What are the most effective ways to mitigate safety risks in FM?

1 Identify and assess risks

The first step in any safety management plan is to identify and assess the risks that are present in your facility. This involves conducting regular inspections, audits, and surveys to check the condition and functionality of your systems, equipment, and structures. You should also consult with your stakeholders, such as tenants, clients, contractors, and regulators, to understand their needs, expectations, and feedback. By identifying and assessing risks, you can prioritize the most urgent and critical issues and allocate your resources accordingly.

2 Implement and monitor controls

The second step is to implement and monitor the controls that are designed to reduce or eliminate the risks that you have identified. Controls can be preventive, corrective, or reactive, depending on the nature and severity of the risk. For example, you can install fire alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers to prevent fires from breaking out or spreading. You can also repair or replace faulty wiring, plumbing, or roofing to correct existing problems. Or you can have an emergency response plan and team ready to react to any incidents or crises. You should also monitor the effectiveness and compliance of your controls by using indicators, metrics, and reports.

3 Train and communicate

The third step is to train and communicate with your staff and other parties involved in your facility management. Training and communication are essential for ensuring that everyone is aware of the safety policies, procedures, and standards that you have established and expects them to follow. You should provide regular and relevant training sessions, workshops, and seminars to educate and update your staff on the best practices and techniques for safety. You should also communicate clearly and frequently with your stakeholders, such as tenants, clients, contractors, and regulators, to inform and engage them on the safety issues and initiatives that affect them.

4 Review and improve

The fourth step is to review and improve your safety management plan based on the feedback, data, and results that you have collected and analyzed. Reviewing and improving your plan allows you to identify the gaps, weaknesses, and opportunities for enhancement in your safety performance. You should conduct periodic reviews and evaluations of your plan to measure its effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction. You should also implement continuous improvement processes and methods to make adjustments, changes, or innovations to your plan as needed.

5 Invest and innovate

The fifth step is to invest and innovate in the technologies, tools, and solutions that can help you improve your safety management. Investing and innovating in safety can provide you with many benefits, such as reducing costs, increasing productivity, enhancing quality, and boosting reputation. You should explore and adopt the latest technologies, tools, and solutions that can help you automate, optimize, or transform your safety processes and functions. For example, you can use sensors, cameras, or drones to monitor and detect hazards, risks, or anomalies. You can also use software, apps, or platforms to manage and analyze your safety data and information.

6 Collaborate and learn

The sixth and final step is to collaborate and learn from your peers, partners, and experts in the field of facility management and safety. Collaborating and learning from others can help you gain insights, perspectives, and best practices that can enhance your safety management. You should network and connect with your peers, partners, and experts in the industry, such as associations, organizations, or consultants, to share and exchange your experiences, challenges, and solutions. You should also participate in events, forums, or webinars that can provide you with valuable knowledge, skills, and resources for safety management.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?