12 A key tool for the future Electrostatic spraying’s pandemic boom has changed cleaning — and will continue to do so by Paula C. Lestinho
Park maintenance begins with park security
Ensuring safety and security of parks and outdoor facilities can help to reduce rates of crime and other hazards by Johnathan Tal
Keep your guard up! Take a four-step approach to ensuring pandemic levels of prevention remain by David L. Smith
Go pest-free this winter Here’s how to keep those pesky pests at bay through the coming months by Alice Sinia
Keeping your commercial carpets clean ICS Facility Services’ experts cover commercial carpet cleaning through winter and beyond
Commercial cleaning certainly looks different today than it did three years ago. From large-scale venues to residential and office services, we’re taking a look at how far the industry has come and where we’re headed.
This fall/winter issue highlights the challenges and the triumphs of cleaning and maintenance for multi-use facilities, large-scale ven ues, and residential and office spaces in this post-pandemic land scape.
We spotlight the evolution of technology and tools like electro static spraying, with a focus on how to stay vigilant with cleaning to continue preventing the spread of germs. We also highlight how to keep pesky pets away during the upcoming colder months, carpet cleaning through the winter and beyond, and the importance of park safety for facility maintenance.
In our cover story, we chatted with Yiannis Boutsalis and Lucy Reid from Impact Cleaning Services about the changing climate for large-venue cleaning, how they’ve thrived through recent chal lenges, and how company culture and level of service have paved the way for their success.
For our expert Q&A, we spent time with Tammy Watt, TCU Place’s Director of Operations, discussing how to maintain a multiuse facility, cleaning through the pandemic, attaining GBAC certi fication, and more.
We also take the time to cover this fall’s ISSA Show North Amer ica in Chicago, recapping the excitement and hum that was notice able on the trade show floor after a three-year hiatus.
Overall, this issue looks at how facility maintenance has evolved in the last few years, the lessons we’ve learned, and how to adopt new technology for today’s standards to keep hygiene and health and safety at the top of the priority list.
Can’t wait for you to read this issue!
JESSICA BRILL jessicab@mediaedge.ca
Plus, a look ahead at ISSA’s 100th year
by Tanja NowotnyISSA Canada made its return to the one show for facility solutions — ISSA Show North America — which took place at the McCormick Place Convention Centre in Chicago, IL.
After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic and resulting travel restrictions, it was time for the Canadian market to once again have a presence at the trade show, held October 10-13. And judging by the 11,000+ in overall attendance, many felt the same. In fact, this year’s event saw a 10 per cent increase in attendance over last year’s show in Las Vegas.
With a noticeable electricity in the air and a hum on the trade show floor, the 2022 show offered numerous opportunities for education and product discovery to assist industry professionals evolve their businesses and help change the way the world views cleaning.
As in years past, education remained a key draw to the event. This year, the show hosted over 70 education sessions, providing delegates with insight into such top-of-mind issues as hiring and retention in post-pandemic times, infection control and disinfection, budgeting, and the future of sustainability in the cleaning industry. Additionally, a host of workshops were offered allowing attendees to achieve industry accreditation or certification to further their business success.
Networking was also a key part of this year’s show. Among the multiple events that were held during ISSA Show North America, ISSA Canada was excited to see the return of its social event of the year — Canada Night. Held Wednesday, October 12 in the Vista Ballroom, ISSA Canada was extremely excited to welcome and reconnect with the 600 industry representatives who attended.
Held in conjunction with ISSA Show North America, Canada Night has traditionally been known as the highlight of ISSA Canada’s social calendar. This event allows Canadian representatives who are attending the show (along with their guests) an opportunity to mix and mingle, network with peers, and enjoy some fine food and beverages.
“Although there are still some fears around the pandemic and various travel challenges, ISSA Canada was so excited to see the great turn-out of Canadian representatives at this year’s Canada Night event,” said ISSA Canada Executive Director, Mike Nosko. “Canada Night provides ISSA Canada with an opportunity to celebrate our nation as well as those who comprise the Canadian sanitary maintenance and supply industry. It was just a fantastic night to reconnect.”
As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to look forward to the opportunities available in 2023 for industry professionals to connect, and remain in tune with the latest industry trends and product innovations.
ISSA Canada is currently well on its way to organizing the 2023 ISSA Show Canada taking place June 14-15 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. In addition to an expanded trade show floor, we’re excited to note that the upcoming event will also see an expanded educational program. Additionally, mark your calendars now for November 13-16, 2023, when ISSA will celebrate its 100th year at ISSA Show North America at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre in Las Vegas, NV.
There are exciting times ahead. ISSA Canada looks forward to celebrating them with our industry.
ISSA Canada would like to recognize and thank the sponsoring firms for their continued support of ISSA Show North America.
Thanks to Platinum Sponsors: Bunzl Canada, Charlotte Products Ltd., Dissan Group, Kimberly Clark Professional, and R3 Re-distribution; Specialty Station Sponsors: Advantage Maintenance Products, Diversey, Dustbane Products Ltd., Imperial Dade Canada, NaceCare Solutions, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, PLZ Corp., and STAPLES Professional; and Buffet Station Sponsors: Atlas-Graham Furgale, Certainty Brands by Innocore, ProTeam, SC Johnson Professional, Spartan Chemical, and Swish Maintenance.
At a large, multi-purpose facility like TCU Place, navigating health and safety is no easy feat
by Tom NightingaleLeading the cleaning and maintenance operations of a high-traffic, multi-purpose venue was a challenge before COVID-19, let alone during and since the pandemic.
In downtown Saskatoon, TCU Place is one such facility. The site hosts a convention centre that offers 104,000 square feet of meeting space with 21 different rooms and is also host to the 2,000-seat Sid Buckwold Theatre. As such, TCU Place hosts a wide variety of events. Conventions, exhibits, trade shows, fundraisers, meetings, galas, weddings, services, theatre productions, live comedy, live music — you name it, and TCU Place has probably hosted it.
The challenges this type of operation poses are, of course, innumerable. We spoke to TCU Place’s Director of Operations Tammy Watt about the facility, the difficulties of maintaining it, achieving GBAC STAR certification during the pandemic, and more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
WATT: “COVID-19 was a whirlwind. We obviously went through many changes, not least increased and evolving training and communication for our staff. As staff returned, each individual was made responsible for their own workspace while we took care of the common areas and the high-touch areas. It really did involve all staff members. As we began to return to operations, we obviously needed to bulk up our plans and communicate with our clients how we were going to help keep their teams and their people safe. That involved clear virtual and physical signing communicating the tasks we were performing, PPE, plexiglass separators, decals on the floors — all the things we became so accustomed to during the pandemic. As we progressed, things like foodservice returned and that brought its own challenges.
“We’ve been slowly getting back to business but a key concern I had is that while we want to keep talking about sanitizing, a lot of people are hoping to move on from that conversation and put it behind them. But we can’t afford to do that. Any operational director or cleaner will know that proper cleaning and sanitization is not just vital for COVID-19; it’s the right and important thing to do for all kinds of reasons. These are practices and principles that our facilities should and must always have.”
WATT: “The building and its main systems are 54 years old, which provides challenges in itself. We know the space well and we know what it needs but obviously there was work that needed to be done — upgrading and updating our filtration system, for example, in addition to all the existing and new checks on our equipment side. None of that ever goes away.
“Aside from sheer age, the main things to note are the size of our facility — we have 104,000 square feet of rentable space — and the variety of events we host. Hosting a variety of different events at all
hours is what makes our work exciting but it’s also what poses the sternest challenges. We have quick-turnaround programming, such as a wedding that runs until 2 a.m. before a meeting or conference or service at 7 a.m. next day. That’s always a big challenge, making sure rooms and common areas are properly sanitized and ready for that next group. It involves multiple teams. We were so fortunate, even though our event services and our cleaning staff team were furloughed at points, to largely keep those teams together. I know many facilities were not as fortunate.
TCU IS UNUSUAL IN BEING A CONVENTION CENTRE THAT ALSO HOSTS A THEATRE. HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE CHALLENGES?
WATT: “While we break operations down into theatre-side and convention-side, those two things sometimes cross over. Our theatre hosts traveling shows — everything from bands to comedians to theatre productions — and that brings another level of necessary procedures and precautions. These guests move from city to city and location to location and many of them have very strict rules that we need to abide by. These rules change from company to company. The basics, of course, are that we need to sanitize common areas and things such as dressing rooms, equipment, back areas on a very regular basis, but we also need to provide tangible evidence that we have met the standards required, as well as limiting staff contacts to only people who strictly need to be there. The main thing for us is making sure our clients know what is needed and what is being done and feel comfortable and safe in our facility. We are always responsible for making sure our facility is maintained to the point where we’re not a risk to anyone present.
WHY DID YOU IDENTIFY CERTIFYING YOUR TEAM’S WORK THROUGH GBAC AS A PRIORITY?
WATT: “These are people who know their stuff — microbiologists, pathologists, etc. They know the best practices and deal with facilities of all calibres and sizes and sorts, helping them step up their game in terms of sanitizing and infection prevention. What it did for our facility was allow us to take a good look at our systems and
cleaning routines and make sure they were sufficient. It enhanced much of what we were already doing and benchmarked it in terms of our inventory and equipment and protocols. It all began with a commitment from our leadership team, backed up with budgetary and staffing support. It was an all-round effort, not just something for our cleaning staff, and it came from the top
down, which was really great. Then, key staff were trained in GBAC Fundamentals. While staff were away when we were closed, and as they started coming back, they were trained in GBAC principles and practices. That trickles down to all staff on the floor. It’s also helped us take a step forward in operations through things such as creation of QR codes for frequency/time
recording sanitized areas and electrostatic spraying rooms, furniture, and surfaces. The focus now is on prevention.”
ASIDE FROM THE CORE PIECE OF CLEANING AND DISINFECTING, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS RUNNING A HEALTHIER FACILITY?
WATT: “The communication piece is huge. We’ve been messaging our patrons online, providing instructions for guests attending a show or partners coming in for events. It’s all about letting our clients know that we will work with them to achieve their level of comfort for their events, and that also helps to build trust, which is vital. We measure client satisfaction following each event, and one of the key areas we ask about is confidence in cleanliness and safety. We have consistently received scores of over 90 per cent in these areas, and GBAC helps our team to keep the focus. It’s going to be important to remind staff even as COVID-19 wanes that we can’t let down our guard. These high standards we have set need to be our new normal, and we need to ensure we have that visibility of our work and that diligence in cleaning, particularly visible in common areas, entrances, etc. Some people don’t like being continually reminded of it, but many people won’t feel comfortable these days if they don’t see it all. Flu season and cold season will be here before we know it and these bugs can be held at arm’s length by good, proper, solid practices. Sticking to the basics of best hygiene practices and communication is really important. It’s just the right thing to do.” /
Electrostatic spraying’s pandemic boom has changed cleaning — and will continue to do so
by Paula C. Lestinho
The COVID-19 pandemic has dra matically impacted the world’s ap proach to cleaning and disinfec tion, whether it’s the general public at home or commercial companies in their day-to-day. In every possible way, ensur ing safe practices and measures to com bat viruses and infections is a routine and integral habit in today’s society.
One positive of the pandemic has been the development and increased usage of a more efficient and effective solution for infection control concerns. During the pandemic, electrostatic disinfection technology was the magic wand we had been waiting for. Its usefulness and ef fectiveness make it a key weapon in a cleaner’s arsenal even as the world moves on from the worst of the pandemic.
Electrostatic spray technology is an easy one-step disinfection method which kills any pathogens or viruses on the surface in little time using elec trostatically-charged disinfectant mist sprayed onto surfaces. The sprayer is an easy handheld device which uses a specialized disinfectant solution and applies a charge to the particles while it exits through the nozzle. The fine mist offers wide coverage and elec tromagnetically sticks to all targeted surfaces, providing a 360-degree cov erage in seconds when used properly. The evenly coated disinfectant kills any pathogens or viruses on the sur face in two to five minutes.
Even apart from its one-step ease of use, electrostatic disinfection offers many ben efits, including:
• Electrostatic mist easily spreads and cov ers those “out-of-reach” nooks or cran nies or hidden areas that it is difficult and unrealistic to effectively clean through other methods
• Sprayers cover large areas and a high square footage at a faster rate which saves money, labour, and time when compared with conventional disinfection methods.
• Electrostatic disinfection uses non-haz ardous, eco-friendly chemicals and can be used safely during operational hours without significant disruption
• Disinfectant mist is quickly and evenly distributed, which means no risk of overexposure
• The disinfectants used are fast-drying and won’t leave any residues, helping to avoid the risk of cross-contamina tion by wiping it down
• The disinfectant mist easily adheres to all types of nonporous surfaces and will not damage equipment or surfaces including phones, computers, key boards, or electronics
• The mist leaves no harsh or unpleasant lasing odours — any smell dissipates in minutes
• The disinfectants used kill viral spores such as C Difficile in only four min utes and are effective against cold and flu H1 N1, Type 1 (HIV-1), Hepati tis A and B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enterica, and others
Ultimately, electrostatic spraying is the ideal choice to disinfect high-volume and high-traffic facilities and common areas such as lobbies, washrooms, changing rooms, cafeterias, etc. The touchless dis infection avoids the risk of cross-contam ination and sanitizes large areas in less time.
However, it’s vital again to recognize the difference between cleaning and dis infecting, and the importance of using more than one method. Electrostatic spraying is not a replacement for your regular cleaning — in reality, it is a com mon misconception that disinfectants are a two-in-one approach that can clean and eliminate germs at once. Electrostat ics provide no mechanical cleaning ac tion and are by no means a replacement for regular cleaning procedures. It is still important to clean and remove physi cal dirt before spraying, as electrostatic devices only disinfect mechanically precleaned surfaces. Always remember that “C” (cleaning) comes before “D” (disin fecting) — electrostatic disinfection is an “add-on” to your cleaning.
From a business perspective, a key advantage is that operators can disinfect surfaces in a matter of seconds while using less disinfectant overall. In fact, some electrostatic sprayers can disin
fect four times faster while using up to 65 per cent less disinfectant compared with traditional trigger sprayers. This is due to the even coating and efficiency of the charged droplets. This means fewer bottles, fewer refills, less potential sur face impact, less disinfectant, less labour strain, lower overall cost, and less time spent disinfecting. As with many things, less is truly more!
The healthier environment facilitated by electrostatic spraying offers long-term benefits by reducing the risk of work place illnesses or employee absentee ism due to contagious virus infections. By adopting and deploying systematic cleaning and disinfection services, you can provide a positive impact and greater overall health for your employees — as well as the tenants, residents, visitors, and workers in the building. Given the current state of the labour market, and with the public more aware of risk factors and illness prevention, a healthier work place is one of their key weighing factors while choosing an employer. It creates a positive perception and trust among em ployees when businesses care and invest in the well-being of their employees.
To eliminate harmful pathogens or viruses, electrostatic disinfection has become a must-have for all employers conducting business now and in future. Coming into the flu season, buildings and customers should prepare to use this effective system to be more proac tive. Touch-poi nt sanitization is the key to protection, and it is highly recom mended to implement these advanced systems. Although the world has now adapted, client education remains cru cial in the janitorial industry. Invest ing in reputable janitorial companies or in-house policies that use advanced technology is vital to ensuring a safe and healthier workplace.
Life in a germ-free world is an unreal istic aspiration, but having more awareness of how to stop the spread of infections and viruses makes for a better and safer envi ronment across the world. /
Ensuring
by Johnathan TalFor those who may not know, Victo ria Park is a historic, 18-acre park located in downtown London, Ont. It dates to the 1800s when it was the site of the British garrison. Today, the park is used throughout the year as an enter tainment centre and for various festivi ties. It is also known as a clean, comfort able, and safe place to hang out.
However, it was certainly not a safe place to hang out around 6 p.m. on August 26, 2022. That evening, a 33-year-old man was in the park when at least two others assault ed him, reportedly causing serious injuries.
Unfortunately, incidents like this happen frequently in parks all over North America. What happens next also happens frequently. If injured, the victim is taken to a hospital, a report is made, and an investigation begins, with very few leads to follow. When it comes to crime in parks, we must realize that we can’t expect police to be everywhere. As a result, police and administrators are put into a reactive position when a crime is commit ted. All they can do is react to the incident, try to uncover clues, talk to bystanders if there are any, and in the process, hopefully, find the culprit.
It’s not just crime that is a threat, either. In parks and outdoor spaces, there are vari ous hazards and accidents can often happen, such as trips, slips, falls, cuts, injuries sus tained on recreational equipment, and many other scenarios.
What would be more effective is for park ad ministrators, management, and maintenance staff to be more proactive. While a proactive approach will not deter all crimes and other unfortunate incidents from occurring in a city park, it should be able to reduce the number.
A proactive approach begins with a risk assessment. Then, with the risk assessment
completed, similarly important risk mitigation procedures can be implemented.
A risk assessment is designed to identify potential hazards, threats, and weak points in a park — or any exterior or interior facility. How ever, the assessment does not begin at the park gates. Instead, it starts by looking at the bigger picture.
For instance, according to areavibes, a website that analyzes cities as to livability, schools, demographics, and crime, the Victoria Park area gets “A” and “A+” rankings in most categories, but when it comes to crime, it drops down to “C+.” Total crime here is 11 per cent higher than the Canadian national average. Knowing that this area has a higher crime rate when conducting the risk assessment will encourage security professionals to be even more watchful when looking for ways to make the park safer.
Among the other steps they should and likely will take are:
• Examine park lighting. In the case of the attack on the man, was the lighting adequate? Was the lighting dim? Was there any lighting at all? A dim or dark park space, especially in a high-crime or highvolume area, opens the door to criminal incidents, accidents, falls, and more.
• Look for confusing layouts. It should be easy for park users to get out of the park, find parking lots, or get to the street, especially if they need to exit quickly.
• Hidden areas. Isolated or remote locations in a park often become magnets for illicit activities and places for criminals to find poten tial victims. Because park users are often involved in recreational activities, they may be less vigilant about protecting their belong ings and personal safety or less conscious of their own safety, once again opening the door to an unfortunate incident.
• Evolving loitering areas. Loitering areas are often found in hidden or improperly lit areas. All-too-often they turn into gathering spots for those looking to commit crime.
• Staff training. No risk assessment would be complete without ana lyzing whether park staff has been trained on park security. Their job in park safety is to become aware of potential risks in the park and help prevent them.
We defined a risk assessment as a process that looks for potential hazards in a park that could provide potential for incidents, hazards, or accidents. Risk mitigation is accomplished by decreasing the threat level. Addressing the items just discussed might include:
• Installing more and brighter lighting.
• Ensuring that exits are clearly marked for park users.
• Eliminating hidden locations.
• Educating staff on risk awareness and prevention procedures.
However, if the park is suffering from a high rate of incidents and accidents, additional steps may be necessary. Some that should be considered include the following:
• Installation of high-definition cameras, which are also “zero light” systems. These cameras are triggered by movement, and zero-light cameras can provide clear video footage of the park, day or night.
• Installing geo-fencing around open or less secure areas of the park. Geo-fences are virtual fences and imaginary boundaries. They notify park administrators if, for instance, someone enters the park after it is closed or approaches areas off-limits to park users.
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, allow park administrators to see aerial photos of their park quickly and discreetly. They can help ensure public safety, look for “lost” children, monitor animal life in the park, and detect potential threats to the park and those using it.
Canada is in a very enviable position. Compared to most other countries, crime, in general, has been going down. According to Statista, which tracks statistics like this, Canada’s crime rate has steadily decreased since 2003. However, that does not mean it does not happen, and accidents and other hazards are an every day occurrence.
Park administrators must proactively approach park safety, and taking steps now will pay dividends in the future, in Canada and all North America. /
Johnathan Tal is CEO of TAL Global. Based in Silicon Valley, TAL Global is a leading risk management, security consulting, and investigative agency serving clients worldwide.
22_001954_Fac_Clean_n_Maint_FALL_CN Mod: July 22, 2022 3:46 PM Print: 08/05/22 10:41:46 AM page 1 v7
With the heightened focus on hygiene and sanitation these last few years, what does commercial clea ning look like postpandemic? Things have changed and the once almost-invisible teams of people and the tasks they perform are now taking centre stage.
For companies like Impact Cleaning Services, some parts of the job have cer tainly shifted, but what matters most has stayed the same.
IN THE BEGINNING Impact’s company history began in 1954, although under a different name. Since 1997, it has been led by President and CEO Chris Boutsalis. Today, it’s a fam ily affair, with the next generation of Boutsalis siblings heading up the com pany. Two team members with a shared
history at the company, Vice President Yiannis Boutsalis and Director of Op erations Lucy Reid, now guide Impact Cleaning’s operations.
Starting off by servicing buildings on the ground, Yiannis began working for the com pany during the summers. Over the last 10 years, he worked his way up from a cleaner, to operations supervisor, project manager, director, and now vice president. Reid, once Yiannis’ supervisor, started at Impact as an operations supervisor, working her way up to director of operations, and has been with the company for 15 years.
“In an industry that’s so male-dominated, Lucy really stands out on her own,” says Boutsalis, calling Reid and her team “the backbone of the company.” It’s this state ment that really speaks to the company’s ethos and why Impact has thrived through the pandemic.
Cleaning on this scale is no easy feat. Be tween staffing, scheduling, and managing scope and scale, it takes a very specific skill set to get the job done.
“No two events are alike,” explains Reid. “Sporting events, fairs and festivals, and per formances all have unique and specific needs. Something as simple as confetti in a large arena can have an effect on your operations.”
Not only are there a lot of moving parts, but commercial cleaning companies are put to the test with double-headers, too, when a venue is hosting multiple events on the same day, sometimes with completely dif ferent set-ups. Transitioning from a concert to a sporting event could involve adding double crews, following up with deeper post-event cleanings, and rushing to get ev erything done before the rest of the event set-up happens.
At the time of this interview, Impact was working a stretch of 17 events in 16 days at the same venue with events of all sizes and setups. What’s the best way for a compa ny to manage a job of this size? Planning ahead is key. “Our ability to connect with our staff and have very good relationships is what helps us stay nimble and organized,” explains Boutsalis. “Whether it’s a fair for 100,000 people, an event for 20,000 guests, a 5,000-person seated event, or an office building, we make sure the standard is the same, and it’s because we are so hands-on.”
It’s this “all-hands-on-deck” mentality in its approach to management that has Impact continuing to grow in this market. “We in vest the time and effort to give a better work ing experience and to support our staff as much as we possibly can,” adds Reid.
Cleaning on this scale has always re quired agility, problem-solving, flexibil ity, and resourcefulness, but COVID-19
has shone a light on this industry and how they operate.
Most of us have been hyper-aware of cleanli ness and hygiene as safety tools during the last few years. With the world looking at disinfection under a microscope, cleaning companies have certainly felt the pressure to manage expectations, handle health and safety for their own employees, and provide a safe and clean workplace for the staff and guests of the venues they serviced.
The commercial cleaning industry was once an out-of-sight-out-of-mind opera tion for most, without a lot of transparency. Working at night, at off-peak hours, how did companies really know how well their facili ties were being cleaned? With the increased need for safety came the heightened expec tation that cleaning companies could and would actually deliver on their promises.
For Impact, the added attention did not complicate matters. In fact, it reaffirmed its existing practices. “We had a very high standard already, so that didn’t affect us so much. There was perception and education to address, but we were already perform ing to the highest standard, with systems in place. We were as ready as we could have been,” Reid says.
It was a lack of consistency that presented the biggest challenge for commercial clean
“Whether it’s a fair for 100,000 people... or an office building, we make sure the standard is the same.”
ers like Impact. Opening and closing, stopping and starting, and ever-chang ing protocols made it difficult to plan ahead and execute with regular efficien cy. The evolving landscape also made it tougher to accrue necessary supplies, have enough for everyone who needed them, and manage rising costs for those high-quality products.
“Everyone had different expectations,” explains Boutsalis. “We adapted to every cli ent’s expectations, holding ourselves to the highest standard, using the healthcare re quirements as our guide.”
The pandemic changed the cleaning land scape for good, shifting the public mindset and creating a new level of “normal” when it comes to germs and sanitation. Commercial cleaning companies have had to adjust their scope of work, now focusing on touch points and contact surfaces more than ever.
Hybrid work systems also need to be factored in, as they become more com mon in all types of workplaces. With more people coming and going with less consistency, and different people cross ing paths each day, this presents a new challenge for the cleaning staff.
So much more attention is being placed on cleaning and sanitation and leaving a venue “looking clean” is no longer
enough — there needs to be a cleanliness guarantee for safety.
For many companies like Impact, these adjustments are a way to focus on the pro cess, the products, and the principles. Reid emphasizes that Impact was already com mitted to managing the risks for its teams and following protocols to deliver the results it promises. “While these practices are new for a lot of our clients, and they’re now look ing closely at the processes, they aren’t new to us,” she says.
As well as its numerous pain points, the pan demic has also spurred progress within com mercial cleaning. The demand for transpar ency and the desire to minimize exposure have made room for technological advances to streamline processes, track supply consump tion, monitor traffic, and more.
Impact is working with property man agers to implement these tools to better
mitigate risk and maximize safety, using that data for visibility and to access build ing insights while they are off-site.
Following the heightened attention to sanitation protocols, cleaning companies have been able to capitalize on a growing demand for hygiene management. This has certainly been the case for Impact, which recently started up its own hy giene division, offering this much-need ed service while already on site to add value, save clients time and money, and help minimize additional traffic in the building.
Not only has Impact adapted to address the growing needs of its clients, but the company has also identified other ways it can add value for its clients. In 2019, they began operating a few cafeterias under the banner of Impact Food Services. This en deavour paused with the pandemic, pivot ing and expanding to offering coffee ser vices to offices.
What does coffee have to do with clean ing? Boutsalis explains it is all about the overall client experience. “We were al ready servicing these clients, so we sim ply expanded the ways we could help them,” he says. Approaching this verti cal with the same ambition as the rest of its business, the Impact team relies on its very strong onboarding process, building relationships, and executing the highest standards wherever its staff goes.
“What makes us different?’ asks Reid. “It’s our people, they are the key to all our success. They make all the difference.”
The commercial cleaning industry land scape looks different today than it did three years ago, with more educated clients, higher standards, and new expectations. The need for transparency and automation will con tinue, but for companies like Impact, it’s the company culture and the level of service that is the secret to success. /
“What makes us different? It’s our people, they are the key to all our success.”
First impressions matter and your floor is part of what people see when they first enter your building. Ensuring that your floors are clean and shiny is no small endeavour, so finding a solution that’s simple and e ective is a lifesaver.
The 3M™ Concrete Floor Polishing and Maintenance System cleans, polishes, and maintains your uncoated concrete and terrazzo floors quickly and easily. Instead of complicated cleaners and processes, this system pairs perfectly with your auto scrubber and water for superior performance and a shine that doesn’t quit.
This floor program provides a better overall appearance as part of your daily maintenance. The proprietary brushes feature flexible bristles that conform to uneven floors and irregularities, so you reach all the highs and lows, never missing a spot.
What sets this system apart from the rest? The ScotchBrite™ Diamond Floor brushes feature minerals that are embedded into the polymers of the brushes, and when they’re added to your machine, those minerals polish the floor and get it glossy.
“Our system is so easy to use,” says Chris Scott, application specialist at 3M. “If you can change a standard floor pad, you’ll have no issue at all.” Without any need for pre-soaking or coatings, no assembly, and without any sharp blades, the brushes are safe and easy to change e ciently. They also simplify your maintenance strategy by providing cleaning and gloss recovery in one step.
This system o ers two brushes, to get the finish just right. The Scotch-Brite™ Diamond Floor Brush 1000 does the job on dull floors when you’re looking to achieve a low to medium gloss. The Scotch-Brite™ Diamond Floor Brush 3000 is used on uncoated concrete and terrazzo floors when a medium to high gloss is desired. You can also start with the Scotch-Brite™ Diamond Floor Brush 1000
for cleaning and restoration and upgrade to the ScotchBrite™ Diamond Floor Brush 3000 for high-gloss polish when you’re ready. Need a specific size? No problem, they come in a variety of di erent diameters, so you get exactly what you need.
How long do these durable brushes last? According to Chris, depending on the condition of your floor before you start using the product, the brush can last anywhere from 3 million to 6 million square feet. In fact, based on the floor and usage, brushes could last up to 18 times longer than the competition.
Not only does that save you time and money on maintenance and replacement, but the longer brush life also means less waste in the landfill.
This system performs consistently all year round to get your floors looking great, even picking up salt and sand in the winter with no issue. “These brushes outperform the other systems with their longer life, conformability, and ease of use,” says Chris.
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In a recent study conducted by the As sociated Press and the National Opin ion Research Centre, less than half of Americans are still wearing masks. Similar conditions can be found across Canada. After two years of pandemic-related restric tions, the public craves a return to normalcy.
That craving was more than evident when this summer’s Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in Toronto opened with no COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in two years, and saw over one million at tendees in only two weeks. In response to relaxed government regulations and chang ing public trends, facilities that host large events like the CNE have returned to prepandemic protocols.
Despite public optimism, the fact re mains that as we move through fall and look ahead to winter, cold and flu season will once again be upon us, and with it the potential for an eighth wave of COVID 19.
With that in mind, now is time to reevaluate cleaning protocols and ensure we are prepared. Many industries like aviation, school boards, and long-term care facili ties continue to employ pandemic-centric enhanced cleaning, but as we shift into the colder seasons, it is critical to double-down on cleaning protocols in all facilities to re duce the spread of colds, flu, and flu-like illnesses.
Keeping up with enhanced cleaning pro tocols for more than two years hasn’t been easy. What made matters worse was that, in many circumstances, facilities didn’t have pandemic cleaning contingency plans including a robust cleaning process, having ample product at hand, and regular em ployee training.
Take a four-step approach to ensuring pandemic levels of prevention remain
Pre-planning for emergency situations such as a pandemic is important, especial ly for large facilities that see thousands of people on a regular basis. During the first few months of the pandemic, the cleaning industry faced a shortage of products like hand sanitizer and surface disinfectants, making it difficult for facilities who did not have ample pre-purchased product to im plement enhanced cleaning protocols.
Supply was not the only challenge fa cilities faced. Enhanced cleaning pro grams required increased use of surface disinfectants when employees often had not been trained in the safe and effective use of these new products. For example, spraying chemicals into the air rather than into microfibre cloths.
When cleaning solutions and disinfectants are used improperly, volatile organic com pounds (VOCs) are released into the air, not only as a result of spraying but through a process called “off-gassing”. Breathing in the chemicals can result in both short-term and chronic effects. Short-term exposure to low levels of VOCs may lead to headaches, nau
sea, and dizziness, while prolonged exposure can be associated with serious disease and central nervous system damage.
Lack of training and clear, well-defined cleaning protocols can result in air quality issues that put cleaning teams and building occupants at risk. It may also put the facility at risk because bacteria and pathogens may not be fully eliminated.
While we cannot predict emergency situa tions and what they may entail, we can create contingency and preparedness plans to effec tively deal with situations like a pandemic to keep workers, visitors, and facilities safe:
1. Create an enhanced cleaning protocol: To ensure the ability to quickly pivot
in response to an emergency, develop a specific, enhanced cleaning process that can be immediately deployed.
2. Provide employee training: Train ing sessions on how to use new prod ucts and equipment should also be included as part of an emergency cleaning program. Providing work ers with products they are unfamil iar with is dangerous to their health and safety and usually results in less effective cleaning and wasted product. Provide step-by-step in structions during training and post procedure sheets for employees to refer to when emergency protocols are implemented.
3. Order ample and correct product: Keep sufficient quantities of all critical products on hand in your facility. Ensure that products specified in the emergency cleaning plan do not interact with each other in ways that may result in adverse health effects.
4. Invest in air purification technology: Air purification is an impor tant element of a robust cleaning program, as indoor air is susceptible to pollution by bacteria, pathogens, and VOCs. Invest in an air purifica tion system that includes an effective filtration system, fits the size of the space, and refreshes the air at an ap propriate interval according to the number of people expected to occupy specific areas.
As we continue to face new environ mental cleaning challenges, includ ing new virus variants and a possible eighth wave, it is important to con tinue to maintain enhanced cleaning processes that not only keep workers and the public safe, but also ensure the safety, health, and cleanliness of your facility. /
David L. Smith is the Cleaning, Hygiene & Sanitation Director at Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene, Canada’s largest specialist distributor of cleaning and hygiene products and equipment. For more information or to book a comprehensive Facility Assessment please contact david.smith@bunzlch.ca.
“Cold and flu season will once again be upon us and with it the potential for an eighth wave of COVID-19.”
Here’s how to keep those pesky pests at bay through the coming months
by Alice SiniaEach year, fall brings a sense of renew al and the return of many profes sional sports. After the hot summer, people emerge to enjoy indoor activities again, and they flock in droves to stadiums, entertainment venues, and gyms.
However, more patrons also mean more pests. To best protect your customers and visitors from nuisance pest dangers, con sider the following common irritants and make sure you have a plan to prevent them from taking over.
Nothing brings people together like the shared experience of supporting their fa vourite sports team. With spectator capac
ity back to pre-COVID-19 levels and a full schedule of games, there is no shortage of activity in stadiums across the country and with that comes pest conducive factors — food, water, and shelter. You do not want anything to ruin the big game, so it’s essen tial to have an effective pest management program in place.
These three simple prevention steps go a long way in keeping your facility safe:
• Exclusion — keep them out by sealing gaps, voids, cracks, and crevices
• Sanitation — maintain cleanliness throughout the facility, especially garbage management
• Good storage practice — store food prod uct properly and remove waste quickly
When birds invade an indoor space, they are often considered pests as they can cause property damage, carry disease, and con taminate food. More than 60 diseases have been associated with bird droppings. These diseases can become airborne, putting both spectators and athletes in danger. Some ef fective repellent measures include:
• Taste aversion, where product containing an active ingredient with an unpleasant scent and taste deters birds from a food supply
• Sight and sound aversion, which make birds believe an area is unsafe
• Physical barriers, such as netting or
spikes, that prevent birds from nesting and roosting in the designated area
These insects are drawn to light and food. They reproduce quickly and can carry sev eral diseases. While they cannot be elimi nated entirely, their influx indoors can be kept at low non-noticeable levels. They can be effectively controlled by installing Insect Light Traps (ILTs) throughout the facility. Their favourite hotspots are warm places and unattended food, so be strategic about the traps’ placement to make the most im pact on your guests’ experience.
Known for their ability to spread diseases like E. Coli and salmonella, these creepy crawlers’ presence increases with cooler temps. Cockroaches are attracted to the moisture and food debris from the crowd, so it’s important to stop them before they enter the stadium. Reduce and eliminate any entry points by applying caulk, silicone, and foam to any gaps and openings. Also, make sure your team’s waste removal plan includes eliminating clutter and cleaning of any areas where food is served, eaten, or thrown away.
Rats and mice populations increase quick ly, so it’s imperative to address the con cern before it becomes an issue. Rodents leave a path of droppings around the sta dium, and their urine can transmit dis eases. Not only are these pests a threat to humans, but they also can cause struc tural and equipment damage. For new venues, make sure you hire an expert to apply rodent control starting three months before you open; once food is moved into the stadium, rodents quickly follow. If you are already in operation, store all food products in rodent-proof containers, inspect regularly for signs of rodent activity, and be vigilant by train ing staff to identify the tell-tell signs of rodents.
From theaters to concert venues, prevention is key to keeping patrons’ experiences pest free. Consider these steps to avoid having pests take centre stage.
• Disinfect food areas and high touch point areas daily
• Seal small cracks and gaps around doors, windows, in exterior walls, and in the foundation so pests won’t wander inside
• Throw trash out immediately in a cov ered can or dumpster away from the building
• Clean up any spills immediately to avoid any sweet residue from building up on floors, seats, or other surfaces
Rats and mice are attracted to food left be hind by patrons. Because these pests live out of sight and are often unnoticed until they reach infestation levels, it may be hard to detect their activity unless you know what to look for. Make it a daily and weekly task to check for discarded food in the venue and around waste disposal areas. Also, disinfect high-traffic areas regularly.
The movie theater is the perfect place for peo ple to check out the latest horror film, but we’d rather keep the creepiness on screen! However, cockroaches love the quiet, dark, and snackfilled floor these venues provide. Sometimes, it may even be the patrons that are bringing in these unwanted guests. Roaches are notorious for transmitting diseases that cause diarrhoea or food poisoning, and their excrement can trigger asthma and allergies in children. To minimize roach activity, do routine and thor ough cleaning of each theatre, especially seat crevices and the floor beneath each seat.
Food waste and sticky residue provide an open invitation for ants. They have a fasci nating ability to smell, and once they find a food source, they leave an invisible phero mone trail for others to follow. Cleaning up spills quickly is key to removing an ant’s reason to visit your venue.
Cooler temperatures and New Year’s res olutions will soon cause an influx in gym memberships and activity. Do not let the
presence of more people give the term gym rat a new meaning.
Follow these five tips to help prepare for and prevent infestations:
• Remove standing water and moisture from shower and sink areas
• Tightly cover stored product such as pro tein powders
• Inspect areas daily that have exercise mats and weights to ensure no pests are hiding
• Keep doors closed. Pests will use the door as an invitation to enter
• Seal cracks and crevices. This includes air conditioning lines and vents as the smallest gap serves as an opening for pests
These insects feast on blood, and there is plenty of it pumping at the gym. Their flat bodies make it easy for them to hide making them nearly undetectable, and they are often brought into locker rooms on backpacks, purses, clothing, and tow els. Any public space — like a gym or yoga studio — can be a hotbed for these bugs’ activity, so make sure you have a plan in place to help keep patrons from taking unnoticed hitchhikers home. In spect high-risk areas daily for possible infestation. Also, be sure all areas, equip ment, and laundry are disinfected and washed appropriately.
Although these mites aren’t a huge threat to humans, they can cause a variety of allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, and itchy skin, and may trig ger your asthma. Minimize mite activity by vacuuming, washing towels daily in hot water, and keep humidity less than 50 per cent inside the main areas.
Whether you are managing a big or small facility, prevention is the best first step in keeping your patrons’ experience free from pests. Create an environment that is welcom ing and enjoyable for guests and staff alike by building a comprehensive pest management plan with a qualified provider. /
Keeping your carpets clean and in great shape is good for business. A clean facility shows your staff that you have their health and safety in mind and shows visitors that you take pride in your office – not to overlook the fact that it also extends the life of your carpets.
As the industry continues to evolve, clean ing companies are relying on their experi ence, upgraded technology, and improved processes to tackle year-round cleaning and stain removal at the commercial level.
As the temperatures drop and we transition to spending more time indoors, commercial cleaners need to modify procedures to stay on top of the increased debris, sand, and salt.
“Carpets need more TLC from their cleaning services in the winter,” says Roy
Pontes, regional vice president of operations at ICS Facility Services. Things like seal ing floors to accommodate increased traffic and ensuring they’re non-slip for increased safety are just a few of the ways cleaners adjust for winter.
And it’s not just carpets that suffer; salt from roads and sidewalks tends to dull waxed floors, so extra attention is required to keep them looking clean. Wet floor signs are often needed throughout the winter to mitigate risk when cleaning hard or carpet ed floors and removing snow or ice brought in from foot traffic.
To save floors and simplify maintenance, cleaners often install runners at entrances during winter months to collect moisture off people’s shoes and boots as they enter the building.
According to Andrew Tavares, com mercial cleaning technical at ICS Fa
cility Services, the best tool for runner maintenance is a wet and dry vacuum. Newer models are battery-operated and quieter than before, so it’s less intrusive for staff and guests. “We maintain run ners to ensure they’re clean and safe in between any scheduled laundry service,” says Pontes. “Sometimes it’s even neces sary to bring in fans, blowers, and de humidifiers to assist with faster drying times — especially where there’s lots of moisture — to help prevent mold.”
Stains happen, of course, but when they happen, they need professional attention. For an outside cleaner, initial assessments are crucial — with stain removal, especially.
Often, building operators don’t have a lot of information, so it’s a little like being a
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detective! Without a background, cleaners may not know how the carpet was soiled, how long it sat untreated, how the carpet has been treated in the past, and if there’s any residual product left behind. All this information helps determine the best and fastest course of action.
It’s also important to get to know the building as a commercial cleaner. Things like missing the right number of electrical outlets, and water sources, or being delayed in gaining timely access to a room could all hinder commercial cleaning tasks, adding time and money to the job.
Commercial cleaners don’t just specialize in flooring, of course, their skills are often required to treat and maintain everything from upholstered furniture (including sofas and chairs) to fabric cubicle walls. With sig nificant improvements in tools and equip ment, cleaners have become adept at ad dressing issues all over the building.
Carpet cleaning starts with the right equip
ment. To thoroughly vacuum a space, you need a powerful, professional-grade ma chine with greater suction capability, motor power, cleaning capacity, durability, and en ergy efficiency. But that’s not all it takes to effectively clean a commercial space.
Service companies rely on innovative, modern equipment for maximum efficiency and the best performance. For example, cleaning equipment has become lighter over the years, making it faster and less cumber some to complete the job, especially in set tings where there are stairs or areas that are difficult to access.
Cleaning tools and equipment are al ways evolving. For example, extractors now come with internal heaters and a motorized brush, which helps to loosen the fibres. Be fore, cleaners used a two-step approach, ap plying hot water to the carpet, followed by a dry wand. Now, equipment with HEPA filters traps dirt and allergens for a better safer clean.
These types of industry improvements have made carpet cleaning simpler, faster, and more efficient.
IT’S MORE THAN JUST CLEANING
Commercial cleaners know that education is key for cleaners and for facility operators to build relationships. “Having grown up in the cleaning industry through my family’s business, I’ve been responsible for a variety of tasks and thoroughly en joy learning about advances in technol ogy and new equipment to help get the job done well, train people, and complete repairs,” says Tavares, who takes a pro active approach while visiting different manufacturers to research the best clean ing options and techniques to share.
Keeping your carpets clean and stain-free all year long makes employees safer, leaves a professional impression, and prolongs the life of your carpet so you can extend your budget.
Taking advantage of carpet cleaners’ ex pertise, innovation and technology, and ef ficient practices can help you stay at the top of your game when it comes to commercial cleaning and stain removal, ensuring you’re offering the cleanest, healthiest, and safest facility possible. /
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The 2022 ISSA Innovation Award winners and honourees were announced on October 13 on the final day of the 2022 ISSA Show North America, held at McCormick Place in Chicago. These awards recognize commercial, institutional, and residential cleaning advancements. This year, for the first time, they included a new Environmental & Sustainability Award to recognize a company and product advancing green cleaning.
“In the last few years, the cleaning industry has faced unprecedented challenges,” said Director ISSA Show North America Amie Gilmore. “However, it has also been presented with many opportunities to innovate. This year’s awards recipients are dedicated to sustainability, elevating the industry, and advancing cleaning for health.”
1. Gausium won the Innovation of the Year Award for its Phantas commercial floor cleaning robot. The robot integrates four floor cleaning modes, making it ideal for cleaning spaces with different types of flooring, both hard and soft.
2. HyTech Seas Dispensers by Sofidel Group won the new Environment & Sustainability Award, for its dedication to environmental innovation. The dispensers are manufactured with recovered ocean plastic waste, making them a sustainable, long-term solution.
3. ALLORGANIC® USDA Certified Organic Hand Soap by Charlotte Products, an unscented, easy-rinsing, foaming hand soap, won the Innovation Industry Choice Award for Distributors.
4. Tork Clarity Hand Washing Foam Soap by Tork®, made with 99% ingredients from natural origin, with a biodegradable formula, won the Innovation Industry Choice Award for Facility Service Providers.
5. EcoClean™ Disinfecting Cleaner by Clorox Pro, a ready-to-use disinfectant cleaner made with plant-based active ingredients that kill 99.9% of illness-causing germs in two minutes or less, won the Innovation Industry Choice Award for Manufacturer Representatives.
6. 800 Ct Lysol® Surface Disinfecting Wipes Bucket and Refill Pack by Lysol Pro Solutions, which empower cleaning teams to fulfill heightened expectations around hygiene and enable businesses to realize cost, resource, and waste savings, won the Innovation Industry Choice Award for Residential.
