Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
OSHA’s final rule to increase its civil penalties by approximately 2.5% for 2019 has been published in the Federal Register and took effect immediately on January 23, 2019. The rule brings a new maximum single-violation penalty of $132,598 for willful and repeat violations. The increases adjust for inflation as required by the Federal Civil Penalties […]
The Midwest is currently in the grips of a polar vortex, dropping temperatures anywhere from 10 to 50 degrees below normal for this time of year. As you crank up the heat in your facility to deal with this extreme cold, be sure to double check your monitoring systems, as the risks from carbon monoxide […]
If your facility generates or transports hazardous waste, take note; effective October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2021, the EPA will apply new user fees in its hazardous waste (hazwaste) e-Manifest Program. Publication of the Agency’s fee memo provides facility managers and their safety committees an opportunity to review the different types of manifests regulated […]
New York was one of the first states in the U.S. to suffer a major outbreak of COVID-19, so it stands to reason that any steps that may help safely reopen facilities and operations there are noteworthy for just about anywhere else across the country. The Cleaning Coalition of America, a trade group representing cleaning […]
Three nonprofits—the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, the National Center on School Infrastructure, and the New Buildings Institute—have formed the HVAC Change Lab, a new partnership to improve health, safety, and academic success by upgrading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in schools. The groups are partnering with school […]
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about mass closure of businesses and stay-home orders across the entire U.S., which has led to huge losses and hardships for business owners. However, that time is coming to an end, as businesses now have been allowed to reopen to some extent while following proper reopening guidelines. Generally, everything won’t come […]
School security remains a major concern for communities across the country, and New Hampshire has become one of the latest states to provide funding to help keep students and educators safe. Specifically, the state’s Public School Infrastructure Commission awarded a total of $8 million in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 appropriations to fund 259 school […]
Stephen Odom, a senior facilities manager at Papa Johns, believes having a strong background in skilled trades can set you up for success in facilities management—especially when it comes to working under “extreme” pressure. Odom’s own background includes about 20 years in the commercial mechanical industry, with previous roles such as regional HVAC manager, national […]
University campuses generate data from countless sources—A/V and lighting systems, HVAC equipment, cameras, and various other sensors. Yet many of these technologies operate in silos, forcing employees to monitor them individually across multiple platforms. The result is slower response times, added complexity, and limited visibility into overall campus operations. When data is unified, employees gain […]
It was the week before Thanksgiving 2014, and the Hardman family was on their way to a dream family vacation at Disney World in Orlando, when the family’s 16-year-old son, who was driving, briefly nodded off at the wheel. Six of the eight passengers were not wearing seat belts; all six were ejected from the […]