The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) recently released four reports on applying lessons learned from Covid-19 to prepare for and respond to the next flu pandemic. The reports provide recommendations on leveraging Covid-19 vaccine technology for influenza vaccine research and development, bolstering the influenza vaccine supply chain, improving global coordination, and effectively using non-vaccine public health measures, such as face masks, physical distancing and school closures, as well as indoor environment controls such as barriers, ventilation and filtration, and various disinfection technologies.
A flu pandemic comparable to that of 1918, which caused an estimated 50 million deaths worldwide, could potentially have worse consequences than the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the reports say. Influenza remains the circulating pathogen most likely to cause a pandemic, and the risk for pandemic influenza may be higher during the Covid-19 era due to changes in global and regional conditions affecting humans, animals, and their contact patterns. Each year, there are 3 to 5 million cases of influenza globally, and up to 650,000 deaths.
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By 2025, 30% of critical infrastructure organizations will experience a security breach that will result in the halting of an operations- or mission-critical cyber-physical system, according to global research and advisory company Gartner.
Critical infrastructure security has become a primary concern for governments around the world, with the U.S., U.K., EU, Canada and Australia each identifying sectors deemed “critical infrastructure” — for example, communications, transport, energy, water, healthcare and public facilities. In some countries, critical infrastructure is state-owned, while in others, like the U.S., private industry owns and operates a much larger portion of it.
“Governments in many countries are now realizing their national critical infrastructure has been an undeclared battlefield for decades,” said Ruggero Contu, research director at Gartner. “They are now making moves to mandate more security controls for the systems that underpin these assets.”
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QR code technology has made a massive comeback. And in the world of facilities management, the use of that technology means that, with the quick scan of a code, maintenance technicians and managers can perform a myriad of functions, right from their mobile device.
With equipment or location-specific QR codes, teams can easily scan to track inventory and assets; view maintenance records, guides or images; and click through prompts to quickly initiate, complete or check the status of work orders.
Whether for inspection compliance, inventory tracking, or maintenance, QR code capabilities allow you to work more accurately and efficiently.
Watch this quick video to see how Compass Health Network, a nonprofit health care organization, uses PropertyTRAK’s CMMS, and QR code technology, to manage virtually every aspect of their Moonbeam disinfecting units.
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Would you like more QR code technology information from PropertyTRAK?
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Facing unprecedented challenges over the past two years, facility managers have risen to the occasion, gaining recognition as essential personnel. Are you prepared for what’s next?
The professional world is changing. Competencies are beginning to outpace degrees as desired qualifications for job placement and advancement. Today’s FM must proactively acquire new skills to not only remain relevant, but indispensable.
Upskilling and validating your knowledge with globally recognized credentials can help you establish or maintain your status as an expert on built environment dynamics. The best place to start is the association that has identified and developed training around FM competencies for
close to three decades.
IFMA courses and credential programs help you build upon your foundational FM knowledge to set you and your facility up for success. Unlock your potential – access the value of IFMA, including our 20,000+ global community, providing resources and relationships that can help you become the expert your organization needs.
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While waiting three years due to the pandemic to stage their renowned educational conference, the NFMT 2022 (National Facilities Management and Technology Conference & Expo) conference team have developed educational tracks that are right on-target with the challenges faced by facilities managers (FMs), building management and workplace and educational institution professionals.
NFMT will be hosted in the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, where it has been held since 2001, by the publishers of Building Operating Management and Facility Maintenance Decisions magazines. Their goal was to bring education, networking, and product discovery to facilities professionals nationwide.
NFMT continues the tradition March 29-31 by offering broad-based education for facilities professionals from every type of organization: government, education, commercial, office, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and industrial.
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by Mark A. Bodenschatz, PE, ProFM, CSSP, Director, Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute
Facility Managers (FMs) face no shortage of challenges in 2022. The pandemic and its resulting fallout still loom large in the FM world, as with many other industries. Add to the list, tough competition in many industries, supply chain issues, growing labor shortages, and cyber and ransom attacks. However, imbedded in these challenges are opportunities for FMs to positively impact their organizations in 2022 and beyond.
FMs remain on the frontlines of implementing strategies to mitigate the virus and its spread. Occupancy guidelines, cleaning protocols, staff practicing masking and distancing, and operation and maintenance of HVAC systems all affect the spread of the virus and will be important priorities for 2022. However, these decisions to mitigate the spread often come with financial and environmental costs. So now more than ever, a total cost of ownership evaluation is necessary to hone in on the right decisions.
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by Brianna Crandall
GP PRO, a division of global paper and building product manufacturer Georgia-Pacific, has just announced that it has joined the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) membership program as a Keystone member.
In joining, GP PRO says it is advancing its long-standing commitment to the overall health and well-being of building occupants and aligning with like-minded companies seeking to enhance buildings and communities to help people thrive.
IWBI is a public benefit corporation focused on deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and the WELL Health-Safety Rating, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being for everyone, everywhere.
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The awards provide global recognition to the individuals and organizations leading the higher education sustainability movement. With the help of volunteer judges from the community, the awards program raises the visibility of high-impact sustainability projects and collaborations, pioneering research, and student leadership, helping to disseminate innovations and inspire continued progress toward environmental, social and economic health.
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The International Air-conditioning / Heating / Refrigerating Exposition, or AHR Expo, will take place live in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 31 to February 2, 2022, as scheduled. Despite understandable concerns about recent Covid-19 developments, the show’s numbers remain strong, with more than 1,650 exhibitors (including 300+ international companies) ready to go, and show management is confident that up-to-date health and safety protocols will produce a safe, successful in-person event.
Product categories include Building Automation, Cooling, Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Plumbing, Refrigeration, Software, Sustainable Solutions, Software, Tools and Instruments, and Ventilation.
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NeoCon, June 13-15, Chicago, provides programming across a range of educational tracks and categories with CEU-accredited seminars. The call for presentations is open through February 4th. Programming, will be running virtually and onsite at NeoCon, as well as virtually throughout the year. The following tracks are among those of interest to FM professionals: Facilities Construction & Renovation, Facilities Management; Facilities Technology; Office Design; Institutional / Public Spaces; and Environmental, among others.
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