Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 - (Page 17)

What’s in YOUR Janitor Closet? In the beginning, there was an empty closet which eventually became a storage area for brooms and, in time, evolved into the janitor closet. As buildings grew and became more modernized, water lines and sinks were added. (And no, this did not make it the water closet. That’s another story.) With the addition of water lines and sinks, folks were able to mix their own chemicals. And so they did, while not always using approved formulas. Occasionally, these self-appointed mixologists managed to make themselves and others sick. Noxious fumes and toxic combinations were just a few of the dubious results coming from the janitor closet. While having water available was a good thing, granting the license to mix was not. Along came the chemical dispenser and many of the problems were solved. Today, with the addition of a new wave of concentrated chemicals, including very safe and innovative Green products, there are suddenly many answers to eliminating the homemade, harmful concoctions produced by the janitor. Still, there are many concerns coming from the closet at the end of the hall. Even though we proudly store an unbelievable variety of cleaning products and tools in there, we need a plan to simplify and organize. If you agree, great! I invite you to ask yourself the following questions. If you think that you have your closet under control, the invitation is still there. And before answering with confidence, i by Vince Fagan a visit to that important little room to assess may be a good idea. Remember, these are some simple questions to get you thinking. Our industry continues to improve and advance and, as change agents, so should we. So, here you go: 1. Is there an updated MSDS binder in your janitor closet? 2. Is every container/spray bottle properly labeled? 3. Is your vacuum cleaner equipped for HEPA? 4. Are you using Green-certified chemicals? 5. Are your custodians uniformed with employee IDs? 6. Are your custodians trained and is that training documented and ongoing? 7. What are the top three priorities of the EPA? If you answered “yes” to questions one through six and “source reduction, reuse, and recycle” to question number seven, congratulations! You are a leader in the cleaning community and should be recognized as part of the solution. With so much emphasis these days on our fragile environment, I think the original empty closet is on its way through yet another transition. Think of the updated version as the custodial closet. (From the previous article, remember the definition of custodian: The keeper of the assets.) The steward for this effort ought to be the executive housekeeper. That person should promote an awareness of the significance of having a well-designed custodial closet to both employees and building What’s in YOUR Janitor Closet? We hope not this! management. Having observed the chaos and disorganization in many a closet, I realize that the challenge of another transition may seem a bit daunting. I also believe that with planning and prioritizing, you will see improvement, save a lot of time, and become a part of the important movement now in progress—to protect the environment and this planet that we call home. Fortunately, these days, if you have questions and concerns regarding the shift to Green, answers are readily available through numerous sources. A good place to start is with Green Cleaning for Dummies by Stephen Ashkin and David Holly. It can be purchased online at www.issa.com, and is a great reference for every type of cleaning program. Another favorite is the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Resource Guide titled Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (August 2008). In this edition are many tips and clues on how to “Green up” your building and how to apply for LEED certification (Leader in Energy & Environmen(continued on next page) March 2009/Executive Housekeeping Today 7 http://www.issa.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009 Contents Executive Corner Why Integrated Cleaning and Measurement is Good for the Cleaning Industry Hygienic Green Cleaning - The Next Wave Frugal Housekeeper Integrated Cleaning and Measurement: A New Approach to Housekeeping and Sanitation Feature Article What's in YOUR Janitor Closet? The Green Scene 2009 Convention Information Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - March 2009

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