Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
A state appeals court recently affirmed that California employers are not required to pay for slip-resistant shoes their employees must wear for work. It’s not just in California, though—similar exemptions exist at the federal level. If you require such footwear for your facilities staff, read up on the details of the issue here.
California regulators recently adopted an emergency standard requiring employers to protect workers from wildfire smoke. There are exemptions to the standard, however, and building air filtration is a big one. It’s an opportunity for facilities managers to help their organizations both save money and keep workers healthy.
Every so often, your facilities management team members will find themselves on scaffolds, platforms, or scissor lifts. Whether you’re performing new construction or routine maintenance, fall protection must be addressed whenever an employee is working at heights. Is adequate railing protection enough? Can you require use of a fall arrest system even when one isn’t […]
Safety policies can be a tricky for facilities managers to write up, especially given the breadth of information included in the state and federal guidelines. This is even trickier if your facility falls into a gray area.
They are sharps, after all, so isn’t an extra layer of safety in disposal necessary? As experts at Safety.BLR.com® pointed out in an Ask the Expert question, the trash isn’t technically the proper disposal method—but by the same token, OSHA rules do not mandate that employers address syringes for personal use, which insulin injections would […]
Summer may bring beautiful weather, but facility managers need to be extra vigilant when it comes to controlling workplace safety and health hazards that peak during the summer months, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 7 office in Kansas City, Missouri.
Flood water, whether due to natural causes or infrastructure failure can have catastrophic effects when it comes to electrically powered equipment and appliances. It is always best to contact your supplier for proper procedures, but these tips can help you evaluate damaged electronics.
Wasted energy literally means money out the door of your business—and ultimately lower profitability. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the comfort of your space and an efficient HVAC system, which is another reason to focus on this often-overlooked topic.
Depending on their industry, a facility manager may be required to account for the unique vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health hazards that can arise from a diverse workforce.
You may have heard that New York City (NYC), the most populous city in the United States, has passed a groundbreaking law limiting building GHG emissions in an effort to meet its ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target—80 percent by 2050. The new regulation is having a major impact on building owners and facilities managers […]