CLEANING AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES

EPA

The U.S. EPA offers a guide to help federal purchasers make “environmentally preferable” purchasing decisions.
U.S. EPA Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide for Federal Purchasers

NH OHSP

The New Hampshire Occupational Health Surveillance Program (part of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services) has developed fact sheets for workers about asthma. The fact sheets are available in various languages.

• English
• Español
• French
• Swahili
• Nepali

California Department of Public Health Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program

The State of California has an occupational asthma prevention program that provides information for workers and employers about asthma and cleaning products:

Cleaning products and work-related asthma: Information for workers

• English
• Español
• Chinese

Cleaning products and work-related asthma: Information for employers

• English

UCLA

UCLA maintains a database of articles related to research on occupational hazards for cleaners.
UCLA Cleaning Workers Research Database

Green Cleaners

Many organizations certify cleaning products as less hazardous for the users and the environment:

Ecologo Program
The Ecologo Program was founded by the government of Canada and certifies environmentally preferable products.

Greenseal
Greenseal develops life cycle-based sustainability standards for products, services and companies and offer third-party certification.

Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG has information about environmentally safe cleaning materials for household and commercial use. Other topics related to environmental health are also discussed on the Web site.

The University of Connecticut Occupational and Environmental Health Center (UCOEHC)
UCOEHC is conducting a research study on the adoption of green cleaning practices by custodians. A fact sheet is available about transitioning from traditional to green cleaners.

Industry Resources

Advanced Sterilization Products – Automated Area Decontamination
This site is maintained by ADVANCED STERILIZATION PRODUCTS, Division of Ethicon Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company. It lists articles in scientific publications that describe research on cleaning and disinfecting practices in health care facilities.

International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA)
This is the Web site of the world wide cleaning industry association.