Facility management is responsible for maintaining a safe and comfortable workplace. The safety of the building and its team members should be a top priority for all facility managers. But, when other responsibilities require your immediate attention, it can be increasingly challenging to provide the necessary dedication toward preventive facility maintenance.
So, what is facility maintenance? Commercial facility maintenance is typically a proactive strategy that includes cleaning, repairs, adjustments and more. It is vital for maintaining safe building grounds, both indoors and out.
Recognize and address potential safety issues before they amount to severe hazards or damages with regular property maintenance. An organized plan for preventive property maintenance is one of the most successful ways to prevent safety hazards and provide ongoing care to your building grounds. You may even reduce the number of unexpected challenges you face!
Benefits of Preventive Property Maintenance
There are several benefits of regular property maintenance — from decreasing expenses to improving safety. When you take proactive measures to maintain your facility, you can expect:
- More cost-effective corrective repairs.
- Fewer total asset replacements due to frequent upkeep.
- An increased amount of planned maintenance.
- Enhanced beauty and visual appeal.
- An extended lifetime for assets by preventing excess depreciation.
- Optimized maintenance planning and use of resources.
- Improved safety and a reduced risk of injury to team members.
Of the many advantages, the most significant might be improving safety and reducing hazards.
How Property Maintenance Can Improve Safety
Regular property maintenance can enhance workplace safety in the following ways.
- Preventing hazardous situations: Various areas throughout your property may pose significant risks when left unchecked over an extended period. Dangerous gas buildups in the ventilation system can cause severe health issues, while pooling water on poorly maintained walkways can be a severe slip-and-fall hazard. Regular maintenance on your HVAC system and sidewalks can catch these concerns before hazardous situations occur.
- Reducing sudden, serious repairs: Maintain a safe workplace by performing cost-effective adjustments whenever maintenance services detect them. Unchanged air filters may lead to HVAC system failure, while damages in a parking lot can create unsafe conditions for pedestrians and drivers. Corrective repairs that require immediate attention can be expensive. With a preventive maintenance strategy, you can significantly minimize sudden, serious repairs and keep costs low.
- Establishing correct safety procedures: OSHA has many industry-specific guidelines and regulations for safety management that define safe workplace behaviors. OSHA advocates for hazard prevention and control, recommending practices that find and fix problems before they cause workplace injuries. A preventive maintenance strategy will facilitate OSHA-recommended safety procedures for areas that may not receive daily attention.
Preventive property management is necessary for your facility’s safety and comfort — inside and out.
Creating a Year-Round Facility Management Schedule
A year-round facility management plan can help prevent many potential problems. In addition to all the equipment and indoor workstations that must be well-maintained, various landscape features will need regular inspection and consideration, too. A comprehensive schedule for indoor and outdoor maintenance will keep your facility safe in all areas.
How to Keep Track of Maintenance Responsibilities
Take notes of what is working and opportunities for improvement. Detailed notes can help you determine the most efficient times to schedule maintenance, and you will eventually notice patterns in your facility’s annual wear and tear.
Many facility services take advantage of apps to stay organized and communicate with team members. Several digital tools can help you plan your yearly maintenance and streamline the process. Facility managers must prioritize their focus, so each area receives adequate attention. Keep track of maintenance responsibilities with a year-round schedule to create a safe environment for employees and customers every day.
7 Areas You Should Maintain Regularly
Facility managers should consistently maintain the following seven areas for outstanding building safety and comfort.
1. Sidewalks
Repair uneven or broken sidewalks to minimize walking hazards and potential liability issues. High-traffic areas are more prone to wear and tear, so inspect your sidewalks seasonally for continued, safe usage throughout the entire year. Perform a fundamental analysis after large storms, too. Address any concerns you find during these checks — facility management services can assess and repair your sidewalks at any time.
Remember to avoid quick fixes, as these will not last long. Install sidewalks that can withstand the use they’ll endure. Then, perform regular sidewalk upkeep for an extended lifetime of use. Long-term solutions are cost-effective and minimize the chance of needing total replacements sooner than anticipated.
2. Parking Lots
Frequently check parking lots for damages and blockage, especially after large storms and snowfall. Ensure parking lots are clear of debris for safe navigation. Pressure washing and asphalt repair services can help you maintain a parking lot that is safe and comfortable to drive on.
Prevent contamination, erosion and infestations when you regularly clean your parking lot of chemicals, dirt, silt and garbage. Scheduled parking lot maintenance can also deter future littering and attract customers, passersby and business associates to your business.
3. Walkways
Walkways are high-traffic areas used by your team members. Regularly clear such areas of leaves, snow and debris, which may harm those attempting to navigate the property. These potential safety hazards can decrease the visibility of the walkway underneath, making it more likely for accidents and injuries to occur.
Lining walkways with greenery or lights can help direct occupants to safe walkways. If pedestrians are creating paths through your property, noticeable wear in the landscape can become unsightly. Consider adding a walkway wherever pedestrians seem to be forming their own, or limit this behavior with shrubs and railings when appropriate.
4. Water Drainage
Well-planned water drainage throughout your property can help prevent flooding in walkways and driveways where traffic is high. Even the smallest pools of water can create slip-and-fall hazards for your team members and passing pedestrians.
When you plan water drainage areas, you minimize liability issues and encourage people to visit your facility in any season. Lawns and greenery will naturally absorb water, so direct the runoff through landscaped areas to avoid pooling water on solid surfaces.
5. Lighting
Hire electrical maintenance services to install and repair lighting fixtures on your property. Strategic lighting can improve your occupants’ safety and comfort. Allow people to navigate your property safely with increased visibility. When there is light drawing attention to the scene, obstacles become easier to see, and you are more likely to deter crime.
A well-lit environment is necessary for early mornings, nights and during low-visibility weather. Lights provide optimal safety for walkways with elevation changes or staircases that may present challenges. Use lighting to highlight any permanent obstacles, like benches or trash cans, which can be challenging to see in low light.
6. HVAC
Regular maintenance performed on your HVAC unit will ensure your team’s optimal health and well-being. Ventilation issues can quickly become more significant when dangerous gases build up in the system. Periodically have your HVAC ducts cleaned to prevent blockage and buildup that can circulate through your indoor air.
In addition to your regular cleanings, you should hire professional help a minimum of once per year to thoroughly inspect the system. The annual analysis performed by experts can prevent excess depreciation of the unit, increase the system’s efficiency and maintain a safe environment for your facility.
7. Tree Maintenance
If your property includes trees for their shade and natural beauty, you want to safely maintain these qualities all year. Provide your trees with quality care, so they stay healthy. You want to prevent tree limbs and branches from breaking and falling, as these situations can result in damaged property, injured occupants and blocked walkways.
Hired experts can maintain your trees so that the tree, your property and your team members remain safe. Consider installing protection if your facility is in an area prone to frequent lightning strikes. This preventive measure will protect your property and increase safety.
Partner With Shine Facility Services for Your Facility Maintenance
At Shine Facility Services, we want to help you maintain a safe facility. We pride ourselves on being a trusted partner for expert facility management and commercial maintenance needs throughout San Francisco. Our safe, eco-friendly approach to cleaning and facility maintenance is more sustainable and healthier for your property and your team members.
As a facility manager, you and your team must meet and uphold safety standards daily. Shine Facility Services is here to help you achieve and maintain your year-round maintenance responsibilities. Contact us for more information about the facility maintenance services we offer.
