NALP Experience: Will You

In Memoriam: Bill Hildebolt

By Jill Odom

BILL HILDEBOLT, FORMER PRESIDENT OF NALP, WHICH WAS KNOWN

as Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) at the time, passed away in WinstonSalem, North Carolina, on March 28 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 76 years old.

Hildebolt earned a Bachelor of Scibook The Professional Entrepreneur: ence in food technology and then went When Cowboys Grow Up at a summer on to receive his Masters and Doctorates leadership meeting and all the proceeds in food science at Ohio State University. went back into the scholarship fund. After graduating in 1969, he joined the “He always did what was best for Campbell Soup Company where he the industry and he was always very eventually became the vice president of respectful of others’ opinions,” says David product and development. Snodgrass, owner of Dennis’ 7 Dees

One of his most notable developLandscape, based in Portland, Oregon. ments during this time was the Prego “He had great leadership skills and got spaghetti sauce. Hildebolt wrote about things done.” this accomplishment in his book It’s in “Many people knew Bill as a fine and There! dedicated leader in the lawn and land

“Talking to Bill about the food industry, scape industry, which he most certainly technology and advancements and all was, however, there was so much more the products developed was so incredibly to him,” Stropko says. “He loved his faminteresting,” says Barbara Stropko, owner ily, loved his farm, he was an educator, a of New Desert Gallery, Inc. based in Tucresearcher, a developer, he was creative, son, Arizona. “His stories of coming up he was an author, an entrepreneur, a with initial ideas, the process, successes corporate leader, a business owner, a and failed products, presentations of the craftsman, a traveler and much more. He products and getting to see the fruition had accomplished much in his life!” of the final product were so funny and Cundiff says the best times with Hilamazing. What we don’t know that goes debolt would be when they were playing into research and development of food golf or having dinner and listening to products!” the insights only he could bring to the

In 1994, Hildebolt shifted from the conversation. Cundiff says Hildebolt had food industry to the green industry when a way of identifying the core of an issue. he started Nature’s Select Premium “I would describe Bill as a strategic Turf Services and pioneered biologically thinker who was very passionate for our enhanced lawn care services. industry,” Cundiff says. “Mostly, I would

He joined the Professional Lawn Care describe Bill as you would be very forAssociation of America (PLCAA) board tunate to call Bill a lifelong friend. I have of directors in 2002 and shortly afterbeen very blessed to be one of Bill’s wards PLCAA entered discussions of association friends.” merging with the Associated Landscape Snodgrass says Hildebolt was a Contractors of America (ALCA). In 2005, thoughtful individual who you wanted to the two became known as PLANET. be around.

He became PLANET’s president in “I think Bill held himself to a very high 2009 and one of his personal charges standard,” Snodgrass says. “He was alwhile in this position was to share the ways looking to learn more or experience message that becoming an association more. He was a person of adventure. He member and taking advantage of its rewould just do, rather than think someday sources would raise the professionalism he may do that.” of the industry. Hildebolt also had a love of nature,

“Bill’s impact on our association is and a special attraction to old-growth seen everywhere,” says Jon Cundiff, trees and woodworking. Snodgrass says president of Weed Man. “His wisdom and when they visited the Camp 18 Logging insights on the association’s initiatives Museum in Elsie, Oregon, Hildebolt was have guided NALP to what it is today.” like a kid in a candy store.

Stropko says Hildebolt was a giver. “He was a gifted woodworker, a One example of this is when he sold his craftsman,” Stropko says. “I was blessed

to be the recipient of a beautiful bowl and one of his famous cutting boards. Knowing my love of colorful fall leaves and me living in the desert of Arizona, he called and told me to keep checking my mail. I had received a package full of the magnificent leaves I love, yellows, oranges, reds. He said his farm was ‘leaf paradise!’”

Stropko says it is an unfortunate loss for those who did not have the opportunity to meet Hildebolt as he is a testament to living life well.

“He was a very genuine guy,” Snodgrass says. “He was very unassuming. He was intelligent but he didn’t have an ego. He was extremely likable. He always did what’s best for the industry; there was no personal agenda. There were no grudges, it was just live the day for the day and get the best out of it and enjoy it.”

Hildebolt is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandi, his sons William Hazen and Joseph, his grandchildren Hannah and Hazen as well as his brother Jim and sister Mary Ann. TLP

SAFETYSPEAK

Safety Watch: Personal Hygiene

By Jill Odom

JUNE MARKS NATIONAL SAFETY MONTH AND WHILE THE

landscaping profession deals with a number of occupational hazards, one that can be easily overlooked is personal hygiene.

Yet COVID-19 has brought hand“General cleanliness in a workplace washing and general personal hygiene helps promote other safety behavior, for the forefront of people’s minds. and clean facilities are more likely to be Whether the pandemic is still ongoing or used than dirty facilities,” says Marissa under control by the time you read this Baker, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the article in the magazine does not change University of Washington’s Department the fact that hygiene is important to of Environmental & Occupational Health maintain a healthy workforce. Sciences and program director of indus

“Obviously poor hygiene practices trial hygiene. “An individual’s cleanliness risk the spread of COVID-19 to fellow at work affects others, too, including workers and crew members, not to co-workers and the public, so if there mention the distinct possibility of carrying isn’t good hygiene it may not make a very dirt, grime, residues, and germs home to good impression to potential clients or family members,” says Sam Steel, safety employees.” advisor for the National Association of Landscape Professionals. HANDWASHING DONE RIGHT

Not only does good hygiene keep Handwashing is one of the commonly workers and the public healthy, it can cited precautions anyone can take to also help prevent dermatitis and other help prevent the spread of COVID-19 skin-related conditions that may be and is a key pillar of personal hygiene. caused by work activities. This is because people frequently touch

How to wash your hands the proper way

Use hot water Wash for at least 20 seconds

Scrub under fingernails too!

Turn off the faucet with a towel

Wash your hands often

their faces and it is an easy way for disease to spread.

Proper handwashing ensures that if someone touches their face, they are at least doing so with a hand clean of bacteria or viruses. Not only that, but handwashing also helps keep members of the public safe by not spreading a disease when shaking hands or infecting a surface someone else might touch.

You may think even a child knows to wash their hands, but Baker says proper handwashing isn’t necessarily as simple as people think.

“When you are doing a textbook handwash, you have to wait for the water to get hot, scrub for at least 20 seconds with soap, including between all fingers and even under fingernails,” she says. “You also need to ensure that you don’t turn the faucet off with your clean hands or open the door with clean hands, which could then negate the good washing you just did.”

Baker adds that because handwashing is such a routine part of life it can be hard to convince yourself to wash your hands when they aren’t dirty visually.

“We all assume we are doing it adequately, so it can be hard to convince people they need to change their habit, or do it more frequently,” Baker says.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?

Speaking of frequency, Baker says that in a perfect world, everyone should wash their hands before and after consuming food, after using the toilet, after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing into their hand, after touching garbage or an animal, after coming in from outside or another location, and after shaking someone’s hand or holding their hand.

“For landscape professionals, ideally they should also be washing their hands after they remove gloves, since anything that is on the glove could be transferred to the hand removing the glove, and if they are sharing tools/equipment without gloves on, should be mindful of a few

more handwashings when sharing the equipment,” she says.

SOAP OR HAND SANITIZER?

As for the debate over whether hand sanitizer or soap and water is best when it comes to handwashing, Baker says soap and water is ultimately better.

“While both hand sanitizer and soap and water can remove viruses and certain bacteria, soap and water actually clean the hand, removing the dirt and debris that could trap viruses,” she says. “But hand sanitizer can often be easier to use since it can be used anywhere, and carried with the user, making it useful in certain situations.”

Steel adds research has shown this virus has a lipid (fatty) barrier that surrounds and protects it. This barrier can be broken by soap bubbles in what is called the lathering process.

“The more lather (bubbles) the more likely the barrier will be broken, and the virus splits open and is washed down the drain. By the way, warm water generates more bubbles, which translates into a greater positive effect against the virus. So now landscapers and lawn care workers have an even more important reason to wash away dirt and grime from the palms and backside of their hands, and from under their fingernails,” Steel says.

HOW TO MAKE PERSONAL HYGIENE A HABIT

Personal hygiene shouldn’t only be practiced or paid attention to in the midst of a pandemic, so take advantage of this time to incorporate the importance of hygiene in your culture of safety. Baker says it should be emphasized in training, modeled by all levels of management and owners, and prioritized by ensuring workers have access to clean, appropriate facilities to wash hands.

“By maintaining our new level of hygiene policies, procedures, and practices, and providing sanitizing products and continued training and briefings on infectious diseases, we may be preventing another major outbreak of this virus or its mutation(s),” Steel says.

Some of the ways to incorporate personal hygiene into your company culture include having a company-wide, written policy on hygiene, providing workers time to practice personal hygiene through additional breaks and ensuring workers have access to proper handwashing facilities, and/or hand sanitizer if getting to a handwashing facility is not feasible.

“The policy would include a general statement from ownership/management on the importance of practicing good personal hygiene and procedures for following through on recognized hygiene practices now and in the future,” Steel says. “Prominent signage on sanitation practices should be placed at locations where all employees can read and adhere to them – in a language all employees can understand.”

Steel says frequent handwashing and sanitizing practices should be adopted at or in offices, restrooms, shops, equipment and product storage yards; and, at work sites contracted by the firm.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Just like any other safety practice owners expect their workforce to follow, management needs to set good examples.

“If workers are expected to wash and sanitize hands, tools and surfaces at work, then company leadership should demonstrate and practice the same,” Steel says. “Company owners should encourage their employees to practice sanitizing guidelines while off the job and at home.”

MAKE HANDWASHING ACCESSIBLE

Baker adds that that workplace needs to make it as easy as possible for workers to be able to wash their hands whenever they want to. She suggests having a handwashing station near the water bottle filling station making it easy for workers to wash their hands.

“If handwashing facilities aren’t readily available to people, making a trek to wash hands hardly seems worth it, unless someone is also going to the bathroom,” she says.

Companies should put handwashing facilities in convenient locations, ensure workers have adequate breaks and are not penalizing a worker for taking the time to wash their hands as needed.

“Often, handwashing facilities in a porta-potty aren’t a pleasant experience, and someone wants to spend the minimum amount of time in a porta-potty,” Baker says. “Therefore, other handwashing facilities should be provided as well. Don’t make workers rely on porta-potty sinks if you are trying to encourage them to up their handwashing frequency and quality.”

However, Baker recognizes that many landscapers work alone and not all employers can put in handwashing facilities at every jobsite. She suggests looking into building a temporary handwashing station instead.

“This is something that every worker could feasibly have in their work vehicle, as long as the parts and upkeep are provided by the employer and they receive training on how to build it and transport it when out in the field doing work,” she says.

REMIND EMPLOYEES OFTEN

The final way to drive home the importance of personal hygiene is through constant reminders. Steel encourages posting critical messages about personal hygiene in prominent locations and to not tolerate lapses in proper hygiene. He says companies need to be proactive when it comes to the safety and health of employees, their families, customers, and the community.

“Practicing good hygiene is contagious in itself,” Steel says. “And, your customers will notice your employees’ attention to good hygiene in their appearance at the work site. Good hygiene is an excellent habit to develop and follow now and down the road.” TLP

Overlooked Areas of Hygiene

There is much that is still not understood about COVID-19 and varying reports on how long the virus can live on a surface, but the best rule of thumb is to simply clean these surfaces frequently.

“I believe we overlook those commonly touched surfaces where the virus may be ‘sticking around.’ For example: door handles to buildings, rooms, lockers, coolers, restrooms, vehicles; handles on tools and equipment; writing utensils; cellphones; and other surfaces,” Steel says.

Baker says another hygiene step that may be overlooked is reminding workers they need to wash their hands or at least sanitize them after taking off gloves.

“Outdoor workers are often wearing sunscreen, so hands should be washed before and after applying sunscreen since that requires touching their face,” Baker says. “If workers are wearing eye or hearing protection, hands should be washed before putting them on or adjusting them.”