Tag: cleaning

Product of the Week

Product of the Week!

Here at Riley Maintenance Systems, we’re always trying to educate customers about new products or techniques in the jan/san industry. We thought that showcasing a new product or technique each week would help broadcast our message to current and prospective end-users.

Our item this week is a Snap-n-Go Mop Handle:

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This product has revolutionized the mop handle. With it’s simple “Snap-n-Go” technology, cleaning up messes and disposing of soiled mop heads is no longer a messy problem. As you can see from the picture above, the Snap-n-Go mop handle consists of one lever in order to snap off soiled mop heads. Depending on the severity of the mess, you can clean off the mop handle and replace it with a new mop head. Constructed of fiber-glass, this mop handle is durable and built to last through any situation. This item is available in two different sizes: 54″ or 60″.

If you have any questions about the Snap-n-Go, please contact a RMS sales representative today at 607-786-3766.

Articles, OSHA/Workplace Safety

GHS Follow Up

After the changes and training that we saw before December 1 2013, OSHA is now moving forward and using the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) in the United States for standardizing the labeling and classifications of chemical hazards.  Employees were trained and now the emphasis is on the actual labeling of the chemicals, as well as the creation of new Safety Data Sheets (SDS) by the manufacturers.  These changes must be completed no later than June 1, 2015; although it’s expected to come much earlier than that.

Scott Warrington of Cleaning and Maintenance Management magazine wrote a very informative article for those that are interested in these changes, and provides details of what to look for in the new labeling of their chemicals: Following Up On GHS — What’s Next?

If you have any questions about GHS or any of the changes that will be made, contact a representative from RMS!  We have all gone through the training multiple times and will be happy to answer your questions or help you with the new documents that you must have on site for safety purposes.

Articles

EPA Begins to Change Protocol for Green Disinfectants

As we know, it is very difficult to categorize disinfectants as “green,” as they are killing microorganisms and may have a part in creating bacteria that is resistant to specific chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency is looking to change this, as more disinfectants with “greener” active ingredients are being created and introduced to the market. These include products that use hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient to clean and disinfect.

Design for the Environment (DfE) Disinfectant Changes

As the industry moves forward and technology changes, we should see many new products that will meet the EPA’s guidelines to be considered as “green” disinfectants. As your RMS representative about hydrogen peroxide based disinfectants today!

Articles

Slip-and-Fall Prevention for the Winter Months

Cleanlink.com recently conducted a study on how to prevent slip-and-fall accidents in the winter months. According to the study, job-related accidents occur 133% more from November to January. The majority of these accidents can be prevented by having a slip-and-fall checklist to ensure entrance ways are properly covered with ice melt and sufficient coverage of matting.

A few of these tips are commonly over-looked when it comes to having a proper slip-and-fall plan in place.

  1. Having a systematic plan for snow removal and an effective ice melt program. Using not enough ice melt or not properly clearing walk-ways will increase the likely hood of a slip-and-fall.
  2. Using signs to designate whether or not the floor is slippery, wet or soiled. In this case, having the proper signage to indicate problem areas will significantly lower the number of slip-and-falls.
  3. One of the most overlooked aspects of properly maintaining a facility to safely prevent slip-and-falls is to have sufficient matting. Having a proper matting system to: trap, hold, hide and store moisture, debris, and excess ice melt, will not only prevent slip-and-falls, but it will help keep your facilities floors looking healthy during the winter months.

If you have any questions in regards to having a proper matting system in place, ice melt, or questions about maintaining floors during winter, please contact a Riley Maintenance Systems representative today! We have the proper tools available to help prevent slip-and-falls and to keep your floors looking healthy throughout winter!

Articles, Chemicals

MRSA Investigation from USA Today

A USA Today investigation was released today in their newspaper and website shows that the very dangerous MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria has been expanding into communities very quickly.  The antibiotic resistant bacteria was mainly found in hospitals and other health care facilities, but is now spreading and being found in many other facilities.  One such area is NFL locker rooms, as three players on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were found to have the potentially deadly staph infection.

MRSA can also strike hard during flu season, which we have approached here in these winter months.  Careful cleaning and disinfecting with the correct chemicals, allowing proper dwell time, can greatly decrease the chances of a MRSA outbreak at a given facility.

If you have any questions about disinfectants that kill this bacteria, please contact a Riley Maintenance Systems representative.  We have some very effective chemicals that will eliminate this bacteria if used properly and would be happy to stop over to your facility to demonstrate.

Chemicals, Literature

Triple S Ice Melt Usage

Here is a PowerPoint presentation (as a .pdf) about the Triple S ice melt offerings at RMS.  Included in this PowerPoint are the spread rates for each individual type of ice melt.  This is helpful in determining which type of ice melt is correct for your application.

SSS Ice Melt Spread Rate PowerPoint

Please contact an RMS representative if you have any questions about ice melt!

Chemicals

Stop Bugging Me!

With all the recent bedbug problems that facilities have been facing, it was refreshing to see that Triple S has a “green” product that kills bedbugs, cockroaches and other insects with an exoskeleton on instant contact!

HS Stop Bugging Me! RTU Insecticide Spray, 12/32 Oz.

Here is some information about the product from the Triple S website:

  • Safely Kills and Repels Bed Bugs
  • A Green, Non-Toxic Formulation
  • Safe for Use Around the Entire Family – Including Pets
  • FDA GRAS, EPA FIFRA 25(b) Approved
  • Can Be Used Directly on Beds and Linens
  • Sprayable On Just About Everything

Here is a link to the spec sheet on Stop Bugging Me!

Please ask an RMS representative to show you this product today!  This is a very unique and interesting product, as there are not many environmentally friendly and natural ways of eliminating these difficult pests.

Chemicals, Literature

Betco Smart Restroom System

After speaking with people that have been having issues with their urinals, mainly that they aren’t being flushed, I wanted to post a little information on here about Betco’s Smart Restroom System.

Here is a video with some media coverage of this system:

By converting your existing urinal into a water free urinal, you can potentially save millions of gallons of water per year, depending on the usage.  Betco has some testimonials at a couple of school districts, which can be seen here:

Pfluggerville ISD
Midland ISD

Here is the Betco brochure on this product.  Ask an RMS representative about the Smart Restroom System today!

Articles

We’re Back!

Well, our physical inventory is over and we hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Here is an interesting article from Cleaning and Maintenance Magazine about optimizing your facility’s cleaning operations to reduce your labor costs.  Labor is the most expensive aspect of cleaning and when the correct products are used for certain applications, it can make these jobs easier to complete and allows employees to be more productive with their time.  Take a minute and check out the article.  The author makes some very good points and easy recommendations that will increase productivity.