Tag: facilities management

hospital health care

Managing Facilities That Manage Our Health

Ask most professionals in the healthcare field, and they’ll tell you it can feel like working on a different planet. This goes for healthcare facilities management, too. The unique features and operations of a healthcare facility require specialized knowledge beyond that which general facilities management degree programs typically offer students, and deficiencies in that knowledge […]

The Way to the Egress: A Guide to Workplace Evacuations, Part 1

Sometimes a company’s employees just need to leave. Workplace emergencies can range from isolated chemical spills, fires, toxic gas releases, and active shooter incidents to local flooding; hurricanes; tornados; and, more rarely, terrorist attacks. Workplace lockdowns or sheltering in place may be the appropriate response, but sometimes you need to evacuate your facility. But first, […]

The Rise of Robots in Commercial Buildings

Robots have been useful in taking on dangerous tasks and replacing humans in hazardous situations and unsanitary environments. Moreover, robots have slowly but steadily entered the commercial buildings space, supporting humans by taking on repetitive and tedious tasks. That’s according to a new report from Guidehouse Insights. The report explores the market for robots in […]

office building

Survey: Personal Health, Sustainability Top Priorities for Employees Returning to the Office

Returning to the office is causing a growing rift between workers and managers, according to a new report from NEXT Energy Technologies Inc. The report shows most employees (74%) are willing to leave their jobs if existential issues like health and sustainability are not adequately addressed in the workplace. NEXT says it surveyed more than 450 […]

industrial facility manager

Five Post-COVID Themes Among U.S. Facility Managers

Seventy-five percent of U.S. facility managers say COVID-19 has caused them to permanently rethink how their facility operates, according to survey findings released by Honeywell. The report also says nearly 6 in 10 respondents are more likely to invest in indoor air quality optimization and other healthy building solutions, while 7 in 10 are now […]

Building Ventilation Prep for Summer 2021’s Most Pressing Hazards

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 […]

At a Crossroads: Commercial Tenants Chime in on Post-COVID Plans

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, Yardi, and Brightline Strategies have released findings from the second in a series of nationwide commercial real estate COVID-19 impact studies. Capturing the latest U.S. tenant sentiments as COVID-19 cases decline and vaccinations accelerate, the Q2 2021 BOMA International COVID-19 Commercial Real Estate Impact Study reveals that optimism around […]

OSHA inspector

4 Things to Consider Before Demanding Warrant from OSHA

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance officers typically arrive without advance notice, which is enough to raise alarm bells in the minds of many employers. You might know why they’re there. Or you might not have any idea. Whatever the situation, step one should be to ask yourself: Should I demand the inspector come […]

hurricane

EPA Reminds Facility Operators to Prepare for Hazardous Weather

June marks the beginning of hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Facility operators are reminded to review requirements for minimizing, preventing, and reporting chemical releases in preparation for such hazardous weather. “Facility operators are obligated to maintain safety, minimize releases that do occur, and report chemical releases or oil spills in a timely manner, […]

OSHA regulations and guidance

OSHA Has Released New, Stronger Guidance on COVID-19

On January 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued stronger workplace health and safety guidance for protecting employees from COVID-19 exposures. On January 21, President Joe Biden ordered OSHA to issue updated guidance within 2 weeks and consider establishing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) for workplace COVID-19 protections by March 15.