Working Together, FMO Keeps Going
By Leslie De Leon
Over the last few months, the Facilities Management & Operations (FMO) team has been tackling the coronavirus outbreak head-on as part of the University’s response to COVID-19. Running three shifts each day, our Trades and Custodial staff have been working nonstop to keep our BU community safe, clean, and prepared
Managing over 300 buildings across three campuses, BU’s Custodial area managers have been working diligently after students, faculty, and non-essential staff left the campuses nearly empty. Area Manager Roger Seale explains how his team has been adapting to the new protocols,
“We do sanitizing on all common areas, including door handles, door knobs, handrails, stairwells elevators.”
There are many challenges Roger and other 18 area managers are facing, but they are working together to overcome them, “We reduced the number of people that are normally required to do a project…we’re doing detailed cleaning throughout to get caught up so that if we have to re-open a month or two from now, a lot of the work would be done… and ready to go.”
Ken Parlee, an area manager on Bay State Road, is also keeping a good mindset throughout this challenging time.
“Bill [Walter] has let us use other spaces while this is going on so we can keep the distance and still enjoy our fellow workers… We’re wearing masks, we’re wearing gloves, sanitizing, hand washing, we’re doing it all, all day long.”
FMO has been working together to tackle everyday challenges. Different departments are helping each other work efficiently. “If a trades guy gets a call that something is leaking, say a plumber, we will go disinfect that bathroom before he goes in and fixes it. Trades and Custodial, we are really one thing, we work very close.” Ken adds. We are all grateful for the hard work all of FMO has been putting in and we can’t wait to see those beautiful May flowers bloom.