Article original appeared in the Journal of IKECA Spring 2023
As the owner of
The Hood Boss, a KEC Company in Texas, and someone with over 20 years of
experience in the KEC business, I have first-hand knowledge of why it is vital
to take pictures of
the services you perform. With understanding how important it is to properly
document work performed, I created My Tech Pix, a software platform with a
phone app that ensures proper documentation of work performed per NFPA 96 rules
and guidelines for KEC companies.
Here are the top 5 reasons why it is critical to take before
and after pictures of the work performed by KEC companies.
1. Completion of
Work: Pictures provide visual documentation of the work that has been done
which can be used as proof for customers that the cleaning
was completed and can also be used to show the before and after results of the cleaning. This
documentation is useful for customers and can also be used to
resolve any disputes or questions about the work that was performed while
building trust with your client. Something to be noted is I have spoken to
restaurant owners in the past that have stated that there are only a few
employees at the facility that are covered by their insurance policy to get on
the roof top. This means providing pictures of the work performed on the roof
top and in the sub-ceiling helps them monitor and feel comfortable with the
work being performed in areas they may not be able to physically monitor.
2. Identifying
areas that need Attention: By taking pictures of the exhaust system before
and after the
cleaning, the company can identify and document areas that may need more attention in the future. For example, if a
particular section of
the exhaust system is heavily soiled, the company can make note of this and
schedule a more thorough cleaning in the future. Another example would be documenting an inaccessible area
in the horizontal duct
work of system that needs access panels to be properly cleaned. Documenting this
area by photo documentation,
allows the client to visually verify the need that is being
communicated to them.
3. Attracting new
business: Pictures can be used to showcase the company’s work to potential customers.
By having a portfolio of pictures demonstrating the quality of their work, the
company can attract
new business and build trust with potential customers. In addition, using a professional
platform to
take pictures during the sales inspection process and then presenting those pictures within
the platform can showcase
to the client what they can expect after each service. This can provide a
competitive edge on your competition.
4. Protection from Liability and Claims: In
today’s world, not documenting each of your KEC
services could lead to claims against your insurance. I
cannot quantify how much money we have been able to save over the last 10 years against claims that were made. Because of the pictures we provided, we were not held
liable after review. The
reason for potential claims can range from something as small as a
damaged piece of equipment to a claim that negligence in your service caused
the spread of a fire and tens of thousands of dollars in damage. It
only takes several small claims against your insurance or one large one for the
resulting affect to cost you thousands of dollars in increases to your
insurance premiums on an annual basis.
5. Quality Control: Over the years I have come to the realization that I cannot be at every job and neither can my managers. Pictures of each cleaning service can be used by your management staff to evaluate the quality of the work being performed by your technicians and ensure that the cleaning is done to your company’s and your clients’ standards. This will help the company to identify any areas that need improvement and adjust their cleaning procedures.
Taking pictures of
your kitchen exhaust cleaning services is essential, and it provides an
important tool for your company to grow. Having a streamlined picture process
that allows you to monitor the performance of your crew and protect your
company from claims which can drive sales and reduce your labor cost in the
office and out in the field. NFPA 96 requires that KEC work is documented, and
there is not a better way to accurately and completely document work performed
than with picture documentation. A company, such as My Tech Pix, is crucial in following NFPA 96 documentation guidelines and protecting your
company with photo documentation.
