FCM&M Spring 2021

SERVING THE FACILIT Y CLE ANING & MAINTENANCE INDUSTRY

MARCH 2021

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF ISSA CANADA

� A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER FOR CAMPUS CLEANING � HEIGHTENING HYGIENE IN WASHROOMS � EDUCATING ON SCHOOL SAFETY

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� CONTENTS MARCH 2021

SPOTLIGHT 7 Pandemic Protection

Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on school students

by Jim Flieler

INFECTION PREVENTION & CONTROL 16 Heightening Hygiene

Key lessons in restroom cleaning from the COVID-19 pandemic

by Fabio Vitali

FACILITIES 18 Made to Measure Four steps to verify and validate school cleaning programs

by David L. Smith

BEST PRACTICES COVER STORY 12 Leading By Example

Bee-Clean, Canada’s largest janitorial service provider, has navigated COVID-19 with the expertise, dedication, and familial values that have served it so well over the decades.

by Tom Nightingale

20 Laying the Groundwork Dispelling the myths of floor care is crucial to pathogen control

by Robert Kravitz

IN EVERY ISSUE 4

Editor’s Letter Building on lessons learned

5

ISSA News

8 Expert Q&A

A year like no other for campus cleaning 21 Clean Matters

ISSA Canada’s 2020 Environmental Stewardship Award winners

A silver lining of the last 12 months has been a new appreciation and understanding of the vital work provided by custodial teams and cleaning services.

/ editor’s letter /

BUILDING ON LESSONS LEARNED

W

e’ve reached that unwanted milestone. One year on from Canada’s first declaration of emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, the cleaning and maintenance industry is still building upon the lessons that have been learned along the way.

The dust has long since settled, but there is still a way to travel down the road of understanding and change. The renewed focus on cleaning for health, on best disinfection practices, and on enhanced health and safety largely remain in place across the industry, Canadian society in general, and the globe.

As always, within this first issue of 2021, we have looked to share expertise and insights on the state of the industry right now. This, as we have all seen, is an ever-evolving issue, and to cover all bases within these pages would be impossible. Instead, we have focused on some specific issues: health and safety within educational facilities, washrooms, floor care and maintenance.

Our main theme of educational facilities has proven to be a particularly fascinating topic, as they offer unique challenges due in no small part to the fact that, more than most facilities, these campuses host a wide range of different buildings and amenities. We chat in depth with two men charged with overseeing the cleaning and maintenance of Seneca College and the University of Western Ontario, Don Forster and Christopher Bumbacco, respectively, about the various impacts the pandemic has had on their postsecondary institutions and campuses.

Once again, for our cover story, we profile an industry leader and member of ISSA Canada’s BSC Council. This time around, our focus is on leading janitorial service provider Bee-Clean. We look at their history and standing in the field and we spoke to their Canadian SVP of Customer Experience, Philippe Mack, about how COVID-19 has changed things, with a particular emphasis on their work in educational facilities.

We also thank our various contributing experts for their considered reflections on topics such as handwashing, bolstering washroom hygiene during the pandemic, pest control, and tips for ensuring pathogen-free floors.

As always, we provide an update on what ISSA Canada has been up to in recent months, and we also update the industry on the ever-growing GBAC STAR accreditation programs, which has seen huge uptake in North America and around the world.

As we head into the second quarter of 2021 (how time flies!), remaining focused on diligent work and protecting customer, clients, and the general public remains paramount of the industry.

A major silver lining of the unprecedented last 12 months has been a new appreciation and understanding of the vital work that custodial teams and cleaning services provide across all areas of society. Long may that continue.

TOM NIGHTINGALE tomn@mediaedge.ca

Editor Tom Nightingale tomn@mediaedge.ca Publisher

Chuck Nervick chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Senior Designer

Production Manager

Annette Carlucci Rachel Selbie rachels@mediaedge.ca

Sales Chuck Nervick chuckn@mediaedge.ca

Contributing Writers

David L. Smith Fabio Vitali Jim Flieler Robert Kravitz Tanja Nowotny

Circulation Rob Osiecki

circulation@mediaedge.ca

Facility Cleaning & Maintenance is published five times a year by:

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seanf@mediaedge.ca Copyright 2020 Canada Post Canadian Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063056 ISSN 1712-140X Circulation ext. 234 Subscription Rates: Canada: 1 year, $50*, 2 years, $80*, US $75 International $100, Single Copy Sales: Canada: $12* * Plus applicable taxes Requests for permission to reprint any portion of this magazine should be sent to the Editor, Tom Nightingale FORMERLY KNOWN AS

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4 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

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ISSA NEWS COMMUNICATING CLEANLINESS WITH GBAC STAR The Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation continues to be embraced by facility owners across Canada. To date, at least 34 hotels, convention centres forward-thinking hotels, convention centres, stadiums, and office towers across the country have achieved the accreditation, which denotes that the facilities are equipped with the tools and protocols to protect occupants not only from COVID-19 but from all infectious disease.

In recent months, a variety of destinations have broken new ground when it comes to this accreditation. Toronto’s Yorkdale Shopping Centre became the first Canadian retail centre to pursue the program in November, Manulife Investment Management became the first real estate landlord in the country to achieve the accreditation by getting seven of its facilities in Montreal certified, and three Toronto theatres — Meridian Arts Centre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, and Meridian Hall — have all registered to pursue the accreditation.

Recent weeks have seen another major milestone achieved, as Edmonton’s department of tourism, Explore Edmonton, has committed to achieving city-wide accreditation, including such venues as Edmonton International Airport, Edmonton Destination Marketing Hotels, Rogers Place, and the alreadyaccredited Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton EXPO Centre. In doing so, Edmonton has become the first Canadian municipality to make an overarching commitment to achieving the accreditation.

“With rumblings starting to percolate about a possible third wave, now more than ever, building owners and facility managers must take the proper steps to ensure their building occupants are safe,” said ISSA Canada Executive Director Mike Nosko. “With its 20 program elements, the GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation helps facilities put protocols in place and have a trained frontline team to ensure proper cleaning and disinfection practices are occurring to combat not only COVID-19, but any other infectious diseases in the future.”

“Many Canadian facilities have already committed to the safety of their occupants and embraced the GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation,” Nosko added. “Explore Edmonton has taken that one step further by pursuing city-wide accreditation of its multiple venues. This commitment demonstrates the city’s concern for its visitors and will certainly assist in the postCOVID-19 recovery process.”

The full list of accredited facilities can be viewed through GBAC’s online Facility Directory.

While the Facility Accreditation has been the major driving force of GBAC’s programs in recent months, it has been hard at work in other areas, too.

In February 2021, the GBAC STAR Service Accreditation was launched for the building service contractor sector, designed to validate a cleaning service provider’s protocols and

work practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from infectious disease outbreaks.

GBAC also offers a Fundamentals course for individuals such as industry technicians. That course teaches cleaning professionals to prepare for, respond to, and recover from biohazards in the workplace, including a detailed education on infection and contamination control measures.

“With the recently introduced GBAC STAR Service Accreditation, building service contractors have a competitive edge when it comes to their cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention procedures,” said Nosko. “Accreditation also positions these forward-thinking BSC firms to assist their facility owner clients to achieve GBAC STAR facility accreditation, resulting in increased consumer confidence.”

At a time when maintaining and increasing the visibility and communication of cleaning and infection control practices is more important than ever, the GBAC STAR program is making it easier to show off your credentials.

21_0327_Fac_Clean_Maint_MAR_CN Mod: January 22, 2021 8:45 AM Print: 02/18/21 8:46:11 AM page 1 v7

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ISSA NEWS ISSA CANADA LOCKED IN FOR A SUCCESSFUL 2021

By Tanja Nowotny ISSA Canada headed into 2021 full steam ahead and riding the momentum generated in 2020 due to the pandemic. With a mission to “change the way the world views cleaning,” the worldwide cleaning industry association saw a new interest in the professionals who not only manufacture and distribute cleaning products, equipment, and services, but those frontline heroes who apply the very best cleaning practices to ensure facility occupants remain safe.

Although 2021 may feel like Groundhog Day when it comes to COVID-19, ISSA Canada is optimistic for the future, and can see a faint light beginning to flicker at the end of the tunnel. Not only is the association rolling out programs to help building owners open their facilities safely, but it is also providing support to ensure these spaces continue to be clean and healthy moving forward.

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s GBAC STAR™ accreditations are also complementary to other programs such as ISSA’s leading-edge Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS), which has been described as the ISO of the cleaning industry. CIMS and CIMS Green Building (GB) certification demonstrates that an organization is prepared to deliver quality customer-focused services, as well as being capable of delivering a comprehensive green cleaning program based on LEED:EB O&M green cleaning criteria.

Understandably, ISSA Canada is currently focused on preventing the spread of infectious disease, but the association provides much more than just pandemic preparedness.

As in years past, ISSA Canada once again celebrated the modern companies who showed a commitment to the environment and a dedication to the value of clean by awarding the Environmental Stewardship Awards. This year’s winners included Yorkdale Shopping Centre in Toronto; Manulife Investment Management in Montreal; and Rogers Place in Edmonton.

ISSA Canada is once again accepting nominations from active ISSA Canada members for the 2021 awards. Nominees — including building service contractors, education facilities, shopping outlets, convention centres, hotels, long-term care facilities, hospitals, etc. — must demonstrate four of the six criteria to be considered for the award: • Implementation of environmental practices, as well as education, training of front-line staff.

• Demonstration of a dedication to the overall cleanliness and health of a facility.

• Utilization of approved environmental products and chemicals (EcoLogo or Green Seal-certified).

• Performance of cleaning procedures with a high attention to safety.

• Reduction of the carbon footprint through water conservation, energy savings, etc.

• Acceptance of the newest technologies which lead to a green future.

6 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

NOMINATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE ISSA CANADA WEBSITE.

In keeping with the association’s goal of uniting the cleaning industry, ISSA Canada and its Residential Cleaning Committee have launched a monthly Coffee Talk Forum. This free, hour-long chat session provides Canadian residential cleaners — and interested parties — with a safe, friendly platform to share ideas, discuss current trends, and ask questions about the challenges faced in day-to-day business practices. The inaugural session was held on February 9, with 100 participants registered. The goal of these monthly sessions is to provide information and support fellow residential cleaners across the country, especially now, since many have had to cease normal business activity due to the pandemic. A full schedule of these sessions is available on the ISSA Canada website.

As in 2020, the pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of the inperson ISSA Show Canada trade show event. With provincial restrictions prohibiting large gatherings still in place, ISSA Show Canada will shift to a virtual experience in 2021. With a focus on education and networking, the virtual event will be held on June 16 and 17, 2021. The theme will be Facing the Future TOGETHER, recognizing the industry’s position today and where we go from here. Details are currently in the planning stage, but ISSA Canada is looking forward to reconnecting with members in the virtual space. ISSA Show Canada will feature keynote presentations, education sessions, supplier technology sessions, as well as virtual networking receptions. More details will be made available soon on the ISSA Show Canada website.

On the membership front, ISSA Canada continues to pave a path to create more value for Canadian members. Partnering with TruShield Insurance in the fall, its most recent alliance has been with TechWyse Internet Marketing. Founded in 2001, TechWyse provides a host of services that can suit the needs of any company large or small. In addition to creative web design and development, the company also delivers leading edge expertise in search engine optimization, search engine marketing, online advertising, social media marketing, and much more. Stay tuned, as ISSA Canada is currently in discussion with a variety of other vendors and hopes to roll out new benefits over the next few months.

Although it’s been a difficult time for many companies, there is a hint of optimism in the air. As vaccines are distributed and the population slowly receives inoculation, the possibility of in-person events could be a reality by the end of this year. With this in mind, ISSA is currently moving full steam ahead to host a live ISSA Show North America trade show and education conference, November 15 to 18, in the newly expanded Las Vegas Convention Center West Hall in Las Vegas, NV. The mission is for the show to be the leading resource for information, education, innovation, networking, and commercial opportunities for firms within the worldwide cleaning industry.

As we head into the spring, ISSA Canada looks ahead with much positivity and optimism. The cleaning industry has truly demonstrated its professionalism and skill over this past year, and it is our goal to keep that momentum growing.

/ spotlight /

ISSA NEWS

PANDEMIC PROTECTION Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on school students

by Jim Flieler

W

e all know that COVID-19 has completely changed the way we clean and protect schools, but we wanted to better understand how these changes have impacted students. With rules in schools across North America that mandate mask wearing, social distancing and constant hand washing and sanitizing, how are students faring this year?

To get a better picture of how all of our public health protocols and rules have affected students, we checked in with some school aged children in our bi-weekly Charlotte webinar. The students interviewed may not have noticed all the extra work that their school custodians are doing, but they are well aware of many other changes to their school days.

The school year in 2020-21 for students across North America is absolutely different than any school year before. Some of the new rules that schools across North America have implemented include: • Mandatory mask wearing by students and teachers while indoors.

• Social distancing rules.

• Keeping desks six feet apart.

• Eating lunch at individual classroom desks, not in the cafeteria.

• Temperature and health checks every morning before entering the building.

• No group work in the classroom.

• Increased use of technology to collaborate, even while in school.

• More outdoor classes.

• Staying in small “cohorts” throughout the day.

• Staggered seating on the school buses.

• Students sitting with siblings on the school bus.

Then there are the college-aged students who are experiencing the most unique academic school year in living memory. Many colleges and universities are closed to in-person instruction, with Zoom University becoming the norm. And for students who have been able to attend in-person college, the joy of being on campus is mixed with a rotation of quarantining, the prohibition of parties or fraternizing outside of the dorm room, not to mention no sports teams to cheer on.

It’s no wonder that parents are worried about the impact the pandemic will have on their children. In fact, a recent survey from children’s Healthcare Canada (CHC) and an ongoing study from Brock University show that 70 per cent of Canadians polled fear COVID-19 will impact children’s education, and that students are afraid of the virus.

Overall, respondents said the pandemic has already affected kids. Here are some of the main figures from the survey, as reported by the CBC: • Sixty-six per cent of Canadians polled worry COVID-19 will impact children’s

mental health and social and emotional well-being.

• Sixty-two per cent of respondents said the pandemic has deepened the inequalities between families based on household income and wealth.

• Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed think the virus has affected access to routine health and wellness visits for children and youth.

Despite all of that, we have hope that the pandemic will have a positive impact on students this year, too. The students we featured in our panel surprised us by spouting the three pillars of infection prevention without any prompting from us. These students know the importance of wearing the mask, practicing social distancing and washing their hands. They told us that their peers in school are following these rules, too.

While we all naturally worry about the impact of this pandemic on our children, have faith.

Children are resilient and we believe that as they notice the importance of following the rules, the value of cleanliness and a safe environment, and their role as a member of their community, that the future looks very bright. /

Jim Flieler is VP of Sales Canada for Charlotte Products Ltd. This article, courtesy of Charlotte Products Blog, was first published in the Winter 2021 edition of ISSA’s Clean Canada magazine. www.REMInetwork.com / 7

/ expert Q+A /

A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER FOR CAMPUS CLEANING Q+A: FC&M spoke to Seneca College and University of Western Ontario about a unique 12 months for post-secondary education.

by Tom Nightingale

CHRISTOPHER BUMBACCO, DIRECTOR OF BUILDING SERVICES AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO

F

rom retail to offices, healthcare to foodservice, there isn’t a sector of society that hasn’t been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges and changes it has brought on. In short, while the foundations of cleaning and infection control remain the same, the practicalities of the job have seen fundamental shifts.

That is certainly no different in the complicated field of post-secondary education cleaning and maintenance. In fact, this is a uniquely difficult situation. Higher education campuses are often expansive and sprawling, and that’s without even taking into account institutions that are spread out over one or even multiple cities.

Post-secondary campuses consist of an almost incomprehensibly wide range of facilities for cleaning, maintenance, and janitorial staff to tackle. Classrooms and residences and break rooms are a given, but

in many cases, there are also food and beverage outlets, on-site healthcare buildings, sporting and recreational amenities, retail stores, childcare, and much, much more.

That results in an environment like no other that has long presented a particularly stern test for staff to overcome.

“We’re a very, very diverse environment, particularly as a larger university, more so than most other facilities and areas,” says Christopher Bumbacco, Director of Building Services and Facilities Management at the University of Western Ontario (Western). “We have residences, office space, classrooms, recreational spaces, labs, event and bookable spaces for both internal and external events, medical facilities like our dental surgery, food and beverage. That’s undoubtedly the biggest challenge: there’s such a wide variety of things you’re maintaining in a wide variety of areas.”

DON FORSTER, SENIOR MANAGER OF SUSTAINABILITY AND OPERATIONS AT SENECA COLLEGE

Bumbacco notes that even the very structures themselves vary dramatically. Western, which has its primary campus in London, Ont., has some buildings that date back over 100 years, and others that opened last year. That results in different maintenance challenges: those buildings differ in surfaces, accessibility, electrical systems, and so on.

These large-scale campuses differ even from other education facilities. An elementary or high school, while still a challenging site to maintain, tends to be more selfcontained, with a smaller range of facilities.

On post-secondary campuses, not only is everything more dispersed, but there’s also the foot traffic factor. Many campuses are open to the public: people uninvolved with the college itself can walk through the site, stop to grab a coffee or use the recreational amenities. This adds yet another layer to an issue that is already deeply complex. www.REMInetwork.com / 9

/ expert Q+A /

“Post-secondary campuses consist of an almost incomprehensibly wide range of facilities for cleaning and maintenance staff to tackle.”

PROVIDING PANDEMIC RESPONSE

When COVID-19 hit, all those difficulties were exacerbated. One thing the onset of the pandemic did, though, was highlight how the extensive challenges of post-secondary education cleaning and maintenance gave good preparation for such a situation.

“We have always been structured to have an annually reviewed pandemic plan in place,” says Don Forster, Senior Manager of Sustainability and Operations at Seneca College, which has several campuses spread across the Greater Toronto Area and Peterborough, Ont. “We have seasonal cleaning procedures like a flu season plan wherein we increase our common-area cleaning. So, when the pandemic hit, the teams already knew we had a procedure in place. It wasn’t too big of a change for us on the cleaning and maintenance side; more so for students and faculty.”

In short, the work put in over the years behind the scenes by operational staff paid off in a pinch. “We’d already started focusing on cleaning for health at Western and that really helped us when COVID-19 hit,” notes Bumbacco.

10 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

That is not to say that certain, often significant, adjustments were needed. The widely-cited transition to “cleaning for health” may have been already underway, but it quickly become the new primary focus. Ensuring the health and safety of everyone on-site — students, faculty, other operational staff, the maintenance service teams themselves — was paramount.

While higher education facilities are unique in their requirements, there were naturally certain consistencies with other industries as the pandemic unfolded. Securing PPE was key. Social distancing was installed and maintained. Technology like electrostatic sprayers became key components of the job. Essentially, the bar was raised.

“At Seneca, we implemented a stringent return-to-campus procedure,” explains Forster. “When they walk into a classroom or a lab, students and faculty pick up a spray bottle and cleaning cloth and they’re responsible for cleaning and wiping that area they’re working in. We then launder the cloths, refill the bottles, and between classes our team goes in and does a complete high-

touch clean including spraying with an electrostatic sprayer ready for the next group of students. In a way, that was more of a challenge for students and faculty than for our cleaning and maintenance teams, and they bought into it really quickly.”

Forster adds that Seneca saw some of the inevitable supply chain challenges, particularly early on in the first wave of the pandemic. But both he and Bumbacco note that their respective facilities’ longstanding relationships with suppliers and vendors came through for them when they needed them.

There was also a combination of proactive pre-planning and fortuitous timing.

Part of Seneca’s pre-pandemic plan involved identifying optimal strategic locations for hand sanitizer dispensers, says Forster. Meanwhile, Bumbacco notes Western’s teams took deliveries of electrostatic sprayers at the turn of the year, planning to test them in some common areas. They ordered more before the demand surged. “We got a bit lucky there,” Bumbacco acknowledges. “We have a very large faculty of medicine and dentistry and these sprayers makes cleaning and disinfecting so much

/ expert Q+A / easier and quicker. Spraying doesn’t mean we don’t clean; it enhances the pre-existing cleaning. Those things became invaluable during COVID-19 as we started doing more touchpoint cleaning.”

MAJOR OPERATIONAL CHANGES

Many industries have had to deal with the situation changing repeatedly in the last 12 months, often at short notice. In general, though, at universities and colleges, oncampus traffic has decreased notably with more courses now being offered online, out of either preference or necessity. Fewer students are electing to remain on campus.

As a result, an early step was overhauling residences. “When COVID-19 was first starting, we wanted to provide distancing for everybody,” Bumbacco says. “With many students staying off campus, we were able to start dispersing the remaining students. Normally, Western’s residence population is close to 5,300. We were able to start using double rooms as single rooms, reducing washrooms to just two people, and so on. We had about 3700 students in residence back in September, and some have left since then as the situation in Ontario has changed several times. It really allowed us to re-densify things.”

At Seneca, the residence population is smaller, but the situation was similar.

Seneca has a residence of 500 rooms on one of its smaller campuses, and 1,100 rooms on its main campus. “Right now, there’s only 500 or so in total on those campuses,” notes Forster.

A major effect of having fewer students and faculty on-site, and fewer courses being offered in traditional in-class fashion, is that the day-to-day flow of cleaning and maintenance operations has been revamped.

These changes have been extensive. Many buildings have shut down completely, with no need to remain open, while others have extended their services.

While many studies could be easily transposed to virtual classes, others necessitate in-person studies, particularly more practical courses like healthcare and nursing.

Forster explains that when it came to classrooms, labs, and other study areas at Seneca, that meant reallocating cleaning and maintenance staff and resources to focus on areas that had to remain open.

“We haven’t opened up anything we haven’t needed to,” he says. “For the build-

ings that are open, we have designated paths to and from classrooms, designated washrooms. Everything else is locked down to enable cleaning staff to follow behind individuals or groups and clean up and maintain those areas. We have tight restrictions, you can’t enter the building unless you are coming for class, you pre-screen and then go directly to and from your work areas.”

Forster adds that Seneca has invested in technology that sends real-time room occupancy data to custodial supervisors to aid the prioritization process. “If a threshold for a particular room is exceeding capacity for a given time, the supervisor can investigate and allocate extra resources to that area. Combine this technology with prescheduled cleaning routines and you have a valuable tool to help combat the spread of infection pathogens.”

At Western, too, it has been a case of prioritizing. For instance, Bumbacco notes some campus labs were actually working on COVID-19-related items. “There’s much more in-person teaching taking place in our classes related to medicine and dentistry and some of the clinical studies areas, so we needed to know who was here and where they were to prioritize our cleaning rotation.

That’s true even now.”

That has the understandable knock-on effect of changing the hours of cleaning and maintenance work. “On the resident side,” Bumbacco notes, “our staff end later because we want to do that extra late-afternoon or early-evening common area clean before the night. On the academic side, with classes cancelled, we were able to clean classrooms and offices earlier. That will likely change because students are clamouring for spaces like libraries to be able to study on campus. If we start opening up a variety of other things on campus again then there’s going to be more demand for the cleaning.

Universities have become almost 24-hour operations now; knowing what’s going on and being able to clean around that is so crucially important.”

BOOSTING VISIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

With the push for enhanced cleaning standards, increasing communication and clarity has been vital. Before this pandemic, the important work done by custodial teams was often overlooked and taken for granted: that has changed drastically. Now, people not only want to

know that measures are being taken, but they also want to see janitorial teams in action as visual confirmation of what is being done to keep them safe.

Forster notes Seneca has met that demand head-on. Videos showing the cleaning processes have become a core part of the orientation process. “When you’re coming on campus for classes, you must watch this video and check off saying you’ve understood,” he explains. “That’s been very helpful because we get feedback.”

Forster adds the increased visibility helps people understand just how thorough the processes are and goes a long way to keeping people informed and feeling comfortable and safe. “I don’t think anybody on campus goes more than 10 minutes without seeing custodial staff walking around spraying, wiping, doing something,” he says. “It provides comfort but it also keeps things upfront, holds us accountable. You have everybody’s eyes on you now. It’s that heightened awareness that we are one of the main pillars that keeps the campus going. This pandemic is validation of cleaning and maintenance and I think that will last long-term.”

A renewed challenge will come when campuses open up more broadly again, acknowledges Bumbacco.

“We wanted to make sure our staff and students understood their safety was paramount at Western,” he says. “But whenever extra events start coming back and outside groups come back on to campus, it’s going to be harder to keep up the same level of frequency we are implementing now. A lot of it will have to be about long-term education: everybody wants to sanitize but there are washrooms everywhere where you can practice the proper hand hygiene we’ve heard so much about in recent months.

There are so many places to go on a campus — we can’t put sanitizers everywhere, so new standards will have to be maintained and built upon.”

It’s the maintaining of those new standards, the continuation and extension of the policies and procedures that have come out of this pandemic, that will be key to ensuring a cleaner campus future.

“Students learn better in a safe, clean environment,” concludes Forster. “They feel more comfortable, more engaged, and more confident. We’re all doing everything we can to perpetuate that.” / www.REMInetwork.com / 11

/ cover story /

LEADING BY

EXAMPLE

Bee-Clean, Canada’s largest janitorial service provider, has navigated COVID-19 with the expertise, dedication, and familial values that have served it so well over the decades.

by Tom Nightingale

12 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

E

ven for Canada’s biggest cleaning service companies, the last 12 months has been an unprecedentedly challenging time. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a renewed focus on cleaning for health, enhanced existing disinfection and sanitization protocols, and reinforced the importance of communication of health and safety measures. In many ways, the industry may never be entirely the same.

The necessity to move quickly to evolve and adapt has been no different for BeeClean, Canada’s largest janitorial service provider. There have been numerous challenges faced and lessons learned, explains Philippe D. Mack, the company’s Canadian SVP of Customer Experience, but retaining their high levels of service and client care has remained paramount.

“We always prioritize optimization of the delivery of our services to keep our associates, students, and customers safe,” says Mack. “We’re a very humble organization.

Our culture, our people, and our customers are critically important. We continue to look to the long term; to supporting people

and staying focused on augmenting the ease of doing business with us.”

AN ESTEEMED HISTORY

For Bee-Clean, relationships have always been key.

The company was established in 1967 by the Correia and Gingras families out of Winnipeg and Edmonton. “Those are the ambassadors and the leaders that made us what we are today,” emphasizes Mack.

That has endured, too: co-founders Joe (Jose) Correia and Brian Gingras remain the company’s principals to this day, with the next family generation, Dennis Correia, Rob Gingras and Rob Scott solidly in place leading the business.

That familial feeling extends from the top down. Mack acknowledges he has been in the cleaning industry “since birth” as a member of a family whose janitorial service history dates back to the 1920s in Montreal. He says BeeClean’s founding families have “entrusted” him as the Canadian national face of the company. Mack joined Bee-Clean in August 2018 and has been a member of

www.REMInetwork.com / 13

/ cover story / There were employee shortages either due to illness or fear of travelling or returning to work environments. Technology and supplies like electrostatic sprayers and PPE had to be sourced amid shortages, often at very short notice. Different financial models had to be developed for customers to reflect those new processes. A huge amount of work had to be put in on the back end for contract tracing. Many of the core fundamentals of staff training shifted, and huge emphasis was put on the details.

In short, says Mack, Bee-Clean essentially transposed the disinfection protocols and procedures of healthcare institutions into all other business environments. “We’ve needed to ensure that not only were our staff protected while working but our clients are equally protected. What was done before could no longer be done; we’ve almost had to recreate the concept of our work.”

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES POSE UNIQUE CHALLENGES

“What was done before could no longer be done; we’ve almost had to recreate the concept of our work.”

PHILIPPE MACK, CANADIAN SVP OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

ISSA Canada’s Building Service Contractor Council since last year. He also serves as treasurer for Building Service Contractors Association International, an association representing North American BSCs. He’s the only Canadian on the board.

Over the years, Bee-Clean has grown province by province due to the efforts of its leadership and staff and the support of its clients and supplier partners. It now has about 5,000 client locations across Canada, services more than 400 million square feet of facilities, and employs around 14,000 associates. In 2020, the company was a winner of Canada’s Best Managed Company, which Mack calls “a big achievement for a very humble family-owned business.”

While the industry has evolved greatly over the decades of Bee-Clean’s existence, the firm’s main focus has never wavered or altered: optimizing customer safety and perpetuating the ease of collaboration. “That’s always been in the company’s DNA,” notes Mack.

PERSEVERING IN A PANDEMIC

Prior to COVID-19, Mack describes Bee14 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

Clean’s operations as stable and routine.

Naturally, there were challenges. Logistical problems to be solved, fluctuations on the labour and supply side; everything a company of Bee-Clean’s extensive reach in this key industry would expect to face.

As the full extent of the pandemic became apparent, of course, certain things had to change. At first, it was “absolute uncertainty,” admits Mack. Bee-Clean had to rapidly develop new procedures and processes that complied with the requirements of both facilities and provincial or federal health units.

One considerable factor that allowed BeeClean to hit the ground running was its offices in Shanghai and Beijing, which Mack calls a strong catalyst in helping them get ahead of things. A pandemic management team was activated in January 2020, around two months before Canadian provinces began to declare their respective states of emergency in response to spiking cases and health recommendations. Bee-Clean was highly proactive; more, perhaps, than most companies were able to be.

Even with that preparation, the challenges intensified.

Bee-Clean’s work encompasses a vast range of facilities, from retail to airports and much in between. That, clearly, means many of the challenges also vary. The dynamics of business sectors have behaved very differently, and that has necessitated a huge amount of focus and flexibility.

When it comes to educational facilities, the scope of the task is hard to comprehend.

Bee-Clean works with schools, colleges, and universities. In many cases, those post-secondary institutions can be vast, expansive campuses with a whole host of varying facilities on-site. There are classrooms and residences, yes, but also break rooms, food and beverage outlets, healthcare, sporting amenities, retail, childcare. The list, truly, is huge.

It makes for a cleaning and maintenance task of gargantuan proportions. Mack understatedly describes it as a “unique” environment.

Operational hours and locations have shifted, too. Some buildings that normally run standard business hours have become almost 24/7 operations because they were identified as the safest to keep open. Bee-Clean had to rotate its staff and requirements in accordance with which facilities were operational.

“We have to be close to where things are happening so we can quickly get into those areas and disinfect them,” explains Mack.

“Those dynamics have been very challenging.” He offers as a notable example the fact that some institutions had to accelerate their

/ cover story /

�

A BEE-CLEAN ASSOCIATE UNDERTAKES DECONTAMINATION FOGGING OF A SHARED WORKSPACE.

education programs to graduate students in fields such as nursing much more quickly to enter the health services field to assist with the pandemic. “There was a spike in activity in some specific buildings, and that really turned things upside-down in terms of requirements.”

There has been much talk in the wider cleaning industry of the shift to what has been termed “cleaning for health”.

That has certainly been the case in the education field, and communication and transparency became even more key.

“We needed to communicate clearly that the environment is safe, both from a client requirement and a company perspective,” says Mack. As well as the basic need to keep janitorial staff, educational staff and faculty, and students safe, with schools and daycares in particular, there is a significant parental perspective at play. “Parents and family want to know exactly what’s happening. The communication aspect is really critical.”

It is also worth noting that much of the work in educational institutions is collaborative. Many educational facilities have their own in-house or associate teams with whom firms like Bee-Clean must align their services. “You’re really working side by side with employees or associates of the university who are often doing similar work,” notes Mack.

“You would likely not see that as much in a commercial office environment or a retail environment.”

KEEPING UP WITH THE PACE OF CHANGE

A commonality across all sectors of the cleaning and maintenance industry has been that the goalposts have moved time after time, and often with little or no warning. Facilities have opened, closed, and reopened. Lessons have been learned across the board, from best practices to the technology and equipment used, as society got a firmer grip on how it should be responding to the pandemic.

Once again, Mack and Bee-Clean are grateful for the indications they received from their Chinese operations and, in turn, the work of their pandemic team. “Keeping abreast of changes was really important and our national pandemic team really took care of that,” Mack reflects. “One day, you have one process in place, and the next day — or even the next hour — it could all be changed, taken apart and put back together again. That was just the reality.”

Mack hails the leadership of the Correia and Gingras families over the last 12 months and noted the company was in the “fortunate” position of being able to stay the course as the pandemic unfolded. While some associates were laid off at the site level and mi-

grated to other sites, the focus has remained on the long term; on supporting the company’s associates, clients, and customers.

As for what that long term may bring?

Mack and Bee-Clean’s management are not kidding themselves, noting that the uncertainty of the second wave is still prominent, and the true impacts will not be felt for some time.

Questions remain. What impact will the second wave ultimately prove to have? What else has Bee-Clean not taken into account?

Mack acknowledges that mitigating the speed of transmission remains paramount.

“This is not going away, as far as we’re concerned,” he concludes. “It’s going to be part of a new global cleaning protocol going forward. It’s hard to say if this is going to be permanent or temporary but we have to assume it will be long-term, if not permanent. The demand for cleaning for health, and communication and validation of those methods, keeps growing.

This is becoming the norm and it’s what clients are looking for.”

One thing is certain. With its familial leadership, the expertise of its team and industry veterans like Mack, its shared best practices and attention to detail, and its adaptability and proactivity, BeeClean is well-equipped to continue its 50+ years of success, come what may. / www.REMInetwork.com / 15

HEIGHTENING HYGIENE Key lessons in restroom cleaning from the COVID-19 pandemic

by Fabio Vitali

16 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

/ infection prevention & control /

A

s the COVID-19 crisis continues with new strains now emerging, businesses and governments are adjusting their hygiene strategies for dealing with the pandemic. For instance, some multinational companies have pledged to remove air dryers and use only paper towels in restrooms moving forward.

Hand hygiene remains of critical importance for organizations to thrive in the new climate created by COVID-19. This is one of two major lessons facilities can take away from the pandemic. The other is that a new and higher expectation of overall cleanliness exists among employees and guests, regardless of facility type.

To move a facility into the post-pandemic world with confidence, it will be important to understand the following lessons: HAND HYGIENE REMAINS PARAMOUNT

Long understood as the easiest way to slow the spread of respiratory pathogens like Influenza, widespread hand hygiene can be a powerful asset in keeping employees and facility occupants healthy.

The pandemic placed hand hygiene in a brighter spotlight, which isn’t likely to fade when COVID-19 cases diminish.

Recent Bradley Corp. statistics show 90% of Americans say they are handwashing more frequently, thoroughly, or longer during the pandemic, and 88% claim they will continue following handwashing best practices even after the pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, the handwashing process should take about as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice, including rubbing hands together vigorously, and individuals should use a paper towel to dry hands.

As vaccinations continue, and some people feel more confident visiting indoor environments, facilities must continue to promote proper handwashing and handdrying and make these processes easy to execute. Businesses can follow best practice by stocking paper towels in restrooms even if there are air dryers.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS CAN HELP ENHANCE RESTROOM HYGIENE

In addition to providing paper towels, busi-

nesses such as hotels and restaurants may also consider additional hygienic solutions. Door tissue dispensers placed near exits and major touchpoints can help reduce surface contamination on door handles or elevator buttons. Meanwhile, hand sanitizer stations in high-traffic areas can offer occupants uninterrupted hand hygiene and pathogen protection.

There are some dispensers that have antibacterial elements to prevent germs from lingering on their surfaces. There are also toilet paper options designed to eat away at buildup in pipes to prevent toilet clogs — further enhancing restroom cleanliness and promoting a commitment to hygiene.

Overall, carefully selecting restroom solutions to promote hygiene can mean the difference between an adequate restroom experience and a pleasant, memorable one. Improving the restroom experience is an important step toward improving brand reputation.

In addition, consider cleaning when others are present to further demonstrate that cleaning is a priority. Even though the SARS-CoV-2 virus is known to spread more through droplets in the air rather than via surfaces, it is still prudent to promote good air quality by keeping all areas of the facility clean and sanitized.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that hygiene essentials play a big role in supporting cleanliness. If occupants and visitors don’t have access to soap, paper towels or sanitizer, they may fail to consistently and properly maintain hand hygiene. This can increase the spread of pathogens as well as the burden placed on cleaning professionals to keep facilities safe and clean.

THERE IS A NEW STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS

• How many employees will be fearful of returning to their place of work?

• Will some workers be hesitant to get the vaccine, even when it’s available to them?

• Will a significant portion of restaurant patrons be willing to dine indoors?

• When will eager travelers, weary of life in quarantine, begin to reinvigorate the hospitality and tourism industries that bolster so many local economies?

• Will guests limit use of public restrooms, or will they become more reliant on handwashing essentials like soap, water and sanitizer?

Cleanliness and hygiene are critical for creating an inviting facility, and they have been for a long time — whether the occupants consist of 10 full-time employees or hundreds of daily customers. However, the coronavirus pandemic raised the importance of cleaning and disinfection in the minds of the public. Because staff and visitors now demand a higher standard of cleanliness, facility managers need to adjust to meet their expectations.

The dual purpose of meeting the new standard of cleanliness is to create a safe and healthy environment and give occupants and staff peace of mind that the business cares about protecting their well-being. To accomplish these goals, stepping up cleaning and disinfecting frequency is a necessary starting point, especially on high-touch surfaces such as restroom countertops, door handles and toilet flush handles.

LOOKING AHEAD

Questions still abound for facilities considering reopening to on-site employees or visitors.

These are valid questions. While only time will provide clear answers, businesses that are meeting the new standard of cleanliness in their restrooms and beyond and enabling proper hand hygiene are ahead of the curve in being ready to welcome employees and customers upon reopening. /

Fabio Vitali is Vice President of Marketing for Sofidel, a leading provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, including its Papernet brand. For more information, visit https://www.papernet.com/americas. www.REMInetwork.com / 17

MADE TO MEASURE Four steps to verify and validate school cleaning programs

by David L. Smith

18 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

/ facilities /

I

t’s no secret that COVID-19 poses a challenge for educational facility managers when it comes to keeping buildings and surfaces properly disinfected. From kindergarten to universities, schools are hightraffic areas with a lot of ground for cleaning teams to cover. With expectations around cleaning and disinfecting dramatically increasing, facility managers sometimes feel like they’re playing catch-up. In the last year, many facilities have shifted their focus from cleaning (mostly) for appearance to cleaning to ensure health and safety.

As schools begin reopening, the question is: how can we help them stay that way? The answer is simple — a consistent, effective, measurable cleaning program. Follow these four steps to design a cleaning program that will help ensure cleaning effectiveness and efficiency while verifying and validating result.

Step 1: Standardize cleaning and disinfecting procedures

Proper core fundamental cleaning is essential to keeping spaces safe. As school boards prepare to meet the challenge of COVID-19 in an ever-changing environment, several cleaning trends have emerged, and the core fundamentals are still the most critical piece of an effective cleaning program.

By standardizing cleaning procedures, you can ensure cleaning and disinfecting is completed regularly and consistently. When developing a cleaning protocol, assess your facility’s unique needs and develop strategies that are clear and consistent to tackle them.

In many cases, this involves identifying hightouch surfaces and developing a schedule to disinfect them a couple times a day without putting students at risk.

Additionally, cleaning is only effective if it is being done properly. Once cleaning procedures have been established, ensure all staff are trained on proper cleaning protocols and tools to maximize effectiveness.

Step 2: Choose the right tools

Choosing the right tools for the job is essential to proper cleaning and disinfecting. Two of the most commonly mis-used cleaning tools are disinfectants and microfibre cloths.

When choosing a disinfectant, it’s important to consider the dwell time, kill claims, and instructions for application: • Dwell time is the amount of time a disinfectant must be left wet on a surface to kill

surface bacteria and viruses. It is ideal to choose a disinfectant that will give a broad spectrum kill in 1-2 minutes of dwell time and to always use disinfectants according to the manufacturer label.

• A disinfectant’s kill claim will tell you which bacteria it is effective against. Not all disinfectants are formulated to kill the same viruses and bacteria. When choosing a disinfectant for your facility, consider which viruses pose a risk to your facility, such as COVID-19 and norovirus.

• Following a disinfectant’s application instructions are crucial to its overall effectiveness. Once you have chosen a disinfectant with an appropriate dwell time and kill claim, ensure you are applying disinfectant with an appropriate tool based on the product. For example, disinfectants used in an electrostatic sprayer system must be approved for use as an electrostatic disinfectant by Health Canada. It’s important to read the manufacturer label and verify the product is approved for use in this manner.

Microfibre cloths are a great cleaning tool when used properly. Follow these tips to get the most out of your microfibre cloths: • When purchasing a microfibre cloth for your facility, consider its lifespan to help determine which is best for your facility.

Some cloths may be designed to last a couple hundred washes whereas some could be designed to withstand over 1000.

• It’s critical that microfibre cloths are cleaned daily with a gentle cleaning solution to help extend their lifespan.

Do not use bleach or fabric softener on microfibre cloths.

• When stocking microfibre cloths, it’s ideal to have three sets: one in use, one for backup and one that’s being laundered to ensure you are ready to tackle cleaning challenge as they arise.

Step 3: Use digital cleaning program management to verify compliance and validate results

Digital cleaning program management software help to optimize cleaning re-

sources improve results. These systems keep a log of cleaning activities in realtime to ensure that proper cleaning is being done and have powerful reporting tools to help refine resource allocation and task scheduling to improve cleaning program performance and efficiency.

Digital cleaning program management systems help facility managers: • Verify that cleaning activities are completed as scheduled • Identify missed cleanings • Immediately uncover and manage training issues • Quickly and easily prepare detailed reporting without having to sift through paper cleaning logs • Validate adherence to cleaning protocols.

Software features and capabilities vary — some, such as the WandaNEXT software by Visionstate, include task lists, compliance reporting, scheduling heat maps, space utilization metrics and more.

Step 4: Don’t forget about hand hygiene!

Proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to limit the spread of viruses and bacteria. Unfortunately, up to 95% of people wash their hands incorrectly, and often not at all.

In school settings, it’s crucial that have a hand hygiene program that not only educates students about the importance of hand washing, but also includes a strategy to ensure soaps, sanitizers and paper towels are continuously well stocked. Handwashing communications should be posted frequently throughout buildings/campuses, and inside restrooms. Hand hygiene supply dispensing formats should be selected based on traffic volume for specific rooms, with ultra-high-capacity units placed strategically to reduce refilling requirements and ensure critical supplies are available so that everyone using the facilities can help to maintain health and hygiene. /

David L. Smith is the Cleaning Hygiene & Sanitation Director at Bunzl Canada, (https://bunzlch. ca) a national distributor of the cleaning and hygiene products and equipment, food and retail packaging, safety products and industrial supplies that keep over 45,000 Canadian businesses running optimally every day. Bunzl Canada Inc. is a division of Bunzl Distribution USA, LLC.

www.REMInetwork.com / 19

/ best practices /

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK Dispelling the myths of floor care is crucial to pathogen control

by Robert Kravitz

W

e are now entering year two of the pandemic and proper and effective cleaning strategies remain the best tools in slowing the spread of the disease. These do not just apply to those high-touch surfaces we hear so much about but also to the floors we walk on.

Understanding how we clean and maintain these floor surfaces, with the goal of minimizing or eliminating the spread of the virus, can become a bit more complicated.

Studies have shown that the pathogens that cause the disease can collect on shoe bottoms. If contaminated and then walked over carpet, not only can soils be transferred to the carpet but so can the virus. Most coronavirus pathogens start out as airborne and gravity eventually pulls them down to surfaces. The carpet welcomes them: studies show carpet absorbs all types of airborne impurities, just like a sponge absorbs water.

The pathogens can survive on carpet for as long as a few days.

Facility managers and cleaning contractors may be surprised to hear that carpet cannot truly be disinfected. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, only hard and nonporous surfaces can be disinfected. As carpet is a soft surface and porous, we can only sanitize carpet. Sanitizing removes most, but not all, pathogens from the carpet as is enough to protect human health.

Cleaning professionals can pre-spray carpet with a disinfectant approved by Health Canada, proven to eliminate the pathogens that cause the virus. In the U.S., the EPA has created the “N-List” of disinfectants that have been tested and proven to eliminate or inactivate those pathogens.

20 / FACILITY CLEANING & MAINTENANCE / MARCH 2021

When we pre-spray carpet, we properly dilute water with a cleaning solution or disinfectant and then spray it over the carpet.

This allows the chemical to dwell on the carpet for a time specified on the label, which is necessary when using a disinfectant, and begin breaking down soils and eliminating pathogens so they can be removed.

The most effective way to clean and sanitize a carpet is to do this by using a carpet extractor or no-touch cleaning systems with a carpet extractor attachment, which remove the disinfectant and all moisture, soils, and pathogens from the carpet.

Whenever we disinfect or sanitize a surface, we must always clean it first. Cleaning removes soils so the disinfectant more effectively disinfects or sanitizes to eliminate pathogens. Just as coronavirus pathogens can find their way onto carpet, so can they be found on hard-surface floors. Again, the only variable is how long they’re able to survive. We must assume this can be anywhere from a few hours to a few days. But, unlike carpet, we can disinfect floors using approved disinfectants.

We should never mop floors, especially with concerns about the virus, as they become soiled and contaminated as soon as they are applied to the floor. If the floor is contaminated, the pathogens can collect on the mop, in the mop water, and then spread on the floor. Not only that, as the mop is used, the collected soils and contaminants reduce the efficacy of the disinfectant.

For exceptionally large surface areas, automatic scrubbers can be used. The floor must be cleaned first with the scrubber and then disinfected. Then, an approved disinfectant can be pre-sprayed on the floor. Allow for proper dwell time as dictated on the disinfectant label. For most other floors, no-touch cleaning or “dispense and vac” cleaning systems can be used. These are both a cleaner and a disinfectant, which provides a time and cost savings.

All precautions must be taken, including frequently cleaning and disinfecting equipment. With carpet extractors, no-touch, and dispense and vac systems, the process is fairly easy. These machines will have a dump hose, which can be placed in a toilet or floor drain. Fill the tanks of the machine with a properly diluted cleaning solution and then flush out, through the dump hose, the water and solution. Repeat with an approved disinfectant. Disinfect all exterior parts of the machine and allow the machine to air dry.

With more complex automatic scrubbers, the process can be more complicated and difficult. Further, some cleaning solutions/ disinfectants may not be compatible with different parts in the auto scrubber as they can corrode metals, plastics, and rubber. Always check with the scrubber manufacturer before cleaning and disinfecting the machine.

COVID-19, once again, has changed everything. Cleaning for health is real and has now become the mantra of the professional cleaning industry. /

Robert Kravitz is a professional cleaning industry veteran and a frequent industry writer and FC&M contributor.

/ clean matters /

ISSA CANADA NAMES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD WINNERS ISSA Canada recently announced the 2020 winners of its Environmental Stewardship Award, which honours organizations committed to environmental management and dedication to the value of clean. Each year, six regional awards winners are selected by the association based on their ability to meet four of six criteria.

“Each year we see the dedication of so many facilities as they strive to achieve benchmarks for environmental safety and occupant health,” said ISSA Canada Executive Director, Mike Nosko. “This year’s recipients are once again a great reflection of how Canadian facilities continue to embrace the environment and help save our planet.”

1 Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto Yorkdale has consistently embraced green practices through all operational facets. As one of Canada’s first shopping centres to implement a recycling program, Yorkdale has consistently increased its annual waste reduction targets since 1994.

It has also consistently utilized EcoLogo products and remains a leader in implementing latest technologies for the betterment of the indoor environment. In addition to adopting a flat mopping system for floor care, the facility became a flagship retail space for the introduction of robotic technology, currently having two units in operation. Yorkdale was also one of the first in the retail space to purchase cleaning product in drums to reduce waste. By purchasing cleaning products in bulk form and using an automated dispensing system, Oxford has been able to effectively reduce the environmental footprint of this facility.

2 Manulife Investment Management, Montréal Last September, one of the facilities in the portfolio of Manulife Investment Management was awarded a prize in the energy performance improvement component of BOMA Quebec’s Défi Énergie en immobilier (DÉI), a four-year competition aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Quebec buildings.

The winning facility at 1001 de Maisonneuve West was among 15 recipients which stood out from 162 candidates. Manulife Investment Management is also the first Canadian real estate provider to achieve GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, having a total of seven facilities accredited to date. In addition, air filtration units specifically designed for elevators and proven to eliminate 99.9 per cent of airborne virus and bacterial particles were installed in all elevators of the Manulife Centre, located at 2000 Mansfield St. 3 Rogers Place, Edmonton Since opening in 2016, Rogers Place has focused on environmentally sustainable cleaning practices. These include the use of EcoLogo products, electrostatic sprayers to reduce product volumes, and a robust recycling program achieving a 93 per cent landfill diversion rate.

In addition, the LEED Silver-certified facility also features an energy-efficient design that has helped achieve over-target energy cost savings, uses low-flow plumbing fixtures to drastically reduce water consumption, and installed a new, modern, and more efficient air-handling system.

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3 www.REMInetwork.com / 21

SPONSORED CONTENT

Reduce the risk of foodborne illness with proper disinfection.

Solving the unique challenges presented by food contact surfaces.

Foodborne illnesses are common, affecting millions of Canadians every year. In any food preparation area, there is a high risk of cross contamination that can result in foodborne illness. Proper sanitizing and disinfection protocols are crucial to reduce the microorganisms that cause many of these illnesses, but it is important to use approved products, following the directions for use on the label, to ensure safe practices.

Foodborne illness is a common issue.

A foodborne illness occurs when something you eat or drink makes you sick.1 Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada estimate that between 11 and 13 million Canadians suffer from illnesses caused by foodborne bacteria every year. 2 Symptoms of foodborne illnesses often resemble the stomach flu (stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever). Often, when people have a “24-hour flu” the cause is foodborne illness. Symptoms can appear soon after eating contaminated food but it is possible for symptoms to develop as long as a month later (or more).1,2 Those most at risk are young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. Most people fully recover, but foodborne illnesses can result in chronic health problems, such as arthritis and kidney failure.1,2

Foodborne illness can occur from improper use of cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants. Specific types of disinfectants and sanitizers are required for food contact surfaces.

Cross-contamination can occur when cleaning chemicals get into food. For example, if cleanser is spilled on a counter and not cleaned up properly and rinsed with water, if food is then prepared on that counter it can result in illness. 2 Not all disinfectants are appropriate for use on food contact surfaces, so it is important to read the label for the intended and appropriate use of the disinfectant.

Choose disinfecting and sanitizing products that are approved for food contact surfaces.

Microorganisms including bacteria, parasites and viruses can all cause foodborne illnesses. Bacterial illnesses are the most common type of foodborne illness, Some of the most common sources of foodborne illnesses include Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. 2

Clorox® knows food safety.

Proper cleaning and sanitizing of hard, non-porous surfaces can help reduce foodborne illnesses.

Clorox® Anywhere™ Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses commonly found on food contact surfaces, such as Salmonella and E. coli., and cold and flu viruses. While most disinfectants will work against coronavirus, Clorox® Anywhere™ Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant is likely to be effective and may be used against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Please see it listed in the Health Canada public database on COVID-19.4

There is demand for food-safe sanitizers and disinfectants.

Health Canada approves the sale of disinfectants for several use sites including food premises which may contain various active chemistries like chlorine compounds (e.g., bleach), peroxide and peroxyacid mixtures, carboxylic acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, acid anionic, and iodine compounds for use on food-contact surfaces. 3 Disinfectants represented for use on surfaces or objects that may come into direct contact with food or beverages (e.g., counters, eating and drinking utensils, and food processing equipment) should carry a statement – Avoid contact with food.

Disinfectants for use in food premises must have a Health Canada-issued drug identification number (DIN) and meet criteria, including those regarding antimicrobial efficacy, stipulated in the Health Canada document Guidance Document: Disinfectant Drugs. 3

Clorox® has a range of products that can be used on food contact surfaces, however, these require rinsing the food-contact surfaces with potable water. The latest formulation, Clorox® Anywhere™ Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant (DIN 02495716), does not require rinsing after use.

Exclusively for use with the Clorox Total 360® Electrostatic Sprayer System, Clorox® Anywhere™ Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant is designed to meet the needs of kitchens, restaurants, hotels and daycares. This system provides surface coverage up to 4 times faster than trigger spray while using up to 65% less solution, for one-step sanitizing and disinfection of food and non-food surfaces.

Sanitize and disinfect food contact surfaces with the one-step, no-rinse formulation • Sanitizes in 1 minute • Disinfects against 6 bacteria in 9 minutes • Disinfects against 3 viruses in 5 minutes

Learn more about Clorox® Anywhere™ Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant at CloroxTotal360.ca References: 1. Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care – Public Health Division. Food Safety: A guide for Ontario’s foodhandlers. https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/9953-Food_Handlers_ training_manual.pdf. Accessed November 6, 2020. 2. Canada Public Health Association. Foodborne illnesses – what causes food poisoning. https://www.cpha.ca/foodborne-illnesses-what-causes-food-poisoning Accessed November 6, 2020. 3. National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. Disinfectants and sanitizers for use on food contact surfaces. https://www.ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Food_Contact_Surface_ Sanitizers_Aug_2011.pdf. Accessed November 6, 2020. 4. Government of Canada. Hard-surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers (COVID-19): List of disinfectants with evidence for use against COVID-19. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html. Accessed February 18, 2021.

© 2021 The Clorox Company

Designed by Clorox for food contact surfaces.

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Clorox® Anywhere® Daily Sanitizer & Disinfectant provides an effective cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting solution, safe for many food contact surfaces in a one-step, no-rinse, ready-to-use formula.

Request a demonstration at Cloroxpro.ca | cleaning@clorox.com The Invisible Guardian

© 2021 The Clorox Company

Exclusively for use with the Clorox Total 360® System, which uses electrostatic technology to enable superior coverage of surfaces including the hard-to-reach places like the sides, undersides and back of hard non-porous surfaces.

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