Fact Sheets
The Janitorial Products P2 Project (“JP4”) is
producing a series of fact sheets on environmental, health, and safety
issues. The fact sheets are meant for individual janitorial workers,
supervisors, and EH&S staff.
ENGLISH FACT SHEETS
Toilet
Cleaning
Hard
Floor Care
Carpet
Care
Restroom
Cleaning
Glass
Cleaning
Metal
Cleaning
Disinfectants
SPANISH FACT SHEETS
Limpieza
Segura Y Efectiva Para Los Inodoros
Muchos limpiadores para los inodoros o tazas del baño tienen ácido y
otros químicos que son dañinos. Use el producto más suave que encuentre
y siempre use guantes para protegerse.
Tools
The following links are to documents that can
aid in evaluating the hazards of janitorial products.
Cleaning
Product Risk Evaluation - Ingredient Data
Information on risks associated with nearly 100 ingredients commonly
found in janitorial products.
Finding
Chemical Data
Pages you can visit to find information about ingredients found in
janitorial products.
High
Risk Products
Use this checklist to see if you are using common high-risk products.
Product
Risk Evaluation Form
A simple form you can use to note what you find out about a product as
you read its MSDS and other literature.
Product
Test Evaluation Form
Use this form to get feedback on new products that your janitors are
trying out.
Risk
Evaluation Criteria
Screening criteria you can use to evaluate risks to human health and
the environment.
Site
Survey Form
Questions you can ask to find out what janitorial products a site uses,
and how aware people are of the risks involved.
Commentaries
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
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.
Related Sites
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 (pdf)
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
Permission is granted to freely copy,
distribute, and use these materials provided that JP4 and the authors
are credited.
Are these fact sheets useful? Please tell us
how you have used them, or give us any other feedback you want
us to know.
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.
