Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
As devastating wildfires continue to impact businesses, schools, and the community at large in Los Angeles County, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is reminding employers to protect workers from unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke. Several fires are impacting air quality in the region. Businesses and workers should refer to the California […]
Every day, retailers across the United States contend with a staggering number of security challenges—ranging from theft and disturbances to loitering—that threaten their operations, employees, and customers. With millions of transactions and customers daily, maintaining a safe environment for employees and shoppers is a complex and critical endeavor. Interface Systems’ 2024 State of Remote Video […]
Fatal workplace injuries declined 3.7% in 2023, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced with the mid-December release of its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023. The fatal work injury rate was 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers—down […]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Amazon have entered into a corporate-wide settlement to help better protect employees from hazardous working conditions leading to serious lower back and other musculoskeletal disorders at Amazon facilities. The settlement agreement resolves the department’s multiple ergonomics cases against Amazon.com Services LLC, in the first major multi-site investigation […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. There are many hazards in the workplace, but one of the most insidious is mold. Exposure to mold and fungus can lead to health problems for workers, so you need to keep an eye on it. According […]
With winter and cold weather rapidly approaching, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is re-emphasizing to chemical facilities the importance of being prepared for extreme cold to avoid serious chemical accidents. Data on chemical releases shows that there is a notable increase of incidents at chemical facilities during the cold weather months. In […]
On Nov. 22, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released an update on its investigation into a Sept. 29 chemical reaction and toxic gas release at the Bio-Lab Inc., facility in Conyers, Georgia. The incident led to a massive fire and plume of toxic smoke that threatened the surrounding community and the metropolitan Atlanta […]
Back to Basics is an article series that highlights important but possibly overlooked information facilities management professionals should know. During emergencies, things can go wrong in an instant. It’s crucial for employers, facilities professionals, and other safety stakeholders to collaborate on developing emergency action plans (EAPs) with effective evacuation procedures, so that in a disaster scenario, employees know […]
Fewer workers are dying from hazards where the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has focused its enforcement resources. Preliminary agency data show a decrease in fatalities the agency is mandated to investigate, including significant reductions in fatal injuries from trench collapses and falls, two of the leading causes of death among construction industry workers. […]
Summer 2024 was the hottest on record—and most of the United States grappled with dangerously high temperatures throughout July and August. The country has cooled down since then. But this summer’s extreme heat was a warning sign. Earth is only getting hotter, and we’re likely to see increasingly dangerous temperatures that could put your employees at […]