As the economy churns slowly forward, local jurisdictions routinely find their taxpayer bases shrinking, budgets tightening and projects postponed. Compounding the economic situation, disaster events can devastate budgets as debris removal alone oftentimes comprises 60-70% [...]
When disaster occurs, action follows. Typically facilities takes the lead in meeting the emergency head on. Decisions are made on the spot that set the tone for the recovery. The more decisive the process, the [...]
Few company leaders enjoy the prospect of discussing potential disasters. But the conversation is imperative, especially for international organizations. The larger a company’s global footprint, the greater the odds that the company will experience a [...]
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is a not-for-profit, applied research and communications organization whose mission is to reduce property losses caused by a variety of risks, including fire, high winds, earthquakes, hail, [...]
When your facility is no longer operational following a large-scale disaster, it’s not enough to simply invoke a disaster recovery plan. Where – and how – will your employees respond and recover if your building [...]
When 2% of all failures represent 25% of all losses, management should focus significant attention on reducing the 2%! Major disasters, including extreme weather, leaks, fires, or other catastrophic events cause the majority of DR [...]
Many business continuity planners don’t completely understand what damage assessment entails. You can’t assume you’ll get your building back the minute the fire is out, or the water is contained. Until your local health department [...]
What is a facility manager to do in these days of stagnant or, worse yet, shrinking budgets? With the cost of everything from electricity and gas to salaries and insurance skyrocketing, there is little left [...]
Today’s environment of increased risks requires protective design and risk management for most facilities. This article presents an overview of facility risk assessments and focuses on the critical area of window hazard mitigation. Because glass [...]
When New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle accidentally crashed a plane into a New York City high-rise this past fall, it once again raised awareness of the need to safely and quickly evacuate buildings in [...]
Planning for Data Centers : Be Prepared for Catastrophic Failure Being prepared for the unexpected is good management practice in any industry, but in the case of data centers, success or failure can be critical [...]
Introduction Hazardous material spills can take a hefty toll on all involved parties. Cleanup bills, legal liabilities and frustration for affected property owners only scratch the surface of problems commonly associated with spills. With the [...]