Company News Page

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) produced a nationwide survey on employee safety in regards to fires in commercial buildings. The survey concluded that 65% of workers felt more protected from fires at home rather than in the workplace. However, recent years statistics show that 2,450 deaths and 13,900 injuries have come from residential fires. Meanwhile, 80 deaths and 1,100 injuries have come from fires in commercially run buildings. No matter what the statistics say it is extremely important to your company that employee’s feel safe at all times and understand the procedures necessary when facing an emergency situation such as a fire hazard.

The Environmental Protectant Agency (EPA) plans to increase the number of chemicals used in cleaning products. According to the director of legislative affairs at the ISSA, Bill Ballek explains that the chemicals include “colorants, defoamers, enzymes, and other compounds that have characteristics such as not being carcinogenic, harmful to reproduction, or a cause of allergies, or being persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.” These new chemicals will also be a part of the Design for the Environment Program (DfE) which promotes safer product labeling. The EPA is also currently working on a new logo for the DfE in order to improve its efficiency in setting a message to consumers.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that almost 1 million children under age 5 in the U.S. were hospitalized due to norovirus (the virus that inflames stomach lining and intestines) in 2010. Treating these patients costs nearly $273 million a year. The New England journal of medicine found out that by age five, 1 out of 278 children will be hospitalized for this infection. 1 in 14 will be sent to the emergency room, and 1 in 6 will need medical care. The CDC states that anually there 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths from this infection. Although there are new vaccines for this virus, it is important for schools and other facilities holding young children to put a significant amount of their attention into disinfecting and minimizing contamination in your building.

The U.S. Senate plans on discussing gun control later this month. The National Riffle Association’s (NRA) task force proposed a 225 page report this tuesday that asks for armed police officers, security guards, or faculty members at all schools across the nation, and for states to lighten up on gun restrictions so teachers and superintendents can be trained and prepared. The proposition stirred up a big conversation throughout the senate. Read the article here at the NY Times.

Cascades all new antibacterial paper towel has received a 4-star Environmental Leader Review Score and is now a finalist in the 2013 Edison awards for the consumer packaged goods, cleaning solutions category. CEO Suzanne Blanchet states, “While our Antibacterial paper towel breaks new ground in terms of innovation, we’re also very excited about the positive social impact it can have on human health. Without even changing habits, everyone can now help control the spread of bacteria!”

The Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) is proposing a Seal of Review and Recognition Program to Environmental Service Professionals. Your organization’s education or cleaning methods can now receive the AHE’s recognition for your programs excellence. Any business participating will have their content, including documents carefully reviewed by the AHE under their guidelines for healthcare and environmental cleaning. The AHE wants businesses to know that any commercial or promotional materials will not be accepted for review.

The floor of your building can make a big statement to customers, visitors and employees coming in and out throughout the week. Floor finish is applied in order to prevent scuff marks and to give a strong, shiny finish that catches the eye. The layers of floor finish applied will provide different benefits for the floors of your business. Two coats of finish will perform as a sealant, mainly applied in areas where there is not as much movement or penetration to the floor. For a nice shine in these places, apply 3-4 coats. As for the areas where people will be walking and spending the most time, applying up to 8 coats of floor shiner will be the best protection for scuff marks as well as providing an attractive shine to the floors of the building.

The Edison Awards is an event that recognizes the most newly designed and innovative business techniques in the market. Cascades is a finalist this year with their newly designed paper towel which claims to kill 99.99% of bacteria nearly instantly. CEO of Cascades, Suzanne Blanchet states, “our Antibacterial paper towel is a groundbreaking innovation, it also makes good common sense for human health. We believe the product will revolutionize the paper towel’s role in proper hygiene because of its efficacy and because it doesn’t require a change of habits. Now everyone can help control the spread of bacteria!” Cascades plans to distribute this paper towel to businesses around the globe in hopes of sustaining a cleaner workplace. Click here to view the companies new product