The most dangerous and critical safety risks in health cares is the exposure to (BBP) Bloodborne Pathogens. When in contact with blood or OPIM, you must wash hands or any other skin that got contaminated with soap and water. All health cares should have specially designed, puncture-resistant containers made to safely store used needles, broken glass, scalpels and other sharp objects use on patients. This will reduce the risk of exposure to BBP or any other infections that's related.

   The top three infections that can occur if exposed to BBPs are...

1. Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV): is a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threating opportunistic infections and can cancers to thrive.

2. Hepatitis B: a condition that permanently scars of the liver.

3. Hepatitis C: is liver cancer but it's also bloodborne virus.

   The greatest risk of infection comes from percutaneous injuries by contaminated scraps or poke by a needle stick. All health care provider should always wear protective gear such as face mask, goggles, and gloves before coming in contact with patient or materials expose to BBP. Employees should never manually compress trash do to that needles can punctured the bag cause to poke you exposing you to BBP risk. Always be caution when handling laundry because a contaminated needle can be hidden within the sheets. Do not bend needles and always dispose needle and other materials in it designated area properly as its explains in the OSHA manual.

     

It is fundamental to understand how bloodborne pathogens can affect us at workplace. To minimize the risk of contamination with blood or fuids we must learn first what are bloodborne pathogens, what steps can we take to prevent exposure, if there are any exposure control plans in place, and appropriate training to reduce as well as process to clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. 

Bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are no limited to Hepatitis B virus (HBV) an human immunodeficiency (HIV) associated with AIDS.

There are guidelines to prevent the exposure of bloodborne pathogens. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) established the ''Universal Precaution" approach, recommending that blood and certain fluids from ALL patients must be considered potentially infectious. The use of personal protective equipment such as, gowns, gloves, safety glasses must be provided and use to prevent exposure. Appropriate cleaning techniques should be implemented when cleaning or removing contaminated items or surfaces.

To control exposure to bloodborne pathogens, there must be an exposure control plan in the workplace with details on employee protections measures. The plan must describe how a cleaning employer will use engineering and work practice controls, PPE, employee training and medical surveillance.

    

Good customer service is trying to understand the true needs of the customer (what the customer is actually saying) and then trying to solve that problem so the customer feels valued. Customer service involves being friendly and smiling along the way to resolving complaints and just in the course of normal client interaction.

Members of IJCSA are experts in showing customer service in the companies they run because of the quality content in the customer service training video they watch upon joining the organization. Every new member of IJCSA is greeted with a smile. Every member learns how important customer service is.  Smiling is the first word of the S.E.C. acronym from the video. ☺

Here IJCSA we are taught to listen to customers concerns and find a way to resolve any issues. You can provide great customer service by listening, being attentive,responsive and always show respect.

Working in a company that is constantly surrounded by germs and bacteria, it is important to be aware of Bloodborne Pathogens and cleaning safety. Pathogentic microorganisms which are present in our blood can cause various diseases in humans if exposed to a severe virus.

Learning about OSHA and its regulations, it should be highly recommended for all workers to be informed as well towards this in order to keep their health and safety protected. This regulation is referred to as HAZWOPER (Hazardous Ways Operations and Emergency Response). Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and The Clean-up operation should also be used and performed in every service as it is where hazardous substances are removed, contained, incinerated, neutralized, stabilized, cleared-up, or in any other manner processed or handled with the ultimate goal of making the site safer for people or the environment.

All cleaning employees deserve knowledge about the risks that may occur, proper training and the preventions that can be taken to stay safe as much as possible!

Are you looking for an eco friendly cleaning option?. Well green cleaning services from the IJCSA are the in the market, high quality service at an affordable price. Every day cleaning chemicals can be harmful for our body after exposure.

Green products come from nature and have been used since centuries ago because of there natural disinfection properties. All though they may look like easy to use, it must be prepared and applied by professionals for the best results, don't hesitate to find one of our trust companies for your service.

Find Professional Certified Green Cleaning Services Here

Some would say janitors are low on the totem pole. Others understand their role is a vital part of our daily lives. From keeping our place of learning or business sanitary, to assisting with specific request, janitors help to keep business as usual. They aid in our safety and protection by providing a clean, safe place to work.

It takes constant effort and attention to detail to maintain a clean facility. When we walk into a spotless restroom, do we think of the individual that worked diligently to keep that area, along with many others, clean? We have janitors to thank for putting in this hard work that so many people depend on. 

Being a custodian is a critical role. Many people depend on this role. We must take into account the importance of janitors and how they help us daily. We want to work in an environment where we feel comfortable and safe. Janitors and custodians make this possible for us everyday. If you are in need of a reliable, hardworking custodian, please take a look at our Janitorial Directory. Here you will find a solution to your problem. 

With so many people being mentally continuous of the environment and health, they are seeking many alternative to use natural products that is consider not to be harmful toward their health and the environment.

IJCSA has developed a green certification that cleaning companies can take to understand the necessary process that will promote a high level of confidence in giving a customer the best Green Cleaning with proven products without any harmful chemicals.

To find a company within your area that is certified and promote good customer service, click on the link and find that special company that meets all of your needs. Cleaning Service Directory.    

About three months ago, just before the Covid 19 lockdown, I went to the general hospital in Port of Spain, Trinidad to check on a patient who was a good friend of the family. As I was walking into the ward, I noticed two persons with mops in their hands leaving the ward. They were not dressed in personal protective equipment, they had no other pieces of janitorial equipment such as a cart or cloth or wipes or anything of the sort, but I can tell they were medical cleaners. I am a very observant person. The mops I can tell have passed their useful applications, they were dirty looking and the way the holders of the mops were attired, it said a great deal to me.

My membership with IJCSA and the exposure to learning materials associated with the certification programs have taught me a great deal. The programs have exposed me to sufficient knowledge to help improve the cleaning and maintenance of healthcare facilities in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean.

After watching eleven (11) videos on subject matters covering a wide range of subject matters relating to healthcare facilities cleaning and sanitization. I better understand the why cleaning of healthcare facilities are so important. There was a time I held the concept that cleaners didn’t need specialized training nor did they have to have an education to clean. Research and development and exposure to training, such as the certification afforded by IJCSA, I are fully convinced that cleaning and sanitizing of healthcare facilities requires persons with expert knowledge to help prevent Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI).

Not knowing nor understanding the correct approached to healthcare cleaning can put both the practitioner, the patients and the general staff at risks. Not knowing what chemicals to use to kill infectious micro-organism can cause a pandemic the likes of what we have seen with Covid 19.

Cleaning and sanitizing healthcare is critical to the health and safety of humans. The Center for Diseases Control and prevention have estimated that over 99,000 people die from healthcare associated infections every year in the US. This is alarming and we are just talking about the US. You can imagine what that figure might be for data around the world that have lower healthcare standards. If we are wondering how important proper cleaning and sanitizing of healthcare facilities are, this data should bring us to some sense of reality and should make those of us who are involved in janitorial maintenance be conscious of this reality.

Now more than ever, I understand what my role is, as a janitorial services provider to reduce healthcare associated infections. I understand the relevance of hand washing:

• ·       After contamination of hands,
• ·       At the beginning and end of each shift
• ·       After contact with blood or potentially infectious material
• ·       Before and after gloves are removed
• ·       Between cleaning of new patients
• ·       Before and after touching wounds
• ·       Before performing evasive procedures
• ·       When taking care of susceptible patients
• ·       When handling infants
• ·       Before handling medication
• ·       Before and after eating or smoking
• ·       After using the restroom
• ·       When hands are soiled or touched contaminated surfaces

I understand that the difference of cleaning opposed to disinfecting or sanitizing is “the physical removal of micro-organisms and soil by wiping or scrubbing is probably as important, if not more so, than any antimicrobial effect of the cleaning agent used”, according to CDC. The CDC postulates that hospital infections are ranked in the first 10 as the most frequent cause of death in the US. Do you still think properly cleaning healthcare facility is not important?

Proper cleaning of Healthcare facilities consists of patients room disinfecting, understanding the different type of disinfecting, safety precautions, preparations, patients room daily clean, patients room daily clean – occupied, patients room daily clean- occupied/isolation, patients room daily clean – discharge, patients room – project cleaning and overall cleanup procedures. Understanding the different type of disinfectants and their applications and OSHA safety orientations for healthcare workers are critical given the mortality rate due to infectious diseases worldwide. Blood borne pathogens are no laughing matter.

According to CDC in order for infections transmission to occur, four conditions must exists simultaneously, they are:

• 1.     Sufficient amount of infectious material must be present
• 2.     Sufficient virulent of deadly nature of the disease must exist
• 3.     Available portal of entry must be breached
• 4.     Lowered resistance level of the worker

While most exposure do not result in infection, we can all agree that proper cleaning, given the risk of infection is necessary and should be encouraged by all. More importantly we should all be aware of the agents of proper cleaning that are trained and prepared to provide professional services in this and many other critical janitorial services. You can search and find reputable service providers here https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices

Baking soda is great at combating mold. Mix two parts baking soda, one part vinegar and one part water it can be loose or mixed into a thick paste like texture. Spread the mixture or spray onto or into the surface and let sit and go back to finish the job. Natural!!!!