Germ Hot Spots in the Workplace

Research shows that these hot spot areas harbor the greatest number of germs:

* Stair Railings – Wipe and clean these surfaces daily

* Doors – Wipe knobs often and place hand sanitizer near entrance/exits

* Elevator Buttons – Sanitize hands and place hand sanitizer in high traffic areas

* Copy Stations – Sanitize or wash hands when using common office machines

* Water Cooler/Kitchen Space – Wipe all surfaces, even if they appear to be clean

* Conference Tables – Wipe tables, phones, etc. before each meeting

* Lobby Areas – Wipe hard surfaces and provide hand sanitizer for guests

* Reception – Provide hand sanitizer in public or common areas

**For surface cleaners/disinfectants, hand sanitizer and all of your Janitorial Supply needs visit http://www.amerisourcesupply.com or call Customer Service @ 313-924-0696**

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Protocol for Disinfecting Clostridium Difficile Colitis Contact Surfaces

1)     For general cleaning purposes, follow procedures established for resident/isolation room cleaning. Use appropriate personal protection equipment.

2)     Disinfect using a mixture of bleach and water (10 parts water to 1 part bleach).

3)     Trigger spray bleach and water mixture on to all hard/non-porous surfaces. Let dwell and wipe dry using disposable towels.

4)     Collect used towels and dispose of in a secure medical waste area.

5)     Wash hands and arms thoroughly.

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

The Basics — What Is It And Where It Is Found?   

First discovered in 1961, these MRSA infections are fiercely resistant to usually reliable beta antibiotics such as methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. In rare cases, mild skin infections featuring boils or pimples can transform lactams into necrotizing fasciitis (“flesh eating”) bacterial infections that can spread with horrifying speed and result in amputations or death.     

Currently, the majority of MRSA cases are in Healthcare settings. According to an October 2007 study published in “The Journal of the American Medical Association” (JAMA), approximately 85% of invasive MRSA infections occur in these environments, while 14% are categorized as community-associated (CA-MRSA) infections, or in those individuals lacking the risk factors associated with healthcare environments. As outlined in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, more individuals died from MRSA in 2005 than from AIDS.    

Transmission and Vulnerability     

SOURCES

:CDC Web site. The American Academy of Family Physicians Web site. WebMD Web site.Capriotti, T. Dermatology Nursing, Jan. 26, 2004; vol 15: pp 535-538. Johnson, L.
Infections in Medicine, 2005; vol 22: pp 16-20.
Klevens, R.M. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 17, 2007; vol 298: pp 1763-1771. R. Monica Klevens, DDS, MPH, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, CDC, Atlanta.
Elizabeth Bancroft, MD, Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
CDC Basic Statistics, HIV/AIDS Status Report, 2005. WebMD Medical News: “MRSA Rates Much Higher Than Thought.”
CDC Press Release, “CDC estimates 94,000 invasive drug-resistant staph infections occurred in the U.S. in 2005.” October 16, 2007.
Linezolid for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children. Kaplan SL - Pediatr Infect Dis J - 01-SEP-2003; 22(9 Suppl): S178-85
Prospective comparison of risk factors and demographic and clinical characteristics of community-acquired, methicillin-resistant versus methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus infection in children.
Sattler CA - Pediatr Infect Dis J - 01-OCT-2002; 21(10): 910-7 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the community. Bratcher D - Pediatr
Infect Dis J - 01-DEC-2001; 20(12): 1167-8

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Nursing Home Chemicals by Area

Restrooms and Showers
	Clean and Disinfect
	Fixtures	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Toilet Bowls/Urinals	AIS Neutral Disinfectant Big D
	Counter Tops	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Floors	AIS Neutral Disinfectant Big D
	Stainless and Chrome	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Showers (Daily Clean)	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Spot Clean Walls,Doors, etc	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Blood Spills	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Soap and Scum Removal (Deep Clean)	Citrus H2O2 Peroxy Blend
	Mildew Remover	Tilex Mildew Remover
	Whirlpools	AIS Neutral Disinfectant Big D
	Glass Surfaces	Window Kleen Conc / AIS RTU Glass Clnr
	Urine Smells	AIS Liquid Life
	Floor Drains	AIS Liquid Life
	Hair and Body Soap	Kutol Hair and Body Shampoo
Office
	Clean Counter Tops	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Glass Surfaces	Window Kleen Conc Glass Clnr
	Wipe Down Equipment	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Disinfect Telephones	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Light Clean and Disinfect Trash Containers	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Light Spot Clean Walls,Doors, etc	AIS WFC or Soft Scrub
	Floor Drains	AIS Liquid Life
Halls and Lobbys
	Clean Counter Tops	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Glass Surfaces	Window Kleen Conc Glass Clnr
	Wipe Down Equipment	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Disinfect Telephones	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Light Clean and Disinfect Trash Containers	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Spot Clean Walls,Doors, etc	AIS WFC or Soft Scrub
	Stainless and Chrome	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Floor Drains	AIS Liquid Life
Dining Room/Break Rooms
	Clean Counter Tops, Tables, Chairs	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Glass Surfaces	Window Kleen Conc Glass Clnr
	Wipe Down Equipment	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Disinfect Telephones	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Light Clean and Disinfect Trash Containers	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Spot Clean Walls,Doors, etc	AIS WFC or Soft Scrub
	Stainless and Chrome	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Floor Drains	AIS Liquid Life
Patient/Resident Rooms
	Clean and Disinfect
	Counter Tops and Hard Surfaces	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Switches, Handles, Knobs, etc	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Vinyl Furniture and Coverings	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Stainless and Chrome	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Telephones	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Spot Clean Walls,Doors, etc	AIS WFC or Soft Scrub
	Toilet Bowls	AIS Neutral Disinfectant Big D
	Blood Spills	AIS WFC Washroom Fixture Cleaner
	Neutral Disinfect Vinyl Floors	AIS Neutral Disinfectant
	Glass Surfaces	Window Kleen Conc Glass Clnr
	Urine Smells	AIS Liquid Life
	Floor Drains	AIS Liquid Life
Misc
	Furniture Polish	Lemon ScentFurniture Polish
	Dust Mop Treatment	Dust Mop Treatment Aerosol

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

 Overview

In the event of pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Planning for pandemic influenza is critical. To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies. Further information can be found at www.pandemicflu.gov and www.cdc.gov/business.

QUICK ACTION GUIDE

• 1. Liberal leave policy to anyone exhibiting fever, cough and flu symptoms
• 2. Promote frequent hand washing or sanitizing after personal contact
• a. Carry personal hand sanitizer
• 3. Avoid touching nose, eyes and face with hands
• 4. Cough into arm vs hands
• 5. Consider applying protective residual disinfectant coating to all hard surfaces

CHECKLIST

1.1 Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your business:

• 1. Identify a pandemic coordinator and/or team with defined roles and responsibilities for preparedness and response planning. The planning process should include input from labor representatives.
• 2. Identify essential employees and other critical inputs (e.g. raw materials, suppliers, sub-contractor services/products, and logistics) required to maintain business operations by location and function during a pandemic.
• 3. Train and prepare ancillary workforce (e.g. contractors, employees in other job titles/descriptions, retirees).
• 4. Develop and plan for scenarios likely to result in an increase or decrease in demand for your products and/or services during a pandemic (e.g. effect of restriction on mass gatherings, need for hygiene supplies).
• 5. Determine potential impact of a pandemic on company business financials using multiple possible scenarios that affect different product lines and/or production sites.
• 6. Determine potential impact of a pandemic on business-related domestic and international travel (e.g. quarantines, border closures).
• 1. Find up-to-date, reliable pandemic information from community public health, emergency management, and other sources and make sustainable links.
• 2. Establish an emergency communications plan and revise periodically. This plan includes identification of key contacts (with back-ups), chain of communications (including suppliers and customers), and processes for tracking and communicating business and employee status.
• 3. Implement an exercise/drill to test your plan, and revise periodically.

1.2 Plan for the impact of a pandemic on your employees and customers:

• 1. Forecast and allow for employee absences during a pandemic due to factors such as personal illness, family member illness, community containment measures and quarantines, school and/or business closures, and public transportation closures.
• 2. Implement guidelines to modify the frequency and type of face-to-face contact (e.g. hand-shaking, seating in meetings, office layout, shared workstations) among employees and between employees and customers (refer to CDC recommendations).
• 3. Encourage and track annual influenza vaccination for employees.
• 4. Evaluate employee access to and availability of healthcare services during a pandemic, and improve services as needed.
• 5. Evaluate employee access to and availability of mental health and social services during a pandemic, including corporate, community, and faith-based resources, and improve services as needed.
• 6. Identify employees and key customers with special needs, and incorporate the requirements of such persons into your preparedness plan.

1.3 Establish policies to be implemented during a pandemic:

• 1. Establish policies for employee compensation and sick-leave absences unique to a pandemic (e.g. non-punitive, liberal leave), including policies on when a previously ill person is no longer infectious and can return to work after illness.
• 2. Establish policies for flexible worksite (e.g. telecommuting) and flexible work hours (e.g. staggered shifts).
• 3. Establish policies for preventing influenza spread at the worksite (e.g. promoting respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, and prompt exclusion of people with influenza symptoms).
• 4. Establish policies for employees who have been exposed to pandemic influenza, are suspected to be ill, or become ill at the worksite (e.g. infection control response, immediate mandatory sick leave).
• 5. Establish policies for restricting travel to affected geographic areas (consider both domestic and international sites), evacuating employees working in or near an affected area when an outbreak begins, and guidance for employees returning from affected areas (refer to CDC travel recommendations).
• 6. Set up authorities, triggers, and procedures for activating and terminating the company’s response plan, altering business operations (e.g. shutting down operations in affected areas), and transferring business knowledge to key employees.

1.4 Allocate resources to protect your employees and customers during a pandemic:

• 1. Provide sufficient and accessible infection control supplies (e.g.hand-hygiene products, tissues and receptacles for their disposal) in all business locations.
• 2. Enhance communications and information technology infrastructures as needed to support employee telecommuting and remote customer access.
• 3. Ensure availability of medical consultation and advice for emergency response.

1.5 Communicate to and educate your employees:

• 1. Develop and disseminate programs and materials covering pandemic fundamentals (e.g. signs and symptoms of influenza, modes of transmission), personal and family protection and response strategies (e.g. hand hygiene, coughing/sneezing etiquette, contingency plans).
• 2. Anticipate employee fear and anxiety, rumors and misinformation and plan communications accordingly.
• 3. Ensure that communications are culturally and linguistically appropriate.
• 4. Disseminate information to employees about your pandemic preparedness and response plan.
• 5. Provide information for the at-home care of ill employees and family members.
• 6. Develop platforms (e.g. hotlines, dedicated websites) for communicating pandemic status and actions to employees, vendors, suppliers, and customers inside and outside the worksite in a consistent and timely way, including redundancies in the emergency contact system.
• 7. Identify community sources for timely and accurate pandemic information (domestic and international) and resources for obtaining counter-measures (e.g. vaccines and antivirals).

1.6 Coordinate with external organizations and help your community:

• 1. Collaborate with insurers, health plans, and major local healthcare facilities to share your pandemic plans and understand their capabilities and plans.
• 2. Collaborate with federal, state, and local public health agencies and/or emergency responders to participate in their planning processes, share your pandemic plans, and understand their capabilities and plans.
• 3. Communicate with local and/or state public health agencies and/or emergency responders about the assets and/or services your business could contribute to the community.
• 4. Share best practices with other businesses in your communities, chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites