letters and views Letters To The Editor Insights from the JanSan industry. Each month, we welcome readers to opine on the noteworthy — or even the trivial — aspects of their lives as JanSan professionals. The following is some of the correspondence we have received in recent weeks. Proper Cleaning Is Green Cleaning All cleaning is green cleaning or, at least, it should be. By definition, cleaning is the removal of unwanted matter including macro soils — those we can see — and micro soils — those we can’t see. This includes removing or eliminating harmful chemicals and other matter, and transforming people and processes that pollute into those that don’t. Cleaning, by its very nature and defini-tion, is, or should be, green. Still, the rallying cry and focus of “green cleaning” has been an important wake-up call to remind us that, too often, we haven’t been cleaning, but polluting — spreading dust or germs rather than removing them, adding toxic substances to the air and the environment rather than ridding it of those. Thankfully, “green cleaning” has prompt-ed examination of products and processes to determine how they affect both built and other environments. “Green cleaning” has moved our industry in a very positive direction indeed. As we now know, solving the “cleaning” pollution problem is not as simple as buy-ing green-certified chemicals or painting trucks and tools green; it means redesign-ing and deploying cleaning within systems that reflect an accurate understanding of — and respect for — how the measures employed impact the building environment and people, as well as the global environ-ment and sustainability. The cleaning industry should advance to maturity in this regard and work hardest at changing systems of cleaning to becom-ing increasingly effective at preventing or removing contaminants — infectious, toxic or otherwise — the ultimate realization of proper, green cleaning. — Allen Rathey, president of the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI). And, I do agree with your thought that green cleaning is not just about using green products, but it must be effective — again in your terms, “proper” — cleaning, which results in creating healthier and more produc-tive indoor environments. — Steve Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group LLC. Installable Forgettables Green Cleaning Is Proper Cleaning Interesting article and I agree with the intent. I actually think that all green cleaning is proper cleaning, but not all proper cleaning is green cleaning. Green cleaning is a subset of proper cleaning because it is very possible to clean properly using products that are not green. Many traditional products perform very well and, if used and disposed of correctly and with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilation, can create a system that effectively — in your terms, “properly” — removes and disposes of soils. I say this because we have never suggest-ed that traditional products or approaches to cleaning are “bad” or that they would not result in proper cleaning. Rather, we have always talked about green cleaning in terms of reducing health and environmental impacts associated with the products and processes compared to similar programs using traditional products. Cleaning and maintenance managers reading your magazine articles and advertisements may not realize it, but U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant Emergency Action Plans are required for your own workers, wherever they perform their duties. This includes providing emergency first aid for your injured workers, regardless of what the facility may or may not provide. Managers and supervisors need to realize that first-aid kits and defibrillators are not “installable forgettables.” First-aid kit contents do expire — mainly the alcohol products — and automated external defibrillator (AED) batteries do wear down over time. JanSan leaders working at facilities inspected by health departments, accredita-tion surveyors, etc., quickly discover this. Inspectors quickly and easily find them before confiscating and discarding your expired emergency care items. — Donald White, director of safety and security for the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute. CM 8 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • June 2011
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