Clean BC - July/August 2008
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format).
 
ON THE COVER:  World Water Crisis: 
Conserving Water In Restrooms
By Klaus Rrecihardt, Founder And Managing Partner, Waterless Co. LLC
One-third of the world’s population will face water shortages by the year 2025 unless huge changes are made by governments, industry and consumers, a new report has warned.

The International Water Poverty Index (WPI), a new grading system for countries’ water use, claims the impending crisis could cause global poverty, famine, disease and political conflict.    Read more...

Are You Certified?
By Bill Garland, Senior Partner, Daniels & Associates Inc.
There are now two industry certifications available to service providers and in-house operations.

The ISSA Cleaning Industry and Management Standard (CIMS) certification and the Green Seal GS-42 certification are indications that the cleaning industry is maturing and achieving credentials like many other industries. These certifications are also a further indication that price has ceased to be the major criteria by which contract decisions are made. There is now further emphasis that clients are looking for service providers who can provide not only the best possible service in terms of a quality management operation but also a healthy one.   Read more...

Learning To Think Green:
Healthy Cleaning in Educational Institutions
By Paul Goldin, Director of Marketing and Technical Services, Avmor Ltd.School rankings, along with your programs, curriculum and reputation, play a crucial role in attracting new students to your educational institution. How does your institution rank? What proactive steps can you take to improve your institution’s ranking?   Read more...

Microbicide Use – The Double-Edged Sword
By Susan Springthorpe, Centre for Research on Environmental Microbiology, University of Ottawa
Man has evolved in a world full of micro-organisms, many of which are unrecognized and unnamed, and only a small fraction of these are pathogens for humans. However, the ability for an unseen microbe to incapacitate or even kill a human instils a very instinctive fear of germs that is fed insatiably by the media and by advertising from manufacturers of microbicides. It’s only been within the last 15 or 20 years that there’s been a pressure to sanitize everything with chemicals, and I think that we have to ask if this is a good thing. During this time there has been no lessening in the emergence of new diseases and it is a period notable for increases in antibiotic resistance. I don’t need to tell you about the benefits of microbicidal chemicals. The intent here is to discuss the downside of microbicide use, the toxicity to humans and the environment.   Read more...

ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America 2008
Expect the unexpected at ISSA/INTERCLEAN® North America 2008– Sep. 8 to 11, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre in Las Vegas, NV – where you will find 700 exhibitors; more than 35 seminars, workshops and networking events; and some truly unique entertainment.

After the success of last year’s tradeshow in Orlando, Fla., ISSA is expecting this year’s show to be another groundbreaking event for the cleaning industry.    Read more...

Deb Canada
The World’s Leading Away From Home Skin Care System Company
By Marvin Mauer, General Manager, Deb Canada

Deb Canada has long been recognized as the Canadian market leader in the development of innovative foaming technology, skin cleansers, protective and conditioning creams, showering and bathing products, and patented dispensing systems for all occupational hygiene markets.   Read more...

Choosing Cleaning Management Software That Works For You
By Colin Butterfield
Over the past 20 years we’ve seen many attempts to utilize computing power to improve the management of cleaning operations. There must be dozens if not hundreds of programs that promise to reorganize your operation, save money, save time and make your boss think you are a genius. There are single use systems that only do one thing, such as supply or equipment inventory or quality inspection tracking, estimating packages that promise to help you price out contracts and increase your profits, all in one package that cover everything from supplies to payroll and everything in between and any combination of these. But which is best for you? Before you invest in a program you should know what parts of your operation will benefit from the system and how much time you are able to invest in maintaining the program data.   Read more...

Survey Investigates Knowledge of Matting Systems
A recently released survey finds that most facility managers are well versed on the benefits of matting systems.

The survey was conducted for Crown Mats and Matting, one of the oldest manufacturers of matting systems, during early February 2008. Nearly 120 people participated.

More than 95 per cent of the respondents indicated they have mats installed at key building entries, and nearly 82 per cent own, rather than rent, their mats.   Read more...