Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
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 […]
Visitor management is an important part of making a great first impression on your visitors, as well as protecting their privacy and increasing safety. Facilities managers should therefore work with security leaders to implement a modern visitor management solution (VMS) that would adequately greet, process, and monitor those entering your facility. How Should It Be […]
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 […]
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 […]
On Dec. 6, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its final report on the deadly explosions and fires at the Didion Milling Inc. dry corn milling facility in Cambria, Wis. The May 2017 explosion fatally injured five employees and seriously injured another 14. The incident destroyed the facility, resulting in over $15 million […]
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 […]
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board (OSHSB), which sets workplace safety and health standards for the state, released revised text of its draft standard for heat illness prevention in indoor spaces. The board updated its draft standard in response to comments made in an earlier draft. Changes to the proposed regulation include: Comments were due […]
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 […]
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 […]
Facilities managers should work with building management to ensure they have adequate first-aid kits and automated external defibrillator devices (AEDs) to comply with the law and minimum safety standards and, more importantly, for the safety of facility occupants. The installation and maintenance of these units, along with associated signage, usually fall in the hands of […]