October Newsletter
News You Can Use
Infection Control: H1N1 Workplace Advisory
According to a recent conference of health experts in Chicago, a big concern about the H1N1 influenza, also referred to as swine flu, is that it is “unstable.” This is because the experts say they are unsure of the disease’s direction and what age groups will be most impacted.
Currently, H1N1 has not been as severe as predicted. However, it is inflicting younger people much more than other segments of the population, which is a bit surprising. “This may be because people over 50 may have some natural immunity to the virus,” said Dr. Damon Arnold of Illinois’ Department of Public Health.
Because of the “unstable” nature of the disease, Mike Nelson, vice president of Pro-Link, a jansan buying and marketing group, suggests the cleaning industry “and specifically janitorial distributors and facility service providers be vigilant, helping our end-customers minimize the spread of the disease.”
Specifically, Nelson advises the following workplace preparedness guidelines:
• Identify a point person who will take the lead regarding influenza issues at their workplace
• Formulate a business plan in the event of a significant increase in absenteeism due to the illness
• Prioritize business functions, determining what tasks must be performed and which can be delayed if there is widespread absenteeism
• If staff members travel as part of their job, have a point person to keep up with H1N1 travel advisories
• Establish an emergency employee/business communication plan to communicate with absent employees, customers, and vendors should H1N1 impact business operations.
The last major influenza epidemic in the U.S. occurred in 1918. At that time, Philadelphia had the most cases and deaths, whereas St. Louis, had relatively few.
Why did this occur?
“Public health experts say it was because St. Louis incorporated a number of preventive measures, such as those mentioned here, that minimized the impact of the disease,” says Nelson, “and Philadelphia did not. That is why [these measures] are called for now.”
QC Cleaning joins “The Carpet and Rug Institute Seal of Approval” as a member of their community:
Tough standards for soil removal and indoor air quality
CRI combines the indoor air quality protection of its Green Label vacuum program with enhanced cleaning standards of its Seal of Approval programs to identify even better performing vacuum cleaners than the previous program. Under the Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum program, manufacturers must meet higher performance standards and are rewarded with Gold, Silver or Bronze ratings. This program tests two general categories of vacuums:
- General-purpose vacuums approved for use on all conventional carpet styles
- Vacuums specifically approved for use on carpet with a low pile, or surface texture, measuring approximately a quarter inch or less
To earn the CRI Seal of Approval/Green Label certification, vacuums must pass the following independent laboratory tests:
- Soil removal — CRI uses NASA-enhanced x-ray fluorescence technology instead of traditional gravimetrix testing to measure the precise amount of soil removed from carpet — either 30 oz/sy commercial cut pile carpet or 30 oz/sy loop pile carpet.
- Dust containment — The vacuum must not release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air, keeping dirt and dust locked tight in the vacuum — not escaping back into the air where it can be breathed.
- Carpet fiber retention — The vacuum must not affect the texture of the commercial cut pile carpet (900 passes with sample rotated every 50 passes) more than a one-step change based on one year of normal vacuum use.
The Daily Grind
“I Love My Job”
(apologies to Dr. Seuss)
I love my job, I love the pay, I love it more and more each day.
I love my boss and he's the best. I love HIS boss and all the rest.
I love my office and it's location. I hate to have to take vacation.
I love my desk, drab and gray, and love those paper piles each day.
I love my chair in my padded cell; there's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers. I love their leers 'n jeers 'n sneers
I love my computer and all its ware; I hug it often to show I care.
I love each program and every file; I even try using it once in a while.
I'm happy to be here, I am, I am...I'm the happiest slave to my Uncle Sam.
I love this work; I love these chores; I love the meetings with deadly bores
I love my job AND I'll say it again, I even love these friendly men:
These men who've come to visit today, in lovely white coats to take me away!
Author Unknown
