industry news ISSA/INTERCLEAN 2014 To Pack More Punch To further strengthen visitors’ return on investment, ISSA has expanded attendee attractions for this year’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America, November 4-7, in Orlando, Florida, according to a press release. In 2013, based on attendee requests for more time to spend with exhibitors, ISSA successfully extended the trade show schedule and centralized the experience by locating the keynote speaker stage right on the show floor. In addition to bringing those benefits back in 2014, ISSA is stepping up its game with a new round of additions in Orlando. This year’s show will feature the largest number of exhibitors in show history, plus four keynote addresses, an expanded four-day education schedule, the inaugural ISSA Excellence Awards Luncheon, an ISSA Linke-dIn Reception, more co-located industry events and discounted theme park tickets for attendees present on the final exhibit day. ISSA has scheduled a Fabulous Friday Fi-nale featuring two iconic keynote speakers during the final exhibit day: Champion bas-ketball coach Rick Pitino, co-sponsored by the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), and famed former boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard. Further strengthening the opportunities to learn and network at the 2014 show is the addition of new co-location partners. The Cleaning Equipment Trade Associa-tion (CETA) will hold its annual convention, which draws an audience of pressure wash-ing professionals. The International Window Cleaners As-sociation (IWCA) also will offer a training workshop during the convention. These events join the returning IEHA Annual Convention, BSCAI Annual Con-vention and the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI) An-nual Convention. Multiple distributor marketing groups also will return to host member events dur-ing the week. Another new feature visitors should take note of when scheduling their time at the show is the ISSA/INTERCLEAN Bistro. At the Bistro, which requires reservations, show participants can elect for high-quality meals right on the show floor. Seattle Approves Minimum Wage Increase The Seattle City Council has unanimously voted to approve a sharp increase in the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour over the next seven years, according to Reuters. The increase marks the first time a major U.S. city has committed to such a high base level of pay. Under the terms of the plan, businesses with fewer than 500 workers must raise wag-es to the $15 mark in the next seven years. Larger businesses must meet that level within three years, or four if they provide health insurance. to-hand transfer of infectious bacteria remains a common public health hazard, raising the question of whether or not it is time to ban handshakes in healthcare settings, according to Outpatient Sur-gery. In an editorial published online in the Journal of the American Medical Associa-tion (JAMA), clinicians from the David Gef-fen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles proposed the prohibition of the handshake between healthcare providers and patients in order to prevent “passing pathogens, reduce infection rates and en-sure patient safety.” Their caution is not entirely far-fetched as just last year researchers from the West Virginia University School of Medicine found that “a fist-bump between provid-ers was less likely to transfer bacteria than a handshake.” Maintenance Company Founder Named Business Person Of The Year Joseph Lepore, an Italian immigrant, start-ed in the humble field of maintenance; the art of keeping things clean is eternal if not glorious, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal . In the 1990s, he and a partner began their own cleaning and service company, but by 2001, he was on his own, the founder of LCS Facility Maintenance Inc., which helped clean up New York City after September 11. By 2009, his little company had grown to more than 100 employees; it’s now more than 250 workers. Now a committee of community and business leaders and Poughkeepsie Journal staff picked his name from among 17 nomi-nations, naming Lepore the Business Person of the Year by the Poughkeepsie Journal . Minnesota Law Bans Beneficial Antibacterial Products An enacted Minnesota law banning an ingredient in antibacterial soaps will take “safe, effective and beneficial products off the shelves,” according to the American Cleaning Institute. In a May 14, 2014, letter to Minnesota Gov-ernor Mark Dayton (D), American Cleaning Institute (ACI) urged him to veto legislation that contained language banning the sale of soap and body wash containing the an-tibacterial ingredient triclosan. The language was signed into law May 16. “Triclosan’s use in antibacterial soaps is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Ad-ministration,” wrote Douglas Troutman, ACI vice president and counsel. “Yet the legislative ban on triclosan ignores this reality.” “Instead of letting federal regulators do their job, the legislation would take safe, effective and beneficial products off the shelves of Minnesota grocery, convenience and drug stores.” A Healthcare Ban On Handshakes Hand hygiene compliance is the key to in-fection prevention efforts, but the hand-For daily industry news, sign up for CM e-News Daily at www.CMMOnline.com/Sign-Up. Please send any news or press releases to Editor Phillip Lawless at [email protected]. 6 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® July 2014
CMM – Archives July 2014: 6
