Keeping green and clean in the workplace to prevent absenteeism

Keeping Green and Clean inthe WorkplaceJosh Radoff - Tork Green Hygiene Council, Principal atYGR sustainabilityDr. Allison Aiello - Tork Green Hygiene Council,Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University ofMichigan

YRG sustainabilityconsulting - education - analysis Buildings Companies Communities Josh Radoff, Principal Education jradoff@yrgsustainability.com Marketing www.yrgsustainability.com Twitter: @YRGreen Facebook: YRG sustainability

Agenda What is sustainability? How does sustainability relate to wellness? Opportunities to encourage wellness

What is Sustainability in the OfficeEnvironment?

Definitions of Sustainability + + People Planet ProfitsTriple Bottom Line

Better facility to teach sustainabilityMore money forresources Green Greener homes to go back toHappier employees Office Reduced absenteeism, healthier Better performance occupants

How Does Sustainability InfluenceWellness?

RETAIL SCHOOLS HOSPITALS INCREASE BETTER TEST EARLIER IN SALES PER PERFORMANCE DISCHARGE SQUARE FOOTFACTORIES OFFICES Good INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY for PRODUCTION INCREASE People Source: usgbc.org

Quality Lighting Daylight Controls Low VOC products Interior Open work greenery areas Stairwell to encourage interaction Exterior landscaping Restaurants and Access to alt grocery with local trans foods What does sustainability look like for the work place? Perkins + Will

Getting to and around the work place

Great Places to WorkWindrush School : El Cerrito, CA Y2E2 Building : Stanford University

Access to daylighting . . .Stanford Y2E2 Building : Boora Architects Clackamas High School : Boora Architects

Access to daylighting . . .

. . . and fresh air

Comfortable Spaces

Lighting Quality

Texture

Flexible, Open Working Spaces

Building Integrated Landscape ‐ Interior

Increase Collaboration / Reducing Transportation

Feedback for Smarter Buildings and Engaged OccupantsSource: Lucid Designs

Exterior Landscaping and Open Space

Rooftop Gardens

Access to Fresh Healthy Food U of O Urban Farm

Low/Non-Toxic Cleaning

Low VOC products

Ventilation

Opportunities to Encourage Wellness

Tapping into Loss Aversion will Only Get You So Far

Embracing Occupants

The Power of the Sticker

Remind People What You Want

Feedback for Smarter Buildings and Occupants

Source: The Fun Theory – www.thefuntheory.comMake it Fun

Feedback for Smarter Buildings and Occupants Source: Lucid Designs

Using Occupant Feedback for a Smarter Building Source: Center for the Built Environment – Occupant Survey

Start a green team to lead the efforts

Transmission of Infection andPrevention in the Workplace Allison E. Aiello, PhD, MS Email: aielloa@umich.edu 38

Prevention in Public Health The promotion of health by application of multiple strategies before there is detriment to health and manifestation of disease Vaccination Healthy behaviors Education39

Sustainability as a PreventiveMeasure Prevents harm to the environment Ultimately improves public health40

How Does Illness Impact YourBusiness?One billion colds occur annually in U.S.Adults average 2-4 colds/year, children 6-10Common cold causes an average 8.7 lost workhours75 million days are expected to be missed during fluseason 41

How Does Illness Impact YourBusiness? 1996 survey from NCHS for viral respiratory illness • 62 million cases of colds needing Rx • 45 million bed ridden days • 20 million days of missed work • 22 million days of missed school Likely a vast underestimate Fendrick, A.M (2003) American Journal of Therapeutics 10, 193-20242

How Might Your Bottom Line BeImpacted by Illness? Absenteeism costs businesses $660 per employee per year Colds cost $16.8 billion annually Costs associated with seasonal influenza $37.5 billion in economic costs • Influenza & pneumonia More than $10 billion in lost productivity Fendrick, A.M (2003) American Journal of Therapeutics 10, 193-202, CDC43

Flu Facts Seasonal Influenza Every year 5-20% of the U.S. population More than 200,000 are hospitalized 36,000 die from flu-related illnesses At risk: elderly, children, pregnant women, chronic underlying conditions44

Influenza and other RespiratoryInfection Transmission occurs through coughing or sneezing Direct contact Large droplets Aerosol small droplet (nuclei) particles45

How Contagious are InfectedIndividuals? Influenza as an example- from one day before symptoms develop to up to 7 days after onset of illness Young children might potentially be contagious for longer periods46

Gastrointestinal Illnesses Fecal – oral transmission Easily spread on fomites Desks Keyboards Door handles Toilet levers Short incubation period and can cause major outbreaks47

What Can You Do to Prepare ForInfectious Disease Outbreaks? Flexible in response Not predictable Varying levels of severity Reduce transmission among staff Protect those at increased risk Maintain business operations48

Key Indicators of Response Disease severity in community State and local health departments Extent of cases/prevalence Amount of worker absenteeism Impact of disease on vulnerable School dismissals or closures49

What Can Businesses Do? Understand normal seasonal absenteeism rates Monitor for changes What is the threshold at which essential business is affected? Practice good prevention efforts50

Good Hygiene Practices Can Keep Your Employees Safe Does it reduce infectious illnesses Prevents direct contact transmissionAiello, AE, Coulborn, R, Perez, V, Larson, EL. American Journal of Public Health. In Press 51

Efficacy of Hand Hygiene?Overall hand hygiene resulted in: 21% reduction in respiratory illness (95% CI, 5% to 34%) 31% reduction in gastrointestinal illnessAiello, AE, et al. (2008) Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the communitysetting: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 98(8):1372-8152

Top 9 Reasons Why StudentsDon’t Wash… 1. Unnecessary 2. Too busy 3. Forget 4. Product not conveniently located 5. No sink/facilities available 6. Out of product 7. Product irritates my skin 8. Do not like the available products 9. Other reasons...53

What About the Workplace? Approximately 58% of employers do nothing to encourage hand hygiene in the workplace54

When Is it Critical For Employeesto Perform Hand Hygiene? Before Preparing food Eating food Dressing wounds Caring for “at risk” person55

When Is it Critical For Employees to PerformHand Hygiene in Work Environment? After Using the bathroom Handling certain foods Contact with contaminated surfaces Wiping/blowing nose, coughing Body fluids, wounds Caring for an ill person56

Other Methods of Prevention forEmployees Prevent aerosol and droplet spread Cover mouth/nose when coughing/sneezing Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth Provide tissues, paper towels and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees Consider masks57

Other Methods of Prevention Reduce contacts Instruct employees to stay home for at least 24 hours after US National Archives, 2008 symptoms are gone • Out 3-5 days on average Plan to operate during significant levels of absenteeism58

Other Methods of Prevention Explore ways of improving accessibility of vaccination Work with insurers to explore if they can cover the costs of influenza vaccination59

Shift to Environmentally FriendlyProducts Popularity of household and personal hygiene products that are biodegradable, phosphate-free, and “natural” “Green Cleaning” laws for schools in New York NYS law requires all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools use environmentally sensitive cleaning products Protect human health and the environment without sacrificing product effectiveness60 http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/greenclean.htm

Engineering and Infrastructure Changes Automated delivery Ventilation and Directional AirflowBenefit: Reduces need for intensive compliance 61

Summary Infectious illnesses are unpredictable Vaccines and treatments uncertain Absenteeism profound impact on business Prevention is key Multi-prong approach • Hand hygiene: direct contact • Cough etiquette: aerosol/droplets • Social distancing (staying home while ill): reduce contact • Vaccination: reduce transmission62

Conclusions Make it a priority to promote these measures and worker compliance will help reduce the impact of infectious illnesses on your business63

Please visit the TGHC website at www.torkgreenhygienecouncil.com andclick on the “Environmental Resource” tab to download this presentationand access the links.Also be sure to “like” and “follow” our TGHC Facebook and Twitterhandles to gain valuable insights and time-relevant information from thecouncil members.

Visit the Tork Website www.torkusa.com

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