Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
As the school year begins in many areas, new West Virginia University (WVU) research finds poor air quality may keep tens of thousands of students out of school for weeks each year, hitting young students and children of color the hardest. A study by Mustahsin Ul Aziz, a doctoral student in natural resource economics at the WVU Davis College of Agriculture […]
The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 (FY26) proposed budget defunds the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) and directs the CSB to use its emergency funds to shut down operations by the end of 2025. The CSB is tasked with investigating incidents and hazards resulting from the production, processing, and handling of chemical substances that […]
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are in a unique position relative to active shooter threats and other types of workplace violence. As opposed to other types of critical infrastructure such as banks and factories that are tightly locked down under multiple layers of security, hospitals are generally open and accessible to nearly all members of […]
On this latest episode of FMA Shorts, Tom Heneghan, manager of Preparedness Education and Youth Preparedness at the American Red Cross, underscores the importance of emergency plans amid worsening natural disasters. This clip was taken from a webinar titled, “Weathering the Storm: How to Prepare Facilities for Natural Disasters.” The full session is available for […]
From overseeing the maintenance, security, and overall functionality of a building and its grounds, the responsibilities of a facilities manager can quickly become overwhelming if you’re also dealing with external forces that impede operational efficiencies. Alongside overseeing technical staff and building maintenance teams, facilities managers are often responsible for keeping outdoor grounds in good shape. […]
Building drawings and facility information have long been undervalued, often relegated to storage rooms or legacy systems, considered a necessary cost rather than a strategic asset. However, this information is far more than a historical archive. It is the foundation for ongoing operations, informed decision making, and long-term resilience. As buildings age and evolve, the […]
Amid growing concern about Legionnaires’ disease, especially with recent outbreaks in New York City and parts of Ohio, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is offering guidance to help mitigate risks and support building safety. Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, is most commonly associated with water systems […]
U.S. employers spend $58.78 billion annually on worker injuries, insurer Liberty Mutual announced July 15 with the release of its 2025 Workplace Safety Index. The top 10 causes of serious workplace injuries account for over 86%, or $50.87 billion, of the total cost. Liberty Mutual has compiled its index for 25 years, identifying the top 10 […]
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced that it has launched a formal investigation into the fatal explosion and fire at the Horizon Biofuels facility in Fremont, Neb., that occurred on July 29. The blast fatally injured three people—a father and his two young daughters—who were in the facility at the time […]
There is no such thing as perfect, airtight security. This is a hard truth that facilities managers have to accept. Any security setup is going to have gaps somewhere. Our job is to minimize those gaps to reduce the odds of a malicious actor slipping through and help keep the facility safe amidst a rising […]