The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established specific guidelines alongside detailed workers' rights in regards to the facility owner(s) and manager(s) responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy work environment during flu season.

A recent survey conducted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has confirmed that workers and occupants of LEED Certified Green Buildings are happier, healthier, and more productive than their counterparts.

The Positive Impact of Working in a Green Building Environment
A new study has revealed that office workers are not only happier and more productive in LEED-certified green buildings, they consciously prefer and seek out employment with organizations operating out of these types of facilities.

Asthma affects approximately one in thirteen Americans, leading to costs associated with lost productivity, absenteeism, and mortality in the tens of billions of dollars each year.

Improving Indoor Air Quality to Remove Asthma Triggers
Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) presents significant financial incentives for U.S. schools and businesses.

A recent case study has outlined the success of a Utah school district and their incredible success in implementing green cleaning and other environmentally friendly facilities management practices.

School District Goes Green for the Win!
Implementing green cleaning, recycling, and integrated pest management programs into a school or businesses facilities maintenance and management services has a demonstrably high impact on:

Custodial employee retention.

A recent study has shown how quickly germs can spread through a classroom from just two 'contaminated' students, in a matter of hours--and it all started at the water fountain.

How Quickly Do Germs Spread in a Building?
Previous studies have shown that a single contaminated person can spread germs throughout an office, and to several individuals, within a matter of hours.

A recent study has confirmed that a large portion of the equipment in athletic and workout facilities are covered in more germs than the typical public restroom.

How Germy is Your Gym?
The new year brings new resolutions for fitness among adults and college students--increasing the foot traffic throughout your facility, and bringing numerous germs and bacteria with them, including:

Athletes foot.

Workplace illness costs U.S. employers hundreds of billions of dollars per year in direct and indirect costs due to poor workplace hygiene and the inadequate cleaning and sanitization of germ hot spots.

Addressing the Gaps in Office Hygiene and Hot Spot Cleaning
While the numbers do not lie, it turns out many of us may be--self-reported handwashing percentages range in the high 90's, while observed behavior is more around 60-70%, with numbers decreasing among younger demographics, as well as, disgustingly, after occupants of any age use the restroom.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), washing your hands is the single most reliable and best method for preventing the spread of germs and infectious disease--a practice adequately adhered to by far too few people.

Hand Hygiene by the Numbers
Several studies over the last few years have identified hand hygiene as the best approach to preventing the spread of dangerous germs and bacteria, both to others and ourselves--going so far as to claim hand washing may be a better preventative measure than the influenza vaccine.

The recent government shutdown has shown the uninspiring and extremely problematic issue with public facing or private services that lack the necessary custodial services to maintain the health and performance of any facility.

What Happens When There is no one to Clean?
Politics aside, the lack of funding which paid the wages of the custodians in California’s national park system has demonstrated the impact of the absence of critical cleaning and janitorial services for any facility—be that schools, businesses, or public services.

Recent research has shown that the infectious period of the flu can be as little as 12 hours with the common cold coming in at approximately 24 hours--underscoring the importance of isolation while sick.

The Business Case for Staying Home When Sick
Staying home when sick—everyone talks about how important it is, but research into the subject has shown that relatively few adhere to the advice, and not always for the reason many may assume.