A large portion of our mission statement is to educate Facility Managers. I want to keep everyone up to speed on potential Nevada laws that can affect us if they are passed.

Another bill was introduced two weeks ago now in the Nevada Assembly, on 3/15 and then went to committee on 3/16.  It is AB280 and would require any public buildings constructed after October 2021 with a single-stall restroom to make the single-stall restroom as inclusive and accessible as possible for: a parent/guardian with a child; a person with a disability; a person of any gender identity. It also would require the signage/placarding outside the room to say either "All-Gender Bathroom” or “All-Accessible Bathroom”. I am told that there has already been a little leniency noted in introduction that the word “bathroom” could be replaced with “restroom”.

Again, this bill just went to committee, but it may warrant understanding it if the committee work sessions it, committee passes it and it goes to the assembly floor for a vote. If so, it could go to the Senate and become a law we must all comply with.

The full bill can be viewed here: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/7756/Text

AB 383 was introduced last Tuesday 3/23 in the Nevada Assembly. It opens NRS 701 - Energy Policy and pertains to the adoption of standards for energy efficiency appliances - prohibiting the sales, lease OR installation of any appliances that are not in compliance. The installation portion is very solidly written to exclude any contractor from installing appliances obtained from out of state that are not in compliance.

It mentions many commercial kitchen appliances such as stoves, commercial coolers and dishwashers. It also mentions other electronic systems including computers, monitors, electric vehicle charging stations, etc.

The bill addresses items a lot of Nevada facility managers have or use, but wouldn't require us to get rid of any of our equipment - just to buy the appropriately rated items moving forward.

I feel that this bill is very important for FMs in Nevada to know and to understand. Even if you do not have equipment currently that qualifies, you may move into a job that does.

This bill has just been introduced and is now in committee (as of 3/25/21), but a vote is likely in the future when it could become law.

I encourage you to learn more about this proposed legislation.  

To read the full bill and understand what may become law here in Nevada, use this link: 

https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/7985/Text

Company:  City of North Las Vegas  
POSITION TITLE:  Facilities Technician
Department:  Public Works Building Maintenance

 JOB SUMMARY:

Performs skilled work of considerable difficulty in the installation, maintenance, and repair of a variety of heating, boilers, air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment and associated systems. Performs skilled work in other building maintenance skilled trades of electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and painting.

Performs skilled and semi-skilled work in building maintenance duties using a variety of hand tools, power tools, and related equipment. Performs at a journey level in all of the skilled trade areas of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Performs semi-skilled repairs in the areas of locksmith, carpentry, painting, roof repair, as well as various other trades.  May supervise subordinate crew members.

Click here to learn more about this position

Longtime NPFMA supporter DNV GL is seeking local talent!

Local Unit & Position Description

DNV GL – Energy North America is seeking an Account Manager - Energy Efficiency to join our PDI group, supporting NV Energy Programs. This person will perform outreach activities to promote energy efficiency and demand response, project energy savings and conduct inspections. This position is based out of our Las Vegas, NV office.

Click here to see requirements and qualifications

Statement released by Director/ Building & Fire Official Jerome Stueve:

NOTICE TO INDUSTRY

Subject: New Electronic Plan Review System ePermitHub

On March 8, 2021, Building & Fire Prevention will be transitioning to a new electronic plan review system called ePermitHub, which we believe will provide a better customer service experience.  To accommodate the transition to the new system, the Citizen Access Portal will be unavailable beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, through 7:00 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021.

Beginning at 7:01 a.m. on Monday, March 8, 2021, all new permit applications must be submitted through the Citizen Access Portal using the new ePermitHub PLAN ROOM button.  In addition, applications that were submitted prior to March 8, 2021, but that were not yet accepted by Building & Fire Prevention (i.e. not yet "In Review" status), will be converted to the new ePermitHub PLAN ROOM by our department.  However, any plans that were already submitted and "In Review" status prior to March 8th will continue to be processed through Citizen Access using the existing EDR attachment process.

Click here to see official notice.

Notices of Public Workshops for LCB
File Nos. R044-20 and R053-20

The Division of Industrial Relations of the Department of Business and Industry is providing notice of two separate public workshops to solicit comments on proposed regulations.  Below you will find links to view the complete notice and detail.  Once workshop will cover proposed regulations regarding violence in medical facilities.  The other will cover proposed regulations regarding heat stress in the workplace.  

Notice: Violence in Medical Facilities

Notice: Heat Stress in the Workplace

SCATS is now offering free online training classes for a number of important safety and health training courses.  Please visit our course calendar to sign up.

On behalf of Clark County Building & Fire Prevention Director Jerome Stueve: 

NOTICE TO INDUSTRY

Subject: Engineer & Land Surveyor Digital Signatures

The Board of Engineers and & Land Surveyors recently published an Electronic Submittal Digital Signature Guide (Guide), dated October 2020.  A copy of the guide is attached.  

Effective March 8, 2021 the Clark County Department of Building & Fire Prevention will only be accepting digital signatures on engineered plans and documents in accordance with the guide.  Scanned copies of wet sealed paper documents will no longer be accepted.  

Click here to see official notice and Guide

REGISTER HERE

Beginning February 1, 2021, the Russell Campus Building Lobby will be open to customers for limited face to face service on an appointment and walk-in bases.  The services that will be available are as follows:

• Make payment and pick-up the permit and drawings for applications where hard copies were previously submitted.
• Submit corrections on a previously made hard copy application submission for which a permit has not yet been issued.
• Submit and pick-up mylars.
• Research records archives
• General questions\Customer Service.

To schedule an appointment, click here.

See the official notification from Building & Fire Director Jerome Stueve, P.E.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued stronger worker safety guidance to help employers and workers implement a coronavirus protection program and better identify risks which could lead to exposure and contraction. Last week, President Biden directed OSHA to release clear guidance for employers to help keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure.

“Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace” provides updated guidance and recommendations, and outlines existing safety and health standards. OSHA is providing the recommendations to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace.

“More than 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and millions of people are out of work as a result of this crisis. Employers and workers can help our nation fight and overcome this deadly pandemic by committing themselves to making their workplaces as safe as possible,” said Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Labor M. Patricia Smith. “The recommendations in OSHA’s updated guidance will help us defeat the virus, strengthen our economy and bring an end to the staggering human and economic toll that the coronavirus has taken on our nation.”

Implementing a coronavirus protection program is the most effective way to reduce the spread of the virus. The guidance announced today recommends several essential elements in a prevention program:

     - Conduct a hazard assessment.
     - Identify control measures to limit the spread of the virus.
     - Adopt policies for employee absences that don’t punish workers as a way to encourage potentially infected workers to remain home.
     - Ensure that coronavirus policies and procedures are communicated to both English and non-English speaking workers.
     - Implement protections from retaliation for workers who raise coronavirus-related concerns.

“OSHA is updating its guidance to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus and improve worker protections so businesses can operate safely and employees can stay safe and working,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick.

The guidance details key measures for limiting coronavirus’s spread, including ensuring infected or potentially infected people are not in the workplace, implementing and following physical distancing protocols and using surgical masks or cloth face coverings. It also provides guidance on use of personal protective equipment, improving ventilation, good hygiene and routine cleaning.

OSHA will update today’s guidance as developments in science, best practices and standards warrant.

This guidance is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of existing mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content and are intended to assist employers in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm as part of their obligation to provide a safe and healthful workplace.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.