Safety in the workplace is something we take very seriously at VersaCold, especially when working from heights, where accidents caused by hazards can be much more dangerous. The potential dangers of operating a ladder can range from falling off the ladder, being struck by the ladder or even tripping over the ladder. No matter how you slice it, ladder-related accidents are very common yet entirely preventable. However, just like most things when it comes to safety in the workplace, prevention of accidents is dependent on workers recognizing hazardous conditions and taking preventative steps to avoid them.

Quick Tips 

Tip #1

Check a painted wooden ladder extra carefully for defects and signs of damage before use because paint could be hiding a potentially dangerous hazard that might not be clear at first glance. 

Tip #2

Never attempt to reach for something while on a ladder. It’s always safer to get off the ladder, move it and then climb back up.

To help you avoid these potential hazards, we have outlined four mistakes commonly made when operating a ladder and how you can avoid making them. For more workplace safety tips, check out Material Handling Equipment (MHE) Safety: Are You Following These Best Practices? and 6 Proven Safety Tips That Prevent Slips and Falls.

VersaCold warehousing services provide each client with customized solutions that are designed to fit the unique needs of their temperature sensitive products. This week, we will explore our unique partnership with Select Ready Foods, a provider of high-quality beef, pork and chicken products to foodservice industries and families all across Canada. When Select Ready Foods was looking to improve their supply chain processes, they came to VersaCold seeking a warehousing solution for their temperature sensitive products that fit their current business needs and future growth plans.

Why was VersaCold’s customized warehousing solution the right fit for Select Ready Foods? Read more to find out.

In the supply chain and logistics world, the responsible use of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) is integral to the safety of any successful supply chain operation. The term MHE encompasses a wide variety of equipment involved in the transporting, controlling, storing, protecting and enumerating of products at any step in the supply chain. Given the important role of this equipment to daily operations, it is essential to properly train MHE operators on how to safely connect and disconnect a battery during a battery change. Proper training is key to ensuring that employees don’t use unsafe  methods for disconnecting an MHE battery, such as repetitively pulling on the cables to dislodge the connector. Failure to do so can lead to electrocution of a team member or even a fire due to the interaction of hydrogen gas and sparks from exposed wires.

Quick Tips

Tip #1:

Disconnect the battery by holding the connecting handle to dislodge the connector. Do not pull the battery cable.

Tip #2:

When changing a battery, ensure the battery cable is properly tucked in to avoid damage.

To protect against these potential hazards and work towards the goal of zero accidents in the workplace, VersaCold requires the following best practices when connecting and disconnecting an MHE battery during a battery change.  

As of June 2015, VersaCold has begun incorporating long combination vehicles (LCVs) into its national transportation network. This move towards LCVs is part of a key initiative to reduce the overall impact of the VersaCold fleet on the environment and move towards lowering the overall fuel consumption of transportation operations. Today, VersaCold LCVs are operating over 100,000 miles a month, and they provide significant benefits to their valued customers.

What are LCVs? What are their benefits? Read more to find out how long combination vehicles will transform the VersaCold transportation fleet, and what that means for clients going forward.

VersaCold provides more than services; we offer completely integrated and customized solutions. This week we are taking a look at our successful partnership with Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd., a family owned operation that has been in the cattle feeding and farming business for 40 years. The company operates a 45,000 head custom feed yard that specializes in finishing calves utilizing the latest technology and industry innovations as part of its custom feedyard operations.

Why did Schooten & Sons Custom Feedyard Ltd. turn to VersaCold to provide fourth party logistics (4PL) to manage its supply chain? Read more to find out.

2016 was a great year for VersaCold in the media, with several big announcements and news stories showcasing why so many businesses consider VersaCold a trusted partner. In case you missed any of these stories, we have taken the opportunity to compile a rundown of our biggest announcements from last year.

If you are interested in reading more VersaCold news and announcements, check out our Media Centre page.

With the holidays come and gone, we thought it would be a good time to look back on some of the VersaCold blog articles you may have missed last year. To help you catch up on some interesting reading, we have put together a list of five VersaCold blogs that might have fallen through the cracks during the craziness of the holidays. 

VersaCold is excited to announce that our Transportation Management & 4PL solutions is now SmartWay certified. We are joining more than 3,000 companies across North America that have signed on to reduce fuel use and emissions, improve efficiencies and encourage best practices in their freight supply chains. The SmartWay program provides VersaCold with another tool to demonstrate efficiencies and showcase continuous efforts to improve as we build on best practices. While 4PL is the first of our solutions to become SmartWay certified, it will not be the last as we take steps to certify our other transportation-related solutions.

Haven’t heard of the SmartWay Transportation Partnership? Read more to find out what this certification means for our clients and why we are excited to be offering this added value to our customers.

At VersaCold, safety is our top priority. In our place of work, on the road and in our homes, “safety first” is embedded into our performance-driven culture and reflected in everything we do. As part of our commitment to safety, we will be sharing some of our safety tips with you to pass on tried and tested ways to help make your workplace and home life safer.

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It shouldn’t be surprising to anyone that slips and falls are a leading cause of injuries in all industries, including ours. A slip or fall can happen unexpectedly due to the slightest loss of traction or an uneven surface going unnoticed. The potential for accidents to occur is only made worse during the winter.

However, given that our core business is working with temperature-sensitive products, warehouses and docks can experience slippery conditions all year round. These conditions require our employees to be extra vigilant and lead us to adapt our own set of safety procedures to guard against workplace accidents.

Quick Tips 

Tip #1:

Practice good housekeeping. Ensure that all hallways, floors, and offices are free of debris and clutter.

Tip #2:

Clear debris from floors and keep paths clear of garbage, cords, and clutter that might go unnoticed in a busy workplace.

To help combat this potential hazard in your place of work, we suggest following these tried and tested best practices to help keep safe.

The use and understanding of leading cold chain technology are at the core of our business and key to enhancing, differentiating and adding value to our customers’ supply chains. As customers and government regulations demand better quality and stricter compliance with global standards, there have been noticeable technology trends developing to meet these market needs. 

This week’s article will delve deeper into these fascinating trends in technology that are having a significant impact on the cold supply chain and drive us to pursue the best solutions and results for our clients.

Take a look at “Four Intriguing Cold Chain Regulation Trends That You Should Know” for more cold supply chain trends.