Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
In 2018, a third of Baltimore’s schools closed due to heating issues. In 2019, schools in Providence, R.I., faced leaking sewage and contaminated drinking water. These aren’t signs of low funding—average U.S. public school spending per pupil actually rose 8.9% to $15,633 in fiscal year 2022. So, what’s the problem? Research paints a clear picture. […]
The need for new buildings and facilities is soaring, buoyed by surging demand for everything from manufacturing to clean energy infrastructure and the triumvirate of legislation making construction more cost-effective, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act. While this […]
It’s back-to-school time, and this year a survey got the “deets” about teens’ handwashing habits, restroom evaluations, and whether or not they stay home from school when they’re sick. The Healthy Handwashing Survey, conducted by Bradley Company, connected with 1,012 high schoolers ages 14 to 18 to gather their insights and opinions. Handwashing & Health […]
Violent incidents in healthcare facilities are rapidly increasing. That’s why including security elements into the design of healthcare facilities is top of mind for Brendan Riley, MS, CHPA, the director of security, parking, and transportation at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Massachusetts, a part of the Beth Israel Lahey Health system. Facilities managers […]
As the new school year approaches, college students nationwide are preparing to move into campus dormitories and off-campus housing. Through their annual “Campus Fire Safety for Students” campaign in September, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) want to ensure students, parents, and campus housing staff and administrators have the relevant information and resources […]
Creating a facility master plan is a bit like piecing together a puzzle—there are a lot of moving parts to consider. Whether you decide to bring in external help or lean on your internal team, the key is to ensure your plan accurately reflects your facility’s current state, anticipates future changes, and outlines a clear […]
Athletic apparel and shoemaker Adidas America Inc. faces $396,377 in new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines for failing to correct fall hazards at its Chester, New York, warehouse, which was originally cited in March 2022, the agency announced August 9. The company previously paid $17,403 in penalties. OSHA also issued the employer a Failure to Abate […]
As students and teachers return to classrooms across the country, school safety is top of mind. In Pennsylvania, schools and other eligible entities are now able to apply for $120 million in grant funding to make physical security upgrades and strengthen behavioral health support. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) School Safety and Security Committee […]
Facilities managers are busily getting their schools, colleges, and universities ready for classes to resume. No matter the type of educational facility they manage, all need to be properly maintained. That’s why we’re reviewing several back-to-school projects that facilities managers should ensure are on their checklists for clean and safe buildings for the new academic […]
Do your facility’s restrooms comply with current—and growing—legal requirements for free access to menstrual care products? Recent legislation on menstruation by state and federal legislatures has brought attention to the rising issue of menstrual equity and period poverty in the United States. Period poverty, which is characterized by inadequate access to menstrual products and insufficient […]