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Article - Studies Show Unsuspecting Public Could Be Putting Their Health At Risk When Using Bulk Soap From Open Refillable Soap Dispensers
Article - Good Hand Hygiene: One of the Best Defenses Against MRSA
Article - Mats and the Green Cleaning Market
Article - Green Building Document

May 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Angela Watkins
Communications & Media Relations Manager
330-255-6612
e-mail

STUDIES SHOW UNSUSPECTING PUBLIC COULD BE PUTTING THEIR HEALTH AT RISK WHEN USING BULK SOAP FROM OPEN REFILLABLE SOAP DISPENSERS

"Every time you use soap from an open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispenser, you could be putting hundreds of millions of fecal bacteria on your hands, which is actually more than is in the toilet after you flush it," said Dr. Charles P. Gerba, microbiologist from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

The studies, conducted by the University of Arizona, under the direction of Dr. Charles P. Gerba, showed that approximately 23 to 25% of samples taken from open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers were contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. Coliforms, illness causing fecal-based organisms, were found in 16 to 22% of the samples.

The amount of contamination was higher in samples collected from health and fitness facilities. There, 33% of random samples taken from open refillable soap dispensers were contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. Coliforms, illness causing fecal-based organisms, were found in over 50% of the contaminated samples.

Dr. Gerba suspected that the number of contaminates were higher due to the warmer environment in showers and sinks located in locker room areas.

In contrast, no bacterial contamination was found in soap dispensed from sealed systems.

The findings from these studies were presented at a recent meeting of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) in Toronto, Canada and will be presented in June at the National Environmental Health Association's Annual Conference. The studies, which were funded in part by GOJO Industries of Akron, OH, concluded that the open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers are a breeding ground for germs and can result in a public health risk.

Open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers utilize a refillable container from which product is dispensed. It is refilled by pouring soap into the container on an "as needed" basis.

"When we first learned about contamination issues regarding open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers, we wanted to collect data to determine if it was true," said Joe Kanfer, chairman and chief executive officer of GOJO Industries. "The study by Dr. Gerba confirmed that contamination is present."

According to Dr. Gerba, the bacteria that were found in overwhelming numbers were opportunistic pathogens. Opportunistic pathogens are capable of causing serious infections in young people and people who are immunocompromised. He explained that these infections can range from eye, skin or respiratory infections.

Although young people and those who are immunocompromised are at greater risk of infection, Dr. Gerba says everyone is susceptible, especially if you have abrasions or open cuts or wounds. He adds that by washing your hands with contaminated soap, there is also the potential of spreading the germs each time you touch another surface.

While opportunistic pathogens predominated, Dr. Gerba said you should not rule out the existence of frank pathogens growing in these open refillable soap dispensers. Frank pathogens are unmistakable viruses, microorganisms or other substances that can cause disease in everyone, including healthy individuals.

Dr. Gerba explained this study focused on the amount of bacteria in the systems. He noted that opportunistic pathogens that were predominate included Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia.

"We don't know all the different types of bacteria that can grow in the dispenser," said Dr. Gerba. "There could be frank pathogens that make everybody ill. So, my thinking is why take a chance?" He urged further testing to determine and identify disease-causing frank pathogens that might be housed at lower levels in these open refillable dispensers.

Meanwhile, does the type of open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers make a difference with regard to contamination? Dr. Gerba said any open refillable dispenser, whether plastic or stainless steel, could be subject to contamination. He cautioned that stainless steel dispensers may lend a false sense of security.

"Stainless steel will not control microbial growth," responded Dr. Gerba. "They are very easy surfaces to clean. But, they won't control microbial growth."

Although manufacturers of these systems offer cleaning instructions and some offer products which claim to clean and sanitize these types of systems, Dr. Gerba said he is unaware of any established protocol for cleaning and effective sanitizing of open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers.

With regard to cleaning solutions that also claim to sanitize, Dr. Gerba suggested that you should ask to see the data of how well it works and how often you really need to clean the system to maintain it in a sanitary manner.

According to Dr. Gerba, the only safe solution to the risks of using open refillable bulk soap reservoir dispensers is to use sealed systems. Sealed systems utilize refill cartridges that are sealed during the manufacturing process. These high-capacity refills are used once and then discarded when empty.

The studies showed that no pathogens were found in soap collected from sealed systems.

Dr. Gerba explained, "A sealed system is sealed at the factory during manufacturing where the bulk system is actually refilled at the facility. It (bulk soap) may actually be diluted with water and may be contaminated from the water and people putting their fingers in the soap. That doesn't happen with a sealed system."

After analyzing the data from the study, Dr. Gerba concluded "I think the industry that supplies bulk soap should promote the use of sealed containers and not reusable fillable containers."

Dr. Gerba is a professor of environmental microbiology in the departments of Microbiology and Immunology and Soil, Water, and Environmental Science at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

GOJO Industries, inventors of PURELL Instant Hand Sanitizer, distributes it in away-from-home markets throughout the world. In addition, GOJO manufactures and distributes a full line of products under the GOJO and PROVON brand names. GOJO has a 60 year history of leadership in improving well-being through hand hygiene and healthy skin. GOJO has products and programs to kill germs on hands and solve skin care-related problems in a variety of markets, including healthcare, foodservice, manufacturing, automotive, education, government and military. GOJO is a privately held corporation headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with offices in the United Kingdom, Japan and Brazil.

Good Hand Hygiene: One of the Best Defenses Against MRSA

Major health organizations make it very clear: Because MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can be transferred by person to person contact, one of the best prevention methods is good hand hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada recommend washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

MRSA is a type of staph that is usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils in otherwise healthy people and may, in some cases, cause a serious infection. It is resistant to numerous antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. There are two types of MRSA: Healthcare Acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and Community Acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) The spread of MRSA occurs more frequently in some types of environments, including hospitals, schools, dormitories and even military barracks.

GOJO offers comprehensive programs that include effective soaps and hand sanitizers to help facilities reduce the spread of germs. Innovative dispensing options include wall mount dispensers, bottles and sanitizing stations that can be placed anywhere. Additionally, GOJO offers tools to help encourage hand hygiene compliance.

Mats and the Green Cleaning Market

What is Green Cleaning?
The concept of Green Cleaning began with Presidential Executive Order 13101 dated September 14, 1998 titled "Greening the Government Through Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition". In the order a policy was established to prefer pollution prevention, recycling and safe disposal in government facilities. Over the years, this has expanded to the commercial market. Green Cleaning now means the best use of products that reduce indoor pollution as well as reduce environmental pollution and favor sustainable materials.

What is the Green Cleaning Market?
During a recent ISSA meeting, representatives from the EPA, Green Seal, US Green Building Council and other organizations defined the market as "a broad scope of concerns including products (i.e. chemicals, janitorial paper products, MATS, equipment, etc.), processes, and the safety and health of building occupants and cleaning professionals."

What Products are sold to the Green Cleaning Market?
The obvious products that come to the forefront of the Green Cleaning marketplace are chemicals and paper due to their potential toxicity and/or recycle/disposal properties. Other products such as mats play an important role in improving indoor air quality. For example, in discussing mats, these organizations (EPA www.epa.gov, Green Seal www.greenseal.org, US Green Building Council www.usgbc.org, etc.) have referred to them as "...the first line of defense". In addition, they call for a minimum of 10-12 feet of mats at the entrance of a building as a way to keep dirt and moisture contained thereby reducing the need for cleaning and reducing the quantity of chemicals required for that purpose. LEED-EB, the nationally recognized voluntary standard for green existing buildings sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council www.usgbc.org) also recommends entryway systems as a way to improve IAQ.

Where Do Andersen Mats Fit in the Green Cleaning Market?
75 to 80% of contaminates that enter a building come through entryways. A quality matting system stops these contaminates at the door. Stopping these contaminates not only reduces cleaning labor costs and reduces wear on floor surfaces but it also substantially reduces the need for cleaning chemicals that might be harmful to the building occupants and the environment. Quality matting systems like the Waterhog construction pioneered by Andersen provides the maximum performance for preventing soil and water from entering a building and therefore helping to keep a building "Green".

The BI-level construction that provides an upper surface for walking and a lower area where soil and water are stored until removed by cleaning accomplish this capability. Waterhog mats utilize this permanent rubber reinforced BI-level construction, thereby, trapping large quantities of moisture and dirt, minimizing the effects of soil and water being tracked further into the facility. Low performance mats such as those with unsupported ribbed or square patterned face yarn will not hold up under foot pressure, thus allowing more water and dirt to reattach to shoes and be tracked into facilities. A permanent BI-level construction extends the performance life of a mat reducing the need to dispose of mats frequently. Lower quality mats must be replaced 4 to 5 times more often than Waterhog mats contributing significantly more waste to our landfills. Another common problem with lower quality mats is the fact that users of these products do not always understand when the product has reached its useful life. In these cases the lower quality mat is left in place after it stops performing it function. Contaminates are then allowed to enter the facility with all of the ill effects outlined earlier.

Green Building Document

ENTRANCE MATS

AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF A GREEN BUILDING

Soil is everywhere. It is a part of the earth we live on and managing it is a vital part of our everyday existence. The U.S. Green Building Council has developed a rating system for new and existing buildings to encourage building owners to earn credit for meeting certain housekeeping criteria. Strategies include the creation and maintenance of entrance systems and mats that prevent particles from entering the building. Recommendations include a minimum of 10-12 feet of quality matting products at entrances. At the heart of an entrance system is prevention of contaminants from entering a building. 85% of all soil enters a building on the feet of people entering the building. Of this, at least 80% is dry soil and the rest is oily. The dry soil can range from large particles to powder-like dust. Over the years, many products have been developed and sold to help keep soil at the door and out of the building. The key to the success of a mat's performance is whether it will do what an entrance mat should do.

HOW SHOULD AN ENTRANCE MAT PERFORM?
In a Green Building an entrance mat is the first line of defense against contaminants and particles entering the building. As such, there are four things an entrance mat should do:

Stop soil and water. 85% of all soil enters a building on the feet of the building occupants. High performance mats are more effective at stopping soil from entering buildings.
Store soil and water for removal at a convenient time. Storing means that a high performance mat contains soil in a place where it can be removed effectively and safely with minimum impact on the building. A building with minimized contaminants reduces the amount of cleaning chemicals required. This reduces airborne contaminants and volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) from cleaning chemicals, thereby improving a building's Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Minimize tracking of stored soil and water into the building. A mat with a permanent bi-level construction will store soil and water below shoe level to prevent it from being transferred into the building. This is perhaps the most important thing an entrance mat should do. Mats with a non-re-enforced surface will crush flat and once soil is deposited on these mats, it can reattach to the shoe of another person and be tracked further into the building.
Provide a safe surface for traffic. Entrance mats should contain contaminants within the structure of the mat and not allow them to seep onto the floor causing a potential slip/fall accident. Mats without a rubber reinforced permanent bi-level construction become saturated with water that can cause a loss of traction on the mat or the floor adjacent to it.

The best performing entrance mats provide a safe, effective, and attractive surface. These are the features of an Andersen WaterHog entrance mat.

Soil and moisture control are provided by the permanent rubber reinforced bi-level construction with a durable textile face. Soil and water are scraped off and held by the mat away from foot traffic.
Safety is provided by a water dam around the perimeter to prevent water seepage onto the surrounding floor thereby protecting against slip/fall accidents
WaterHog mats are the toughest, most attractive mats available. With a variety of product types and an extensive array of sizes and colors, they are an integral part of a green building entrance.