letters and views on cleaning and disinfecting floors, other horizontal surfaces and cross contamina-tion contact points, in this order. The order is based on the size of bacte-ria reservoirs: Floors are not only the largest bacteria source, but also the aver-age person has as many as 50 direct and indirect contacts with floors every day, making these areas key transmission points. Stage Three Stage three is more specific and more extensive. It refers to a contagious disease or virus that is present in a facility. Many colleges and universities are now in this phase, including Emory University in Atlanta, which ironically is near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters. Cleaning should be “ramped up” with floors cleaned and disinfected first, then walls, counters, fixtures and high touch-point areas, followed by the floors once again when leaving. A pre-clean should be performed and an appropriate disinfectant applied. Additionally, cleaning equipment, includ-ing the wheels of equipment and carts, must be cleaned and disinfected. At this time, you should be implementing stage two and stage three procedures. Other Steps Further steps our industry should take: JanSan chemical manufacturers should promote and advise their clients as to which disinfectants are proven (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered or, in Canada, Health Canada registered) effective at killing the H1N1 pathogen that causes swine flu (i.e., Influenza A) Distributors and DSRs should be instructed on how to properly use these disinfectants so that they, in turn, can properly train facility service providers and administrators Cleaning professionals must under-stand the health challenge we are fac-ing and the key role they play in pre-venting the spread of this disease. They must begin cleaning and disin-fecting all high-touch surfaces, includ-ing floors, thoroughly as instructed on a regular basis. Our industry can meet this challenge and, just as with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), play a sig-nificant role in minimizing the impact of H1N1. Challenges like this is when our industry can truly shine. CM websites worth seeing CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® presents this special section to give you a preview of industry websites that you’ll want to visit next time you’re surfing the Internet. PullmanHoltDirect.com Save big money on your commercial floor cleaning equipment. Visit PullmanHoltDirect.com and buy direct from a world-class manufacturer of floor machines, burnishers, wet/dry vacuums, backpack vacuums, carpet extractors and dryers. Easy online ordering supported by a knowledgeable, technical staff in Tampa, Florida, and over 200 factory authorized service centers throughout the U.S. Best of all, you can order with confidence from a company with over 75 years experience selling high-quality, commercial-grade equipment to the profes-sional cleaning industry. Circle 301 Circle Product Information no. 215 on page 32 Pullman Holt Company 8 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • October 2009
CMM – Archives Oct 2009: 8
