Cleaning for Healthier Schools and Infection Control Workgroup Statewide

Project Details

Year: 2009, 2010 and 2021
Location: State-wide
Project Manager: Carol Westinghouse and Lynn Rose, Informed Green Solutions
Partners: Massachusetts Facilities Administrators Association

Overview

The project team provided information to schools to help them effectively and more safely clean and disinfect. This information is important during and after the pandemic to protect worker and occupant health from toxics in products. These include corrosive (e.g. bleach, quats), reactive (e.g. bleach, peroxides), flammable (e.g. alcohol-based disinfectants, hand sanitizers and wipes) and toxic (e.g. solvents, alcohols) ingredients in cleaning, disinfecting and hand hygiene products. 

Results

The project team created a comprehensive handbook on disinfection, sanitization, and hand hygiene options and product selection to help reduce the use of unnecessary disinfectants in schools. View the full online handbook from the Informed Green Solutions.

The team shared the handbook information through a webinar series, on-line training program, training materials and electronic dissemination and posting of the handbook. They reached office staff, teachers, facility managers, custodians, health officials, vendors and more. 

This project provided science-based expertise to state agencies, cities and schools, allowing them to make informed decisions to protect the health of custodians, teachers, students, and others. The trainings helped participants to access and understand regulatory guidelines, separate fact from fiction, make safer product choices, and ensure effective infection control.

The project team worked with the MA Interlocal Insurance Association, the MA Operational Services Division, the MA Facility Administrators Association, numerous school districts and regional and national workgroups, and were able to train more than 5,000 personnel from school districts and municipal and state agencies.