Practical Facilities Tips, News & Advice.
How is the air quality inside your facilities? Is it time to reevaluate your HVAC systems and maintenance procedures? Proper ventilation and air filtration can lower indoor concentrations of both infectious disease particles and particulate matter from wildfires, protecting a facility’s employees, customers, and visitors. Particulate matter from wildfire smoke—material less than 2.5 micrometers in […]
In observance of the U.N.’s International Day of Clean Air on Sept. 7, Fellowes announced results from a recent U.S. and Canadian survey around workplace wellness. The survey, canvassing 1,085 U.S. and Canadian workers who work on-site indoors at least one full day a week, sheds light on the salient issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) in the workplace. […]
A federal workplace safety investigation has again found workers at an Amazon fulfillment center exposed to ergonomic hazards, this time at a facility in Logan Township, N.J. In response to a complaint, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened an investigation in January 2023 and found the company was exposing employees to ergonomic hazards […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is joining businesses nationwide to recognize the successes of workplace safety and health programs during Safe + Sound Week, Aug. 7-13. The annual event involves thousands of worksites that will promote the benefits of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a […]
On July 21, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it cited Petco’s North Andover, Massachusetts, pet supply store for routinely exposing employees to live and dead rodents, as well as their droppings and urine. Agency inspectors also found that the North Andover store exposed employees to electrical hazards by blocking access to electrical […]
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 […]
Editor’s note: The views expressed in op-eds are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Facilities Management Advisor. The recent Canadian wildfires greatly impacted air quality hundreds of miles away in major American cities, demonstrating how disasters in one country can affect the health of others. This issue also came to light in […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a national emphasis program to prevent workplace hazards in warehouses, processing facilities, distribution centers, and high-risk retail establishments. In the past 10 years, warehousing and distribution centers have experienced tremendous growth with more than 1.9 million people employed in the industry. The Bureau of Labor […]
As facilities managers know, summer brings increased risks of fire hazards that require proactive planning and risk mitigation. With higher use of electrical equipment such as fans and air conditioning, risks of electrical overloads and arson attacks rise. Not to mention that reduced staffing levels can also impact safety practices. The summer is a great […]
On June 26, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) announced citations for two Half Moon Bay farms where seven workers were shot and killed January 23. Cal/OSHA cited California Terra Garden Inc., for 22 violations, including 5 serious and 1 serious, accident-related for failing to have a plan or procedures to immediately notify […]