Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
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’ […]
Coworkers don’t always see eye to eye—and that holds true in facilities management. What steps do you take to resolve conflicts among your team members? Do you find the process effective? Here is a simple 8-step conflict resolution process that you and your employees can use to resolve any type of workplace conflict.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers must maintain records of hours worked by each nonexempt employee. That means companies bear the ultimate burden of showing that records of hours worked are in fact accurate. If an employer is sued by an employee, a group of employees, or the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) […]
No one looks forward to the day when the regulatory authority arrives at your facility for an inspection. Will he or she find issues of noncompliance? Will an enforcement action or penalty be forthcoming? But remember, the ultimate goal of the inspector is not to write up a notice of violation but to ensure your […]
When you make purchasing, design, and maintenance decisions, do you consider them from an ergonomic angle? Here are some expert views on the subject along with practical tips you can start implementing today to help those at your facility find the right balance for comfort and productivity.
A state appeals court recently affirmed that California employers are not required to pay for slip-resistant shoes their employees must wear for work. It’s not just in California, though—similar exemptions exist at the federal level. If you require such footwear for your facilities staff, read up on the details of the issue here.
California regulators recently adopted an emergency standard requiring employers to protect workers from wildfire smoke. There are exemptions to the standard, however, and building air filtration is a big one. It’s an opportunity for facilities managers to help their organizations both save money and keep workers healthy.
Every so often, your facilities management team members will find themselves on scaffolds, platforms, or scissor lifts. Whether you’re performing new construction or routine maintenance, fall protection must be addressed whenever an employee is working at heights. Is adequate railing protection enough? Can you require use of a fall arrest system even when one isn’t […]
Wasted energy literally means money out the door of your business—and ultimately lower profitability. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the comfort of your space and an efficient HVAC system, which is another reason to focus on this often-overlooked topic.
You may have heard that New York City (NYC), the most populous city in the United States, has passed a groundbreaking law limiting building GHG emissions in an effort to meet its ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target—80 percent by 2050. The new regulation is having a major impact on building owners and facilities managers […]