Storm Season Prep: Stay on Schedule with Roofing Software

Storm Season Prep: Stay on Schedule with Roofing Software

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When severe weather rolls in, so does the surge of roofing service calls. Hail, wind, and heavy rain can leave entire neighborhoods needing inspections, estimates, and urgent repairs all at once. For roofing contractors, that can mean a flood of job requests, tight turnarounds, and high-stress coordination between teams in the field and staff in the office.

The question is: Do you have the right systems in place to stay on top of it all?

Modern roofing software helps your business respond faster, streamline field reporting, and keep every job on track, even during the busiest storm seasons. From conducting storm damage inspections to generating real-time estimates and managing mobile work orders, digital tools give your team the visibility and flexibility to stay in control when it matters most.

Whether you’re handling five emergency repairs or 50, cloud-connected roofing solutions make it easy to scale operations without sacrificing speed, accuracy, or service quality.

Storms don’t just damage roofs; they overwhelm workflows. After a major weather event, roofing companies are often inundated with back-to-back service requests, insurance inquiries, and urgent repairs. The sudden spike in demand can stretch your team thin, strain your scheduling process, and expose the inefficiencies in your current system.

You’re not just responding to individual jobs—you’re coordinating crews, tracking inspections, submitting estimates, and trying to keep communication clear across multiple job sites, all while managing customer expectations in high-stress situations. Without the right systems in place, things can quickly fall through the cracks: Appointments get missed, paperwork piles up, and opportunities slip away.

To stay ahead during storm season, roofing businesses need tools that can adapt in real time, automate repetitive tasks, and bring order to the chaos. Roofing software becomes not just helpful but essential when companies encounter:

  • A spike in incoming calls and inspection requests
  • Delays caused by handwritten notes or manual scheduling
  • Miscommunication between field crews and office staff
  • Backlogged estimates and slow approvals
  • Missed opportunities due to outdated tracking methods

And when every job is urgent, the cracks in your system become obvious. If your crew is still relying on paper forms, spreadsheets, or disconnected software, you’re likely losing valuable time, missing key updates, and struggling to deliver fast and professional service.

That’s where software for roofing companies changes the game.

In fast-moving situations, mobility is everything. GoCanvas® roofing software gives your team the ability to assess, report, and respond directly from the job site using mobile devices—with no trips back to the office, no scanning paperwork, and no delays in updating the rest of the team.

With mobile-first tools, roofing teams can:

  • Complete on-site roofing inspections with checklists, photos, and digital signatures.
  • Automatically sync data with office systems for instant visibility.
  • Assign and track work orders from the field.
  • Access job history, customer info, and material needs from any device.
  • Streamline compliance documentation and insurance reporting.

This isn’t just convenient; it’s essential during peak demand. When your teams are equipped with tools that work wherever they are, they can complete more jobs in less time while delivering a better customer experience.

After a storm, every homeowner wants an inspection ASAP, and they expect fast answers. The pressure to respond quickly is high—but without a fast, consistent way to document findings, capture photos, and deliver accurate quotes, your team can quickly fall behind.

Manual processes like handwritten notes, delayed uploads, or phone-based estimates not only slow things down, they also increase the risk of errors and missed opportunities. Customers may turn to competitors who can provide quicker, more professional responses.

To stay competitive, your inspection and estimating process needs to be seamless, mobile, and capable of handling a high volume of requests without sacrificing accuracy or service quality. That’s where a powerful roofing estimating app gives you the edge.

Using a roofing estimating app like GoCanvas, inspectors can:

  • Capture damage photos directly from the field.
  • Automatically generate estimates with pre-set pricing fields.
  • Email quotes to customers instantly, no matter where they are.
  • Reduce rework and manual entry errors by syncing everything back to your system.

Instead of relying on handwritten notes or post-job paperwork, your entire inspection and estimating process becomes faster, cleaner, and more professional.

Once estimates are approved, speed matters. Jobs need to be scheduled, materials ordered, crews dispatched, and timelines tracked. GoCanvas functions as a roof manager software solution that connects every step of your workflow in one place.

Here’s how it keeps your operation moving:

  • Work orders are automatically created from approved estimates.
  • Job assignments and updates are pushed directly to field techs.
  • Progress is tracked in real time with digital checklists and photos.
  • Office teams have full visibility into active and upcoming jobs.
  • Data is stored securely and accessible for future reference or reporting.

Because everything is synced through the cloud, there’s no lag between the field and the office. Your teams stay in sync, your paperwork stays organized, and your jobs stay on schedule even when the storm season chaos is in full swing.

Storm season doesn’t just test your roofing skills, it tests your ability to stay organized under pressure. Companies that rely on outdated methods often get overwhelmed, while those that use integrated, mobile-friendly tools can scale quickly and serve more customers without sacrificing service quality.

With GoCanvas roofing software, you can:

  • Respond faster to storm-related service requests.
  • Standardize storm damage inspections with customizable mobile forms.
  • Deliver professional estimates in real time.
  • Keep field and office teams aligned with cloud-connected workflows.
  • Eliminate paperwork delays and reduce admin overhead.

GoCanvas is designed to scale so that you can start small with your busiest workflows and expand across crews, regions, or services as needed. Whether you’re responding to emergency roof repairs or ramping up post-storm inspections, the right tools make all the difference. Request a demo and explore how GoCanvas supports roofing teams with mobile solutions built for speed and compliance.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Preparing Roofing Companies for Seasonality and Weather Disasters

Preparing Roofing Companies for Seasonality and Weather Disasters

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Running a roofing company means being prepared for any and every season and weather disaster that comes your way. The roofing industry is naturally tied to the weather, and being unprepared can lead to missed opportunities, unsatisfied clients, and unsafe working conditions. Here’s how you can ensure your roofing business is always ready to respond swiftly, maintain safety, keep your crew happy, and meet deadlines—even during peak seasons and unexpected weather events.

Being Prepared for Seasonality and Weather Disasters

Weather plays a crucial role in the roofing business. From harsh winters to stormy springs, each season brings its own challenges, and preparing for these changes ahead of time can save your business time and money. Equip your team with the right tools and technology to predict weather patterns and plan your projects accordingly.

By helping you make the switch from manual to digital, GoCanvas makes it easier to access and update information on the go, keeping your team ready for any weather conditions. This proactive approach helps you stay on top of planning and workflow, no matter the season.

Responding Quickly to an Influx of Job Requests

During peak seasons, the flood of job requests can be overwhelming, And a strong system for managing roofing dispatch is essential to handling this surge efficiently. Digitizing your dispatch process with GoCanvas allows you to assign jobs quickly, track progress, and communicate with your team in real time. This not only improves response times but also enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring timely service.

Ensuring Safety and Satisfaction

Safety should always be the top priority on any roofing job. With drones becoming more commonly used for roof inspection and leak detection, it’s important to ensure your crew is trained and comfortable with this technology. At GoCanvas, we know that implementing regular safety training and using digital checklists can help maintain high safety standards, so we provide customizable safety checklists and inspection forms that you can easily access and complete on site, ensuring no safety measure is missed.

A happy crew is a productive crew. Keeping your team satisfied requires providing them with the right tools and a safe working environment. GoCanvas reduces the manual workload by digitizing paperwork, allowing your crew to focus more on their tasks and less on administrative duties. Additionally, real-time communication through the platform helps you address any concerns promptly, fostering a positive work environment.

Pa(in)perwork

❌ Slow

❌ Frustrating

❌ Costly

Go Digital

Meeting Deadlines and Managing Workload

Meeting deadlines is important for maintaining a good reputation in the roofing industry, as delays can lead to unhappy customers and lost business. With GoCanvas, you can streamline your project management process, ensuring all tasks are completed on time. The platform lets you monitor progress, manage resources efficiently, and adjust schedules as needed to meet your deadlines.


Seasonal changes often bring more work, and being prepared for this surge is essential to keeping your business running smoothly. Using GoCanvas, you can easily scale your operations by adding more users to the platform, ensuring that everyone has access to the necessary tools and information. This scalability helps you handle increased workloads without compromising on quality or efficiency.

Real-World Application: Roofing Industry and Data Insights

In the roofing industry, staying ahead of the game means using key technologies and processes to improve efficiency. For instance, using GoCanvas for roofing dispatch ensures that job assignments are managed efficiently. With GoCanvas, you can digitize processes like drone roof inspections and leak detection for faster and more accurate assessments, allowing you to improve response times, enhance safety, and increase customer satisfaction.

According to a study by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), digital tools can increase productivity by up to 20% in the roofing industry. Furthermore, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that companies with robust safety programs see a 52% reduction in workplace injuries. Leveraging digital solutions like GoCanvas not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to a safer work environment.

Conclusion

Prepare your roofing business for any season and weather disaster with GoCanvas. Digitize your processes, enhance safety, and keep your crew happy while meeting all your deadlines. Visit the GoCanvas Roofing landing page today to learn more and request a demo to see how our solutions can transform your business.


By using these strategies and GoCanvas’s digital solutions, your roofing business can stay ahead of the game, no matter what the weather brings.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Tips for Skilled Trades: Preparing for Seasonal Changes and Weather

Tips for Skilled Trades: Preparing for Seasonal Changes and Weather

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In the world of skilled trades, being ready for anything is a must. Whether you’re in construction, plumbing, electrical work, or HVAC, each trade has its own set of challenges when it comes to changing seasons and weather disasters. Being unprepared can lead to major delays, including missed deadlines, increased safety risks, and unhappy clients. Here’s how to keep your skilled trade business ready for whatever the seasons and weather throw your way.

The Risks of Unpreparedness

Failing to prepare for seasonal changes and weather disasters can have severe consequences. Without proper preparation, your business might face:

  • Project delays: Unanticipated weather conditions can halt progress, leading to missed deadlines and unhappy clients.
  • Increased safety hazards: Working in unsafe conditions without adequate preparation can lead to accidents and injuries.
  • Financial losses: Delays and accidents can result in financial penalties, increased costs, and lost revenue.
  • Reputational damage: Ongoing delays and safety issues can harm your business’s reputation, making it harder to secure future contracts.

Strategies for Staying Prepared

1. Monitor Weather Forecasts and Plan Ahead

Keeping a close eye on weather forecasts can help you plan your projects more effectively. Use reliable weather prediction tools and apps to stay informed about upcoming weather changes, then adjust your schedules and resources to minimize disruptions.

2. Equip Your Team with the Right Tools

Investing in the right tools and technology is essential for managing seasonal challenges. Use weather-resistant materials for construction projects and ensure your tools are suitable for cold or wet conditions.

3. Implement Digital Solutions

Digital solutions like GoCanvas can revolutionize how you manage your projects and workforce. By digitizing paperwork and processes, you can streamline operations and ensure your team has access to real-time information—regardless of location. This flexibility is crucial for adapting to sudden weather changes and keeping projects on track.

4. Conduct Regular Safety Training

Safety should always be a top priority. Regular safety training ensures your crew is prepared to handle adverse weather conditions, so it’s important to use digital checklists and training modules to keep your team informed and compliant with safety standards. GoCanvas offers customizable safety checklists that can be accessed on site, ensuring no safety measure is overlooked.

5. Maintain Clear Communication

Clear communication is important for managing seasonal and weather-related challenges. Keep your team connected with real-time communication tools that will help them share important information and coordinate efforts during emergencies.

6. Develop a Contingency Plan

Having a backup plan in place is crucial for dealing with unexpected weather disasters. Outline clear procedures for your team to follow, including emergency contact information, evacuation routes, and protocols for securing equipment and materials.

Protect your people, equipment, and projects with one solution.

The Importance of Flexibility

Flexibility is key when dealing with seasonal changes and weather disasters, as being able to quickly adjust your plans and resources can make a significant difference in maintaining project timelines and ensuring safety. Embrace digital tools that offer the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions without disrupting your workflow.

Conclusion

In the unpredictable world of skilled trades, preparation is not just a strategy; it’s a necessity. Trades across various industries can benefit from being prepared for weather changes, natural disasters, and unusual increases in project requests due to unforeseen circumstances. In fact, a study by McKinsey & Company found that companies using digital tools and predictive analytics saw a 30% improvement in project delivery times, while an American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) report noted that businesses with comprehensive safety training programs experienced a 48% reduction in workplace injuries.

By planning effectively, equipping your team with the right tools, and using digital solutions like GoCanvas, you can transform potential challenges into opportunities for growth. The data speaks for itself: Businesses that adopt digital tools and prioritize safety see significant improvements in productivity and fewer workplace injuries. Don’t wait for the next seasonal change or weather disaster to disrupt your operations—prepare now with GoCanvas. Our digital solutions help you stay organized, ensure safety, and keep your projects on track, no matter the weather. Visit GoCanvas today to learn more and request a demo to see how we can help you stay ahead of the game.

By embracing digital transformation with GoCanvas, your trade business can confidently navigate seasonal challenges and weather disasters, helping you secure a more prosperous professional future.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

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7 Biggest SDS Compliance Violations in Chemical Manufacturing (And How to Reduce the Risk)

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Not complying with the safety data sheet (SDS) regulations can cost chemical manufacturers in terms of fines, customers, and reputation. Knowing and avoiding the biggest SDS compliance violations is one of the best ways to follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations

This article reveals the top seven SDS compliance violations to give you the best chance of preventing legal issues and protecting your brand image. And because meeting every requirement can be challenging for many chemical manufacturers, we will show you where to get a comprehensive SDS-compliant checklist to make things easy. 

OSHA requires distributors and manufacturers to provide an SDS for each hazardous chemical. As the bare minimum, the SDS should use a clear, user-friendly, 16-section format to inform downstream users about the substance. 

Each section should provide specific minimum information detailed in the Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). The information must be in English, although copies in other languages can be provided if necessary. 

In 2011, OSHA penalized two manufacturers and two distributors of hair products for failing to inform users of the substance’s potential hazards and protect their employees from exposure. In fact, the total fine for the four companies totaled $49,200. 

Manufacturers are responsible for evaluating the risks related to a particular chemical and including the hazards in an SDS. Concerning communication of chemical hazards, the sheet should: 

  • Specify the concentration (exact percentages)—sometimes, concentration ranges may be used to protect trade secrets
  • Explain why the substance is hazardous
  • Indicate the chemical’s possible harm
  • List protective measures users should follow
  • Describe what users should do in an emergency

Having a static SDS may not always be enough to meet OSHA requirements, resulting in SDS compliance violations. In some instances, updates are necessary—and they must be made within a particular period to avoid noncompliance. 

According to OSHA, chemical manufacturers must ensure SDS information accurately details hazards and how to protect against them. But when your company discovers new potential harm of a particular chemical or identifies more effective ways to avoid the risks, the new details should be added to the SDS within three months

On the other hand, the chemical labels must be revised within six months, depending on the significance of the new information. In short, your company needs to update its SDSs in one or all of the circumstances below: 

  • The manufacturer makes significant changes to the chemical compound.
  • Research reveals considerable new information about a chemical’s potential harm or anti-hazard measures.

Improper handling and storage can cause toxic exposures, explosions, as well as fires from chemical reactions. That’s why OSHA requires manufacturers to include a safe handling and storage section in the SDS. 

Required information includes: 

Every employer must have a readily accessible SDS for employees in the workplace. To ensure chemical safety, information about the identities, as well as potential dangers of chemicals, must be readily available and understandable to workers. 

Manufacturers are also responsible for classifying chemical hazards and transmitting the information to employers through data sheets. An SDS must be provided in the initial shipment as well as the first shipment after a sheet update. Additionally, chemical manufacturers must provide the document to employers or distributors upon request. 

OSHA laws require SDSs to reveal a chemical’s ingredients. The required information includes the following: 

  • Chemical name, common name, and synonyms
  • Stabilizing additives and impurities
  • The exact percentage of each ingredient that is considered a health hazard
  • Whether these ingredients are present above their concentration limits
  • Whether the ingredients are present below concentration limits but are still a health risk

Your company can use concentration ranges if specifying the exact percentage exposes trade secrets. In that case, you must also include a statement indicating that the exact chemical concentration has been withheld. 

In addition to ingredient information, OSHA calls for the minimum information about the physical and chemical properties required in the SDS compliance checklist: 

  • Chemical appearance and odor
  • Freezing and melting point
  • Evaporation rate
  • Viscosity
  • Solubility
  • Boiling point and range
  • Flammability and pH
  • Vapor pressure and density
  • Explosive limits
  • Partition coefficient

You don’t need to include everything on the above list if a physical or chemical property doesn’t apply to your products. However, you need to ensure every property relevant to your company’s chemicals is sufficiently detailed in the SDS. You should also include other relevant properties not indicated on the list above.  

Not including exposure limits in your SDS can also result in expensive noncompliance penalties. An exposure control section in the sheet helps recommend personal protective measures and minimize user exposure to chemicals. Essential details to cover in this section include: 

  • Exposure limits from regulatory bodies, such as OSHA and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)
  • Your recommended exposure limit as the chemical manufacturer
  • The necessary engineering controls
  • Advice for personal protective measures to prevent exposure to chemicals
  • Recommended personal protective equipment (PPE)

Manufacturers are required to obtain or create an SDS for every chemical they produce. Additionally, they must ensure a copy of that sheet is available for customers. 

The SDS compliance checklist form from GoCanvas is easily accessible from a smartphone or tablet. This also makes it easier for employers and employees to access safety data and handle chemical inventory appropriately. 

Because the checklist comes as an SDS-compliant template, you don’t have to create the sheet from scratch, which saves you money and time. In fact, once you create the document, it becomes mobile-accessible via smartphones and tablets to easily empower employers to create a hazard management program and enhance occupational safety. Request a demo today to see how our SDS compliance template helps you save time and money.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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What Is a Confined Space Safety Plan, and Why Is it Essential?

What Is a Confined Space Safety Plan, and Why Is it Essential?

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The have significant workplace hazards, and confined spaces are often the riskiest places on a job site. Working in confined spaces is often essential. That’s why companies must take steps to mitigate the hazards. A confined space safety plan is vital for efficient operations and the safety of your team.

According to OSHA, the definition of a confined space is any space that isn’t designed for people, but workers can enter to do essential work when necessary. This can be any area where workers aren’t free to move about or react to danger. Examples include a cistern, tunnel, equipment housing, or pipeline.

The regulatory body further denotes potentially dangerous confined spaces as “permit-required confined space,” or just “permit space” for short. These permit spaces include areas where a confined space poses additional risks to a worker. A permit space includes areas that could potentially trap or injure a worker, contain harmful chemicals, or don’t allow for easy escape.

All confined spaces must be approached with a thorough safety plan. However, permit-required confined spaces can be serious workplace hazards. Precautions must always be taken. OSHA and other regulatory agencies enforce certain safety measures in permit space.

All employees who work in confined spaces must be thoroughly trained on the potential hazards and all the safety precautions available to them. While some work in confined spaces may be quick and urgent, ensure only workers trained to work in those conditions enter. Accidents are disruptive to the flow of your operation. More importantly, though, your workers have a right to a safe workplace.

Before entering any confined space, inspect the area to ensure all safety equipment is in place and functioning properly and that there are no unexpected hazards. Tests on temperature and oxygen levels should also be routine before work begins.

Once inside a confined space, the worker should maintain contact with a trained attendant the entire time. This can be done visually with a camera feed or by voice for permit space with an opening. It can also easily be accomplished with radios. While working, the technician should continue to update the attendant on their status. As they work, they should verify full function of any safety equipment like full protection, ventilation, and lighting. In many situations, the attendant can also monitor some of these factors outside the confined space. 

The procedure should always be followed in confined spaces, and there should always be redundant steps to verify a safe working environment. Gauges and monitoring software should not be implicitly trusted, but instead verified for accuracy continually.

To ensure safety and smooth operations, every operation needs a well-crafted plan for working in confined spaces. The plan you use shouldn’t be a generalized solution. Instead, have specific measures for the confined spaces your workers face daily. Each space should have a plan specific to its particular hazards. Additionally, only workers trained in that space and its safety plan should be allowed inside.

When creating your safety plan, start with a thorough inspection of any confined spaces. Identify potential hazards and conditions that could complicate movement or safety precautions. Consider the type of work that may be done in the space. Lastly, create a checklist that verifies the safety of the space for workers before entry.

This is a start, but a comprehensive safety plan continually evolves to ensure the safest working environment possible. Learn from any unexpected hazards that present themselves in confined spaces, and continually update your safety plan. A hazard that occurs once will likely happen again. Therefore, adapt your safety measures to provide the best protection for your workers.

If your safety plan for confined spaces isn’t followed, it does nothing to protect your workers. Furthermore, if safety precautions are being ignored in the most dangerous areas of your operation, you’re not providing the legally required protections to workers. 

A culture of safety doesn’t happen overnight. Your workers need to know that safety is important, and the safety plan for confined spaces is non-negotiable. Supervisors in your operation should all be thoroughly trained on each safety plan, as well as on the importance of following them every time.

Culture flows from the top down, typically. As your workers see that it’s important to their supervisors, they will care more about the safety plan.

To ensure your safety plan for confined spaces is followed, keep logs of every activity in confined spaces. Workers should document who entered when and why every time work is conducted. This lets you know that your workers are taking safety seriously. In addition, this approach compiles a record of compliance for any inspectors. As your safety plan is implemented, records let you see any changes that need to be made.

Only authorized and trained workers should be working in confined spaces. Ensure they are entirely comfortable with the process and can document their work and any comments on the plan every time. Remember to get feedback from those workers on the plan, as they are your best resource for knowing when changes need to be made.

Safety is about consistency and attention to detail. With any safety plan for working in a confined space, your workers need to be consistent every time in the precautions they take. 

At the same time, you don’t want to create extra work for your team that could cause them to waste time or skip essential safety steps. With GoCanvas, you can automate your safety plan so that staying safe is straightforward for your workers.With GoCanvas, you can create custom mobile forms to automate your safety process without being a tech guru. GoCanvas makes it easy for your workers to stay compliant and safe. Come see how our confined space safety plan support can make your operation safer and smoother today!

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Manage Risk for Oil and Gas Companies With a Risk Assessment Checklist

Manage Risk for Oil and Gas Companies With a Risk Assessment Checklist

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Today, the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry are considerable. Effective business leaders and managers must thoroughly understand them to determine and implement the most effective risk management strategies for their company. There are several commonly recognized best practices for risk management in the oil and gas industry. However, no one-size-fits-all approach will mitigate all actual and potential vulnerabilities. Each company is unique and requires its own customized risk assessment checklist that, at minimum, addresses the following areas:   

  • Supply, demand, and market dynamics
  • Worker health and safety
  • Environmental impact
  • Cybersecurity

A broad understanding of these vulnerabilities can help businesses pinpoint specific areas they need to address.

The market for oil and gas is often quite volatile. Sudden changes in regional economies, wars, or public health can dramatically increase or decrease the supply or demand for oil in a matter of days. And when these shocks occur, the entire industry – including equipment, transport, storage, refining, training, marketing, and software businesses – feels the effects.

Moreover, the industry is highly regulated in most parts of the world, with new laws and regulations expected to continue to emerge. Additionally, many countries are moving to curtail greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to combat climate change. As a result, nations and multinational organizations are drafting and implementing regulations which will continue to affect both the supply of and demand for oil and gas. And some industries, most notably the automobile industry, are shifting production away from gas-powered products to those powered by alternative fuel sources.

A single weather event in a key region could affect a company’s output or demand. So, it’s essential for oil and gas business leaders to carefully assess all the elements of their supply chain and customer base. It’s just as critical to monitor events continuously. This approach allows adjustments to be made, and new plans developed in real-time to help navigate the market’s inherent volatility.

Furthermore, oil and gas prices in commodities markets are dynamic. That means oil and gas companies must hedge their risks using certain investing strategies. Leveraging derivatives, such as futures, swaps, forwards, and options, can offset the losses a company may face that see a sudden drop in demand. However, these strategies come with their own risks and must be executed carefully.

While the use of machines and automated tools has helped increase worker safety considerably, oil and gas extraction is still quite dangerous. The work is long, and the working conditions are difficult. And no matter how sophisticated and rugged the machinery is in use, it can break down, resulting in injured workers, making an extraction even more difficult.

Oil and gas companies must design and implement solid worker health and safety plans that cover every aspect of their operation. Doing so is not just a matter of morality and productivity. The federal government requires it. Failing to comply with safety standards exposes companies to serious legal liability.

Part of any effective health and safety plan includes continuous monitoring of worksites, equipment, and conditions. Doing so helps managers identify and remediate safety issues before those issues cause equipment damage or result in injuries. Federal regulations also require businesses to report workplace safety incidents that result in illness or injury. Failing to comply or complying inconsistently introduces considerable legal risks.

Broadly, the energy sector has an outsized impact on the environment relative to most other industries. Oil and gas extraction, refining, and distribution result in GHG emissions. However, industry operations also come with the risk of oil spills, the need to dispose of hazardous waste, and other effects. And even if a vendor is directly responsible for an accident, it can be hard for a prominent oil or gas company to avoid taking the blame in the eyes of the public.

There’s also increasing scrutiny of whether companies operate sustainably. What once were esoteric and internal business processes are now regularly dissected on blogs and websites. Some companies have found it more difficult to do business because they directly or indirectly have a substantial negative impact on the environment.

Of the four areas of risk management outlined, cybersecurity is the most recent. However, it also potentially poses the greatest risk. Cyber threats continue to grow in scale and scope, threatening businesses and organizations of all sizes and industries. Criminals will target any business from which they believe they can extract a ransom. But the oil and gas industry is also vulnerable to hacking attempts from more than just thieves.

Nation-state and non-nation-state actors have increasingly targeted the oil and gas industry and other critical infrastructure industries for geopolitical advantage. Some attacks are tied to armed conflicts, as oil and gas are critical wartime supplies. And in a global market, some hackers seek trade secrets on behalf of foreign interests.

Oil and gas companies have embraced new digital operational equipment that leverages robotics, machine learning, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With that transformation comes new vulnerabilities. While business efficiency and productivity improve with digitization, potential access points increase. It’s true that hackers can steal corporate data in other industries. However, hackers infiltrating oil and gas networks can also deliberately or inadvertently cause significant physical and environmental incidents. These directly compromise worker safety and the environment.

Companies across the globe are in a fierce talent war for cybersecurity professionals. Oil and gas companies must also recruit and retain talented staff who can stay on top of emerging threats within the context of a unique and highly dynamic sector. These threats do not include outside actors. Instead, they involve internal threats from negligent or disgruntled employees.

Risk management in the oil and gas industry requires business leaders and managers to understand them and use the appropriate tools to evaluate them. Oil and gas companies need the right risk assessment checklist to help them evaluate the unique threats their firm faces. The GoCanvas team has created an effective risk assessment checklist to help you comprehensively assess your worksites.

Liability issues stemming from worker injuries aren’t the only worker health and safety issues leaders and managers must address. Some worker safety issues are a direct result of worker stress. And in an industry distinguished by hard work under tough conditions, businesses must evaluate and mitigate employee stress to mitigate the risk of workplace accidents.

GoCanvas also has developed a stress managers risk assessment tool that can help you gain invaluable insight into how your employees are faring and help you manage risk.

These are just two of the tools that GoCanvas offers business leaders and managers in the oil and gas industry. Our products are aligned with federal OSHA standards and easily customizable to fit your business needs. Visit GoCanvas to learn more about safeguarding your business from market, operational, and organizational risks today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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7 Tips To Pump Up Your Power Plant Safety

7 Tips To Pump Up Your Power Plant Safety

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Power plants have many regulations to live up to. However, bolstering power plant safety isn’t just about avoiding fines and improving your bottom line. Working in power plants can be dangerous for employees. A solid slate of safety precautions doesn’t just improve the efficiency of the plant, but it also empowers your employees to do their jobs without the threat of avoidable hazards.

Simple, common-sense precautions can greatly reduce the risk to your employees, as well as the threat of lost time or the costly waste of resources that can result from accidents. Consequently, keeping your power plant safe increases both the productivity of your business and the welfare of your workers.

Below, we’ve included some common ways to increase safety in power plants. These power plant safety topics will certainly get you started but remember– safety involves both learning and taking action. Educate your workers and your team about hazards, and implement programs and systems to improve the safety of your power plant.

Safety equipment is the most basic precaution you must provide your workers. In addition, asking workers to perform tasks without adequate protection isn’t just risky. It’s often illegal.

Check those supplies of gloves, tinted glasses, hard hats, and other safety equipment. The last thing you want is a worker not using the proper equipment because there was none available. Since this protective equipment is often housed in many locations where workers need it, some supplies may be understocked.

Create systems for protective equipment so that what is on hand is regularly checked and reported. Therefore, knowing where supplies are needed is the first step to ensuring that your workers always have the protection they need.

All safety equipment in the plant must be inspected regularly in rotation. Don’t overlook anything. Workplace accidents at a power plant can be incredibly dangerous and costly. It’s worth the time to ensure that all safety precautions are working as intended at all times.

Create a regular schedule and allot resources. This way, your maintenance department can methodically verify the function of all safety equipment in the plant. This should be a priority and always ongoing. A breakdown in a critical system will be far less costly and damaging to operations if all safety equipment is performing as it should.

Unfortunately, accidents do sometimes occur. However, if your safety programs work as intended, the damage to your plant’s team or productivity should be limited. During an emergency, one of the most important safety measures is always going to be giving workers a way to escape from harm’s way.

Multiple exits to any potentially hazardous area must be clearly marked. Additionally, ensure the entire team is well-educated about escape protocols. Any escape route should be hazard-free, even in the event of a total systems collapse. The last thing you want is a worker’s escape route to be obstructed because of an air supply failure or furnace pulsation. 

Every worker in your power plant must know every step of the safety protocol, from top to bottom. All the safety precautions in the world mean little if your team doesn’t know how to properly utilize them, or if they’re even there.

Safety culture starts at the top. If your management team makes safety a priority and shows it by example, the whole team will work safer. Regular education and dialogue with your team about safety accomplish two things. It teaches them how to work more safely. And it teaches you about hazards you may not have noticed.

Technological solutions allow your plant to work more efficiently and safely. However, precautions must be taken, so you know that strength won’t become a weakness. Cybercriminals can do a lot of damage to your operations from even a small security breach. One breach could compromise the safety of the plant.

Protect your digital systems with thorough cybersecurity measures. A safe plant must be a secure plant, especially if you’ve automated procedures for a safer working environment.

No matter how often your team uses equipment in the plant, they could benefit from safety training. Without proper, regular safety training, your workers will develop bad habits over time. For example, large equipment is costly and potentially very dangerous if misused. When new workers start, they’ll often pick up these bad habits from existing workers.

Regular and thorough equipment training is important to show your team the proper procedures with plant equipment. Additionally, show them the importance of attention to detail. Repeated safety training may feel redundant to your veterans. However, the best way to operate a machine perfectly every time is to practice the perfect way of operating it repeatedly.

The best safety program is one that has a rigid schedule to ensure all measures are followed. The reality is that a plant’s workers are the ones who ensure safety every day. However, ensure safety is checked and verified daily by automating safety and compliance checks.

Regulation compliance is often complex in a power plant. But automation can simplify needs down to a checklist and regular tasks. This can eliminate human error from safety planning, and it just makes life easier on your team. The software keeps compliance and safety tasks straight so they don’t have to.

At GoCanvas, we help streamline the safety process in your plant with automated safety and compliance plans. With our safety and compliance software, you’ll know that all the precautions in your plant are up-to-date. In addition, you’ll have easily available documentation of every inspection, inventory, or test. If anything goes wrong, you’ll have documentation on that as well. You will know exactly where retraining or new equipment is needed.

Undoubtedly, safety and compliance aren’t just good business practices in a power plant. They’re an essential part of the business. Keep your plant running smoothly and your workers safe and compliant by transforming your plant into a safer workplace today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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How Electric Cooperatives are Keeping Workers Safe Across the U.S.

How Electric Cooperatives are Keeping Workers Safe Across the U.S.

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Electric cooperatives are increasing safety for workers and contractors across the United States. These initiatives include a commitment to zero contacts, the Rural Electric Safety Program, and other key safety education programs. They aim to help improve safety for workers and contractors for electrical companies across the country. Taking part in those initiatives can help many electrical companies across the United States create a greater overall level of safety for their individual workers and mitigate risk for the company as a whole.

The Commitment to Zero Contacts begins with Phase 1: a re-commitment to lifesaving tools. Most electrical companies are aware of those lifesaving measures and how they can best ensure the safety of their workers. However, over time, those workers grow increasingly complacent. In addition, new workers may not receive the information they need to make the safest decisions on the job site.

In order to increase safety for electrical workers, the Commitment to Zero Contacts initiative has created a toolkit to help increase awareness of those lifesaving tools and critical safety regulations. The toolkit has a variety of resources designed to help improve overall safety on work sites, including:

  • An emergency information placard that allows for a place to note emergency contact information for every job briefing. These emergency information placards make it easier for workers to get in touch with emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
  • Videos to help start the discussion about procedures designed to minimize contact. These include clearance procedures, cover-up procedures, and examples of how other companies have initiated those key changes.
  • Rules and procedures to help senior leadership make key decisions about operations and implement new programs. 

In addition, the toolkit contains logos, posters, stickers, and other materials designed to serve as a reminder of that zero contact commitment. As a result, workers are exposed to those reminders more often. This helps increase the odds that they will take needed safety precautions. 

As the initiative moves toward Phase 2, the electric cooperative will partner with operational department leaders. They review current workplace procedures, including those that could increase the risk of electrical contact. These hands-on meetings will broaden opportunities and provide more chances for discussion. In turn, they can help electrical companies across the country create more effective procedures. These assessments help provide more insight into actual work practices and create more buy-in across local electrical companies. 

The Rural Electric  Achievement Program issues key performance measurement guidelines. This help lay out standardized reporting guidelines and safety initiatives that help increase awareness of potential vehicle accidents in rural electric companies. This safety program aims to improve the reporting of accidents in rural electric companies. As a result, we gain a better understanding of how and when accidents most likely occur. It recommends:

  • Regular tracking of vehicle accidents and vehicle mileage, which can help determine where and when accidents occur.
  • Updating performance measurement data when injury rates are finalized.
  • Tracking the demographics of potential accidents.

The Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program tracks the types of accidents that cause any type of fatalities. These include vehicle accidents, falls, electrical contacts, electrical flashes, “struck by object” injuries, non-electrical fatalities, or crushing damage. In addition, the program looks at the likely cause or causes of fatalities. These often include inadequate cover, minimum approach violation, failure to wear safety equipment, failure to ground, and failure to lock out/tag out. In short, the program takes a close look at the causes of fatalities. As a result, it can identify what safety violations are most common across rural electric companies and their workers. 

The initiative also aims to track injuries, including injuries that resulted in days away from work, and the causes of those injuries. By carefully tracking all those key details, the RESAP aims to increase awareness of potentially damaging injuries, their causes, and how workers can improve overall safety on the job site. 

The recent rise in safety initiatives across electric companies has created a number of challenges. One of the main ones is the need to ensure that paperwork gets caught up in a timely manner. By automating safety and compliance paperwork, electric companies can experience a number of benefits. We’ve outlined three.

Failing to comply with vital safety initiatives poses a danger to all electrical workers. Unfortunately, in many cases, the company may not realize that individual workers or groups of workers are failing to take those safety requirements into consideration. By automating the completion of that paperwork, companies can identify potential risks and mitigate them quickly, rather than exposing future workers to those risks. 

Automated safety and compliance paperwork completion also help ensure that the company is keeping all of its paperwork ready to go and all safety compliance standards in place. As a result, they reduce the overall risk that the company may face fines and fees from regulatory agencies.

Safety and compliance can prove very expensive for some electrical companies. Furthermore, failure to keep up with vital safety regulations further increases overall costs. This is because the company may face liability for any accident that occurs due to a lack of appropriate safety measures. By automating safety and compliance paperwork, on the other hand, companies can often save money by streamlining the process and avoiding unnecessary accidents and the associated fees. 

Electrical workers know the risks they face on the job. Unfortunately, over the years, those workers may grow complacent. New workers on the job may also be unaware of potential risks, especially if they do not receive the right briefings and support. By automating safety and compliance paperwork, the company can take those requirements out of the hands of individual workers, increasing the odds of successful completion and compliance. 

Safety and compliance in the electrical field are essential. By working with electrical cooperatives across the United States, companies can see higher overall safety levels. As a result, they can reduce injuries, protect workers, and decrease the cost of those vital safety requirements.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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The Best Risk Mitigation Strategies For Transporting Hazmat Materials

The Best Risk Mitigation Strategies For Transporting Hazmat Materials

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Transporting hazardous materials means meeting strict safety standards and regulations set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and OSHA. Safely transporting hazmat materials includes preventing accidents that could cause devastating injuries to the driver of the truck, as well as others around that driver on the road. 

Hazardous material compliance is the process of ensuring that all hazardous materials are safely handled during the transportation process. In order to safely ship hazardous materials, carriers may need to meet specific safety goals and requirements. The FMCSA uses hazardous material compliance as one of the key factors in ranking carriers when it comes to potential safety problems. 

In order to meet compliance regulations for properly transporting hazardous materials, you need to follow six important steps. 

Look up the material you intend to ship on the DOT Hazmat Table. This table will provide a number of essential details about the hazardous material, including:

  • Label codes
  • Packaging requirements
  • Quantity limitations
  • Any special provisions or exceptions regarding the transportation of that particular hazardous material

Properly classifying the hazardous material is an essential first step in safely transporting that item. This is because classification impacts how you package, label, and document the shipment

Look at how much of that specific material you will be shipping. This data lets you know what type of packaging is required for that material. Keep in mind that you may need to use specific markings on the package that designate what it is and the quantity. 

Pay careful attention to the packaging requirements laid out for that specific hazardous material. You may have to use performance packaging designed to keep that material as safe and contained as possible. 

Hazardous material markings help designate what is in the package and any specific directions related to moving it. For example, it may note that the contents are flammable, that they should be kept away from heat, or that there is a significant danger if the substance is inhaled. Markings may also designate the appropriate package orientation or information about the quantity expected in that package. 

Pay attention to the specific requirements of the material you intend to ship. You may be required to have initial shipping documents for hazardous materials, so make sure you understand the requirements upfront. 

Make sure your carrier is aware of what you are shipping and any anticipated timeline. Check-in with your carrier about any additional requirements for shipping this specific hazardous material, since some carriers may have their own safety requirements.

Shipping hazardous materials can be a complicated process. At work, when the material is not in transit, OSHA regulations may govern the storage and handling of hazardous materials. OSHA does require a certain level of training in order to ensure that carriers and other employees can handle those hazardous materials safely. However, the FMCSA typically sets the regulations required for safely moving hazardous material, including both shipper responsibilities like packaging, marking, and employee training, and carrier responsibilities like loading and unloading, incident reporting, and marking the vehicle. 

Hazardous materials often require a higher level of security than other shipments. Many of those materials could pose a substantial danger to others or to the environment if inadvertently spilled, broken into, or stolen. During transport, carriers may need to take additional steps to protect their cargo, especially when it meets the requirements set out by the US Department of Transportation.

Security requirements may include:

  • Reducing unauthorized access. Restricting available information about the facility or the individuals transporting hazardous goods can help prevent others from accessing it. 
  • Using tamper-resistant seals and locks on cargo.
  • Verifying the identity of both the carrier and the recipient of the cargo so that it is clear that hazardous materials have gone to the right place. 
  • Identifying the route that the driver should take, including acceptable deviations due to challenges faced along the route. 
  • Minimizing exposure to populated areas during the drive.
  • Avoiding tunnels and bridges.
  • Minimizing stops. In some cases, carriers may want to use two drivers or driver relays to minimize the number of stops required during a trip, particularly overnight stops. 
  • Using secure facilities for storage, including overnight storage. 
  • Using technology to track the movement of hazardous packages during shipping. 

In addition, some hazardous material shipments may benefit from having a guard to help protect the shipment and ensure that it reaches its destination safely. 

Transporting hazardous materials brings with it a number of potential dangers. Mishandling hazardous materials is one of the most serious threats. Not only can improper packaging increase the risk of a leak or spill, but it may also increase the risks to first responders in an accident scenario. Carriers may need to go through specific training geared toward transporting hazardous materials safely. By making sure to properly label and package hazardous materials, shippers can decrease the odds of a dangerous incident.

Meeting regulatory standards is the biggest concern when transporting hazardous materials. Errors in labeling or documentation are among the most common challenges that result in shipments being returned to the sender. Failing to understand necessary packaging requirements may also mean that hazardous materials get shipped without proper labeling or marking, which can increase the danger to others. By taking the time to understand Hazmat regulations, both shippers and carriers can ensure a higher degree of safety for everyone involved. 

Shippers who regularly need to transport hazardous materials should pay careful attention to shipping regulations, By carefully following those regulations, they can help ensure the security of those items, protect themselves, and increase the odds that those materials will reach their destination in a timely manner.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Common Workplace Hazards for Field Service Providers and What to Do About Them

Common Workplace Hazards for Field Service Providers and What to Do About Them

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Field service providers face a variety of safety hazards while on the job site. Some of these hazards are common to all workplaces, while others are specific to the field service industry. By knowing what these hazards are and how to protect yourself from them, you and your field technicians can stay safe while working.

Common workplace hazards include slips, trips, and falls. However, more specific to the field service industry are risks such as working at heights, driving hazards, electrical hazards, and exposure to harmful chemicals.

Slips, trips, and falls are among the most common on-site accidents. They can happen anywhere there is a change in elevation or surface type, such as going from a carpeted floor to a tile floor. They can also happen when loose cords or clutter create a tripping hazard.

  • Keep floors clean and free of debris
  • Use floor mats or anti-slip tape in areas where there is a risk of slipping
  • Make sure all cords are neatly organized and out of the way
  • Be aware of changes in elevation, such as steps, curbs, or confined spaces

Working at heights can be dangerous for field service technicians, whether climbing a ladder to clean gutters or working on a roof. Falls from heights are one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities.

  • Wear appropriate fall protection gear, such as a harness
  • Inspect your personal protective equipment (PPE) before use to make sure it is in good condition
  • Use the buddy system when possible
  • Be aware of your surroundings and stay away from edges

Field service providers often have to drive as part of their job. This can be hazardous if you’re not used to driving in certain conditions, such as icy roads.

  • Be familiar with the route you’re taking
  • Plan for extra time, so you don’t have to rush
  • Be aware of other drivers

Electrical hazards are common in the field service industry because technicians often work with wiring and other electrical components. shocks and burns are the most common injuries from electrical hazards.

  • Turn off all power before working on electrical components
  • Use proper safety gear, such as gloves and goggles
  • Inspect equipment for damage before use
  • Keep your work area clear of flammable materials

Many field service providers work with chemicals that can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Some common examples are solvents, cleaners, and pesticides.

  • Read the label carefully and follow all directions
  • Wear proper safety gear, such as gloves and a respirator
  • Work in a well-ventilated area
  • Keep chemicals stored in their original containers

If you or someone else is injured on the job, it’s important to know what your safety procedures are.

  • Call for medical help if necessary
  • Report the accident to your supervisor
  • Fill out any necessary paperwork
  • Follow up with your doctor for any injuries sustained

By following these safety tips, you can help prevent accidents and injuries on the job. If an accident occurs, ensure you know how to respond so you can get the help you need.

Safety training is vital to service work. GoCanvas can help you implement your safety policies by providing your business with field service management software where you can create safety training, checklists, and workflows to protect the operational safety of your field service business. Contact us today to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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