june 2015 issue 34
DESCRIPTION
5 Keys to Managing Your Fleet; Are you prepared for a scratched glass claim?; The Wonderful World of Insurance Certificates; What GHS Compliance Means for Contractors; Plus a lot moreTRANSCRIPT
Shop By Brand | Shop By Industry | Shop By Department | Sales & Clearance | Training
THE CONTRACTOR’S #1 SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHERS, PRESSURE WASHER SUPPLIES & TRAINING!
TM 1.800.433.2113
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Delux D7150 Diaphragm PumpMax Flow: 7 GPMMax: 100 PSILiquid Temperature: 140°F (60°C) Max.Delivery Type: DemandPriming Capabilities: 14’ (4 m)Inlet/Outlet Ports: 1/2” NPTWeight: All models: 10 lbs(4.5 kg)
Delux D5360 Diaphragm PumpOpen Flow: 5.3 GPMPressure: 100 PSI 4.1 BarLiquid Temperature: 140°F (60°C) Max.Delivery Type: DemandPriming Capabilities: 14’ (4 m)Inlet/Outlet Ports: 1/2” NPTWeight: All models: 8 lbs(3.62 kg)
Weight: All models: 10 lbs(4.5 kg)
Weight: All models: 8 lbs(3.62 kg)
Rust RemoveR Plus™A great choice for removingrust stains from paintedsteel, brass, copper, wood,concrete, stone and ceramicsurfaces. Just spray it ontoa dry surface and watch therust stains disappear in minutes,with just one application.Concrete and stone willhave a bright clean new lookwhen the product is dry.
Clearly Clean Xtreme™A crystal clear, heavy duty concrete cleaner designed to be used in sensitive areas where colored chemicals might draw unwanted attention. It has deep penetrating properties to lift out heavy oil, grease, soil, and grime found on concrete. Sold as a highly concentrated powder so it can be strong enough for any job.
Pink Thunder Truck Wash SoapSafe on all surfaces, painted or otherwise. Better results will be obtained with hot or warm water. However, it works well in cold water. It removes road film, grease, dirt, bugs and will leave the surface shining without polishing.
Fresh WashAdding 1 - 5 ounces of Fresh Wash to a sodium hypochlorite based cleaning solution will augment cleaning results by: • Allowing surface tension to be broken on the cleaning surface.• Allowing the sodium hypochlorite reaction to happen at a lower overall
bleach concentration.• Allowing cleaning products to dwell longer.It also includes rinsing agents, and a masking scent.
5 Managing Your Fleet: An Interview with Tanya Weger of Madison Window Cleaning Company, Inc., Madison, Wisconsin
10 GCA Largo Announces Skid Giveaway at the 2015 Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning Convention, August 7-8, Washington, D.C.
20 When & Where to Use Hot Water Degreasers, by Paul Horsley, PWNA Board Member
18 PWNA National Convention Registration Opens July 1, Early Bird Price thru July 31
26 Doug Rucker Named New UAMCC President
25 New Product: Introducing the Eco Blaster, from the Manufacturers of the World’s Greatest Graf�ti Removal System
28 What the New GHS Compliance Requirements Mean for Pressure Washing Businesses, by Clyde Hemminger, PowerWash.com
In This Issue:www.eCleanMag.com Issue 34
13
22
Cover Photo courtesy of Tanya Weger, Madison Window Cleaning Company, Inc.,www.MadisonWindowCleaning.com
eClean Magazine is published monthlyPublisher/Editor: Allison Hester, [email protected] eClean Magazine 12300 Nebraska Ave. N Little Rock, AR 72118 (501) 251-6054
13 Are You Prepared for a Scratched Glass Claim? Guidance from Michael Draper of Glass Grinders
Shop By Brand | Shop By Industry | Shop By Department | Sales & Clearance | Training
THE CONTRACTOR’S #1 SOURCE FOR COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHERS, PRESSURE WASHER SUPPLIES & TRAINING!
TM 1.800.433.2113
Save$20
Reg $239Sale $219
Expires 08/01/15
Save$20
Reg $159Sale $139
Expires 08/01/15
Delux D7150 Diaphragm PumpMax Flow: 7 GPMMax: 100 PSILiquid Temperature: 140°F (60°C) Max.Delivery Type: DemandPriming Capabilities: 14’ (4 m)Inlet/Outlet Ports: 1/2” NPTWeight: All models: 10 lbs(4.5 kg)
Delux D5360 Diaphragm PumpOpen Flow: 5.3 GPMPressure: 100 PSI 4.1 BarLiquid Temperature: 140°F (60°C) Max.Delivery Type: DemandPriming Capabilities: 14’ (4 m)Inlet/Outlet Ports: 1/2” NPTWeight: All models: 8 lbs(3.62 kg)
Rust RemoveR Plus™A great choice for removingrust stains from paintedsteel, brass, copper, wood,concrete, stone and ceramicsurfaces. Just spray it ontoa dry surface and watch therust stains disappear in minutes,with just one application.Concrete and stone willhave a bright clean new lookwhen the product is dry.
Clearly Clean Xtreme™A crystal clear, heavy duty concrete cleaner designed to be used in sensitive areas where colored chemicals might draw unwanted attention. It has deep penetrating properties to lift out heavy oil, grease, soil, and grime found on concrete. Sold as a highly concentrated powder so it can be strong enough for any job.
Pink Thunder Truck Wash SoapSafe on all surfaces, painted or otherwise. Better results will be obtained with hot or warm water. However, it works well in cold water. It removes road film, grease, dirt, bugs and will leave the surface shining without polishing.
Fresh WashAdding 1 - 5 ounces of Fresh Wash to a sodium hypochlorite based cleaning solution will augment cleaning results by: • Allowing surface tension to be broken on the cleaning surface.• Allowing the sodium hypochlorite reaction to happen at a lower overall
bleach concentration.• Allowing cleaning products to dwell longer.It also includes rinsing agents, and a masking scent.
22 The Wonderful World of Certi�cates by Darla Renk, Joseph D. Walters Insurance
30 What’s in a Vacuum?, by Rick Meehan, Marko Janitorial 32 Calendar of Events, July thru November
By Allison Hester
”Managing Your Fleet” 5
Your vehicles are one of the biggest investments you will make into your company, and your eet is one of your largest expenses. Going from one vehicle to two, or three, or 10 opens a whole array of costs and areas requiring close management. ehicle payments, insurance, maintenance and fuel are all added expenses so do you have a plan in place on how to handle these issues, or are you ust figuring it out on the y
Even more, adding vehicles means giving your technicians more freedom and responsibility. And responsibility without accountability can be pretty expensive, even with great employees.
This was a lesson Kash and Tanya Weger of Madison Window Cleaning (MWC) Company, Inc., in adison, isconsin, learned in when they installed a telemetric ( eet tracking) system in their vehicles without telling their employees.
“We didn’t believe that certain jobs were taking as long as our technicians said they were, but there was no fail proof way to verify if they were telling us the truth,” she explained. “It was becoming a routine issue and causing some problems.”
After having their first system installed, they kept quiet and observed their crews’ behavior for a couple of weeks and they were surprised by what they learned. ong lunches. nauthorized pit
Managing Your FleetAn Interview with Tanya Weger,
Madison Window Cleaning Co., Inc.
stops. Indirect routes. xcessive idling. Speeding. And the list went on.
After two weeks of collecting data, ash announced to his crews they had a tracking system installed and had been monitoring them and that he’d be talking one on one with some of them afterwards. “It sent a pretty strong message.” Tanya said. Some warnings were issued and the behaviors did change going forward.
At that time, had four vehicles. The cost of the eet tracking system was around a month. Initially, it was a hard investment to make, but eger said she saw the benefits instantly and with it came huge monetary savings.
Putting numbers to paper, she realized that if she could correct misbehavior that wasted just 30 minutes per day per truck, she would gain back two hours of billable time per day not to mention eliminating wasted time she was paying her technicians. Two hours per day times five days gave her back hours per week. “The positive side of regaining that time back is thousands of dollars monthly,” she added “The more trucks and employees you have, the bigger these numbers are.” Suddenly, the per month didn t seem like much.
As eger points out, having a eet management system installed helps keep people honest. “If you truly want to know what your
FEATURED
technicians are doing in your vehicles, you need to know where your vehicles are every moment of every day very specifically. Otherwise, even your best employees can take advantage of the system.”
Some employers are uncomfortable playing “big brother” to their employees especially when those employees are friends or family members. But that’s not the only reason to use a telemetric system, and you can explain this to your staff. And it’s certainly not the only important factor you need to keep an eye on when managing your eet.
Five Keys Areas for Managing Your Fleet
One of the biggest mistakes company owners make when adding a eet is not having a management plan in place. hile a telemetric system can greatly help, it is not a re uirement. However, you do need to have a plan, then you need to work that plan.
1. Your Acquisition Planuying a truck and building a eet can be one
of the most rewarding aspects of your cleaning business. Too often, however, contractors find themselves in a pickle and they have to make rash decisions. Their vehicle poops out. It s going to take too long or cost too much to repair. They need a truck O so they buy something anything
to get back on the road. And without a plan in place, they later regret their buying decision.
If you have a vehicle acquisition plan in place, however, you’re going to be much more likely to make a smart buying decision. esearch your options, and then make a plan.
• Do you want to buy new or do you prefer
used hat are the benefits disadvantages of each, and which option fits you better
• hat size vehicle do you need Are you thinking not only about what services you offer now, but what services you may want to offer in the future
• an you retool this vehicle if needed or example, can a ladder rack be added later ill it meet future weight re uirements
• Are you going to purchase based on life cycle or on need
Weger suggests not purchasing all your vehicles at once because they all age out or start having issues at the same time down the road. Another suggestion is to purchase the same make so that they can all go to the same dealership for maintenance and or warranty repairs.
This is also important for image. eger said all their trucks are white ord s. They all have the same graphics package. hen they are seen around town people state, “I see your trucks everywhere ” Think of some of the eet vehicles for various companies you see around town you tend to notice them more if you see the same thing over and over. eally helps boost brand recognition.
2. Your Maintenance Plan“If you think your employees will make it a
priority to tell you when it s time for the next oil change or that the brakes are squeaking, or it has a hard pull to the left, or is leaking oil in the customer s driveway, you are mistaken. ut you still need to be asking them,” eger explains.
She points out different trucks may have different maintenance issues. “ y route truck puts on fewer miles, but its brakes wear out faster because it s in town, stop and go tra c. y residential truck, on the other hand, puts on more miles and re uires more oil changes.”
This is another advantage of having a telemetric system as it will alert you when certain metrics such as mileage or time are met, and when it s time to have routine maintenance done.
Again, you don t have to have telemetric system in place. ou can use a calendar to remind you when oil changes, etc., are due. Or you can re uire your drivers to hand in a weekly check sheet that includes the current mileage (among other things) before you give them their paychecks.
To keep up with this information, Weger suggests keeping a separate folder on each vehicle,
6 eClean Magazine
DOLLARS AND CENTS
2 Technicians - 30 Minutes - 20 Miles
Item Daily Monthly Annually
Wages $24.00 $520 $6,240
Billable Work $40.00 $867 $10,400
Fuel $2.75 $59 $715
Net Profit $30.75 $667 $7,995
Using telemetric, Tanya Weger discovered even just saving 30 minutes per day would save almost $8,000 in net pro�t each year, per vehicle.
keeping all records separate and organized. “It’s all about creating a habit and a routine so
your trucks don’t break down when you need them most,” eger explains. “I can t even remember in the last six years when I ve had to go after a broken down truck for any reason, and we do have used vehicles that are years old.” She feels it is far easier and less costly from several perspectives to maintain a vehicle than to replace or repair one. Tracking that expense from a profit and loss and balance sheet perspective has proven it to be true.
3. Your Fuel PlanWho on your crew is allowed to refuel the
vehicles hen and where How do they payThese are uestions you need to figure out.
MWC’s technicians refuel the trucks right before coming back to the shop. “It s the end of the day and the team wants to go home, so they don’t dilly dally.” Also, at the end of the day there are no customers waiting for them to arrive.
or the past decade, s employees have fueled up at the gas station down the street from their shop. eger has set up a no fees, no credit card, no interest plan where certain employees are allowed to go in and refuel the vehicles. “ e have a signature process in place. e get the receipts and the signature sheet at the end of the month to make sure there were no unauthorized charges, then we ust pay that bill once a month.”
Weger likes this method for several reasons, including the fact that her crews don’t have to keep up with credit cards. “Of course, some companies like credit cards because they can accumulate points. That s great too,” she stresses. “Again, the key is to have a plan that works for you.”
Second, do you have a budget for fuel This can be di cult to determine, as you don t know exactly how many miles your team will drive or what the price of gas will be. However, if you have a system in place, you can go back and see how many miles you drove during the same time period last year to give yourself a basis for a budget.
“Some months my fuel bill goes up by several thousands of dollars. I d like to know that in advance,” eger adds so it s a planned for expense.
4. Your Driver Safety PlanSeveral years ago, one of s vehicles was
broadsided. The truck was totaled. The driver and passenger both in ured. hile the accident could have been avoided yet could have happened
to anyone, Weger admits if you don’t have a good driver selection and safety plan in place this type of scenario may be more likely to occur. eger has worked with her insurance company, which has several resources to help in the driver selection process. hen interviewing for new hires, a motor vehicle abstract will be pulled, either by having the potential hire provide it or they must sign a release form that allows them to get a copy. Then their insurance agent reviews it against their point system for violations. “They either pass or fail based on this point system,” she explained.
The process continues after employees are hired. “ ust because they re clean coming in doesn t mean they stay clean. That s why we have a policy in place that says if you get in trouble outside of work, you need to let us know.” She further commented, “ sually they don t want to tell you because they don t want to lose their ob.” You can also have your insurance pulls records periodically to monitor the status of the driving record and activity.
That said, eger adds that it is hard to find someone with a s ueaky clean driving record.
ather, she s more concerned with looking out
“Managing a Fleet” 7
8
for either more severe violations or multiple violations that occur within a short period of time. She s looking for something that indicates that they do not practice safe behaviors or are poor drivers. ottom line is we don t want anyone hurt or property damaged.
It’s also important to keep driver safety on the top of your employees minds. “ otor vehicle safety is as important as fall safety. mployees are in that truck one-fourth of their day, and a driving accident can kill you too,” Weger explains. Address driver safety in your meetings and toolbox talks. ou want to discipline or hold accountable those who have infractions and reward or recognize those who don t.
Speaking of accidents, do you have an accident policy in place ith , if an employee has an at fault incident causing any type of property damage, s he is responsible for paying up to the first in damages (basically the companies out of pocket deductible). ( eger stresses you need to check with an attorney to find out if this policy is legal in your area. A written policy and signed acknowledgment needs to be in place first and foremost.) Having employees know they will be held accountable to pay for a portion of the damages, just as they would if it was their own property, reinforces the desire to avoid accidents and think and act in a more caring manner. The last thing wants to do is be charging and employees for damages; however, they are firm believers in accountability.
Again, having a eet management system in place is a great way to keep an eye on how your employees are driving. ou can set up alerts such as speeding or hard starts and stops and your system will alert you when your drivers are practicing unwanted behaviors. “ ou may not want to watch these things all the time, so you can turn them off and on, ust checking in on your crews every once in awhile.”
5. Your Fleet Tracking Planhen eger first installed the telemetric
system, she noticed some of her crews would always swing by a local convenience store deli on their way out often wasting a good minutes. It turned out they were stopping for coffee, breakfast and a newspaper. To top it off, they d leave the vehicle running while they ran in.
In another situation, one crew would always go through town rather than take the beltway.
Kash and Tanya Weger are the third generation to run Madison Window Cleaning Company, Madison, Wisconsin, which has been in business for 85 years. In their peak season – which runs eight months of the year – MWC has between 10 to 13 technicians. All technicians are cross trained in both residential and commercial applications, and three are IWCA (International Window Cleaning Association) certi�ed in RDS (rope descent systems). “If it’s got glass, we clean it
Kash and Tanya Weger are the third generation to run Madison Window Cleaning Company, Madison, Wisconsin, which has been in business for 85 years. In their peak season – which runs eight months of the year – MWC has between 10 to 13 technicians. All technicians are cross trained in both residential and commercial applications, and three are IWCA (International Window Cleaning Association) certi�ed in RDS (rope descent systems). “If it’s got glass, we clean it.”
because they said it was shorter. It was stop and go tra c and took them longer to get to their destination...and it allowed them to look at the pretty college girls at the local university on their way by.
When choosing between the shortest route and fastest route, Weger says always take the fastest route. “ our technicians pay is costing you more than their fuel.” y installing telemetric, you can make sure your crews are going where they are supposed to the way they are supposed to.
If they happen to get lost, a telemetric system will help you guide them back to where they need to be. Additionally, when customers call to see when your crews should be arriving, telemetric let you see exactly where they are in route to the customer s property.
inally, while eger does not allow their technicians to take vehicles home, a lot of companies do. y using telemetric, you can know for certain whether or not your employees are using your vehicles for their personal purposes.
Worth the InvestmentThere are several reasons why companies with
eets don t invest in a telemetric system. Probably the most common concern is the cost. Again,
Weger quickly discovered that the lost time they gained by adding telemetric pays for itself many times over each and every month.
Another concern is the amount of time that goes into setting up the system. “Once I got the initial system set up, I really haven’t had to do much else,” she adds. “The system does the rest.”
inally, some employers are concerned about offending their employees by adding a telemetric system. Again, in addition to watching their behavior, telemetric can make their jobs easier. It helps you keep their vehicles running. It helps ensure their safety through smart driving decisions. It keeps you from having to contact them to ask where they are or when they will be at a customer s property. It also helps you save money, which leads to their ob security as well.
As eger concludes, “Adding a telemetric system is absolutely worth the investment. It s worth making people a little uncomfortable by making them more accountable. And it s an Investment you will see an immediate return on in so many ways once you put the processes in place.”
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GCA Largo Announces Skid Giveaway
Drawing to be held at the 2015 Pressure Washing & Win-dow Cleaning Convention, August 7-8, Washington, D.C.
ASSOCIATION NEWSAssociation News
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– Scott Karvonen, Karvonen’s Pro Clean
“
”
About the Author
YOU THINK YOU’REINSURED FOR THIS
Are you insured if you scratch glass?
But you’re only
covered for this?
National Service• Scratched Glass Repair• Acid Damage Repair• Insurance Mitigation• Damage Consultation• Glass Forensics
309-530-1215Call us today for a consultation!
“If you haven’t scratched glass yet, you haven’t cleaned enough glass.”
This is a lesson Michael Draper has learned personally and witnessed time and again by window cleaners across the country.
“It’s going to happen, and when it does, it won’t matter how professional you are, how big or how small you are, how long you’ve been in the industry. It can be a big deal that may very well put you out of business, or it can be just another insurance claim.”
or this reason, raper who has over years window cleaning experience, including his role as national sales director for . acenstein decided to start lass rinders in . lass rinders is a consulting company that can help window cleaning companies get prepared for when that scratched glass claim arises, or potentially help them remedy a bad situation after the scratching occurs.
Primary Causes of Window Scratches
Scratched glass is a controversial sub ect in the window cleaning industry. “ veryone wants to know, hy did the scratch happen ”
A lot of the times window scratches get blamed on fabricating debris, and there are times when this could be the cause. However, raper adds that there are times when scratches are caused by other issues. “ e see a lot of different types of scratching occurring. ifferent characteristics define possible reasons for scratching.”
In particular, there are three types of situations where window cleaners are more likely to scratch glass.
• New Construction. These windows are exposed to a lot of dirt, debris, concrete, sand, etc. all of which can cause glass to scratch. ith these situations, Draper says that you really need to “clean the glass before you clean the glass.” In other words, take a water fed pole and rinse off any contaminants,dirt, debris, airborne particles, etc., that may be on there before ever trying to remove construction debris from the glass.
• Razors. hile razors are still the preferred method for removing debris, caution needs to be taken when using this tool, especially on certain types of windows, such as tempered, exposed low e coating, and self cleaning glass. If you plan to use razors or any method that goes against the glass manufacturer s recommendations raper highly recommends having a scratch waiver in place.
All glass manufacturer s have cleaning recommendations, and window cleaners often go against those recommendations. This is not only true with the use of razors, but even mop and s ueegee. “ anufacturers specs often say you can only use a micro fiber towel.” So, to protect yourself in case of damage, you have two options follow manufacturer guidelines or have your customer sign a waiver stating the way you will clean the glass as opposed to the way the manufacturer recommends.”
“Otherwise, if you use razors and the manufacturer guidelines say don t use razors, you could be viewed as the incompetent one and this could affect the outcome if it were to go to court,”
raper stressed. As an I A board member, he
YOU THINK YOU’REINSURED FOR THIS
Are you insured if you scratch glass?
But you’re only
covered for this?
National Service• Scratched Glass Repair• Acid Damage Repair• Insurance Mitigation• Damage Consultation• Glass Forensics
309-530-1215Call us today for a consultation!
Are You Prepared for YOUR Scratched Glass Claim?
Guidance from Michael Draper of Glass Grinders
By Allison Hester
“Scratched Glass” 13
FEATURED
14 eClean Magazine
Almost every other General Liability policy out there will specifically exclude damage to the windows they are washing. They will call it ‘faulty workmanship’ or ‘negligence’ or other ugly words like that. By adding the care, custody and control endorsement, we make sure they are covered for what is, after all, the most likely claim they may face. Just makes sense, right? arla enk oseph . alters Insurance
Almost every other General “
”also points out that the I A provides sample scratched glass waivers to its members and is working hard to provide more education to window cleaners in the future.
“There are a lot of products out there to help remove debris cleaning products, steel wood, magic erasers, and others and although they take a little longer, they generally work well. If there s a way to avoid scraping tempered glass, I would recommend using another method.”
• Lack of Education. Sometimes window cleaners don t take time to learn about the different types of glass and coatings. raper stresses that it’s imperative for window cleaners to become educated if they want to protect themselves and their customers.
“There are too many types of glass out there, and too many potential problems for window cleaners to ignore,” he stressed. “ ducation on these types of issues is what really separates professional window cleaners from the rest.”
Preventative Measureslass rinders offers two types of consultative
services. The first is preventative, and is something he highly recommends window cleaners consider, whether they use his services or not.
During these consultations, he looks at three areas
1. Processes: How are you cleaning windows and what types of obs do you do
2. Risk Tolerance: If you caused damage, how much would you feel comfortable writing a check for in order to make the situation go away
3. Insurance: What insurances do you have in place Are they going to protect you when you have a claim
or example, if a window cleaner is doing a high level of construction cleaning and has a very low risk tolerance (e.g., out of pocket maximum), but his insurance has a deductible, and he doesn’t have certain coverages in place, he s hugely exposed and is not prepared for the potential that can happen.
Another example is if a window cleaning company lands a larger scale job than what they’re used to, or is doing a construction cleaning for the first time. “ e have done as much as gone on site to help walk them through the job and lay out a specific plan of action so that things are in place,”
raper said. “It s nice to sometimes have a separate set of eyes. e are trying to mitigate risk.”
Having the Right InsuranceWhen looking at insurance, Draper stresses
the importance of “Care, Custody and Control” coverage something a lot of window cleaners do not have. “Insurance is so key, yet it often does not get talked about like it needs in our industry,” he added.
As raper points out, oseph . alters Insurance realized years ago that when a pressure washing contractor went across a driveway and damaged the concrete, that damage was not covered under general liability. ost insurance companies look at that as being your responsibility because the work was being done under your care, custody and control. However, that s the coverage pressure washing contractors needed, so oseph
. alters went to their underwriters and helped develop a special plan for the pressure washing industry.
The same situation can be applied to window cleaners. eneral liability insurance does not cover scratched glass. “That s the side of the story that often doesn t get told. There is care, custody and control insurance out there for window cleaners. In fact, we carry over a million dollars in Care,
ustody and ontrol ourselves,” raper added.Draper adds that he doesn’t have “any real
connection” with Joseph D Walters except that he thinks “what they did was very smart.” He does recommend, in almost every one of his consultations, that some sort of Care, Custody and Control be in place, “then we compare that with risk tolerance. I try to help them determine how much they need. But any window cleaner without Care, Custody, and Control is more than likely going to be held responsible for the damage.”
For the record, Joseph D. Walters Insurance also offers are, ustody and ontrol for window cleaners as well as power washers. “For window washers, the most likely thing to happen is damage to the window. And almost every other General
iability policy out there will specifically exclude damage to the windows they are washing. They will call it ‘faulty workmanship’ or ‘negligence’ or other ugly words like that,” explained Darla Renk,
ertified Insurance Service epresentative and Account Manager for Joseph D. Walters Insurance. “By adding the Care, Custody and Control endorsement, we make sure they are covered for what is, after all, the most likely claim they may face. Just makes sense, right?”
Post Damage ConsultationsGlass Grinders often works with clients after the
damage has been done. Draper explains that these cases can go one of two ways.
“If you’ve taken preventative measures – and I keep close tabs on those I’ve consulted with – the situation is fairly simple. Since I know they took my guidance and they have Care, Custody and Control coverage, I tell them to call their insurance company and let them know they need to file a claim. Then they can call me back if they want to put in a repair claim. The insurance company comes out, takes quotes (repair or replacement), and they take care of it. The customer is happy because although you did the damage, you also took care of the problem.”
Unfortunately, too often this is not the way the situation is handled. Instead, after the damage occurs, the window cleaner calls Glass Grinders in a panic needing help. There is no Care, Custody and Control policy in place, so the insurance company will deny the claim.
Now the window cleaner has to decide what to do. Are they going to litigate this? Are they going to pay Glass Grinders to come in and repair it? Do they want Glass Grinders to sell them the Glass
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Renu tools and try to teach them how to repair the damage themselves? Are they going to pay someone to replace the glass? Or are they going to simply file bankruptcy?
“It’s ugly,” Draper stressed. “It’s never a $100 claim or a $500 claim. It’s a multiple thousands of dollars claim. Most people are forced into either trying to litigate it or walk away because they can’t afford to pay out of pocket.”
That being said, Glass Grinders does offer repair services – primarily using the Glass Renu system (although they use a couple of others in certain situations) – and they’ve traveled to several states for scratch removal and glass restoration jobs. They are also a certified Glass Renu reseller, so they can sell the equipment and train them as well. They do work with insurance companies, and have been hired by insurance companies on several instances to come repair the damage. “We are anywhere from 40 to 60 percent the cost of replacing glass, and if it is something we can repair our lead time is much less than ordering new,” Draper added.
Glass ResearchGlass Grinders has also retained a forensic
lab in Michigan to help them constantly do glass research. “We’ve documented and developed some interesting things, which we hope will help prove or disprove fault in future situations,” Draper said. Everyone who consults with Glass Grinders are kept up to date on new finds in research.
“We’re not in the litigation business. We’re not in the insurance business. But I’ve been around for many years, I’ve dealt with these things myself, and know what needs to happen to mitigate these risks. I’ve seen many companies go out of business due to scratched glass. The gravity of the situation is real. Our goal is to help save companies from future bankruptcy.”
Preventative consultations generally cost between $150 and $325. The initial call is free.
To learn more about Glass Grinders, visit their website at www.Glass-Grinders.com.
Use Coupon Code“ECLEAN” & Save $25
Off Your Registration
•
Registration opens July 1 for the Power Washers of North America (PWNA) National Convention and Trade Show, November 12-14, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Register by July 31 to save $50 off your registration fee. Plus, be one of the first 50 registrants in July and you’ll receive one free breakfast during the event, an $18 value.
For 23 years, the PWNA has hosted this popular event, which has become known for its professionalism and the transparency in networking. Annually, people from across North America (and beyond) representing all power washing industries come together for continuing education, networking, opportunities to see old friends and make new ones, and to see the latest in equipment from distributors and suppliers on display and in action.
In a few fun days, you can learn what has taken others a lifetime to learn. “The PWNA Convention exceeded my expectations. I never dreamed everyone would be so open and honest with the information they gave me. There were no secrets,” said Warren Harrison of Mr. Busy II Pressure Washing.
This year’s convention will again feature a variety of certification classes (Flat Surface Cleaning, Fleet Washing, Roof Cleaning, House Washing and Wood Restoration), as well as additional educational classes, outdoor demos, snack ‘n chat round tables, vendor auctions, and tons of giveaways, including the grand prize – a brand new Hydro Tek Skid.
PWNA Convention Registration Opens July 1
Early Bird Price Thru July 31
Hydro Tek Skid GiveawayThis year, the PWNA is excited to
announce it will again be giving away a Hydro Tek skid – valued at $10,595 – to one lucky contractor at the convention. Winner must be present at the time of the drawing.
Here are the details about this year’s incredible Hydro Tek skid:
• Model SC35006KG• 3500psi, 5.5gpm• 725cc Kohler gas engine• General triplex belt drive pump• 115v Beckett burner system• Adjustable thermostat, up to 250
degrees• Onboard 115v generator for auxiliary
power• SpiraLast coil with lifetime warrantyComponents were donated by Beckett
Burners, General Pump and Kohler Engines.
The PWNA wants to thank Hydro Tek for once again supporting the association members through this fantastic donation.
•
Rick Hurst, Rick’s Quality Pressure Washing
Kit Claytor, Claytor Painting & Pressure Washing
Michael G. Reome & Megan N Babcock, Simply Clean Powerwash
Gary Riley, ShipShape Power Washing LLC
Dan Gomez, Hot Shots Mobile Power Washing LLC
Asif Choudhry, Orange Banana Tank, Inc.
Duong Tang, TBD
Mark Mikkelson, ABC Fire & Safety
Bobby Davis, Pinnacle Power Washing Systems
Ruben Muñoz, TBD
Jonathan Milliken, Milliken & Connors Inc. dba Hydroblast West
Bruce Keiver, Alcor Facilites Management Inc.
Stanislav Mazurenko & Chedric B. Jordan, BKSS
New PWNA MembersRefer a Friends, Save $25PWNA members can now save $25
off their renewal fee simply by referring friends to the PWNA. For every referred friend who joins the association, the referring PWNA member will receive a $25 discount off their renewal rate – up to the full cost of their renewal. Refer enough friends and you can renew for free!
The new member will also receive a $25 discount off of their joining fee.
To learn more about or to register for this year’s PWNA Convention, go to
www.PWNA.org.
•
Grease is more than just a cosmetic flaw. It easily transfers to other surfaces, can go unnoticed and may hinder the performance of equipment. Power washing companies often use hot water degreasers to quickly and effectively dissolve and clean oil. Keep in mind that you should only pressure wash grease if you have received the proper training.
Why Pressure Washing Is EffectiveWhen you use a hot water pressure
washer on grease and oil stains, the hot water lifts the oil from the surface. The degreasing agent emulsifies the oil, making it simpler to flush.
Use degreasing equipment to eliminate oil and grease stains from areas, such as:• Parking lots • Concrete pavement• Sidewalks • Driveways• Garage floors • Machinery• Ship decks • Engines• Tires • Metal surfaces• Areas with rubber burns• Kitchen range hoods
Degreasing equipment is also beneficial when cleaning and preparing surfaces that you intend to paint or coat with a protective finish.
Types of Hot Water DegreasersTo effectively remove grease and oil
stains, you need to use the right type of degreasing product with your pressure washer. Common degreasers are butyl-based that are diluted with water, such as: • BD-3-C: Uses an organic solvent to dissolve oil and grease. It works well as a pre-cleanser and to wash certain types of painted metal. • BD-5-C: Good for cleaning commercial vehicles, such as cranes, bulldozers and lifts. • BD-10-C: Used for washing the exterior of buildings, recreational vehicles, trailers and trucks. The cleaner is also effective on counter tops, engines, stainless steel, floors, vinyl, walls and tires.
ConsiderationsBefore using a degreaser to
clean grease and oil stains, read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding safety precautions and areas to avoid. In addition, keep the following in mind: • Not all degreasers work well on stained or painted surfaces. • Do not use alkaline degreasers on chrome, aluminum, brass or other surfaces that are alkaline-sensitive. • Test the product in an inconspicuous area. • Some degreasers may dissolve protective coatings and sealants. • Water surrounding plants, grasses and shrubs before and after using degreaser
PWNA Safety ProceduresThe Power Washers of North America
is a group that informs members on best practices for safety in pressure washing. Make sure your technicians are ready for work, wearing appropriate clothing and operating power washers in a safe manner. Take time before each project to train our pressure washing crews on safety issues.
When & Where to Use Hot Water
Degreasersby Paul Horsley, PWNA Board Member
The Wonderful World of Certi�cates
As your spring and summer seasons finally get underway, we have been getting lots and lots of re uests for ertificates of
iability Insurance. This is a common issue that most of our customers face, some a few times a year, and some hundreds of times. Whether you are a small company doing an occasional HOA ob, or a large contractor running five crews and multiple obs at a time, ertificates of Insurance ( OIs) are something you should understand.
irst and foremost, a “certificate” is provided to certify something. That means that it can only be provided by and filled out by or on behalf of a licensed insurance agent. e cannot provide you with a blank copy that you can fill in as needed. or can we put all your coverages on one certificate if they are with other agencies. e cannot “certify” coverage that is not under our control.
e get it. ou ust want the paper to say what your customer wants it to say so you can get the ob. ut the certificate can only say things that are supported by the
coverages provided by your insurance and the language found in the policy contract. Therefore, there are some things that we ust can t say on your certificate because the
policy language doesn t support it.et s look at some of the more common
cert requirements found on vendor contracts
Insurance company rating of A or better: All insurance companies are rated by financial services companies and given a grade based on their financial stability. If you are insured with our agency, you are safe here because we only do business with insurance companies that are rated A (excellent) or better. If you want to check your insurance company s financial rating, check companies such as A est
ompany (www.ambest.com) or Standard Poors (www.standardandpoors.com).
Additional Insured: This is the most common request regarding special certificate wording. Adding another person or entity to your policy as additionally insured means you are sharing your
Insurance
By Darla Renk, Joseph D. Walters Insurance
22 eClean Magazine
he is saying he wants coverage under your policy for a claim that arises from your work but occurs after the job has been completed. This would also need to be endorsed on to the policy, and is a different endorsement than the additional insured for ongoing operations. There is usually additional premium involved in adding it.
Waiver of Subrogation: Subrogation is a process by which an insurance company will seek to recover funds it has paid out for which another party may be responsible.
sually, in con unction with the additional insured endorsement, the waiver of subrogation assures your client that not only will your policy pay the whole claim, but they won’t come back and try to recover any of what was paid from the client’s insurance company.
Primary and Non-Contributory: Insurance policies are usually considered either primary or excess. A primary policy pays first, where an excess policy only pays if the primary policy is exhausted or not applicable. If you are asked to have your certificate of insurance show this provision,
coverage with them. If there is a claim, you agree that your policy will cover your share of the responsibility and theirs. A standard
eneral iability policy does not include this provision. It must be endorsed on to the policy.
Typically, this additional insured status can be limited to apply only with respect to the ongoing operations of the named insured (you), which means that it only applies to an occurrence arising out of your work, and only while you are there doing the work.
It’s fairly common to be asked for this when bidding a commercial job, and not unheard of even for a residential one. ut you should know what you are giving away. You and your customer are now insured jointly, but have the ability to settle the claim against you individually. And your client may decide to settle rather than litigate, and he has just given away part of the insurance limit available to you.
egardless of how many “insureds” are covered, this is still only one “occurrence” and is therefore subject to the per occurrence limit.
urther, he has also given away part of what you may have available for future claims, since anything paid out on this claim reduces your policy aggregate limit as well.
Sometimes we will be asked to provide a certificate of insurance ( OI) in favor of a long list of entities. or example, let s say you are going to clean the exterior facade and windows for Abe s Tasty Pastry akery, located in a strip mall. Abe s lease says he has to ask for a OI that protects not ust him, but the shopping plaza owner, the developer, the property manager, all their partners, a liates, managers, employees, o cers, directors, etc, plus all the other tenants in the plaza, and their home o ces, managers, directors, o cers, employees, etc. That s a lot of people and entities that want to share your available coverage limits. hile it is possible to do so, please consider how thinly that policy limit will be re uired to spread if a claim occurs.
If your client also wants additional insured status for “ ompleted Operations”,
it means that your policy will pay first and not ask for contributions from other insurance policies that may have otherwise responded to this claim.
30-Day Cancellation Provision: When you see this requirement on your vendor services contract, you are being asked for your insurance carrier to provide your client with 30 days advance notice if your insurance policy is going to cancel. Most insurance contracts have built-in cancellation provisions stating under what circumstances your policy may be canceled and how much notice the insurance company must give you before doing so. By agreeing to this provision, you give up your right to cancel your policy by your re uest. ou are restricting your right to go elsewhere, to cancel because you have retired or sold your business, or because
you no longer need the coverage for any other reason.
And, because the insurance company is not required by law to give 30 days’ notice for cancellation for nonpayment of premium, you would be required to pay your policy in full before this provision could be added to your policy. This is an example of a re uest that is not supported by the policy contract. ut if you are doing a or day ob for them, is this really relevant to you
Overall, certificates are an important and necessary part of your business. If you can t provide the certificate, you don t get the ob. ut it is more than ust a piece of paper, or a means to an end. It may help to have a conversation with your client about the scope of your work and which requirements are applicable to what you will be doing for them. Sometimes they will waive certain requirements that are excessive for the ob at hand.
e find that most property managers, or their vendor services departments don’t understand the coverages they are re uesting. If you do, it gives you a leg up over them in negotiating a contract that makes sense for the ob you are bidding.
Don’t be intimidated because they have an o cial looking pre printed form.
hile the insurance policy and certificate of insurance are documents with limited wiggle room, the contract between you and your client is much more exible and the insurance requirements section of that contract can be tailored to match the nature of the ob.
arla en is a ertified nsurance Ser ice Representative and Account Manager for Joseph D. Walters Insurance, America’s #1 insurer of power washing contractors. To learn more and to download your free guide to power washing insurance, visit www.JosephDWalters.com
About the Author
24 eClean Magazine
NEW ProductUrban Restorations Group,
creators of the World’s Best Graffiti Removal System, introduces the new Eco Blaster, a complete pressure washing system in a box.
These compact, self-contained units can be loaded into any vehicle or garden wagon, and are especially useful for cleaning in locations with limited access to water.
Eco Blaster incorporates the Mi-T-M Work Pro Series Pressure Washer (2700 PSI / 2.4 gallons per minute). It’s powered by a Honda GC 190 Gas Motor with a Mi-T-M Direct Drive Axial Piston Pump with Brass Manifold.
A 10 gallon water tank, 20 feet of high pressure hose and wand are included. Just add water, and you’re ready to rinse.
Blast into summer with the amazing new ECOBLASTER Portable Pressure Washing System and receive a FREE GRAFF- ATTAK- PAK (valued at over $169) plus fixed rate shipping of only $50. Call for multiple unit pricing and free shipping offer on three or more units. Reseller inquiries welcome.
For more information, call 818- 247-2555 or email them at [email protected].
Introducing the Eco Blaster
From the Manufacturers of the World’s Best Graffiti Removal System
“New Product” 25
arlier this month, on usgraves announced that his time as president of the nited Association of obile ontract
leaners ( A ) was ending, and that association ice President oug ucker would be taking the reins. usgraves will, however, continue in his role as A xecutive
irector. “ ons continued involvement and participation in the day-to-day operation continues to be a huge help and example to the
A membership and oard of irectors ( O ),” said ucker.
ucker started in the pressure washing industry as a high school student back in
, working for a company called aster leen out of learwater, la. “I worked in
the warehouse doing anything from mixing chemicals, to helping put machines together, keeping the warehouse clean, washing the boss s car and the company vans, trucks, etc. Pretty much anything I was told to do I did.
e also cleaned parking garages and eets at nights and on weekends.”
In , ucker opened his current pressure washing business, Clean and Green Solutions, in ingwood, Texas. A couple of years later, he began his pressure cleaning school .
Then in , at a time when the A was on the edge of closing its doors, ucker was presented with the opportunity to run for the role vice president. “After much discussion with on usgraves about what the vision and future of organization could be, I agreed to run,” ucker explained.
In a little over three years, the A has grown from around contributing members
to almost (plus over , free members). “The neat things about this is it’s not just the
O or a few people that caused this. It s the entire membership, or as I like to refer to them, the entire ownership. Our members have done a great job in helping us get the word out.”
eing a A board member has been a life changing experience for ucker, and one he looks forward to continuing under his new role. “ eing involved with a not for profit organization that represents our industry has helped my business secure larger commercial and residential contracts, and helped us establish credibility and trust with our customers. Our customers really do care if we are actively involved in the A .”
Personally, the A has impacted ucker through his experiences at several
events where he met and networked with contractors from around the country. “ any are startup companies or are fairly new, and being able to watch them grow their business with the A s help has been very satisfying. Also, watching A contractors help other contractors whether they are members or not has been an awesome thing to witness. henever I am at events and even on our social media sites, the A really has that family feel to it.”
As president, ucker says he would like to see the A reach the member goal. He also wants to make the national convention, which will take place September through in harleston, S , the best it can be. “There s lots of behind-the-scenes work involved in assuring that all who attend have the best experience possible.”
Doug Rucker Named New
UAMCC PresidentBy Allison Hester
26 eClean Magazine
Association News
Want moreResidentialWork?
Contact us to learn more:800.311.8360
www.PerfectPowerWash.com
We are hiring subcontractorsin your area. Just sign up,show up, clean, and get paid!
Additionally, Rucker says he plans to continue promoting the UAMCC to customers. “We want the public to know all about the UAMCC and the many professional quality contractors available through our organization.”
Lisa Seitz Named to BOD
In early June, Lisa Seitz of Liberty SoftWash Roof and Exterior Cleaning was also named to the UAMCC BOD, making her the first female board member. “Being appointed to the
BOD is a great honor to me. As a woman in the industry, it’s good to know that my efforts to help the pressure washing industry have not gone unrecognized,” she said. “I would love to see more women become involved
with all aspects of their pressure washing business. I feel a good way to accomplish this is for women to attend educational events, and participate on industry related forums and Facebook groups.”
Since joining the association back in 2012, Seitz says that the UAMCC has “helped us grow our business by putting us in contact with many successful business owners who are willing to share things that have made them a success. Our membership has greatly cut down the learning curve in a lot of different aspects of our business.”
She adds that the UAMCC has helped her grow as a person as well. “Attending events, talking with colleagues on the phone and interacting via social media has really helped me become educated and well spoken about all aspects of the pressure washing industry, which has been key for my success as a salesperson for our business.”
To learn more about the UAMCC, visit their website: www.UAMCC.org. For information on the UAMCC National Convention, visit www.UAMCCEvents.com.
28 eClean Magazine
What the New GHS Compliance
Requirements Mean for
Pressure Washing Businesses
ou may be aware that there are new HS compliance requirements for chemical labels and Safety ata Sheets to be followed by chemical manufacturers, packagers, and transporters. This new standard, known as the lobally Harmonized System, has already become mandatory in many countries, and will soon be adopted worldwide.
The subject matter herein is a bit dry, but O business could be at risk if you are not in
compliance with these new standards (although you have a little time). ou are re uired by paragraph (f )( ) of the new HS standard to ensure that containers of hazardous chemicals in your workplace are properly labeled.
en is t e deadline or S com lianceThe deadline for compliance was June 1st, 2015,
for manufacturers and importers. istributors have until December 1, 2015, to get rid of old inventory with old labels. Power ash.com has already been in motion to update A of their product labeling and safety data sheets to meet the new HS compliance re uirements.
mployers (i.e., contractors) have until June 1, 2016, to get into full compliance with HS. This means making all necessary updates to your hazard communication programs, training your employees on new hazards identified in the reclassification process, updating workplace labels, etc., re uired by Haz om .
ore specifically, when you receive new labelsforms, you need to update them. ou can keep your old forms labels until then, or until the une , deadline, whichever comes first.
y are t e new S com liance re uirements necessary
The new HS compliance re uirements are the result of a worldwide agreement that, in order to avoid risks to human health and the environment, chemicals should be classified and labeled in a way that can be universally understood. HS replaces the many national and regional standards that previously prevailed.
ow are t e new S com liance re uirements di erent rom t e old system
The new HS compliance re uirements will force chemical manufactures to re-label and re-document all of their chemical products before the deadline dates set for the countries to which they sell. This re documentation applies to product labels (including shipping labels on cartons and packages) and aterial Safety ata Sheets ( S S now called Safety ata Sheets or S S).
oth have to comply with the new HS warning symbols, color codes, product identifiers, numbers, hazard statements, and precautionary statements.
at in ormation s ould a ear on S com liant la els
“OSHA has updated the re uirements for
By Clyde Hemminger, PowerWash.com
16 eClean Magazine
labeling of hazardous chemicals under its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS). As of June 1, 2015, all labels will be required to have pictograms, a signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, the product identifier, and supplier identification.”
• Product identifier: OSHA defines this as “any chemical, common, or trade name or designation that the chemical manufacturer or importer chooses to use on the label.”
The Product Identifier must match what is printed on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
• Signal word: There are two signal words used in the GHS standard. Danger is used for more severe hazards; warning is used for less severe hazards.
It is important to note that a product is hazardous no matter which signal word is used.
• Hazard statements describe the hazards in a simple, direct manner.
“There is a hazard statement for each hazard category of a hazard class, and it will vary depending on the degree of hazard.” (OSHA.gov)
“As with the signal words, this information conveys the relative severity of the hazard, which impacts how it is handled and controlled.” (OSHA.gov)
• Pictograms on chemical labels will be black
symbols on a white background with a red diamond border.
There are nine pictograms that may appear on hazardous chemical labels. Eight pictograms represent hazard categories. The ninth represents an environmental risk, but it is not mandatory under the OSHA standard since OSHA does not regulate environmental hazards.
Pictograms can be used to represent several different hazardous effects.
A separate set of 14 pictograms is used on shipping containers for transportation purposes. Both sets are diamond shaped, but the DOT system uses different backgrounds.
If the shipping container is also used as the primary jobsite container, DOT pictograms may be used in place of the OSHA symbols to represent the same hazard.
• Precautionary Statements: “A precautionary statement is a phrase that describes recommended measures that should be taken to minimize or prevent adverse effects resulting from exposure to a hazardous chemical, or improper storage or handling.” (OSHA.gov)
There are four types of GHS compliant precautionary statements: Prevention, Response, Storage, and Disposal.
Which containers are required to have a label according to the new GHS compliance requirements?
“Under paragraph (f )(7), employers may use signs, placards, process sheets, batch tickets, operating procedures, or other written material instead of a xing labels to individual stationary process containers, as long as the alternative method identifies which containers it applies to and conveys at least general information regarding the hazards of the chemicals. Paragraph (f )(8) of the standard also addresses portable containers into which the hazardous chemicals are transferred from a labeled container, and which are for the immediate use of the employee who performs the transfer. These portable containers do not have to be labeled.” (OSHA.gov)
What information should appear on GHS compliant data safety sheets?
In addition to maintaining your chemical labels, you must also maintain HS compliant Safety ata Sheets for every hazardous chemical you use. The new Safety ata Sheets have been divided into an internationally agreed upon section format with standardized section headings that must be presented in a specific order.
The information that is most useful to exposed workers is located at the top and more technical information used by environmental safety professions is located in the later sections. Some of the sections are not considered mandatory by OSHA because they present information that is regulated by other government organizations, but the headings for these sections are still required to be present on the S S. The sections of the S S are as follows (non mandatory sections have been italicized):
• Identification ame of the chemical as it appears on the label
• Chemical description or other means of identification
• ame address and phone number of the chemical manufacture
• Emergency contact phone number• Hazard(s) identification• Signal ords• Pictographs• Hazard statements• Precautionary statements• Composition/information on ingredients• Substances should list a chemical name, any
synonyms, AS number, and any impurities or
stabilizers that contribute to the classification of the substance.
ixtures must include the chemical names and concentrations (exact percentage) of all ingredients classified as health hazards unless a trade secret claim is made in accordance with paragraph (i) of . .
If a trade secret is claimed, a statement that the specific chemical identity and or exact percentage (concentration) of composition has been withheld as a trade secret is re uired. (OSHA.gov)
• irst aid measures• irefighting measures• Accidental release measures• Handling and storage• xposure control personal protection• Physical and chemical properties• Stability and reactivity• Toxicological information• Ecological information• isposal considerations• Transport information• Regulatory information• Other information• ate of preparation or last revision
Where can GHS compliant chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets be Obtained?
Chemical manufacturers and resellers should provide HS compliant safety data sheets and labels for each chemical they produce or sell. If you do not receive a label or S S with your first shipment, you must re uest one as soon as possible. If you cannot obtain a label and or S S you should contact your local OSHA o ce. e sure to check all documents for accuracy and completeness. Most manufactures and resellers will provide new labels and safety data sheets if any information changed, but it is a good idea to obtain new copies on a regular schedule to ensure that the information is current.
Clyde Hemminger is the editor of the PowerWash.com blog, a resource for pressure washing industry professionals seeking in-formation about business development and equipment advice. For more information, visit www.PowerWash.com.
Information for this article was obtained from:https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3695.pdfHazard Communication: Small Entity Compliance Guide for
Employers That Use Hazardous Chemicals OSHA 3695-03 2014 (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
30
About the Author
A primary tool used in the orld of lean is the vacuum.
acuums come in a variety of configurations, from canisters, to uprights, to riders, to wearables. Some will pick up debris while others will pick up li uids. One thing they all have in common they won t pull a bowling ball out of a closet. (That s an inside oke from the sixtiesyou re not laughing though.)
Okay, so back to the task at hand.
It’s not easy to pick the right machine for the job, but as I’ve harped on for years, a cleaning service must purchase the proper equipment or spend valuable labor time making up for the difference. The difference usually means a loss of profits.
Here is the short list for picking the proper vacuum for the ob
. or each facility, determine the s uare footage of carpet and at oor surfaces.
a. arpetingb. esilient oor coverings
. etermine if the vacuum will be used in wet areas such as restrooms or shops.
. igure out what type of debris or li uid to be removed is most prevalent.
a. irtb. ustc. Sandd. ravele. arkf. arious li uids
. The strength and size of the person using the machine is extremely important.
a. Height and weightb. ale or female
By Rick Meehan, Marko Janitorial
Janitorial
WHAT’S IN A VACUUM?
“Vacuum” 32
Now that you’ve answered the big uestions, the next step is to consider
the quality of the machine that you wish to purchase. ig names like Hoover and
lectrolux don t mean a thing when it comes to commercial usage they re household brands.
If you are a commercial cleaning agency, go for commercial equipment built to withstand constant daily usage. rands like Advance, Kent, Boss Pullman, Windsor, to name a few, make lines of machines that will hold up for years under di cult conditions.
it the e uipment to the person as the next step. An upright vacuum weighing pounds will wear out a little elderly church custodian in a hurry, but put her in a hip vacuum weighing only six pounds and she can vacuum all day long without fatigue.
ext, design of a vacuum is important. very building is different inside and out.
Sometimes it is most e cient to have several types of vacuums available. ontinuing with the church example, a backpack, hip vacuum, or canister tag-along with a tool set works great in the sanctuary (auditorium). epending on the size of the facility and the amount of carpet, even a riding carpet sweeper may be appropriate. hoose e uipment appropriate for the size of the facility and for the person to get the ob done speedily.
inally, ust because you think you have all the equipment you need when it comes to vacuuming, if the machines don’t match the job, vacuums have a tendency to wear out quickly, not to mention the people running them. aintenance costs mount when the vacuums used are not designed for the tasks to which they are put. In other words, don t expect a whale of a ob out of a minnow. et the vacuums you really need and save all the headaches.
About the AuthorRick Meehan is the Vice President of Marko Janitorial, a full-service janitorial supplier. To learn more, visit www.MarkoInc.com.
JulyJuly 25: Window Cleaning Network Picnic, Oconomowoc, WI, www.window-cleaning.net/
SeptemberSeptember 10-12: United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners (UAMCC) 2015 National Convention, Charleston, SC, www.UAMCCevents.org
2015 Calendar of Events (July – November)
August 6: Accelr8 Window Cleaning Training, Washington, D.C., www.Accelr8.training
August 7-8: The 2015 Pressure Washing & Window Cleaning Convention & Trade Show, Washington, D.C., www.TheHugeConvention.com
August
Oct. 9-10: Southside Equipment Networking Event, Louisville, KY, www.SouthsideKY.com
Oct. 20-23: International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) 2015 Interclean, Las Vegas, NV, www.ISSA.com
April 22-25: Cleaning Equipment Trade Association (CETA) PowerClean 2015, Las Vegas, NV, www.CETA.org
Oct. 28-31: International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Association (IKECA) Technical Seminar, Kansas City, MO, www.IKECA.org
October
Nov. 12-14: 2015 Power Washers of North America (PWNA) National Convention & Trade Show, Charlotte, NC, www.PWNA.org
November