1

The Green Scene in Seattle Going through trash, making posters, and doing energy audits are just a few of the training

related activities that environmental service workers (EVS) at Northwest Hospital & Medical

Center/UW Medicine in Seattle completed last fall as part of the green grant training and sys-

tems change project, making the institution the first in the nation to pilot this new program.

Green training for incumbent workers launched November 2, 2010 with a class of 8 workers

during the day shift. The instructor, Megan Nilsson-Doster, commented, “watching the trans-

formation of the EVS workers at Northwest Hospital has been an incredible experience. It was

through this amazing curriculum that H-CAP and North Seattle Community College wrote that

has led EVS workers to actualize their immense knowledge, skill, and stewardship that they

have for the ‘triple bottom line’ (patients, profit and the planet). The curriculum speaks di-

rectly to EVS workers by encouraging and validating their leadership as the true caretakers of

the environment and as the first line of defense for the health of patients. It has been a joy to

watch the transformation of EVS stewardship unfold lesson by lesson, and discussion by discus-

sion; the confidence and ‘voice’ the training instills is superb.”

EVS workers completed the introduction class, Seeing Green, in addition to the six modules that

provided a big picture overview of the worker’s impact on energy and water conservation, re-

duction of waste and HAIs, and health and safety around green chemicals and new tools and

technology.

(continued on page 2)

this issue

The Green Scence in Seattle P.1 Director’s Corner P.1

Curriculum Feature P.2 Green Tip of the Month P.2

Upcoming Events P.3

Director’s Corner

H-CAP is proud to announce a new monthly newsletter. We hope this new publication will support our current partners to build a greener and more sustainable healthcare industry, to share best practice, and to create a community of practice in green environmental service.

Without a doubt, the healthcare industry is going green. This trend supports social, environmental, and economic outcomes - the triple bot-tom line. To achieve these outcomes we must build institutional support at the highest level and encourage the creative engagement of the workforce. With labor and manage-ment working together to reduce waste, energy and water use, and to use cleaner, greener, and more ef-fective cleaning products, the com-munity as well as the institutions will benefit.

In 2010, H-CAP was one of 25 pro-jects nationally to receive an Energy Training Partnership Grant from the US Department of Labor, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding. Our grant, “From Entry Level to a Green Career,” supports training and job development for environmental service workers in 4 regions of the country – Southern CA, Seattle, WA, Maryland/DC, New York City.

In only a year, we have worked with 11 employers, 4 unions, and close to a thousand workers on labor/management projects in the Envi-ronmental Service Departments (housekeeping) to green healthcare.

(continued on page 3)

The Green Machine Monthly Newsletter of the H-CAP Green EVS Program

ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2011

Northwest Hospital Incumbent Worker Training Class, front row, left to right: Julia Ramos (Training Fund), Deanna Swenson (EVS worker),

Megan Nilsson-Doster (TF instructor), Carlos Porras (EVS worker), Maria Melgar (EVS supervisor). Back row, l to r: Erik Walerius (Dir. Clinical

Services), Bob Zappone (TF), Yvonne Vowell (Mgr, Org. Development), Lois Atnip (EVS worker), Juan Escalente (Mgr, EVS), and Efrain

Velasco (union organizer).

www.h-cap.org

2

The Green Scene in Seattle (continued) Overall, workers practiced communicating with other hospital staff about their greening efforts, recognizing the impact on

the community, patients, and the hospital’s

bottom line.

“The Environmental Services department at

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center/UW

Medicine is excited to participate in the H-

CAP Green Training Program; the employees

are eager to put their new knowledge of

green practices into action,” said Erik

Walerius, Director of Clinical Support Ser-

vices.

Each two-hour training module introduced

workers to new vocabulary and integrated

basic math and science into the learning

process. The material is also presented us-

ing techniques to reach low literacy and Eng-

lish language learners and allow for all par-

ticipants to master the material in the con-

text of their own work. Workers developed a

new knowledge base to support a business

case for change initiatives they can lead from

the EVS department.

“This is a win-win situation for the hospital,

our members, and the community. Our

members have a lot of pride and confidence

in their work, and this project is an opportu-

nity to learn new techniques and advance

careers, while also helping our hospital to

become greener and provide better

care. When we work together, we can im-

prove healthcare,” commented Efrain

Velasco, SEIU 1199NWOrganizer and Mem-

ber of The Green Team/Labor Management

Committee at Northwest Hospital.

EVS workers will also complete a second

round of five-hour trainings that bridge the

concepts already reviewed with new specific

and measureable tasks workers will perform

to support the green change project devel-

oped in their department. Northwest Hospi-

tal EVS workers will be focusing on reward-

ing other hospital workers for their recycling

and conservation efforts and monitoring the

energy usage of their hospital with an energy

checklist.

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center is a full

-service, acute care community hospital of-

fering comprehensive medical, surgical and

therapeutic services. It is a 281 bed hospital

with more than 1900 employees.

Green Tip of the Month

Curriculum Feature

En Español

Spanish word lists for Seeing Green and Modules 1-6 of the incumbent worker green training are now avail-able at www.h-cap.org .

These are resources for Green Train-

ers to use in classes with Spanish

speakers requesting translation or

English language literacy support.

Word lists also fit the “word rings”

template some regions have used in

training. Disfrute de su clase!

Maybe you don't want a forest green home, but you can still keep the environ-ment in mind while painting. Here are some things to consider:

Never pour thinners, solvents or paint down the drain. Put them in tight-fitting jars or

cans and have them picked up or delivered to a hazardous waste disposal site. For infor-

mation about collections in your area, contact your local municipal or state government.

Paint thinner often can be reused. Over time, paint sludge settles on the bottom of the

container. Pour the clean solvent off the top and use. When the thinner is gone, stuff an

absorbent material into the can to dry the sludge before throwing the can into the trash.

Consider giving unused paint thinner or stripper to local furniture refinishing shops or

paint contractors.

EVS workers Carlos Porras, David Perez, and EVS Supervisor Maria Melgar taking a short break during one of the training modules.

3

Director’s Message (cont.)

We have created curricula for train-ers, trained workers and supervisors, and are building a new college cer-tificate program for green leaders in environmental service and other departments. So far we have trained close to 100 workers and supervisors as trainers for their departments. Hundreds more have participated in training that will improve the func-tioning of the departments while preparing workers for new roles and further educational opportunities.

We welcome your participation in making this newsletter a useful tool for sustaining the environment and your labor/management work in the department. We look forward to your feedback and your input which can be sent to news@h-cap.org

Laura Chenven, Director H-CAP

Online Webinar: Case Manager Exchange

Time: 10 AM PST/1 PM EST

Length: 1 Hour

Target Audience: Case Managers, Project Coordinators, and Staff

February 23, 2011

Community College Partners Meeting

Location: Seattle

North Seattle Community College is convening our national community college partners to continue the development and implementation of the certificate program.

February 24-25, 2011

“From Entry Level to Green Career” National Convening

Location: SEIU 721, 500 S. Virgil Avenue, Los Angeles

Contact Sefrina Raghoebir @ sefrina.raghoebir@1199funds.org for information regarding accom-modations at the Biltmore Hotel.

For designated Employer and Union representatives and Regional Project Staff.

The discussion will focus on the new, national Green EVS position (provisionally called the “Green Implementation Coordinator”) and the Community College Certificate program.

Regional project staff will follow-up with employer and union representatives locally with spe-cifics on this meeting.

February 15-16, 2011

Online Webinar: Creating Cost Saving Recycling Programs

Time: 10 AM PST/1 PM EST

Length: 1 hour

To RSVP, please send an email to iamdedo@practicegreenhealth.org and include your name, title, and organization. Click on the image for additional details on this event. For more infor-mation on this and other webinars, contact Sefrina Raghoebir at se-frina.Raghoebir@1199funds.org.

January 25, 2011

Upcoming Events

This program is sponsored by (in part by) the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Acknowledgements

This program is sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by H-CAP. Internal use, by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes, is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner. This Program is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.