I look back to my own hourly jobs after school and I can only remember the clock watching and longing for the days off. Each day at work just rolled into the next day, each day seemingly non-descript and without purpose. How is it that I can expect anything different today from employees? When employees are adrift without purpose it is a management shortcoming. If there is not simple to describe path to hourly advancement that is constantly demonstrated, apathy always follows. A simple and clear path to grow is what we all seek.

Over the past two years corporate America has faced increasing pressure to “go green”, sustainability has become a media buzz word and increasing numbers of suppliers are now selling “green” in their standard proposals.

Much of the burden to go green falls on the shoulders of purchasing departments and facility managers as stakeholders begin to demand comprehensive recycling programs and more environmentally friendly janitorial services.

Before “going green” you must consider why are you going green? Companies essentially go green for two reasons. The first is out of a real commitment to sustainability and the health of their employees, stakeholders and environment. The second is to generate some positive PR. For the purpose of this blog I am going to assume that all readers fall into the former group rather than the latter.

A few things to consider before “going green”

What is your timeline to roll out green services?
Implementing a green cleaning program can take some time as your building services contractor may have to provide additional training to service personnel, acquire new equipment and restructure the nightly workflow.

How much disruption are you willing to accept?
To a certain degree green cleaning is different from conventional janitorial services and implementing a new program could cause some minor disruption Many of the disruptions are temporary as recycling programs are implemented, toilets retrofitted and paper products change. Some changes are ongoing. Before going green most be consider the willingness of the end users to help make change. A greener building does involve some sacrifices; floors may not shine as much, employees may not be able to dispose of their lunch in their desk-side waste cans and your facility may look different once a greener program is implemented.

Is cost a factor?
While contributing to the earth’s sustainability is a noble goal practical considerations must come into play. Green cleaning services are, most likely, more expensive due because of the initial cost of implementation. Before discussing greening your facility you must first consider what the service is really worth to your organization. Regardless of how much or little you are willing to extend your facility services budget your cleaning contractor should be able to come up wit ha green program that is right for your facility.

Is your goal to improve indoor air quality alone?

Using green cleaning products is often the logical choice as low VOC products improve air quality and have been linked to a reduced absenteeism. Depending on the nature of your facility and your company’s commitment to going green a transition to green seal products may be the only change that needs to be made.

Are you looking for a serious change and a holistic green cleaning program?
Green Seal products are only a first step in the greening process. If you are looking to implement truly “green” facility services you must find a contractor that is familiar with and capable of adhering to the GS-42 Standard.

Is this all you’re doing?
Greening your facility and reducing your company’s carbon footprint doesn’t start and end with facility services and recycled paper products. If a corporation is truly ready to change it must look at its entire operational structure and see where there are other areas that can be improved.

Many factors lead to the shift from in-house janitorial services to outsourced contracting but none weighs more heavily than the fiscal need of corporations to reduce risk. A disproportionate amount of the injuries that occur in the workplace happen amongst hourly, service-level employees. The reasons for this range from the obvious, service level workers are involved in physical type work to the speculative or even absurd.

Contracting cleaning services is an obvious choice because not only is some of the risk shifted elsewhere. In addition to reducing exposure risk that comes from workers compensation claims the customer effectively shifts the burden of costly training and supervision to the building services contractor. As a BSC we must accept that we do absorb these risks and constantly find ways to control these risks internally for economic reasons but also, more importantly, to safeguard our workforce.The three most common on-the-job injuries that occur during the routine janitorial Services

Slip-and-fall accidents are the hardest accidents to prevent as so many factors come into play. Strictly enforcing a dress code policy that mandates non-slip shoes or sneakers and prohibits cleaners from wearing baggy pants which can “trip- up” a cleaner during routine work is a first step. Overwhelmingly the most effective way to reduce slip-and-falls is through training and on-site orientations introducing service technicians to the potential hazards of an individual facility.

Lifting injuries can be eliminated by ensuring that each employee is a physical match for the tasks involved at each jobsite. Not only does this reduce injuries it also puts employees in a position to be successful in their work without forcing them to overcome unnecessary obstacles. BSC should also have in place a safety training which covers safe lifting procedures.  Chemical Splashes are among the most serious of these common accidents as they can, in some cases, lad to blindness. To protect employees from these injuries proper personal protective equipment (protective eyewear, gloves, aprons) should be provided to all employees. Additionally, the use of less caustic cleaning products such as those certified by Green Seal and the adoption of dispensing systems such as j-fill stations can virtually eliminate any risk posed by chemicals and solvents on the job. Overall, these injuries are obvious and usually non-life threatening. The seemingly innocuous nature of these accidents are easily dismissed by employees during routine training sessions. For training to be effective against the loose work habits that lead to the 3 most common injuries; the training must be frequent and varied in message. We have utilized the same safety messages in payroll inserts, newsletters and on-site handouts. When quality control inspecting while work is in progress it is an excellent time to refresh in ways to avoid the 3 most common injuries