Confirmed transmission of MRSA skin infections and H1N1 influenza, for example, gives fodder to the speculation that humans who share the covers with their dogs are more likely to become ill. While this is certainly more of a possibility with immunosuppressed humans, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer no explicit warnings on this issue beyond the standard warnings for these immunocompromised groups of people(HIV-positive, transplant recipients, or chemotherapy patients, for example).
In fact, when it comes to infectious disease transmission, physicians and veterinarians agree there is scant evidence that healthy, well cared for pets are detrimental to human health under these circumstances. Indeed, human family members are much more likely to transmit diseases to each other during bed-sharing than our pets are!
T he CDC wrote in a 2011 report , "the risk of transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague." Although this is uncommon with health pets.
A clean workplace means more than just having a sparkling, fresh building. A clean workplace also ensures the safety and health of employees and visitors. In 2012 alone, nearly 3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported by private industry employers. Workplace injuries can be prevented by taking action to ensure a clean, safe work environment.
Here are six reasons why a clean workplace also means a safe workplace:
- Clean, dry floors to prevent slips and falls.
Maintaining clean, dry floors is essential for the prevention of slips and falls in the workplace. Different categories of floor cleaners serve different purposes. For example, alkaline cleaners are good for cleaning restaurant floors while acidic cleaners remove rust, scale, and oxides from floors. However, some products may contain chemicals that can be detrimental to your flooring, so be sure to talk with a cleaning professional about what is best for your facility. In addition, keep your floors dry by using absorbent materials, such as floor mats, in functional locations to remove moisture and soil from the bottom of shoes.
- Disinfectants prevent the spread of germs and illness, including the flu. Germs can easily spread throughout a workplace, particularly during flu season—but disinfecting surfaces and objects with EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants can stop germs in their tracks.
- Proper air filtration lowers employee exposure to hazardous substances.
You may not see them, but dusts and vapors are hazardous substances that can create an unsafe environment for employees. Building ventilation is one important factor in reducing airborne transmission of respiratory infections and maintaining the health and productivity of workers. Regularly cleaning or replacing HVAC system filters prevents them from becoming saturated, which could lead to potential microbial growth and odor concerns. Vacuum cleaners fitted with HEPA filters may also capture fine particles. Maintaining humidity around 30 to 50 percent through the use of a dehumidifier is also important in eliminating air pollutants and promoting clean air in the workplace.
- Clean light fixtures improve lighting efficiency.
Dirty light fixtures can reduce essential light levels, making it difficult and unsafe for employees to complete their daily tasks. Clean light fixtures significantly improve lighting efficiency in the workplace. Well-lit stairways and aisles are also important in preventing accidents and maintaining a safe work environment.
- Green cleaning products are safer for both your employees and the environment.
Not all cleaning products are the same, and some are held to a higher standard than others. Products with third-party certifications, such as Green Seal or GREENGUARD, must meet specific standards and guidelines, which ensures they’re safer for both people and the environment. Also make sure you maintain and review Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for proper handling and storage of the products used in your facility.
- Proper disposal of waste and recyclable materials keeps work areas clutter-free.
Allowing trash to pile up not only produces clutter, but it also presents a breeding ground for pests that pose a threat to your work environment. Placing “no-touch” wastebaskets in key locations throughout your facility ensures materials are disposed of and reduces the spread of germs. Recycling materials using clearly labeled waste receptacles also makes for a more sustainable environment.
Providing a safe and clean environment for your employees and visitors doesn’t have to be a challenge you face alone
When it comes to cleaning many homeowners simply don’t have the time or are physically unable to clean and maintain a home. The perfect solution to these common problems is to hire a maid service. A maid service provides you with basic house cleaning tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, kitchen and bathroom cleaning. Here are four ways you can benefit from hiring a maid service.
Perfect for a busy schedule: Time is a valuable resource and keeping up with cleaning tasks around the home can be very time consuming. If you simply don’t have time to clean, your list of cleaning chores can become very overwhelming. A Maid service will save you time spent on cleaning and will help you manage your cleaning chores.
Regular Basis Cleaning: Keeping your home clean requires constant upkeep, hiring a maid service will make sure cleaning gets done on time and on a regular basis. Such cleaning tasks like regular basis vacuuming are important for maintaining the longevity of your carpets. Scheduling a regular basis maid service ensures your house will be clean and maintained.
Experience: When you hire a maid service you are also hiring experienced and professional cleaners. Experienced cleaners know how to clean effectively and efficiently. Cleaning a house isn’t easy, but the more experience the cleaner has the more you can rely on them to do a good job cleaning your home.
Custom Cleaning: Maid service plans don’t have to involve an entire house cleaning. Maid services can be used to clean areas of your home that require more frequent cleaning such as the living room and the kitchen. This can help you save money spent on cleaning the rooms of your home that do not get dirty and disorganized as frequently as others.
1. The company should offer a wide variety of services. If a company works primarily on window cleaning or floor cleaning, how can you expect them to clean your entire office? Find a business that is willing to clean everything so that you don’t end up hiring specialists for each duty.
2. Their services should be flexible. A great commercial cleaning company will work with you to establish a plan that accommodates your budget and tackles all of your wish-list items. If a company offers one standard plan and won’t budge from that schedule, task list, or price, keep looking.
3. They should have fantastic reviews. One of the best things about the Internet is that anyone and everyone is free to broadcast their thoughts, so take advantage of it! Before you hire a cleaning company, scroll through their reviews and note any rave reviews or concerning criticisms.
4. They should be willing to stop by for an emergency request. What should you do if someone is sick all over their desk? Or what if your company’s president calls to say that he will be stopping by tomorrow? Your cleaning company should be willing to send someone over quickly when an emergency occurs.
5. They are kind, courteous, and reputable. Finally, the company and its staff must be all of those good things that we look for in employees: respectful, trustworthy, responsible, polite, hardworking, etc. You might want to ask how the company screens its employees pre-hiring and how it trains them post-hiring.
