Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Hurricane Beryl was the Atlantic Ocean’s earliest Category 5 storm on record, raising concerns about a “harsh” hurricane season ahead. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is urging chemical companies to prepare their facilities now to avoid potential catastrophe. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an 85% chance […]
How do you install new security devices or systems in a building with multiple tenants? If you’re only managing one part of a facility, how do you get the landlord’s buy-in to make important changes to your part of the building? How do you keep your employees safe in a facility with multiple access control […]
There are always chemicals present in facilities, and it’s incumbent on the facility manager to inform their employees or tenants of potential hazards. It’s not always clear, however, which chemicals are required in a communication plan. Experts at Enviro.BLR.com® were recently asked the best way to determine what chemicals are considered “hazardous” when creating a […]
In this era of mass attacks, cyberattacks, workplace violence, hacking, and the challenge of providing necessary security improvements without breaking the budget, it can help to prioritize your must-haves. This requires thinking beyond the usual (and expensive) security approach of “more guards, gates, fences, cameras, and lights.”
In a recent survey by Bradley Company, nearly 70% of Americans reported having a particularly unpleasant experience in a public restroom due to the poor condition of the facility. The top restroom aggravations include clogged or unflushed toilets, unpleasant smells, and an old, dirty, or unkempt appearance. Unfortunately, businesses that neglect restroom cleaning and maintenance […]
In line with its goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, major home improvement company Lowe’s has announced plans to have rooftop solar installations atop 174 store and distribution center locations nationwide, including 20 sites currently in operation. Once each site is completed, the solar panels will provide approximately 90% of the […]
The October 12 CityAge: Unleashing Clean Energy Systems digital event featured discussions on facility energy efficiency, decarbonizing buildings, and deploying clean energy infrastructure. It also highlighted sustainability projects at major facilities in New York and New Jersey, as well as Kansas City, Missouri, and Phoenix, Arizona, which can serve as examples for facilities managers to […]
Chicago continues its first-place run in the rat race in the U.S., topping Orkin’s Top 50 Rattiest Cities List for the ninth year in a row. Los Angeles moved up to the No. 2 ranking while New York rounds out the top 3 spots. Jumping up 10 spots this year is Houston to No. 20, and Greensboro, N.C., moves up 17 spots to […]
Many facilities have vending machines in place to help employees get through their day, or, to keep customers sated while they move from store to store. Some vending machines, however, serve a much more nefarious purpose. Like the 3 non-permitted machines in the town of Brookhaven, New York (located on Long Island) that were found […]
Are you prepared to fully reopen your facilities during an ongoing, if waning, pandemic and the threat of wildfires this summer? States and localities are rolling back pandemic precautions as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations roll out across the United States–President Biden pledged May 4 that 70% of American adults would receive at least one vaccine dose […]