Tag: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Make Your Facility GFCI-Compliant for Safety’s Sake

Facilities professionals involved with the new construction and renovation of commercial, industrial, educational, and governmental properties should be familiar with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and their importance. Understanding and using GFCIs can help protect against electrocution and reduce the chances of fires, overheating, and destruction of wire insulation.   What Are GFCIs? According to the […]

Company Officials Sentenced to Federal Prison over Deadly Facility Explosion

A Wisconsin federal judge has sentenced six Didion Milling Inc. officials for their role in a fatal explosion at a facility operated by the corn milling company in 2017. “These defendants put Didion workers in grave danger, and five people tragically lost their lives, devastating their families and their community,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. […]

Creating a Safe Workplace for Winter: Preventing Slips, Trips, and Falls

While some might enjoy walking in a winter wonderland, if facilities managers aren’t careful, their employees’ journey could include slip, trip, and fall injuries, which can be costly for employers and employees. However, there are ways to be prepared for what Mother Nature has in store. What Are Slips, Trips, and Falls? The Occupational Safety […]

OSHA Launches Regional Tree and Landscaping Safety Enforcement Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Region 2 office has launched a regional emphasis program (REP) to reduce worker fatalities and injuries in the tree and landscape services industries in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the agency announced January 11. The new REP includes two elements: “We want to make […]

6 Warning Signs Your Commercial Elevator Needs Maintenance

There are obvious warning signs indicating a commercial elevator needs maintenance and regular inspections. Failing to maintain an elevator is not just a safety issue but also a violation of the law, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, which require specific elevators based on facility type and size and number of floors. Unless the […]

BLS: Worker Fatalities Increased 5.7% in 2022

Fatal work-related injuries increased by 5.7% in 2022, according to the latest figures released December 19 by the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Fatal work injuries increased from 5,190 in 2021 to 5,486 in 2022. The national fatal work injury rate was 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers—up from 3.6 per […]

OSHA Offers Workplace Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

To make sure this holiday season is truly joyful, the U.S. Department of Labor reminds employers and workers not to overlook workplace safety and health. For a sad reminder of how an on-the-job tragedy can leave families, friends, and co-workers grief-stricken, look no further than Akron, Ohio, where a 25-year-old worker—hanging holiday lights on a […]

4 Ways to Prepare Your Facilities for Winter

With winter on its way, it’s time for facilities managers not only to prepare for snow and ice and winterize their irrigation systems, but also to examine the interior and exterior elements of their facilities. Whether you manage a large facility like a college or hospital campus or a small facility like a small office […]

Under Construction: Top Facility Projects of October 2023

Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month. Modern Facility for Historic Cemetery October is a spooky season all about Halloween, so of course this month’s list had to include at least one project to commemorate the holiday. Although the historic Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta’s oldest […]

OSHA Reveals Top 10 Workplace Safety Violations of FY 2023

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced its most frequently cited workplace safety standards for fiscal year 2023. Eric Harbin, OSHA Region 6 administrator, presented the preliminary data for “OSHA’s Top 10” during the 2023 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in New Orleans. Fall Protection – General Requirements remains at the top of the […]