A Clean Slate For Productivity By: Bill Blumenthal Creating a clutter-free workplace allows custodial professionals to more easily perform the jobs for which they were hired. I Bill Blumenthal is vice presi-dent of the nonprofit Process Cleaning for Healthy Schools (PC4HS) Consortium. He is a 14-year veteran of the clean-ing industry experienced in both internal and contracted operations. Blumenthal is cur-rently the custodial supervisor for the Douglas County School District in Nevada, consisting of seven elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools serving more than 6,000 students. He is accom-plished in all facets of custodial maintenance, with supervision and/or hands-on background in cleaning office complexes, floor care, construction cleanup and client consulting. Blumenthal is also a Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) ISSA Certification Expert (ICE) ready to provide training and consulting services to cleaning organizations interested in com-plying with and preparing to be certified to CIMS. If only we could walk around like cartoon charac-ters with our thought bubbles showing. We would likely find one another’s thoughts perplexing. “I don’t know why our office doesn’t look as top notch as I wish; after all, I’m paying for a cleaning crew,” puzzles a business owner or manager. And, the bewilderment would not only be on the part of building owners or those in supervisory positions. “I sure wish we could show this company what we can really do. It’s impossible to demonstrate our professional level of cleaning here,” thinks the head of the cleaning company, as he or she shakes his or her head. No matter which end of the conversation you are on, you are talking about clutter. Professional cleaning companies, providing ser-vices to businesses and schools, wish they could really get to the surfaces they need to clean. Meanwhile, managers and owners are looking for a consistent, expert clean. In workplaces of all types, clutter slowly creeps in and makes it more difficult for cleaning crews to perform the tasks for which they were contracted to complete. It’s time-consuming to maneuver around things or to move items and put them back. In many settings — offices, schools and other places of business — cleaning crews are asked to not touch items. Certainly, there are projects and papers that should not be handled or disturbed. But, in other cases, piles of outdated papers, sample items, office supplies and other goodies simply gather dust, create a mess and make clean-ing a difficult — if not impossible — task. Getting Rid Of The Clutter Creating a clutter-free zone not only allows cleaning crews to do their professional best but has the benefit of creating a safe, attractive environment for both employees and customers or students. for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Productivity . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Cleaning Equipment . If a workspace is a beacon for refuse, it will undoubtedly harbor dirt and dust because it is difficult to clean. 30 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • December 2012
CMM – Archives Dec 2012: 30
