FLIES: More than a Nuisance

Transcription

1 AUGUST 2006 NEWS FROM THE BC CHAPTER OF CSSA VOLUME 1, NUMBER 3 FLIES: More than a Nuisance Industry Loss Using IPM techniques to keep flies out of commercial facilities By ZIA SIDDIQI, Ph.D., BCE, Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Inc. Canada Post Canadian Publication Mail Sales Product Agreement Number Flies are elusive little creatures they re quick and seem to buzz off just when you think you ve got them cornered. What most people don t realize, though, is that flies are more than an unsightly nuisance they also rank among the filthiest pests in the world. Flies are known to carry more than 100 known pathogens, including E. coli, salmonella and staphylococcus. With that in mind, keeping flies out is vital to keeping a facility clean. Flies are attracted to commercial facilities because of the lights, odors and optimal temperatures such buildings commonly offer. Most commercial buildings also provide flies with relatively easy access, as people, shipments and even air move in and out throughout the day. For commercial facilities looking Effective Supply Purchasing By BILL GARLAND Senior Partner, Daniels & Associates Inc. In this article we will look at some of the factors to consider when purchasing supplies for an efficient housekeeping operation. Previous articles have discussed UNDELIVERABLES TO: 3 KENNETT DRIVE, WHITBY, ON L1P 1L5 the importance of quality products and services by the product supplier in the form of training and assistance in the cleaning program. If using a weighting scale in the evaluation process, these two factors alone account for 20 points out of 100. Continued On Page 4 to stop fly problems before they start, an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program is the answer. IPM emphasizes non-chemical control methods, like diligent sanitation and structural improvements, before chemical treatments are applied. In general, IPM programs seek to remove or make less accessible the elements that attract flies and other pests in the first place, significantly reducing the likelihood of an infestation. Common But Unwanted Guests Knowing which species of fly you are dealing with is half the battle when it comes to controlling them in and around a facility. In Canada, house flies and fruit flies are two of the most common flies that facility managers must combat. One of the most prevalent flies in Canada, the common house fly ranges from four- to seven-andone-half-millimetres and is dull grey with metallic touches. House flies are attracted to a wide variety of food sources, including human food, manure, vegetable waste and household garbage. It s not surprising then that house flies favourite hot spots are kitchens and bathrooms. Because they feed on both waste and human food, house flies can transmit a host of diseases including: typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, tuberculosis, anthrax, poliomyelitis and parasitic worms. While more of a nuisance pest, fruit flies also can pose a problem for commercial facilities. The yellowish brown, red-eyed fruit fly can indicate a larger sanitation issue because these flies feed on and breed in moist, bacteria-infested areas and in decaying fruits and vegetables. The name fruit fly actually comes from the fact that female fruit flies lay their eggs near the surface of fermenting fruits Continued On Page 4 JIM DARLING July 21, July 7, 2006 My friend Jim, The sudden death of Jim Darling, president of Hunnisett Chemicals Ltd. has caught everyone by surprise and leaves a very large empty space, but the spirit and the Continued On Page 2 IN THIS ISSUE BC CHAPTER NEWS GREEN CLEANING Trust through Clarification INFECTION CONTROL Hot Tub Lung SPECIAL FEATURE Times Sure Have Changed BUSINESS NOTES Internet a Plus... BC CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP

2 BC Chapter News BC Chapter Golf Tournament An Outstanding Success T The 28th Annual CSSA - B.C. Chapter Golf Tournament was an outstanding success thanks to our sponsors and all of the golfers who attended. Held at the Surrey Golf Club JIM DARLING Continued From Page 1 way Jim conducted his personal and business affairs will remain with us. Jim was a devoted and caring parent and friend. He loved, cared and made sure that everyone within range was O.K. One did not work for Jim but rather worked with Jim, as he left a lot of space to make sure that everyone was comfortable in developing a personal way of doing what had to be done. Personally, for more than 25 years, I was in daily contact except when travelling or during holidays chatting, joking and discussing business over the telephone or the Internet. Jim loved to laugh and joking was always the best way to bring the pressure down. I never considered Jim as a boss, but rather as a friend from the start. Jim is well known in the cleaning industry and he made the name Chemspec the most respected brand name throughout Canada with the help of distributors and partners that never questioned his fairness and his wish to help out any way he could. From east to west, Jim almost lived in his luggage, but the time he spent close to his family was precious and well spent. Jim always spoke very highly of his spouse Célyne and their children, Jessica, David and Geneviève. Jim was a proud man. He regarded his parents Barbara and Ken, and his brother David, with utmost respect. Jim was a good son, a good husband and father, and a dear friend to many of us. Let s ask Jim to keep the lights on so he may guide the rest of us through that final path which he has just taken. Let s ask Jim to remain with his family and friends through the good memories that will live on. Thanks Jim and may God bless you. - Marc Théberge earlier this month, the chapter hosted approximately 100 golfers for a day of golf and camaraderie. It was very exciting to see newcomers to the industry as well as some seasoned veterans take part in the activities. Following the day of golf, participants enjoyed a fantastic dinner followed by guest speaker, CSSA President, Roger Manaigre, who entertained the delegates with humour filled anecdotes, along with words of encouragement and wisdom with regards to the Canadian Sanitation Supply Association. Additionally, the chapter raised approximately $1,000 for the Variety the Children s Charity through a silent auction. To cap off the event, the B.C. chapter gave away over 100 prizes (each golfer received a prize). Additionally, the chapter awarded three lucky golfers with 17-inch, flat screen monitors. The grand prize was a trip for two to the ISSA/ INTERCLEAN USA trade show and education conference being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Oct. 4 to 7, By KATHERINE MATTHEWMAN, Busy-Bee Sanitary Supplies, Surrey, BC EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Publisher Mike Nosko Perks Publications Inc. (905) ext. 24 mike@perkspub.com Editor Tanja Nowotny Perks Publications Inc. (905) tanja@perkspub.com Editorial Assistants Katherine Matthewman Busy Bee Sanitary Supplies (604) kmatthewman@busy-bee.ca Jessica Sinclair Rubbermaid Canada (604) jessica.sinclair@rubbermaid.com Karen Sandberg Dustbane Products Ltd. (613) ksandberg@dustbane.ca Keith Hosking The Butcher Company (604) khosking@butchers.com Advertising Sales Rod Peacock REV Sales & Marketing Inc. (604) rod.rev@shaw.ca Mike Nosko Perks Publications Inc. (905) ext. 24 mike@perkspub.com Clean BC is edited for people who maintain high standards of sanitary cleaning in commercial, institutional, residential and industrial facilities (including hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, schools, food processing plants, hotels, motels, recreational centres, shopping malls, government facilities, restaurants, building owners, maintenance contractors, sanitary maintenance distributors and carpet cleaners). The editorial objective of Clean BC is to provide news and views about new cleaning technologies, new sanitary cleaning methods, cleaning regulations and standards (where applicable), educational opportunities, industry trends and information on people within the industry. Clean BC is a wholly-independent Canadian publication owned and operated by Perks Publications Inc., Whitby, Ont. Copyright ADVERTISING Advertising is sold on a program basis only and is restricted to members of the C a n a d i a n Sanitation Supply Association CIRCULATION The per issue circulation is 4000 copies. Free distribution is controlled to ensure that no one company or individual receives more than one copy. Any company wishing additional copies can contact the publisher. Subscription: $24 per year in Canada (GST included); United States - $40 (Cdn.); Other countries $60 (Cdn.). Those persons wishing to subscribe to Clean BC may do so by completing the subscritpion form in this issue. Canada Post Canadian Publication Mail Sales Product Agreement Number CLEAN BC - AUGUST 2006

3 Green Cleaning Trust Through Clarification By Scott McDougall, President & CEO Environmental Choice Program A survey taken in November 2003 found that many building owners, facility managers and others involved with building design, operation and maintenance were confused about the term Green when used in an environmental context. According to the report, 81 per cent of those surveyed believed Green is not clearly defined; 47 per cent indicated they did not understand what Green is; and more than a third said they were never certain if a product was really Green or if they could trust labels making this claim. Fortunately, programs such as the What does the term sustainable mean? How can you trust that a product is Green? Because Green cleaning products play such a major role in the cleaning industry today, this is an opportune time to define these terms especially for building service contractors and other end users who will likely be working with the products every day. Friendly or Preferable When the Green movement first started to grow roots in the early 1970s, consumers were introduced to a number of new expressions. Some of these included all-natural, biodegradable, ecological and recyclable. dients used in the product? And does this include how the product is packaged, its usefulness, its performance, and eventually how it is discarded or disposed of? These questions point out the complex issues that arise when a product claims to be environmentally friendly. In its publication Complying with the Environmental Marketing Guides, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission suggests that the term environmentally friendly can be deceptive if it leads consumers to believe that the product has environmental benefits that the manufacturer cannot substantiate. As a result, it is appropriate to use this term only when it is accompanied by language that elaborates on the claim, ever, like other terms, various people, governments and organizations often had different meanings for the term. In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development, created by the United Nations, defined the word sustainable to mean meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This means that in a sustainable world, we would not use renewable resources such as forests, soils, waters, fish and game faster than they would be replenished. We also would not use non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, ores and other products faster than renewable substitutes would replace them. In addition, we would not release pollutants and contaminants into the earth s atmosphere faster than they could be processed and made harmless in the atmosphere. The term sustainable also has come to be understood as requiring the simultaneous achievement of environmental, social and economic objectives. This is the triple bottom line agenda. For many years, people in North America had a hard time dealing with Continued On Page 6 EcoLogo M Program and others have helped end much of this confusion. This survey was taken just before the use of environmentally preferable products from cleaning chemicals and paper products to hand soaps, and building materials was front and centre, and on nearly everyone s radar screen. So it is hoped that these statistics would be more favourable if the same survey were taken today. However, many facility managers and cleaning professionals may still be unsure what all the Green terminologies really mean. For instance: If a product is environmentally friendly, does that mean it is also environmentally preferable? And, to what environment is it friendly? Unfortunately, misunderstanding about these terms emerged almost as soon as they were introduced. This is because many products were selfdeclared safe for the environment by their manufacturers, with little substantiation. The different claims and terms confused consumers, and for many, this confusion led to doubt and mistrust about Green products. The term environmentally friendly was first introduced about 25 years ago. It usually refers to goods or services that are considered to inflict little harm on the environment, and is often added to product advertising or packaging to promote sales. However, who makes the decision to call a product environmentally friendly? Does the term refer to certain ingredients or to all ingre- such as: This cloth bag is reusable and is made from 100 per cent recycled fibres. The term environmentally preferable, on the other hand, is less subject to misunderstanding and is generally more conducive to clear communication. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has defined environmentally preferable precisely, stating it refers to products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared to other products and services that serve the same purpose. Sustainability Unlike the terms and expressions mentioned earlier, sustainability became a buzzword in the 1980s. How- CLEAN BC - AUGUST

4 FLIES: MORE THAN A NUISANCE and vegetables. An individual that eats a piece of fruit with larvae still in it may experience intestinal discomfort or diarrhoea. Continued From Page 1 Clean is King The key to preventing flies is to make the elements they are most attracted to food, water and shelter less accessible. An IPM program that focuses on sanitation and exclusion can do just that. To help battle flies effectively, examine your sanitation program with the following tips in mind: Maintain and clean appliances regularly, as flies will breed on food debris left in garbage disposals and dishwashers. Consider using an organic cleaner to remove grease runoff and other debris without compromising food safety. Inspect behind appliances, and under cabinets and shelving on a regular basis. A mystery infestation can be caused by food debris or condensation which promotes fungal growth in these hidden areas. Clean floor drains regularly by removing drain covers and using a brush to eliminate the organic matter built-up on the inside walls. Clean up all food and drink spills immediately, as flies are attracted to the odors they emit. Clean restrooms throughout the day because house flies feed on the debris found in these areas. To avoid contamination, restrooms should be cleaned with equipment designated for those areas only. Disinfect all housekeeping equipment. Flies can breed in mops and brooms that haven t been properly cleaned. Keep sidewalks and parking lots free of debris and spills. Flies attracted to the exterior of a building may find their way indoors. Line trashcans and empty them often. Keep dumpsters as far from the building as possible, and clean them on a regular basis because flies are attracted to garbage. While good sanitation is a major part of an IPM program, other IPM techniques can be used to physically keep flies from entering a facility: Mount exterior fluorescent lights at least 100 feet from the building to draw pests away from a facility. For lights close to the building, sodium vapour bulbs are recommended because they are not as attractive to pests. Install a #16 mesh screen in all windows and vents to keep flies out, and inspect doors at entrances and exits to ensure they are closed tightly. Install air curtains on exit doors to prevent flies from entering the building if doors are left open for long periods of time. Check the airflow at a facility and make sure that it pushes pests out. To test this, use a lighter or match, and open the door to check the airflow direction. If the flame blows out the door, then the building has positive airflow and will help prevent flies from entering. Place fly light traps in fly hot spots like kitchens, receiving areas and storage areas. These devices, It is obvious that performance is the most important purchasing guideline, but without more than two criteria, there is no guarantee that the performance can be achieved. To ensure that the products you are considering purchasing are best for your facility, and your surfaces, they must be tested in your facility by your cleaners as part of the purchasing decision. This evaluation process also provides you with an opportunity to determine the service interest of the sales representative. Do they volunteer to come in and demonstrate the product to your employees on its application to ensure the best possible performance? If not, you should then ask for assistance. If they still aren t interested, you should deduct 10 points from your evaluation rating for lack of service and interest. In fact, I would probably disqualify them. In our evaluation criteria we allow 30 points for product performance. In a floor finish we look for ease of application and leveling properties. A quality floor finish will flow or sheet onto the floor without any streaking or unevenness. The product should have immediate water resistance and be detergent resistant when mopped. How much scuffing occurs is also important. Large amounts of scuffing means more time spent spray buffing or burnishing and, as a result, increased cost. Also, scuff marks should be easily removed and if high speed buffing is taking place, there should not be any powdering of the finish. The finish should also be easy to dust mop and damp mop with a minimal amount of drag on the mop. Increased drag created additional work and is tiring on the operator. An important factor often overlooked in floor finishes is if they are approved by Underwriter s Laboratories (UL) or the Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Association (TTMA) for slip resistance. Our firm advises on numerous slip and fall cases every year, and approval by one of these organizations often removes any doubt as to whether a slippery condition was caused by the floor finish or occurred as a result of poor housekeeping. General purpose detergents should dissolve easily in water and should not be harmful to the cleaner s skin. They should not leave any residue on the surface being cleaned. A white powder or film left on a floor after mopping indicates cheap builders in the product, which can actually damage the surface if not removed. These builders, which are used to fortify a product at minimal cost, can cause the marble chips in terrazzo to pop out and tiles in floors to lift through deterioration of the bonding agent. Most major manufacturers will set up WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Material Information System) as part of their service. In our point evaluation we allow 10 points for complete information on WHMIS and the supplying of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS). Another 10 points is allowed for product liability insurance, if required, and the manufacturer s guarantee that the product will perform as specified. Cost of the product only accounts for 30 per cent of our evaluation criteria, as price should only be considered once these other factors have been evaluated. In addition to using some form of evaluation criteria in purchasing products, our firm also encourages which use ultraviolet light, attract flies and trap them on sticky boards inside the units. Flies found in these light traps provide information on the species plaguing an area and thus help pest management experts identify the conditions promoting the infestation. While flies of all kinds are common, they do not have to be an everyday occurrence in your facility. By maintaining a thorough IPM program, you can spend more time working and less time swatting at flies. Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Quality Assurance Director for Orkin Inc. A Board certified Entomologist with more than 30 years in the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. For more information, zsiddiqi@rollins.com or visit Effective Supply Purchasing Continued From Page 1 users to buy their complete line from one firm. All manufacturers design their products to work with each other. If you buy each of your products from different suppliers, you will probably find you do not get the results you expect. For example, different floor finish manufacturers use different emulsifiers in their floor finishes. They will then formulate their strippers with the same emulsifier as their finish, making their stripper the most effective in removing their finish. The stripper from a different manufacturer might not work as quickly or effectively thus increasing your labour costs. When you make the decision to request competitive bids for chemical products, it is important to establish a specification which outlines the quality of product you are looking for. A simple approach is to use a quality brand name product as your benchmark and work with its supplier to develop a specification, which other suppliers can quote to. The specification should show the ph, solids content, use dilution, gloss, slip resistance and any other physical properties necessary. If you are a large user it is probably wise to have a testing lab evaluate the products you are receiving quotations on to ensure they meet your criteria. It is important to remember that a 10 per cent reduction in supply costs can create a five per cent increase in labour costs. Labour comprises almost 85 per cent of the cleaning cost and chemical supplies are less than five per cent in most situations. Simple math demonstrates that poor quality products can increase your labour costs by more than your entire supply budget, so it pays to buy quality. 4 CLEAN BC - AUGUST 2006

5 Infection Control CDC / SANDRA L. FORD First Do No Harm By PROFESSOR ROBERT J. PRATT, CBE FRCN, Institute for Research in Health & Human Sciences, Thames Valley University, London, England Clinging to the edge of life, a young wife and mother of three fights to survive life-threatening injuries sustained as a result of a hit and run road traffic accident. Intensive Care Unit staff support her through one crisis after another and finally stabilize her condition. The relief of family and staff is palpable as, during the next four days, she slowly improves. And then, a fever develops. As her condition rapidly worsens, a catheter-related bloodstream infection is suspected (and later confirmed), and aggressive anti-microbial treatment initiated. But it s too late. The treatment is ineffective. Everything is moving too fast and suddenly she s gone. Although initial surveillance cultures were all negative for resistant organisms, cultures taken when the fever developed come back positive for both meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and glycopeptideresistant enterococci. After all that work, all that progress so painfully won, the promise of recovery and life what happened here? Everyone was confident that she had an excellent chance of recovery she was young and strong, and was being cared for by specialist prac- titioners. Recent audits of hand hygiene practices in the ICU were disappointing some staff members were not decontaminating their hands each and every time they should have. There were many reasons for this intense workloads, continuing high bed occupancy, staff fatigue, shortage of staff, etc. The reality of this death was almost certainly that someone who in a clinical or non-clinical role, is responsible for taking active measures to minimize the risk of HCAI to patients. It s everybody s business and it s a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week job. The individual responsibility for protecting patients from infection isn t new it s always been at the core of healthcare practice. The founders of the professions of medicine and nursing stressed the essential need for patient safety. The dictum The reality of this death was almost certainly that someone who provided care for her, infected her, and it was probably preventable. So, no rationalizing, no excuses, no apologies sorry just doesn t do it. The rate of preventable healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) is unacceptable and it must be reduced however and whatever it takes. provided care for her, infected her, and it was probably preventable. So, no rationalizing, no excuses, no apologies sorry just doesn t do it. The rate of preventable healthcareassociated infections (HCAI) is unacceptable and it must be reduced however and whatever it takes. The Infection Control Nurses Association (UK) has been proclaiming for decades that each person working in healthcare, whether it be Primum non nocere (First, do no harm), originated from the writings of Hippocrates, the father of medicine, where he said: As to diseases, make a habit of two things to help, or at least to do no harm. (Of the Epidemics, 400 BC). This was further elaborated by Florence Nightingale who wrote that It may seem a strange principle to enunciate as the very first requirement in a hospital, Continued On Page 6 CLEAN BC - AUGUST

6 FIRST DO NO HARM Can You Afford To Miss An Issue? Don t Delay... Subscribe Today! NAME: TITLE: COMPANY NAME: ADDRESS: CITY/TOWN: PROVINCE: TEL: $24 (G.S.T. included) Canada; $40 United States; $60 International Payment must be received before subscription starts. Cheque or Money Order accepted. PLEASE DO NOT SEND PURCHASE ORDERS as we do not invoice for subscriptions. Make Cheque or Money Order payable to Perks Publications Inc. POSTAL CODE: FAX: Please Check ONE of the following categories to indicate your main line of business or employment Building Maintenance Contractor (S5) Manufacturer (S6) Building Owner/ Property Manager (S2) School Board (S3) Hospital / Long-Term Care Facility (S1) Distributor (S66) Please send to: Hotel / Motel (S4) Government / Public Agency (S8) Carpet / Upholstery Cleaner (S7) Food Processing Plant (S9) Recreational Facility (S13) Casino (S11) Other (S0) (Please Specify): Perks Publications Inc. - SUBSCRIPTIONS 16 Jollow Dr., Bowmanville, Ont. L1C 4S3 Continued From Page 5 that it should do the sick no harm. (Notes on Nursing, 1859). The public could be forgiven for thinking that not harming patients is automatically embedded in the day-to-day practice of everyone who works in hospitals, and in primary and community care settings. We know how to protect patients from the risk of HCAI and this knowledge is based on good quality evidence. It seems so simple: effective hand hygiene practice, active HCAI surveillance with meaningful feedback, the safe use of medical devices, good standards of targeted disinfection and environmental hygiene, and consistently adhering to the infection prevention and control recommendations in national and local guidelines. If colleagues do just this, HCAI rates will plummet end of story, right? But it s not it s more complex than this and we often don t really comprehend the organisational and individual behaviours associated with failing to effectively use these evidence-based measures to protect patients from HCAI. We need to develop a better understanding of the factors that influence some healthcare organizations to successfully and effectively translate evolving best evidence for efficacy into local clinical practice. We also need to know how those factors operate or don t operate in TRUST THROUGH CLARIFICATION Continued From Page 3 the concept of sustainability. Many believed it meant sacrifice and hardship. Some governments and manufacturers believed it translated into increased costs to produce goods and services that could affect profits and jobs. Today, we are beginning to realize that a sustainable world would likely be a better, healthier world for our children. New sustainable technologies are already opening doors and creating new opportunities that were not envisioned just a few years ago. organizations that lack success in consistently using evidence to continuously improve the quality of their infection prevention and control practices, and service. We need to learn the characteristics of winning and failing healthcare organizations so that we can adapt and support those positive characteristics and organizational traits throughout the service that will result in more healthcare organizations becoming infection aware, i.e. enthusiastically and consistently using best evidence to prevent healthcare-associated infections and enhancing patient safety. Time is moving on and we ve long past that previous point where we tolerated a situation where our patients developed a preventable infection as a result of our care (or lack thereof). We understand the evidence that underpins effective measures to prevent HCAI; we just don t fully understand the complex dynamics of why this is not universally incorporated into clinical practice. It s time we did and removed patients from harm s way. Reprinted From Virox s Winter 2006 issue of Solutions Newsletter Trust and Verification As I discussed in my most recent column, when a product is certified by the EcoLogo Program, it may use the EcoLogo mark in packaging, advertising and marketing materials. Because we (as well as some similar certifying organizations) are totally independent, this validation protects the consumer as well as the marketplace and helps build trust. A significant part of the certification process includes follow-up audits, which allow the certifying organization to ensure the product is still being manufactured according to the established criteria. This surveillance can include both announced and unannounced visits by the certifying entity. The manufacturer is aware of this and agrees to the procedure. EcoLogo has recently expanded this program to cover many more product categories, manufacturers and industries. The expansion is not the result of an increase in manufacturers failing to meet compliance. In fact, we have rarely had such problems. Instead, it is being done to better protect the consumer, to help clarify what Green really means, and to build trust. For the Green movement to expand and produce the many benefits we believe it can and will provide, the consumer must be assured that a Green-certified product is indeed safe, healthy and sustainable and has minimal impact on the environment. Scott McDougall is President of the EcoLogo Program. He may be reached by at scott@ecologo.org. Survey Source: Reed Research Group. 6 CLEAN BC - AUGUST 2006

7 Special Feature Times Sure Have Changed: Collin Butterfield Labour Shortage Hits the Cleaning Industry By COLLIN BUTTERFIELD, President, Group B Services Ltd. IRemember the good old days? Not so long ago, a few years but not many, unemployment was higher and the job market was quite different. Public sector vacancies for well-paying, unionized employment resulted in dozens, sometimes over 100 applications for a single position. Employers had the pick of many qualified, experienced applicants and could select from those with positive attitudes and potential. Existing employees and their unions were generally more concerned about layoffs rather than higher wages and turnover was generally low. Even in the private sector, turnover was lower than today and a pool of labour often consisting of newly arrived immigrants looking for a start in their new country provided for a relatively stable work force. Switch to 2006: the economy in BC is expanding, construction is booming, the population is aging and the labour shortage is here, at least for the foreseeable future. All industries and businesses are affected and competition for the available labour is real. Even public sector custodial positions are becoming difficult to fill. Where managers once had a list of prospects looking for work, they now have to actively look for labour and often are reporting that the quality of those that do apply for the higher paying full-time unionized positions isn t what they hoped for. Part-time positions are even harder to fill, with fewer qualified applicants being prepared to take less than full time work. This has been a wake up call for our industry. The better managed private cleaning organizations saw this problem coming earlier and have reacted accordingly but there are still too many cleaning services, both public and private that operate as Mom and Pop businesses, dealing with day to day issues without a clear strategy for the future. The cleaning industry is a multi billion dollar business; our neigh- bours to the south have realized this for some time now and have been operating on the same premise as other major industries. Planning, recruiting, selecting, training, investing in better equipment, adopting innovative cleaning methods and generally treating the cleaning business as a mature and significant part of the North American economy. While there are progressive, forward looking cleaning businesses in Canada there is still a majority of operators, both public and private who are carrying on as they ve always done and blaming the labour shortage for their problems. It s clearly time for some drastic changes in attitude if our BC and Canadian cleaning service operators are to stay competitive with US corporations. Public and private cleaning services will have to deal with the labour shortage and maintain, or preferably improve, their operating efficiency at the same time. Recruitment, retention, training and better management are crucial to any successful operation and for facility managers and cleaning contractors, now is the time to start if they haven t already done so. Recruitment: It s no longer good enough to wait for job applicants to knock on the door. A recruiting program is needed to get the kind of employee needed, not just a warm body, but someone who will contribute to the operation and isn t likely to leave for greener pastures anytime soon. Developing a recruiting program isn t a simple task: the manager needs to determine exactly what type of person is being sought, where they are most likely to be found and what will be required to persuade them to accept employment with the operation. This will involve some research on the part of the business and may require the assistance of a consultant. It also involves looking at the operation from the point of view of a prospective employee. What kind of an operation is being shown to the new employee, the operators should ask themselves would I want to work here? If not, why not? After the rosy glow of a new job fades, is there a good PHOTO COURTESY OF ATLAS-GRAHAM INDUSTRIES CO. LTD. Continued On Page 8 CLEAN BC - AUGUST

8 Business Notes Internet A Plus For Jansan Distributors AA new study has found that approximately 56 per cent of jansan distributors believe the Internet has improved their overall sales efforts. However, the quality of leads produced by the Internet could still be better, participants agreed. The study was commissioned by Enviro-Solutions, a manufacturer of Green cleaning products, based in Peterborough, Ont. It was conducted on-line from Jun. 1 to 10, 2006 by AlturaSolutions Communications e-poll, a Chicago marketing and communications firm specializing in the jansan and building industries. More than 600 jansan distributors were contacted by and invited to participate. Although not consid- ered scientific, the results do provide an insight into jansan distributors thoughts about the Internet in their sales efforts, now and in the future. The respondents were evenly divided as to the effectiveness of the Internet as far as boosting sales. Twenty-eight per cent indicated the Internet has definitely boosted sales, while another 28 per cent indicated: The net has helped, but only somewhat. WHAT ABOUT LEADS? Most of the survey questions focused on where jansan distributors get their leads, the quality of the leads, and their thoughts about the Internet as a marketing tool, said Mike Sawchuk, vice president and general manager of Enviro-Solutions. Continued From Page 7 The respondents were evenly divided as to the effectiveness of the Internet as far as boosting sales. According to the survey: Nearly 41 per cent of all distributor on-line sales leads now come from manufacturers web sites. Slightly more than 27 per cent of the leads come from the distributors own web sites. About 31 per cent are derived from industry-specific on-line publications or trade associations. Only nine per cent categorized the quality of Internet leads as excellent, while 22 per cent rated them good. The majority cited the leads as fair (39.13 per cent) or poor Times Sure Have Changed reason for a new recruit to stay with the organization? Money alone doesn t keep employees satisfied in their jobs, it takes a combination of recognition and positive change. One example is continuous training opportunities combined with recognition in the form of both monetary and status enhancements. Another difficulty that employers are facing is where to find employees. Most larger organizations post continuous ads in the help wanted section of local newspapers. Referrals from current staff and from social agencies are another source of prospective employees. Web-based job search services can produce some results, but in the end it is what differentiates one organization from another that can make the difference between successful recruiting and failure. What attracts employees will usually be what keeps them with the organization. One source of employees for basic tasks are organizations that support the developmentally challenged or teachable mentally handicapped individuals in our communities. These groups will often provide mentoring of work teams and transportation to the worksite where standard routine work can be scheduled. Once trained, the reliability and commitment of many of these individuals is excellent with lower absence rates and closer attention to work standards than many able employees can deliver. Retention: One way to minimize the problem of the current labour shortage is to make sure that turnover is as low as possible. Every time a trained employee leaves an organization that represents a significant investment in time and money going out of the business. By providing more reasons to stay than to go, a business or organization can keep those valuable human assets. Exit interviews show that employees leave their current jobs for several reasons but highest among those reasons are: lack of recognition, lack of opportunity to advance, lack of training and a general lack of job satisfaction. Money is often quoted but is rarely the real reason for the loss. People will stay with an employer when they feel that they are recognized as being important to the business, and are kept informed and up-to-date on procedures, materials and problems, and are asked to contribute suggestions to help solve operational issues. Comparing the costs of recognition to the cost of recruitment and training of new (30.43). Although many jansan distributors believe the quality of Internet leads has been somewhat disappointing, it appears the overwhelming majority believe the Internet will become even more vital to their sales efforts in the future, Sawchuk said. In fact, he said, the survey found that nearly 95 per cent believe the Internet s role as a source of leads will increase in the coming years. For more information, visit or contact Mike Sawchuk at (877) staff shows that recognition programs are an excellent investment. Training: Management style and attitude to employees makes a big difference to whether or not employees stay with an organization or move on. Surprisingly, those that move on are often looking for more challenge rather than more money. An organization that invests in a program of continuous training of employees will provide that challenge and, in doing so, will develop employees to the point that they can be promoted to more responsible positions, offering more challenges and the prospect of more recognition. As an alternative to recruiting new staff this is much more desirable and the experience of existing employees will help the organization to succeed. Given Canada s aging population and, in particular, British Columbia s larger than average number of older people it is likely that the shortage of labour will continue for some time. Cleaning organizations will need to be more organized and prepared to deal with this situation by adopting a more professional approach to the human capital on which their livelihood depends. 8 CLEAN BC - AUGUST 2006

9 Special Feature Hot Tub Lung AA persistent cough, chronic weariness, and lack of muscle strength might be diagnosed as many things. However, if the patient pays regular visits to a hot tub at home or at a fitness club, or if they work around hot tubs (long term care facility, rehab clinic), the problem might very well be what researchers are calling Hot Tub Lung. At the American Thoracic Society meeting in 2005, Dr. Viktor Hanak of the renown Mayo Clinic issued a warning to people who regularly use or are exposed to hot tubs, drain the tub and never go in it again. Hot Tub Lung is caused by the respiration of Mycobacterium avium, a Avmor Ltd. has made a donation of $1,000 to Scouts Canada in British Columbia, shortly after having made a similar donation in Nova Scotia. These donations form part of Avmor Ltd. s ongoing commitment to the Scoutrees Program. Since the Scoutrees Program s inception in 1972, over 70 million trees have been planted by Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers in parks, recreation and conservation areas, and other public venues. Youth receive training in planting, conservation and forestry before they begin to plant. Scouts Canada, a leading youth organization, offers fun and exciting outdoor adventure for boys and girls, aged five to 26, in communities across Canada. Over 84,000 young people enjoy Scouts Canada s programs, which are provided by over 25,000 caring and dedicated volunteers. Avmor Ltd. supports the Scouts Canada Scoutrees Program with sales of its EcoPure product, a new generation of products that is said to offer an effective yet healthier alternative for institutions wishing common microbe of the soil and water. Many physicians who find the bacterium in a sample will dismiss it as an environmental contaminant. The bacteria can trigger an allergic reaction in the lungs, particularly in the elderly or people with compromised immune systems, that mimics several lung diseases. It is often misdiagnosed as asthma, bronchitis or sarcoidosis. In one Mayo Clinic study of 21 confirmed cases of Hot Tub Lung, all had been previously misdiagnosed as having another respiratory disease, and all were regular hot tub users. Continuing to use or work around a hot tub could be a downward spiral to possible incapacitation. People feel poorly, and try to make themselves feel better by staying longer in the hot tub. Then they feel worse. According to the Mayo Clinic study, the M. avium microbe can be found in the water used to fill the tub, or on bodies that enter the tub without first showering. However, if the tub is maintained and disinfected correctly, preferably with an oxidizing agent, and if the water is sanitized according to manufacturer s directions, the organism will be killed. Proper disinfection of the pump, water lines and jets cannot be overemphasized. In the future, researchers predict, there will be many hot tub-sized gardens on people s patios and back decks perhaps the best defence again Hot Tub Lung. Reprinted From Virox s Winter 2006 issue of Solutions Newsletter Member News Avmor Ltd. Donates $1,000 To Scouts Canada to contribute to the health of the surrounding community. The products are said to perform as well as or better than conventional cleaners or national brands, while protecting the health of people as well as the environment. According to the company, EcoPure is proven to remove all types of soils by eliminating the need for harmful cleansing agents. The company has committed to donating a tree to Scouts Canada for every case of EcoPure purchased. Scouts Canada has a long-held tradition of fostering learning by doing, said Kathleen Judd, Community Development manager for Scouts Canada. It is through the active involvement and generosity of companies such as Avmor that Scoutrees can continue to teach youth about their environment and to put new skills to use, while at the same time making Canada a cleaner, more beautiful place to live. Through innovative products such as EcoPure and participation in the Scoutrees Program, Avmor is doing its part to protect the environment for future generations. TITAN Touchless Roll Towel Dispenser Go Touchless Stay Clean Touchless dispensing Superior quality towels Reliable operation Reduces the risk of cross contamination To order call toll-free: For more information log on to our website at CLEAN BC - AUGUST

10 CSSA BC Chapter Membership AARON S PROFESSIONAL SUPPLIES David Pohoreski Industrial Ave. Langley, BC V3A 4K6 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) david@houseofsas.org ACME SUPPLIES LTD. Robin Impett 2311 Government St. Victoria, BC V8T 4P4 Tel: (250) Fax: (250) acme@islandnet.com Web Site: ADVANTAGE MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS LTD. Tom James 8128 Winston St. Burnaby, BC V5A 2H5 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) tomj@pacificcoastadvantage.com Web Site: ATLAS-GRAHAM INDUSTRIES CO. LTD. Martin Riley Jensen Ave. Parksville, BC V9P 2T9 Tel: (250) Fax: (250) martin.riley@telus.net Web Site: AVMOR GROUP (THE) David Travis Suite 120, Guildford Dr. Surrey, BC V3R 0X7 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) dtravis@avmor.com Web Site: BC CONTRACT CLEANERS ASSOCIATION Sukru Yigit P.O. Box South Slope RPO Burnaby, BC V5J 3G3 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@bccca.ca BUNZL CANADA INC. Clive Sands 8219 Riverway Delta, BC V4G 1G9 Tel: (604) Fax: (888) clive.sands@bunzlusa.com Web Site: BUSY BEE SANITARY SUPPLIES Katherine Matthewman # Avenue Surrey, BC V4N 4C1 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) kmatthewman@busy-bee.ca Web Site: BUSY BEE SANITARY SUPPLIES INC. Michelle Lupul Hunter Rd. Kelowna, BC V1X 7J8 Tel: (250) Fax: (250) kelowna@busy-bee.ca Web Site: THE BUTCHER COMPANY Keith Hosking # Street Surrey, BC V4P 3J6 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) keith.hosking@johnsondiversey.com Web Site: CAMPBELL DISTRIBUTORS LTD. Cory Couture 180 Donaghy Ave. North Vancouver, BC V7P 2L5 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) akyle@campbelldistributors.com Web Site: COMPLETE CLEANING SUPPLIES LTD. Jim Sblendorio # A Ave. Surrey, BC V3S 2A7 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) jvscomplete@telus.net DEB CANADA Jim Gardner # Avenue Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2V6 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) debcanada@debcanada.com Web Site: DUSTBANE PRODUCTS LTD. Karen Sandberg Main St. Vancouver, BC V6A 4G5 Tel: (613) Fax: (613) ksandberg@dustbane.ca Web Site: ENTERPRISE PAPER CO. LTD. David Leeson 95 Brigantine Dr. Coquitlam, BC V3K 6Y9 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) dleeson@enterprisepaper.com Web Site: EXPANDED TECHNOLOGIES Mike Moonie 1461 River St. Kamloops, BC V2C 1Z1 Tel: (250) Fax: (250) sales@cleanway.ca FLYTE ENTERPRISES LTD. Dennis Shepit Ste. 112, Peardonville Rd. Abbotsford, BC V2T 6K5 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@flyteenterprises.com Web Site: GROUP B SERVICES LTD. Colin Butterfield 2689 MacDonald Dr. E. Victoria, BC V8N 1Y1 Tel: (250) info@groupb.ca Web Site: HENDERSON MATS Stephen Henderson # Broadway St. Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2M7 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) steveh@hendersonmat.com Web Site: JANITORS WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTORS INC. Gerry Arnold 110 East Marine Dr. Vancouver, BC V5X 2S3 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@janitors-warehouse.ca M-CHEM INDUSTRIES CORP. Gerald Arnold 1607 Derwent Way Delta, BC V3M 6K8 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@mchem.com MARINO MANUFACTURING LTD. Jim McIlhargey 5633 Kilmore Cres. Surrey, BC V3S 7J8 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) jimm@marinomop.com Web Site: MARPAK WHOLESALE SUPPLY Marty Gill 1391 Kebet Way Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6G1 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) marty@marpak.ca Web Site: MAT TECH Jack McAllister 1430 Columbia St. North Vancouver, BC V7J 1A2 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) mcaagy@shaw.ca Web Site: MCS INDUSTRIES LTD. Paul McGuire # th Ave. Surrey, BC V3S 3M2 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) mcs_industries@uniserve.com OSTREM CHEMICAL CO. LTD. Kenji Sawai # River Way Delta, BC V4G 1L2 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) inquiries@ostrem.com Web Site: PAPERMAKE ENTERPRISES LTD. Borko Bua th Ave. Surrey, BC V3W 1M4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) admin@papermake.com Web Site: PLUS II SANITATION SUPPLIES Greg Sadowski 5898 Trapp Ave., Unit Burnaby, BC V3N 5G4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) admin@plus2sanitation.com Web Site: R & J TRADING CO. LTD. Romney Shen # Park Cres. New Westminster, BC V3L 5W4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) romneyshen@randjtrading.com Web Site: W. RALSTON (CANADA) INC. Iain Hart Samtree Place Abbotsford, BC V3E 2M5 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@cttgroup.com RECOCHEM (B.C.) INC. Sam Deguilo 1746 Kingsway Ave. Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 4P2 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) Web Site: REV SALES AND MARKETING INC. Rod Peacock St. Langley, BC V1M 2L4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) rod.rev@shaw.ca RUBBERMAID CANADA Jessica Sinclair # th Ave. Langley, BC V2Y 3C1 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) jessica.sinclair@rubbermaid.com RYAN, SAFFEL & ASSOCIATES Richard Ryan nd Ave. N.E. Redmond, WA Tel: (425) Fax: (425) rsaf@seanet.com S.K. SANITARY SPECIALTIES Kim Karpinka 1841 Pandora St. Vancouver, BC V5L 1M4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@sksanitary.com SCOTT PAPER LIMITED Kathy Burfield th Ave. New Westminster, BC V3M 1Z7 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) patrick_cooke@scottpaper.ca Web Site: SIPCO INDUSTRIES LTD. Bob O Keeffe 7236 Wilson Ave. Delta, BC V4G 1H3 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) bobo@sipcobio.com Web Site: THE JANITOR ROOM SUPPLY HOUSE LTD. Neena Jaura # St. Surrey, BC V3W 0H5 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@janitorroom.com TRANSTAR SANITATION SUPPLY LTD. Don Wolfe 3922 Marine Way Burnaby, BC V5J 3M6 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) transtar@uniserve.com TREATED AIR SYSTEMS MFG. INC. Douglas Heselton Unit A Ave. Langley, BC V3A 7J4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@treatedair.com Web Site: UNISOURCE CANADA INC. Brock Sands 1425 Derwent Way, Annacis Island New Westminster, BC V3L 5A9 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) bwhalen@unisource.ca Web Site: WESCLEAN EQUIP. & CLNG. SUPP. LTD. Mark Gunnlaugson #9 953 Laval Cres. Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4 Tel: (250) Fax: (250) mgunnlaugson@wesclean.com Web Site: WESCLEAN EQUIP. & CLNG. SUPP. LTD. Craig Brown 4082 McConnell Crt. Burnaby, BC V5G 3L8 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) cbrown@wesclean.com Web Site: WESTERN PACIFIC PAPER LTD. Henry Reimer Fell Ave. North Vancouver, BC V7P 2K1 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) hreimer@westpacpaper.com Web Site: WOOD WYANT INC. Paul Zork Suite Golden Dr. Coquitlam, BC V3K 6T1 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) info@woodwyant.com Web Site: XYNYTH MANUFACTURING CORP. Kevin Wice # Henning Dr. Burnaby, BC V5C 6N5 Tel: (800) Fax: (604) sales@xynyth.com Web Site: ZEP MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. Denny Lewis 1210 Cliveden Ave. Delta, BC V3M 6G4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) denny.lewis@zepmfg.com Web Site: 10 CLEAN BC - AUGUST 2006