Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008 - (Page 6)

frugal housekeeper It is the beginning of a new year and 2008 is upon us. Usually at the dawn of a new year, people start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. Some may resolve to lose weight, others to exercise more, and the list can go on and on. The media tends to contribute to this atmosphere of resolutionmaking by listing various ideas for New Year’s resolutions, while at the same time barraging us with advertising and commercials to entice us to buy items to assist us in the process. However, once the frenzy is over, how many people actually achieve their goals—lose that weight, exercise more, or do whatever they promised themselves? Take a look in some closets or basements and you will find exercise machines, sports gear, and other accouterments that received little or no use. There is probably one ironclad principle and that is that resolutions are made to be broken! As we look forward to the new year, it is worth pausing to reflect on our profession and what the coming year may hold for us. Housekeeping and environmental managers are a critical component of the overall facilities team. In many cases, the crucial roles that we play in the upkeep of facilities goes unnoticed, and our roles may be noticed more when things go wrong than when they go right. The role of the housekeeping manager and the services that his or her department provides touches upon a myriad of issues and functional areas in facilities. In some i 2008: A Year for Managing Resources with Resourceful Managers by Alan S. Bigger and Linda B. Bigger way, shape, or form, housekeeping impacts the following crucial areas—you and your team are vital to the success of the organization! • Indoor air quality: Housekeeping has a dramatic impact upon indoor air quality. Dirt and dust that is not removed expeditiously can enter the air handling system and be literally blown across the entire facility. Improper use of chemicals can cause the noxious release of potentially harmful fumes into the environment. • Life cycle of all types of surfaces and furnishings: It has been proven over and over again that effective cleaning practices can decrease the replacement costs of surfaces and furnishings. For instance, the life of carpet can be significantly increased by a proactive carpet care program. • Energy consumption: Often, the housekeeping staff is the first into a room or the last out of the room. Turning off lights or adjusting thermostats appropriately can significantly impact utility bills. • Security: Housekeepers and custodians often are the “key” people in the institution, as they carry the keys. Good monitoring of access and egress of personnel can significantly contribute to an effective loss prevention program. The staff can readily notice when something is amiss and are often aware of people who should or should not have access to sensitive areas. • Infection control: A quality cleaning for health program can help minimize the types of infections that persons can contract in an institution. This can have a significant impact. Several studies have indicated that effective cleaning practices can assist in the decrease of absenteeism in schools. • Safety: By applying ice melters, moving snow, cleaning up spills, vacuuming or sweeping floors, and maintaining floor finishes in optimal condition, housekeeping staffs can greatly assist in minimizing slips and falls. • Landscaping: Entrances in and around buildings can become a mess if trash containers overflow, cigarette butts are lying around the entrance, or trash is not readily picked up. Those housekeepers who provide these essential functions are greatly contributing to the quality and appearance of landscaping around the buildings. • Fire prevention: The removal of trash and litter on a timely basis can greatly minimize the risk of fire. Often housekeepers are the eyes and ears of many departments and they can and do report items that are broken, frayed, or malfunctioning. • Environmental issues: Custodians remove trash, help to recycle items, and are involved in various environmental initiatives such as Green cleaning, the purchase of environmentally-sensitive products, and the implementation of environmentally-preferred cleaning processes. An effective cleaning program greatly contributes to a clean and Green environ- 6 Executive Housekeeping Today/January 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008 Contents Executive Corner How Hand-Held Computers Benefit Quality Assurance Programs Shining the Light on ATP Detection Frugal Housekeeper MRSA: Myth or Monster? The Impact of New Laundry Technology I.E.H.A.’s 41st Educational Conference and Convention Wrap-Up Board Briefing 2007 Audit Report The Green Scene 2007 International Housekeepers Week Celebrations! Inside the Industry Product Highlights Advertisers' Index Joint IEHA/ISSA Members New Members Calendar of Events Inside I.E.H.A. What I.E.H.A. Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - January 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.