Benefits of organization and cleanliness

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Benefits of organization and cleanliness

While many of the benefits of cleanliness and organization in the workplace are self-evident, placing specific emphasis on procedures that encourage strict maintenance of work areas can ensure that productivity is always at its peak.

It can be a good idea to encourage employees to pay particular attention to the ways that their impact on the work environment at large will inadvertently affect other workers as well as the overall flow of the workplace. This can be best implemented by providing ample space for each employee to perform their role as well as designated spaces for specialist equipment and other personal effects which have no place in the general workflow. Besides keeping the workspace tidy, such procedures can cut down on confusion when it comes to performing roles that may require specific equipment. Likewise, personal hygiene and cleanliness should be strictly maintained, especially in regards to eating areas and bathrooms, to minimize the risk of illness.

Besides these benefits to overall general cleanliness, the psychological impacts of working in a well-organized and tidy environment can help to maintain a sense of order and overall morale. Ensuring that all employees are doing their part and consciously addressing short fallings will greatly benefit the tone of the workplace environment and encourage a sense of camaraderie among workers.

Fire Damage Streamline

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Damage Restoration Services Streamline Recovery 

A fire loss can become extremely disruptive to the day to day lives of you and your family. You are likely scared, grateful that you avoided injury, but wary that you can ever feel safe again in your home’s damaged shell. We take pride when offering our patrons the highest quality customer service. Our commitment is to conduct our business transparently and compassionately to make your home, “Like it never even happened.” 

Fire damage brings your daily routine to a halt. Our approach begins by assuring you it is safe to feel confident that our team can manage your fire emergency from start to finish. Knowing that you do not need to line up many different companies to handle the tasks needed to secure, stabilize, clean, and repair your home takes a huge weight off your shoulders. 

When SERVPRO starts a fire restoration, water removal and structural drying is almost always the first task. Firefighters use water liberally to knock down the flames. First, we contain and dispose of the contaminated fluids according to local hazardous waste rules.  We then prepare the space for soot removal, charring remediation, and odor elimination. 

As we begin the fire residue cleanup, you may be concerned that we wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and build a containment barrier around the work area. Although we are mindful of our own safety, the PPE and perimeter also keep toxic debris out of unaffected spaces in your home. The air scrubbing equipment we use to complete the containment seal uses negative air pressure to send floating contaminants through HEPA filters before venting to the outdoors. 

Room by room, we clean up soot residues and evaluate the condition of any building materials with heavy charring. SERVPRO has a restoration mindset, but our general contractor license allows us to tear out significantly damaged structures and rebuild them. Once we complete the mitigation and remediation of all areas, our Odor Control Technicians (OCT) use a multi-step protocol to eliminate noxious smells. Innovative equipment like thermal foggers and hydroxyl generators chemically alter odor-bearing particles, neutralizing malodors that deep cleaning did not resolve. 

SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon commits to completing the journey back to pre-fire condition with you after a blaze damages your home. Our emergency number, (508) 697-5439, picks up 24/7, and we schedule an assessment as soon as possible. 

7 Emergency Preparedness Tips for Your Pets

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

National Preparedness Month; Preparing for your Pets

September is National Preparedness month. Since 2004, this month has been a time to remind Americans of the importance of preparing for natural disasters, large scale catastrophes and other unexpected events. The event is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was a response to a recognized need for individual responsibility and action in the case of unforeseen emergencies. The agency shares best practices for individuals, families and businesses in advance of possible disasters. These include how to build an emergency preparedness kit, awareness of nearby emergency shelters and how to prepare youth for emergency situations.

Particularly pertinent, and often overlooked, are emergency preparedness tips for one’s pets. As a general rule FEMA advises that “what’s good for you is good for your pets.” Emergency preparedness for pets includes ensuring that an emergency kit is prepared for the pet, that pet evacuation measures are planned in advance and that the pet is easily identifiable in case they are lost or injured. The agency also recommends compiling a list of facilities for the safe housing of pets that cannot be evacuated along with the family. The pet is ultimately the responsibility of its owner and must be included in family emergency planning as any other family member would be. Special considerations are made for large animals such as horses and livestock, as well as animals that have specific needs.

7 Emergency Preparedness Tips for Your Pets

1. As a general rule what’s good for you is good for your pets. Plan for your pet as you would any member of your family
2. Arrange for a neighbor or a trusted friend to check on your pet in the case that you are unable to do so yourself
3. Prepare an emergency kit for your pet that includes food, medications, a list of nearby pet hotels, and other essentials
4. Have your pet micro-chipped
5. Keep an up to date list of your patient’s medical records as a kennel or boarding facility will typically require this to make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date
6. Do not chain or restrain your pets outside during a natural disaster
7. Ensure that all animals have some form of identification

Your pets are like family, and you should prepare for them as such. If you follow some of these pet emergency preparedness tips, you will be well on your way! If a fire emergency does happen in your home, call us at 508-697-5439

What to Do After a Severe Storm Hits Your Property

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

What to Do After a Severe Storm Hits Your Property

In New England, the northeaster storms are a recurring event which leave behind a devastating damage. This includes property damage on both commercial and residential properties of residents in the Greater Bristol County Area. SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon, with its disaster team, is always ready to help you out with any and all kinds of storm damage restoration. Our team of professional, skilled and competent crew is trained to handle your property proficiently and deliver the best and desired results to you. We understand that storm damage can become a cause for water, mold and even fire damage. Don’t worry, we offer all the services needed to recover under our company’s umbrella and we’re ready to restore your property so effectively that the damage will seem ‘like it never even happened’.

Here’s a list of useful tips for properly inspecting and restoring storm damage at your house or commercial premises:

Useful Tips on Inspection and Immediate Restoration  

First and foremost, keep in mind that if you have been evacuated don’t take the chance and stay at your property to handle protecting efforts on your own during the storm. Always wait for the official authorities’ clearance call before getting out of your safety area. Once you have the green signal, only then invest your time and effort in inspecting and making initial restoration. We advise that you call SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon before taking any action. Our professionals will guide you through what needs to be done till they reach your property.

Here’s a list of things you can do:

• Carefully inspect the house/office all over. Visit every corner of the property. Note down the intensity of damage. You may also take pictures to use for insurance. But keep in mind that you should steer clear of any and all areas that seem unsafe in any aspect.

• Do not walk into rooms or spaces that may have exposed electrical wiring, especially if that area is flooded with water. Ensure that you’ve switched off the electricity from the main switch before walking into your property. Do not walk into dark areas without proper lighting.

• Do not touch, move or remove heavy items such as floored carpets, sofas, armchairs, furniture, appliances, etc. Most of these will pose a safety threat because of being extremely heavy due to water absorption. Do not touch any electrical appliances.

• Take pictures of damaged and affected areas from a safe distance. Do not walk into, under, onto, or over dangerous spaces such as stairs, attics, basements, balconies, etc. Any place that creaks noisily has to be avoided at all costs as it may cause physical damage to you.

• You may however bring out small items such as valuables, pieces of art, expensive decorative items, etc. into an open dry space and let the excess water evaporate under the sun. This will help in the water damage restoration process of our professional crew.

• For books, magazines, etc., it is better to let them stay where they are if they are inside shelves, cabinets, desks, etc. If you pull them out, it may distort and damage the books. However, ensure that you pull out valuable documents and keep them dry and safe.

• Do not try to work on the plumbing, heating, cooling, ventilation and electrical network within your home. What you’re about to do may seem like a small act in your favor, but it may become the cause of damaging your property on a large scale, not to mention the safety risks involved.

• Once you have taken care of everything that you can do, wait for our professional crew to show up. Let them do their job and with your coordination and cooperation, they will restore your property back to its former glory. We always deliver the best solutions and results to our clients.

• Storms can even cause fires which means that you will have to look into fire and smoke damage restoration Avoid using candles if possible. We advise that you stay away from open circuits, electrical wires, switches, plugs and the likes. It is never safe to handle such situations on your own.

• If the water from the storm is left to sink in, it will eventually lead to mold growth. Mold damage restoration by our experienced crew will ensure that all sources of excess water are repaired so as to lower the unwanted moisture content back to normal levels.

Always remember that professionals who have been effectively dealing with storm damage of all shapes and sizes for years will definitely know how to handle it more efficiently than inexperienced and unskilled crew. So always invest your money and time in leading companies that have years of experience, such as SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon.

For further queries, call us at (508) 697-5439.

Water restoration after a flood

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Flood damage caused by man-made or natural disasters are an unavoidable tragedy that often leave business owners of commercial property in a state of despair and loss of assets. The most common types of flooding are usually unexpected and cause major water damage include flash flooding, coastal flooding, engineering issues, overbank flooding, and ice jam flooding, to name a few.

Following a disaster caused by rising and standing flood waters, companies that offer water damage restoration services are needed to determine the proper procedures of returning the affected commercial properties to their original state. The steps of those procedures can include (but are not limited to) the following:

Step 1. Inspecting the Damage The first steps to restore flood damages caused by water is to perform a loss assessment and evaluation of affected materials of the property affected. This inspection is performed by using specialized water detecting equipment such as infrared tools, probes, and other water sensing devices.

Step 2. Water Extraction The second step to repairing flood water damage is to remove and dry any existing water or moisture that is either standing or causing an area to remain damp. Failing to remove water can lead to mold build up as well as further damage to structural materials. This step is the most critical as the longer the water remains in the structure, the higher the damage there will be to clean up and repair.

Step 3. Clean Damages The third step to restoring a structure after a flood would be to sanitize and deodorize the damaged areas. This step is completed by using equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers, wood floor drying systems, carpet vacuum cleaners, and sub-floor drying systems. Flood water can contain contaminants and sewage backup which poses a risk to the health of individuals if not appropriately removed.

Step 4. Rebuild Structures The last step to restoring property after flood damages have incurred is to assess the remaining structure after it has been properly dried and cleans and finally make necessary repairs for rebuilding any lost structural integrity to its former appearance and quality.

Some other methods to think about in preventing water damage that may occur in the future would be to replace the previous materials (such as carpet, wood floors, and walls) with fast drying materials that include stone and concrete. Building the structure at a higher elevation and installing electrical systems to be at a higher elevation is also an option to preventing as much damage to property.

SERVPRO lessens impact and costs for Bridgewater business owners

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO lessens impact and costs for Bridgewater business owners when called for help with fire damage restoration

Even if you have a small fire at your Bridgewater commercial space, you could have significant issues with smoke damage and indoor air quality (IAQ). Not only will there be burnt, charred materials to dispose of, but you also have to think about corrosive smoke and soot residue that may have traveled throughout the building – often via the HVAC system. SERVPRO is the only team to call when you want skilled fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) on the job.

When handling fire damage restoration in Bridgewater, our team knows that circulating soot particles start to settle on contents and surfaces, posing a threat. This acidic, corrosive soot can damage surfaces it lands on, calling for specialized, careful cleaning. We work to:

• Cut back on the power of smoke odors present in the building
• Pay close attention to any safety hazards that fire and smoke/soot damage presents
• Reduce thickness and severity of residue and soiling on all impacted surfaces

SERVPRO technicians have access to the best equipment in the industry when handling water & fire damage restorations, including:

• Vacuums and air scrubbers with HEPA filtration
• ULV fogging equipment
• Ozone and Hydroxyl generators
• EPA-registered sanitizers and deodorizers

The team at SERVPRO of Bridgewater,Sharon is available 24/7 for emergency response when you require prompt, reliable fire damage restoration. Call us to your commercial space when you need us by dialing (508) 697-5439, and we can be there as soon as possible.

SERVPRO Crews Repair Your Water Loss to Pre-Loss Condition

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Crews Repair Your Water Loss to Pre-Loss Condition Supported by Best-Practices Training and Experience, and Cutting-Edge Equipment

Water emergencies in your home can have many causes. Plumbing leaks, appliances break, and structures lose integrity and water tightness because of storms or deferred maintenance. Regardless of how the water loss starts, it is urgent to respond quickly because of the corrosive effects of water on structural components and the risk of exposure to secondary damage. Our technicians can help, but what does that look like? How disrupted will your life become?

My Wet House Is a Mess! What Steps Do Restorers Take Initially to Calm the Chaos?

Your need for water damage repair in Bridgewater is immediate after the event resulting in the harm occurs. A supply line break or appliance malfunction can pour or pump hundreds to thousands of gallons of water into your house in a short time. Walking downstairs in the morning or through the door after work can find you at least ankle-deep in water if the loss happened overnight or when you were away from home. When we arrive, our first focus is on shutting down the water main if not done already. Then we concentrate on a safety review of the scene to ensure neither occupants nor restorers are in danger of encountering any of the following during cleanup and repair:

    •    Slip, trip, and fall hazards
    •    Electrical shock
    •    Other utility line breaks
    •    Contaminated fluids
    •    Dispersed or broken asbestos or lead-bearing building materials
    •    Collapse of structures because of water trapped in building cavities

How Do Professionals Handle the Bulk of Water Removal?

Once the project manager identifies and creates management strategies for safety concerns, SERVPRO technicians begin emergency services, including aggressive water extraction. If overhead water exists, we make sure to secure the surface and then punch “weep holes” to release the fluid carefully, keeping technicians and occupants away until the majority of the water drains to avoid injury. Crews position submersible pumps for water deeper than two inches. Any visible standing water remaining after pumping, we suction out using truck-mounted extractors. The pumps and truck-mounted equipment are powered by gas or generators, permitting us to move on this task even if live electricity is temporarily unavailable.

What About Removing Water in Confined Spaces?

Water can migrate anywhere inside your home, including hard to access spaces. We consider different plans of action to respond because to avoid severe consequences, no water can be left behind:

    •    Portable extractors with extensions to lengthen their reach, worn like backpacks by technicians who walk and direct them into closed-in areas
    •    Injectidry or similar systems that use negative air pressure to pull migrated water from several layers of flooring or behind baseboards using adhesive mats or hoses threaded through holes
    •    Planned, controlled demolition to open up a surface trapping water, such as flood cuts sawed several inches above the water line or holes drilled into mortar joints in cinder block construction

Why Does Drying Follow Extraction?

If you search for hints on how to handle wet building materials, advice to open windows and use fans is common as a first step. Experts wait to focus on these and other professional drying techniques until all liquid water evacuates because research proved that adding pre-drying extraction is far more effective than drying alone. We also calculate how to position air movers most advantageously, manipulate temperature, and choose the type and number of dehumidifiers to achieve the most successful drying outcome. Moisture levels measured and monitored during the drying phase guide our practice, making sure that the drying is complete, but that we do not overshoot the mark and overdry materials that could crack, warp, or otherwise break down.

Although I Am Glad, the Water and Moisture Are Gone, Whom Will Help Put My House Back Together?

Our pledge to our customers is firm. We strive to bring you back full-circle to preloss condition. We invest in an in-house rebuilding and construction division within our firm, ready to:

    •    Consult and assist with the mechanics of above-head water release, including providing structural support if needed
    •    Plan and help implement the specifics of controlled demolition, such as making the cuts and holes
    •    Assess the repair and rebuilding needs for structures damaged by the water incursion or the efforts made to extract water and dry out moisture.

The full spectrum of services offered by the team at SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon can resolve residential water damage completely, “Like it never even happened.” Do not waste a second -- call us at (508) 697-5439 to get the process started.

Flood water inspection process.

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Flood damage caused by man-made or natural disasters are an unavoidable tragedy that often leave business owners of commercial property in a state of despair and loss of assets. The most common types of flooding are usually unexpected and cause major water damage include flash flooding, coastal flooding, engineering issues, overbank flooding, and ice jam flooding, to name a few.

Following a disaster caused by rising and standing flood waters, companies that offer water damage restoration services are needed to determine the proper procedures of returning the affected commercial properties to their original state. The steps of those procedures can include (but are not limited to) the following:

Step 1. Inspecting the Damage The first steps to restore flood damages caused by water is to perform a loss assessment and evaluation of affected materials of the property affected. This inspection is performed by using specialized water detecting equipment such as infrared tools, probes, and other water sensing devices.

Step 2. Water Extraction The second step to repairing flood water damage is to remove and dry any existing water or moisture that is either standing or causing an area to remain damp. Failing to remove water can lead to mold build up as well as further damage to structural materials. This step is the most critical as the longer the water remains in the structure, the higher the damage there will be to clean up and repair.

Step 3. Clean Damages The third step to restoring a structure after a flood would be to sanitize and deodorize the damaged areas. This step is completed by using equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers, wood floor drying systems, carpet vacuum cleaners, and sub-floor drying systems. Flood water can contain contaminants and sewage backup which poses a risk if not appropriately removed.

Step 4. Rebuild Structures The last step to restoring property after flood damages have incurred is to assess the remaining structure after it has been properly dried and cleans and finally make necessary repairs for rebuilding any lost structural integrity to its former appearance and quality.

Some other methods to think about in preventing water damage that may occur in the future would be to replace the previous materials (such as carpet, wood floors, and walls) with fast drying materials that include stone and concrete. Building the structure at a higher elevation and installing electrical systems to be at a higher elevation is also an option to preventing as much damage to property.

Certified SERVPRO clean

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open in Bridgewater, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Bridgewater, Sharon today at (508) 697-5439 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

Mold; What to do and what NOT to do.

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Mold; What to do and what NOT to do.

We've seen a LOT of mold cases the past 9 years. If you see visible mold in your home, the first thing to do is not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Plymouth/Wareham for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

When you discover mold in your home, leave it to the professionals. If you suspect that your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property. If mold is found, we have the training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation. Call us today for a free evaluation and remediation estimate at (508) 697-5439