Janitorial Commentaries

Commentaries

Project Sponsors:

US EPA
Cal/EPA Department of Toxic Substance Control
Santa Clara County Pollution Prevention Program
City of Richmond

Local Government Commission

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Updated 07/02

The Janitorial Products P2 Project ("JP4") is producing a series of commentaries on environmental, health, and safety issues. The commentaries are generally intended for supervisors, EH&S advisors, and agency P2 staff.

The following commentaries are available:

Adding Labels to Your Containers

Buying Environmentally Preferable Products
Ideas for setting up an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program

Southern California Janitorial Chemicals Safety Project (pdf)
A description of the outreach project conducted during 2001.

Cleaning Chemical Injuries (pdf)
A fact sheet about key steps you can take to decrease the health & safety risks from your cleaning products.

Learn More About Cleaning Products Risks (pdf) Be Healthy - Clean Safely #1

High Risk Cleaning Products (pdf)
Be Healthy - Clean Safely #2

City of San Jose Case Study

Conducting Effective Product Trials
Tips and information on how to test new products.

How Often Are Janitors Injured?
What chemical injuries do your janitors experience?

Minimizing Use of Janitorial Products

Polaris Building Maintenance, Inc.
Clean Up Your Janitorial Products

Richmond Janitorial
Chemicals Project (PowerPoint Presentation)
Presented at Granlibakken Household Hazardous Waste Conference May 19, 1999

Safe Storage and Mixing

Selecting Protective Equipment
Always wear gloves and goggles!

Stanford University Housing Case Study

What's Needed Next
Three things the janitorial professional needs.

Permission is granted to freely copy, distribute, and use any of these materials that we have originated provided that JP4 and the authors are credited.

The following commentaries and websites are from other environmentally preferable purchasing projects.

Cape Cod National Seashore
The National Park Service is changing to environmentally preferable janitorial products

City of Austin
Green Buildings Project
Guidelines for Green Building
Housekeeping and Maintenance

Careful chemical selection and use can pay off in safety for workers and the environment.
Summary: New EPA compliance initiatives and increased concern over the effects of chemicals on workers, indoor air quality and the environment are leading many cleaning and facility managers to re-evaluate their use of chemicals.

By Robin Wood, News Editor and Chris Sanford, Managing Editor, Cleaning and Maintenance Management Magazine

King County, Washington
Environmental Purchasing Program
County policy to purchase products manufactured with recycled and environmentally preferable products.

City of Saint Paul
"Green" Cleaners Get The Job Done

City of Santa Monica
Custodial Products Bid Specifications
and
EPA Case Study (pdf)

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Purchasing Specifications and Product Evaluations
and
EPA Case Study

OSHA Label Requirements
OSHA requirements for janitorial product labels are listed in this abstract taken from 29CFR 1910.1200 (f).

OSHA MSDS Requirements
OSHA requirements for what a MSDS must contain are listed in this abstract from 29CFR 1910.1200 (g).

State of Minnesota
"Minnesota adds environmental requirements to the state cleaning supplies contract."

US Department of Interior Turns to Green Cleaners
In November 1998 the Department of Interior embarked on a quest to initiate a contract for custodial services using environmentally preferable cleaning products and supplies.

US EPA Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics

Washington Dept. of Ecology
Specifications developed by the State of Washington for purchasing environmentally friendly janitorial products

Please obtain permission directly from other projects for use of their materials.

Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project - Sponsored by US EPA, State of California, Santa Clara County, the City of Richmond, and the Local Government Commission. Written by Thomas Barron, Carol Berg, and Linda Bookman.