Indoor Air Quality and Why it is Important Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality in and around buildings and structures, as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Poor indoor air quality can, at worst, be a hazard to those who are very sensitive such as those with asthma […]
Maintenance work can be dangerous work as it can often involve many of the most unsafe activities like working on ladders or scaffolding, disturbing asbestos, working with electricity and even moving parts in equipment. Each task is different, and maintenance techs are frequently in direct contact with machines and other hazards, and that could lead […]
Safety while using chemicals Cleaning products play an essential role in keeping public facilities and equipment clean and working properly. By safely and effectively removing soils, germs and other contaminants, they prevent the spread of diseases and control allergens, like dust and mold, helping us to stay healthy. Chemicals used in cleaning products, such as […]
Company Culture – Part 3 How do I assess the culture of a company I may want to work for? How you fit into a company’s workplace culture can ultimately impact your overall job satisfaction and happiness. When you find the right fit for your values and goals, you enjoy going to work. If the culture […]
Part 2 How to Assess Your Own Company Culture – Check It! If your company shows a lack of leadership, high turnover, disengaged employees, and a hard time adapting to changes, it may be cultural issues that need attention. A company’s culture is set by its leaders. Those leaders set the bar for performance through […]
So, just what is a company’s culture? How is it defined, and why does it matter? Turns out there is a myriad of information on this important subject. With so many of our customers looking for new employees and trying to keep the ones they have, I thought it might be a good thing to […]
Industrial Maintenance is the work done by technicians or mechanics to manage machinery and equipment in a facility or assets on a property in order to meet the business objectives. It involves troubleshooting, fixing, and replacing equipment to improve asset performance. The demands of competitive marketplaces and intolerance of downtime have increased and so have […]
Frequent training on cleaning procedures that guard against cross contamination is important in all public facilities. As managers, you cannot assume that cleaning and maintenance personnel know the correct methods. Even when the information is known, employees may need reminders of proper protocol so they understand the importance of not cutting corners. A manager’s top […]
Facility Pest ControlYou have enough to worry about just trying to operate a clean, safe facility free of health and safety hazards, so why should you have to think about pest control too? Controlling pests at your facility is incredibly important, preventing issues is way better than curing them when it comes to pest infiltration. […]
Importance of Consistent Maintenance Records Facility managers know of the importance of record keeping for maintenance, repairs, and inspections of equipment within commercial facilities. We have all heard the benefits of maintaining equipment so that it does not cost more later in down time and preventable repairs. There are many additional reasons to keep accurate […]
Concrete is care free and maintenance free, correct? Well, not exactly. In most cases concrete is a durable, long-lasting product without much maintenance. Properly maintaining concrete, however, can greatly extend the life and the beauty of the concrete. Plain concrete can look clean and bright and decorative concrete can look the same after years of […]
Ways to increase MPGElectric vehicles are obviously more fuel-efficient than gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. But for those who have fleets of gas or diesel vehicles, changing isn’t an option anytime in the near future. How do you save money in the meantime with fuel prices skyrocketing? Here are a few tips. Some you may have […]
Strong Facility Managers Whether you are trying to hire one or be one, it takes certain characteristics to be a strong, competent facility manager. Many people who are not happy with their job say that it is either due to those working around them or their manager. Here are some guidelines of what it takes […]
Graffiti If you are in maintenance, chances are you have had to deal with graffiti in some form or another. It has plagued shopping malls, commercial businesses, factories, highway signs, concrete walls and overpasses. At the national level it is estimated to cost $12 billion annually to clean it up, and while cost may not […]
Locker Room Cleanliness Locker rooms in fitness centers, hotel gyms and spas can be a place where harmful germs, viruses and parasites love to fester and hide. With more people using these facilities at this time of the year, it is important to properly maintain them. Unclean surfaces can spread bacteria, fungal infections, plantar warts, […]
Mold and Mildew – What’s the difference? Mildew is a type of mold, which means they share a lot of similarities. Without a doubt, mold is worse than mildew as it burrows into surfaces while mildew grows on the surface. Both mold and mildew species can release toxins into the air which can trigger an immune […]
Finding maintenance techs in todays job market There are many challenges to finding the right maintenance technicians and managers at any given time and recent times have made it even more difficult. New projects added onto old requirements, seemingly fewer applicants to choose from, and trying to find people with the correct skill set, mindset, […]
To Delay or not Delay Maintenance.(That should not be the question.) We have all been there. Procrastination. Whether the cause is insufficient funding, not enough staff, or other reasons. We have all posed the questions “What’s the harm in waiting another hour or day? What’s one more month really going to do?” Before you know it, a […]
As humans our sense of smell is powerful enough to create emotions, perceptions, and even memories. Scents, both pleasant and unpleasant, can evoke a strong response and can remind us of places we’ve been and experiences we had there. When we visit public buildings like office buildings, hotels, gyms, restaurants, airports, and theaters — unpleasant […]
Why are there so many different cleaning agentsand how do I choose the right one? There are many types of cleaning agents to help you with the job at hand. How do you choose the right one so that the job is easier and done right the first time? By understanding the different types of […]
Staffing Levels by the NumbersHow to reasonably assess maintenance staffing is an often-posed question among fleet managers and facility maintenance managers. Many organizations do not determine how many techs are required to maintain their fleet or facilities. Many report that staffing levels at their shop have been the same for years and no one knows […]
Aren’t Grease and Lubricant the same? Many people think that lubricants and grease are same. Both aim to lubricate equipment and prevent damage through metal-to-metal contact. The biggest difference setting grease apart from oil is its thickener. Grease is oil that contains a thickener, not just a thicker oil. Grease consists of two main components, a […]
What is UVC light? The brief answer is that it is another tool in our arsenal against Covid-19 and other germs and viruses that can make us sick. The science lesson answer is: Ultraviolet (UV) light is a component of the electromagnetic spectrum in the area between visible light and X-Rays. The sun emits UVA, […]
Urinals: They can cause such a stink! Let’s face it, no one hears the word urinal and thinks pleasant thoughts. The first word that usually comes to mind is stinky. There are about 8 million urinals in the US alone and about 100 million people use those urinals. No matter which type of urinals your facility […]
Since we went over hard floor care last time,I figured we should give a shout out to carpet too. Carpets are a great addition to many buildings as they provide warmth and interest. Large venues such as casinos and convention centers benefit from carpet’s ability to muffle sound and its relatively affordable cost. It is […]