The First Facility Management Blog

For the second year in a row, a survey of safety professionals has found that noncompliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols continues to be an issue in the workplace.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they had observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have been, according to a survey of attendees at the 2007 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional. Eighty-five percent of safety professionals answered yes to the same question in a survey undertaken by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the 2006 NSC Congress.

“Despite the undisputed need for PPE when undertaking hazardous tasks, people continue to risk bodily harm by failing to protect themselves,” said Randy Kates, general manager of the safety business for Kimberly-Clark Professional. “In this survey, we not only asked why people did not comply with PPE protocols, but what could be done to alter these behaviors.”

The main “why” was “uncomfortable” PPE, according to 62% of respondents who had observed noncompliance in the workplace. This was followed by: workers thinking PPE was not necessary for the task, PPE was “too hot,” PPE fits poorly, or was “unattractive looking.”

So it’s not surprising that when asked “what” could be improved about the PPE they were currently purchasing, three quarters of survey respondents said they would make it “more comfortable.” Safety professionals also gave the nod to more fashionable PPE. Eighty-four percent said that they would be more apt to purchase fashionable and attractive PPE if workers would be more likely to wear it and the price was comparable to what they were currently paying for similar products.

At a time when workplace deaths are on the decline but injuries and deaths in the home have risen, 59% of safety professionals said they had programs in place to promote at-home safety. Another 28% said they had plans to create this type of program in the future.

Of those with existing safety programs, 68% said the offerings consisted of training programs or providing training materials on off-the-job or at-home safety. Forty-four percent said they encouraged employees to take home company-provided PPE and 16% said they have incentive programs for staying safe off-the-job as well as on. Ten percent said they allow employees to borrow high-priced safety equipment, such as gas detection equipment, for home use.

The survey also explored the effect of environmental considerations on purchasing PPE and other personal safety products. Here, the verdict was nearly unanimous. Ninety-four percent of respondents said environmental considerations and reducing the impact on the environment were important to them. Sixty-four percent ranked these as “very important,” while 20% described them as “somewhat important.” Ten percent said environmental factors were “increasingly important now,” as compared to a few years ago.

When it comes to green purchases, the top consideration was buying products made with recycled materials. Next was the ability to reuse or recycle products after use. Source-reduced products and packaging and a manufacturer’s overall commitment to the environment were nearly tied for third place. These were followed by:

• Purchasing from one supplier to reduce energy costs resulting from the transport of supplies from different sources.
• Products that are shipped in biodegradable packages with as little packaging material as possible.
• Products manufactured in a “carbon neutral” facility.

The survey also addressed another environmental issue, by asking respondents to choose between two types of industrial wiping products: A recycled cloth towel that is laundered and reused, releasing chemicals and metal contaminants in the wastewater of industrial laundries. Or a disposable paper or paper/polymer wiping product that is discarded into a landfill after use. Fifty-six percent said they would choose the disposable wiper. Twenty-seven percent selected the laundered towel. Seventeen percent said they did not know which product they would pick.

Respondents were also asked whether they were concerned about the potential health and safety issues faced by their workers as a result of exposure to oil, grease, heavy metal residues or other toxic elements on re-usable rental shop towels. Nearly three-quarters voiced concern, with 44% of these respondents saying they were “very concerned.” Twenty-three percent said they were not concerned.

The survey was undertaken at the NSC Congress in Chicago on October 16, 2007. The survey questionnaires were filled out by 197 safety professionals who reported being responsible for purchasing, selecting, or influencing the purchase or selection of, or compliance with, PPE. Respondents were from the following fields: industrial manufacturing, construction, hazmat, emergency response, clean manufacturing, laboratories and science, health care, transportation, law enforcement and government.

Kimberly-Clark Professional Video Contest Is Out Of This World

After boldly going where no health and hygiene company had gone before with its launch of the first electronic touchless bath tissue dispenser, Kimberly-Clark Professional is now set to enter alien territory.

And this time the public is invited to travel along, through a contest being announced today at www.aliendroppings.com.

To enter, contestants must first view a quirky two-part video of a hapless earthling’s encounter with a superior life form inside a men’s room stall. The brief vignettes depict what happens when an alien competes with a human for access to a new restroom technology.

The contest challenge is to watch both videos and create a three-minute script treatment for the duo’s close encounter of the third time. The grand prize winner will have their video produced and will also receive a SONY HD video camera. Additional prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Full contest rules and prize information are available at www.aliendroppings.com.

The first video installment is available now. The second will materialize in late November. Contest entries must be received by January 31, 2008.

The company will source the alternative energy from the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority in Jackson, SC to produce items at its Beech Island facility.

The project will capture methane gas naturally generated within the Three Rivers Regional Landfill and transport it via a 15- mile pipeline to Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facility, where it will be used to produce steam for the production of the company’s brands, such as Kleenex facial tissue, Cottonelle and Scott bathroom tissue, Huggies diapers and Pull-Ups training pants.

Methane, a greenhouse gas, is produced as organic material decomposes in landfills. As calculated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program, the annual reduction of greenhouse gases attributable to this project has the same effect as removing 41,000 cars from the road, reducing oil consumption by more than 500,000 barrels, or planting nearly 59,000 acres of forest.

“Sustainability is an essential aspect of our business at the Beech Island facility and across Kimberly-Clark,” said Tom Colgrove, senior director of Family Care Product Supply-North America. “As a global company, we recognize that we must contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency, and use of cost-effective renewable and alternative energy sources. Landfill gas will provide our site with a reliable, carbon-neutral source of clean energy at a lower cost than conventional natural gas.”

Kimberly-Clark will purchase the gas under a 15-year supply agreement with the Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority. Siemens Building Technologies is designing and building the landfill gas collection facility and pipeline, with construction underway. When the project becomes operational in April 2008, it will provide 1,800 cubic feet of landfill gas per minute to fuel steam boilers at the Beech Island facility.

“On behalf of Aiken County and the eight other member counties of Three Rivers Solid Waste Authority, we are proud that we are once again on the leading edge of environmental and financial stewardship on behalf of the region’s citizens,” said Ronnie Young, Chairman, Aiken County Council. “This project is a fine example of a public-private partnership that is a winner for all involved. We look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with Kimberly-Clark and Siemens Building Technologies.”

Clark Wiedetz, Alternative Energy general manager, Siemens Building Technologies, said, “At Siemens, we help deliver the means to achieve energy efficiency, strategic operating objectives and environmental improvements to our customers. By capturing the gas and using it to fire its boilers, Kimberly-Clark not only prevents the gas from being vented into the air, they eliminate the need to use more costly fossil fuels. In this project everyone wins—Kimberly Clark, Three Rivers, the community, its taxpayers, and ultimately, the environment.”

Added Colgrove, “The Beech Island facility is an ideal site for this project, since it is one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced mills within Kimberly-Clark and is also the largest manufacturing facility in North America.

“With the start-up of a new process water recycling system this year, we have reduced the use of river water by 60 percent and we are working toward a total reduction of 80 percent, making Beech Island one of the most water efficient K-C facilities in the country. In addition, the facility has nearly eliminated landfilling of its manufacturing waste, as 90 percent of waste material is currently either recycled on site or sent to outside resource recovery facilities.”

Toxic Heavy Metals Can be in “Clean” Laundered Rental Shop Towels

Something as common as a rental shop towel can raise a health and safety issue for workers, according to an independent study.

The study results are summarized in a report from Kimberly-Clark Professional, which can be obtained by visiting the company’s Web site.

The study revealed that “clean” shop towel samples tested contained elevated levels of toxic heavy metals. According to the study, rental shop towels can retain measurable levels of heavy metals – such as lead, cadmium, and antimony – even after washing.

The study also found that it is possible for the metals to travel from rental shop towels to the hands of workers and, ultimately, the mouth. Using just 2.5 towels a day, workers may ingest unacceptable amounts of toxic heavy metals, according to the study, which was conducted by the Gradient Corporation. The amount of lead that someone might accidentally ingest from the shop towels may exceed California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Proposition 65† limits (based on 2.5 towels per day)1.

The full study can also be downloaded here.

Shop towel users looking for a cleaner, safer alternative to laundered rental shop towels have an option with WypAll* Wipers from Kimberly-Clark Professional. Fresh WypAll* Wipers contain no toxic heavy metals, oils or greases. They are manufactured without chemical binders or other agents that could harm workers or work processes.

† California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) Proposition 65 limits are exposure limits based on potential health risks such as cancer or reproductive effects. If a chemical exposure exceeds the limit, manufacturers may be required to notify the public of this exceedance.

1. Data pulled from “Evaluation of Potential Exposure to Metals in Laundered Shop Towels,” INJ, Winter, 2003

Kimberly-Clark Professional is introducing an automatic dispenser, which can give facilities control over how much tissue is dispensed each time. Greg Bluestein of the Associated Press writes:

Richard Thorne grins as he waves his hand under a toilet paper dispenser in a women’s restroom. The machine spits five sheets of tissue into his grasp.

A year in the works, the electronic tissue dispenser is being rolled out to the masses by Kimberly-Clark Professional as it seeks to capture more of the $1 billion away-from-home toilet paper market. The company believes most people will be satisfied with five sheets — and use 20 percent less toilet paper.

“Most people will take the amount given,” says Thorne. Waxing philosophical, he adds, “People generally in life will take what you give them.”

Kimberly-Clark turned to focus groups and years of internal research to determine just how much is right.

Americans typically use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans — as much as an arm’s length each pull, Thorne says. The company decided the best length is about 20 inches — or precisely five standard toilet paper squares, though the machine can also be adjusted to churn out 16 inches or 24 inches, depending on the demand.

Read the rest of the article…

Last month during The TFM Show, attendees were treated to two outstanding keynote sessions.

On Wednesday, April 18, audiences participated in the first ever interactive session, “What Keeps You Up At Night?” During the presentation, the panel of experts spontaneously responded to challenges posed by more than 200 audience members. Sponsored by Kimberly-Clark, the session was presented to a standing room only crowd.

The following morning, audiences responded in an overwhelmingly positive way to the Keni Thomas presentation, “Leadership, Teamwork, and the Importance of Being Prepared.” Humorous, inspiring, and touchingly personal, Thomas shared stories from his time as an Army Ranger during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu and received a standing ovation at the close of his address. After the keynote, he took several hours to pose for photographs and sign autographs for attendees at the Microsoft Visio booth–sponsors Thomas’s Thursday keynote.

Both of these exciting and educational sessions are now available to view in four-part installments at the TFM Show site at this link. These files are viewable in two formats: Windows Media Player and Quicktime.

Kimberly-Clark Professional Donates 10,000 Disposable Wipes To Assist Bound Brook, NJ In Flood Cleanup Efforts

Kimberly-Clark Professional is donating 10,000 disposable wipers to help the town of Bound Brook, NJ, clean up from the extensive flood damage caused by the second worst storm in New Jersey’s history.

“We know that Bound Brook was hit particularly hard by this storm,” said Meredith McDonald, a category manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. “We hope this donation will provide some assistance to the business community and the area as a whole as it recovers from the severe flooding that took place.”

The donation will be presented to the borough of Bound Brook by American Paper and Supply Company (APSCO) of Carlstadt, N.J., a local distributor of Kimberly-Clark Professional products. APSCO will deliver the supply of WYPALL* L40 Wipers, a general-purpose disposable wiper that absorbs liquids, lubricants and oils.

If there is one thing all workplace safety experts agree on it is the need for proper protective equipment when undertaking hazardous tasks. Yet 85% of the safety professionals surveyed by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the National Safety Council (NSC) Congress in November 2006 said they had observed people in their organizations failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been. Nearly half said this had happened on numerous occasions, while 38% described these occurrences as infrequent.

In addition:

· 66% of safety professionals said PPE compliance was an issue within their organizations.

· 40% described it as a “major concern” that they were attempting to correct.

· 57% of respondents who observed PPE noncompliance in the workplace said the workers attributed this to poor fit or discomfort.

What was the main reason for noncompliance? A feeling of invulnerability, as in: “An accident won’t happen to me.” This was selected by nearly one third of respondents from a list of choices. It was followed by:

· Lack of awareness of workplace hazards.

· Lack of training on how to don, doff and use PPE.

· Ill-fitting uncomfortable garments.

· Lack of “breathability” and inadequate supplies.

Comfort Most Important Criterion

Survey respondents were also asked about the most important criteria for selecting PPE for workers. The number one response was comfort. This was followed by quality, availability and fit. Price and size selection came in last.

Providing solutions to their problems and meeting their needs were the chief reasons for choosing a company to supply PPE products, according to more than three quarters of respondents. Offering a product bundle for a one-stop shopping experience and delivering head-to-toe protection took second and third place. They were followed by carrying well-known brand name products, just-in-time delivery, and selling specific niche items.

The most important feature in glove selection was “the ability to conduct tasks involving dexterity and/or fine motor skills,” according to nearly one third of respondents. However, 43% said all the choices in a list provided to them were equally important. These included “dexterity and/or fine motor skills” as well as fit, cut-resistance, chemical-resistance, working as well in wet conditions as dry, and resistance to pathogens.

“These survey results demonstrate that comfort really does drive compliance,” said Randy Kates, general manager of the Kimberly-Clark Professional Safety Business. “If PPE is uncomfortable or doesn’t fit right, workers may modify or not wear it properly to minimize discomfort, which may then compromise protection.”

Top Workplace Safety Issues

The survey also polled safety professionals about safety issues. The top three workplace issues, selected from a list of choices, were:

· Insufficient management support and/or resources for health and safety functions.

· Under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses.

· Worker compliance with safety protocols.

In another question, 43% of respondents answered “yes” when asked whether they were concerned about any potential health and safety issues posed by re-usable rental shop towels that may contain chemical residues even after they are “freshly laundered.” Of this group, 21% described themselves as “very concerned” and 22% said they were “somewhat concerned.” Forty-five% said they were not concerned about this issue.

Survey Methodology

The survey was undertaken at the NSC Congress in San Diego on November 7, 2006. The survey questionnaires were filled out by 158 safety professionals who reported being responsible for purchasing, selecting or influencing the purchase or selection of, or compliance with, PPE. Respondents were from the following fields: industrial manufacturing, construction, hazmat, emergency response, clean manufacturing, laboratories, medical, health care, military and law enforcement.

Click here for full survey results.

In 2007, The TFM Show marks its 10th anniversary. Over the past few days several people have asked me why they need to attend The TFM Show this year on April 17-19, 2007 at the Navy Pier in Chicago. Since 1998, The TFM Show has been the one industry event helping facility management professionals do their job better. The event focuses on issues you
are faced with daily while keeping an eye on the future.

Why Attend The TFM Show?
• FREE Conference Program: A $995 value, absolutely free.

• Commercial-Free Conference Sessions: Speakers are forbidden to deliver company commercials in sessions, so you will receive a purely unbiased facility management education.

• Receive CEU Credits: Continuing education credits are available from a variety of industry associations.

• Unprecedented Keynote Sessions WEDNESDAY: What Keeps You Up At Night—Solving FM Challenges THURSDAY: Leadership, Teamwork, and the Importance of Being Prepared, Keni
Thomas, Army Ranger involved in the “Black Hawk Down” Mission

• New this year—The Learning Pool: This open-space classroom right on the
exhibit hall floor will feature three educational opportunities. Learn about sustainability,
environmental issues, high-performance buildings, and energy efficiency
from the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments. Interact, troubleshoot, and
share your challenges during informal, peer-to-peer mentoring sessions. And find
out about degree and certification programs in career development workshops.

• FM Marketplace: Visit new vendors and demo hundreds of cutting-edge facility management solutions.

• Facility Tour: Tour 111 South Wacker Drive—A building that achieved the Gold LEED Core & Shell Rating.

• LONMARK Americas Tour: For the first time ever at a national facility executive event, view the Interoperable Technology Demonstration in the exhibit hall.

Register free today at:
www.TFMShow.com

I look forward to seeing you in Chicago.

A senior engineer from Enviro-Management & Research, Inc. (EMR) in Springfield, Va., recently took home a new 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid automobile as the grand prize winner of the Kimberly-Clark Professional “Get Clean & Get Green” sweepstakes designed to promote environmental stewardship and responsibility in the commercial real estate industry.

Edward St. Germaine was awarded the prize at the Greenbuild International Convention and Expo in Denver, Colo., in November 2006. The Kimberly-Clark Professional national sweepstakes was open to property and facility managers, commercial and corporate real estate owners, and owners of building service contracting companies.

“The sweepstakes was a way for us to demonstrate our appreciation to customers who share our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said Don Totten, office building marketing manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. “The Ford Escape Hybrid is one of the world’s most fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly SUVs, so it fits perfectly with the contest message of ‘Get Clean & Get Green.’”

EMR is a green business that assists clients in finding and implementing energy conserving measures in their facilities. St. Germaine is the primary author of the Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) Commissioning Handbook and an associated e-learning training course that will soon be made available to Federal employees.

“Get Clean & Get Green” sweepstakes entries were submitted by applicants from March 2006 through November 2006 by mail, online, or in person at three industry trade shows: The National Facilities Management & Technology (NFM&T) Conference, the Building Owners and Managers Association’s (BOMA) Office Building Show and the Greenbuild International Convention and Expo. St. Germaine was chosen from a pool of 10 randomly selected sweepstakes finalists. Eight won a free trip to the Greenbuild Convention and Expo and the final two were selected at that show. All 10 then picked a remote entry device, one of which unlocked the grand prize vehicle.

Kimberly-Clark Professional is committed to sustaining the environment through the ongoing education of its commercial real estate customers on how they can use less and waste less in commercial office buildings. Kimberly-Clark Professional’s philosophy of providing cleaner, greener solutions means helping buildings choose products that last longer and generate less waste. To demonstrate its commitment to the environment, Kimberly-Clark Professional offers a number of source-reduced products, which are created to use more efficient dispensing methods and less packaging in their manufacture. Many of these products also last longer than standard tissue, towel and skincare products. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional recently introduced 100% recycled fiber and process chlorine free SCOTT® brand towel and tissue products.

Kimberly-Clark Professional is also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the nation’s leading nonprofit coalition advancing buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The company has partnered with the USGBC primarily in support of the Council’s efforts to advance the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Existing Buildings program.