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LET US HELP YOU
DEVELOP A
GREEN CLEANING PROGRAM
Omaha Compound Company would like to help you
become green. Since the release of the Green Seal Environmental Standard
for Cleaning Service Providers (GS-42), both in-house and contract cleaners
now have a guideline to follow to establish a green cleaning program.
The following is a general overview of the
five key areas contained in the Green Seal Environmental Standard for
Cleaning Services (GS-42). To access the standard for detailed information,
you can access and download the standard at www.greenseal.org .
5 KEY AREAS
1.
PLANNING REQUIREMENTS
When beginning to develop a green cleaning
program, one must follow the planning requirements established in the
standard. Below is a summary of some of the requirements to be followed.
- Cleaning
service providers shall develop and maintain a set of written
guidelines or standard operating procedures that preside over the
cleaning procedures, communication protocols and requirements,
training and inspection programs, and reporting and record keeping
procedures.
- The
guidelines should be made available to all cleaning personnel and
clients.
- A
building specific green cleaning plan must be in place that explains
the methods in which a facility is cleaned effectively.
- Develop
and implement a floor maintenance plan, determine schedules of routine
cleaning operations, activities performed periodically, equipment
operation and maintenance, cleaning inspections, and accident
preparedness plans.
2. REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTS, SUPPLIES, AND
EQUIPMENTS
To develop a green cleaning program, one
should use only environmentally preferable products which are as follows:
- General
purpose cleaners, floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, glass cleaners,
and carpet cleaners
- Floor
finishes and floor strippers
- Liquid
hand soap
- Toilet
tissue, facial issue, paper towels, and napkins
- Plastic
trash can liners shall contain a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled
content.
3. CLEANING PROCEDURE REQUIREMENTS
In order to develop a green cleaning program,
the standard has separated cleaning procedure requirements in to different
areas, which are listed below.
- Reduce
chemical waste/efficient use of chemicals
- Reduce
solid waste
- Vacuum
Use/Maintenance
4. COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS
Keeping the communication lines open between
cleaning service providers and cleaning personnel and facility managers is
essential to maintaining a green cleaning program. The cleaning service
providers must:
- Provide
employees with initial, on-site, or site-specific and annual in
service training regarding all areas of operation.
- Ensure
that a system is in place for cleaning service employees to provide
comments.
- Provide
MSDS in a timely manner upon request.
5. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
All cleaning personnel must be trained to have
a complete understanding of what it takes to implement a green cleaning
program. Cleaning personnel must undergo initial training on standard
operating procedures, proper sequencing of steps, and proper use of
personal protective equipment. Even after the program is implemented,
employees should receive continuous training.
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