Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Service and emotional support animal accommodations have become an issue for facilities, especially public ones like shopping malls, restaurants, movie theaters, medical offices, and recreational facilities. Even private facilities may have to address the issue with tenants. With that in mind, we’re providing facilities managers an analysis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) public […]
One year ago, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a “working paper” that comprised the Agency’s first assessment of the “societal benefits” of its On-Site Consultation (OSC) program. The benefits come in multiple forms—workplace hazards identified, injuries avoided, and monetary benefits, including worker income not lost and costs avoided for employers and workers’ […]
No one looks forward to the day when the regulatory authority arrives at your facility for an inspection. Will he or she find issues of noncompliance? Will an enforcement action or penalty be forthcoming? But remember, the ultimate goal of the inspector is not to write up a notice of violation but to ensure your […]
When you make purchasing, design, and maintenance decisions, do you consider them from an ergonomic angle? Here are some expert views on the subject along with practical tips you can start implementing today to help those at your facility find the right balance for comfort and productivity.
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.
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.
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.