Facilities Services Weekly

Announcements

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Safety Fest Registration is Now OPEN! 

The registration for this year’s Safety Fest Tennessee is now open. Safety Fest is Monday, April 27, to Thursday, April 30, at the Y-12 Visitor Services New Hope Center. Registration can be completed here. 

 This year’s demonstrations include the Lifestar helicopter landing and Q&A; the TVA Slip Simulator (be careful!); KUB Live Line Demonstration; and the TN Army National Guard Medevac Blackhawk landing and Q&A. 

 The Safety Expo features vendors and contractors, with sessions held each day. There are 14 free CPR certification sessions at Safety Fest, so if you missed our departmental offering last fall, you can get your certification at the event. Interested in NEC Codes? There are sessions on various electrical code topics as well. If you’re interested in obtaining your OSHA 10 certification, you can also do that for free at Safety Fest. 

Verna Spencer Retirement 

Verna Spencer is retiring from Facilities Services on May 2^nd, but not before we celebrate her with a party in FSC 101/102 on Friday, April 24^th at 8:30am. Stop by to congratulate her on this milestone and to wish her well.  

DASH Reminders

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GL Account Codes

Still struggling with your chart of accounts (COA)?Here’s a quick reference list of the GL/Acct codes used most often.
Your GL code will change depending on what you are purchasing.

Updates from Admin & Finance

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Work Order Tips

Work Teams – Since campus customers are required to enter their account number when submitting requests through the portal, our FS work teams must identify & correct all non-chargeable workorders you receive. 

There are two ways to handle this…

1. If the asset is a non-chargeable location:
   • Simply remove all fields of the account information entered by the customer. (Located at the bottom of your workorder in the “Additional Information” section – Entity, Fund, Dept, Etc) 
2. If the asset is in a chargeable location but the work itself is non-chargeable:
   • The FS team should change the toggle to YES and then enter their own FS account information. 

*This needs to be done when you receive the workorder – before entering labor/materials

All material used for workorders needs to be added as “Miscellaneous” cost and documentation attached to indicate what that cost is. Please either attach a copy of the PO or some type of documentation to indicate the list of material used. 

When creating workorders, make sure you are choosing the correct asset (building & room location). The asset determines who will be charged for the work. EX: If you are doing work at UT Police Dept, and you chose the asset “11th Street Garage”, that workorder will charge Parking Services, NOT UTPD. Always select the specific room the work is being done – not the top-level building name. 

Receivers

Please respond to receiving request from the A/P team asap. DASH will NOT allow an invoice to be processed unless the PO has been received. If you believe the invoice doesn’t belong to you, still RESPOND, so we can find the appropriate person or contact the vendor.  

Building Services

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• The dock area was blown out, and debris was swept in both phases. 
• In 281 Visitor Center extra dust was done in the windowsills. 
• The ballroom carpet was spot treated for stains 
• The windowsills and baseboards in the ballrooms were dusted. 
• Spot cleaning of the carpet In 362 was completed. 
• The third-floor hallway was dusted around the overlook glass, pictures and fixtures. 
• The monumental stairs in both phases were swept and mopped.  
• All stairwells in both phases were swept and mopped. 
• The G1 corridor was dust mopped, and the auto scrubber was used to clean the floor. 
• Cardboard baling continues, and three bales are made. 
• Last week we had several events that we cleaned up after inside the building such as NETI, Volan, Barbera Shop and EUReCA. 
• The plaza was also used for multiple events like the Ren Fair, Totes and Treats, and the 865 Night Market. 
• We worked the Orange and White Game

Bass Anthropology

• The entrance was blown out and the cobwebs were removed. 
• The outside windows were cleaned. 
• High dusting was completed. 

Zone 7

• Checked and reported doors not closing properly at Humanities and Social Sciences. 
• Provided custodial support for performances of The Royale at Jenny Boyd Theatre, including on weekends. 
• Additional employees worked on and completed OSHA training. 
• Cleaned McClung Tower 1215 and 1216 for multiple events during the week, including a guest speaker lunch and Shabbat on Friday. 
• Orbited second-floor and fourth-floor bathrooms at Art and Architecture. 
• Our employee Sam Walker-Boley received a College of Arts and Sciences kudos from a world languages lecturer for his kindness and good manners in McClung Tower. 
• Cleaned exterior windows at Jenny Boyd Theatre with an IPC Eagle. 
• Dusted handrails on stairs at Humanities and Social Sciences. 
• Set up trash cans for a fashion show in the Art and Architecture atrium on Friday. 
• Cleaned before and after the Pride of the Southland band at Haslam Music Center during the Orange and White game on Saturday. 
• Cleaned before and after a recital and reception for donors at Haslam Music Center on Saturday. 
• Cleaned Humanities and Social Sciences for a ceremony and Upward Bound event on Saturday. 
• Helped in other buildings in other zones. 
• Spent extra time cleaning Humanities and Social Sciences before the Picnic on the Plaza on Monday. This included dust mopping and mopping hallways, dusting and sweeping around entries, vacuuming stairs, cleaning water fountains, cleaning elevators, cleaning entry door glass, checking for cobwebs around doors, and sweeping and blowing outside of entrances. 
• Attended the Picnic on the Plaza on Humanities plaza. 

Operations

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Moving & Event Services

Monday, March 23 

• Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs at Student Union Plaza for Event: Partner Day 2026. 

• Picked up event supplies from AMB storage room and Student Services Building 218 and took to ANR 101 A/B, and set up tables and chairs for Event SASEF. 

• Picked up 10 display boards from Student Union room 262 following an event. 

• Set up tables and chairs in Plant Biotech rooms 156/157 for Event: SASEF. 

• Picked up tables and chairs from Strong Hall Atrium following Event: Explore CAS. 

• Picked up pipe & drape, podium, coat racks, and moved furniture back into place at Tickle Engineering for Event: Advisory Board. 

• Set up and picked up 24×20 stage and provided sound for Event: Kappa Alpha Order Tailgate at Fiji Island. 

• Provided sound/electrical assistance for Event: BYX Worship Night. 

Tuesday, March 24 

• Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs for Event: Petting Zoo at SU Plaza. 

• Picked up event supplies from ANR 101 A/B and returned them to AMB storage room from the Event: SASEF. 

• Delivered and set up tables and chairs, and provided electrical support for Event: SGA Election Candidate Fair at HSS North Lawn. 

• Moved 6 lab workstations from the middle of Zeanah G104 into the G117 high bay. 

• Moved bookcases between rooms on the 5^th floor of Strong Hall. 

• Picked up surplus furniture from surplus and delivered it to ANR. 

• Delivered packing materials to 11^th street parking garage Police Station for upcoming move. 

Wednesday, March 25 

• Delivered, set up, and picked up tables and chairs and provided electrical support for Event: Summer Experiences Fair at Student Union Plaza. 

• Set up tables and chairs in Communications room 402 for Event: Sallie Mae Presentation with Financial Aid and Scholarships. 

• Delivered and set up tables and chairs and provided electrical support for Event: Bloom Into Books at Black Cultural Center Plaza. 

• Picked up tables and chairs from HSS North Lawn following the Event: SGA Election Candidate Fair. 

• Provided sound and electrical support for Event: Volunteer of Distinction at Neyland Stadium. 

• Moved furniture from BESS Office Building room 310 to rooms 308 and 210, room 213 to 308 and moved the old furniture to the hallway for surplus to pick up. 

• Repaired loose banners at Zeanah Engineering Building. 

• Picked up chairs from Student Disabilities Services room 008 and delivered them to classrooms around campus. 

Thursday, March 26 

• Picked up 20-40 boxes from Student Union 174 and loading dock closet and moved them to University Printing & Mail. 

• Delivered tables to Mossman 3^rd floor hallway for Event: VWR Vendor Show. 

• Set up tables and chairs at ANR 101A for Event: Retirement Reception. 

• Picked up tables and chairs from Black Cultural Center Plaza from Event: Bloom Into Books. 

• Deliver, set up, and picked up tables and chairs, and provided electrical support for Event: Artist’s Alley at SU Plaza. 

• Moved furniture at Baker School to basement storage, and moved signage from Baker School to Massey Hall. 

Friday, March 27 

• Delivered and set up tables and chairs for Event: Engineering New Vol Roll Call at Zeanah ground floor atrium. 

• Delivered tables to Dogwood Plaza Lawn for Event: UTK Honors Summit. 

• Delivered and set up tables for Event: CAS Chancellor’s Honors Event at Ayres Hall 1st, 2nd, & 3rd floors. 

• Delivered tables and chairs for Event: Rocky Top Climbing Competition at HPER 202. 

• Delivered and set up stage for Event: UTK Honors Summit at Ayres Hall Lawn. 

• Delivered tables and chairs for Event: CECS Tech Playground-New Vol Roll Call at Claxton Courtyard. 

• Delivered chairs for Event: Lambda Theta Phi New Member Presentation at Haslam Business Building Plaza. 

• Delivered and set up tables and chairs for Event: New Vol Roll Call at Student Union Plaza. 

• Delivered tables for Event: Summit Experience Day at SU Plaza. 

• Picked up tables from Mossman 3rd floor hallway from Event: VWR Vendor Show. 

Sustainability

General Updates:  

Earth Month 2026 is underway! Our first event, Big Green Friday Campus Cleanup, took place this past Friday. Check out the full event schedule and register for upcoming events at sustainability.utk.edu. 

There’s still time to RSVP for the Environmental Leadership Awards on April 30th! Find the RSVP link on our website or in the campus calendar event description. 

Recycling: 

• 4 bales of cardboard and 3 bales of aluminum recovered from baseball 

• Collection data: 
  • 33,700 lbs of scrap metal transformers 
  • 15,900 lbs of paper 
  • 5,674 lbs of plastic 

Compost: 

• Delivered 28 yards of finished compost to the Organic Crops Unit and UT Gardens. 

• Continued progress on the stormwater ditch at the site, with heavy operations underway! 

Maintenance & Repair

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Housing

• Working with the plumbing shop on fixing leaks at Geier Hall and Stokely Hall.  

Athletics

• No report received

Dining

• Repaired a freezer and installed a sprayer on a 3-bay sink at Volunteer Hall 
• Replaced wall plugs at Stokely and ANRB 
• Repaired an oven at Nursing’s Hillside Cafe 
• Repaired a steamer, hot well, sink drains, and dishwasher at Rocky Top Dining 
• Repaired ovens, a chargrill, and sinks at the Student Union Phase II 
• PM on exhaust fans and make-up units at Stokely, Rocky Top Dining, TBA, and Anderson Training 

Zone 4

• Art + Architecture – worked on unstopping a toilet in the 4^th floor women’s restroom and worked on heat in Room 319 
• Andy Holt Tower – worked on replacing a soap dispenser in the 5^th floor break room and replaced an exhaust fan on the roof 
• Communications – worked on AC in 451 and worked on a 4^th floor hall unit making noise 
• Student Services – worked on AC in Room 347 and Suite 486 
• McClung Tower – worked on a toilet in the first-floor men’s restroom and all AC units on the 6^th floor  
• General maintenance throughout zone and filter changes  

Zone 5

• Finished up work in Hodges and moved on to Haslam Business and SMC 
• On-demand work requests and training completion  
• Keeping customer service #1  

Zone 6

• Working on roof drains and dry wells at Claxton, Bailey, Jessie Harris, Hoskins, and the Student Union 
• Made toilet repairs and participated in the Spring Big Orange Flush  
• Changed out filters at Jewel, the Conference Center, and the Digital Learning Center 
• Made repairs to restrooms and lights at Strong Hall 
• Worked on LED lighting at Hoskins, Strong Hall, the Student Union, and UTPD  
• Answering calls and attending to customer needs 

Zone 8

• We have welcomed a new member to our team in Zone 8.  Mr. Ryan Haas has joined us and is getting his feet wet currently. 
• CL Burks has been doing roof repairs at the 1525 University Avenue building. 
• We are continuing to do PM work on many of our systems and equipment throughout the zone. 
• We are moving into a troubled time with our HVAC upgrades project at the JRTU building.  As it continues to get warmer each day, it becomes an extreme challenge to cool the space without our chiller plant online. 
• Our One-Call after hours team continues to stay busy with calls to all the dorms and spaces used after normal business hours. 

Lock & Key Services

• Recore/Rekeys at Clement Hall, Reese Hall, Hess Hall, Laurel Hall, and Cherokee Mills
• Lock Repairs at Hesler Biology, Central Greenhouse, Student Union, Plant Biotech, Student Health, Dougherty Engineering
• Lock replacements at Dougherty, Nielsen, Clement Hall, and Mossman
• Panic Bar Replacements at Phi Gamma Delta, Pi Kappa, and Humanities
• Cylinder replacements at 2400 Sutherland Avenue and McClung
• Parts replacements at Art + Architecture, Robinson, Walters Academic, Student Union, Sigma Chi, and Strong Hall
• Lock lubrication at Zeanah
• Locks bypass at Andy Holt

Comm & Info

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Training

• Don’t forget to complete your OSHA training ASAP!

FS IT

• Big Orange Flushed 
• Update Recycling’s “Game Changer” video with Aws and Dave 
• Laptop repair 
• Review Moveable Equipment Inventory 
• Check on Autodesk Licenses 
• Follow-up on Conference Room Upgrades 
• Investigate Scanner Problems 
• Hot Spot for Stormwater Management 
• Electronics Recycling 

Utilities Services

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A/C Services

• Conference Center – installing new chiller 
• Student Union – rebuild heating water pump 
• Anderson – repairing York chillers 
• Hesler – installing new cooling towers 
• Neyland- prep AC equipment for spring game 
• Hesler – installing new oil cooler on chiller no. 1 
• Music Chiller Bldg. – removed Daikin chiller and installed new Trane chiller 
• Haslam – repairing chiller no.2 
• West Skybox – installed rental chillers 
• SMC – repaired leak on heating water pump 

A/C M&R

• Tom Black- condemned VRF system 
• Hesler- Repaired cooling tower 
• Baker- Installed new mini split 
• SERF- started new coil install 
• McClung Tower- repaired fan coil 
• Baker- reset fire alarm on air handlers 
• Andy Holt chiller building- repaired air line leak 
• Golf- found problems with multiple units 
• Stadium- installed exhaust fan motor 
• Buehler 105- repaired coil leak 
• Mossman 439- replaced txv 
• Fred Brown- repaired multiple WSHP 
• Engineering Annex- Repaired water leak 
• Sharps Ridge- Replaced failed condenser fan motor 
• Food Safety- repaired coolers 
• Beuhler 330- repaired coil leak 
• Stokely Hall- repaired multiple systems 

Electrical – High Voltage Utilities

• Marking & logging Tennessee 811’s on campus.  
• Pump manhole  
• Pulled wire, made terminations, and connected the transformer to Lindsey Nelson Stadium  
• Performed outages on Circuits 2 and LA4  
• Remove poles and repulled wire at the International House  
• Baseball coverage  
• Repair and relamp pole lights and bollard  
• Refeed pole lights at UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm  

Electrical – Low Voltage M&R

• After Hours Campus Calls  
• Concord Shops Project  
• Fire Alarm Geier Hall  
• Rainbird Project  
• Lindsey-Nelson Stadium Coverage  
• Fire Alarm S. Carrick Hall  

Fire Alarm/Electrical Controls/Automations: 

• Troubleshoot lighting issues at Min Kao 401J and 401K 
•  Replace beam detector IM at TRECS 
• Troubleshoot HVAC controls in Neyland. 
• Troubleshoot lighting control alerts at Neyland 
• Neyland Orange and White gameday support 
• Adjust lighting control in Vivarium for new bat enclosure. 
• Replace VFD for smoke evac at Min Kao 
• Troubleshoot control issues at Baker VAVs 
• Commission new RGBW lighting on campus. 
• Collect interval data for engineering students 
• SMC – reinstall smoke detector 
• SMC – Chiller building alarm 
• Hess Hall – disable for contractor 
• Vol Hall – assist BST with fire alarm troubles 
• Magnolia – Replace ceiling tile 
• TREC – install IM relay for beam detectors with JCI 
• ANRB – replace strobe in freezer 
• Vol Hall – assist BST 
• Assist Morristown sprinkler with inspections and repairs on campus 

Plumbing Utilities

• Marking and logging 811’s on campus and performed utilities GIS documentation (ongoing) 
• Hess Hall temporary hot water (ongoing) 
• Paint, test, and flush all Fire Hydrants on campus (ongoing) 
• Camera and locate the manhole at Sherri Lee Stadium Construction site 
• Excavated and leveled the meter box at Fred Brown 
• Checked on restoration at Chi Omega Sorority 
• Installed meter for Chemistry Construction water source at Law College 
• Located a 3” water line at Central Greenhouse 
• Repaired a 2” copper line for the pump house at the pond 
• Serviced steam vaults across campus 
• Pump Steam vaults on campus 
• Fabricate handrails at TREC 
• Repair and replace steam trap lines in vaults on campus 
• Repair and replace steam trap lines in vaults on campus 
• Repair steam leak at Bess Labs 
• Repair steam leak at BREN 
• Change steam traps in Haslam Business 
• Change steam traps in SMC 
• Change steam traps and repair trap lines in vaults on campus 
• Assist the A/C Shop with welding new piping in the Music Chiller Building 

Plumbing M&R

• Geier Hall building is without water 
• Leak in kitchen pipe at Rocky Top 
• Stokley Hall floor drain is stopped up on the first floor 
• Humanities 4” valve leaking in ceiling 
• Repaired pex leaks in Dogwood Hall ceiling 
• Food Safety room 13 sewer is backed up 
• Hodges Library 4th Women’s bathroom drain is stopped up 
• Strong Hall copper leak on mixing valve is leaking 
• Min Kao Building urinal is stopped up on the second floor 
• Student Aquatic Center has a leak in the ceiling on the second floor 
• Hess Hall leak on cast iron drain in Women’s bathroom at lobby 
• Plant Biotech 337 domestic hot water line is leaking in the hallway 
• Check and maintain temporary boilers at Hess Hall 
• Fire hydrant testing and maintaining 
• Steam Plant repairs to water feed 
• Steam Plant assist with Vac trailer clean out operation 
• Restroom trailers set up for football 
• Replaced a broken valve cover 
• Hoskins temporary cover for the trench grate until a permanent cover is installed 

Steam Plant

• Check Fluids on all forklifts 
• Walk around the steam plant and fuel oil tanks, checking for leaks 
• Clean shop area and boiler room floors 
• Continue to isolate #1 boiler for removal 
• Monthly report 
• Boiler #1 Meeting 
• Continued fire floor clean, up after demo 
• Relocated small Aux water softeners 
• Started tear down of big aux waters softeners 
• Cleaned out A, B, and C units on condensate polisher 
• Replace resin in A, B, and C units on condensate polisher 
• Test ran 2mw generator 
• Studying programming for VFDs 
• Installed new high Bay lighting with disconnect plugs 
• Downloaded and saved to files all Allen Bradley Program to all Softeners 
• Removal of conduit and wiring from softener tanks to be moved for boiler #1 install 
• Removal of motor from basement racks and making a list for consignment, making room for boiler #1 
• Changed all filter for VFDs and the backup battery system 
• Problem with recirculating pump #2 
• Boiler #5 issue with level fluctuating, clog transmitter lines, removed lines, and cleaned  

In-house Construction

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• Agriculture and Natural Resource Building: Display cabinet 219; Changes to suite 469 
• Alpha Chi Omega: Tuckpoint brick steps 
• Andy Holt Tower: Outlet for cart chargers P1; New electric panel 1^st floor mech room; Paint and carpet P105 
• Austin Peay: Classrooms 203, 308; Electric for monitors in corridors 
• Bailey Education: Paint, carpet, etc. A401A; Multiple rooms carpet/paint/shades 3^rd floor 
• BESS Office Bldg.: Paint and flooring 101 and 103 
• Burchfiel Geography: Paint and moving workstations 107 
• Campus: TCE lab renovations in various buildings; Create impound lot for UTPD staff lot #14; Asphalt repairs; Impound lot for UTPD; Replace retaining wall Lot 9 
• Ceramics Building: ADA operator  
• Cherokee Mills: Move new folks in- Shared Services, Ed Research; Business; Paint suite 228 
• Clarence Brown Theatre: New displays 
• Claxton Education: Cubicle changes 338 and 344 
• Communications: Renovate 001-017, 250/251, 294/295, 333 and 420; HVAC for WUOT 299I; Renovate 101; Paint 107V; Paint and carpet 268, 432B 434; On air light 299I: Door and paint 219 
• Conference Center Bldg.: Electric 399S5; Paint and electric 215; Renovate window displays; Replace hand sinks in kitchen on 4; Move schedulers 
• Dabney Buehler: Lab renovation 209-214; Nitrogen piping; Paint 569 
• Dougherty Engineering: New sink 301; Electric and air 102B; Wind tunnel 101; Carpet 424 
• Engineering Research Annex: New lights 
• ETREC Johnson Animal: Repair kennel floor  
• ETREC Walland: Build a wall/door 
• Facilities Services Complex: Remove concrete walls for parking expansion 
• Ferris Hall: Outlet for digital display on 3 
• Fred Brown: Lights and electric work in laundry room 
• HPER: Various renovations for Capital Project 
• Haslam Business Building: Renovate 320; Install backbox, electric and mount for monitor 334; Digital signs in corridors; Door lights 2^nd floor office suite; Divide 540 into 2 rooms; Changes to serving area in 501; Rework drain line 501; Add or relocate barricade switches in classrooms 
• Hesler Biology: Install emergency electric for greenhouses; Outdoor Garden by greenhouses 
• Hodges Library: Renovate 171 for Census Bureau; Carpet 606; Flooring 209; Access controls various locations; Carpet 306G 
• Hoskins Library: Carpet 2^nd floor corridor 
• Innovation South: Electric connections for equipment 
• International House: Panic button at main desk 
• Kingston Pike Building: Door work 135B and 135D5 
• Lake Avenue Garage: Convert to dry fire protection system 
• Law Complex: Offices, conference rooms 212; Paint and carpet 247 and 252; Carpet 201 and 202 
• McClung Tower: Paint and carpet 803; Window film on 11^th floor 
• McCord Hall: Floors in hallways; Renovate G055, 111 and 112; Remove letters, paint 101 
• Middlebrook Pike Building: Fence for Vol Shop 
• Min Kao Engineering; Access controls 6 doors on 3^rd floor; Replace sink and faucet 401 
• Morgan Hall: Paint 204, etc.; Lighting, sound proofing 
• Mossman Building: Labware washer 620F; Install humidity system 120C 
• Nielsen Physics: Renovate 407 
• Perkins Hall: Floors in hallways; Renovate S008 for robotics 
• Plant Biotech: Controls for growth chamber B015; Remove sinks and plumbing 101 
• Rocky Top: Dining renovations and repairs 
• Senter Hall: Lab renovation 117 
• SERF: Renovations for 103, 106, 108, 213; Lab renovations for cluster hires; Lab renovation 420-433 
• Sorority Village: Install turnstile 
• Stokley Hall: Paint interior of building; Paint Keoke Coffee 
• Stokely Management Building: Renovate restrooms on 7; Build offices 436 
• Strong Hall: Lab work 726A1 
• Student Aquatic Center: Grout pool tile 
• Student Rec.: Refinish basketball courts 
• Student Union: Dining renovations; Install door glass 382H; Vol Shop light 
• Tickle Engineering: Access controls on 1^st floor 
• Tom Black Track: Signage 
• UT Arboretum: Repair beams in auditorium 
• UT Drive Building C: Renovate for move from Presidential 
• UT Gardens: Install Smart flower 
• UT IAMM: Electric 150; Electric G035; Electric 258; Electric 158; Cover pit G033: Electric 119 
• Vet Med Center: Renovate lab A335; Wall repair B022C; Add 16 panic buttons; Carpet in Pendergrass 
• Volunteer Hall; Correct settling issues 
• Walters Academic: Renovate spaces on 2^nd and 3rd floor 
• Zeanah Engineering: Card reader\ Add access controls for 8 rooms; Lab renovations for cluster hires; Electric and plumbing G169 
• 11^th Street Garage: Multiple rooms of carpet on 1^st floor 
• 2023 Lake Avenue: Access controls and lights 

Safety Stand Down

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Setting Up a Safe and Effective Work Zone for Floor Care Tasks 

Maintaining clean, polished floors is essential for both the appearance and safety of campus facilities. From routine mopping to more intensive tasks like stripping and waxing, floor care plays a vital role in creating a welcoming and hazard-free environment. However, the success of any floor care task depends not just on technique, but on how well the work area is prepared. Establishing a safe and effective work zone is a critical first step that protects staff, building occupants, and ensures high-quality results. 

Before any work begins, it is important to assess the area. Taking just a few moments to evaluate the space can help identify high-traffic zones, potential hazards, and obstacles such as furniture or equipment. Understanding the type of flooring and the specific task being performed allows staff to prepare appropriately, as different tasks may require different tools, chemicals, and safety measures. 

Clear and visible signage is one of the most important elements of a safe work zone. Placing “Wet Floor” or “Caution” signs at all entry points alerts building occupants to potential hazards. In larger areas or spaces with multiple access points, additional signage, cones, or barricades should be used to ensure the warning is visible from all directions. This simple step significantly reduces the risk of slips, falls, and interruptions. 

In addition to signage, communicating directly with building occupants is essential. Providing advance notice of scheduled floor work helps minimize disruptions and allows occupants to plan accordingly. Sharing details such as the date and time of the work, areas affected, possible odors or noise, and alternate routes ensures transparency and cooperation. During the task, staff should be prepared to answer questions and guide individuals safely around the work zone. In addition, scheduling work in main travel and access areas during periods of lower traffic is strongly recommended whenever possible.  

Controlling access to the area is another key factor in maintaining safety. Whenever possible, the workspace should be fully closed off until the floor is dry or the task is complete. In environments where full closure is not practical, such as active offices or academic buildings, work should be completed in sections while maintaining a clearly marked safe pathway for pedestrians. 

A well-prepared workspace also involves removing or protecting obstacles. Movable items like chairs, trash cans, and small equipment should be cleared from the area to create an open and efficient workspace. Larger or fixed items should be protected with coverings to prevent damage from cleaning solutions or splashes. This preparation not only improves efficiency but also reduces the likelihood of accidents. 

Having all tools and supplies organized and readily available is another important step. Equipment such as mops, buckets, floor machines, cleaning solutions, and personal protective equipment should be gathered before starting the task. Keeping everything within reach minimizes unnecessary movement and helps prevent spills, trips, or delays. 

Proper ventilation is especially important during tasks that involve strong chemicals, such as stripping or waxing floors. Ensuring adequate airflow by opening windows or using ventilation systems helps reduce exposure to fumes and creates a safer, more comfortable environment for both workers and occupants. 

Equally important is the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Depending on the task, this may include gloves, non-slip footwear, eye protection, or masks. Wearing the correct PPE helps protect against chemical exposure, slips, and injuries related to equipment use. 

Throughout the task, staff should remain aware of their surroundings. Conditions can change quickly, whether due to unexpected foot traffic or spills extending beyond the intended area. Monitoring the workspace and adjusting signage or barriers as needed ensures that safety is maintained at all times. 

Once the work is complete, closing down the work zone properly is just as important as setting it up. Floors should be allowed adequate time to dry or cure before reopening the area to normal use. Signage should remain in place until it is safe to remove, and all furniture and equipment should be returned to their proper locations. A final inspection helps confirm that both safety and quality standards have been met. 

In the end, setting up a proper work zone is about more than placing a caution sign, it is a thoughtful, structured process that supports safety, efficiency, and professional results. By taking the time to prepare, communicate, and maintain control of the workspace, Facilities Services staff play a key role in keeping campus environments clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone.