From the Desk of Corey Bounds:

Through the years, I’ve heard the term “the grease worms got it”. Basically meaning when something broke down, it was because we didn’t maintain it properly. Whether it was in our feed mill or on our farm, the lack of maintenance has always been costly with repairs and downtime. The sawmill industry has always been an even greater challenge when it comes to preventative maintenance. The #covideffect has been real and it has been costly in a lot of areas. The issues within the workforce have made it challenging to keep the mills clean and properly maintained. Double that with record lumber prices and the balance of production versus PM’s, what a force to reckon with!!

What happens when housekeeping and maintenance aren’t kept at a high level? Fires, injuries, and downtime.

Preventative maintenance in its simplest form should be done per the manufacturer’s recommendations and documented. Documentation can be as simple as a checklist on a clipboard or via a workorder system that is generated through a computerized PM system. Documented PM’s have to be done…period.

Housekeeping should be taking place every day and at the end of each week. The old military term, “attention to detail” is something I believe in. When an upset occurs and when a torch or welder is used, where does the spark and slag always go to? It’s in those hard to reach and out of the way areas. The scheduled use of employees and/or contract cleanup is a must.

A dirty mill that is not properly maintained is definitely a recipe for catastrophe!

All the best,

Corey Bounds
Director of Risk Assessment Services
P 804.643.7800 | M 601.479.0076
F 804.643.5800 | E corey@contund.com