleaning and containment of mold for your organization.

Business Survival After a Fire

10/29/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial fire and water damage in Andice, TX.

Business Survival Following a Fire

The fire department has left. The fire is out, but fire, water and smoke damage remain. Now it is time to resurrect the business from the ashes. This is where traditional fire insurance comes into play. It will help with the cost of fire restoration and, in time, the company can resume normal operations. Until then, however, there are still bills to pay. This is where interruption insurance enters the picture.

Financial Impact: Direct

A business that is partially shut down has less revenue. A business completely shut down has none. A shutdown impacts customers and stockholders, but at least they won’t be looking for payments from the business. For the landlord, utility companies and government, it’s a different story. Regardless of the situation, business owners still have to pay the following:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Taxes

In addition, other vendors may also come to collect. An interruption insurance policy can help the business deal with these problems and minimize the financial impact of the fire.

Financial Impact: Indirect

A business interruption can result in several other one-time expenses that don't directly impact revenue but affect profitability. Insurance can help with this as well. For example, if the operation can be temporarily moved to another location, the cost of relocating both ways could be covered. If employees need to be retrained to use new equipment, that could be covered. Even lost profits or some portion of lost revenue could be covered. A good interruption insurance policy can be the difference between a successful recovery and a dismal failure.

The Real Job

With the insurer handling the financial aspects of the fire, the business can focus on fire restoration. It is in everyone’s best interest that this gets done as quickly and efficiently as possible. Therefore, the business needs a qualified and capable restoration expert from Andice, TX, on the job. Soon, the business will be up and running again, better than ever.

Mold Can Suddenly Appear After a Flood on Your Commercial Property

7/19/2021 (Permalink)

Mold infestation in Serenada, TX.

Floodwaters from hurricanes, tropical storms, and too much rain are not the only source of water a property owner may fear in Serenada, TX. Broken pipes can also result in a torrential amount of water flowing through the building and causing a great deal of damage. No matter where the liquid comes from, extensive water damage can bring contaminated floodwater into your building and perhaps even close the property while restorations efforts are underway. With that in mind, it is important to realize that mold is almost always a serious consideration after any flood.

Why Should You Worry About Mold After a Flood?

When flooding water begins soaking into carpeting, walls, and furniture, mold can immediately begin its reproductive cycle. The minuscule mold spores that are scattered around the inside of nearly every building can quickly grow into a mold colony once water is introduced. As a matter of fact, mold growth can occur so quickly that:

• Within 24 hours, mold spores can begin taking root in the wet organic matter.
• Within 48 hours, a colony of thousands of individual mold units can develop.
• Within 72 hours, the mold colonies can be large enough to be seen by the naked eye and may contain hundreds of thousands of mold particles.
  
  

If water-soaked items are allowed to sit for more than 48 hours, it is almost certain the objects will begin to give off the tell-tale yeasty smell associated with mold. Within three or four days, irreparable mold contamination can typically occur in the water damage.

How Can You Best Fight Mold After a Flood?

When a flood occurs in a commercial building, the water damage is often very large and involves more than one room. For that reason, consider contacting a professional water restoration and removal team that can quickly get rid of the contaminated liquid before mold can begin growing. The team can also sanitize the area to begin mold prevention.

How To Prepare for a Storm

6/29/2021 (Permalink)

Collect an emergency kit.

Use The Following Tips To Get Started

As a business owner in Georgetown, TX, you know you can't prepare for every eventuality. There are too many problems that can crop up with your commercial building. However, you can prepare for some worst-case scenarios. With the help of a commercial storm damage repair crew, you can create a storm preparedness plan to help you be ready for the aftermath of bad weather. 

1. Collect an Emergency Kit

Having a first-aid kit on hand during bad weather can give you and your employees peace of mind. Your kit should be full of bandages, blankets and nonperishable foods. Make this kit available even when you're not there to help keep everyone who uses your building safe.

2. Institute an Evacuation Plan

How should people leave the building during a storm? Create an evacuation plan for every situation that may affect your area. During flooding, for example, you may want people to go to higher ground. During a tornado, however, your employees may be better served by finding a structurally sound place inside of the building to hunker down.

3. Write Up a Contact List

You may not always be there when a storm strikes. Your employees need to know who to call if a storm damages your building. Part of good property management is creating a contact list. This can include emergency service numbers, and you may also want to include phone numbers for plumbers, storm damage remediation teams and the like.

4. Make a Backup Plan

Think about what you would do if your building can no longer be occupied. In this part of a storm preparedness plan, you may want to come up with a business continuity plan. This can include having interruption insurance or setting up a temporary office space.

You may never know how a storm is going to affect your building until it is over. You can create a storm preparedness plan to help yourself get ready for the worst-case scenario.

A Basic Guide To Treating Burns at the Office

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

Know how to respond if someone gets burned.

How To React If Someone In Your Office Experiences A Burn

When an uncontrolled blaze breaks out, the fire damage that results is a minor concern in comparison with someone being injured. The structural impact of fires in Serenada, TX, may be able to be mended by a team of commercial restoration professionals, whereas a co-worker's life is irreplaceable. 

Major Versus Minor Burns
First, you must determine the severity of the injury to administer the appropriate level of burn first aid. Minor burns are characterized by:

• Blisters
  
• Redness
  
• Sizes no larger than 3 inches in diameter
  
  

Major burns feature:

• Dryness
  
• Leathery qualities
  
• Brown, black or white discoloration
  
• Sizes larger than 3 inches in diameter
  
  

Move the patient away from any fire damage to avoid the risk of further injury before making your assessment.

Minor Burn Treatment
Follow these first aid procedures if you determine the burn to be superficial. Remove jewelry before swelling occurs. Run cool water over the affected area or apply a wet compress. After the pain has subsided, apply a burn cream and then wrap the harmed surface with sterile gauze. Do so loosely, making sure there is no tightness and air can flow underneath. Administer an OTC pain reliever such as Tylenol or Advil.

Major Burn Treatment
Prepare major burn victims before professional assistance arrives. Check that the individual is still breathing. If not, administer CPR immediately. As with minor burns, accessories should be quickly taken off. Place a clean cloth or a moist bandage over the burned flesh. Elevate the burn zone above heart level and watch for signs of shock. Make note of and write down your observations. Inform those providing medical treatment of everything you've seen.
Fire damage extends beyond charred walls and seared office equipment. In worst-case scenarios, blazes threaten the lives of employees. Know how to respond if someone working by your side ever gets burned.

3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant

1/27/2021 (Permalink)

Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator

3 Common Attractions for Mold in a Restaurant

Mold spores are microscopic airborne particles that develop into colonies if they are given the proper conditions. It is impossible to keep mold spores out of a building in Florence, TX. Their role in nature is to decompose rotting objects, and they can cause major damage to the natural construction materials of buildings. Fungus thrives when given the conditions of:

• Warmth
  
• Humidity
  
• Nutrients
  
  

In a restaurant, mold growth can lead to an unnecessary amount of waste, making foods inedible. Here are three attractions for mold in a restaurant:

1. Dishwashing Stations
The dishwashing station can be a major contributor to mold, especially if the pipes or water supply lines leak. Should a leak occur and cause water damage to a wooden cabinet, mold spores will attach themselves and develop into colonies. Areas with constant water usage will also create high humidity levels. To prevent any fungus from thriving in these areas, install a central ventilation system.

2. The Refrigerator
Though the refrigerator has lower levels of humidity, it will not stop mold from growing. Cover any perishable foods in a clean plastic container to prevent mold growth in the refrigerator. If you have found mold, clean it thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar. Inspect any foods that were close to the area of growth for additional fungus.

3. Fruits and Vegetables
Perishable foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are a common source of nutrients for fungus. Inspect any fruits and vegetables for mold before you purchase them to prevent it from spreading to your restaurant. You can salvage some of these if they have sprouted mold colonies by cutting off the parts that have begun to rot. To prevent food waste, purchase only the amount of fresh foods that you will use throughout the week.
If you have found mold growth in your restaurant, contact a mold remediation service to thoroughly clean the area. Though airborne microbial particles cannot be avoided, you can keep their growth under control with routine cleaning and maintenance.