Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
While most are getting ready for the holidays, this month marked a time of several attacks on the U.S. electric grid, and the Security Industry Association (SIA) is hoping a recent webinar will help educate utilities on how to better protect their infrastructure in light of these incidents. Responding to Recent Incidents At the beginning of the […]
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has issued an executive order requiring water conservation at state facilities with the goal of increasing Utah’s drought resiliency. Utah is one of the driest states in the nation; in fact, some portions of the state have experienced drought conditions nearly every year since 2000. Under Executive Order 2023-07, each state […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced $102.3 million in funding to 17 transit agencies, cities, and planning councils in eight states and territories to help recover from recent natural disasters. The funding, provided through FTA’s Public Transportation Emergency Relief (ER) Program, will help them repair damaged equipment and facilities and recoup costs for evacuation […]
Multitenant facilities, especially those with multiple floors, offer continuous security challenges related to access control and emergency evacuations. Security directors and managers must be ready to work with their colleagues, from facilities to maintenance to the landlord to the local fire marshal, to keep plans up to date and evolving to face emerging threats, including […]
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 […]
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Washington Commanders, FedExField, and state and local first responders recently held a tabletop exercise to test response plans around hypothetical public safety incidents at the NFL team’s home stadium. The four-hour event was the latest in a series of assessments and exercises designed to ensure the safety of events […]
A new EPA proposal states that existing emissions limits for hazardous air pollutants generated by three industry sectors engaged in coating operations are sufficient to protect people from cancer risks.
Two federal agencies have issued warnings about the hazards of working in cold weather. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reminded employers and workers that frostbite and hypothermia can occur when working in cold, wet, icy, or snowy conditions. While exposure can be a concern for facility managers who handle their own […]
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’ […]
In August, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received $5 million from Congress under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for programs to boost voluntary corporate climate reporting while the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ramps up for legal battles regarding its upcoming mandatory climate change reporting rules. To report or not to report Many […]