This is National Handwashing Awareness Week—the perfect time to brush up on hand hygiene now that cold and flu season is upon us. One of the best ways to prevent the spread of the common cold, flu, or even COVID-19 is washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related sicknesses and one in five respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Hand Washing Awareness Week is sponsored by Henry the Hand Foundation and reminds us to be vigilant about hand-washing, especially this time of year because it's cold and flu season. Henry the Hand Foundation offers the four principles of hand awareness: Wash your hands when they are dirty and before eating. 2. DO NOT cough into your hands. 3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands. 4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose, or mouth. The CDC offers these five steps to complete when washing your hands every time: Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dryer. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
In November, the U.S. Department of Labor cited a fresh-cut vegetable processing company for repeatedly violating safety requirements after a worker was fatally injured while cleaning and sanitizing a machine. In May 2025, the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated an inspection into Taylor Farms New Jersey Inc. after being notified of the fatality at its processing facility in Swedesboro, New Jersey. Inspectors determined that Taylor Farms, a subsidiary of Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., failed to implement proper lockout/tagout procedures to protect workers from severe injuries during sanitation activities. OSHA cited Taylor Farms for 16 safety violations related to the lack of lockout/tagout procedures, as well as failure to implement lockout/tagout requirements or provide training, and proposed penalties totaling US$1,125,484. Additionally, PL Solutions Group LLC, operating as People Logistics, the onsite temporary employment agency, was cited for three serious violations with proposed penalties of $33,100 for not implementing or training workers on lockout/tagout procedures. An understanding of the lockout/tagout standard will help protect cleaning crews from electrocution, burns, amputations, fractures, and other injuries that can result from accidental energy release. To learn more about the dangers of unguarded machines and how to keep workers safe, read CMM’s “Lock in Safety” article.
On Nov. 25, Prairie Farms recalled select Prairie Farms Gallon Fat-Free Milk produced at its Dubuque, Iowa, facility and distributed to Woodman’s stores in Illinois and Wisconsin. Some of the product may contain food-grade cleaning agents, which may cause illness if consumed. Only a specific segment of the DEC08 production run was impacted. The affected product was processed between 17:51 and 21:23, representing a portion of that day’s production. To ensure complete containment, Prairie Farms is recalling Gallon Fat-Free Milk with the DEC08 code date and PLT19-145 plant code produced during the impacted timeframe of 17:51 to 21:23. On Nov. 24, Prairie Farms was made aware of a potential quality issue. An investigation was immediately initiated, and based on that investigation, affected product was removed from stores and a recall was initiated. Approximately 320 gallons were sold before the issue was discovered. Consumers who purchased the product with the above code dates should not consume it; they may safely dispose of it or return it to the store for a refund. All remaining affected product has been removed from store shelves.
Building service contractors (BSCs) are feeling the pinch of meeting their client’s expectations for cleanliness and facility image, while providing services at their customers’ price point, according to the results of CMM’s latest BSC benchmarking survey. CMM surveys BSCs every year to provide a record of cleaning business challenges, priorities, technology use, and accomplishments. Among the respondents of the 2025 survey, the majority (61%) are corporate managers with more than 30 years in the cleaning industry (33%), and service local areas within 50 miles of their business headquarters (28%). Most (85%) survey respondents say their company’s experience and reputation sets them apart from the competition. Issues that they listed as large or moderate challenges for their companies included: Recruiting and retaining staff (76%) Maintaining profitable margins (76%) Winning new bids/contracts (74%) Validating cleaning results (53%) Retaining customers (49%) Achieving sustainability initiatives (47%) Top issues BSCs listed as affecting their clients included: Improving facility image (83%) Reducing overall cleaning costs (72%) Assuring the health, safety, and security of buildings and tenants (69%) Retaining tenants (62%) Preserving assets (55%) Implementing sustainability/ESG initiatives (37%) Reducing the number of service contractors (36%) To help meet some of these challenges, many BSCs plan to adopt new technology in the next year, include cleaning validation programs (48%), artificial intelligence (46%), and smart technologies (37%). Many BSCs also turn to computer software or tools, including customer relationship management (CRM) software (56%) and email or outreach automation tools (43%). Download the full survey results here. And be sure to register for a free webinar, BSC Balancing Act: Facility Image vs. Cost Control, that will explore BSC challenges and reveal growth strategies for 2026.