SARS: New Bug Presents Challenges, Opportunities
Fears over severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), an illness that begins with fever and aches and that can progress to coughing and breathing difficulty, reached a high pitch this spring. Several thousand people worldwide contracted the illness, and several hundred died, while many more were quarantined to contain the outbreak.

So far, scientists haven’t found a treatment or cure, other than supportive care. Prevention techniques also are limited — the virus is hardy, and may survive several days outside the body — but cleaning and hygiene play an important role. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends frequent hand washing with soap and water or the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. However, the CDC does not recommend the routine use of surgical masks or gloves, outside of a healthcare setting, to reduce SARS exposure, although many people in Hong Kong and elsewhere are doing just that.

In many parts of Asia, cleaning professionals have been working around the clock, disinfecting doorknobs, elevator buttons and even sewage pipes. In Hong Kong, where thousands of cases have been reported, cleaning companies have been enjoying a boost in business, reports channelnewslasia.com.

In North America, SARS hasn’t seemed nearly as much of a threat, with only a handful of reported cases in the United States. Toronto seems to be an exception — several hundred cases had been reported there through early May, leading the World Health Organization to issue a warning against non-essential travel to the city. The advisory was rescinded within a few days, but Toronto already had suffered a tourism and travel downturn.

“The first impression you see in the media is people wearing masks,” says Diane Gosling, spokeswoman for the Canadian Sanitation Supply Association (CSSA) in Toronto. “But I go to supermarkets and malls and casinos and I don’t see anyone wearing a mask. There’s 4.5 million people here, and not even 400 of them have been affected.”

Because of the media hype and traveler wariness, CSSA postponed its Can Clean convention and trade show in Toronto until November. However, as in Asia, SARS meant a lot of activity for cleaning experts in the greater Toronto area.

“Our members have been very pro-active,” Gosling says. “They’ve been extremely busy with infection-control people seeking advice.”

Another possible silver lining is that Canadians in general now are becoming more aware of the benefits of a healthy environment, Gosling adds.



SEIU/UNICCO Feud Escalates
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has launched a new salvo in its ongoing attempts to seek contract concessions from UNICCO Services Co. — a Web site and ad campaign linking the large building service contractor to labor-law violations, sexual harassment claims and poor credit.

The site, www.uniccodirt.com, went live in October to coincide with SEIU Local 615’s negotiations with the BSC’s Boston branch. The contract was settled in October after a strike , but SEIU research analyst Holley Knaus accuses UNICCO of failing to honor parts of the contract, including refusing to work out a new vacation system, giving too little time for employees with questionable immigration papers to provide documentation and retaliating against union activists. In light of those allegations, as well as contentious negotiations in Washington, D.C. (ongoing at press time), the Web site recently was revised and publicized.

“Local 615’s keeping an eye on D.C. — UNICCO is the largest contractor there,” says Knaus.

UNICCO’s vice president of human resources Vic Munger calls the site “nothing more than a negotiation tactic,” and the allegations false.

“That site’s been up and down a lot — it depends on whether we’re involved in a contract negotiation,” he says. “[SEIU] targets the largest BSC in a market.”

The Web site hasn’t been an effective tactic, Munger notes; no customers have complained or gone elsewhere because of it.

Knaus isn’t sure how long the site will remain up.

“I think the Local will make that decision,” she says. “But, my guess is it’ll be up there until UNICCO starts honoring the contract terms.”



Mergers & Other Moves
• Timothy A. Rowe, CBSE, formerly president of Building One Commercial Inc., has formed Rowe Solutions Group Inc., Atlanta. Primary service offerings of the new company are risk management, safety training, policy-manual development, and claims management for companies who do not staff experts in these areas.

• H2Orange2™ Concentrate 117, manufactured by EnvirOx L.L.C. , Danville, Ill., has earned certification under Green Seal's GS-37 Environmental Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners.

• Cleaning industry consulting firm ManageMen, Salt Lake City, has been honored with three Telly Awards for outstanding video production. The video, "Cleaning the Steamin’ Demon Way," was selected for excellence in the "How To," "Graphics" and "Corporate Training" categories. The video teaches custodial workers how to improve carpet cleaning with high-flow extraction. This is the ninth time ManageMen has been recognized for video excellence with a Telly.




POSTED ON: 5/1/2003