Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
On May 10, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed school safety legislation into law and recognized the investment of more than $230 million to strengthen safety at public and private schools across the state. The measures are in response to a March shooting that killed three children and three adults at the Covenant School in Nashville. “Nothing is more […]
Local officials, federal agencies, and military engineers went the whole nine yards in partnering with the National Football League (NFL) to enhance security for the 88th annual draft that concluded in late April. In the months leading up to this year’s highly anticipated draft, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T); […]
Michigan State University (MSU) officials recently shared a progress update on campus safety and security initiatives taken in response to a mass shooting on Feb. 13. Three students were killed and five others were injured during the tragic event. In late April, MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety (DPPS) announced key findings from its ongoing […]
Although physical threats are “skyrocketing,” most C-suite leaders are unprepared to mitigate the impact on operations and people. That’s according to a new report from critical event management provider OnSolve. The study found significant increases to three rising threats globally in 2022 when compared to 2021: infrastructure and technology (+688% globally, +807% in U.S.); transportation […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. With April being Emergency Communications Month, let’s spotlight facilities that are vital in responding to emergencies. Public safety answering points (PSAPs) and emergency operations centers (EOCs) are critical facilities that provide essential services to the community […]
In a constantly changing world, the security and safety challenges schools face—as well as the ways in which schools can address those challenges—are also ever-changing. The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the sixth edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools—a free resource that offers comprehensive information for school administrators, […]
Risk mitigation is the process of planning and developing options to reduce threats or risks to people. Resilience is the ability to learn, respond, reflect, and recover from emergencies. While risk mitigation activities are preventative, and resilience activities are reactive, both place serious responsibility on the shoulders of facilities management teams. What’s important in resilience […]
2023 has already been a very active year for tornadoes, and facilities professionals should know how they can protect their facilities and their occupants from being victims. Tornadoes are the most destructive atmospheric phenomenon, and most tornadoes hit the United States in May and June, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A tornado […]
On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Jamie Hamilton, senior building security, energy, and branding consultant at NGS, explains why windows are a security weakness at facilities. This clip was taken from a recent webinar panel session titled “How to Improve Building Sustainability, Resilience, and Aesthetics at the Same Time.” The full session is available […]
All school employees in Pennsylvania will receive three hours of safety and security training every year, at no charge to their schools, through a new program grant approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “Every kid deserves to be safe and feel safe, whether they’re in the classroom, on the playing field, waiting […]