Traditionally, cleanliness in facilities, whether it’s a workplace, school, hospital, or senior living facility, has been associated with visible standards—gleaming floors, clear windows, and surfaces free from visible dirt. However, the understanding of what constitutes a healthy indoor environment has expanded significantly. Today’s definition of health and safety includes the quality of the air occupants breathe, calling for a comprehensive strategy that integrates cleaning practices, air quality management, and regulatory compliance to support occupant health, well-being, and productivity. Understanding the indoor environment Buildings operate like complex ecosystems, with multiple interconnected factors influencing indoor air quality (IAQ). Building materials, ventilation systems, cleaning products and practices, occupant behaviors, and even furnishings all play a role in the indoor environment. Each of these elements can introduce or mitigate exposure to invisible pollutants, including allergens (e.g., pollen, dust mites, and mold), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, and airborne pathogens. The National Institutes of Health reports that 50% of illnesses are either caused or worsened by poor IAQ. Individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma, or vulnerable sectors of society like children, are especially susceptible. Over 50% of U.S. homes contain at least one elevated indoor allergen, and buildings designed for energy efficiency without proper ventilation can trap hundreds of chemicals indoors, contributing to sick building syndrome (SBS). A term coined in the 1970s, SBS described the health problems caused by inadequate ventilation and pollutant buildup in tightly sealed office buildings. Though the term is less commonly used today, the underlying issues remain, manifesting in symptoms such as eye irritation, dizziness, and respiratory symptoms, which often resolve once a person leaves the affected building. The consequences of poor IAQ go beyond physical health. Occupants in buildings with high levels of VOCs often have lower performance scores on cognitive tests, up to 61% lower compared to occupants in low-VOC environments, according to a study in the journal Building and Environment. In contrast, occupants in green-certified buildings, which typically feature superior ventilation and material choices, have shown a 26.4% improvement in cognitive test performance, another study in the same journal reported. Emerging regulations, such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ (ASHRAE) Standard 241, emphasize the importance of managing infectious aerosols and enhancing ventilation strategies, guiding facility managers toward healthier indoor environments. Standards such as this encourage facility managers to adopt evidence-based approaches to improve IAQ proactively. Interestingly, ASHRAE 241 is the first consensus-based, code-enforceable standard to address building preparedness and airborne infection risk reduction directly. Cleaning for air quality Traditional cleaning routines often fall short of addressing the root causes of poor IAQ, or worse, may contribute to poor IAQ. Many products and practices redistribute allergens into the breathing zone and release VOCs, negatively affecting air quality. Effective cleaning requires the selection of products that minimize chemical emissions and actively remove allergens. Low-VOC cleaning products, scientifically tested and independently verified through credible third-party programs like the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, offer reliable solutions while supporting better IAQ. Effective ventilation, filtration, and humidity control are also essential considerations. Simple steps, such as regular maintenance of HVAC systems and timely replacement of HVAC filters, can greatly influence indoor environments. Choosing certified HVAC filters and air purification systems also can play a key role in reducing indoor pollutants. The use of verified systems ensures products have undergone rigorous, independent testing proving that they effectively remove allergens and particles without introducing harmful by-products, ensuring real-world performance and subsequent health benefits. Differentiating between certifications and selfie seals In today’s crowded marketplace, health claims, certifications, and seals are everywhere, but not all are created equal. Amid a sea of marketing claims and loosely defined standards, it’s essential to recognize the programs that go beyond surface-level messaging to deliver real, evidence-based assurance. Genuine third-party certifications provide transparency, accountability, and confidence. Programs like the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and the International Well Building Institute’s WELL Building Standard® (WELL) set high standards, supporting informed decision-making for facility managers who seek products that are proven to contribute positively to occupant health. Backed by accredited laboratories like Airmid Healthgroup, these programs help facility managers make informed choices that align with both health goals and regulatory expectations. Certified products must pass scientifically validated protocols that assess performance in real-world conditions, not just ideal scenarios. This level of scrutiny stands in contrast to what are often referred to as “selfie seals”—unverified labels that appear to suggest third-party verification, but lack substantiated evidence, leading to consumer confusion and potential regulatory pushback. Regulatory bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission, increasingly target these misleading claims, resulting in significant fines and consequential reputational damage for companies. Educating for action Despite growing awareness around IAQ, there remains a significant knowledge gap among cleaning and maintenance professionals, perhaps due to limited access to specific training. Tailored education programs are a fundamental tool in bridging this gap. One notable initiative is the Healthier Buildings Awareness training course, developed by the iAIR Academy in partnership with ISSA’s Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC). Specifically designed for facility management professionals, the course addresses a broad array of factors relating to IAQ, including the impact of pollutants on respiratory health, the science behind pathogen control, and the opportunity for becoming an indoor air specialist. This educational support means professionals are equipped with practical knowledge, empowering them to implement efficient cleaning routines and select appropriate products that support a healthier indoor environment. For organizations that adhere to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) guidelines, the use of certified products contributes positively to their objectives, highlighting a commitment to occupant well-being and sustainability. Rethinking clean A genuinely effective approach to healthy buildings requires integrating building science, medical insights, and operational best practices. Implementing a holistic IAQ strategy involves careful selection of certified cleaning products and green building materials, rigorous adherence to improved cleaning protocols, and comprehensive staff training. Regular IAQ
Proactive facility managers, custodial teams, and building service contractors are gearing up for that time of year again: cold and flu season. The season usually runs from October through May—peaking December through February. The sooner you implement enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols, the more successful you’ll be in reducing absenteeism, maintaining healthier indoor environments, and reassuring occupants that their well-being is a top priority. Why disinfecting matters Cold and flu viruses can survive on surfaces for hours or even days, making shared spaces a major factor in spreading illness. High-traffic facilities, such as schools, offices, and healthcare centers, are especially at risk. Ensuring these facilities are stocked with high-quality products, such as hospital-grade disinfectants, can help prevent the spread of germs and keep building inhabitants safe and productive. Effective disinfection is not about appearance; it’s about stopping the spread of germs. The lifespan of flu viruses varies from surface to surface. For hard, nonporous surfaces (like metal door handles, stainless steel, plastic): Influenza viruses can survive for 24 to 48 hours in measurable amounts. Infectious particles are strongest in the first two to eight hours, but traces can linger up to two days. The virus typically survives for only eight to 12 hours, sometimes less, on porous surfaces like fabric, paper, or tissues. Flu viruses can live on hands for up to five minutes after contact with a contaminated surface, which is why handwashing is critical. Unfortunately, common disinfection practices, like “spray and wipe,” often fall short. For disinfectants to work effectively, surfaces must stay visibly wet for the product’s required dwell time—usually between 30 seconds and five minutes, depending on the Environmental Protection Agency- (EPA) registered, hospital-grade List N disinfectant. Disinfectant wipes often offer better coverage because they naturally keep the contact time needed to kill pathogens. Best practices for high-touch surfaces Since restrooms receive most of the attention when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting, other common high-touch and high-use areas are often overlooked. These include: Door handles and push bars Light switches Water fountains and hydration stations Product dispensers Shared equipment and communal surfaces Be sure to disinfect these areas more frequently throughout the day during the cold and flu season. Posting signs and providing hand sanitizer at entrances or throughout buildings can help remind and motivate everyone to do their part in reducing the spread of illness. Partnering with your cleaning staff Whether working with in-house custodial teams or outside contractors, it’s essential to establish clear expectations about disinfection priorities. Consider increasing cleaning schedules and frequency during peak months, and communicate which areas require extra attention. At the same time, encourage personal responsibility. Simple messages like “If you’re sick, stay home” and reminders to wash hands regularly can have a measurable impact. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper handwashing can reduce respiratory illnesses by 16 to 21%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that hand hygiene can reduce the spread of infections by up to 50% in healthcare settings. Ultimately, minimizing the impact of cold and flu season requires a multi-layered strategy: using appropriate products, applying them correctly, concentrating on high-touch surfaces, and encouraging personal hygiene. When all these elements work together, facilities can protect occupants, lower absenteeism, and show a clear commitment to health and safety.
What has the cleaning industry learned as it transitioned from the first pandemic year to the second? In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn the details about what went well and what didn't in 2021, and what we as an industry need to know right now. Infection prevention experts Patty Olinger, the executive director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, and Dr. Paul Meechan, the former head of safety with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and who now serves on the GBAC scientific advisory board, discuss these topics with ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross. This webcast also digs into the science and the layered support when it comes to cleaning, disinfection, and air purification, and how the omicron variant shouldn’t be considered just another type of “cold”. Olinger and Meechan also discuss the possibility of the end of the pandemic. This webcast is brought to you by our sponsor Breezy.
The United States is at the highest level of respiratory illness since at least the 1997-98 flu season, according to data published Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimated that at least 11 million people have had the flu this season, 120,000 have been hospitalized with it, and 5,000 people have died. One flu-associated pediatric death occurring in the 2025-2026 season was reported to CDC this week, bringing the season total to nine reported influenza-related pediatric deaths. During the last week of the year, 8.2% of doctor visits were for flu-like symptoms. At the same point last season, which was also a year with high flu activity, that number was 6.7%. All but four states show high or very high levels of activity as a new virus strain called subclade K continues to spread. Subclade K is a strain of the influenza A (H3N2) virus, and influenza A has been the most frequently reported influenza viruses so far this season. In turn, among 389 influenza A (H3N2) viruses collected since Sept. 28, 2025 that underwent additional genetic characterization at the CDC, 90.5% belonged to subclade K. When it comes to how hard the flu is hitting this year, the season has not broken any records yet, CNN reported. So far, the number of people hospitalized puts this season in third place since 2010-11, but those numbers could climb as the virus spreads. The CDC expects flu activity to continue for several weeks. Additionally, on Monday, the U.S. dropped childhood vaccine recommendations for flu, rotavirus, meningococcal, and hepatitis A, Reuters reported. The latest rollback advances Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s goal to pare back childhood vaccination, and health experts warned could lead to preventable hospitalizations and deaths. Flu vaccinations already have been dropping in children, from a peak of 53% during the 2019-20 flu season to 42% at the same point this season. Vaccines also have dipped in adults, from nearly 61 million in 2019-20 to roughly 48 million this year, CDC data showed.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division on Monday issued six opinion letters designed to promote clarity, consistency, and transparency in the application of federal labor standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The opinion letters provide official written interpretations from the division that address real-world questions and explain how laws apply to specific factual circumstances presented by individuals or organizations. The opinion letters include: FLSA2026-1: Whether an employee’s role meets the criteria for the learned professional exemption under section 13(a)(1) of the FLSA, and, if so, whether an employer is nevertheless permitted to reclassify the employee as nonexempt. FLSA2026-2: Whether section 7(e) of the FLSA permits an employer to exclude certain bonus payments from an employee’s regular rate of pay. The letter also addresses how to include these payments in the calculation of employee overtime premiums if the payments must be included in an employee’s regular rate of pay. FLSA2026-3: Whether a union and employer can enter into a collective bargaining agreement that mandates a 15-minute “roll call” prior to each scheduled shift but excludes that time when calculating overtime premiums under the FLSA. FLSA2026-4: Whether, for purposes of the overtime exemption for certain commissioned employees in section 7(i) of the FLSA, an employer in a jurisdiction in which the state minimum wage exceeds the federal minimum wage must use the federal minimum wage, or alternatively, the higher state minimum wage, to determine whether it has satisfied the minimum pay standard in section 7(i)(1), and whether tips are deemed compensation for purposes of section 7(i)(2)’s requirement that more than half the employee’s compensation consist of commissions. FMLA2026-1: How a school closure of less than a full week impacts the amount of leave a school employee uses under the FMLA. FMLA2026-2: Whether FMLA leave may be used for time spent traveling to or from medical appointments, including cases in which an employee provided the employer with medical certification from a health care provider that confirms the employee’s need for the appointment, but the certification does not address travel to or from the appointment. In June, Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling announced the launch of the department’s opinion letter program, which expands the department’s longstanding commitment to providing meaningful compliance assistance that helps workers, employers, and other stakeholders understand how federal labor laws apply in specific workplace situations. The public is encouraged to use the division’s new opinion letters page to explore past guidance and submit new requests.
A new study published in Indoor Air found portable air cleaners may elevate the short-term risk of respiratory disease transmission due to increased air mixing. However, the long-term benefits of enhanced ventilation outweighed the initial increase in risk, reducing overall airborne transmission over extended durations. The researchers said the work is important in demonstrating how rapidly respiratory airborne particles spread in ventilated spaces and what effect a partition wall has on the delay of concentration rise. It took between 15 and 100 seconds for contaminants emitted by a human simulator to reach the exposed simulator′s breathing zone in the mixing-ventilated test room, depending on the obstacles along the airflow path. The shortest delay occurred between standing and sitting dummies, while the longest delay was observed between dummies seated at desks separated by a partition wall. The study found that actions to enhance ventilation, such as increasing ventilation airflow rates or using portable air cleaners, can reduce occupants′ exposure to airborne pathogens and thus infection transmission risk. Conversely, additional air cleaners in the room may enhance air mixing and reduce delays, allowing contaminants to reach the exposed person′s breathing zone more quickly. This could lead to slightly higher initial concentrations during short-term exposures with air cleaners compared to without them, researchers said. However, within just a few minutes, researchers found that airborne exposures became significantly lower and remained so with the use of air cleaners. The researchers said the results were limited due to small rooms with mixing-type ventilation, and that further studies are needed to investigate transmission in larger spaces ventilated by different methods.
Clean Hands Man launched the 2026 Clean Hands Index, an independent benchmarking report focused on real public handwashing experiences in public and commercial restrooms. The index unites insights from industries—including manufacturers, architects, designers, distributors, facility managers, cleaning and janitorial professionals, and public health advocates—while placing public input at the center of the conversation. The 2026 Clean Hands Index combines national public surveys, on-site facility evaluations, public health research, and human-centered storytelling to assess how well public handwashing environments serve people in everyday life. “Public handwashing sits at the intersection of health, design, operations, and behavior,” said Tim Cromley, Clean Hands Man founder. “The Clean Hands Index is designed to break down silos and create a shared, credible understanding of what’s working, what’s not, and how we can collectively raise the standard of hygiene for everyone.” The 2026 Clean Hands Index will be released in Summer 2026 and include: A comprehensive digital report presenting findings, benchmarks, and insights. Data highlights and visual summaries designed for media, industry, and public sharing. Original editorial and video content published through Clean Hands Man channels. Industry and association briefings with participating organizations. Media outreach and interviews with national, design, facilities, and public health outlets. Select findings may be previewed in advance through partner organizations and events to support informed discussion and early engagement across industries. Findings from the 2026 Clean Hands Index aims to establish clearer benchmarks for public handwashing environments, recognize innovation and best practices, and provide actionable insight for future restroom design, retrofits, and operational improvements. The index also supports broader public awareness efforts, encouraging facility owners and communities to prioritize health, dignity, and usability in public restrooms.