Month: September 2020

Apex and OptiRTC Announce Strategic Partnership in Cloud-Based Stormwater Infrastructure Management

Building Healthier Environments and Safer Communities

Rockville, MD—Apex Companies, LLC (Apex) and OptiRTC, Inc. (Opti®) have entered into a strategic partnership to provide critical stormwater management services for private and public sector clients across the US. Through this partnership, Apex, an award-winning water resources, environmental services, health & safety, and assurance & compliance company, will install, operate, and maintain Opti’s continuous monitoring and adaptive control (CMAC) field assets.

The combined service suite proactively manages surface water storage infrastructure and conveyance to provide clients and communities improved water quality and reductions in flood risk and combined sewer overflows.

Backed by Opti technology—which uses data collection from Internet of Things (IoT) devices, streaming weather forecasts, and a cloud-based software system that constantly monitors and manages wet weather events—the Apex-Opti partnership provides a highly effective data-driven stormwater management platform with reduced capital costs and improved system reliability.

“The power and sophistication of Opti’s platform with the expertise of Apex’s environmental and field services provides 24×7 reliability to proactively manage stormwater storage and flooding events,” said Rylan Farr, Apex’s Vice President. “This helps our clients and our communities mitigate the dangers and destruction caused by more frequent and severe storm events.”

Opti’s CEO, David Rubinstein, adds, “Expert installation and comprehensive maintenance are critical to our solution’s effectiveness. Apex’s site-specific approach to stormwater functionality, regulatory knowledge, and comprehensive expertise is a true asset to our team. What makes our partnership so effective and impactful is our collective digital mindset. Together, we’re changing the face of stormwater management– moving it from a regulatory necessity to a dynamic and resilient infrastructure that intuitively protects our nation’s most valuable resource.”

Safety First, Safety Always, and Safety After a Shutdown or Hiatus

As businesses like yours prepare to restart, ramp up, and return to normal production capacities, you can face many challenges including retraining your workforce and ensuring that COVID-19 implemented changes are understood by all levels of your organization.

But what about the normal, everyday worker responsibilities that may have become a faint memory due to an extended absence or changes to physical demands due to a prolonged production slowdown?

To reduce your chances of a spike in injuries and incidents, here are a few things to help prepare your workforce and your business:

Worker Self-Assessment Checklist Considerations

A worker self-assessment checklist is not only a great idea to assess for COVID-19 symptoms, but it will also help your workers acknowledge if they are truly prepared to return to their position. A few worker-related questions should include:

  • Worker scanning his surroundingsAre you physically capable of performing all aspects of your job?
  • Have there been changes in your physical health that could impact your ability to perform essential responsibilities associated with your position?
  • Have there been any changes in your work environment that alter how you do your job or your personal safety? A good tip is to size up your work area with a Take 5 to Scan 10 (take 5 seconds to scan 10’ around you).
  • Have you inspected your personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to using it to ensure it’s in good condition and proper working condition? For example, if you use a cartridge respirator, do the cartridges need to be replaced?
  • Has your Work Statement or any of your job duties changed? If so, are there any new hazards or exposures you need to consider?
  • Do you feel comfortable performing all aspects of your job?

Management Checklist Considerations

As employees return to the workplace, your management team should review their operations, develop initiatives, and take action to ensure that the workplace is as safe as possible. A few management-related questions should include:

  • Has specific equipment sat idle for a period of time and if so, should it be inspected by an expert or third party prior to its use? Is lubrication, adjustment, or other maintenance needed prior to start up?
  • Are there key positions that involve more risk than others that require additional worker safety training or retraining?
  • Are there employees with limited experience that may have a more challenging time identifying issues such as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) or machine guarding? If so, should I limit their activities for a period of time until they refamiliarize themselves with the hazards?
  • Is the appropriate signage in place to remind workers of new policies and procedures related to COVID-19?
  • Do the engineering controls and other changes implemented due to COVID-19 pose reduce worker efficiencies, create additional steps, etc. that could inadvertently result workarounds or unsafe working conditions?

During the coming months, we’re likely to see a rise in soft-tissue injuries, strains, sprains, and other work-related injuries. Taking a moment to assess your workforce and challenge your individual workers to raise any concerns can greatly reduce that risk.

Download our simple checklist, and if you need help with retraining, job hazard analyses (JHAs), or workplace risk assessments including ergonomics, please contact us today!

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