Traditionally, cleaning equipment has not focused on operator individuality. Instead, it has typically prioritized technological advances to boost cleaning performance. Equipment design that doesn’t consider the operator before, during, and after cleaning can lead to staff retention issues, as cumbersome and challenging equipment operation can cause physical and mental strains for operators. Additionally, essential tasks such as regular maintenance may be completely ignored by operators. Embracing people-first design Today’s cleaning equipment solutions—which are often operated by multiple users—need to readdress their priorities to adapt simply and effectively to individual user needs, skills levels, and experience. However, progress in cleaning equipment design is making things simpler for operators and cleaning teams. From a people-centric perspective, a new adaptable and ergonomics-first design approach addresses operator individuality to reduce the impact on cleaning teams. It also ensures that critical equipment maintenance tasks can be undertaken with ease, guaranteeing minimized asset downtime, optimal lifetime performance for cleaning equipment, and cost reduction. Enabling asset support Cleaning operations typically use a variety of cleaning equipment solutions, each potentially representing a significant investment. As a result, purchasers want assurance that value-added equipment performance is maximized for daily cleaning effectiveness. They also want to guarantee a high return on investment over the long term. But in the real world, time pressures, a lack of training support, complicated maintenance processes, and the need to “just get on with the job” can potentially cause routine maintenance requirements for cleaning equipment assets to fall by the wayside. Tellingly, IBM research shows that deploying strategic and proactive maintenance regimes for heavily used equipment, such as scrubbers, sweepers or vacuums, can reduce unwanted downtime by up to 50%, increase productivity by 20-50%, lower breakdowns by 70-75%, and cut maintenance costs by 5-10%. The need for proactive maintenance is not a new concept. Our vehicles, home heating, and air conditioning systems are two other examples where the absence of maintenance and servicing leads to inevitable outcomes such as compromised performance, costly repairs, and even failure. Cleaning equipment is no different, as it often undertakes repeatable cleaning cycles, often in tough operating environments. Simplifying maintenance It’s well recognized that ineffective maintenance of cleaning equipment impacts efficiency, shortens equipment lifespans, and introduces the potential for reputational damage linked to reduced quality cleaning outcomes. However, this can be addressed and simplified with a practical-based approach to new equipment design and use. For example, people-first design could incorporate: On-product training, delivered via a unique user interface—so users can resolve any operating questions easily, without delaying cleaning tasks. A unique interface that can be tailored to the user’s language—ensuring that instructions and maintenance-led notifications are easily understood and acted upon without delay. A tailored interface that reflects the user’s skill level—for example, limiting the functionality available to less experienced users to avoid confusion and ensure essential notifications aren’t overlooked. Color-highlighted user touch points—so users can see easily where attach/detach functions are located for removing cleaning decks or topping up cleaning solutions when conducting essential maintenance. Easy-to-remove attachments, such as squeegees—ensuring these components are quick and easy to attach, detach, clean, and store. Time-saving features—such as a water filling indicator, so users can easily keep the water topped up to maximize cleaning quality without having to repeatedly stop to check and refill. Embedding a maintenance-first mindset Alongside operator-centric product design innovations, there are three practical and educational steps cleaning managers can take to embed a maintenance-first mindset without putting additional pressures on cleaning operators. These steps support day-to-day cleaning operations, help to maximize high quality cleaning, and can enhance cost-efficiency and productivity: Get operators on board. While easy maintenance routines will optimize cleaning equipment performance, how the equipment is operated can also impact its lifespan. Working with cleaning operators to emphasize the importance of user behavior is critical. This involves educating them on why routine maintenance is vital and demonstrating how simple the process can be. Tailor equipment use to needs. Look for equipment solutions that can be pre-calibrated to automate chemical and water use, speed, and power. This can help to alleviate the tendency to always select maximum settings, which can put unnecessary strain on the equipment and lead to increased repair costs. It also supports sustainability and cost-efficiency objectives by reducing resource waste and optimizing the use of expensive materials. Be proactive on maintenance notifications. Ensure that equipment has the functionality to proactively notify users when maintenance tasks are due. This helps maintain routine maintenance schedules and supports long-term planning regarding equipment availability. A new concept for cleaning equipment design—one that puts people at its core and creates intuitive, adaptable, easy-to-maintain, and ergonomically sound cleaning equipment—can deliver a multitude of people-first and operational advantages. Both cleaning operators and valuable equipment assets will benefit. Cleaning team members will be energized by equipment solutions that cater to their specific needs. And well-maintained equipment will continue to function for an extended operational life, delivering quality-driven and productive cleaning outcomes.
Water damage from major storms can have long-lasting negative impacts on every kind of space. Whether it’s commercial properties or residential homes, effective remediation is critical to maintaining the habitability of buildings after the storm has passed. That leaves restoration and remediation professionals with a significant role to play in the wake of extreme weather. Proper water cleanup and mold prevention techniques are required to mitigate mold growth, contamination, and the associated health risks. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, so does the demand for more environmentally friendly solutions. Consumers often seek greener, more sustainable options in almost every facet of today’s market, including storm remediation. Effective botanical-based cleaners and disinfectants can be powerful additions to professionals’ toolkits. Success with these technologies depends on two things. First, professionals must be certain of the efficacy and authenticity of such botanical cleaners. Second, effective methods and best practices for water remediation jobs must be followed. Evaluating water damage and selecting optimal products When it comes to interior water damage, water is typically classified into three categories. Category 1 water does not pose a significant threat and is typically considered “clean” water—it usually refers to water damage from a water supply line. Then there’s Category 2, or “grey” water, which carries microorganisms—toilet water, sump pump water, or discharge from dishwashers or washing machines. Finally, Category 3, or “black” water, is considered extremely unsanitary and typically the kind of water damage dealt with during hurricane relief and remediation efforts. It includes water from sewage sources, seawater, or standing water. It is assumed to contain harmful bacteria and fungi that can cause serious threats to humans—things like West Nile virus, E. coli, Salmonella, tetanus and more can all be found in floodwaters. When in doubt, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) Standard of Care, which describes the procedures to be followed and the precautions to be taken when performing water damage restoration in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings, can be referenced. For all these reasons, choosing the right cleaners, disinfectants, and mold-resistant coatings—whether botanical-based or otherwise—is essential to combating the potential harm caused by significant water damage to a home or occupancy. A few critical items to look for include: EPA registration: At a minimum, professionals should seek out disinfectants registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA-registered products must include hospital disinfectant efficacy as well as general fungicide efficacy. Independent testing: ASTM has specific tests (ASTM D3273-16 and ASTM G21) for mold-resistant coatings that can help further guide you in your choice of products. When it comes to botanical products, one should look out for some additional claims, too. Most cleaners and disinfectants marketed as “botanical” aren’t genuinely botanical and will often contain synthetics in their formulation. For remediation professionals looking to differentiate, seek out products that are authentically botanical, with active ingredients that come directly from plants and harness their natural antimicrobial properties to effectively disinfect surfaces. Various benefits of botanicals Why choose botanicals? These products can bring a few unique benefits to any remediation job. A few of them include: Reduced toxicity exposure: For the contractor doing the cleanup work and for the occupant using a product that poses no health risks is very important. Both have already potentially been exposed to numerous pathogens, so why risk additional exposure to a chemical burden when it is not necessary. Authentically botanical disinfectants pose no risk if inhaled, ingested, or contacted skin or eyes. A simple way to verify if a product is authentically botanical is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) BioPreferred Program. This program includes third-party lab testing of products to quantify how biobased (from a plant) a product is. Some botanical products are as low as 18% biobased, while others are 100%. Greater material compatibility: Traditional disinfectants have the potential to corrode metal fixtures and damage wood, paint, and other common building materials. Botanical-based products are typically less corrosive, making them ideal for repeated applications without harming surfaces, which is often necessary for extensive post-flood cleanups. An important consideration when applying disinfectants in an open space with exposed CPVC piping is whether that product is certified in the FBC Compatibility Program. This program tests products, such as disinfectants and coatings, to ensure they will not compromise CPVC material. Authentically botanical disinfectants (those that are certified at 100% biobased in the USDA Program) are certified in the Lubrizol FBC Compatible program. The clean, kill, and coat strategy Once you’ve selected the proper cleaning and disinfectant products, it’s important to follow effective methods to ensure that contamination threats have been eliminated and that the potential for mold regrowth has been mitigated. Once water has been removed from the impacted area and the impacted area has been appropriately dried, the process involves three steps: Clean. Kill. Coat. Clean: In an interior that has experienced significant water or flood damage, flooring and ceiling panels can sometimes be salvaged by using the right cleaning product applicable to porous surfaces if completed within 48 to 72 hours. However, in the wake of an event like a major hurricane, such work isn’t commonly completed within that window of time, making it necessary to tear out the damaged drywall and start from scratch. Available hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners can aggressively target stains from porous, semiporous, and nonporous materials. Surfaces should then be dried before moving on to the next step. Kill: Importantly, cleaning removes debris and stains from the surface but doesn’t kill any lingering mold or mildew spores. Step two involves treating the affected areas with the appropriate EPA-registered disinfectant to eliminate microbial contamination. Lingering mold and mildew spores can cause health risks later down the line, even if surfaces appear free of stains after cleaning or if a nonregistered disinfectant product is used. For restoration and remediation professionals, it’s important to educate customers here. Professional products are a necessity. Coat: Finally, after potential microbial threats have been eliminated, surfaces can be treated with an antimicrobial coating that inhibits mold growth. This final coating acts
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is expanding ways in which Californians can receive help and support as Southern California continues to battle wildfires and begins the recovery process. As part of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s proclaimed State of Emergency and Executive Order, the CDPH’s efforts span the department’s many public health programs and include actions such as issuing widespread approval for expanded response, eliminating or limiting fees and processes, and expanding areas of coverage. CDPH understands that recovering from these wildfires will be challenging and has developed a single online space for wildfire response information: go.cdph.ca.gov/wildfires “Across our entire department, our teams are working toward the shared goal of supporting Californians impacted by these wildfires and easing their pain in whatever ways possible,” said Dr. Tomás Aragón, CDPH director and state public health officer. “Public health isn’t just about supporting physical health, but also mental health, document recovery, food supply, logistics, recovery safety, and other essential needs." CDPH, which oversees hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and more care access points across the state, has coordinated with local public health and emergency response teams to facilitate and ensure proper transfer of individuals in healthcare facilities to safe and secure locations. More than 130 long-term care residents have been transferred to safety, and CDPH continues to work with 120 facilities across the region to assess additional capacity and other facility needs. CDPH issued blanket approval for these facilities in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties to quickly add bed capacity and services to their licenses. The blanket approval also allows facilities to set up additional beds in areas not traditionally used for patient rooms. CDPH also is providing guidance through All Facilities Letters for these facilities on how to submit additional waiver requests. These waivers are designed to support all facilities experiencing fire- and windstorm-related surges in capacity, as well as those dealing with staffing shortages due to impacted personnel. CDPH staff are on the ground in affected areas, working together with local, state, and federal partners to assess and mitigate the risks posed by the aftermath of a fire. Their work includes supporting coordinated guidance on soil, air, water quality, and the safe handling of debris. Additionally, CDPH continues to coordinate emergency response and recovery efforts: CDPH has provided resource requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 respirators, medical and health staffing resources, and comfort kits. CDPH is coordinating with state, local and federal partners on recovery efforts to restore healthcare facilities and to address the risks to public health caused by the wildfires. CDPH shares mental health resources for people affected by the wildfires through CalHOPE Emotional Support Services and CalHOPE Mental Health Support for Youth & Families.
ISSA is seeking the cleaning industry’s expertise with a research project, Making Safer Choices, that ISSA has started through a partnership with the Penn State College of Medicine and City University of New York School of Medicine. As part of a US$1.2 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ISSA aims to drive the adoption of EPA-certified Safer Choice products across Pennsylvania and New York. To begin this work, ISSA is seeking to connect with building service decision-makers across Pennsylvania and New York to participate in a brief survey that provides a high-level overview of their cleaning products and practices. The information provided will be used to help develop tool kits and provide information about the proper cleaning of facilities, ultimately helping individuals and building management choose products that are safe for the built environment nationwide. Professionals in New York and Pennsylvania who clean buildings and deliver or manufacture cleaning products can take the Making Safer Choices Survey. In addition, building and facility operators in New York and Pennsylvania also can take the survey. Survey options include: Option 1 – If your company creates or delivers cleaning products in New York and Pennsylvania, click here. Then enter this code: RAXMPD79J Option 2 – If your company cleans buildings in New York and Pennsylvania, click here. Then enter this code: E3NHEXHYN Option 3 – If your company operates buildings and facilities that need to be cleaned in New York and Pennsylvania, click here. Then enter this code: M9X3A3YX9 All qualifying survey participates from New York and Pennsylvania will receive a $25 e-gift card from the Making Safer Choices project. Please leave your email address at the prompt at the end of the survey so you can receive your $25 e-gift card. For more information about the Making Safer Choices program, click here. If you have any questions, please contact makingsaferchoices@issa.com.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told U.S. health officials to cease cooperating with the World Health Organization (WHO) immediately. On Jan. 26, Dr. John Nkengasong, CDC senior bureau official for Global Health Security and Diplomacy, sent a memo to senior health officials at the agency to tell all staff who work with the WHO to stop immediately and “await further guidance,” the Associated Press reported. The memo said all in-person and virtual collaboration must stop, and that all CDC staff must not engage with the WHO in any way, including through technical working groups and advisory boards. As CMM previously reported, President Trump issued an executive order last week to withdraw from the WHO. Exiting the WHO requires one-year notice from the U.S., the approval of Congress, and that the U.S. meets its financial obligations for the current fiscal year. Trump’s order on Jan. 20 claimed that legal notice of withdrawal was given during his first term, in 2020, so the withdrawal can happen immediately, CNN reported. CNN also reported that Trump has recalled all CDC staff who work in CDC offices, as he announced he would in his executive order. The CDC staff has international offices in more than 60 countries, CNN reported. These offices help provide early warnings of infectious disease outbreaks. Last week, the president also ordered all federal health agencies to cease any communications for now.
On Jan. 23, Beth E. Risinger of Crooksville, Ohio, passed away. Risinger served as executive director of IEHA, a division of ISSA, from 1987 to 2015. She facilitated the IEHA and ISSA alliance in 1999 (when IEHA was NEHA—National Executive Housekeepers Association) by holding the NEHA convention in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN in Chicago. IEHA merged with ISSA in 2017. “Beth Risinger was a forward-thinking leader for IEHA, and she impressed me deeply with her can-do spirit, willingness to work on the leading edge, and her faith in people to grow and improve through education,” said Allen Rathey, Indoor Health Council director and a consultant for Risinger during her IEHA term. “I recall she spent many hundreds of dollars of her own money to send thank you cards to people she worked with. I was a recipient of more than one. That was Beth. She will be missed.” During her 28 years of service to IEHA, Risinger served the association with dignity and grace and grew IEHA substantially during her tenure as executive director. Under her leadership IEHA forged relationships with members all over the globe and encouraged them to become part of the association. She was instrumental in establishing the co-location relationship with ISSA in 1989. "Beth was a friend and mentor to me in my early years as an IEHA member," said Michael Patterson, IEHA executive director. "I joined IEHA in 1988 and attended my first conference in 1988, and Beth encouraged me to take a chapter position in the Chicago Chapter. That started my leadership in the association. She often gave me advice and encouragement when I had issues while serving and later encouraged me to run for a district leadership position after I served as chapter president. I have never forgotten a quote that she would often say to me as I started my journey in IEHA as a district leader, 'Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.' "Beth told me that I would go on to serve as an IEHA association president but to never forget why I am serving the association and to live IEHA's motto 'The best of me to my association and the best of my association to me.' Beth not only shaped the direction of IEHA but also helped shape many leaders like myself. She was loved by the members. Beth is gone, and will be missed but she will never be forgotten." Risinger is survived by her children, Bret (Terry) Bodell, Tina (John) Chubb, Eric (Kate) Risinger, and Scott (Tina) Risinger; her sister, Herberta Vallee; and a collection of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. She joins in eternal reunion her parents, Bertram Elmo and Thelma (Bierly) Allard, and her husband, Robert (Bob) Risinger. A celebration of Risinger’s life will be held on Jan. 31 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Advantage by Schoedinger North, 5544 Karl Road in Columbus. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Crooksville High School Alumni Association for scholarship opportunities. Donations may be sent to: Crooksville High School Alumni Association i/c of Herberta Vallee, 202 Elva Street, Crooksville OH 43731.