HELENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BROADWATER ELEMENTARY CLEANING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT. May 2013

Transcription

1 HELENA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BROADWATER ELEMENTARY CLEANING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT May 2013

2 HPS - BROADWATER ELEMENTARY CLEANING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT PURPOSE During the week of May 20th, 2013 BRUCO, INC. representatives Adam Uselman, Rich Palm, and Brian Waddell visited Broadwater Elementary with a goal of evaluating the overall cleaning outcomes. The methods used were as follows, Occupant Surveys, Visual Observation, Photographs, and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) testing. The following report will detail our observations and findings. FINDINGS The overall condition of Broadwater Elementary was poor. BRUCO INC. representatives witnessed excessive dirt buildup in corners and edges that is the result of neglect over time. Considering the current construction project, some additional dust and dirt is to be expected. However, the lack of cleanliness showed neglect well beyond construction dust. Curb Appeal: Overall curb appeal was average. Landscaping was in obvious need of care, including some dead grass and weeds, but not to any extreme. The building structures appearance was good, including clean windows and freedom from graffiti and vandalism. See Attachment #4, Fig. 1. Entrances: Main entrance was well maintained. No apparent dirt or gravel buildup around the entry. No outside matting was present. The vestibule area was vacuumed in the center but dust, dirt, and debris was left in corners and along edges. Entry glass was visibly dirty and obvious hand and finger prints were present. Entry door push plates and contact plates had visible soil. Secondary entrances were all absent of outside matting except for Entrance #5. All entrances showed an absence of care for corners and edges, entry glass, and push plates (HTO s). Entrance #5 looked heavily used, including an outside mat that was full of dirt and gravel and in need of maintenance. Entrance #5 showed excessive buildup of dirt and gravel, much of this could be contained if the matting was properly maintained and cleaned out on a consistent basis. Overall, entrances are poorly maintained and give a poor impression. See Attachment #4, Fig. 2 & 3.

3 Public Areas: The gymnasium is heavily used for PE class, as the cafeteria, and as a multi-purpose room. The gym floor appeared to have a thin coat of finish to protect it but was showing multiple scratches and scuffs along with varied discoloration due to improper stripping. Cafeteria tables and lunch supplies were prepped in one section directly before lunch. Ultimately, the gym/cafeteria was average to below average in appearance. See Attachment #4, Fig. 4. Corridors: Corridors throughout the facility were average. Some clutter was observed in the halls. Some of this was obviously caused by the current construction project. Runner mats were placed in the main corridor entering the school which will assist in preventing wear patterns on the tile and trapping dirt and dust from getting further into the facility. Corridors with coat and back pack hangers showed heavy dust buildup along the tops of the shelves and noticeable dirt and dust along the flooring edges from incomplete vacuuming. See Attachment #4, Fig. 5. Generally, the corridors had visible soil along edges that signaled a lack of scheduled detail cleaning. Corridors close to and specifically for construction areas were obviously and understandably dirtier than other areas. Stairs on east end of the gym, below Entrance #5, were in poor condition. While age and damage were part of the issue, it is certainly not all. A heavy buildup of dirt was apparent along most edges of the stairs. The stairwell is remarkably dirty and poorly cleaned. See Attachment #4, Fig. 6.. Classrooms: Classrooms were cleaned to sub standard levels. Most bookshelves, window ledges, and other horizontal surfaces were covered with dust that was obviously buildup over time. Several instances of gross visible soil on ledges, desks and table tops were observed throughout classrooms. Flooring was in poor condition both from improper care on a daily basis and from inadequate scheduled interim care. Many of the classrooms showed heavy scratches and scuffs on finished VCT. Carpet to tile transitions were loaded with obvious soil in just about every instance. Tile floors that had finish applied within weeks of our visit was done so incompletely it was immediately noticeable upon entering the room. We observed this floor with new finish on the middle section of the classroom with an obvious line where it was incomplete. See Attachment #5, Fig. 10, 11, 12. Offices: Flooring in the offices show several areas with significant traffic patterns. Much of the floor had consistent corner and edge buildup from lack of detail vacuuming. Most of the horizontal surfaces and ledges had significant dust and areas with visible soil. High traffic office counters showed streaking and some visible soil which shows incomplete HTO attention. See Attachment #6, Fig. 13. Restrooms / Locker Rooms: Overall condition of the Restrooms was below average to poor. Restroom set #1 was sheet vinyl flooring and showing heavy wear. Multiple areas of the floor were discolored with a poor appearance with occasional cracks in the flooring itself. Areas beneath the toilets and urinals were consistently dirty and discolored. Dispensers and other horizontal surfaces were dusty. Hardware appeared dull and dirty. Partition doors were heavily soiled, interior handles most notably, which shows a lack of touch point cleaning in one of the most critical areas of the building. Restroom #2 had average to good appearance floors with an adequate coat of finish. Floors showed some dirt buildup along the edges but overall were clean and well cared for. Dispensers, partitions, and

4 other horizontal surfaces showed some dust but far less than other areas. Fixtures were clean and bright, including sink, which was free from excessive mineral build up. Partition walls and handles were adequately cleaned. Walls were adequately clean and free of visible soil. Restroom #3 was closed with current construction. Restroom #4 was extremely dusty and visibly dirty. The floors in these restrooms were very dirty below fixtures, around the edges, and in many of the large walkways. Floor drains were discolored and visibly dirty both from age and lack of care. Walls and baseboard areas were visibly dirty and discolored. Fixtures were dull, obviously aged, and in need of restoration or replacement. Dispensers and partitions were heavily covered in dust that was obviously visible immediately upon entering. See Attachment #5 Fig. 7, 8, & 9. Faculty Restroom and other individual restrooms are consistent. Generally, these smaller restrooms are obviously cleaned regularly but detail cleaning is lacking. Edge dirt, neglected fixtures, and dust buildup were common traits. Support Areas: Teachers supply room flooring showed a considerable traffic pattern with a fair amount of edge buildup. A focus on more detailed vacuuming and scheduled interim maintenance steps should be considered to prevent this from worsening. Teacher s Lounge has VCT tile that is considerably scuffed and scratched. Table tops and other horizontal surfaces were consistently dusty and visibly dirty. It appears that most of the support areas are cleaned either by the teachers themselves or minimally by custodial staff. These areas are critical for several reasons. Critical touch point cleaning is important for faculty as much as students in order to stop the spread of infection. Also, maintaining a clean environment for faculty can help perpetuate a positive attitude. Custodial closets were inconsistent. Equipment was stored and maintained adequately. Supplies were stacked on shelves but there were many areas that were disorganized and messy. See Attachment #6, Fig. 14, 15, & 16 DOCUMENTATION Occupant Survey: Occupant Surveys were given to the principal with the request one be filled out by a member of each of the following groups; Principal, Teacher, Office Staff, Parent, Volunteer, and Student. Five areas of the building were scored 1-5 (1 being poor and 5 being excellent). These surveys were totaled and averaged by area and by building entirety to produce an Occupant Survey Summary. In addition to the 5 scoring ratings, two open ended questions were offered. Please see Occupant Survey Summary (Attachment #1). Highly Touched Objects ATP Inspection Report: ATP measurements were taken throughout the building with a focus on Restrooms, Cafeteria, and Classrooms. The results of the measurements were based on the ATP Guideline Scale (Attachment #2). Measurements were taken in nine areas of the school and results with notes are included in the ATP Inspection Report (Attachment #3). Test cleaning was performed by inspection team in applicable areas to show a baseline result of average cleaning. Overall results of this facility were considered Filthy.

5 Photographs: 240 photos were taken throughout the facility to document both above and below average cleaning outcomes. Select photos were chosen for the Photo Documentation Summary (Attachment #4). Any and all photos will be shared with Helena Public Schools upon request. RECOMMENDATIONS Image Enhancement: The custodial department has an instrumental role in affecting the image of K-12 schools. Members of any community often base their opinion of the local school on what they see & smell when they are in school facilities. A positive image can improve student and staff participation & performance, as well as the bottom line through a more willing attitude from the community to support their local schools. Steps should be taken throughout this building to improve image. General landscaping and outside care is in need of attention, especially in and around sidewalks & entrances. Timely mowing and weed abatement would greatly aid in overall image the pieces are in place for excellent curb appeal with the conservation area and general tree and shrub placement. Proper matting at all entrances will improve floor surface condition throughout the building, and reduce the need for restorative cleaning of hard and soft floor surfaces. Custodial tools & equipment are in need of updating for better efficiency and production of the custodial staff and thus improved image enhancement in all areas to be cleaned. This survey notes that there is current construction occurring, but by no means justifies some of the buildup of above floor dirt and dust. Occupant Productivity: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is one of the biggest factors in effecting occupant productivity in any building. Air handlers play a major role in both filtration and temperature, but are generally outside the realm of the custodial department. However there are steps that can & should be taken by the custodial department to greatly improve IAQ and thus occupant productivity of both students & staff. Once again, proper matting plays a key role; the more dirt & dust kept out of the built environment, the less it is put into the indoor air, and thus needs to be filtered out (air handlers & vacuums), or wiped away (dusting). Proper vacuuming and vacuum filtration also have an impact on IAQ. Backpack vacuums are recognized as being the most effective way to recover soil in the least amount of time while also properly filtering the vacuum exhaust so as to not put dust back into the indoor air that will eventually need to be re cleaned. Currently backpack vacuums are currently being utilized in this building, and adherence to a detail cleaning frequency plan would lead to considerable improvement in overall levels of corner and edge buildup. Absenteeism: The effectiveness of a K-12 custodial operation can be best measured by absenteeism rates (due to illness). Absenteeism below average or trending downward should be the focus of the department. There are many factors in reducing absenteeism rates, including hand washing, HTO cleaning, IAQ, etc. Proper hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of germs

6 & bacteria. Encouraging proper hand washing procedures as well as keeping soap & hand towel dispensers clean and functioning is necessary to improve in this area. However, properly cleaning HTO s is a crucial part in preventing illness. An aggressive detail cleaning plan dealing with all above floor surfaces would insure no excessive buildup of dust and particulate that can lead to health issues for all building users. Daily desktop cleaning is time consuming, and the most efficient, effective methods for this task should be embraced. ATP scores in this building showed that this process needs much improvement. See Attachment #3. Many changes need to be made in regards to the custodial operation including workloads, schedules, & job assignments to ensure proper HTO cleaning. General surface (HTO) cleaning tools were insufficient and need to be updated to a uniform microfiber cleaning system that allows for more effective cleaning & disinfection in a timely manner. Door handles, push plates, restroom dispensers, desktops, etc., should be cleaned daily in order to reduce illness and absenteeism. Infection Prevention: Absenteeism and Infection Prevention go hand-in-hand. The most crucial contributing factor in Infection Prevention is once again, proper hand washing and other topics described in above absenteeism section. However, there are many other areas within a school that can have an impact of the spread of illness. Specifically, nurses office, main office, athletic areas (weight rooms, training rooms, wrestling mats, etc.) can be areas where known infection or illness can be spread. Currently, the nurse and office staff are caring for students that are sick or injured, thus both areas need special attention from the custodial staff. The Nurses office at Broadwater was not clean or maintained well. Heightened measures should be taken to address weekly detail above floor cleaning as well as more efficient and effective attention to daily HTO cleaning. Improved process and increased frequency of cleaning and disinfection by the custodial department is needed in these areas. The adoption of ATP measurement within the building will allow validation of improvement in infection prevention. Risk Management: There are many areas of risk/liabilities in K-12 schools. Many of which are not impacted by the custodial operation. Within the custodial operation are issues such as, slip and falls, chemical exposure, misuse of chemicals, heavy lifting, repetitive motion injuries and others. While these risks can be greatly reduced by reduction in chemicals & exposure, proper entrance matting, and more ergonomic cleaning tools & equipment; all risk can never be eliminated. In this building there is a risk for slip & fall injuries, especially on rain/snow days due to absent, worn, inadequate or improperly cared for entrance matting. Most custodial chemicals were properly labeled & stored but it is likely the number of chemicals could be reduced. Mop and buckets are widely used and pose a risk due to the weight of a full bucket and the frequency in which it should be dumped and refilled. By transitioning into updated mopping tools, some of this risk can be averted. Considering the advancements in cleaning tools and equipment, much of the risk can be reduced by reduction in physical labor and repetitive motion. Asset Preservation: Preserving the life of all cleanable surfaces includes but is not limited to hard and soft floor coverings, countertops, desks, furniture, office equipment, etc. Proper equipment care and

7 maintenance within the custodial department is an effective way to insure an optimum life cycle of equipment. Broadwater School is an older school, and many of the floor surfaces are older and show signs of wear. However, much of the hard surface flooring could look much better with improved hard floor care techniques. Much of the flooring, including new carpet, is heavily worn with spots, stains, tears, and scratches. Proper matting would contribute heavily to extending the life of floor surfaces throughout the building. Above floor, horizontal surfaces were not properly cleaned but appeared in good overall condition. Throughout the building some of the chrome fixtures were dull and lacking of finish due to age and years of improper cleaning. Replacement of these fixtures is recommended. The custodial equipment at Broadwater should be kept cleaner and in better working condition. Mop buckets and wringers were dirty, and there is no presence of microfiber flat mopping technology. The creation of a custodial storage and maintenance plan would help to ensure proper use, function, maintenance, and overall performance. Energy Savings: As the cost of energy continues to rise, more efficient methods of building operations are available. Within a custodial operation, there are many ways to reduce energy, and water consumption. One method of reducing energy use is to reduce the number of hours lighting is used in the building. In most facilities, most cleaning tasks are performed at night making lights necessary for very few custodial staff in the building. Also, the more comprehensive use of microfiber technology results in an overall reduction in water and chemical use, as the natural cleaning properties of microfiber reduce the reliance on chemicals and water. By shifting cleaning work schedules and operational procedures facilities may be able to reduce the need for lights at night. While there will still be a need for a building attendant and after hours cleaning, the reduction in the areas cleaned at night may have a positive financial impact. In this facility there is a great opportunity for increased energy savings through the use of a microfiber cleaning system/program.

8 Attachment #1

9 Attachment #2

10 Attachment #3

11 Attachment #4 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig.6

12 Attachment #5 Fig. 7 Fig. 8 Fig. 9 Fig. 10 Fig. 11 Fig. 12

13 Attachment #6 Fig. 13 Fig. 14 Fig. 15 Fig. 16

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