Bloodborne pathogens are nothing to sneeze at. They are infectious microorganisms that can cause disease and death in humans. They were here before us and they're not going away anytime soon. Humanity in its ingenuity has created methods and antimicrobial s for minimizing exposure through cross-contamination. Understanding the viral pathways for infecting humans is part of the knowledge necessary for containing these life-threatening pathogens, which may exist in a person's bodily fluids.  

Personnel providing cleaning and disinfecting services are likely at a higher risk than the general public for contacting blood-borne pathogens. Therefore knowledge with personal protective equipment, handling of antimicrobial chemicals, cleaning procedures and cleanliness verification is crucial for a successful cleaning and disinfecting project, in which personnel are safe, and the needs of the client are met.

Management also has unique responsibilities such as continuing education in procedures, equipment and emerging technologies, while maintaining proper insurance, truth in marketing and cleaning personnel education and training.

Occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials puts you at risk for serious illness or death. That is why it is important to educate employees on workplace safety, exposure prevention, and what to do if an exposure happens. With proper training, employees will greatly prevent, reduce, and avoid the chances of exposure and harm.

Cleaning jobs are at a great risk for exposure; there could be blood spills that require clean up or a needle in the laundry. Without proper training, we could really harm ourselves.  The facility you work at should have an occupational exposure protocol in place. The protocol is a list of directions showing employees what to do if they are exposed to blood or body fluids on the job, potentially exposing them to bloodborne pathogens.

Once an employee receives proper training, they will be able to safely handle these situations. The paper training keeps your employees safe, you customers safe, and you safe! 

Here at On The Spot Cleaning Service, we value customer service as it is our way of life.  Now we are happy to offer Green Cleaning Services to extend that customer service a little more.  As we focus on not only making sure that your cleaning needs are met, but that we can help you and your employees stay safe and germ free in the process.

   We make sure that all of our employees are educated on the Green Cleaning process and the products that work with our new system. We have dumped a lot of our store bought chemicals and in the process of replacing with natural green products to ensure your safety.

  Not only will we replace some of our cleaning products but we have also changed some steps in our process to make sure that we are going above and beyond to make our clean as healthy as we can.  

   If you are looking for a cleaning crew that cares and wants the best for our clients office as well as their health, you have found the right one in On The Spot Cleaning. 

   There is no doubt that over the last thirty years the cleaning business has evolved into a much more environmentally friendly industry. For many years toxic chemical products were used to cleanse. There was basically no focus on the environmental impact of the chemicals or their disposal.

    Today's janitorial services have become much more aware of the chemicals that are used and how they affect people, animals, and nature. This translates into the use of green cleaning materials and practices. There are checks and balances now in place to ensure that the cleaning materials that are used have a better risk vs. benefits ratio. I'm sure that as time marches on the products will become even more environmentally friendly and green.

Find Professional Certified Green Cleaning Services Here

Being Green Clean Certified would be huge impact all across the board, not only for my company but for me as well.  I think that it will make my company more marketable as a Green Cleaner vs just regular commercial cleaning.

    More companies and their employees are becoming more health conscious and worried about any and everything that may negatively effect their health.  It could start with my company being able to help and offer them a service that not only helps them focus on work and not cleaning the office but a service that is in line with their health goals.

  Sure that would be nice to take advantage of making a few extra dollars because they trust my process and system but for me it would be even more pleasurable to know that after my team cleans a location that the chemicals and process that we use will help keep my customers and their employees stay healthy. 

   With my company, we are huge on customer service as it is our way of life and what drives us.  Knowing that we can help people period, makes us feel good but being able to offer 2 great services "GREEN CLEAN" in one to a customer with their best interest at heart makes us really feel good after each job.

Find Professional Certified IJCSA Green Cleaning Companies Here

Tired of breathing in STRONG, harmful cleaning products after your cleaning crew is done?  Ready to start your search for a new Green Cleaning crew, then you are in the right place. 

With IJCSA, its very easy to find a certified Green Cleaning team simply by looking into the Green Cleaning Service Directory.  With a few clicks, this directory provides you with contact/company info on our certified Green Cleaning teams.

IJCSA, makes sure that all certified members are fully educated on every step and process in a great green clean.  With the knowledge gained in the certification process, we feel great knowing that we not only left your office cleaner but a little safer for you and your employees. 

It is of high importance for employees to follow OSHA guidelines about bloodborne pathogens. It will help reduce the risk of exposure diseases, blood and bodily fluids.

It's very helpful that employees are required to complete training before beginning tasks where there is a reasonable chance of exposure. Employees should keep up to date with different techniques for cleaning up as well how put on, remove, and dispose of PPE.

Wearing personal protective equipment is very important for preventing contact with potentially infectious body fluids.

With the current covid-19 crisis things are really brought to light about the importance of proper training and how to handle possible exposure. It is of the most importance that we protect ourselves from bloodborne pathogens.

We must use personal protective equipment at all times when there is any risk for exposure. Certainly using proper disinfectants and making sure to dispose of all PPE in labeled containers also helps facilitate proper handling long after we throw it away, its a chain reaction of being responsible for yourself as well as always considering the next person who may be handling what you've just cleaned. 

Keep in mind the Universal Precautions

Universal Precautions is the concept of treating all human/primate blood and other body fluids, tissues and cells (including cell lines) as if they were known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens.No matter what your job is, you need to be aware of how hazardous bloodborne pathogens are and know how to protect yourself. 

The employer must provide Biohazard Exposure training for all employees whose line of work may present risk of occupational exposure and each department or center should write a former plan detailing the proper protocols for handling potential occupational exposures or contamination involving biohazardous substances for their individual area as well as provide training for employees who are at risk for occupational exposure.  Also, Each department or center's protocol must include proper packaging, labeling, and delivery of biohazardous wastes to the College Health Center.

Do not eat, drink, or apply cosmetics, spray fragrance or  lip balm in work areas where there is a reasonable probability of occupational exposure. All procedures involving blood or other potentially infectious materials shall be performed in such a manner as to minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets of these substances.

Keep in mind the OPIM concept.

Good Luck!

Handle and store hazardous materials safely.

Biohazardous infectious materials are usually found in a hospital, health care facility, laboratory, veterinary practices, and research facilities. Workers in these places do not usually know which tissues or fluids contain dangerous organisms. For this reason, the workers should assume that every sample is hazardous and use appropriate protection at all times. Materials in this hazard class should only be used or handled by workers who are appropriately trained, aware of the hazards, and how to control them. 

Control measures may include:

• Ventilation (e.g., negative pressure, separate ventilation system)
• Biosafety hoods or cabinets
• Ultra-violet lights for disinfection
• Disposal containers for needles and other sharps
• Self-sheathing needles and lancets
• Sterilization – using high heat, high pressure, or using biocides to kill bacteria
• Worker education and training
• Procedures for disinfection and clean up
• Vaccination, where possible
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) – respirators, gloves, protective clothing, glasses/goggles, face shields, shoe covers
• Personal hygiene, including hand wash and other good practices to reduce the spread of infections and viruses.

 Workers must follow the routine practices that are based on the premise that all blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin or soiled items are potentially infectious. These practices, while mainly adopted by healthcare providers, apply to all professions in which workers may become exposed to infectious microorganisms through contact with blood and body fluids. Examples of these professions include police officers, trauma/crime scene clean-up crew, zookeepers, laboratory technicians, and embalmers.

Good Luck!