Cleaning professionals play a critical role in maintaining safe and sanitary environments in healthcare facilities, schools, offices, and public spaces. One of the most vital aspects of their job involves understanding and managing the risks associated with bloodborne pathogens (BBPs)—infectious microorganisms found in human blood that can cause diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV). Accidental exposure to contaminated blood or bodily fluids through cuts, punctures, or mucous membranes poses a real health threat. That’s why it’s essential for all cleaning staff to be properly trained in recognizing, handling, and disposing of materials that may carry bloodborne pathogens.

Training and awareness empower cleaning employees to take appropriate precautions and use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, face shields, and protective gowns when dealing with potentially infectious materials. Understanding universal precautions—the practice of treating all human blood and certain body fluids as if they are infectious—ensures staff do not become complacent or assume a surface is safe. Staff should also know how to safely clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, manage sharps disposal, and follow post-exposure procedures, including medical evaluation and incident reporting.

Beyond safety, knowing about bloodborne pathogens helps reinforce a culture of professionalism and accountabilitywithin cleaning teams. When employees are confident in their ability to protect themselves and others, they perform their duties more efficiently and with greater peace of mind. Additionally, it demonstrates that the employer is in compliance with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), which is a legal requirement for many workplaces. In summary, educating cleaning employees about bloodborne pathogens is not just about compliance—it’s about protecting lives, maintaining trust, and ensuring a safe environment for everyone.

There’s many jobs that can potentially expose you to bloodborne pathogens. OSHA sets standards and guidelines for staff and employees to protect themselves and everyone around them from exposure. The virus's you could potentially be infected by are offered in different forms and transmitted in different ways but all lead to the same demise. DEATH.

Following OSHA rules are obligatory/mandatory, NEVER optional. Some OSHA practices include, wearing PPE, no hand to mouth motions around exposure areas, avoiding splashing, proper use of disposal, and using properly labeled bins.

The most known but definitely not the only bloodborne pathogens are HBV and HIV. Blood is not the only fluid that transmits these pathogenic microorganisms. Vomit, urine, and feces coming in contact with your mucus membranes exposes you to these deadly viruses. I now hope you understand the importance of bloodborne pathogen training in the workplace.

When handling contaminated trash, or cleaning and disinfecting areas where blood or other bodily fluids could be present, it is important to know and understand the proper procedures associated with handling this type of hazard. First, you must identify the hazard and what sort of disinfection protocol will be necessary for cleaning. Second, you must assure that you understand and are correctly utilizing the necessary PPE to protect and prevent contamination. Third, when disposing of contaminated items, you must take proper precautions. 

It's also very important to know and understand what chemicals you will need to disinfect the contaminated surface that you are cleaning. Certain bloodborne pathogens require specific disinfection protocols. If you are unsure of what to use on a specific contaminate, you must ask for assistance.

It is incredibly important to follow these steps to ensure you do not contaminate yourself or others with HBV, HIV, or other bloodborne pathogens. It's also important that if you do come into contact with these substances, you report it to your supervisor immediately. Failure to do so could leave your organization out of compliance with OSHA standards, and subject to fines. 

There are a lot of ways to implement medical cleaning solutions into residential and commercial cleaning. The most important is having the knowledge of how to properly do so. IJCSA is a reputable source in not only finding a great company to do so, they also provide training and certifications to ensure companies are able to do so.

One should focus on high touch areas using proper techniques to eliminate cross contamination. Ensuring that high touch areas are provided the attention to detail they need on a frequent basis. Areas such as light switches, doorknobs, elevator buttons, etc are areas that hold the most germs. Having a staff who is properly trained can prevent the spread of germs.

A top to bottom cleaning method is useful as well. This idea of cleaning from ceilings to floor prevents dust from spreading. Once the ceiling is cleaned it allows any debris from the ceiling to fall from the floor. As the floor is cleaned last, all debris from the ceiling can now be properly swept and mopped without living leaving any dust behind. Mopping in a figure 8 motion ensures the entire floor has been touched.

Lastly all staff should be properly trained and have blood pathogen awareness. In doing so your staff should be in compliance with all health cleaning requirements in any medical facility. Companies should ensure access to PPE when necessary. Along with reference manuals as refreshers to knowing how to properly clean medical facilities. IJCSA is a great source of information to help any janitorial company to fill in the gaps of knowledge in the medical cleaning industry.

Using green, eco-friendly cleaning products can improve the air quality, reduce health and environmental concerns and sets the standard for environmentally responsible behavior. Contributing to a well thought out green cleaning practice will benefit not only client, but it will also ensure that you are reducing your impact on the environment. Your clients will appreciate this and maybe even start using green cleaning products themselves! green cleaning service directory

To implement a good green cleaning service program you must first conduct an audit of the facility or area in which you have been hired to clean. This will help you assess which areas need the most improvement and build a comprehensive plan around this. Next is to train the cleaning staff with the use of chemical and equipment handling and cleaning procedures. Afterwards, review the progress to make sure the green cleaning program is successful and implement any changes. 

Find IJCSA Certified Green Cleaning Services Here

Maintaining a clean and professional health care space is vital in creating a safe environment for patients and healthcare workers. There are also legal requirements involved in doing such. Having a cleaning company who has knowledge to maintaining a clean healthcare environment can be found from reputable sources just as IJCSA.

It is important to remove contaminants from medical equipment, floors, bedding, etc to prevent cross contaminations. When preventing the transfer of germs from patients and staff the area is considered appropriately sterile and clean.

Maintaining a clean and sterile healthcare environment reduces the risk of the likelihood of spreading germs and infections. Knowing how to prevent these measures greatly diminishes the chances of harmful bacteria and pathogens being spread throughout the facility.

Great customer service is the foundation of every successful janitorial and cleaning service. It goes far beyond simply completing a task — it means showing up on time, communicating clearly, respecting our clients’ homes and facilities, and consistently delivering results that exceed expectations. In the professional cleaning industry, trust is everything. Clients are inviting us into their businesses, schools, medical facilities, and homes, and they deserve reliability, professionalism, and integrity every single visit. That is why members of the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association (IJCSA) are committed to operating with transparency, accountability, and a true customer-first mindset.

IJCSA Members understand that great customer service means listening carefully to client needs, customizing cleaning programs, responding quickly to concerns, and standing behind our work. We prioritize safety, ongoing education, and industry best practices to ensure every client receives dependable, high-quality service. Our members are trained professionals who value long-term relationships over quick transactions, and we take pride in maintaining clean, healthy environments for the communities we serve. When you hire an IJCSA Member, you are choosing a company that puts clients first and treats customer satisfaction as a top priority. To find a trusted IJCSA cleaning professional near you, visit the IJCSA Business Directory at:

https://www.ijcsa.org/business-directory

Looking for a safe, environmentally responsible way to clean your home or business? Discover the difference with IJCSA Certified Green Cleaning Services! Our members specialize in using eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products and sustainable methods to deliver a spotless clean without compromising your health or the environment. Whether you’re sensitive to harsh chemicals or simply want to reduce your carbon footprint, choosing an IJCSA green cleaning service means you’re making a smart and responsible choice.

All IJCSA Green Cleaning Certified Members are trained to follow the highest standards of green cleaning. That means using biodegradable, plant-based cleaners, low-emission equipment, and eco-conscious techniques that are both effective and safe for kids, pets, and the planet. From residential homes to commercial spaces, our members offer customized solutions tailored to your needs—while maintaining strict adherence to environmental best practices.

Ready to breathe easier and enjoy a cleaner, greener space? Visit the IJCSA Green Cleaning Directory today to find a trusted professional near you. Make the switch to green janitorial services, non-toxic home cleaning, and environmentally safe sanitation today—your family and the Earth will thank you. Join the thousands of satisfied clients who trust IJCSA members for reliable, sustainable cleaning solutions every time.

Understanding bloodborne pathogens is crucial in the workplace. All accidents that involve anything resembling blood should be treated as such and properly cleaned up.  Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that are present in human blood and may be found in other bodily fluids, such as vomit, feces, saliva and urine. These pathogens cause diseases such as Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and HIV which may progress into AIDS.  These pathogens can be spread through ingestion or exposed skin containing a cut or lesion.  To clean and prevent further exposure, certain steps should be taken.

The first step is to secure the area so no one else will be exposed. Second, a bloodborne pathogen kit should be obtained and all instructions read.  The kit is filled with items to help protect the person cleaning.  Common kit items include a mask, shovel and scoop, absorbing powder, booties, a biohazard bag, safety goggles, apron, towelettes and germicidal disposal wipes etc.  Proper cleaning steps should be completed and everything disposed into a biohazard bag. This PPE helps protect the cleaner from exposure. 

Knowing this information protects the cleaner and other employees and staff from potentially getting sick or catching a fatal disease.   The last element is proper documentation.  Every business should have instructions on how to handle bloodborne pathogens on site with proper training for all employees.  Management should always be notified and information forms completed when an exposure occurs.  

Maintaining the look of your carpets is not an easy task. Each day, home and building occupants walk back and forth on carpets which can leave them looking worn and dirty. If residential and commercial occupants do not know how to properly care for carpets, it may be in their best interest to contact an IJCSA carpet cleaning company to assist.

IJCSA cleaning companies found on https://www.ijcsa.org/Carpet-Cleaning-Directory are certified and trained to clean carpets, remove pet odors, stains, and soil. They have access to advance cleaning techniques and equipment that can revive the look of your carpets or keep them looking new.