With the system, cleaning
staff are trained to become “specialists” in particular job
functions.
For instance, a “restroom
specialist” will be responsible for keeping a facility’s
restrooms clean. The specialist will be equipped with a standard
set of tools specific to that function that is implemented
throughout all facilities with the system.
In the case of a restroom
specialist, cleaners will be equipped with four-gallon dual mop
buckets, color-coded microfiber towels and mops and chemicals
specific to disinfecting the restroom.
In addition to specialized
tools, cleaners are provided job cards that specify six to seven
tasks and the time to complete each task. Various other
components of (OS1) provide a systematic approach to cleaning
that empowers cleaners. It equips workers with a standardized
set of training, tools and resources to do their jobs while
offering them the ability to advance through the cleaning
program and become specialists at other tasks.
“The system helps our cleaning
staff understand the importance of their jobs and the imperative
role they play in protecting the health of students, faculty and
other staff,” said Ashoke Ganguli, director of auxiliary
services at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. “At the end
of the day, our workers go home and are proud of the work they
do. Empowering staff is just as important as any other facet of
green cleaning.”
To ensure the cleaning staff
is properly educated on each specialized duty and cross-trained
on other duties, a room in each facility is dedicated to
employee training. At the outset of implementation, a standard
training program is implemented and workers are certified after
completing courses for each job function. As the program
evolves, trainers and cleaning staff are recertified to
continually enhance the level of cleaning performed and ensure
that cleaning is performed in a way that protects health and the
environment.
In addition to worker
training, cleaning professionals are equipped with the tools
needed to track labor, equipment and chemical use. Programs are
put into place for managers to report usage and benchmark
against other facilities. By using this systematic approach,
more cleaning professionals are enhancing the level of cleaning
performed and optimizing levels of indoor air quality,
increasing worker safety and reducing the impact of their
operations on the environment.
When the Washington Department
of General Administration (GA) in Washington State faced a law
revision that opened the door to possible outsourcing custodial
managers looked for a way to enhance the level of service
provided in a way that reduced the impact of cleaning on the
indoor and outdoor environment.
After implementing the system,
GA achieved positive results. Recognizing that the empowerment
of its employees was one of the primary benefits realized from
the implementation of (OS1), managers also found additional
benefits to the system including:
• $300,000 overall cost
savings;
• Reduction in chemical use
and packaging;
• Improved indoor air quality.
Over 12 years, the University
of Massachusetts-Amherst has had zero injury reports filed, and
the University was also awarded the Commonwealth Environmental
Procurement Award.
“Almost every element within
the (OS1) audit will help enhance an organization’s
environmental profile,” said Ganguli.
“From encouraging the use of
ergonomic tools, microfiber and environmentally preferable
products and processes, it’s a system for users that want a
comprehensive solution for cleaning.”
Sandia National Labs,
Albuquerque, NM, dropped days lost from recorded workday
accidents from 106 in 2000, when their program was started, to
zero lost days in 2008. It has also assisted several of its
organizations win the New Mexico Green Zia award. The Green Zia
Environmental Excellence Program recognizes businesses that have
a vision and desire to move towards environmental excellence and
long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
“By using (OS1), we have been
able to assist customers in obtaining LEED certification,” said
Mike Carson, Custodial Services manager of Sandia National
Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM. “Because many local and state
governments are mandating the use of green building and
procurement processes, we will be able to meet the needs of our
customers without changing our cleaning program.”
As cleaning professionals
continue to look for ways to enhance their green cleaning
programs and worker safety, they are turning to a comprehensive
alternative to ad hoc products and programs in the industry that
only address one particular facet of a cleaning operation.
Systematic cleaning not only
elevates levels of cleaning performed within a facility, it
effectively reduces worker injury and reduces the impact of
cleaning on the health and the environment in a way that also
empowers employees.
When considering your
facility’s commitment to green, consider a systematic way to
develop a comprehensive green program—while also saving money.
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