Category: Safety

8 Ways to Assess Your Readiness for a Power Outage

Would you be ready for a power outage at your facility if it happened today? Before the power goes out, you need to assess whether your facility can ensure business continuity during an outage. Power outages can be less stressful and manageable with the right prep. Here are 8 questions facilities managers should ask themselves […]

Male janitor with green cleaning supplies near wet floor sign

Top Challenges of Adopting Green Cleaning in Facilities

In commercial facilities, green management practices play a crucial role in protecting the environment, enhancing human health, achieving economic savings, fulfilling social responsibilities, and ensuring long-term competitiveness and compliance. By embracing sustainable practices, these buildings not only contribute to a healthier planet but also create a safer, more efficient, and more appealing environment for all […]

Global Demand Grows for Commercial Building Automation Controls

By automating technologies such as HVAC, lighting, fire and life safety, and security and access controls, building owners and facilities managers have realized they can achieve benefits such as more efficient energy consumption, increased response times to emergencies, and a healthier occupant environment. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, revenue attributed to commercial […]

The Importance of Advanced Access Control in Modern Hybrid Offices

As businesses continue to embrace digital technologies, the modern office faces heightened security challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated remote work, but now many companies are reversing this trend, requiring employees to return to the office either full-time or part-time. In this changing environment, facilities managers must adjust to hybrid work attendance patterns, making access control […]

CSB Issues Probe Update on Louisiana Facility Explosion, Toxic Release

On July 17, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a January 2023 explosion and toxic chemical release at the Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies facility in Geismar, La. A reboiler at the facility exploded, leading to the release of over 870 pounds (lb) of hydrogen fluoride (HF) […]

DHS Launches Federal Advisory Board on School Safety and Security

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the inaugural members of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse External Advisory Board, a group of school safety experts and education leaders that will provide advice and recommendations on practical ways to enhance K-12 school safety and security. The board will advise the DHS secretary through the Cybersecurity […]

Electrical panel with clear safety warning

Illuminating Arc Flash: Unearthing Insights for a Safer Future

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, it’s critical for facilities and building operators to ensure the safety of their electrical infrastructure. One of the two primary electrical hazards are arc flash events, which can result in significant injury to workers and major disruptions to power operations. What Is an Arc Flash? Arc flash: a term […]

Bees

Back to Basics: Pay Attention to 5 Pest Hot Spots in Your Facilities

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know.  Now that we are in the middle of summer with warmer temperatures as the norm, you might have noticed pests entering your facility. But where are they coming in, you might ask? More than just a nuisance, […]

How to Work with First Responders for Facility Emergencies

Two retired law enforcement officials believe facilities managers should work more closely with emergency responders to keep people, and the facilities they occupy, safe. Each with 33 years of law enforcement experience, Mark Wood, a retired chief executive police officer from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department; and Jeri Williams, who retired after serving as the […]

Trump Attack Proves Importance of Special Event Security Planning

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump in Butler, Pa., has made it obvious that the attention to detail required for securing special events cannot be overly stressed. The ease with […]