Placing a child in any sort of facility where injury can occur, especially a child under the age of 14, is risky. Imagine the school systems getting letters from their insurance carriers about the spike in liability coverage. Brokate Janitorial 7/8/2011 This just further highlights the type of thinking many people share about janito-rial work. These types of people think they are equally or substantially more qualified in regards to methods, cleaning agents and procedures as the trained professionals who clean and manage the facilities. The insurance factor is a great point about the additional risks that will have to be taken in consideration. I noticed the statement from the law-maker says the law wasn’t “written” to take jobs away from school janitors, but didn’t say that the law “wouldn’t.” While some under 14 years old are capable of being trained to perform many basic janitorial duties, the real question is whether it’s really in the best interests of either party. I think it’s great for young people to learn the value of hardwork, but I also think that the current age restrictions are just about right to ensure kids aren’t forced into it too early. Just because a child signs up for this program doesn’t mean they will want to or will do so by their choice. Personally, both myself and two broth-ers started helping our parents in the janitorial business at a young age, but we did so with parental supervision and didn’t take any jobs away; rather, we provided assistance. I’ll be interested to see how this ruling pans out because it is walking a very fine line of being barely acceptable or very much not. If children are exploited or jobs are lost, this law can really end horribly. CM Get involved CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management Online ™ viewers as well as CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® magazine readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor on topics of interest to the professional clean-ing and maintenance industry. Send letters to the editor to [email protected]. Circle Product Information no. 211 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 7
CMM – Archives Aug 2011: 7
