DATES FOR THE
FM DIARY
12-14 JULY 2021
www.facilitiesshow.com
18-19 MARCH 2021
Smart Home Virtual
Virtual Event
www.smarthometechlive.co.uk
15-16 JUNE 2021
Hotel Facilities Management Expo
ExCeL, London
www.hfmexpo.co.uk
28-29 JUNE 2021
The Facilities Management Forum
Hybrid Hilton Deansgate, Manchester
https://bit.ly/3jalnwX
13 SEPTEMBER 2021
IWFM Conference ‘Emerging Stronger’
Hybrid Event
www.iwfm.org.uk/iwfmconference.html
15-16 SEPTEMBER 2021
Smart Home Expo
NEC, Birmingham
www.smarthometechlive.co.uk
22-23 SEPTEMBER 2021
RWM Resource Revolution
NEC, Birmingham
www.rwmexhibition.com
05-07 OCTOBER 2021
UK Construction Week Birmingham
NEC, Birmingham
www.ukconstructionweek.com
13-14 OCTOBER 2021
Smart FM Forum
Virtual Event
https://bit.ly/36yHHv2
02-04 NOVEMBER 2021
The Cleaning Show 2021
ExCeL, London
https://cleaningshow.co.uk/london
MARCH 2021 7
SECURITY TIPS TO PROTECT
VACANT AND MINIMALLY
OCCUPIED BUILDINGS
Security experts are alerting businesses and facilities managers to
ensure that vacant or minimally occupied buildings are kept safe
and secure in the wake of increased security threats as the pandemic
continues to seeing many people working from home.
Tim Isaac, Security Advisor at 14forty, the integrated facilities
management division of Compass Group UK & Ireland, said: “The
pandemic has brought the business-critical issue of premises security
to the fore. While we have seen a renewed community spirit in many
aspects of society, criminals, such as thieves, are taking advantage
of this national crisis, targeting locked-up properties or those where
occupancy levels are lower than usual. Implementing robust security
measures to protect premises is therefore more critical than ever.”
14forty has put together its top 10 tips for businesses looking to
bolster their security as the Coronavirus pandemic continues.
Top 10 Security Tips
Identify and adapt: Conduct, continually review and update risk
assessments based on new and evolving security threats. Update operating
procedures and action plans to suit.
Update incident response procedures: Ensure procedures reflect the
changing working landscape and remote working. Test command, control
and communications capabilities.
Regularly review security provisions: This will help benchmark contract
performance in the case of FM providers, as well as ensure technology is up
to date and secure against current threats.
Implement phased return to work procedures and sta ing: As the
government eases lockdown restrictions, some sta may need retraining in
aspects of their work or navigating security protocols.
Train security sta : Significant developments in global threats mean
training requirements are di erent to five years ago. Ensure security sta
complete the Protect Duty and Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness
training packages to stay up to date and relevant.
Audit and review access control systems: This will ensure both physical
and electronic security provisions are both up to date and conform to any
current legislation ensuring the site is safe and secure.
Protect building perimeters: This is critical to limiting and managing access
points, where criminals could enter properties. Lighting and CCTV can be
utilised more e iciently within a protected perimeter.
Embrace CCTV: CCTV can monitor capacity in areas and allow operators
to judge COVID-19 safety measures, control access into buildings for
individuals or vehicles, as well as check building temperatures and alert fire
safety systems if there are any dangerous fluctuations.
Employ security o icers: Use them to regularly patrol buildings, inform and
educate employees on COVID-19 safety measures, conduct temperature
checks to reduce the risk of transmission and manage occupancy levels.
Ensure that security measures are highly visible: Visible and vocal security
teams, cameras and signage is an additional deterrent factor and will help
to reassure returning employees.
Study fi nds air
purifi cation
systems can
reduce airborne
pathogens by
around 50%
Airborne pathogens in an
offi ce environment can
be signifi cantly reduced
by the use of eff ective
air purifi cation systems
according to a new study
undertaken by The
University of Lincoln.
The report, commissioned
by Intratek, providers of
some of the world leading
air purifi cation systems,
has found that the levels of
airborne micro-organisms
can be reduced by around 50
per cent with an eff ective air
purifi cation system.
The independent
investigation into the
effi cacy of Intratek’s biocidal
air handling unit looked at
diff erences in the levels of
microbial growth between
treated and untreated air.
The University’s scientifi c
team found statisticallysignifi
cant diff erences when
the air handling unit was
operational and concluded
that, on average, bacterial
counts dropped by half and
fungal counts reduced by
around two thirds when
the unit was in an offi ce
location.
The report is of particular
signifi cance considering the
threat posed in the workplace
by airborne pathogens,
including respiratory viruses
such as COVID-19, although
reductions in viral particles
were not tested as part of the
University of Lincoln’s study.
The law requires employers
to ensure an adequate supply
of fresh air in the workplace
as well as good ventilation.
This, coupled with social
distancing and frequent
handwashing, are some of
the key measures employers
need to introduce if they
are to reduce the risk of
spreading Coronavirus in the
workplace.
Good ventilation reduces
the concentration of
pathogens in the air and
therefore reduces the risks
from airborne transmission.
FMJ.CO.UK NEWS & ANALYSIS
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/36yHHv2
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