Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
Here is the skinny on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) much-anticipated emergency temporary standard (ETS) on COVID-19 vaccinations for large employers. Released on November 4, the policy requirements take effect December 5 and must be fully implemented by January 4, 2022. What Large Employers Need to Know Who is covered? The ETS covers all […]
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council released a series of fact sheets with strategies for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools. The IAQ Fact Sheet Series is designed to help people without a technical background—such as school board members, teachers, and parents—to understand details about IAQ so that they can […]
We have learned a number of very valuable lessons from the pandemic that cannot be overlooked. This is true in many industry sectors but is especially true for facility managers, housekeeping departments, and contract cleaners hired to clean all types of commercial facilities. Some suggest the critical lesson learned from the pandemic is just how […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced its preliminary Top 10 most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2021. Patrick Kapust, Deputy Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, presented the list virtually during the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, a tradeshow held live in Orlando, Fla., and virtually Oct. […]
When it comes to restroom breaks, office workers in the U.S. say that touchless restroom fixtures are the No. 1 feature that would make them feel safer when using their workplace restroom, according to a new survey. In the Healthy Handwashing Survey, conducted by restroom equipment manufacturer Bradley Corp., touch-free washroom fixtures received the highest safety ranking, […]
The National Safety Council, a major U.S. nonprofit safety advocate, released results of a survey conducted as part of an ongoing effort to assess the risks of cannabis in the workplace, and the group said the results are clear: Employers must do more to educate and protect their workers. The survey, conducted between April and […]
New York was one of the first states in the U.S. to suffer a major outbreak of COVID-19, so it stands to reason that any steps that may help safely reopen facilities and operations there are noteworthy for just about anywhere else across the country. The Cleaning Coalition of America, a trade group representing cleaning […]
The Ohio State University will invest an additional $2 million per year over the next decade to enhance safety and security on and around campus, President Kristina M. Johnson and Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Sept. 24. The additional investment is expected to be at least $20 million, and the university’s total safety and security […]
Poorly circulated room air raises the potential exposure to contaminants by up to six times, according to a new report from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). The researchers say the experiments quantify the effects of overhead heating on room air mixing, with implications for COVID-safe meetings and classrooms.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) September 20 announced “enhanced and expanded efforts” to address worker exposures to excessive heat and heat-related illnesses. The agency will develop a National Emphasis Program (NEP) and workplace heat standards, according to a White House announcement of interagency efforts to address heat hazards.