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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Guilford County Schools receive ironic IAQ award

GREENSBORO, NC — Just weeks after Guilford County Schools (GCS) were forced to relocate Oak Ridge Elementary students due to air quality concerns, the district received the 2009 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Great Start Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the News & Record.

According to the story, GCS recently formed an indoor air quality project team that will be leading the district's efforts in identifying, correcting and preventing indoor air quality problems by implementing the EPA's IAQ TfS program.

GCS hopes the new IAQ team and their efforts will help the district stay proactive, the story stated.

Leo Bobadilla, chief operations officer for GCS, said: "As a district, we want to make sure we stay on top of any environmental concerns. The health of our students is always our number-one priority. We know a safe and comfortable learning environment can help our students excel in the classroom."

The IAQ team is developing a written indoor air quality management plan that will capture best practices for handling air quality issues for other institutions to use as a benchmark, the story noted.

As an award recipient, GCS will receive a "Commitment to School Health" certificate signed by an EPA official; recognition on EPA's website; access to topical web conference calls, training, events and recognition/mentoring opportunities; and regular e-mail updates aimed at advancing the district's indoor air quality program, the story added.

Inadequate housekeeping caused dust explosion

WENTWORTH, GA — The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Board released a final report that claims the February 7, 2008, explosion at an Imperial Sugar Company refinery was caused by inadequately maintained equipment, according to Fort Bend Now.

According to the story, "inadequate housekeeping practices allowed highly combustible sugar dust and granulated sugar to buildup throughout the refinery’s packing buildings," leaving conditions ripe for a dust explosion.

On top of the $8.76 million in fines levied against Imperial by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 14 workers died and 40 more were injured in the preventable blast, the story stated.

Chemical Safety and Hazard Board Investigation Supervisor John Vorderbrueggen said: "Imperial's management as well as the managers at the Port Wentworth refinery did not take effective actions over many years to control dust explosion hazards – even as smaller fires and explosions continued to occur at their plants and other sugar facilities around the country."

Cleanup and repair costs related to the explosion are estimated at $220 million, the story noted.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations; those urged of Imperial include developing a dust training and housekeeping program and improving evacuation procedures, as well as complying with National Fire Protection Association practices for preventing dust fires and explosions, the story added.

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