HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC — About 1,300 gallons of waste from portable toilets spilled onto the road when a truck carrying them crashed, according to The State.
South Carolina health officials say the sewage did not leak into the nearby Chechessee River because a runoff drain was blocked with sediment and debris, the story stated.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control likely will not issue a fine for the spill because it did not contaminate anything and can be cleaned up, the story noted.
Eyewitnesses told investigators the driver was speeding and driving erratically before the crash, the story added.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Dallas jails fail inspection seventh straight time
DALLAS — After spending millions of dollars and several years improving the jail system, the state deemed the Dallas County jails unacceptable for a seventh straight time, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Inspectors noted broken toilets, dirty and "severely clogged" air vents, remote-controlled doors that wouldn't open or close properly, broken intercoms, a slow response to fire drills, inadequate smoke detection and removal systems, inadequate staffing, improper mixing of high- and low-security inmates and numerous plumbing problems, the story stated.
Sheriff Lupe Valdez said: "It is important to note that our staff continues to work tirelessly each and every day to provide the best service to the community. We accept responsibility for areas that we can improve upon."
The Dallas County jail system is the seventh largest in the nation and hasn't passed a state inspection since 2003; in addition, the jails remain under a federal court order to improve medical and mental health care, sanitation and fire safety systems, the story noted.
If the violations are serious enough, the state jail commission can shut down the facility and force the county to spend millions of dollars to send its prisoners elsewhere, the story added.
According to the story, the county has 30 days to submit a written response regarding the problems, and when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards holds a regular meeting in May, Dallas County officials will be expected to appear with an update.
Inspectors noted broken toilets, dirty and "severely clogged" air vents, remote-controlled doors that wouldn't open or close properly, broken intercoms, a slow response to fire drills, inadequate smoke detection and removal systems, inadequate staffing, improper mixing of high- and low-security inmates and numerous plumbing problems, the story stated.
Sheriff Lupe Valdez said: "It is important to note that our staff continues to work tirelessly each and every day to provide the best service to the community. We accept responsibility for areas that we can improve upon."
The Dallas County jail system is the seventh largest in the nation and hasn't passed a state inspection since 2003; in addition, the jails remain under a federal court order to improve medical and mental health care, sanitation and fire safety systems, the story noted.
If the violations are serious enough, the state jail commission can shut down the facility and force the county to spend millions of dollars to send its prisoners elsewhere, the story added.
According to the story, the county has 30 days to submit a written response regarding the problems, and when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards holds a regular meeting in May, Dallas County officials will be expected to appear with an update.
Employee steals over $87,000 from maintenance company
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN — A woman in charge of handling payroll for a building maintenance company is charged with embezzling over $87,000, according to the Pioneer Press.
Dorothy Wessel, who worked for Carlson Building Maintenance, stole $37,172 in 2007 and $42,245 in 2008 by generating 127 fraudulent payroll checks for terminated employees and pocketing the money, the story stated.
Wessel is already on probation for two counts of felony theft stemming from a 2003 incident in which she still owes $281,000 in restitution to a former employer, the story noted.
Wessel earned a gross salary of $50,000 from Carlson Building Maintenance, the story added.
Dorothy Wessel, who worked for Carlson Building Maintenance, stole $37,172 in 2007 and $42,245 in 2008 by generating 127 fraudulent payroll checks for terminated employees and pocketing the money, the story stated.
Wessel is already on probation for two counts of felony theft stemming from a 2003 incident in which she still owes $281,000 in restitution to a former employer, the story noted.
Wessel earned a gross salary of $50,000 from Carlson Building Maintenance, the story added.
Georgia-Pacific sues Proctor & Gamble for false advertising
ATLANTA — Brawny paper towel marketer Georgia-Pacific Corporation is suing Proctor & Gamble for falsely advertising "25 percent thicker quilts" on its Bounty paper towels, according to Advertising Age.
According to Georgia-Pacific, the quilts on Bounty's paper towels may be thicker, but the paper towels themselves are at most 5 percent thicker, and in some cases, thinner than before.
A complaint was filed against Proctor & Gamble March 18 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the story stated.
Georgia-Pacific said: "Proctor & Gamble's motivation for knowingly misleading the public, namely the single-minded effort to obtain greater sales and market share at any cost, is reflected in a long history of unfair competition and deceptive trade practices."
Georgia-Pacific is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the Bounty ads and is asking for a nationwide recall of packaging bearing the "25 percent thicker quilts" claim, the story noted.
Georgia-Pacific is also seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for profits Proctor & Gamble has made from the product, and triple damages due to "the willful nature of Proctor & Gamble's false advertising," the story added.
According to Georgia-Pacific, the quilts on Bounty's paper towels may be thicker, but the paper towels themselves are at most 5 percent thicker, and in some cases, thinner than before.
A complaint was filed against Proctor & Gamble March 18 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the story stated.
Georgia-Pacific said: "Proctor & Gamble's motivation for knowingly misleading the public, namely the single-minded effort to obtain greater sales and market share at any cost, is reflected in a long history of unfair competition and deceptive trade practices."
Georgia-Pacific is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the Bounty ads and is asking for a nationwide recall of packaging bearing the "25 percent thicker quilts" claim, the story noted.
Georgia-Pacific is also seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for profits Proctor & Gamble has made from the product, and triple damages due to "the willful nature of Proctor & Gamble's false advertising," the story added.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Uncle Sam declines outsourcing janitorial services
WEST POINT, NY — After flirting with the idea for nearly three years, the U.S. Army has decided not to outsource its janitorial services, according to the Boston Herald.
The decision from the Army’s Mission & Installation Contracting Command follows a years-long study on the cost-effectiveness of privatizing roughly 100 janitorial service positions, the story stated.
A similar study did, however, determine that it would be more cost-effective to outsource more than 300 maintenance positions including grounds care, the story noted.
The decisions face a 20-day review period, after which time an ultimate decision will be made, the story added.
According to the story, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is considering an appeal of the proposed maintenance privatization.
The decision from the Army’s Mission & Installation Contracting Command follows a years-long study on the cost-effectiveness of privatizing roughly 100 janitorial service positions, the story stated.
A similar study did, however, determine that it would be more cost-effective to outsource more than 300 maintenance positions including grounds care, the story noted.
The decisions face a 20-day review period, after which time an ultimate decision will be made, the story added.
According to the story, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is considering an appeal of the proposed maintenance privatization.
Electrolux vacuum recall
BLOOMINGTON, IL — Electrolux is voluntarily recalling its cordless stick vacuum because of a faulty battery, according to WLS-TV.
Ergorapido, Pronto and Precision vacuum owners are urged to immediately unplug and stop using the recalled vacuums and contact Electrolux for a free replacement of the handheld portion which contains the batteries, the story stated.
The battery on these models can expand and burst, posing a risk of injury to the user and bystanders, the story noted.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Electrolux has received 34 reports of incidents in the U.S. involving damage to the vacuum and surrounding property.
There have been two reports of minor injuries, including swollen hands and irritation to the eyes from contact with battery powder, the story added.
Ergorapido, Pronto and Precision vacuum owners are urged to immediately unplug and stop using the recalled vacuums and contact Electrolux for a free replacement of the handheld portion which contains the batteries, the story stated.
The battery on these models can expand and burst, posing a risk of injury to the user and bystanders, the story noted.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Electrolux has received 34 reports of incidents in the U.S. involving damage to the vacuum and surrounding property.
There have been two reports of minor injuries, including swollen hands and irritation to the eyes from contact with battery powder, the story added.
AH&LA and IEHA team up to green America's hotels
WESTERVILLE, OH — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) have joined forces to advance the greening of more than 48,000 U.S. hotels, according to a press release.
IEHA members are encouraged to adopt AH&LA’s 11 Minimum Environmental Guidelines in hotel housekeeping departments which are part of more than 60 overall guidelines that encourage hotels to measure performance in energy, water and waste reduction, the release stated.
Beth Risinger, CEO of IEHA, said: "The housekeeping department affects the hotel property, environment, employees, and guests in profound ways: From the levels of dust in the indoor air, to the VOC impact of cleaning products and fragrances used in guestrooms, to the protection of guest health and safety when proper sanitation techniques are used, to reduction of energy used in facilities when room attendants monitor and control room thermostats. By proactively integrating green housekeeping practices with the overarching goals of the Minimum Environmental Guidelines, we are encouraging hotels associated with IEHA to help transform the way things are done to affect the triple bottom line — people, planet and profits — in a huge way."
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute recently updated Managing Housekeeping Operations, 3rd Revised Edition, with information on environmental and energy management, the release noted.
Joseph A. McInerney, president and CEO of AH&LA, said: "The green initiatives AH&LA is creating with a variety of partner organizations such as the IEHA will be a resource for hotels committed to becoming more eco-friendly.
These will provide hotel owners and employees with a variety of options in which to create an environmentally-sustainable hotel that also protects employee and guest health."
IEHA members are encouraged to adopt AH&LA’s 11 Minimum Environmental Guidelines in hotel housekeeping departments which are part of more than 60 overall guidelines that encourage hotels to measure performance in energy, water and waste reduction, the release stated.
Beth Risinger, CEO of IEHA, said: "The housekeeping department affects the hotel property, environment, employees, and guests in profound ways: From the levels of dust in the indoor air, to the VOC impact of cleaning products and fragrances used in guestrooms, to the protection of guest health and safety when proper sanitation techniques are used, to reduction of energy used in facilities when room attendants monitor and control room thermostats. By proactively integrating green housekeeping practices with the overarching goals of the Minimum Environmental Guidelines, we are encouraging hotels associated with IEHA to help transform the way things are done to affect the triple bottom line — people, planet and profits — in a huge way."
The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute recently updated Managing Housekeeping Operations, 3rd Revised Edition, with information on environmental and energy management, the release noted.
Joseph A. McInerney, president and CEO of AH&LA, said: "The green initiatives AH&LA is creating with a variety of partner organizations such as the IEHA will be a resource for hotels committed to becoming more eco-friendly.
These will provide hotel owners and employees with a variety of options in which to create an environmentally-sustainable hotel that also protects employee and guest health."
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