What Are The Fundamental Safety Duties In Facilities Management?
Facilities management is an integral process from both a micro and macro perspective. At a fundamental level, it ensures that the cogs of business keep turning through providing a safe and effective work environment. On a grander scale, properly managed facilities support the economy and protect the output of thousands of businesses and organisations across the country.
However, it’s a challenging and often hazardous process. Facilities management overlaps many areas of health and safety, and different positions must work together to ensure that workforces are protected and supported. In this article, we walk through some of the main safety considerations that are commonplace for facilities managers and teams.
Risk Assessment
A fundamental element of facilities management is risk assessment and evaluation. Workplaces, particularly industrial facilities, are fraught with hazards and dangers that must be properly accounted for and mitigated as far as possible. For facility managers, these may be in relation to the processes of operations themselves or the work environment and various facility dangers.
Risk assessments should assess and evaluate fire safety, the presence of harmful substances such as asbestos, dangerous working conditions such as around heaving machinery and other elements that pose a danger to the safety of the workforce. Typical risk mitigation includes the distribution of personal protective equipment, thorough emergency planning and adequate workplace training.
Repairs And Maintenance
Commercial and industrial buildings require significant upkeep to maintain operations and protect the workforce. Facility managers are typically responsible for orchestrating repairs and maintenance tasks, whether they do this themselves in smaller buildings, or outsource to a maintenance contractor for bigger facilities.
Maintenance is essential not only to maintain a safe working environment but to reduce the cost of operations and potential repairs in the long term. Issues that go unnoticed or repairs that are left without attention can develop into more serious issues that can either cost more to repair (or even replace) or put the workforce in danger. No chances can be taken with safety systems such as fire alarms and emergency exit hardware, so regular upkeep is critical to ensure that facilities are always prepared for the worst case scenario.
Legal Compliance
Of course, there are legal implications to contend with if facilities don’t meet health and safety requirements. Facilities management teams must be up to date with the latest guidance from HSE and the relevant legislative and regulatory bodies. Inspections may be required from time to time and facility managers need to ensure that workplace facilities meet all the requirements expected, otherwise it could result in lost licences, lost revenue and potential legal complications.
