Workplaces and facilities are constantly packed with people. Offices, restrooms, cafeterias, elevators, and conference rooms are high traffic areas on a daily basis. These areas are used by typing on a keyboard on your desk, placing touching your desk, a doorknob, a light switch, faucets, cafeteria tables, the list goes on and on. Because all these surfaces are being touched daily, germs, bacteria, and viruses can be spread. In addition, grime and dust that develops overtime, can make office facilities look bad, but also be a cause to spread illnesses. For facilities to look good and be safe and healthy for customers and employees, Janitors and Janitorial Staff are an essential service.

Having Janitors and Janitorial Staff is imperative to keep your facilities healthy and clean, and it shows to the community that you are committed to sustainable and innovative practices. However, not all Janitors and Janitorial staff can achieve this goal without proper training. Janitors and Janitorial staff need to have training on modern cleaning practices such as Green cleaning to reduce and eliminate health risks and protect our environment. Janitors and Janitorial Staff need to be trained on Bloodborne pathogens and cleaning chemicals, so they can maintain facilities safe for everyone. When there is a professional janitorial service in your facility, you want to have your peace of mind knowing that the practices they follow are safe, and they can always maintain that perfect image to your clients that reflects your level of professionalism.

Besides maintaining good appearances of your facilities and the health and safety of your clients and employees another important benefit Janitors and Janitorial staff to our daily lives is increased productivity. Junk and clutter may prevent you from finding an important document or a secure digital card, and now you must waste your time finding those valuable items. Having your office cleaned can help your office be organized; thus, leading to more productivity and less time wasted. In addition, having a professional janitorial service in your facilities can improve morale. A clean facility can have a positive effect on your employee’s morale. Your employees will feel great and will take pride in their workspace and which can also lead them to produce higher quality work. Therefore, Janitors and Janitorial Staff are important to your daily live, and you should strongly consider adding one into your business. Don’t know where to look? Click here and of IJCSA trained professional janitorial services can help you with your needs!

Even before the spread of COVID-19, the importance of being prepared for bloodborne pathogens has always been paramount for the cleaning staff.  Understanding the steps to clean and disinfect when bloodborne pathogens are a threat protects the employee and the client.

With an understanding of the proper procedures to clean and disinfect for bloodborne pathogens, cleaning employees can confidently and safely clean bloodborne pathogens.  They can accurately use the EPA N-List disinfectants that helps protect themselves and the general public.  Further, their use of proper PPE will help limit the spread of the contagion on the rest of the population.

Education of the proper use of PPE and disinfectants will safe lives and reduce the threat of bloodborne pathogen spread. 

Although employees only have so much leeway when it comes to making changes at the workplace, they often have some input into the setup of their personal workspace and the employees' lounge. While you might want to get permission first, it is possible to make a difference in greening your workplace in your efforts to create a better world for the future. If you are looking to create a more environmentally friendly workplace, just use as many of the following strategies as you can.

 

Turn to Reusable Items in the Lounge/Kitchen

If your office features a kitchen area in the lounge or in a separate room, you might want to switch over from paper and Styrofoam products to glassware and plastic. This strategy only works if the area also has an area to wash up any dishes and silverware that you use.

 

Make It Easy to Recycle

Most people will recycle their aluminum, glass, plastic, and paper items if they have the means to do so. Ask for permission to set up a recycling area in the lounge and/or kitchen of your work place.

 

Set Up a Swap Zone

If you can find a spot to do so, set up an area where coworkers can swap unwanted items. You can establish guidelines for the kind of items that are acceptable for swapping, ensuring that the area remains clean and tidy. You could also set up a policy that you must put in one item for each one that you take out.

If you are environmentally minded, you might like the opportunity to green your workplace with a few simple changes.  While the changes that you make might be small, they can make a positive difference on the environment. If your company wants to go green but is not able to accomplish on their own, check out IJCSA Green Cleaning Directory to find the true, certified professionals that will be happy to provide guidence.

 

In cleaning as advised by the CDC, it is very important to consider every patient as potentially infectious; because of this, employees must fully understand both the dangers of bloodborne pathogens and the procedures to be taken when approaching them. Workplace sanitation should never be taken lightly, and these requirements make everyone safer.

Many workers face exposure to bodily fluids regularly, so this training is essential in maintaining their health and safety. Following Universal Precautions, utilizing alternative color-coding, and bagging used disposables are just a few examples of these safety measures.

Other useful facts were shared as well such as the symptoms of HPV, HIV and AIDS to watch out for. Though, by following OSHA regulations, these infections can be avoided. Keeping these risks in mind may also help one stay diligent about their work.

Customer Service is paramount for all members of the International Janitorial and Custodial Services Association. Our members put our customers and clients first and great customer service is a priority for us all.

Customer Service is one of those items that can make or break companies. Providing excellent customer service means listening to the customer's needs and expectations and then ensuring that we exceed them. It is also means being responsive and available. Customers and clients can always reach us to discuss their needs. 

Great customer service establishes good will and provides for an excellent relationship going forward. Happy customers and clients provide referrals. Unhappy customers and clients will go out of their way to tell others what made them unhappy. We don't want unhappy customers and clients.

Everyone needs to recognize the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This is especially crucial for cleaning and custodial staff. Bloodborne pathogens are potentially found anywhere that people go which means potentially everywhere and not just in medical or clinical settings. Workers in those setting may have a higher risk of exposure but everyone needs to be aware of it and trained how to safely and properly handle it.

Bloodborne pathogens are normally found in blood and other bodily secretions. Universal precautions are the best way to handle all blood and bodily fluids as though they are infectious. Staff should wear PPE to prevent contact with the blood and bodily fluids. 

With awareness and training staff should be able to avoid coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens. Companies must ensure that staff are properly trained and follow the Exposure Control Plan. In the event that someone is exposed to potential bloodborne pathogens everyone needs to know how to handle the situation. The first step is to immediately wash the affected area with soap and water. Managers need to know what to do if an employee comes to then after they have been exposed to potential bloodborne pathogens. Safety is a priority for all and training helps ensure that a proper mindset is instilled in everyone. 

The importance of us as an employer to provide the proper training and education about bloodborne pathogens and the risks to exposure is vital in order to provide a safe work environment. As its is our duty to  provide our Team with education, training, and the proper tools in order to minimize the risk to exposure, not just for the safety of our employees, staff members, and customers but also to the members of the general public.

When the education, training, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is not provided to employees and staff members the risk to exposure to these bloodborne pathogens becomes greater. It is our job as professionals to provide these resources firsthand. As it is important to take all the proper precautions and minimize the risk to exposure.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) also known in association to aids are disease causing microorganisms that are known to be highly infectious through blood or bodily fluids. These are also known as Bloodborne pathogens. Workers in many industries such as housekeeping, healthcare personnel, first responders, and other occupations may all be at a greater risk to exposure to these Bloodborne pathogens. 

Implementing an Exposure Control Plan along with proper vaccinations employee and staff training, education, and access to personal protection equipment (PPE) in conjunction with all other provisions as required by OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standards will aid in minimizing the risk to exposure therefore keeping ourselves and the general public safe.

It is extremely important for cleaning employees and staff to know about bloodborne pathogens, because you simply can't predict whether people carry a bloodborne pathogen by the way they look or behave. Anyone can be a carrier, and you wouldn’t know it. They might not even know it. Which is why you should treat every situation as though the person is a bloodborne pathogen carrier.

Everyone should protect themselves against bloodborne pathogens exposures, most importantly those who may come in close contact such as cleaning employees and other staff. OSHA requires any person at a company who may come into contact with blood or OPIM as part of their job duties to be trained on bloodborne pathogens exposures at the beginning of their assignment, and to receive refresher training once a year after that. Employers are required to offer these individuals the hepatitis B vaccine series protection, and also to have an “Exposure Control Plan” that outlines the steps to take when blood or OPIM are likely to be present. Even in the safest of settings, anyone can get injured on the job, and it’s human nature to want to come to their aid. So, no matter what your job is, you need to be aware of how hazardous bloodborne pathogens are and know how to protect yourself.

It’s an unfortunate fact that exposure to bloodborne pathogens can happen to anyone, at any time. But there’s no need to turn an accident into a life sentence of worry and illness. Protect yourself. Protect your co-workers. And, protect your family, friends and quality of life. Know and follow the precautions every person should take when there’s a potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens: • Treat all blood and OPIM as if it’s contaminated; • Use proper personal protective equipment; • Learn and heed special labels and signs; • Follow protective work practices; • Take advantage of the hepatitis B vaccine; and • Follow appropriate cleanup, disposal and labeling procedures. The key is: when there’s a potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace, prepare before you act. Your life and the lives of those closest to you, may depend on it.

 There are a variety of dangerous pathogens commonly transmitted by exposure to blood, ranging from Brucellosis and Hepatitis to HIV and Syphilis, to name a few. Therefore, meticulously following safety protocols when working around blood or any other bodily fluids is of the utmost importance. Exposure to various viruses, bacteria, and parasites that are transmitted in this manner can cause serious damage to your body over time, which may result in permanent injury or death.

  If your skin or eyes are directly exposed to blood, immediately flush the affected area with water. Follow all applicable post-exposure protocols. Always be cautious when working around biological hazards or any biological matter. Be sure to always communicate any possible hazards you may encounter to your coworkers and/or supervisor. Above all, try not to panic if and when exposure occurs.

  The high cost of healthcare in the United States often has an oppressive effect on many sufferers of bloodborne pathogens, which is another important consideration. Following safety protocols and paying attention at all times should help you avoid exposure in the first place, but you should still familiarize yourself with post-exposure protocols if you are going to be working around bio-hazards. Never compromise your safety for the sake of a deadline.

It is important to properly clean healthcare facilities to preclude or prevent the spread of germs. As we have all experienced during the global pandemic for the coronavirus, germs can quickly spread from person to person and cause serious illness and even death. Proper aseptic cleaning should be second nature to all janitorial and custodial service providers.

We have to diligent about preventing cross-contamination. We must use an EPA N-Listed disinfectant and ensure that our staff read the directions and allow the disinfectant the allocated drying time. Additionally, companies should implement and ensure their staff follow the color coded microfiber cloth usage best practice. Cloths used to wipe down bathrooms should never be used anywhere else. When mopping, companies should follow the two-bucket method so that dirty water is never reapplied to a floor.

Germs are everywhere. We offer viral load testing for our clients. Cleaning is the removal of organic matter and the reduction of risk from material which is a potential contaminant, or material which could support the survival and growth of microbes. Disinfection is the reduction of microbiological hazards to a minimal level but not necessarily complete inactivation of all microbiological hazards. Sterilization is the complete destruction and inactivation of all microbial hazard. ATP monitoring is a rapid testing method used by food and beverage processors to quickly assess the cleanliness of surfaces or liquid samples from such places as CIP systems. Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is present in all organic material and is the universal unit of energy used in all living cells. ATP is produced and/or broken down in metabolic processes in all living systems. Processes such as photosynthesis in plants, muscle contraction in humans, respiration in fungi, and fermentation in yeast are all driven by ATP. Therefore, most foods and microbial cells will contain some level of naturally occurring ATP.

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