Category: Safety

Back to Basics: Workplace Evacuation Procedures

Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. During emergencies, things can go wrong in an instant. It’s crucial for employers, facilities professionals, and other safety stakeholders to collaborate on developing emergency action plans (EAPs) with effective evacuation procedures, so that in a disaster scenario, employees know […]

Virginia Awards $12M in School Security Equipment Grants

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has awarded $12 million in School Security Equipment Grants to 96 school divisions and 472 schools to help protect students, faculty and staff, and visitors. Virginia is one of many states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, and Missouri, that have invested millions of dollars into school security amid rising concerns about safety. “Every child […]

TSA Expects Record-Breaking Crowds for Thanksgiving, Offers Travel Tips

Whether you work at an airport or plan to fly around Turkey Day, be prepared for what the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expects to be the “busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record.” Passenger volumes at airports have reached historic highs in 2024, with an increase of 17% since 2022. The TSA projects it will screen […]

‘A Remarkable Success’: State Officials Highlight School Safety Tip Lines

From bullying to tragic shootings, school violence is a threat facing every community across the country. Statewide school safety tip lines, currently offered in over 20 states, can play a major role in helping protect students and staff. In fact, officials from Texas and Wisconsin recently revealed encouraging stats about their respective programs. Texas The […]

OSHA ‘Encouraged’ by Decline in Worker Death Investigations

Fewer workers are dying from hazards where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has focused its enforcement resources. Preliminary agency data show a decrease in fatalities the agency is mandated to investigate, including significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers. […]

Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season, Retail Workers Worry About Their Safety

A majority of U.S. retail workers (57%) report feeling unsafe going into the peak holiday shopping season, according to Motorola Solutions’ second annual U.S. Retail Worker Safety Report. This is understandable, as many of the 1,000+ retail managers and staff surveyed said they have experienced increases in various forms of crime in the last year, and […]

EPA Celebrates $34M in Grants to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) celebrated $34 million in Inflation Reduction Act grants awarded to five organizations to help school districts across the country improve indoor air quality (IAQ). EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz recently joined the grantees at Horatio B. Hackett School in Philadelphia to congratulate them on their awards, underscore the importance of IAQ, and highlight previous school efforts. “EPA is proud to […]

Summer’s Over, but Preparations for Climate-Related Heat Safety Can’t Stop

Summer 2024 was the hottest on record—and most of the United States grappled with dangerously high temperatures throughout July and August. The country has cooled down since then. But this summer’s extreme heat was a warning sign. Earth is only getting hotter, and we’re likely to see increasingly dangerous temperatures that could put your employees at […]

Trump Wins: Security, Construction, and Clean Energy Groups React

The 2024 presidential election is over, with Donald Trump emerging as the clear winner and heading back to the White House next year. But what does a new Trump presidency mean for facilities management (FM) and related industries that impact FM, including the security, construction, and clean energy sectors? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, leaders […]

Exploring the Long-Tail Cost Savings from Switching to Green Cleaning Products

In recent years, facilities managers have been increasingly tasked with making their operations not only more efficient but also more environmentally friendly. One area that has garnered attention is the adoption of green cleaning products. Across multiple industries, there is a growing recognition of the benefits that come with this strategy—including a healthier workforce, cleaner […]