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Faces of Facilities: Amber Gratkowski from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

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 […]

How Cleaning Supports a Positive and Productive Workplace Experience

Clean environments play a pivotal role in enhancing the performance and well-being of building occupants. The connection between cleanliness and human health and productivity has been extensively studied and validated. This article delves into the various ways in which clean environments positively influence the performance of employees in the workplace, encompassing both physical and psychological […]

Challenges of Deploying Physical Security for Multi-Site Organizations

Managing the security at multiple sites for an organization is no small feat. Facilities managers often confront a myriad of challenges, especially when considering physical security and the networking infrastructure to support it. Whether it’s about setting up the right alarm and video monitoring system or harnessing business intelligence and analytics with cameras, an organization’s […]

Houston Concert Tragedy Casts Crowd Management into the Spotlight

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 […]

Properly Handling Mail and Packages Inside Your Facility

Though the likelihood of a suspicious and/or malicious package being sent to your facility is incredibly rare, it’s better to have workers that can recognize and address a potential threat. Because it’s easy to get complacent about how U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail and packages from various delivery companies come into a facility, make sure […]

The Freeze Component of ‘Run, Hide, Fight’ During Violent Attacks

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. In April 2021, a 19-year-old male shooter named Brandon Hole opened fire outside a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis. By the time he was done, he had killed eight people and himself. After […]

Plumbing Code Violations to Avoid in Your Facility

If you own a hospital, factory, or another large-scale commercial or industrial entity, you likely have a lot on your plate. In addition to making sure that all operations are running smoothly, you also need to worry about the construction and maintenance of your building. While construction and maintenance might not seem like a huge […]

Manual pallet jack in the middle of a cluttered warehouse

Messes Matter: Importance of Clearing Out the Clutter

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 […]

Key Considerations when Switching from Cast Iron to Condensing Boilers

Amidst a nationwide effort to increase whole-facility energy efficiency, mechanical systems rank high among the most critical areas of focus. Space heating and domestic hot water production account for approximately 42% of energy use in the United States. For many existing facilities served by a hydronic system, the straightest path toward a smaller carbon footprint […]