At VersaCold, we work hard to ensure safety is a top priority in all aspects of our business. We pride ourselves on our culture of working hard to prevent accidents, and we are committed to maintaining a hazard-free workplace that ensures the safety of both our employees and our visitors.

We believe that an important part of maintaining a “safety first” culture is sharing advice and tips on how to stay safe both inside and outside the workplace. We share these tips at the beginning of every meeting and have been sharing them periodically online through the VersaCold blog.

We are continuing that tradition with our Summer Safety Series. This week, we have rounded up our “Top 6 VersaCold Safety Tips Articles” from the past year that cover a variety of topics from forklift safety to lifting advice. Let us know what you think in the comments below and please share with us any safety tips you may have.

Summer is nearly here and with it comes the occasional stretch of extreme heat. The dangers caused by hot weather are something we face every year in the cold chain business and we have acquired a lot of useful tips and information over the years on how to stay cool and safe in the warmer months. To kick off our Summer Safety series, we share our tips on how to beat extreme heat below.

Quick Tips

Tip #1:

If you notice a person who is experiencing symptoms of heat stroke, you should cool that person as rapidly as possible by applying any available water on their skin. Cold baths and showers, while typically unpleasant, may go a long way in preventing serious heat-related injury. Immediately call Emergency Medical Services.

Tip #2:

Older adults, children younger than the age of 2, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at high risk for heat-related illness and need monitoring during times of extreme heat.

Like any industry, the cold chain logistics world has its own unique language that sometimes needs additional explanation for people outside the industry. To help you understand some complex terms that are specific to the industry, VersaCold has put together a list of commonly used terms and definitions as defined by trusted industry sites.

Check out these other interesting articles: 

The A to Z of Cold Chain – Part 1

http://blog.versacold.com/the-a-to-z-of-cold-chain-part-1

The A to Z of Cold Chain – Part 2

http://blog.versacold.com/the-a-to-z-of-cold-chain-part-2

This week’s entry will start where Part 2 left off and define important cold chain terms starting with the letters P to Z.

In the cold chain logistics world, being properly certified is important to both customers and the provider. Not having the right certifications can force customers to carry out costly second party audits with funds that could be better spent within their own company. That is why VersaCold goes above and beyond to provide certifications such as the BRC (British Retaill Consortium) Global Standards for Storage and Distribution, a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized scheme. GFSI is a not-for-profit organization that benchmarks food safety standards around the globe and gives recognition to standards that meet certain agreed upon requirements.

BRC certification gives customers confidence that facilities are operating at a global standard that is concerned with both food safety and food quality. VersaCold is proud to have six of their facilities BRC certified and is projected to have all facilities certified by 2018, with twelve more facilities being added this year. 

What exactly is a BRC certification and why does it matter to VersaCold customers? Read more to find out.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law on January 4, 2011, by President Barak Obama and represents the most widespread and sweeping reform to American food safety laws in the last 70 years. The FDA website explains that the FSMA “gives the FDA new mandates, authorities, and oversight tools aimed at providing solid assurances that those practices are being carried out by the food industry on a consistent, on-going basis.”

So what exactly is the FSMA and why does it matter to VersaCold clients? Read more to find out how the law could affect your business and what VersaCold is doing to ensure compliance for its customers.

Technology is at the heart of everything we do in the supply chain industry and is the key to enhancing, differentiating and adding value to our customers’ supply chain. As part of VersaCold’s mission to provide innovative and integrated solutions to support our clients’ current and future needs, we are pleased to announce the introduction of E-logs to the entire VersaCold fleet. What are E-logs and why do they matter for your company? Read more to find out how E-logs have transformed the supply chain industry.

We are proud to announce that VersaCold has been ranked 29^th by Today’s Trucking “Top 100 Canada’s biggest for-hire carriers” list.

Started in 1987, Today’s Trucking is the premier business magazine and information resource for the Canadian trucking industry. The top 100 list is the annual tally of the nation’s top for-hire fleets in Canada, and it offers a by-the-numbers look at which companies are improving capacity and which are contracting in the market. 2017 marks the first year that VersaCold has made the top 100 list, coming in with a total of 32 trucks, 675 tractors, 985 trailers and 810 0/0s. These numbers show a significant amount of growth over the years and are the result of several strategic initatives.

This jump into the top 100 list caps off a year of significant growth for VersaCold with the key acquisitions of CPX and Gary Heer, as well as the increase of LCV offerings. Click here to read more about the growth VersaCold has undertaken throughout the past year.

Like any industry, the cold chain logistics world has its own unique language that sometimes needs additional explanation for people outside the industry. To help you understand some complex terms that are specific to the industry, VersaCold has put together a list of commonly used terms and definitions as defined by trusted industry sites. 

Check out these other interesting articles: 

Why Is SmartWay Certification Important to Our Customers?

http://blog.versacold.com/why-is-smartway-certification-important-to-our-customers 

Select Ready Foods Case Study

http://blog.versacold.com/select-ready-foods-case-study

This week’s entry will start where Part 1 left off and define important cold chain terms starting with the letters H to O.

The forklift is an indispensable piece of equipment for any warehousing operation, while also representing a costly investment as a result of initial capital expenditure and maintenance costs. Forklifts can also be a liability due to the potential risk of significant amounts of damage to the facility, customer product, and even other employees from their use. That is why employee training on proper use and awareness of potential hazards are so important in maintaining a safe workplace when operating a forklift.

Quick Tips

Tip #1

No matter how experienced an individual is at operating a forklift, it’s important that every operator maintain a healthy respect for the destructive capabilities of the equipment and is held to a high standard when it comes to its safe use.

Tip #2

Keep all warehouse aisles and passageways wide enough to allow for the safe movement of pedestrians and machinery.

All accidents are avoidable, here are three common causes associated with forklift accidents that you should be aware of before operating the equipment. 

Like any industry, the cold chain logistics world has its own unique language that sometimes needs an additional explanation to people outside the industry. To help you understand some complex terms that are unique to the industry, VersaCold has comprised a list of commonly used terms and definitions as defined by trusted industry sites. 

Check Out These Other Interesting Articles

How are LCVs Transforming VersaCold’s Transportation Network?

http://blog.versacold.com/lcvs-transforming-versacolds-transportation-network

Schooten & Sons Case Study

http://blog.versacold.com/schooten-sons-case-study