Health & Safety
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Deep Dive6 facilities management trends set to define 2025
Facilities managers are leveraging data to optimize operations and meet changing occupier needs while anticipating federal policy shifts and growing data center demand.
By Joe Burns , Nish Amarnath • Jan. 14, 2025 -
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ASHRAE releases guidance to mitigate smoke’s IAQ impacts, updates HVAC testing protocols
Facilities managers and building operators can use the new guidance along with existing procedures, like Guideline 36, to automate their systems and improve efficiency, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Dec. 18, 2024 -
Courtesy of Butlr
Firms leverage AI to bolster camera capabilities
By integrating AI and machine learning with digital twins and heat sensor technology, firms are enhancing security, occupancy tracking and operational insights, while trying to ensure privacy protection.
By Joe Burns • Dec. 17, 2024 -
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Siemens, SwiftConnect and Fortive advance their FM software systems
Access, facility and asset management products and the firms that offer them have been busy this fall. Here’s the latest.
By Joe Burns • Nov. 22, 2024 -
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Trump administration likely to abandon OSHA heat safety rule, experts say
The incoming administration will probably let the standard die, but some other form of guidance could emerge instead, according to attorneys.
By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Retrieved from Carnegie Mellon University on November 05, 2024
Higher ed campuses update health, wellness, accessibility amenities
Many colleges and universities are investing in facilities that promote overall well-being, including new fitness centers, mental health spaces and student support areas.
By Joe Burns • Nov. 5, 2024 -
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EPA updates IAQ guidance with multi-layered ventilation, filtration strategy
Filtration improvements, HVAC upgrades and air cleaning technologies are some of the steps operators can take to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says.
By Joe Burns • Nov. 4, 2024 -
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Air quality, energy efficiency can coexist, but require intentional decision-making
To reap the benefits of IAQ and energy efficiency measures, operators must focus on design, planning and verification of building systems, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 30, 2024 -
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Cleanliness, safety gaps in healthcare workspaces affect employee retention, survey finds
Employees eyeing exits in the next 12 months were likely to report dissatisfaction with employee offices and break rooms that were unsafe, unclean or had inadequate sound privacy, per a JLL report.
By Nish Amarnath • Oct. 17, 2024 -
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5 tips for businesses filing hurricane-related insurance claims
With Hurricanes Helene and Milton estimated to have cost tens of billions of dollars in damage, it’s important for businesses to carefully document the impact when filing insurance claims, experts say.
By Maura Webber Sadovi • Oct. 14, 2024 -
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium roof blown off by Hurricane Milton
The storm shredded the canvas dome — designed to withstand 115 mph winds — of the Major League Baseball park, built in 1990.
By Zachary Phillips , Jennifer Goodman • Oct. 10, 2024 -
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Business continuity plans, partnerships key to navigating extreme weather, experts say
In the wake of severe weather events, it’s important to have business continuity plans and disaster protocols in place. These include staging, triaging and proactively monitoring weather systems, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Oct. 7, 2024 -
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Cybersecurity firm flags attack on construction accounting system
Plumbing, HVAC and similar subcontractors using default credentials faced active intrusions due to an emerging threat targeting Foundation Software users, according to cybersecurity firm Huntress.
By Matthew Thibault • Sept. 23, 2024 -
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SecureAire acquisition will drive energy-efficient air filtration, R-Zero says.
With filters that last two to three times longer, building owners can cut maintenance costs and material waste, boosting overall efficiency, R-Zero’s CEO said.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 18, 2024 -
Courtesy of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
Retail workers hail New York’s new panic-button law
The law, which Gov. Kathy Hochul signed Thursday, mandates better lighting, adequate staffing, employee training and safety measures in stores. Key trade groups opposed the measure.
By Daphne Howland • Sept. 11, 2024 -
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Google pilots heat resilience tool in 14 US cities
The tool is equipped with AI-driven object detection and other models that account for characteristics such as how well roofs on buildings reflect sunlight, Google says.
By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 10, 2024 -
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3 steps to mitigate wildfire effects on IAQ
Building occupancy, air filter inventory and measures to manage air intake and exhaust are among the factors to consider, experts say.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 9, 2024 -
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Sponsored by Peak PowerWhat every industrial facility manager needs to know about peak shaving and load shifting
Two strategies industrial facilities can use to reduce high electricity demand charges.
By Derek Lim Soo • Sept. 9, 2024 -
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OSHA sets late December comment deadline for extreme heat standard
The agency’s proposed rule would require employers to develop heat injury and illness prevention plans, among other actions.
By Ryan Golden • Sept. 6, 2024 -
Permission granted by Chicago White Sox
Chicago baseball stadium adds 11 free period product dispensers
Facilities managers should view menstrual hygiene products as a budgetary line item akin to other restroom supplies, the Chicago White Sox’s senior director of park operations said.
By Nish Amarnath • Aug. 27, 2024 -
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Focus on heat illness intensifies after death of Baltimore sanitation worker
Mayor Brandon Scott said the city has hired a law firm to conduct a thorough review of the Department of Public Works' heat safety policies, as labor groups call for more heat safety protections.
By Megan Quinn • Aug. 23, 2024 -
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R-Zero launches IAQ monitor, control dashboard to support occupant comfort, HVAC maintenance
Operators can also use the system to detect HVAC faults, fix ventilation problems and support healthy building certifications, the company says.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 21, 2024 -
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Adidas America faces almost $400K in fines over warehouse safety violations
Safety hazards, such as an unsafe ladder and a lack of guardrails, found during a 2021 OSHA inspection of the facility were still not addressed during a January 2024 visit, the federal agency said.
By Cara Salpini • Aug. 20, 2024 -
Permission granted by Turner Construction
Turner launches new heat safety study
Building on a program from last summer, the contractor will measure the impact of high temperatures on 200 workers this month.
By Zachary Phillips • Aug. 15, 2024 -
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Combating indoor air pollution from wildfire smoke
Smoke readiness plans, regular assessments of ventilation systems and high-efficiency HVAC filters can all play a role, experts say.
By Amanda Loudin • Aug. 12, 2024
