Survey: Emergency Preparedness Plans
The majority of U.S. companies have a formal, written plan for emergency preparedness, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. But a widely adopted certification standard for such plans does not exist yet.

Three-quarters of the 302 senior corporate executives surveyed in mid-2007 said that an emergency preparedness plan exists in their companies. The analysis was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of an ongoing research project to assess the effectiveness of security in American companies.

The survey sample was intended to reflect the characteristics of American businesses as defined by size and industry. The sample was divided into three strata: small business (companies with $5 million to $50 million in annual sales); mid-market ($50 million to $1 billion in sales); and enterprise ($1 billion or more in sales). Within these groups of companies, the survey polled executives with responsibility for security, business continuity, crisis management, and emergency response efforts.

A “voluntary” certification process for preparedness was adopted as part of the 2007 homeland security legislation (Public Law 110-53). The choice of standards that would permit certification under the law is currently under review. As this report goes to press, it is expected that several different standards may qualify for certification.

To read this full article, click here.

• "Here at Western Washington University, our Academic Custodial Services organization has had our senior supervisory team reduced by one third in the past year (retirement). Our aging work force will also feel the affects as more of our leadership and line staff move in the direction of retirement. We practice hiring the most highly qualified candidates and have little turn over — a majority of our staff are ten-year veterans and some of our team leaders and custodians have up wards of twenty plus years here at the university. We have no need to attract workers for our supervisory positions and attempt to use supervisory positions as promotional opportunities for existing employees to move up within the organization. The attractiveness of our campus and working conditions is a huge incentive to recruit employees, as well as retain existing ones."
  — Michael Smith, Department Supervisor of Academic Custodial Services at Western Washington University
  

October Question:
Following last year’s severe winter weather, how did you prepare differently for this year in regards to product purchases, storage, usage, etc.?

E-mail Housekeeping Solutions your response and look for the results in the October issue of the HS Update.

In response to an evolving cleaning industry, Housekeeping Solutions has made a commitment to continue growing our publication to meet the demands of our readers. Some updates been more noticeable than others, but all have been effective in communicating valuable information to our growing readership.

This year, we have updated the look to our magazine to make it easier on the eye. We also changed, slightly, the focus of the articles to target the specific and detailed information our readers had requested. Most notable, though, is the introduction of a seventh issue. The addition of our new July issue allows us to continue our coverage of pressing issues facing the cleaning industry on a more frequent basis.

Look for our print publications to arrive in your mailbox through the end of the tradeshow season (June through September) and our next electronic update in October. And, if you have comments or concerns regarding any of the updates we have made, please feel free to contact me with that feedback.

Training: In Case Of Emergency

Restrooms: Perception Is Everything

"What's New" Product Guide
Employee Safety

July
Succession Planning
Cross Contamination

August
ISSA Show Guide
LEED Facilities

September
ISSA Product Showcase
Cleaning For Health