Purchasing
Environmentally Friendly Paper Products
Environmental matters are now a major concern in the jansan industry. More and more customers are seeking “green” products that remain price competitive and highly efficient.
Finding “green” paper products might seem to be an easy task. In the pulp and paper industry there are many competing environmental certifications that focus on different criteria but not competing standards. First party claims, where a company certifies itself as green; and contentious certifications following fibre content are only to be avoided. In fact, most certifications set very low minimum requirements that are not adequate for today’s standards. Read more...
Essential Training for Environmental Services Staff
By NICOLE KENNY, Virox Technologies Inc.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) “Emerging Infectious Diseases” journal published that in 1995, hospital acquired infections cost an estimated $4.4 billion and contributed to more than 88,000 deaths. That’s one death every six minutes. The Chicago Tribune conducted an extensive investigation of hospital facilities and found that 75 per cent of an estimated 103,000 patient deaths were linked to Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs). Unsurprisingly, they determined that most of these premature deaths could be attributed to dirty facilities, dirty hands and dirty instruments. The report also found that Environmental Services (EVS) staff were inadequately trained and have a higher rate of occupational-acquired diseases than nurses. Read more...
Making Public Washrooms Personal
By PAUL GOLDIN, Director of Marketing and Customer Satisfaction, Avmor Ltd.
While many people feel that public washrooms are germ-ridden, few realize the true risks and “hot spots.” For instance, hot water taps are more of a danger zone for fecal bacteria than toilet seats and, flushing the toilet causes bacteria to propel around the washroom.
Though it is difficult to link catching a disease to a visit to the bathroom, scientists have found infectious agents for diseases such as Hepatitis A, Meningitis, Bacterial Dysentery, the Norwalk Virus and various forms of diarrhoea in public washrooms. Read more...
Clostridium-difficile - One Tough Bug
Many have recently read in the press of outbreaks in hospitals of Clostridium difficile, more commonly-known as C-difficile. It has become a major challenge for Environmental Services Professionals trying to control the spread of this pathogen in hospital settings.
In order to control the spread we must first understand how this pathogen is transmitted and then how to remove it from the environment. Clostridium difficile is spread via the faecal oral route. The organism is ingested as the vegetative form or as hardy spores, which can survive for long periods in the environments and can traverse the acid of the stomach. Read more...
The Weakest Link: The Importance of Supply Chain Monitoring
By Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Inc.
You are only as strong as the weakest link in your supply chain, and if the weakest link brings “hitchhiking” pests, you could be in big trouble. Infested products or materials from suppliers could undermine your facility’s pest management program. While this may be a daunting thought, rest assured that you can help prevent inbound pest problems from taking hold. Read more...
Avrum Morrow Named To Order of Canada
Avrum (Avi) Morrow, philanthropist and founder of Avmor Ltd., has made history. He is the first person from the janitorial industry to be named to the Order of Canada. This distinction, the highest honour for a civilian in Canada, is a tribute to Morrow’s achievement in business and his lifetime of dedication to the community. Read more...
Fresh Beginnings at Atlas Graham
Atlas Graham is embarking on a journey of transformation to sustain and grow competencies for an even more successful future.
Since 1941, Atlas Graham has held a leadership position in the Canadian professional cleaning industry. Over one year ago, James Graham took the helm of the company representing the third generation of family ownership. Read more...
SaniWorks Ltd. The little guys.
Sani-Works Ltd. may have grown into a multi-million dollar supplier, but the company bases its success on thinking small and understanding that customers expect more than a product and cheap price. In 1995 Tim Bolger and Ben Bromley were working for a janitorial, food service company in Calgary. They realized that a different approach to the cleaning and hygiene market was required to service a market segment that was being ignored by the bigger suppliers in the marketplace. In a time when mergers and acquisitions were the norm, it seemed like each and every day another company was being bought or merged into a larger organization. Read more...
