The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) should establish federal workplace standards regarding ventilation, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), physical distancing, and other basic public health precautions in anticipation of future surges in COVID-19 infections, according to a group of public health experts. In a report titled “Getting to and Sustaining the Next Normal: A Roadmap […]
As part of the new Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) for a $500 million grant program from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for K-12 public school energy upgrades. According to the DOE, the program will help deliver cleaner and healthier classrooms, […]
As part of Facilities Management Advisor‘s coverage during our Healthy Buildings Week 2022 event, this infographic outlines how facilities management professionals and employers must use proper signs and tags in the workplace to help keep occupants healthy and safe.
From implementing new cleaning and sanitization guidelines to dealing with labor shortages and supply chain issues, facility managers are handling more moving parts than ever before because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the virus transforming communal areas into new opportunities for infections, facility managers have a newfound responsibility to protect the health and well-being of […]
Most U.S. employees are more concerned about workplace safety than ever before, with worries ranging from health hazards to cybersecurity, and they expect employers to ensure their well-being while on the job, according to a new study from AlertMedia. Based on responses from over 2,000 full-time U.S. workers, the State of Employee Safety Report found […]
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced an enforcement memorandum for a short-term increase in highly focused inspections directed at hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities that treat or handle COVID-19 patients. For two years, millions of the nation’s healthcare workers have been battling the coronavirus. Many have endangered […]
One of the biggest challenges for building owners and facility managers is maintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ). This is especially difficult during the winter months, as everyone spends more time indoors with the windows closed. The result is indoor pollutants having less chance of escaping through ventilation and a better chance of irritating building occupants. […]
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has applauded the Biden administration’s National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, which includes a strong focus on improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation in buildings. “As states loosen masking requirements, the White House is exactly right to prioritize indoor environmental quality in homes and buildings,” said Elizabeth Beardsley, Senior Policy Counsel […]
As part of its work to improve safety and security on and off campus, Ohio State University has announced new surveillance upgrades, ongoing collaboration with local officials, and widespread availability of personal safety devices. In a Health, Safety, and Well-being Update video on March 1, President Kristina M. Johnson said the university is installing surveillance […]
Handwashing frequency has decreased 25% among American adults compared to when COVID-19 first hit, according to the latest Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp. Specifically, in spring 2020, Americans were washing their hands an average of 10.5 times per day. This January, that number dropped by one-fourth to 7.8 times per day. While the adult […]