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ISSA and CIRI Partner for Clean Standard in K-12 Schools

ISSA and the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) have agreed to enter a long-term partnership for the cooperative development of science-based cleaning standards that would develop industry data, training, measurement and certification programs.

The first initiative this joint partnership will undertake is to fund a series of independent research projects leading to the development of a Clean Standard for K-12 schools. The partnership supports one of the ISSA strategic initiatives: to identify the link between cleaning, science and occupant health.

"CIRI functions to make the connection between science and cleaning," said CIRI chairman Jim Harris.

ISSA executive director John Garfinkel said, "The ISSA project is to make the connection between science and cleaning for health. We are very pleased to fund such a worthwhile independent effort to identify and develop standards for cleanliness, utilizing a group of highly credentialed scientists and researchers. The CIRI Clean Standard Science Committee managing this much-needed research will be free from any outside influences or biases, including any from ISSA, CIRI or the staff, board or members of either organization.

"Many other facility-services industries have long been based in engineering and science while our industry has largely had to prove its public health value based on assumptions and perceptions. Today, we want to remove any doubt about the benefits cleaning brings to facilities and their occupants, and we hope this initiative will bring the independent scientific verification many facility managers have been requesting."

Following a significant period of laboratory and field testing, ISSA will lead the process of creating standards and certification based on the scientific findings, involving key stakeholders in the cleaning, facilities management and education industries.

"Each organization will do what it does best during this project," said Harris. "CIRI will conduct research on measurement methods and current conditions in K-12 schools. ISSA will use the results as a basis for developing standards regarding what defines 'clean' in these very important and sensitive environments."

Dr. Steven Spivak, CIRI science chair and professor emeritus at the University of Maryland, is also looking forward to the new partnership, "We are pleased that the K-12 Clean Standard will be the launching point for this long-term partnership in cleaning science and related certification programs. ISSA is at the forefront of professional development and elevation of the cleaning industry. This partnership will lead to the definition of what is clean under real-world conditions, in specific school environments as well as how it is measured and how it is achieved."

The goal of the project is that individuals and organizations can then be certified with respect to their knowledge and use of methods that lead to measurable improvements in school cleanliness and hygiene, a topic of great concern to a large percentage of the public, especially those with children in K-12 environments or those who work within them.

The research will be conducted by CIRI through a Cleaning Standards Science Committee (CSSC), which will be established specifically for this project. The committee will be organized by Spivak along with Dr. Gene Cole of Brigham Young University, who was instrumental in developing the overall research plan the partners have agreed to pursue.

The CSSC will regularly report the project's progress to a Joint Task Force to be composed of ISSA and CIRI representatives and stakeholders from the K-12 sector.

Network Services Wins Its Fifth CIO 100 Award

Network Services Company, a $16 billion international member-owned organization of independent distributors selling janitorial supplies, foodservice disposables, industrial packaging and printing materials, has been named a recipient of the CIO 100 Awards for 2008, presented by CIO magazine.

This is the fifth time and fourth consecutive year that Network has received the CIO 100 Award, created to recognize organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of excellence in information technology.

This year's CIO Award was for the company's "Green Network" project, which included streamlining its information technology operations and reducing electrical and HVAC usage, reducing the use of printed paper, and establishing a formal process for ensuring that all used and outdated IT assets are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

"Our member-distributors seek to meet customers' needs for green solutions -- including services and products -- that preserve the environment, are healthy for people and are effective," says Bob Mitchum, Network's president and chief operating officer. "Our IT initiatives are a testimony to our commitment to green programs and corporate environmental responsibility."

Paul Roche, Network's chief information officer, adds that the Green Network project is evidence that a company can introduce measures that not only protect the environment but also reduce costs and improve efficiency.

"We significantly reduced the number of servers in our primary and disaster recovery data centers. We replaced all CRT monitors with energy saving LCD flat screens. We cut paper usage by using document imaging systems and are transitioning many printed forms to e-mail. We are now using recycled toner cartridges, and have a zero landfill policy for all electronic waste."