Testing Reveals High Contamination Levels of Everyday Objects in Major U.S. Cities; Gas Pump and Mailbox Handles are Among the Dirtiest

Kimberly-Clark Professional* Findings Also Show People Encounter Armies of Germs Just Getting to WorkEach Day; Results Reinforce Importance of Proper Hand and Surface Hygiene as Critical to a Healthy Workplace ROSWELL, GA [DATE] –Just in time for cold and flu season, new testing in six major U.S. cities reveals that gas pump and mailbox handles may be among the dirtiest surfaces Americans touch. The results, released today by Kimberly-Clark Professional*, show that more than 60 percent of gas pump and mailbox handles and more than 40 percent of escalator rails and ATM machine buttons can be highly contaminated, potentially exposing people to illness-causing bacteria. Illness in the workplace is not just a health issue, but can also have a major economic impact. Each year companies lose $1,685 per employee due to absenteeism and presenteeism (employees coming to work while sick). 

 The testing was conducted by trained hygienists in high traffic locations in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia. Using a Hygiena System SURE II ATP Meter, a device commonly used to monitor sanitary conditions in industry, Hygienists swabbed the objects to measure levels of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is present in all animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast and mold cells. Detection of ATP indicates the presence of contamination by any of these sources. Everyday objects with an ATP reading of 300 or higher are considered to have a high risk for illness transmission. In all, more than 350 separate swabs were taken and analyzed.

 The percentage of public surfaces tested and found to have high levels of contamination (an ATP count of 300 or higher), includes:

•  71 percent of  Gas Pump Handles
•  68 percent of  Mailbox Handles
•  43 percent of  Escalator Rails
•  41 percent of  ATM Buttons
•  40 percent of  Parking Meters/Kiosks
•  35 percent of  Crosswalk Buttons
•  35 percent of  Vending Machine Button

“People do not realize the amount of contamination they are exposed to going to work each day and doing everyday things like filling their gas tank or riding on an escalator,” said Dr. Charles Gerba, Professor of Microbiology at the University of Arizona. “This new testing is compelling because it underscores the importance of hand and surface hygiene. Most cold and flu viruses are spread because people touch surfaces in their immediate area and then touch their faces, other objects and other people. Washing and drying your hands frequently throughout the day, can help prevent your risk of getting sick or spreading illness around the office.” 

“The likelihood for illnesses to transfer from the objects that people use every day like ATMs and parking meters is eye-opening,” said Brad Reynolds, North American Platform Leader, The Healthy Workplace Project*, Kimberly-Clark Professional*. “These findings indicate that illness-causing germs are everywhere and have the potential to travel with you into your office space. That’s why we developed The Healthy Workplace Project* – a unique approach to hand and surface hygiene that helps employees understand and reduce the spread of cold and flu germs throughout their workplaces.”

The Healthy Workplace Project* is a new, multi-faceted program that Kimberly-Clark Professional* has designed to help companies provide their employees with a healthier and more productive office environment. The program provides educational materials in conjunction with hand and surface hygiene products to employees, arming them with the tools and knowledge necessary to break the cycle of germ transmission in the office. By reinforcing the importance of “washing, wiping and sanitizing” through The Healthy Workplace Project*, employers can help reduce that impact.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional*

Kimberly-Clark Professional* is dedicated to providing essential solutions for a healthier, safer and more productive workplace. These include a unique portfolio of innovative, cost-effective and sustainable offerings for office buildings and lodging properties, healthcare facilities, manufacturing environments, laboratories and cleanrooms, educational facilities, food preparation and processing operations, and home professionals. Kimberly-Clark Professional* offers a comprehensive array of hand hygiene and contamination control solutions to break the germ transmission chain and help create a healthier workplace as well as wiping and safety solutions that minimize risk and drive productivity. Its trusted global brands include Kleenex

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Janitorial Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

It happens around this time every year. The sore throats, runny noses and coughs that herald the start of the flu season.

Up to 20 percent of the U.S. population gets the seasonal flu annually. More than 200,000 are hospitalized with flu-related complications, and 36,000 people in the country die from flu-related causes.

The uncertain severity and timing of seasonal flu activity means that schools, businesses and workplaces need to prepare for higher absenteeism rates, along with cases of presenteeism – when someone goes to work or school while sick, leading to productivity declines and the possibility of spreading illness to others.

Fortunately, there are several things facility managers and building services contractors can do to help prepare building occupants for the upcoming flu season. Education is the first step.

Stopping the Spread of Germs

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes, people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. In fact, some germs can live for two hours or ore on surfaces like doorknobs, desks, and tables.

Consider instituting a Healthy Workplace campaign, with letters to building occupants and posters in prominent locations detailing recommendations from health experts like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which advocates the following tips to help stop the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. It’s best to cough or sneeze into a tissue, which should be thrown away after it is used, or into one’s sleeve. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, be sure to clean your hands afterward – every time you cough or sneeze.
• Clean your hands often. When possible, use soap and warm water and rub hands vigorously together for 15 to 20 seconds, scrubbing all surfaces of the hands to dislodge and remove germs. When soap and water aren’t available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. If using a gel, rub the gel into your hands until they are dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick (and for at least 24 hours after fever is gone) and check with a health care provider when needed. Keeping your distance from others may protect them from getting sick.

Facility Issues
Educating building occupants about how to prevent the spread of flu is only one step. You’ll also need to make sure you have the right infection control tools for the job. That means stocking workstations and public areas with plenty of facial tissue. Anti-viral facial tissue is now available for this purpose. In addition, you should install wall-mounted or free-standing dispensers for alcohol gel hand sanitizers throughout your facility. It’s also important to make sure restrooms don’t run out of hand soap and paper towels, and that sufficient numbers of no-touch disposal receptacles are provided for used hand towels and used facial tissue.

When stockpiling items like hand soaps and cleaning supplies, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration recommends being aware of each product’s shelf life and storage conditions (e.g., avoid areas that are damp or have temperature extremes) and incorporating product rotation (e.g., consume oldest supplies first) into your stockpile management program.

According to the CDC, business and employers, in general, can play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety, as well as limiting the negative impact of influenza outbreaks on the individual, the community, and the nation’s economy. Facility professionals should be on the front lines in the war against the flu and other germs in their facility. A combination of education and effective flu-prevention tools and practices will put facilities and their occupants in a good position to avoid the brunt of the flu this season.

*CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE SITE EVALUATION*
313-924-0696

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Flu Season Tips

1. Wash Hands Frequently and thoroughly with high quality hand soap
   1. Sanitize after contact
2. Try not to touch your face

1. Sneeze into your sleeve or tissue
2. Stay home 24 hours after fever ends
3. If at high risk get vaccinated

1. Disinfect hi touch  hard surfaces daily with high quality Disinfectant
   1. Phone
   2. Door Handles
   3. Desk top
   4. Car Steering wheel

Visit our catalog for many other quality products
Use the category section to find other important information on FLU, disinfecting and hand washing

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Author: Dr. Allison Aiello, Tork® Green Hygiene Council™ member and assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan

Leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Allison Aiello, has devoted her career to discovering new ways to lessen the spread of germs and deadly infections. An Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan-School of Public Health and member of the Tork® Green Hygiene Council™, her research focuses on infection control and hygiene intervention in the community and clinical settings. Here she clears up the confusion about the spread of H1N1 and seasonal influenza and provides best practice information for staying healthy.

With all the differing information available about H1N1 and seasonal influenza, it’s no wonder the average person is confused about the cause of theses viruses and how best to prevent contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) up to 40 percent of Americans could be infected with H1N1 through 2010, causing a major health pandemic. Shockingly, a new Harris poll, commissioned by SCA Tissue North America’s Tork® brand reveals that 74 percent of U.S. adults say it is unlikely they will contract the virus this year.

This new study highlights widespread confusion about the cause of the H1N1 virus and the preventative methods associated with it. According to the study, 50 percent of U.S. adults are confident they could protect themselves from contracting the virus. Yet, more than one-third (38 percent) say they won’t be washing their hands more frequently this flu season and almost half (48 percent) are not planning to take advantage of available flu shots.

These results are staggering as handwashing and vaccinations are two of the most effective ways to protect one self from infectious diseases like H1N1. Americans aren’t sure where to turn or what to do to protect themselves from the flu. It’s time to get back to the basics with proper hand hygiene and surface cleaning as well as seeking out vaccinations to prevent the spread of H1N1, seasonal influenza and other infectious diseases.

The ABC’s of H1N1 and Season Influenza Prevention It does not take a lot of extra time or effort to stay healthy this flu season and beyond. In fact, it’s as easy as A, B, C.

Always wash your hands

The best method to prevent the virus’s spread is to wash hands often. Studies show that proper handwashing techniques result in a 21 percent reduction in respiratory illness and a 31 percent reduction in gastrointestinal illness. Yet, more than 80 percent of Americans are not washing their hands properly.

Hands are full of surfaces that can be difficult to reach, which means that many tend to forget certain parts. When using a public washroom, handwashing should take as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Wet hands with clean warm water.
• Apply soap.
• Rub hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces for 20 seconds. Remember to wash both thumbs as thumbs are quite often skipped in the handwashing process.
• Make sure to wash under nails, watches and jewelry since millions of germs gather there.
• Rinse with clean water
• When away from home, a single-use paper towel ensures that hands can be completely dried and virtually germ free.
• Since hands are to be washed frequently, use mild and gentle soaps.

Drying hands properly and using paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door in public restrooms are also key steps to protecting yourself from infection.

Be sure to get your vaccinations

Medical experts agree that vaccinations can be a crucial step in protecting yourself from the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses. If your place of employment does not offer a vaccination program then make an appointment to visit your family practitioner or healthcare provider. Most insurance companies will cover part or all of the costs associated with seasonal flu vaccinations. Call your insurance company to inquire about coverage before obtaining these vaccinations.

Cleaning is key

H1N1 has led to an increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning logic has emerged, where wiping down the door knob an extra time each day is considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner.

While proper handwashing and drying is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu virus, it is equally important to keep common objects and surfaces clean. The influenza virus can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours and may spread when a person touches droplets, left by hands, coughs or sneezes, on hard surfaces or objects and then touches his or her mouth or nose.

Single-use products, such as paper towels or disposable cloths, minimize the risk of germs from a contaminated object being passed on to another surface. And remember, the dryer, the safer. When washing areas like the kitchen, use a highlight absorbent paper afterwards to get surfaces really dry.

Staying healthy doesn’t mean major lifestyle changes during the flu season. Just remember the A,B,Cs of infectious disease prevention to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Following these basic preventative measures will drastically reduce the risk of infection.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Truth About Swine Flu 2009 H1N1

Ms. Michele Wingfield, Branch Chief, Product Science Branch of the US EPA Office of
Pesticide Programs, Antimicrobial Division is recommending the use of any registered
product with label claim against Influenza A. If your products have an Influenza A
label claim, you can use against the current H1N1 strain. That being said, you cannot
add “swine flu” to your label just because you have Influenza A. The Administration is
currently calling this strain 2009-H1N1 flu instead of swine flu.

DO NOT BE MISLEAD! There are NO disinfectants registered through the US EPA that
can claim to be effective against the 2009H1N1 strain of “swine flu.” All current swine flu
claims refer to animal quarters.

Amerisource Products effective agains Influenza A

BIG DINSINFECTANT
150 SANITIZER

Bookmark It

Hide Sites