Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Higher education institutions across the United States have experienced tightened budgets because of fluctuating enrollment rates, increasing costs, and a surge in security demands. As a result, facilities managers have had to make strategic cuts and reallocate resources without compromising efficiency, safety, and compliance. Investing in new technologies and training is crucial for surveillance and […]
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) recently offered an update on its continuing investigation into a fatal explosion and fire on July 29 at the Horizon Biofuels facility in Fremont, Neb. “Preliminary evidence points to a combustible wood dust explosion, a well-known—and completely avoidable—hazard in wood processing,” CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it has noticed that many facilities are unknowingly violating hazardous waste disposal regulations. The Agency is encouraging businesses, schools, and other small facilities to double-check how they handle hazardous waste to avoid costly violations. “A common issue is shipping regulated amounts of hazardous waste without first obtaining the required EPA […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. One of the first steps in establishing a successful fall protection program is identifying all fall hazards that exist inside, outside, and on top of your facility. Each facility is different and will have their unique hazards, […]
As the new school year approaches, thousands of college students nationwide are moving into dormitories and off-campus housing, which can lead to a major rise in campus fire hazards. That means facilities managers should remain vigilant about fire safety and help provide resources to key stakeholders. Through their annual Campus Fire Safety Month campaign every September, the National […]
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) released its Public Health Pest Index, a bi-annual forecast identifying the U.S. cities most at risk for pest surges through the remainder of summer and into fall. This critical report comes as extreme weather patterns nationwide have created optimal conditions for disease-carrying pests, placing millions of Americans in greater […]
Amid growing concern about Legionnaires’ disease, especially with recent outbreaks in New York City and parts of Ohio, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is offering guidance to help mitigate risks and support building safety. Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, is most commonly associated with water systems […]
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced that it has launched a formal investigation into the fatal explosion and fire at the Horizon Biofuels facility in Fremont, Neb., that occurred on July 29. The blast fatally injured three people—a father and his two young daughters—who were in the facility at the time […]
There is no such thing as perfect, airtight security. This is a hard truth that facilities managers have to accept. Any security setup is going to have gaps somewhere. Our job is to minimize those gaps to reduce the odds of a malicious actor slipping through and help keep the facility safe amidst a rising […]
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the seventh edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools, which offer comprehensive information on practices for securing school facilities from subject matter experts across the education, public safety, and industry sectors. The new release—including updates to the Safety and Security Guidelines and the School Safety and […]