Health & Safety: Page
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Skilled labor demand is exploding. AI is both a cause and a solution: NFPA
A survey by the National Fire Protection Association found that while AI is putting pressure on an already stretched fire and safety workforce, it is also making their jobs easier.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 19, 2026 -
Opinion
How hotels can prepare for hurricane season
Annual property inspections can help hotels identify weather-related maintenance issues before they become costly losses, writes a senior director at an insurance research company.
By Ross Haigler • Aug. 19, 2026 -
Could climate change lead to increased FMLA use? Attorneys are afraid so.
Facilities could see employees stay home under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act if wildfires continue to exacerbate indoor air pollution, legal specialists say.
By Ryan Golden • Aug. 18, 2026 -
Absent a national standard, Mayo Clinic creates its own safety policy for lithium batteries
Lithium batteries are everywhere in the facility today, from laptops to hand tools to mobile floor-cleaning robots to energy storage systems, Mayo employees told a healthcare conference earlier this month.
By Brian Martucci • Aug. 17, 2026 -
Initiative will pay cybersecurity vendors to protect rural water systems
A trade group and cybersecurity experts have announced a partnership to help small water utilities protect their systems from hackers.
By Eric Geller • Aug. 14, 2026 -
Fires, floods and more: Severe weather impacts millions of students
Creating a management plan for energy efficient indoor air quality and modernizing school HVAC systems can minimize weather-related disruptions that last year impacted 9 million students, according to UndauntedK12.
By Kara Arundel • Aug. 12, 2026 -
Cybersecurity, life safety, patient privacy requirements among NFPA’s Health Care Facilities Code updates
The 2027 updates, which reflect changing expectations and realities of those facilities, can eventually get adopted into law, experts said.
By Brian Martucci • Aug. 11, 2026 -
Wildfire plans a must in today’s climate, air monitoring expert says
The increasing frequency of wildfires requires new, more complex ways of operating facilities, says Sissi Liu, CEO of Metalmark.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 10, 2026 -
Retrieved from U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
Corroded sprinkler heads triggered catastrophic 2024 Georgia chemical plant fire: report
More than 1,100 sprinkler heads were corroded when water leaked onto reactive chemicals, causing a toxic reaction that forced 90,000 people to shelter in place, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board says.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 7, 2026 -
Bed bugs spreading in unexpected places: Orkin entomologist
Outbreaks in atypical facilities like offices, although rare, can cause outsized operational and reputational damage if not addressed quickly, a specialist says.
By Joe Burns • July 23, 2026 -
Fenway Park tackles modern security in historic venue
A partnership with Johnson Controls has helped the ballpark protect the stadium during games and events without losing its historic charm, says Ryan Kozul, senior director of ballpark operations.
By Joe Burns • July 22, 2026 -
Retrieved from U.S. Department of Justice.
26 Federal Plaza likely had passive camera, security specialist says
An assailant poured gas on the steps at the federal building's employee entrance, lit a fire and ran away before federal agents and a security guard apprehended the suspect.
By Robert Freedman • Updated July 27, 2026 -
Q&A
Project type ‘more than likely’ contributed to structural failure in NYC: ASCE engineer
The nature of the office-to-apartment conversion job probably meant the Manhattan building couldn’t support the extra weight, said ASCE’s former president.
By Zachary Phillips • July 22, 2026 -
WeWork will seek WELL Coworking Rating for more than 300 locations
The rating is designed to show how coworking and similar flexible workspaces meet health and well-being measures.
By Joe Burns • July 17, 2026 -
How accessibility features can help hotels win guests in an aging America
“Just because something is ADA-compliant doesn't mean it's easy to use,” an accessibility consultant says.
By Michael Brady • July 16, 2026 -
Verkada touts better security camera image search with NVIDIA tools
The enhancement is designed to help the company’s camera systems identify threats and other problems more accurately, Verkada said.
By Robert Freedman • July 15, 2026 -
Restroom quality shapes visitors’ perception of a facility, surveys show
Visitors' restroom opinions carry over to their opinions of a company's goods and services, according to a Bradley Co. survey.
By Robert Freedman • July 13, 2026 -
Latest NYC Legionella outbreak puts focus on building water systems
Taking a two-test approach can reduce the risk of missing a bacteria buildup in pipes and elsewhere, says a testing specialist.
By Robert Freedman • July 10, 2026 -
Top floors of destabilized NYC building likely crooked, engineer says
“I suspect the floor above dropped when those main columns buckled and buckled the studs,” Joe DiPompeo, president of New Jersey civil engineering firm Structural Workshop, told Construction Dive.
By Zachary Phillips • July 9, 2026 -
To speed school incident response, companies merge dispatch platform, AI camera tech
An integration between Centegix and Volt is intended to close a gap between detection and getting responders on site, the companies say.
By Joe Burns • July 9, 2026 -
Mechanically ventilated spaces reduce wildfire smoke concentration: research
An Oregon State University study found that mechanically ventilated spaces were better than window AC and mini-splits at lowering indoor particulate matter concentrations.
By Joe Burns • July 7, 2026 -
Johnson Controls’ Metasys 16.0 update aims to reduce downtime, ease compliance
The building automation system includes new features to help speed up cybersecurity upgrades, monitor regulatory requirements and meet energy performance standards.
By Joe Burns • July 6, 2026 -
Resilience the focus of incoming ASHRAE president
Climate and infrastructure challenges mean facilities professionals must work together to improve building performance, Colliers Project's Sarah Maston said at the organization’s conference.
By Joe Burns • June 30, 2026 -
ASHRAE to tackle data centers, thermal systems at annual conference
The engineering society’s annual meeting, starting this weekend in Austin, Texas, will have programs on managing energy costs and integrating energy storage projects, among others.
By Joe Burns • June 26, 2026 -
New Honeywell tool ‘purges’ CO as part of fire safety improvements
The tool removes carbon monoxide and adds fresh air to reduce harmful levels in affected areas when an alarm is triggered, the company says.
By Joe Burns • June 25, 2026