Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Contact with electricity or exposure to it remains one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities and injuries in the United States, according to an analysis recently released by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). ESFI gathered data on fatal and non-fatal occupational electrical injuries from the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Occupational Safety […]
Unplanned downtime is one of the most expensive problems a facility can face. According to ABB’s Value of Reliability report, two-thirds of companies deal with unplanned downtime at least once a month, at a median cost of $125,000 per hour. Electrical system failures are a leading contributor to that figure, yet the vast majority are […]
An incident unfolds in a parking garage. Someone is assaulted. A medical emergency occurs. The immediate response is to call 911, yet the call will not connect. This scenario is not hypothetical. Facilities managers and technology leaders regularly report persistent signal gaps in below-grade structures. One client described it as a recurring concern: not whether […]
It’s here! It’s finally here! After brutal temps pummeled much of the country during winter, March 20th marks the first official day of spring. For facilities managers, the warmer weather provides opportunities to tackle tasks delayed during the cold and to give everything a nice refresh. However, the new season also poses some challenges like […]
Building new data centers is a large, complex project involving numerous subcontractors and trades. There are also numerous hazards on a data center worksite, which can include falls from heights; heat stress; struck-by hazards; contact with equipment; caught-in hazards; electrical hazards, including arc flash, electric shock, and electrocution; respirable silica dust; occupational noise; and musculoskeletal […]
Repeated safety incidents are driving the healthcare worker burnout epidemic and threatening patient care across America. That’s according to a new report from Canopy, a safety platform provider that surveyed over 1,000 healthcare leaders and staff nationwide. The report found that more than one in four healthcare workers face safety incidents daily or weekly—a crisis […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. Water pumps are among the most critical (and most underestimated) assets in modern facilities. They quietly support HVAC systems, boiler feed operations, domestic water supply, wastewater handling, cooling towers, irrigation, fire protection, and sanitation. When pumps operate […]
As a wildland firefighter who has spent multiple seasons on firelines across California and the western United States, I have seen firsthand that many commercial structures are lost to embers long before the main fire front ever reaches the building. Recent data suggests that model is increasingly insufficient. Facilities managers are now operating in a […]
Facility leaders today operate under significant pressure. Budgets are tight, labor is scarce, and ESG commitments are under scrutiny. Executive teams want proof (not promises) that facilities are performing efficiently and safely. Instinct is no longer enough. The leaders who are gaining ground aren’t necessarily those with the largest teams or the newest buildings, but […]
The $3 trillion global facilities management (FM) industry supports employee and occupant experience, business continuity, enterprise resilience, and more. The field is also constantly evolving and adapting to economic shifts, digital transformation, and other factors. According to the recent JLL Global State of Facilities Management Report, three key trends for industry stakeholders to stay on […]