Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
There has been a dramatic increase in coverage regarding lead and lead poisoning, particularly since the water crisis in Flint, Michigan hit the news. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making some moves that will expand lead regulations, that could have an impact on older facilities, especially pre-1978 structures where children are present, such […]
Yesterday we examined the steps OSHA’s taking to protect tree care workers alongside some of the agency’s general procedural recommendations to keep employees safe on the job. Today, we’ll expand the discussion to include some of the more specific hazards surrounding tree care work, from chippers to aerial lifts, and best practices for controlling them.
Of all the jobs available in the United States, tree care operations continually rank among the most hazardous. Landscape service workers comprise less than 1 percent of the total workforce but account for 3.5 percent of all workplace fatalities, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries; of those fatalities, 75 percent are […]
Safety is imperative at facility loading docks, and every precaution should be taken to ensure that employees are safe. However, is it necessary to use both dock locks and wheel chocks? See what experts at Safety.BLR.com® had to say on the matter.
Chemical exposure is a big safety and environmental hazard. But for a lot of facilities, the only chemicals they regularly use are cleaning supplies. However, only some employees (such as janitorial or facilities management staff) may be using stronger solvents, while other materials are being used by all employees throughout the entire workforce. So, who […]
Every day, facility managers have their hands full juggling their day-to-day duties, not to mention putting out proverbial fires, so they need to trust that their team members or other workers at their organizations will notify them of unsafe conditions in their buildings. Far too often, however, people witness actions or conditions in the facility […]
Facility managers, or someone on their facilities team, are often designated by their organizations as first aid providers in case of an emergency. As such, you’ll likely find yourself (and your team) required to undergo first aid and CPR training. While that first aid training is indispensable, it turns out that designated first aid/CPR providers […]
Mold is everywhere—mold spores are part of the air we breathe, and they’re just looking for a nice, moist, overlooked spot where they can take root and grow. Although mold growth and the health problems it causes are most concerning in the wake of large-scale disaster like Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence’s historic floods, it’s important to […]
According to a recent OSHA citation, a Louisville, Colorado, psychiatric treatment hospital failed to protect employees from bloodborne pathogen exposure and workplace violence. The agency charged UHS of Centennial Peaks, LLC, with two serious, two repeat, and two other-than-serious violations. OSHA inspected Centennial Peaks Hospital, an acute psychiatric treatment facility, after receiving a complaint of […]
If you’re a facilities manager in California, you should be staying up to date on the developments! California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) recently revised its draft indoor heat illness prevention standard to address stakeholders’ concerns. Employers would have to maintain the indoor temperature and heat index below 87 degrees Fahrenheit when workers […]