From The Editor's Desk

Infection Control: We’re Getting Better At It

2009-10-20T18:49:00Z

Last year the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) gave Americans a C minus for their hand hygiene. I guess we studied hard because we were able to raise our grade from nearly failing up to a B minus. While this isn’t great, it’s at least encouraging.

More people are washing their hands more often throughout the day. More people are also washing hands before eating, after sneezing or coughing and after using the restroom. But the bad news is a lot of these people aren’t washing their hands long enough: 46 percent are washing hands for 15 seconds or less (it’s recommended to wash hands for at least 15 to 20 seconds).

With the cold and flu season already upon us coupled with the H1N1 outbreak, it’s critical that building service contractors find ways to encourage building occupants to wash their hands. In high traffic facilities, recommend customers switch to foam soap because it can distribute up to eight times more hand washes than liquid soap, helping to ensure that product doesn’t run out.

Also, place individual bottles of hand sanitizer at workers’ desks or set up stands breakrooms and reception areas.

H1N1 — Get the Word Out To Clean Right!

2009-09-24T18:59:00Z

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology recently reported that an outbreak of H1N1 is predicted to occur this fall in educational facilities. In my state of Wisconsin, we are already seeing this prediction come true as more than 200 H1N1 cases have been confirmed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

A family member works at the university and I asked her if she was doing anything to stave off infection. I was pleased to hear that she had begun washing her hands more often and used disinfectant wipes to sanitize her desk, phone and keyboard.

However, I have to say I was a little disappointed when I learned she had done this on her own accord and the instructions didn’t come from the janitorial department. H1N1 is a great opportunity for cleaning departments to show their worth and spread the word about proper hygiene.

Take the time to post signs reminding occupants to wash their hands. Distribute brochures that educate hand washing technique (it sounds rudimentary, but people aren’t washing their hands properly or for the recommended amount of time). Or send out an e-mail informing the student body that your department has been helping to curb the virus’ spread by disinfecting common touch points including water fountains, elevator buttons, door handles, cafeteria trays and computer keyboards and mice.

I know I’ve spread this message before, but it bears repeating. If you’re not talking with building occupants or customers about infection control and cross-contamination — especially during a pandemic — you’re missing out on a great opportunity to gain a little much-deserved respect for the cleaning industry.

Get Cleaning Back In LEED

2009-08-03T12:32:00Z

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has invited the public to participate in a LEED Call for Ideas as way to improve the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. I urge building service contractors to let their voice be heard and participate.

Earlier this year the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance standard removed three green cleaning points from the certification process, lessening cleaning’s impact and importance on green buildings.

Green cleaning can help improve the indoor air quality for building occupants, creating a healthier and more productive workplace. I strongly believe that there’s no point in designing a building that’s good for the planet if you’re going to pollute those who work inside it.

Take this opportunity to petition the USGBC to at least add those three points back to the standard, if not create more opportunities for cleaning in LEED.

Click here to participate. The call is open until Friday, August 7.

Is The Recession To Blame For Low-ball Bids?

2009-07-29T15:22:00Z

The recession is forcing some building service contractors to resubmit bids due to customer budget cuts and reductions in cleaning frequencies. But how low are customers willing to go with these new bids?

I recently heard from one BSC who is losing his current accounts to competitors submitting low-ball bids. Even though facility managers know these figures are ridiculously low, they still accept the bids because at the end of the day, they are the cheapest offer.

From illegal subcontracting to reverse auctions, low-balling has long since plagued the industry. For years BSCs have educated customers about the “true” costs of cleaning and that low prices don’t usually equal quality service. But now the recession has probably wiped out any progress made on this issue.

My advice to this reader, and to other BSCs facing this problem, is to check back in with lost accounts after a couple months. Chances are the low price was too good to be true and these facility managers won’t be happy with the new service. In quite a few instances, they may want to re-hire you back at your competitive rate.

Effects Of Improved IAQ

2009-07-06T15:44:00Z

In the June issue of Contracting Profits, I wrote how building service contractors can win school contracts by educating school boards about the positive effects green cleaning has on indoor air quality (IAQ). A number of readers have e-mailed asking for some more ammunition.

A good place to start would be “Cleanliness and Learning in Higher Education,” a study conducted by Jeffrey Campbell and Alan Bigger. One major finding from this study is that 88 percent of students report the lack of cleanliness distracts their to ability to learn. In addition, 78 percent of students indicate that a dirty environment has an impact on their health, specifically leading to more allergies, easier spreading of germs, an increase in insect and rodent infestation and higher stress levels.

While this study targets college and universities, the findings are applicable for all educational facilities. Copies of this study are available through ISSA and APPA.

Another good resource is a study presented by the U.S. Green Building Council and Building Operating Management, a sister publication of Contracting Profits. In these reports, improved IAQ in office facilities led to a 20 to 50 percent reduction in sick building syndrome, an 8 to 25 percent in reduced asthma cases and an increase in worker productivity by 0.5 to 5 percent. Click here to access this study. Again, I believe this information is applicable to K-12 schools.

Restroom Service Opportunities

2009-05-21T16:09:00Z

Recently I achieved a new mark in fatherhood: changing my son’s diaper in a public restroom.

During this messy ordeal, I realized some new opportunities for building service contractors to upsell their clients.

For starters, encourage customers who do not currently have changing tables in both men’s and women’s restrooms to add them. While many public men’s rooms do offer a changing area, there are still a significant number of facilities that do not, leaving fathers to change diapers on the sink, or worse the floor.

After the table, there are plenty of amenities that can be added. For instance, an extra waste receptacle placed near the changing table to easily dispose of dirty diapers would help prevent getting poop on the floor or the changing table. It would also be nice to have a hand sanitizer dispenser mounted next to the changing table as well since you can’t leave the child unattended to wash your hands.

Finally, to give parents peace of mind, make sure janitors are cleaning and disinfecting not just the base of the table, but also the sides and wall as well — kids reach for and touch everything.

Operation Clean Sweep

2009-05-11T18:00:00Z

This past weekend, the Southeastern Wisconsin Sanitary Supply Association (SEWSSA) participated in Operation Clean Sweep. More than 50 volunteers representing seven local companies cleaned the interior and exterior of The Guest House, a Milwaukee residential facility that helps homeless men find jobs and housing.

Many manufacturers also donated cleaning supplies to the shelter.

Operation Clean Sweep was started by the New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association in 1993 as a way for the cleaning industry to help enhance the quality of life in the local community.

Check out the multimedia page for photos from the event.

Swine Flu Preparedness

2009-04-27T20:23:00Z

Norovirus, SARS, Monkeypox, bird flu, MRSA. Each year there seems to be a new potential pandemic threatening the population. Well, you can add one more to the list: swine flu. So far there have been 40 known cases of the virus in the United States alone.

While tragic, this outbreak provides cleaning professionals with an opportunity to prove to their customers how crucial cleaning is and why services shouldn’t be reduced in an effort to save money.

Disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces including computer keyboards, light switches, coffee pot handles and phones will help reduce the potential for cross-contamination. So will the use of color-coded equipment, dual bucket or bucketless mops and touch-free restroom fixtures.

But don’t let your efforts go unnoticed. Educate your customer about your cleaning practices and how you are keeping building occupants healthy. Hand out literature about proper hand washing and facts about swine flu to post in the building or place near hand sanitizers and face tissues.

For further information on dealing with a potential pandemic, check out this article on the bird flu. While the problem is different, the solution will be the same for the swine flu.

BSCAI and ISSA Join Together

2009-03-13T12:55:00Z

The times certainly are changing for cleaning industry associations. During a press conference last week at the BSCAI show in Chicago, ISSA and BSCAI announced that the two associations would be co-locating their trade shows starting in 2010. This announcement built upon the partnership that the two organizations formed last November.

Years ago, this collaboration would have never seemed possible, but at the press conference, nobody seemed to object. I guess people were finally ready for a change. And it truly is a win-win for all involved.

Building service contractors will still be able to belong to an association specific to them, but they’ll also be able to share a lot of information along the supply chain. Putting distributors and contractors under one roof for a week will be a great networking opportunity to build stronger vendor/customer partnerships.

This move makes financial sense as well. During this rough economy, building service contractors won’t have to spend twice as much money traveling to two different trade shows. Now they can see even more new products and participate in contractor educational programs in one place.

Is MRSA On Your Sports Team?

2009-02-11T20:09:00Z

A recent episode of HBO’s Real Sports discussed the presence of MRSA in NFL locker rooms. Since 2006, there have been 33 known cases of the staph infection in the football league.

While this story is not new, the program did a good job reporting how MRSA is spread through cross-contamination and emphasized that if MRSA exists in the NFL, our high school locker rooms must be breeding grounds for the “superbug.”

To help curb more breakouts, the NFL recently distributed a handout to teams on the guidelines of avoiding a MRSA infection, including frequent hand washing and not sharing towels or other personal items. This is a good strategy and maybe distributors or building service contractors could take a cue and give out similar brochures to their customers.

Green's Fine Print

2009-01-23T14:01:00Z

This month, the Missouri State Board of Education formally approved the Missouri Green Cleaning Guidelines and Specifications for Schools. These guidelines are similar to the ones used in the Illinois Green Cleaning Schools Act, the only difference being that Illinois requires the use of the guidelines, and Missouri only recommends them.

Still, it’s a good start, right? Not necessarily.

If you read the fine print to Illinois’ Green Cleaning in Schools Act, the legislation seems incomplete. The guidelines cover general-purpose chemicals, carpet chemicals, paper and soap. However, there is no mention of vacuums, carpet extractors, autoscrubbers or other floor equipment. Many of these products have green attributes, too.

For example, using a vacuum with the Seal of Approval or Green Label certification from the Carpet and Rug Institute will remove significant amounts of soil from the carpet while not releasing dust back into the air, helping to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).

More schools are switching to carpet floors for comfort and aesthetics. In order to keep carpeting clean, daily vacuuming will be a necessity. How are we protecting the health of students if the machines cleaning the school are also polluting it?

Like I said earlier, the green legislation currently in place is a good start, but it’s only that. It seems that more could, and should, be done in regards to green cleaning our schools. As more states pass green laws, let’s make sure they include all product categories, not just a few.

Customers Cutting Cleaning? Wrong Decision

2008-12-30T14:00:00Z

During a family get-together over the holidays, a relative told me how the company he worked for was scaling back their janitorial and maintenance services. I replied that once the building occupants start getting sick on a more frequent basis due to the lack of cleaning, the owners might regret their decision. Yes, it’s a bit extreme for a response, but it’s also accurate.

During this time of economic downturn, cutbacks and penny-pinching, it’s more important for building service contractors to serve not only as cleaners, but also as consultants to their customers. Explain how disinfecting doorknobs and computer keyboards will help prevent the spread of colds and flu viruses. Discuss how frequent vacuuming will contribute to improved indoor air quality, which in turn increases productivity and reduces absenteeism.

Reduced cleaning will also give customers the wrong impression. Restrooms may occasionally run out of towels, tissue or soap. More dirt and debris may be left on the floor leading to an influx of unwanted (and unsanitary) pests.

Cleaning isn’t just a line item that can be cut out of the budget, it’s vital to a business’ overall operation and BSCs will have to make sure their customers understand that if they want to remain profitable.

The Need For Younger Workers

2008-12-11T14:00:00Z

During the New Jersey Sanitary Supply Association Trade Show this last May, Hank Josephs, president of Spruce Industries in Garwood, N.J., was presented with the Bob Stader Lifetime Achievement Award. During his acceptance speech he said, “We need to bring new people to our meetings. Let’s educate our younger staff on the benefits of the NJSSA and what it can do for them.”

Josephs is right, distributors need to recruit more members of Generation X and Y, not just into NJSSA, but into the industry in general. And once these young workers are hired, distributors need to get them involved and excited about jan/san. Baby Boomers are even closer to retirement age and will start leaving this industry in droves. And with them exits years of experience and knowledge not easily passed on to new employees.

Start locating young workers now by putting up job notices on online recruitment sites rather than newspapers. Or try social networking sites such as Facebook, Jigsaw or Jobscore to find new, young candidates.

The good news is that these members of the labor pool stereotypically aren’t concerned with high salaries, but rather put greater emphasis on work/life balance. If your position allows for flexible scheduling and telecommuting, promote it as a job perk.

For additional information on hiring the next generation, listen to Robert Wendover, director for the Center for Generational Studies, in this CleanTips Podcast.

LEED 2009 Reduces BSCs Role

2008-11-26T14:00:00Z

Last week, the U.S. Green Building Council announced the passage of LEED 2009, the updated version of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification program.

Unfortunately for building service contractors, this revision removes three green cleaning credits from the program. Under the old guidelines, facilities earned one point if 30 percent of cleaning products (chemicals, paper, can liners, etc.) were green. An additional point was earned at 60 percent and again at 90 percent. But now, there’s only the single point available for 30 percent of products. In today’s marketplace, there is a green product available for nearly every application, but now there won’t be much incentive for building owners or facility managers to take time to research more than the bare minimum.

Also, under the new program, facilities will only earn one point (instead of two previously possible) for cleaning programs that are in accordance with APPA’s Custodial Staffing Guidelines, which promotes more effective and healthier cleaning. Now, there is no reward for BSCs who hold their cleaning standards at a higher level.

Both these changes come at the cost of occupant health. Green products have been proven to create safer, healthier and more productive work environments. While it’s great to have a building that uses less energy and water to save Earth’s natural resources, what good does it do if the people inside the building are put at greater risk?

Marketing Product Bundles

2008-11-13T14:00:00Z

Product bundling is a great way to increase sales by up-selling related products, potentially at a discounted price. In a recent Sanitary Maintenance article, “Product Catalogs: From Print To Online,” distributors mentioned they are informing customers of these bundles in their product catalogs. For example, next to the vacuum, distributors showcase the belt, bag or filter for that product. Similar groupings should be done for just about every product category.

Bundling can be taken a step further and be applied to trends. Some distributors are already doing this with green products. Other potential areas include MRSA bundles that include approved disinfectants, soaps and hand sanitizers. Or, day cleaning bundles with dust mops, low-decibel and battery-powered equipment.

To reach the most customers, make this information available in print and online versions of your catalog. As mentioned in the article, distributors recommend having catalogs in a PDF format so individual parts can be printed or e-mailed.