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Clean Buildings Conference
EDUCATION
Online Product Tracking Tool
There are many variables to consider when determining the quantity of supplies needed for a facility. ISSA has developed a free consumable Product Cost Calculator to help in-house cleaning professionals save time and money by using this valuable tool to effectively track costs associated with purchasing restroom consumables such as hand towels, toilet paper, hand soap, and trash can liners.
For more information about this free service, contact the ISSA Customer Service Department at 800-225-4772 or visit www.issa.com/paper.
Make Training a Perk
It’s an ongoing challenge for in-house service providers to motivate veteran staff and train newcomers. By using the Buddy Training System, it’s possible to effectively boost employee morale and provide training in a productive and cost-effective manner.
What to do:
• Using the professionals already on staff, involve them in one-on-one training and development with newcomers.
• Prepare clear guidelines of skills and knowledge required to achieve “buddy trainer” status. For example, to qualify, a person may need to have been employed with the company for a specific length of time, or pass a product and procedures quiz.
• The buddy trainers are given objectives and outcomes that trainees have to
implement to achieve expected results throughout a specified training period.
• Once veteran employees have met the criteria successfully, they then receive a certificate, a small bonus, and opportunity to be involved in buddy training again.
Benefits:
• Gives recognition for the talents and abilities of the buddy trainer.
• Extends an opportunity to those who are motivated bMake Training a Perksponsibility.
• Provides valuable how-to and on-the-job training.
• EnaISSA Donates $50k to CIRIrainers tISSA Donates $50k to CIRI.
Source: The Fun Factor, Lisa Barker
ISSA Donates $50k to CIRI
ISSA has committed $50,000 to the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) to help underwrite CIRI’s Scientific Advisory Council, a permanent committee established to provide expert guidance, advice and analysis to principles, concepts and research related to cleaning science.
Kaivac, Inc., Hamilton, Ohio, a manufacture of “no-touch” cleaning equipment and ISSA member, also donated $50,000 to the CIRI Council, bringing the total to $100,000.
Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls
On an annual basis, slips, trips, and falls account for a substantial number of personal injuries, workers’ compensation, loss in productivity, death, and civil liability.
The 2005 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index indicates that falls were the second leading cause of all workplace injuries in 2003, accounting for 13.7 percent of total direct costs associated with workplace injuries, or $6.9 billion. Additionally, the National Safety Council estimates that workers’ compensation and medical costs associated with employee slip and fall accidents are approximately $70 billion per year.
One of the most common hazards for cleaning professionals is slipping on wet floors or tripping over an object. That is why ISSA has made the prevention of slips, trips and falls one of the cornerstones of its alliance with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Association. Following is a checklist of common causes of slips and trips, as well as some practical tips on how to avoid such workplace incidents.
Slips occur where there is too little friction or traction between the footwear and the floor. Common causes of slips are:
• Wet or oily surfaces
• Wet weather hazards
• Inappropriate footwear
• Loose, unanchored rugs or mats
Trips happen when your foot strikes or hits an object, causing loss of balance. Common causes of tripping are:
• Obstructed view or poor lighting
• Clutter
• Wrinkled carpeting or uneven surfaces
• Cables or cords laid across walkways
Prevention of falls. Both slips and trips result from some kind of change in the contact between the feet and the floor surface. Good housekeeping, improvements to flooring, proper footwear, appropriate pace of walking, and proper visibility are all elements critical to preventing fall accidents.
Housekeeping. Good housekeeping is the first and most important step in preventing falls. It includes the following practices:
• Periodically inspect floors for hazards
• Clean all spills immediately
• Mark wet areas with warning signs
• Spread grease-absorbent compound on oily surfaces
• Mop or sweep debris from floors
• Remove obstacles from walkways
• Secure mats, rugs, and carpets
• Always close cabinet or storage drawers
• Do not lay cords and cables across walk- ways without appropriate covers
• Keep work areas and walkways well lit
Without good housekeeping practices, other preventative measures such as installation of sophisticated flooring, specialty footwear, or training on techniques for walking will never be fully effective.
Flooring. Changing or modifying the flooring is the next level to preventing slips, trips, and falls. Floors can be modified by:
• Recoating or replacing floors
• Installing mats or pressure sensitive strips
• Applying an abrasive coating
It is critical to remember that high traction floor surfaces still require good housekeeping as much as any other flooring. In addition, resilient, non-slippery flooring prevents or reduces foot fatigue and contributes to slip-prevention measures.
Footwear. In workplaces where floors may be oily or wet, proper footwear can play a significant role in preventing falls. Please be aware that no footwear has anti-slip properties for every condition.
Proper Visibility.
• Use a flashlight if you enter a dark room
• Ensure that things you are carrying, pushing, or pulling do not prevent you from seeing any obstructions, spills, or other hazards
This material was adapted from information provided by the California Department of Industrial Relations in its publication titled “Working Safer and Easier for Janitors, Custodians and Housekeepers.” This publication is available in English and Spanish and can be ordered by visiting www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/puborder.asp
| Regulatory News Department of Labor Launches Compliance Portal The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has launched a new Compliance Assistance Web Portal, designed to help employers understand and comply with federal employment laws and regulations. Located at www.dol.gov/compliance, the portal is an enhanced, more user-friendly version of the previous Web site. A central gateway to “all things compliance assistance,” the intuitive portal directs users to easy-to-navigate information including e-tools, fact sheets on a variety of employment law issues, regulatory text, frequently asked questions, and a wealth of additional compliance assistance information provided by DOL agencies. In addition, users will find links to the compliance assistance mailbox, compliancehelp@dol.gov, and to compliance assistance e-mail subscription service that updates subscribers every time there is significant compliance news. The portal also features an improved navigation scheme to allow searches by topic or by audience; users need not know the name of a particular law to locate key information. The new portal also guides users to information outside DOL’s jurisdiction. For example, even though DOL doesn’t regulate certain equal opportunity laws, it will direct a user to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission when appropriate. The site also informs users if there is no federal law that covers a particular issue. In addition, the Compliance Assistance Portal will direct users to the department’s collection of compliance assistance tools, including the DOL Toll-Free Help Line and the e-laws Advisors, interactive online tools that help clarify employment laws. The portal also links to the DOL online Employment Law Guide, which has been updated to reflect new and revised regulatory information. |
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