The flu causes U.S. employees to miss approximately 17 million workdays a year, in turn costing employers, like you, about $7 billion annually in sick days and lost productivity. Each year the seasonal flu peaks between December and February, but preparing for cold and flu season should start in late October. Prevention begins with encouraging healthy habits among your employees and maintaining a clean facility. Illnesses like the flu compromise an employee's ability to perform their daily tasks, meaning they may be operating slower than normal or could be making more mistakes. Decreased productivity and increased mistakes will cost you money.
New technology is constantly being developed to increase efficiencies and simplify processes, and that is no different in the janitorial services industry. Innovative new products streamline cleaning procedures, increase employee productivity, and provide you with a quicker return on your investment. In the commercial cleaning industry, innovative products from dispensers to floor pads are similar in that they aim to boost worker productivity. Increasing worker productivity through product innovation is one of the best ways to reduce your costs.
Winter months are quickly approaching and that means ice and snow are on the way, and slick sidewalks and slippery parking lots are also on the horizon. As a business owner, you are likely familiar with the increased dangers of wintery weather and the associated dangers that come with slippery sidewalks and entryways. Before the first snowfall, it is important to take the necessary steps to reduce or eliminate hazardous icy conditions outside your facility. The best way to avoid slips and falls due to icy sidewalks, parking lots, and entryways are with the use of the right ice melt.
When a member of your janitorial staff is injured, it presents a problem for the employee and you. Not only will you incur increased costs from workers' compensation claims, replacement labor, and insurance costs, but also the added costs from lower employee morale and productivity. Custodians and janitors play a critical role in making sure your facility is clean, safe, and looking its best. The safety of your cleaning crew should also be a priority. One common cause of injuries to janitorial staff is the result of improperly handling chemicals. Custodians in your facility likely work with a range of chemicals every day, potentially putting them at risk for chemical burns and other related injuries.
Without proper cleaning and sanitization procedures, foodservice operators are putting their customers at increased risk of foodborne illness. A food poisoning outbreak will negatively affect customer’s perception and satisfaction with your business, giving your business a bad reputation. A bad reputation can mean lost sales and may even put you out of business.
Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) can be intimidating to first time users, and even veterans, who may be using a new or different cleaning product for the first time. It is important for anyone handling or using commercial cleaning supplies to become familiarized with SDSs. Understanding how to read and apply the information on a Safety Data Sheet will allow you to work more safely and to do your job better. This article will clarify the sections of a safety data sheet and allow you to become more familiar with the format and contents of one.
The demand for more sustainable buildings is growing. The combined effects from growth in environmental legislation and the demand from tenants and shareholders to reduce environmental impacts are requiring property managers to both understand and take responsibility for the environmental performance of their facility. The best way to benchmark and report your building’s sustainability performance is through LEED Certification. In this article, we define LEED Certification, review the benefits of LEED Certification, and go over how to achieve LEED certification.
As summer comes to an end, college students will be moving into their dorms for the new school year. Students, as well as their parents, are excited and expecting a clean dorm room with minimal dirt, odors, or stains. This means you’re likely preparing your custodial staff or contracted cleaning crew to do a deep clean of the campus dorm facilities. The impression your facility leaves on students and parents is critical to ensuring they have a positive first night on campus and are satisfied with their new “home away from home”. Parents and students invest a lot of time and money deciding on the best college for them. If they arrive to a dirty dorm, this will lead to unhappy students and can even cause students to transfer. The few weeks before school starts are likely one of the only times, if not the only time, dorm rooms can be deep cleaned.
Slips and falls are the number one accident problem in commercial kitchens. Slips and falls are also a leading cause of workers’ compensation claims. 85% of worker’s compensation claims are attributed to employees slipping on slick floors. Greasy kitchen floors are a major contributor to this problem. Commercial kitchen floors present special challenges and require unique care to provide a safe and clean walking surface. In addition to an increased risk of injury and higher insurance premiums, dirty and slippery floors can lead to negative sanitation and safety reviews, both of which can easily ruin a food operation’s reputation.
Foul odors from dumpsters or compactors can turn a tenant or guest’s good experience into an unpleasant one. Offensive odors will create the wrong image of your facility, leaving guests with a negative impression of your business’ cleanliness. Any facility that is discarding waste in a dumpster or compactor is going to experience foul odors at one point or another, but when summer heat comes around it is likely intensifying the problem.
Industry-certified custodial training and certification is key to setting yourself apart from others in the commercial cleaning industry. If you are a manager, supervisor, lead custodian, or if you are looking to advance into a leadership role within your cleaning team, attending custodial training will provide you with the knowledge and skills to tackle a facility’s cleaning and maintenance challenges.
