Columbia Public Schools administrators are working to reorganize the district's custodial staff to create more efficiency.

The assistant director of facilities recently quit, creating an opportunity for the district to look at a different model for its top custodial staff. The new model will add three area supervisors in addition to having an assistant director. The area supervisors could field calls and questions from custodians undefined a job now done primarily by the assistant director, Deputy Superintendent Nick Boren explained to the board of education. At night, when the maintenance staff gets most of its work done at the schools, there is only one supervisor for employees to turn to, he said.

More at source: Columbia Tribunne

Sept. 10, 2012 -- Household cleaning products may contain toxic substances linked to health problems such as asthma allergic reactions, and cancer according to a new report by the Environmental Working Group.

The environmental group rated more than 2,000 household cleaners -- from laundry soaps and stain removers to bathroom cleaners and floor care products. Products are graded A to F based on the safety of the ingredients and how well the maker discloses those ingredients.

One industry trade group disputes the findings, though, saying the report doesn't make the grade.

More at source: Web MD

Find a GREEN Cleaning ( non-toxic ) cleaning service here

MANILA, Philippines - Ronald Gadayan, a janitor who returned a large sum of money he found at the airport, was given commendation by his bosses and colleagues in simple rites during a flag raising ceremony on Monday.
 
Gadayan, a contractual janitor who receives a daily wage of P400, was doing his duty as a glass cleaner at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2 departure area  on September 3 when he found an abandoned black Burberry bag  underneath the chairs.
 
Gadayan did not hesitate to bring the bag to his superior. Both of them turned the bag over to the lost and found section of NAIA Terminal 2.
 
The bag, which contained more than P600,000, pieces of jewelry and personal documents, was returned to its owner, Francis Lloyd Chua.

More at source: ABC CBN News

McALLEN undefined After checking the windows for fingerprints, the janitor asked for paper.

Several years ago, Roel Recio had enrolled at South Texas College and attempted to transform his passion for art into a career. But Recio quickly dropped out, unable to juggle family undefined three daughters and his 12-year-old brother, who Recio adopted after their parents died undefined work and school.

Now 27, Recio had taken a job cleaning bathrooms, re-arranging furniture and performing other menial tasks at NIU Urban Living, the ultra-hip furniture store on North 10th Street.

More at source: Brownsville Herald

A janitorial company working in a Missoula nursing home has been cited with almost $60,000 worth of safety violations after exposing workers to multiple hazards, including failure to provide hepatitis B exposure prevention training to employees.

Healthcare Services Group Inc. was issued five citations Aug. 7 from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after inspections were opened in May at the Missoula Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Two “repeat” violations – for failing to make vaccinations for hepatitis B available and failing to provide training to employees on hazardous chemicals – carry $44,000 worth of fines. Healthcare Services was cited for similar violations in its Laurel facility and at a facility in Pueblo, Colo., in the past five years, an OSHA news release said.

The three other violations were classified as “serious,” and included not providing the correct training to prevent the spread of hepatitis B.

“Employers must protect workers who are occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials,” Jeff Funke said in the OSHA news release. Funke is the director of OSHA’s Billings-area office. “This employer placed workers’ health at risk by not offering them required bloodborne pathogens training.”

More at source: Missoulian

The DeSoto Board of Supervisors, with little debate but hearing a plea for janitorial workers who are losing their jobs to outsourcing, approved Tuesday a lean fiscal 2013 budget of $104.2 million in expenditures.

It's an 8 percent cut from this year's blueprint but still allows for increases in jail-operation costs and a 3 percent raise for county workers. The vote of the five-member governing board was 4-1, with supervisor Bill Russell of Walls casting the lone "no."

More at source: Commercial Appeal

Spills on your couch can be difficult to spot clean and many people go to using expensive and harsh chemical cleaners. Before you resort to that, try removing the spot using dish detergent that's been whipped by a hand mixer.

Household weblog Apartment Therapy recommends using a manual hand mixer to whip dish detergent into a froth, rubbing the froth into your upholstery with a rag, and rising the whipped detergent out with water.

More at source: Life Hacker

MANILA, Philippines - Two window cleaners were slightly injured after their gondola was hit by a sudden strong gust of wind while cleaning the RCBC Plaza along Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Monday morning.

Acting Makati City police chief, Superintendent Jaime Santos, identified those injured as Roberto Rendon and Victoriano Nietes.

Rendon and Nietes were rushed to the nearby Makati Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

According to the Makati Rescue, Rendon and Nietes were cleaning the outside reflective glass at the 40th floor of the RCBC Plaza’s Yuchengco Tower at about 10:15 am when their gondola was hit by a strong gust of wind. The Yuchengco Tower has a total of 46 floors.

More at source: PhilStar.com

Jani-King International, the world’s largest commercial cleaning franchise company is proud to announce its new partnership with the Buffalo Bills as the Official Cleaning Company of the team and Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The new partnership allows Jani-King to provide services and sponsorship to the Bills organization which is a huge victory, boosting the mindset of the local Jani-King regional office and its franchisees.

“The Buffalo Bills are a staple in their city and throughout Western New York,” said Andrew Espitia, Executive Director of National Accounts at Jani-King corporate. “There is a lot of excitement among our franchisees in Buffalo and we are proud to have the opportunity to clean Ralph Wilson Stadium.”  Jani-King of Buffalo started its service at Ralph Wilson Stadium in July.

More at source: Buffalo Bills

Mount Airy Fire Department units responded to a structure fire in the building that houses the Salvation Army Family Store and Professional Rental Services on Fredrick Street after 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to Mount Airy Fire Department Chief Zane Poindexter, flames and smoke were visible when units arrived on the scene. No one was hurt in connection with the fire that appears to have started from a professional cleaning machine that produces heat. Poindexter said the machine had malfunctioned and overheated, causing the fire.