Facilities Management Services Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

01/06/2007 Safe passage UK employees suffered 10,835 major injuries as a result of slipping and tripping in 2005/06, according to the HSE, so such accidents remain serious problems - accounting for 38% of all major injuries. » Read More

01/04/2007 The old ones are the best ones Most worthwhile energy-saving techniques have been around for years, but, as increased energy prices, newer legislation and growing public awareness around emissions all force users to reconsider fuel consumption, many are now re-surfacing ... » Read More

01/04/2007 Prevention or cure Inadequately designed and/or poorly maintained car transporters and tipping trailers are presenting increasing and potentially serious risks to drivers and operators. And they're not alone: there also remain worries with lifts and ... » Read More

01/10/2006 Maintain power With the cost of unscheduled downtime for some engineering and manufacturing companies running into hundreds of thousands of pounds a day, plant engineers are under pressure to ensure continuous production. Yet with more pressure being put ... » Read More

01/10/2006 Alarm ringing for new regulations The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced earlier this year that the new fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales would come into force on 1 October 2006. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, ... » Read More

01/08/2006 Don't stand for pain The position of standing is one many of us take for granted in our daily lives. It is not until we start to feel the odd ache and pain that we become more aware of how much pressure the standing posture creates on our bodies. Although it ... » Read More

01/08/2006 How to maintain a sure footing Industrial flooring is becoming smarter than ever, with manufacturers' research and development leading to a new era in floors that are faster to apply, more attractive and harder working. However, some basic factors need to be considered ... » Read More

01/06/2006 Engineer surveyors: a testing role In the beginning?there were boiler explosions, and lots of them! And so the engineer surveyor, as we know that person today, came into existence - around the middle of the 19th century. This was a time of rapid industrial expansion that ... » Read More

01/02/2006 Maintenance means business Maintec 2006 promises everything for today's maintenance professional, whether in industry, commerce or the public sector. It takes place from 14-16 March at the NEC, Birmingham. » Read More

01/12/2005 A man of the people When John Ratcliff, CBE, was made Patron of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers) a year ago, not only did he see that as a tremendous honour, he also regarded is as a huge responsibility. For one thing, he was passionately committed ... » Read More

01/08/2005 Lighting - Control systems come out of the shadows In the early days of lighting, the first person into the office, building or workshop generally just switched the light on at a wall location, interrupting the power supply and causing a surge of demand for power throughout the plant. At ... » Read More

01/08/2005 Flooring - Don't slip up on safety Slips and trips cost British industry millions of pounds a year, can result in expensive legal actions and, most significantly, can inflict great physical and mental pain on the injured party. » Read More

06/06/2005 Environment - Powered up for the green challenge Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station was constructed during the late 1960s, with the final unit being commissioned during 1970. All units have achieved over 230,000 running hours; at present they are required to operate to a mixed running ... » Read More

05/04/2005 Fire Safety - That looks like smoke... By observing the behaviour of smoke as it rises, a vision system can give early warning of a fire developing, long before it becomes serious. It is especially useful in large areas, such as big factories and aircraft hangars, and where ... » Read More

01/02/2005 Space Heating - The heat is on Heating large premises is a major challenge for employers seeking to ensure comfortable working conditions for employees, as well as the protection of the building's contents (such as stock or equipment) and fabric. » Read More

01/08/2004 What lies beneath Temperature changes, static requirements, liquids, impact, abrasion and chemicals can all affect a floor's performance. Add static electricity to the mix and the result can be potentially explosive. » Read More