Healthy Facilities Institute-University (HFI-U) Releases The Healthy and Safe Facility Handbook ─ School and College Edition

Boise, Idaho – The Healthy Facilities Institute-University (HFI-U) has released The Healthy and Safe Facility Handbook in both English and Spanish editions. It is available as a free download on the

www.HealthyFacilityHandbook.com website.

“Since Spanish is the second largest spoken language globally after Mandarin Chinese, with English in third place, we wanted to make this information freely available to the large numbers of Spanish-speaking facility services personnel,” said Allen Rathey, principal of HFI-U. “No signup or information is needed to download the guide. Just visit the site, download the guide(s), read and apply the information.”

HFI-U is grateful for the assistance of William Mattos, of ASEO USA, for making this translation possible, and is indebted to Kaivac for sponsoring the original English edition.

Background On the Guide

The Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI) Healthy and Safe Facility Handbook ─ School and College Edition provides actionable facts and steps to help you develop a system to:

  • Improve and protect the indoor environment at your facility
  • Provide better conditions for students, staff, faculty, and visitors
  • Advance learning outcomes by enhancing safety and health

The audience for this handbook is not technical but general.  It is designed to make the complicated simple while still being accurate, thus empowering laypersons to understand, affect, and improve health and safety issues in schools and colleges.

The subject of healthier indoor environments should be well-understood by all, not just experts.  This guide will give you holistic information to move your educational facility toward a higher level of health and well-being to the benefit of the learning and teaching process.

Guide Table of Contents

  1. Elements of Exposure – Breathing, Drinking, Eating, Touching, Ergonomics, General Safety and Security
  2. Healthy Architecture and Design

III. Health Factors

  • Indoor Air Quality
  • Chemical Exposure
  • Water Quality
  • Sound Levels
  • Lighting
  • Cleaning and Disinfecting
  • Sanitizing and Foodservice
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Ergonomics (musculoskeletal, strains, slips/falls)
  1. Health by Areas
  • Classrooms
  • HVAC and Ceilings
  • Furniture
  • Restrooms
  • Floors
  • Stairs
  • Drinking Fountains
  • Cafeteria, Foodservice
  • Locker Rooms
  • Security
  1. Labs, Science, and STEM

About HFI-U

The primary purpose of Healthy Facilities Institute University (HFI-U) is to teach both Non-credentialed and Credentialed service and support staff employed in schools/colleges, senior care, hospitality, retail, and other fields, how to improve the environment of their facility in a way that makes them more valuable as employees and creates a bottom-line benefit to employers.

Featured

  • University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

    The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

  • Missouri K–12 District Cuts Ribbons on Two New Middle Schools

    Springfield Public Schools in Springfield, Mo., recently celebrated the completion of two new middle school facilities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies, according to a district news release. The district officially opened the new Pipkin Middle School and Reed Academy on Sept. 3, both of which were funded through the $220-million Proposition S bond program approved by voters in 2023.

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Missouri Child Development Center Completes $2.3M Expansion

    The Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, Mo., recently announced the completion of a $2.3-million expansion and adaptive reuse project, according to a news release. The new space includes a retail café, outdoor learning space, and a support office building.