Properly cleaning healthcare facilities is so important to keep everyone safe and healthy. This includes: patients, visitors of patients, healthcare workers, as well as the cleaning personnel for these facilities. When a loved one has to go to the doctor or be admitted into hospital, you want the peace of mind of knowing you and your loved one will be safe from germs and bacteria as much as possible. 

Along with following healthcare protocol for patient health and safety in general, it is also important for the cleaning personnel to follow strict and proper regimens to help in the process of a clean and safe environment for everyone that comes in contact or indirect contact with a potential infection. As a professional healthcare cleaner, it is my responsibility to make sure I am doing my part to keep others as well as myself safe by doing the following with all healthcare facilities. I will wear the proper PPE, use the correct disinfecting products that are registered with the EPA, clean all high touch surfaces, wash hands regularly, and always put on a new pair of latex gloves before entering a new patients room. 

By following the procedures mentioned above I am confident that proper cleaning and disinfecting will help with the spread of germs and bacteria in a healthcare facility. I am thankful  for https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices with the opportunity to learn and also for allowing my business to be a part of this great organization.  

You or your cleaning company can implement medical cleaning practices into other residential and commercial cleaning situations by assuming that all surfaces are a potential exposure. By wearing the same required PPE (personal Protective Equipment) that is recommenced to clean and disinfect hospitals. Wearing a gown, gloves, eye protection will help minimize the risk of you getting an exposure.

If you are a cleaning crew for a hotel then you should use the same procedure that hospital use for linen cleaning. Put on PPE , gather loose linen and place it in a linen hamper or bag. remove pillow cases slowly, take the linen off the bed by folding the linen from the corners of the bed onto its self. try not to shake or agitate bedding as it will cause germs to be release in the air (airborne). Place all linen in a bag and place at the doorway or trash. Handling linen can be a potential for exposure to OPIM (Other Potentially Infectious Materials) semen, vaginal secretions or any other human body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood. When you go from room to room to clean make sure you change your PPE every time you switch rooms to help prevent cross contamination. Make sure that you are using EPA approved disinfectants.

Hepatitis B virus can live and survive on surfaces for one week. If your company uses the same standards as the healthcare standards for cleaning and disinfecting then you are going above and beyond in order to help stop the spread of infection. Make sure that all high touch surfaces are cleaned and disinfected (light switches, TV remotes, toilets, door knobs, sinks, etc.) Especially in this time with COVID-19 it is important to make sure that everything that comes in contact with a human being is cleaned and disinfected to the best of your ability.

Being IJCSA Green Clean Certified has so many benefits for any business that uses cleaners. It simply means that we are all doing our part to protect ourselves and the environment from the effects of chemicals, paper, and plastics that continue to destroy our planet.

For Bubble Bucket, being green certified will make all the difference to our customers and our community. In addition to the increased knowledge, we would be able to teach others the same great principles on which we founded our business to protect our health and the environment we live in. As cleaners ourselves, we are never aware of the effects that it takes on our overall health until its too late. We are here to stand at the fore front in our community to combat the negative practices that society taught us, of using the same products that can be purchased at any large retailer that have long labels of harmful chemicals. 

We have learned a lot of information over the course of our journey, mostly provided by the EPA. The EPA regulates the safer choice program that helps us to decide which cleaning products are safe for us, our families, and our plant. One of the most interesting facts I have found is that all the chemicals we use become apart of our water systems which damage the aquatic life that lives there and the reproduction of those species. 

In closing, this certification to us is a key component to any successful cleaning service and the motivation that we have to obtain it. Greener cleaning requires many hours of work and dedication to achieve. With a market leaning towards greener cleaning practices, we feel it will be imperative to embrace the challenge and protect our planet. As always dont forget about the wonderful environment provided by IJCSA, if your looking for any green cleaners in your area or need information, dont turn your cheek and follow the link. https://www.ijcsa.org/Green-Cleaning-Services 

Knowledge is power, therefore, it is of utmost importance that cleaning employees have the information necessary on how to deal with microorganisms that have the potential to cause disease.  Imagine coming across a contaminated needle in the bed linens and not knowing what to do!  Thankfully, we have training that can provide employees with education and an exposure plan, so they know exactly what to do.

Protection of self: When an employee is educated about bloodborne pathogens, they can protect themselves and decrease the chances of getting sick.  By knowing about PPE, universal precautions, how to handle bed linens, needles, spills, etc.. they can respond appropriately, notify their doctor and supervisor, and take action that may prevent disease.

Protection of others:  Knowing about bloodborne pathogens not only protects the employee, but protects everyone else.  When an employee knows how to use proper cleaning practices, this reduces the risk for everyone else; including coworkers, visitors, patients, etc. This creates a safer, healthier workplace for everyone.

It has never been more obvious than now, with the current pandemic situation, that we cannot take for granted cleaning procedures or protocols. We must be vigilant in developing a thorough offensive plan. This plan must include a clear understanding of what a pathogen is and what is required to develop a defensive and strategic plan. This plan should outline clearly, proper practices, handling of areas and transportation of contaminated items.

The first step is understanding that pathogens are presented in human blood and that they can cause serious and deadly diseases in humans. Exposure to these pathogens happen when they come into contact with mucus membranes such as the nose, mouth, or open cuts or breaks in skin.  This exposure can occur from blood, vomit, and saliva. Diseases such as HBV, Hepititus, HIV can be contracted from such exposure. This is why, a Universal Precaution Approach must be seriously adhered to.

OSHA requires that the Universal Precautions should be clearly outlined and posted at each work site. It is imperative that it be followed. Should contamination occur specific documentation must be submitted. This also requires records to be kept for 3 years. If an employee is exposed, they must know that the first thing they should do is immediately report it to their supervisor and notify their physician.  The cleaning employee should be made aware of potential symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and light color stools.  Remember the Best Defense is a Thorough Offense.

It is important for cleaning employees to be aware of bloodborne pathogens and the risks that come from them. But first we need to understand what they are. Bloodborne pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms in human blood which include HBV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

It's essential for employers to have knowledge on the procedures that are used to be cautious to help prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens. One way could be by taking special training classes to increase their knowledge on precautions they can take. Without these training classes the employees could be at risk of getting infected if the proper measures aren't taken.

In conclusion following the right steps when dealing with body fluids/ blood could prevent life threatening diseases in the workplace. 

With the climate we live in today it is more important than ever to know what Bloodborne Pathogens are, how they may affect you, your family, and the community at large. With so many diseases surfacing in today's world it is of paramount importance for everyone to know what these diseases are and how to properly protect yourself from infection.

The real danger in Bloodborne Pathogens is blood that has the ability to incubate diseases for extended periods of time. These particles can be absorbed through skin, accidentally injected, or find its way through one of the many open areas of the body like the eyes, nose, mouth and other areas. There are a myriad of other avenues of exposure like bed linens, towels, and handkerchiefs just to name a few.

It is important to know how to properly clean these areas to prevent infection not just for yourself but also for your family. The last thing you want to do is to bring something in that could cause serious illnesses like HIV or Hepatitis to any member of your family. Our charge is to clean areas and keep them clean and disinfected properly so that not just ourselves and our family's remain safe but the entire community as a whole. Those are the most important reasons that Bloodborne Pathogen training is so crucial.

   It is of very great importance to understand why owners, managers, and employees should be trained in dealing with bloodborne pathogens.

   HBV, HIV, and now with our recent pandemic of COVID-19 can be a deadly business. All cleaning companies should be treating every job as a possible death trap and care about making sure employees are practicing safety using the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Prevention and exposure guidelines.

  Using these simple tools and educating your employees can save you, your employees, and all your families possible tragedy in the future.

We can all benefit from a work environment that concentrates on the health and safety of its employees and clients. Making sure that your company is properly educated, trained and supported through policies and procedures required or recommended by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) can provide a safe workspace for your employees and offer them the confidence they need to provided quality services to your clients and that establish themselves in their careers.

OSHA requires that all employees in any industry that may come in contact with potentially infectious bloodborne pathogens (whether from blood or other bodily fluids) receive training and access to documentation, support and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as part of their employment. These standards are in place to protect your employees from becoming contaminated and exposed to potentially fatal diseases like HBV or HIV, as well as reduces the risk of spreading infected bloodborne pathogens to our loved ones and communities.

As employers, we should educate our employees of the risks and liabilities working in the spaces in which they are employed as well as their assigned tasks. If they are not properly trained, educated or cautioned, they unknowingly risk their lives in performing a service for our benefit. We must not be so careless or selfish. Cleaning companies should follow OSHA laws and provide the training and support essential to protecting our staff and ensuring a safe working envirnoment.