News & Views

Dangerous infections, blinding ulcers in the eyes: These are just some of the troubles that can come from wearing your contacts for too long. Contact lenses are generally considered safe, but wearing them while asleep significantly raises the risk of developing serious complications that can cause permanent visual loss, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…

A new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that when it comes to handwashing before meals, consumers are failing to properly clean their hands 97 per cent of the time. “As a mother of three young children, I am very familiar with the mad dash families go through to put dinner on…

Absenteeism in schools is a significant problem. In many countries, including the United States, school funding is tied to student attendance. Absenteeism (when students miss school), can put that funding at risk. While many factors contribute to school absenteeism, student illness is believed to be the main driver of student absenteeism. The transmission of pathogenic…

A reader writes: “We just took on a large campus with a lot of buildings to service various days of the week. Any guidance would be appreciated.” Congratulations on adding this new contract. Based on our discussion you are accustomed to route work for small sites where a worker will travel between accounts each night…

In case a pleasant view or a reduction in energy isn’t enough to earn workers a window, a new study reveals that the sun’s rays can actually kill bacteria that lives in dust commonly found in facilities. According to the Microbiome Journal, University of Oregon researchers found that in dark rooms, an average of 12…

One of the most dangerous infection threats is one you don’t hear much about — outside of healthcare facilities. Superbugs are becoming a stealth epidemic. A superbug is a disease-causing bacteria that is immune to treatment with antibiotics. For example, one of the most common superbugs is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is caused by…

I used to be a member of a coworking space in a strip mall next to a bowling alley. As coworking spaces go it was a pretty terrible one: buzzy fluorescent lights, long laminate tables peopled with scowling men on laptops, aggressively awful art. Among this space’s unwelcoming features was a kitchenette equipped with coffee,…

During flu season, the workplace is the easy place to catch germs — one sick staff member can spread the misery throughout the office, according to an article on the KGUN9 website. With multiple people handling common items every day, germs can spread quickly, so cleaners should pay special attention to phone headsets, copy machine…

A new survey has found office workers who don’t clean up their workspace put everyone’s health at risk, according to an article on the TechTimes website. Printerland, a reseller of printers in the UK, surveyed more than 1,000 office workers and found two-thirds of them didn’t clean up their workspace regularly. One in 10 workers…

Nearly a dozen students at Conneaut Elementary in Bowling Green, Ohio, reported a rash earlier this week that turned out to be chemical burns from the cleaner used on toilet seats, according to an article on the Sentinel-Tribune website. Several students came to the office, complaining of itching around the back of their legs and…