Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
On May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its “Ventilation in Buildings” guidelines to include a discussion on “How much ventilation is enough?” to help prevent airborne disease transmission. “When possible, aim for 5 or more air changes per hour (ACH) of clean air to help reduce the number of germs […]
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 […]
2023 has already been a very active year for tornadoes, and facilities professionals should know how they can protect their facilities and their occupants from being victims. Tornadoes are the most destructive atmospheric phenomenon, and most tornadoes hit the United States in May and June, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A tornado […]
Industrial robots can extend or enhance productivity at your facility, as well as perform dangerous or repetitive workplace tasks, thereby protecting the health and safety of your workers. Robotic systems are becoming more collaborative and mobile in nature. The future of robotics involves more collaborative robots, or “co-robots,” rather than fixed industrial robots isolated from […]
As we head into spring, be sure to welcome employees and customers with a property that not only looks clean but also is clean. Snow, ice, salt, and calcium can leave their mark on a facility, whether it’s a shopping center, a college or hospital campus, an office complex, an amusement or a recreational park, […]
When I visited a resort casino in my region, I noticed it added touchless features to its elevators, which bring guests from the parking garage to the casino level. A sticker on the wall in the garage’s elevator lobby instructs visitors to wave their hands near a small black box near the buttons to call […]
As a new academic year begins, the Biden administration has issued a back-to-school fact sheet highlighting guidance and resources available to help protect students and staff from COVID-19 spread and keep schools safely open all year long. The fact sheet calls for vaccination, testing, and improved indoor air quality. It also notes actions the administration […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important, but possibly overlooked, information facilities management professionals should know. It’s important to properly clean, disinfect, and sanitize to make buildings healthy. There is some confusion among the three terms, but it’s important to focus on cleaning and disinfecting unless your facility or local, state, or […]
Have you had to delay your return-to-office (RTO) date due to surges of COVID-19 in your community? If your employees have already returned, are you worried about the spread of the Omicron variant? Are you skeptical about the value of indoor air quality, or instead, have you wondered about adding portable air cleaners? Have you […]
As the country enters the 2021-2022 school year amid a lingering pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has highlighted key strategies for improving ventilation in schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs), such as colleges and universities, to help prevent COVID-19 and maintain a safe environment for in-person learning.