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Office workers in surgical masks with coughing coworker.

CDC Provides Updated Guidance for Reopening Office Buildings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated their recommendations for reopening offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their guidance includes wearing cloth masks throughout the workday; maintaining social distances of six feet, including in elevators; positioning workstations six feet apart or installing plastic partitions; and removing communal coffeepots.

DHS Awards $20M in Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the award of 34 grants, totaling $20 million, through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program for fiscal year 2023 (FY23). The program is administered by the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It provides financial assistance to […]

How to Protect Workers from Heat Stress and Illness

With parts of the country experiencing record-breaking heatwaves this summer, employers and managers must protect their workers from the dangers of heat stress and illness. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), thousands of workers get sick or even die from occupational heat exposure every year, despite it being entirely preventable. Hazardous heat […]

Study Finds Workplace Violence and Harassment Is a Global Problem

More than one in five people (almost 23%) in employment have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, psychological, or sexual, according to a new joint analysis by the U.N.’s International Labour Organization (ILO), Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), and Gallup. “Experiences of Violence and Harassment at Work: A global first survey” provides a sense of […]

UT Austin Launches Campus Ambassadors Program for Safety and Cleaning

The University of Texas (UT) at Austin has announced the West Campus Ambassadors pilot program, a specialized safety, cleaning, and hospitality team dedicated to the revitalization of Austin’s West Campus neighborhood. The West Campus Ambassadors program is the latest safety investment in the West Campus neighborhood since the UT system’s board of regents allocated $8 […]

‘Explosive Growth’ for Streamlined LEED + WELL Building Certification Process

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced “explosive growth and demand” for their streamlined pathway to dual LEED and WELL certification. Since the groups launched the process in April, 335 projects in 38 countries, accounting for 82 million square feet, have opted in. […]

IFMA Welcomes 2023-24 Global Board of Directors

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has announced its member-elected executive committee and appointed members of its global board of directors for the 2023-24 fiscal year. Led by Chair Dean Stanberry, CFM, SFP, who begins his term July 1, the board will concentrate efforts on ensuring facility management professionals worldwide have the resources and support to advance […]

Decarbonizing Buildings: The Big Rethink

Editor’s note: FM Perspectives are industry op-eds. The views expressed are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. Buildings represent more than 40% of U.S. carbon emissions, and natural-gas-fired HVAC, water heating, cooking, and other systems represent the largest fraction. With a growing profile of electric products entering the market, […]

Most U.S. Employees Consider Workplace Sustainability a Top Priority

With recession concerns and rising costs squeezing margins for many employers, 84% of CEOs in a recent KPMG survey said that they had cut or were considering cutting environmental, social, and governance (ESG) programs. Now, a new survey from Esker suggests that such measures may be short-sighted, as an employer’s demonstrated commitment to sustainability has become essential to many […]

Sydney Opera House Earns Green Building Rating for ‘World Leadership’

The iconic Sydney Opera House has achieved a 6 Star Green Star rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA). Honeywell, a Sydney Opera House Global Goals partner since 2021, said it helped Australia’s most famous building attain the globally recognized sustainability rating through retrofits using the company’s technology. The opera house is now one […]