|
|
Advertisement
|
|
Press Release
Kaivac, Inc. Release date: May 28, 2008
School Cleaning/Contamination Issues to be Discussed at Upcoming CIRI Conference Hamilton, OH -May 28, 2008-John Richter, an engineer and researcher with Kaivac, Inc., will be one of the key presenters at the upcoming Cleaning Industry Research Institute's (CIRI) Symposium, which is scheduled for June 9 through June 12, 2008 at the University of Maryland, directly outside Washington, D.C.
Richter's presentation will focus on a series of tests that were conducted comparing different cleaning methods in an educational setting.
The goal of the tests was to see how effective each method was in hygienically cleaning surfaces, such as desktops, floors, high-touch areas, computer keyboards, and computer mice in a school classroom.
Previous studies by Dr. Charles Gerba of Arizona University, Helena Rintala, a Finnish microbiologist, and others have found a direct correlation between improper, ineffective, or lack of cleaning with student absenteeism.
"In fact, Gerba found that students are absent, on average 2.32 times more and absent longer when cleaning of these areas is not performed hygienically," says Richter.
Tests Conducted One test, which was a controlled experiment, compared the cleaning effectiveness of traditional spray and microfiber cleaning cloth systems with trowel and squeegee (flat surface cleaning) systems.
Cleaning effectiveness was measured by aerobic bacteria assays as well as by using an ATP (adenosine triphosphate) hygiene monitoring system. ATP is an energy molecule found in all living things. Its presence on a surface or object is often used as a "red flag" to indicate that contaminants are present.
Other tests involved:
oA comparison of spray/microfiber cloth cleaning with the trowel and squeegee cleaning system on 24 desktops in an elementary school.
oBefore and after bacteria counts on computer mice after cleaning with conventional spray/microfiber cloths and disposable wipes.
o Comparing traditional dust mop floor cleaning systems with dry vacuuming. Cleaning effectiveness was measured by the amount of soil removal in grams per square feet.
"The studies concluded that there are concerns with the traditional cleaning methods tested as to how effective they are at removing contaminants," says Richter. "However, we did find the trowel and squeegee system, disposable wipes, and dry vacuuming [of floors] to leave areas hygienically clean based on bacteria/ATP counts."
Others Presenters
Along with Richter, other presenters at the conference will include:
o Dr. Stephanie Dancer, from Scotland, UK, who is a Glasgow, England microbiologist o Rhonda Jones, Scientific and Regulatory Consultant, Columbia City, IN o Dr. Charles Gerba, University of Arizona, Tucson o Greg Parrott, Regional Director, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, Provo, UT o Mary Swanson, Senior Environmental Scientist, Green Seal, Washington, D.C. o Dr. Roger Lewis, Department of Community Health, St. Louis University School of Public Health, St. Louis, MO
For more information, visit http://www.ciri-research.org or call toll free, (888) 285-2474.
The President of Kaivac, Robert Robinson Sr., who has been in the jansan industry for more than a decade is available to discuss jansan industry issues and trends. He may be reached by calling: 800-287-1136
About Kaivac Headquartered in Hamilton, OH, and the originator of No-Touch Cleaning(TM) system, Kaivac, Inc., manufactures a full line of No-Touch cleaning products aimed at making cleaning processes safer for people and the environment while preserving quality and cost efficiency. For more information on the company and its products, call 1-800-287-1136 or visit www.kaivac.com.
Media Contact: Robert Kravitz 773-525-3021 rkravitz@Rcn.Com |
