Latino-owned small and medium businesses (SMBs) are growing rapidly, according to a new McKinsey & Co. report. Latinos start more businesses per capita than any other U.S. racial or ethnic group. In 2023, they created 36% of new businesses in the states—nearly double their representation in the overall population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19% of the U.S. population is Latino or Hispanic, and that number is expected to grow to 28% by 2060. Still, Latino-owned SMBs comprise only 7% of total small-business firms with employees, and 17% of non-employer firms (which have no employees and are mostly sole proprietorships). However, 99% of Latino-owned businesses are considered small businesses. A supportive environment, McKinsey said, could pave the way for the creation of more than 600,000 new businesses, potentially bringing in about US$1.2 trillion in revenue and creating 5 million to 6 million jobs in the coming decades. Latino SMBs’ owners also skew younger, which McKinsey said offers great opportunities for long-term business growth. Additionally, the education level of these young entrepreneurs continues to increase with 20% of Latinos nationwide achieving a bachelor’s degree. Still, Latino SMBs have more challenges than non-Latino SMBs scaling up enterprises, hiring and retaining talent, and gaining access to funding, McKinsey reported. For example, in 2023, Latino-owned businesses accounted for 15% of credit applications on online lender Biz2Credit, up from 12% in 2022. Additionally, the average credit score of Latino business owners improved from 632 in 2022 to 647 in 2024, a sign that these businesses are becoming more financially stable and more creditworthy, McKinsey said.
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.
Show off your skills in ISSA's Spotless Spaces Competition. This exclusive ISSA-member benefit allows cleaning and facilities teams to showcase their exceptional environments on a global stage. Open for nominations through Feb. 14, the competition highlights the essential role cleaning professionals play in keeping our world cleaner, safer, and healthier. From maintaining spotless floors to creating safe, welcoming spaces, this is your team’s chance to shine. For more information and to enter the Spotless Space Competition, click here. The Spotless Space Competition is one part of International Cleaning Week, held March 23-29. During the week, ISSA will showcase the cleaning industry's critical role in protecting public health and boosting economic impact. As the culminating celebration of International Cleaning Week, ISSA will host the Clean Advocacy Summit on March 31-April 1 in Washington, D.C. On Feb. 5, ISSA will host a free, one-hour webinar outlining the new resources and strategies for members to leverage International Cleaning Week. Click here to register.
President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The move, which drew criticism from public health experts on his first day back in the White House, was not surprising. During Trump’s first presidency his administration formally began a withdrawal from WHO. Four years ago, then-President Joe Biden stopped U.S.’s exit from the United Nation’s health agency. Monday’s executive order states the “organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states,” as reasons for the withdrawal, CNN reported. The president also said the WHO had failed to act independently from the "inappropriate political influence of WHO member states" and required "unfairly onerous payments" from the U.S. that were disproportionate to the sums provided by other, larger countries, such as China, Reuters reported. WHO plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing and responding to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous places where others cannot go. The U.S. was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and has participated in shaping and governing WHO’s work ever since, alongside 193 other Member States, including through its active participation in the World Health Assembly and executive board. The executive order begins a year-long notice period for the U.S. to leave WHO and stop financial contributions, but CNN reported funding could stop sooner than a year. The U.S. is the WHO’s largest financial supporter, contributing about 18% of its overall funding, Reuters said. WHO’s budget for 2024-2025 is US$6.8 billion.
CloroxPro released its 2024 Clean Index report, detailing the perceptions, needs, and challenges of more than 1,500 cleaning professionals and consumers from the past year. The findings highlight increasing adoption of eco-conscious cleaning products, as well as ongoing burnout faced by staff because of constrained resources. Responses from the study show the adoption of eco-conscious cleaning products is becoming widespread: two in three cleaning professionals stated that their facility is using such solutions, and 60% reported that their facility has set a business goal to use more eco-conscious products. This year's study also reinforced that burnout is a big challenge faced by cleaning professionals. Half of cleaning professionals indicated that they experienced burnout within the last year, with almost 50% of all respondents saying their level has increased in the last two years. Cleaning professionals highlighted a lack of training as a key factor to burnout—less training can lead to less employee knowledge about cleaning protocols and efficiency as well as lower employee confidence in cleaning outcomes. In fact, 60% of cleaning professionals do not feel confident that the areas they manage are properly cleaned and disinfected due to lack of training programs. The Clean Index survey also found that more than half of consumers continue to be concerned about germ exposure at work, with 79% of consumers noting that it is important for businesses to provide disinfecting wipes. View the complete 2024 Clean Index report here.
A Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, soap and detergent manufacturer faces US$161,310 in federal penalties following a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation of a chemical gas release from its manufacturing plant that sent a dozen workers to the hospital in July 2024. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated an inspection on July 11 after being notified by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and AFCO, the facility’s operator, about an incident involving a release of nitrogen dioxide gas. The release occurred when chemicals reacted during processing by AFCO employees. A manufacturing subsidiary of Zep Inc., AFCO is based in Atlanta and specializes in producing and distributing maintenance, cleaning, and sanitation solutions. OSHA inspectors determined the company had taken no action to assess the impact of the release immediately and did not swiftly evacuate workers from the building as a precaution. Inspectors discovered that workers were exposed to nitrogen dioxide gas levels exceeding the chemical’s ceiling limit, resulting in 12 employees being evaluated at a local hospital, with two of them requiring hospitalization. Additionally, inspectors determined that the company had no emergency response plan in place, and that its respiratory protection and hazard communication programs failed to meet federal requirements. OSHA has cited AFCO for one repeat violation, and nine serious and two other-than-serious violations. “AFCO’s lack of urgency in addressing the hazardous conditions put employees at serious risk,” said Kevin T. Chambers, OSHA area director in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “Employers have a legal responsibility to identify workplace hazards and take immediate action to protect their employees from harm.” Since 2022, OSHA has cited Zep for four serious violations for its failures to protect employees at its Emerson, Georgia, facility from hazardous chemicals. Founded in 1937, Zep serves industrial, institutional, retail, and food and beverage customers on six continents. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Cintas Corp. launched its 12th annual Cintas Custodian of the Year contest, which honors exceptional school custodians. From now through Feb. 7, the public can submit their custodian nominations at custodianoftheyear.com. “Beyond cleaning and maintenance, school custodians often make our schools and universities feel like home,” said Emily Ramos, Cintas director of marketing. “For more than a decade, we’ve been inspired by countless incredible stories of custodians going above and beyond, and we’re thrilled to continue honoring them as we celebrate the 12th year of this contest.” Cintas will award US$10,000 to the winning custodian and $5,000 in Cintas and Rubbermaid products and services to the winner’s school. The winner’s school also will receive a complete facility assessment and Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) Advanced certification from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, valued at $20,000. The other nine finalists will receive $1,000 each from Cintas, a cleaning supply package from Rubbermaid, and complimentary tuition to one ISSA Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) virtual training event valued at $1,500. The top three finalists will also receive an all-expense-paid trip for two to ISSA Show North America 2025 in Las Vegas in November, where they’ll be celebrated for their accomplishments. “Creating healthy and inspiring learning environments wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of custodians,” said John Barrett, ISSA Executive Director. “ISSA is honored to partner with Cintas to recognize and celebrate the dedication, hard work, and essential contributions of custodians across the U.S.” Last year, Cintas awarded Bob Galewski of Wabasha-Kellogg High School in Wabasha, Minnesota, the 2024 Cintas Custodian of the Year. The Cintas Custodian of the Year contest is open to all elementary, middle, high school, college, and university custodians who have worked at their school for at least two years. Nominations must be 500 words or less on why the nominee deserves the award and must be submitted by Feb. 7. Cintas will announce the top ten finalists on March 4. The public will then be able to vote for their favorite custodian through April 11, and the finalist with the most votes will be crowned Custodian of the Year in the spring. “We’re proud to partner with Cintas to honor the custodians who go above and beyond daily,” said Robert Posthauer, Rubbermaid Commercial Products senior vice president and general manager. “Custodians are true heroes, and we are committed to showing our gratitude and appreciation for all they do.”
People are washing their hands at an unprecedented rate, which puts the restroom experience under more intense scrutiny than ever before. “The pandemic reminded the world of the importance of proper hand hygiene,” said William Gagnon, Excel Dryer chief operating officer. “There is also a keen focus on restrooms and how a person’s experience in them can directly affect a company’s reputation and its bottom line.” Excel Dryer Inc. and market research firm MetrixLab conducted a survey, Post Pandemic Perceptions of Commercial Restrooms, to find out how architects, design professionals, business owners, facility managers, and consumers feel about commercial restrooms in the post-pandemic world. The survey engaged more than 4,000 participants in the United States, Europe and Asia, aiming to capture shifts in perception and preferences regarding commercial restrooms. Findings included: The top concern—across all demographics and locations—is cleanliness and hygiene. 100% agree—a dirty restroom reflects poorly on the establishment. In fact, 80% of those surveyed said they would not, or might not, return to a restaurant with a dirty restroom. The No. 1 contributing factor to a dirty restroom is paper towels on the floor or overflowing trash cans. Consumers agree a dirty restroom reflects poor management, while architects, restaurant owners, and facility managers around the world find the cleanliness of a commercial restroom reflects the extent to which a business values its customers and employees. To view the complete global survey results, visit go.exceldryer.com/surveys. Watch the video here: go.exceldryer.com/surveys-video.
Hand hygiene (HH) monitoring in hospitals could be reduced significantly, allowing infection preventionists to redirect efforts toward quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, according to a new study by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) published in the American Journal of Infection Control. The study’s findings suggest that hospitals could reduce the number of HH observations from 200 to as few as 50 observations per unit per month without compromising data quality. Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective method to prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. However, adherence among healthcare workers is often low. Given its vital role in infection prevention, implementing a reliable HH monitoring program is essential. For decades, determining the optimal number of HH observations needed to assess adherence has been a challenge for researchers. In 2019, the Leapfrog Group added a new HH standard to the Leapfrog Hospital Survey which required facilities to collect 200 direct HH observations per month per patient care unit. In 2021, Leapfrog updated the standard to offer 100 observations per unit per month if hospitals met all the other domains in the standard. Survey and accrediting bodies use HH data to assign quality safety grades. The 200-observation standard was based on a 2009 World Health Organization HH observation method. The Leapfrog Group HH standard is challenging for healthcare facilities because of the significant resources needed to gather such a large number of observations and the shift in focus from collecting quality data and educating healthcare teams to achieving a numerical target. The purpose of this study was to determine a statistically comparable number of HH observations below the current standard of 100 to 200 observations per unit per month. Researchers with APIC’s Center for Research, Practice, and Innovation analyzed 390,371 HH observations collected in 2023 across 29 facilities within large U.S. hospital systems. They evaluated sample sizes of 25, 50, 100, and 150 observations against the current standard of 200 observations to determine if a statistical difference in adherence within a 95% confidence interval (p = 0.05) existed. A power analysis revealed that a sample size of 50 observations was comparable to 200 observations for assessing HH compliance. “Strong consideration should be given to reducing the required number of hand hygiene observations,” said Sara Reese, PhD, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, lead investigator and APIC’s Center for Research, Practice & Innovation director of research. “If the participating hospitals were allowed to place less effort on meeting a specific hand hygiene observation number and more effort on feedback, training/education, infrastructure, and culture, they could potentially create a culture that fosters and encourages the importance of HH without the burden of the high number required for the monitoring domain.” For a hospital with 12 departmental units, collecting 100 to 200 direct HH observations requires 67 to 127 hours per month, translating to an annual cost of approximately US$36,288 to $68,688. By reducing the required number of observations to 50 per unit per month, hospitals could save over $50,000 annually which could be put toward efforts to enhance HH practices and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published for public comment its plan for studying and developing technology-based PFAS limits on industrial wastewater discharges. The plan is a key action under the agency’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap as it considers rulemaking efforts to protect communities from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, also known as forever chemicals) in local waterways and supports the Biden Cancer Moonshot’s efforts to reduce Americans’ exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. “EPA is committed to working with state partners to develop strong national rules to reduce the presence of forever chemicals in our waterways,” said Bruno Pigott, EPA principal deputy assistant administrator for water. “That means we must work to develop our collective understanding about PFAS discharges from industry. From there, we can better innovate and implement durable treatment solutions that protect our communities over the long run.” Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 16 (Preliminary Plan 16) shows the agency’s intent to initiate detailed studies of wastewater pollution discharges and their treatment potential for several industrial categories. EPA has determined that it needs to collect additional data and information from facilities in the battery manufacturing category, the centralized waste treatment category, the oil and gas extraction category, as well as from PFAS processors (industrial facilities engaged in processing PFAS into commercial products). The goal of these studies is to enable the agency to make informed, data-driven decisions on the need for new rulemakings to establish revised effluent limitations guidelines. Any future rulemakings developed because of these studies would be based on the best available science and designed to stop PFAS contamination at the source. With the announcement of this preliminary plan in the Federal Register, EPA is opening a 30-day public comment period. To submit a written comment, visit EPA’s Preliminary Effluent Guidelines Program Plan webpage for more information.
The U.S. commercial and residential cleaning services market is estimated to grow by an compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 6% to US$36.81 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. Rising popularity of multifamily dwellings in United States is driving market growth, with a trend toward increasing several strategic alliances. However, fluctuations in labor wages pose a challenge. [caption id="attachment_25725" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Commercial and Residential Cleaning Services Market in US 2024-2028[/caption] The commercial and residential cleaning services market in the U.S. is characterized by intense competition due to the presence of numerous local and international players. To stay competitive, vendors are focusing on enhancing their service offerings and expanding their customer base. Strategic partnerships have emerged as a popular strategy for gaining a competitive edge, such as ABM's partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chase Field in March 2024 for providing janitorial services as a single source. These collaborations enable vendors to broaden their reach and offer comprehensive services through new distribution channels. The formation of such strategic alliances is expected to increase in number, thereby boosting the availability of commercial and residential cleaning services in the U.S. and driving market growth during the forecast period. The market continues to focus on maintaining high-hygiene standards for both business and home environments. General cleaning duties include various techniques and methods, such as deep cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection, using specialized equipment and supplies. Customer experience is key, with trained cleaners ensuring dependability and cleanliness. Industry trends include electrostatic spray disinfection, green cleaning, and adherence to strict cleaning standards. The market prioritizes health, hygiene, and customer experience, with specialized technology and trained cleaners ensuring cleanliness and dependability for various facility types. Regarding challenges, the commercial and residential cleaning services market is subject to continuous fluctuations in labor wages, which can adversely impact market growth. Underpayment of labor results in low efficiency and challenges in hiring and training processes. Increasing labor costs are driven by supply-demand imbalances and government regulations on minimum wages. For instance, the U.S. government's frequent updates to minimum wage rules can lead to increased base salaries or employee benefits. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wages and salaries rose by 0.9% and benefit costs increased by 0.7% in 2023. These wage increases will negatively affect the revenues of vendors in the commercial and residential cleaning services market, hindering market growth during the forecast period. The market also faces unique challenges in delivering quality cleaning solutions for various facility types. Office buildings, cleanrooms, medical facilities, healthcare facilities, schools, commercial kitchens, and domestic dwellings all have distinct sanitary and hygienic conditions. Effectiveness and dependability are essential, with industrial-grade equipment and green cleaning practices ensuring both. Bonded and insured services protect against property damage, and client expectations for cleanliness and adherence to standards are high. Layout differences, cleaning frequency, and cleaning intensity necessitate specialized equipment. Electrostatic spray disinfection and green cleaning further enhance the quality of cleaning offered. Ultimately, the goal is to maintain cleanliness and meet the unique cleaning needs of each facility type.
A study by Reckitt's Lysol® Pro Solutions has found that soft surfaces can be contaminated when people with respiratory infections such as cold or flu cough or sneeze on them directly. The research examined whether germs present in the upper respiratory tract of the ill participants were also the dominant microorganisms found on fabrics after coughing and sneezing on them. The results revealed the following insights: Thousands of organisms can be transferred to fabric from sick individuals in the process of coughing and sneezing on them directly. Sneezing leads to a higher average level of virus transfer to fabric compared to coughing. The germs responsible for flu and the common cold may be transferred relatively easily to fabrics. The virus that causes common cold can survive on fabric for at least six hours. Contaminated fabrics can spread germs to people who encounter them, the study found. A potential risk also exists for the transfer of germs to individuals that touch fabric exposed to coughs and/or sneezes from people with upper respiratory infections. A combination of good hand hygiene, hard surface disinfection and often forgotten soft surface disinfection can help prevent the spread of germs in facilities and help protect staff and customers from exposure to these germs. "This study reinforces the importance of helping protect people from the spread of germs via soft surfaces, as a part of a holistic hygiene program,” said Ann Marie De Luca, Reckitt's Lysol Pro Solutions R&D manager of microbiology. “Cleaning and disinfection efforts are often focused solely on hard, nonporous surfaces but our work reveals the importance of targeting soft surfaces in order to help protect both home and business environments."