1980s: Training is Top of Mind for Building Service Contractors

In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), each issue will explore a different decade and how events during that time shaped the contract cleaning industry. 

The 1980s proved to be an interesting decade for professional cleaning. The recession in the decade's early years caused budget constraints and purchasing fluctuations, but still didn't deter cleaning contractors from exploring emerging technologies. Specifically, Building Service Contractors Association - International (BSCA) utilized a video training series covering office cleaning, quality control and other topics.  

Training was a big focus for BSCs partially because legislation was on the rise. In 1983, the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration forced manufacturers to label hazardous chemicals and supply Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS, known today as Safety Data Sheets). BSCs had four years to transition to include the appropriate paperwork.  

It was also in the 1980s that BSCA leadership launched the Bidding and Estimating seminar (learning materials illustrated below) as a traveling educational training opportunity for those interested in revisiting their bidding and estimating techniques. They also answered the need to educate about the tasks and challenges of being a CEO by introducing the CEO Seminar in 1984 to teach financial management, organizational structures and other executive level topics. Both are still popular educational offerings available today.

1980 
In September in Chicago, BSCA hosted the “Improving Training Techniques Seminar”, which would increase understanding of human communication and motivation; provide information on how to structure learning activities; and offer parameters for assessing effective teaching methods.  

1983 
In the 1980s, membership spanned roughly 40 countries. To reflect the importance of international members, the board added Latin America and European territorial directors. In 1983, William Hogg, executive vice president of Toronto's The Adelaide Company, served as the first association president from outside the U.S.  

1984 
Former executive vice president, Walter Cook (pictured left), known for helping mold BSCA into a well-run, financially sound, and professional association passed away in 1984. It was then that the board created the Walter L. Cook Award for Distinguished Service. Carol Dean (pictured right) was appointed successor and would manage the association for almost 25 years.

1987 
Services, BSCA's member magazine at the time, celebrated contract cleaning's centennial celebration in March 1987.

1988 
In 1988, the CEO Seminar was held in Ireland at Ashford Castle where Irish member Noel Noonan sang local songs for the group.