Healthcare facilities take in hundreds of patients each month to treat all kinds of cases. In many cases, patients are suffering from infectious diseases that may spread to other patients, medical workers, visitors, and other staff in the facility. For this reason, it is crucial that medical facilities prioritize proper cleaning to ensure that every effort is made to fight against spreading infectious diseases to other people.

According to the CDC, infectious diseases can spread through various means. They can spread through direct contact with the patient, indirect contact (touching something the patient has touched), splashes and sprays to the eyes or mouth, through abrasions in the skin, through the air, and through animals or insects. The challenge of keeping the infectious disease from spreading starts when the patient arrives at the hospital so the job of cleaners working in a healthcare setting is to minimize this spread as much as possible using the available resources.

Infectious diseases like HBV, HCV, and HIV and more, can have lifelong impacts on a person's life. These diseases can cause liver damage, liver failure, weakened immunity, cancer, and death. There are some treatments available for these infectious diseases and vaccines like the HBV vaccine but others like HCV do not have vaccines and treatments don’t always work.

Disinfectants are a tool used for killing microbes that cause infectious diseases. The disinfectants are diluted with water to the appropriate ratio and when applied to surfaces for the recommended amount of time, they kill harmful microbes. It’s essential that medical facilities regularly disinfect all areas of patient rooms and restrooms to prevent the spread of infectious disease. Many IJCSA members are trained and certified to handle medical cleaning and use approved disinfectants to keep medical facilities clean and safe. Visit their directory to find a janitorial service for your medical facility. https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices

Cleaning employees play a crucial role in maintaining safe and sanitary work environments.  Given their exposure to various surfaces and materials, it is essential that they are educated about BBPs.  By understanding the risks and proper handling procedures, cleaning staff can protect themselves and others from potential infections, ensuring a healthier workplace for everyone.

Proper training on BBPs equips cleaning employees with the knowledge to recognize hazardous materials and apply effective cleaning protocols.  This includes learning how to use personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks and truly understanding the importance of safely disposing of contaminated items.

Awareness of BBPs is not only crucial for the employee safety but also a legal and ethical responsibility for employers.  Regulations such as this require employers to provide training and have a plan if a person is contaminated or exposed.  Ensuring everyone is aware and educated about BBPs is a proactive measure to protect everyone and the environment as well.

After doing my fair research on certifications and customer service training, I came across IJCSA training hub and looked at all the training programs they provide.  As a new entrepaneur in the cleaning business, customer service starts as soon as the contact in made with a potential customer.  Understanding the basics and learning how to provide excellent customer service plays an important role in keeping your accounts happy and open to more business opportunities.    As found on the https://www.ijcsa.org/Find-A-Cleaning-Service-Janitorial-Service, all companies take pride in their customer service skills aside from providing certified and skilled work.  

Clients are the main reason we are in this business.  If providing excellent customer service skills stays in our top priority, business will grow.  IJCSA members already have the foundation in providing the most professional customer service to their customers.  Feel free to browse our directory of companies to find qualified and certified companies for your needs.

To implement mold inspection and removal into my cleaning service, I will first invest in training and certifying my team. This includes understanding mold types, health impacts and using advanced equipment like HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers for safe removal I will also develop a comprehensive process that begins with a thorough assessment to identify mold sources and extent, followed by a tailored remediation plan that addresses both visible and hidden mold.

The benefits of offering professional mold remediation are significant. It ensures the health and safety of clients by effectively removing mold, preventing health issues like allergies and respiratory problems. Additionally, it protects property from structural damage caused by unchecked mold growth. By providing expert services we can offer peace of mind to clients knowing their environment is safe and mold-free. This service expansion not only enhances our business reputation but also opens new revenue streams by addressing a critical need in property maintenance.

The need for staff knowing about bloodborne pathogens and the inherent risks thereof is very important, not just for the sake of cleanliness but also for the wellbeing of everyone at the workplace, whether they're employees or customers. Even a small amount of blood has the potential of infecting someone with Hepatitis B, HIV, etc. 

All Staff should also be aware of the OSHA and CDC guidelines, they exist to keep everyone as safe as possible from sickness or even death. regardless of what job we may do, our number one concern is health and safety, and we all want to go home every day and avoid a trip to the hospital.

And lastly, as janitors specifically we are on the frontlines in this, it's our job to limit exposure to dangerous pathogens, and we want to keep our workplaces as clean as we possibly can, ultimately for the wellbeing of everyone involved.

Taking and following all precautions are vital when dealing with bloodborne pathogens. Wearing all your personal protective equipment (gloves glasses masks) to not only protect yourself from splattering blood that may occur during clean up but to protect yourself while getting ready to clean up. Knowing where PPE ( personal protective equipment) is should be universally known and easily available for all team members.

Using color coordinated rags is also vital to the clean up process. Not only during the clean up of a bloodborne pathogens incident but afterwards. Someone dealing with the laundry side of things should definitely have some sort of indicator to known what they are dealing with so they too can take precautions.

These things are not only vital to protecting cleaning staff but can set a certain standard and culture for the everybody moving forward no matter the nature or size of the clean up effort. if these precautions are taken every team member can stay confident and will remain safe.

Good customer service in a janitorial service revolves around consistent communication, professionalism, and reliability. Clients depend on janitorial services to maintain clean, safe, and presentable environments, making trust and accountability essential. Providing good customer service starts with understanding the client's unique needs, such as the frequency of cleaning, specific areas of focus, or any additional requests. Responding promptly to inquiries, offering clear and transparent pricing, and addressing issues or complaints with a solution-oriented mindset demonstrate a commitment to client satisfaction. Additionally, maintain open communication channels allows the service provider to adapt quickly to changing needs or unexpected situations.

Another critical aspect of good customer service in operations is ensuing high-quality work and attention to detail. Consistency in delivering a spotless and hygiene environment is key to building long-term relationships with clients. Employed should be trained to followed best practices, use appropriate cleaning products, and treat clients' spaces with care and respect. Regular follow-ups and quality checks further reinforce a sense of reliability and professionalism. By exceeding expectations and maintain a client focused approach, a janitorial service can establish itself as a trusted partner in maintaining clean and welcoming spaces.

There are several occupations where employees and staff need to know, or are even required to know, about bloodborne pathogens (BBPs). In my occupational field as a custodial worker, I am required to participate in BBP training, since I may (and likely will) come into contact with BBPs. This article outlines what BBPs are, understanding the importance of BBP training, and examples of protocols to follow to prevent the infection or spread of BBPs in the workplace.

What are bloodborne pathogens?

Bloodborne pathogens, or BBPs, are bacteria, viruses, or other infectious microorganisms that can cause disease when present in human blood. A few examples of BBPs are Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Syphilis.

Who needs to know about BBPs, and why?

Due to the serious nature of BBPs, such as causing disease or even death through infection, it's imperative for workers and staff in certain occupations to be aware potential hazards. These occupations include but are not limited to hospital and clinical personnel, first responders, and custodial and janitorial workers who may come into contact with BBPs. Being properly trained can help these workers perform their jobs in a safer manner.

Important protocols to follow to prevent BBP infection.

Steps and protocols to follow to control the exposure to bloodborne pathogens include a combination of using personal protective equipment (PPE, such as gloves, eye protection, aprons, etc), engineering controls (e.g. color-coded or properly labeled bins for needles), and workplace practices (such as recapping needles by hand and forbidding eating, drinking, handling contacts, and/or applying cosmetics in areas where exposure is more likely to occur).

If your occupation requires you to possibly come into contact with BBPs, your employer should provide appropriate vaccinations (e.g. HBV), PPE, and training at no cost to you.

Without the knowledge of bloodborne pathogens employees and staff could put themselves in a dangerous situation. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms found in human blood and other bodily fluids that can cause disease in humans. They can be transmitted through mucous membranes or broken skin by an infected person. OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Standard is designed to safeguard workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens.

Universal Precautions (UP) is an approach to practices and procedures that focus on preventing the spread of infections in which all human blood and certain body fluids are treated as if they are known to be infectious.  UP narrows the chance of contacting HBV, HCV, and HIV infections. Having a plan will ensure the safety of each employee. Proper PPEs, the use of devices, tools, and equipment, following SOPs, and handling, storing, and disposing of hazardous waste properly is information needed by each employee.

 OSHA requires employers to have a written exposure control plan (ECP) that is accessible to all employees, OHSA, and NIOSH representatives. ECP is a structural outline on the steps a company will take to minimize the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, a list of hazards of the workplace, operating procedures, and other tasks. It is a company’s duty to have every employee fully informed and knowledgeable if they are to ever come into contact with bloodborne pathogens.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that can cause diseases in humans, including HBV, hepatitis B virus and HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is crucial for cleaning staff and employees to understand bloodborne pathogens because these microorganisms could be potentially transmitted through infected materials if there is exposure to blood, vomit or saliva. Not only cleaning staff and employees are in risk when handling and touching infected materials, but they could be at risk if mucus membranes are exposed though the nose, mouth or eyes. 

The lack of information and available resources could be extremely dangerous. Every cleaning company should have information and available resources like an emergency plan or procedures established when a potencial exposure occurs. The universal precautions control plan should be followed when handling contaminated materials to avoid getting to a dangerous situation. 

There are several steps a cleaning staff and employees should follow to prevent getting infected, the first one is to use protective gear all the time when handling infected materials or being around a person who has been diagnosed. The second step is to properly clean infected areas, using protective gear, to prevent others to get infected. And, the third step is to dispose those materials properly, using labels like red or orange. 

As a conclusión, it's crucial for cleaning staff and employees to understand bloodborne pathogens because it can help to prevent getting infected, it also helps the staff to learn and follow procedures stablished when handling infected materials, it helps the staff and employees to learn about the proper way to disinfect and dispose infected materials with the purpose of not only take care of the employees, but also prevent other individuals to get infected.