Via Sanitairy Maintenance:

The number of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has increased by more than 90 percent during the last decade, according to research from Princeton University.

In 2006, there were 278,203 reported cases of MRSA-related infection, more than double the number in 1999, according to the study. The growing number of MRSA cases reflects the increasing resistance of Staphylococcus bacteria to antibiotics.

The study also shows that hospital-associated MRSA infections, occurring mostly in patients with weakened immune systems, have been more common than community-associated MRSA infections, occurring among those who pick up the bacteria in fitness centers, common restrooms, and other public places.

By, Christy Hoppe/Via Dallasnews.com

AUSTIN – Texas health officials are preparing for the double-whammy this fall of the swine flu and the seasonal flu, saying they have better knowledge now about the H1N1 epidemic and can better tackle the illness and the fears about it.

“There was a lot of concern back in spring,” said Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of State Health Services. “Now we have additional information.”

That should preclude the disruption of closing down schools.

On Monday, the state kicked off a series of conferences to be held around the state among state officials, local groups and health care professionals to coordinate monitoring and treatment during the fall and winter flu season.

State officials already have said that they will not be so quick to shutter schools when flu cases occur, but instead urge hand-washing, covering coughs and telling parents to keep sick children at home.

The state has stockpiled enough anti-viral medication to treat about 2.5 million flu sufferers, and the first shipments of vaccinations for both the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu by mid-October, Lakey said.

The dosages will be available in sufficient quantity to provide them to anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay, he said.

He said information from how the flu has acted thus far will help direct health care treatment.

As of July 31, 5,200 Texans had contracted the H1N1 virus and it has claimed 28 victims. Unlike seasonal flu, which tends to harm the elderly, chronically ill and very young, the new flu strain appeared mostly in school-aged children, those between 5 and 18 years old.

Because cases increase in the fall – the traditional flu season – Lakey said the state is preparing for a steep challenge.

“We’ll have a tough flu season, but not one we can’t deal with,” he said.

By MIRIAM JORDAN and SABRINA SHANKMAN via The Wall Street Journal

The Obama administration announced a crackdown Wednesday on hundreds of companies suspected of employing illegal immigrants, signaling a shift in strategy: going after employers instead of workers.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, said that it had begun an audit of 652 U.S. companies to verify whether their employees were eligible to work. Violations could lead to fines, as well as civil and criminal charges.

It wasn’t clear what steps the government would pursue if it verified that an employer had hired illegal workers, or how severe penalties might be.

The announcement came a few months after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she wanted to focus immigration enforcement on egregious cases of employers who hire undocumented workers, and sometimes even assist in falsifying their paperwork to avoid detection.

During the Bush administration, enforcement activity was characterized by high-profile raids in which hundreds of illegal immigrants were rounded up.

A series of raids at meatpacking plants belonging to JBS Swift & Co. across six states in December 2006 resulted in 1,200 workers being detained. The Bush policy led to large numbers of deportations.

The new policy comes as President Barack Obama is attempting to ramp up support for an overhaul of immigration legislation that would set millions of illegal immigrants on the path to U.S. citizenship.

Mr. Obama is seeking to put a spotlight on enforcement, according to several people involved in the new strategy, in order to counteract critics who charge he is preparing to naturalize large numbers of foreign workers at a time when unemployment among American citizens is climbing. Some 12 million illegal immigrants live in the U.S.

While the new enforcement approach isn’t set up to trigger immediate deportations, it is still likely to unsettle immigrant communities.

“The net effect for workers is nearly the same: They lose their economic lifeline. They may not be deported but they may have to relocate,” said Craig J. Regelbrugge, the co-chair of Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, an association of agricultural producers.

Under the new policy, ICE began notifying businesses that it planned to inspect their hiring records to see whether employees have proper employee documentation. Many of the companies were located in New York and California, according to an ICE official.

On Wednesday, American Apparel Inc., a Los Angeles clothing manufacturer and retailer, said ICE gave notice that 1,600 of its 5,600 factory employees might be working illegally. It couldn’t verify the status of 200 others.

However, in what might be an indication of a more collaborative approach under the new policy, American Apparel said ICE requested that the company interview the employees and investigate whether or not they are in U.S. legally.

An ICE official said even if the government later verified that some employees were illegal, it wouldn’t necessarily follow up with a raid. “We’re changing our approach,” the official said.

The government’s audit of the apparel company dates back to January 2008, and it’s unclear how many of the workers under suspicion were still employed.

American Apparel — founded and run by a Canadian emigrant to the U.S., Dov Charney — has been one of the most outspoken proponents of changing U.S. immigration laws. Many of its stores post signs and sell T-shirts that read “Legalize L.A.,” a reference to the city’s many undocumented workers.

Mr. Charney said in a statement Wednesday that the company hoped the employees “are able to confirm their work authorization so that they may continue to work at American Apparel.”

It remains to be seen how much pressure the new policy could put on employers.

The government now plans to comb through the records at the companies it has notified. “Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government has to enforce employment and immigration laws,” ICE said in a statement.

Write to Miriam Jordan at miriam.jordan@wsj.com and Sabrina Shankman at Sabrina.Shankman@wsj.com

by Paul Kim
via The Network Magazine

http://www.digitaleditionsonline.com/publication/?i=16558

There has been a great deal of press focusing on the environment and on being Green. You turn on the television, read a magazine, or walk down a store aisle and, more likely than not, you will find some form of impactful marketing regarding Green. Some may believe that the Green movement is a fad or a trend, but it is here to stay. The Green movement is arguably already an American tradition, tracing its roots to transcendentalism, Henry David Thoreau, and John Muir’s Sierra Club in the mid-to-late 1800’s, all of which focused on the importance of nature and the environment.

Today’s environmentalism, though, appears to be more consumer- driven, forcing businesses and manufacturers to allocate energy into the research and development of new products that leave a smaller environmental footprint. Why is this important to facilities and their managers?

Because marketing your facilities as Green is a powerful marketing tool. Communicating an organization’s commitment to the preservation of health and sustainability will create a powerful connection to the clients that utilize the facilities every day. As an owner or facility manager it is important to impress upon the public your commitment to the environment in a comprehensive fashion. Green extends not only to commodities like chemicals and paper but to building service equipment as well.

Green Standards Currently there are few Green standards for equipment like the popular Green Seal or Design for the Environment designations.

The reason for this gap is due to the difficulty in standardizing what exactly makes a piece of equipment “Green”. One known standard for Green equipment is the CRI Green label, which is based on levels of particle emission and air quality for carpet equipment.

Additionally, institutes such as USGBC’s LEED recognize certain types of equipment and tools that play a role in Green. Accordingly, with such lack of clear standards for Green equipment, why would any facility use Green equipment when it is difficult to communicate the benefits?

It is easier to relate to ‘we use recycled toilet paper and non-toxic chemicals’ than ‘we use high HEPA filtration vacuums and dust control high speed burnishers’. Many facility managers and owners are coming to understand that having Green equipment has many benefits that go far beyond any standardized certification.

Using Green equipment can save something everyone can use more of: time and money.

Saving Time AND Money One example of saving dollars is utilizing backpack vacuums such as Pro-Team’s HEPA Super Coach vacuum which includes low-particulate emission HEPA filtration that improves air quality. In addition, these vacuums are more efficient by reducing amperage by 6% while maintaining the same suction power. Less amperage means less electricity and lower utility bills, a nice and tangible benefit of being Green. Another example directly relates to the trend towards daytime cleaning to help alleviate utility costs. Pro-Team’s new HEPA Quiet Pro backpack vacuum utilizes the same levels of efficiency and filtration but at a lower decibel level so that cleaning does not disrupt everyday business.

SMART MACHINES When it comes to cleaning hard and soft floors one of the newest and smarter machines out there is Nilfisk-Advance’s Adphibian. It is a two-in-one machine that can clean large areas of both hard and soft floor surfaces. Using one machine in place of two reduces maintenance costs and increases efficiency in time and labor. Additionally, the AXP option allows for simple accurate dilution and dispensing of cleaning solution while the LIFT mode cleans effectively with low-moisture creating less waste and more efficiency.

It too operates at low decibel levels for undisruptive daytime use.

Another piece of maintenance equipment that buildings can use to improve air quality is the Advolution high-speed burnisher with dust control.

Preventing the emission of harmful floor finish dust is just another step in keeping air quality safe for your clients, tenants and employees.

By investing in quality Greenfocused equipment, you get the benefit of reducing your environmental footprint and also saving time and money. And, you’ll feel good about the decision, as will your employees and the people who use your facilities every day. •