Staff may seek strike for poor hospital hygiene

THE FAIRGREEN, WESTPORT, IRELAND - Non-nursing support staff are considering taking industrial action over working conditions and the standard of hygiene at Mayo General Hospital, according to The Mayo News.

A staff ballot for industrial action will take place next month with a result expected on Monday, October 12, stated the article.

According to the article, up to 20 cleaners have left their jobs through illness and retirement in the last year and have not been replaced because of a recruitment embargo.

“This is an essential service and the cleaning is not being done adequately. This issue has been raised for the last two months but we are getting nowhere with management,” said Seamus Burke, a SIPTU health official.

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Dow expected to sign clean up plan

SAGINAW, MI - State and federal environment officials and Midland’s Dow Chemical have reportedly concluded dioxin clean up negotiations addressing contamination along the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River and Bay, according to an article on The Saginaw News.

A formal proposal could come in less than a month and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Environmental Quality representatives said the talks, “will likely result in a proposed agreement on an administrative order on consent to comprehensively address dioxin and other Dow Chemical contamination.”

Officials say the public will have an opportunity to chime in on any agreement, stated the article.

“In June, EPA outlined our non-negotiables to the community at a public meeting and we have held firm,” said Bharat Mathur, acting regional administrator with the EPA’s Region 5 office in Chicago. “EPA listened to the community before the negotiations began and we won’t sign off on any clean up agreement before public concerns have been discussed and considered.”

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Hand sanitizing program launched at Morehouse College

GAINESVILLE, GA - Hygafem Inc. recently launched its hand sanitizing program at Morehouse College in Atlanta, according to an article on Business Wire.

The touch-free hand sanitizing program will decrease the risk of spreading disease, ensure safe and healthy facilities and boost satisfaction for students and employees at Morehouse College, the release stated.

Curtis Davis, director of facilities for Morehouse College, said, "We chose Hygafem's touch-free hand hygiene program to provide our students and employees with powerful infection protection against threats, such as the H1N1 virus, throughout our buildings. Touch-free hand sanitizing is a valuable addition to Morehouse College's hand hygiene program, designed to decrease student and employee sickness and downtime."

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Bedbugs shut down college building

NEW YORK - John Jay College of Criminal Justice informed students last Thursday that classes were cancelled at the 445 West 59th Street building due to bedbugs, according to The New York Times.

The college is planning to reopen the building today after several precautions were taken over the past five days, including treatment from an extermination service.

According to the article, although college officials were on alert, the threat was downgraded from infestation to a "condition."

"Infestation is when you can see them swarming," said Jim Grossman, a spokesman for John Jay.

College officials also said that rashes among staff members were first reported in mid-August and grew in numbers as time went on, the article reported.

However, a deep-cleaning was performed on September 14th and only one bedbug was found.

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K + S acquires Morton for $1.68 billion

WASHINGTON - On Friday, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleared K+S AG's (KPLUF) acquisition of Morton Salt from Dow Chemical Co., according to an article posted on Dow Jones Newswires.

According to the article, with the $1.68 billion acquisition K+S has plans to leverage Morton's familiar "umbrella girl" brand to expand its salt business in North America.

As part of government approval, the agency required K+S' U.S. subsidiary to sell its bulk de-icing salt assets in Maine and Connecticut, the story stated.

Mayor Bloomberg added to green team

NEW YORK - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined Realty Advisory Board President Jim Berg and 32BJ President Mike Fishman last week in launching a green buildings program, according to a press release.

The program's goal is to train 1,000 superintendents and resident managers in one year in the latest energy efficient practices, the press release reported.

"One Year, One Thousand Green Supers" has been approved by the U.S. Green Building Council and the Building Performance Institute and is also part of the Thomas Shortman Training Fund.

"By working together, 32BJ and New York's building owners have put into place a smart, practical and effective way to help make the Big Apple green," said Mayor Bloomberg. "‘One Year, One Thousand Green Supers' provides a low-cost way to make our buildings more energy and cost efficient, and our environment cleaner, all while saving our city millions of dollars."

According to the release, individuals must complete a 40-hour class that provides the latest, state-of-the-art practices in energy efficient operations.

'Unsanitary conditions' at jail raise health concerns

NEW ORLEANS — Recent reports of staph infections being contracted by inmates has led the U.S. Justice Department to threaten to file suit against the staff of the Orleans Parish Jail for "unsanitary conditions" that are posing potential health risks, according to KLFY-TV.

Brian Guilbeau, who was released after two and a half weeks when he proved he had a valid prescription for the Xanax he was found to be in possession of, contracted a staph infection that staff allegedly disregarded, the story stated.

Guilbeau said: "I made a report four times and they just pushed me off to the next shift. They never came and check on me or nothing you can see it on my neck."

Another recent case involves Todd Belaire, who had a bite wound on his leg that became infected to the point that he was unable to make morning roll call, the story noted.

Officials say they do the best they can to keep the jail clean by having inmates wash it down twice a day, also pointing out that facilities as clean as hospitals frequently have patients who develop staph infections, the story added.

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