Business News

Training Just Got EZ-er
ISSA offers new program to educate housekeeping trainers

The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), Lincolnwood, Ill., has released the new full-color E.Z. Trainer Custodial Training Program manual. The new training guide includes information on the latest in cleaning equipment and materials, which was not covered by the old edition in the mid-1980s.

The new 15-chapter manual is designed to train people on how to use various types of cleaning equipment and finishes, and features easy to follow illustrations and step-by-step instructions for each of the featured procedures.

“The manual was created as a training tool for distributors and users,” says Anthony Trombetta, training coordinator for ISSA. “It’s also meant to be a daily reference guide for custodians.”

“This is one of the nicest manuals in the industry,” says John Walker, founder of Janitor University and the author of the manual. “Its appearance is meant to convey a sense of professionalism to the people being trained.”

The manual will also be used as a training aid in the “Train the Trainer” course that will be hosted jointly by ISSA and the Janitor University this year.

Copies of the manual are available from ISSA for $60.00. For more information on the manual and training course dates, visit the ISSA Web site.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association has released its standard for proper cleaning and restoration HVAC systems. Standard ACR-2002 is the first comprehensive US Standard on this type of cleaning. The guide includes a range of topics from how to determine the need for HVAC cleaning or restoration to how to review a system to determine it was cleaned properly.

The standard also includes a section that describes the Aggressive Particle Profile Procedures, a quantifiable method sometimes used to determine if HVAC systems are dispersing particles indoors and to characterize the types of particles and their source.

Housekeeping executives can purchase the standard for $50. To order the publication, call 202/737-2926 or visit the National Air Duct Cleaners Association online.

Workplace Safety compliance just got a bit easier. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently unveiled its new electronic e-mail update, QuickTakes, which provides short descriptions of the agency’s latest safety and health activity. OSHA will broadcast the e-mail updates regularly and will include any relevant Web links to help readers follow-up on different topics.

To receive the memo, visit the OSHA site and click on the QuickTakes icon. Readers may also view the information if they don’t wish to receive e-mailed updates.

Finding it tough to keep up with myriad building codes that affect your facility? You’re not alone. That is why the Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA) has created an International Code Adoption Resource Library to bring all relevant requirements together in a single source.

The library, available on CD-Rom and online, will continuously update information with the help of supporters such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the National Apartment Association (NAA), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC). The library was created to help users monitor and respond to legislation, regulations, codes and standards initiatives in a variety of settings.

Users can create their own custom portfolio of information by selecting from a menu of sample ordinances, resolutions, articles, technical code comparisons and endorsements.

Approximately 50,000 Black Cat Electric pressure washers have been recalled by the company because they contain counterfeit ground fault circuit interrupter plugs, which are believed to be unable to protect against shock or electrocution.

The recalled washers contain a sticker with a picture of a cat and the words "Black Cat" on each side of the unit. The model numbers that are being recalled are BC-2000 and TW-1750.

Buyers who believe they may have one of these models can call MCM International at (800) 304-1316 to arrange for a free unit inspection.