Category: Maintenance and Operations

Utah Governor Issues Water Conservation Order for State Facilities

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has issued an executive order requiring water conservation at state facilities with the goal of increasing Utah’s drought resiliency. Utah is one of the driest states in the nation; in fact, some portions of the state have experienced drought conditions nearly every year since 2000. Under Executive Order 2023-07, each state […]

IFMA Leader Talks World FM Day, Industry’s ‘Very Bright’ Future

Happy World FM Day! Global FM, a group of leading facilities management (FM) associations, spearheads the annual celebration every May. The event brings together the FM community and highlights the positive impact that FM professionals have on businesses and people’s lives. To commemorate World FM Day, Facilities Management Advisor spoke with Don Gilpin, President and […]

Understanding Workplace Fungal Threats

A Michigan paper mill recently had to close for intensive cleaning following an outbreak of workplace fungal infections. There were 21 confirmed cases, including 1 fatality, and 76 people at the mill were classified as having probable cases of blastomycosis. Fungal diseases like blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), and histoplasmosis can infect anyone, according to the […]

Predictive Maintenance, the Future, and You

Predictive maintenance is nothing new to many facilities managers. Today, building managers, facility operators, and others are discovering how beneficial and cost-efficient it is to know what is happening inside their infrastructure and how their operations are running—and when disaster might strike. Shutting down operations for hours, days, or weeks in the middle of peak […]

It’s Time to Tackle Building Efficiency 

We’ve seen emissions rebound after dropping during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Transport has the highest reliance on fossil fuels, accounting for 37% of CO2 emissions from end-use sectors in 2021, while building operations accounted for 27% of total energy sector emissions (8% direct emissions and 19% indirect emissions from electricity production and heat use). […]

Hurricane Season Safety Guidelines for Your Elevators

Federal agencies are commemorating National Hurricane Preparedness Week April 30-May 6, 2023, in a national campaign to help everyone get ready before hurricane season begins on June 1. Although Facilities Management Advisor has offered many resources over the years about how to prepare your facilities for these dangerous storms, what should you do about your […]

Texas Gov. Signs Proclamation Recognizing May 10th as World FM Day

Signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a proclamation officially recognizing May 10, 2023, as World Facility Management (FM) Day was presented to IFMA Global Headquarters in Houston, Texas. IFMA contacted the governor’s office in March to request a proclamation formally recognizing FM’s responsibility for the functionality, safety, and sustainability of the built environment, and publicly […]

Can the Return to the Office Lead to More Sustainability and Happiness?

Many employers across the country are wondering about return-to-office rates, how they can encourage workers to come back to the office, and how to improve the sustainability of their workplaces. Facilities Management Advisor recently held a webinar called “Is Your Water Cooler the Key to Workplace Happiness? A Conversation with Bevi CEO Sean Grundy” to […]

Considerations When Choosing Your Facility’s On-Site Security System

Earlier this year, a car was driven straight through the closed entrance of a mall, and suspects made off with thousands of dollars worth of electronics. The police described the event as a “smash-and-grab” style robbery and were unable to locate the suspects in question for multiple weeks. Eventually, they did apprehend two suspects, with […]

OSHA Again Cites Dollar Tree, Dollar General for Blocked Exits

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) again cited discount retailers Dollar Tree and Dollar General for blocked exit routes in their stores. On April 24, the agency announced it’s seeking $770,136 in penalties for hazards related to obstructed exits, unsafe storage of materials, fire, and other hazards at Dollar Tree stores in East Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode […]