Creating Your A-List Risk Assessment Team
In the 20+ years I have been engaged in helping organizations develop and maintain their risk management framework, I have come to understand that risk assessment is the backbone.
Category: Safety
Options for Addressing EPA’s HazWaste e-Manifest Program at Your Facility
If your facility generates or transports hazardous waste, take note; effective October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021, the EPA will apply new user fees in its hazardous waste (hazwaste) e-Manifest Program. Publication of the Agency’s fee memo provides facility managers and their safety committees an opportunity to review the different types of manifests regulated […]
If a Tree Falls on Your Facility, It Will Make a Sound: Keeping an Eye on Tree Health
To a facility manager, a picture can be worth a thousand words, and the trees on their facility grounds are an important part of that image. Their value also extends well beyond the ornamental; healthy trees help curb cooling costs, manage stormwater, clean the air by intercepting pollutants, and provide some shade where your or […]
The Facts on Accommodating Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals at Your Facility
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 […]
Could Your Facility Benefit from an OSHA On-Site Consultation?
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’ […]
Regulatory Enforcement Begins (and Ends) with Your Facility’s Permits
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 […]
Facility Ergonomics: The Facts on Sitting, Standing, and Moving on the Job
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.
Facilities Can Require Slip-Resistant Shoes for Employees—But Don’t Have to Pay for Them
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.
A Couple of Facility Fall Protection Questions Answered
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 […]
Are Hepatitis B Vaccinations Required for Facilities and Janitorial Teams Outside of the Healthcare Industry?
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.