Healthcare facilities do not have the luxury of waiting till there is a sudden spike in the spread of infectious diseases to start implementing strategies to help curb infections. In outpatient healthcare facilities, the responsibility falls on the practice manager or business owner to work with their janitorial service team to come up with robust strategies to continue curbing infections. The Infection Control Prevention (ICP) manager or director of nursing may be the one responsible for collaborating with environmental services to make sure infections are not spreading.
Planning for these cleaning strategies should include questions related to the type of cleaning chemicals that are being used. It is often good practice to review the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for all cleaning chemicals to ensure that harmful or hazardous chemicals are not being released into the environment. The presence of specific chemicals in cleaning products could negatively impact the health of both janitorial staff and the building occupants, which is why many janitorial companies are opting for a safer, more sustainable option or green cleaning.
The objective of this article is to highlight three advantages of using green cleaning practices in both inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities.
What is Green Cleaning?
Also known as sustainable cleaning, green cleaning is the systematic approach to cleaning whereby specific cleaning strategies are used which includes the use of chemicals that do not emit pollutants into the environment. Over the past two decades, facility managers and janitorial service providers have resulted to green cleaning for the following reasons:
(1)to protect all patients and staff from potentially dangerous health conditions; (2) to maintain optimum environmental cleanliness, which helps prevent the spread of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and (3) to enhance sustainability while reducing environmental impact. Overall, green cleaning is considered a healthier, safer, and more effective cleaning method.
Advantages of Green Cleaning
1. Better Awareness of Chemical Ingredients
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires cleaning chemical manufacturers to list ''chemicals of known concern'' on their labels. This means that certain chemicals may be left off the label which in actuality may be detrimental to the health of people who may be exposed to them. This reduces cleaning chemical ingredient awareness by the end user.
The shift to green cleaning, also has attached to it, environmental stewardship from the perspective of the manufacturers. This commitment to environmental stewardship gives room for transparency and honesty when reporting the chemicals. Furthermore, such commitment also means, manufacturers are likely to use less hazardous chemicals for the optimal result but less adverse environmental impact. Therefore, the end-user has a better awareness of the chemical’s ingredients prior to usage.
2. Optimal Health for Facility’s Occupants
A majority of the green cleaning products on the market boast of their ability to emit a lower level of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Volatile Organic Compounds are compounds that have high vapor pressure and low water solubility. These compounds are known to cause cancers by themselves or may combine with other gases and cause other adverse health outcomes such as headaches, throat, eye, and nose irritations, and asthma. An American Journal study revealed that the usage of harsh chemicals in facilities, depending on the intensity of its usage, can be just as harmful as smoking up to 20 cigarettes per day.
Due to the absence of chemicals with high VOCs, green cleaning products are less likely to cause harm to facility occupants when they are exposed. The ingredients used in green cleaning products are less likely to stay in the environment for prolonged periods, due to the fact that they are biodegradable. It is less likely for occupants who have certain allergies and other illnesses to react to the chemicals.
3. Reduced Cost In The Long Term
The cost involved in switching to green cleaning products is on the higher end of the spectrum, but when considered a long-term investment, this procedure and the use of green products become less costly. The major reason for this is the emphasis on using less erosive products and the process of reusing specific products.
With green cleaning, cleaning equipment lasts longer, while cleaning becomes less labor-intensive. Encouraging an eco-friendly approach to cleaning healthcare facilities as a janitorial service provider is essential. It helps save money and time and encourages sustainability and safety within your client's facilities.
References
Green Cleaning in Healthcare - HCD Magazine. (2012, February 7). HCD Magazine - Architecture & Interior Design Trends for Healthcare Facilities. https://healthcaredesignmagazine.com/architecture/green-cleaning-healthcare/#:~:text=The%20aim%20of%20green%20cleaning
The Cleaning Authority: Benefits of Green Cleaning. (n.d.). The Cleaning Authority. https://www.thecleaningauthority.com/blog/green-living/benefits-of-green-cleaning3/
The Benefits of Green Cleaning Your Facility. (2019, October 17). Facilities Management Advisor. https://facilitiesmanagementadvisor.blr.com/sustainability-business-continuity/the-benefits-of-green-cleaning-your-facility/
Benefits Of Green Cleaning Products In Healthcare Facility. (2022, June 20). Enviroplus. https://enviroplusproducts.com.au/the-benefits-of-green-cleaning-products-in-healthcare-facility-management/
Resources
Here are additional resources for you to increase your janitorial knowledge further and stay updated on new trends in facility maintenance.
Distinct Cleaning News and Media Post: Easy to read blog articles on various topics and trends in the commercial janitorial space.
Janitorial Work and Tutorial Videos: Quick cleaning tutorial and before and after videos intended to give the audience a glimpse into various janitorial works.
Janitorial Coaching Hub If you are interested in starting your cleaning business or have a cleaning business and want to grow, then this is a great resource hub for you.
