Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
If you’re looking for a mundane career of predictability, facilities management probably isn’t for you. In fact, one of Amber Gratkowski’s favorite things about the FM industry is that every day on the job is different. Gratkowski works as the Facilities Manager of the Central Campus at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC). The commission is […]
Facility management is not for the weak-willed—it is a tough job that demands a professional that is all things to all people: builder, fixer, tinkerer, mover, problem-solver, even confidante. The facility manager must navigate a schedule that serves up curveballs on an hourly basis and which is expected to run like clockwork. Part of what […]
Editor’s note: This article covers ways to hire in-house maintenance staff. For tips on how to find a third-party maintenance service provider you can trust, click here. For asset-heavy companies, achieving operational and business success is closely tied to the efficiency of their maintenance management. Furthermore, a key determinant of efficient maintenance management is that […]
Update 11/15/21: The death toll has risen to 10 after a college student and 9-year-old boy critically injured at the event later died. Over the weekend, tragedy unfolded at NRG Park in Houston, Texas, when eight young concert goers, between the ages of 14 and 27, were killed when reported crowd surges occurred during the Astroworld […]
A quarter of businesses saw a rise in physical security incidents in 2023, and more than half are more worried about crime than they were a year ago. That’s according to “The State of Physical Security Entering 2024,” a newly published report from Pro-Vigil. Despite an increase in physical security incidents, the report said businesses’ […]
Convenience store chain Circle K faces a $16,131 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fine after a store cashier in Orlando, Florida, suffered a serious gunshot injury, the agency announced August 14. OSHA inspectors learned that two unidentified men entered the Circle K location on Silver Star Road shortly after 1 a.m. on January 19, 2024; pointed firearms; […]
Violent incidents in healthcare facilities are rapidly increasing. That’s why including security elements into the design of healthcare facilities is top of mind for Brendan Riley, MS, CHPA, the director of security, parking, and transportation at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., a part of the Beth Israel Lahey Health system. Facilities managers […]
We’ve all seen security gates at the mall that stop people from entering a closed store, but facilities and security managers should also install indoor and outdoor security gates in several other types of facilities, including restaurants, concession stands, arenas, hotels, parking garages, schools, museums, colleges, healthcare facilities, and airports. Additionally, security gates should be […]
As green buildings become more widespread, it’s important to not overlook how we can turn outdoor spaces into more sustainable designs. Xeriscaping is one landscaping method that creates a low-water natural space that is not only easy to maintain, it’s beneficial to the environment.
What did you see when you walked into your facility this morning? Were there cords snaking across the floor, remnants of a spill from a couple of days ago, or overflowing trash cans? Or did you observe a strong sense of order, with clear walkways, properly stored tools, well-lit and clearly marked stairways, and hazardous […]