By Dan Hounsell, Senior Editor

Workplace safety is a high priority for engineering and maintenance managers in all types of institutional and commercial facilities, despite the staffing and budgeting challenges that plague facilities year after year.  Many organizations respond to the workplace safety challenge by spending money on facilities and safety, but tragedies still occur. In the case of one Massachusetts facility, the issue has affected more than just the bottom line. 

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently hit a Fall River, Massachusetts, assisted living facility with fines after a deadly fire this past summer. Ten residents died after the blaze tore through the Gabriel House in July, and dozens were injured and displaced. 

OSHA investigators identified 13 workplace-related violations, and 11 of them are considered serious. Penalties totaled $186,778. Violations included these: 

• Exits are not clearly marked or visible. 
• Employer did not review with the employee the fire prevention planning for self-protection and evacuation drills. 
• The employer did not train employees to assist in a safe and orderly evacuation of other employees. 

Video showing evidence of recalled sprinklers in the facility. They were never replaced. Last month, a state commission released its report on assisted living facilities, calling for better fire safety and emergency preparedness standards. 

Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.?