John Weir – Healthcare Cleaning Professional

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Storage on the floor must be neat and orderly.

No storage within 18 inches of the ceiling, except on shelves against the wall as long as sprinklers are not obstructed.

No evidence of smoking.

All exit signs are illuminated.

No storage of flammables or anything except cleaning items under sinks.

No door stops are allowed.

All equipment must be placed on one side of the hallway. Preferably nothing is in the hallway except crash carts and isolation supply tables.

Abate all trip hazards (secure cords).

Ensure stairwells are clean and no equipment is stored there.

All chemicals are labeled and your chemical list is available.

Do not block fire pull boxes, fire extinguishers or medical gas shut offs.

No evidence of smoking, no butts within 25′ of an entrance.

All gas cylinders in racks.

No visible dust or dirt on surfaces, floors or equipment.

No linen on floor, furniture or window sills; soiled linen in closed bag or covered hamper. All clean linen is covered.

No employee food/drink in patient refrigerators or at nurses stations. No food or drink on or in housekeeping cart or closet.

Check stairwells for trash and storage.

John Weir Environment, Training

When an agency inspector comes to inspect your hazardous waste storage area, he looks for things like waste manifests, reports, labels, and plans. Why? Because it is easy to find violations in these areas – either you have filled them out properly or you have not. It is straightforward.

The video below is from an inspector at the California Department of Toxic Substances (DTSC). Listen to what the DTSC inspector has to say about what he looks for in your hazardous waste labels.

John Weir Hazardous Waste, Training

Here is a short video from California’s DTSC on the training requirements for hazardous waste generators:

John Weir Hazardous Waste, Training

One of the four characteristics of a hazardous waste is “reactivity”. The other three are ignitability, toxicity and corrosivity and these three characteristics are pretty easy to define by measuring the flash point, concentration and pH respectively. Reactivity is a bit harder (less objective) to determine.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has a short video clip on how to determine reactivity. In general, if something is going to go “boom”, it is likely to be reactive. Or if the MSDS states that a material is reactive with water or unstable, the waste that is derived from that material is likely to be a reactive waste. Enjoy the video.

John Weir Hazardous Waste, Training Hazardous Waste

Winston Churchill said,

"To every man there comes
in his lifetime that special moment when he is
figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a
chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and
fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment
finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which
would be his finest hour.”

Don’t expect luck to present you with your finest
hour. Remember, luck is when preparation meets
opportunity. What three things are you doing right
now to prepare for greater opportunity this year –
and to perhaps experience your "finest hour?" The
best person to predict your future is you.

Portrait artist James Whistler decided to paint his
mother when the person who had scheduled an
appointment with him failed to show up. (Don’t wait
on perfect conditions for success to happen; just go
ahead and do something.)

John Weir Training

Finish is too Sticky or Tacky

Cause

Solution

Not enough drying time between coats.
Under normal conditions, finishes dry in 20-30 minutes. High humidity extends drying time.

Restorer not properly diluted or applied too frequently.
Follow label instructions. Overuse can leave a sticky residue.

Restorer/maintainer not burnished soon enough after application.
When dry, restorer/maintainer will continue to soften finish if not burnished

Floor not properly rinsed before application of finish.
Thoroughly rinse and neutralize floor after stripping. Use neutral cleaner in proper dilution.

Improper use of disinfectants.
Measure carefully and follow label directions.

Separation of finish.
Finish may have been exposed to prolonged heat or cold. Shake or stir before using.

Alkaline or detergent contaminated tile.
Make sure to rinse floor until pick-up water remains clear. When recoating, make sure no cleaner residue remains on floor – rinse with clean water to prevent problem.

Finish is applied too thick.
Apply thin coats and allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat.

John Weir Floor Care, Training

There’s really no such thing as knowing too much about what you’re doing. The reason’s I joined ASHES, ASHE, The American College of Healthcare Executives, IEHA and APIC are many but all focus on one thing, staying informed.

Staying informed is a daily task, and challenge, considering how quickly our world is moving. But not keeping up is like agreeing to check out – please don’t do that. Plug in and learn everything you can. You never know when information will come in handy.

If I hadn’t studied,  I wouldn’t have been able to see the great opportunity that led to my first big success.

Resolve to move forward and to learn as much as you can – today and every day.

John Weir Education, Training

How to Develop Charisma: Twelve Key Moves

Those who study the phenomenon of charisma say while some people are innately more charismatic than others, there are certain things everyone can do to boost their charisma quotient. Debra Benton, author of Executive Charisma: Six Steps to Mastering the Art of Leadership offers the following pointers:

Expect acceptance.
Regardless of rank, expect to be treated as an equal. If you expect acceptance, you just might get it. If you don’t expect it, you definitely won’t get it.

Control your attitude.
Success in business is based more on mental attitude than on mental capabilities. Be optimistic toward yourself, others and life. Walk in to a room with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Perfect your posture.
Pull your ribcage away from your pelvis, roll your shoulders back and down, pull your stomach in and tuck your bottom toward your spine. Breathe deeply. You’ll not only look better, but feel more energized, alert and in control.

Think before you talk.
Think fast, pause, then speak purposefully. One CEO practices saying everything to himself before he says it out loud so that he will hear how it sounds and can change it if he needs to.

Slow down.
Speed in speaking, moving, gesturing and walking looks nervous and scared. Scared people get passed over, not hired or promoted. Learn to speak in a comfortable, easygoing and welcoming way. Don’t waste time, but do speak as if you have all the time in the world for those you are speaking to.

Shoot straight.
Everything you say or write can be done in a simple, straightforward manner. Just do it.

Be a good storyteller.
People understand you better, remember what you say longer, and find you smarter and more interesting if you use anecdotes to make your points.

Be aware of your style.
Clothes don’t make the man but they do make a difference. Wear well-tailored, good quality clothes that make you look like you are in charge. But remember, it isn’t as much about your look as how you look at things and what people see when they look at you.

Admit your mistakes.
If you are error-free, you’re likely effort-free.

Don’t be bullied.
If you are unjustly criticized, don’t take the bait and get into an argument. Instead calmly ask: "Why do you think that?" "What do you mean?" or "What’s that based on?"

Be flexible.
Be able to stand out while still fitting in with the crowd.

Be at ease with yourself and others.
Look others straight in the eye, eliminate any defensiveness and take the edge off your voice. Never let them see you sweat!

Debra Benton is a best-selling author and internationally acclaimed speaker and coach who specializes in helping executives do a better job of presenting themselves. Her clients span 17 countries and include NASA, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Pepsi. Debra can be reached at: www.topspeaker.com.

John Weir Management, Operations, Training

Training

·   Verbally explain

·    Physically demonstrate

·    Use visual aids and include written instruction in employment policies and as envelope stuffers with payroll.

·   Use daily checklist to assist troubleshooting and accountability.

Then repeat everything.

John Weir Training

Scrubbing (frictional cleaning) is the best way to physically remove dirt, debris and
microorganisms.

Cleaning is required prior to any disinfection process because dirt, debris and other
materials can decrease the effectiveness of many chemical disinfectants.

Cleaning products should be selected on the basis of their use, efficacy, safety and
cost.

Cleaning should always progress from the least soiled areas to the most soiled areas
and from high to low areas, so that the dirtiest areas and debris that fall on the floor
will be cleaned up last.

Dry sweeping, mopping and dusting should be avoided to prevent dust, debris and
microorganisms from getting into the air and landing on clean surfaces. Airborne
fungal spores are especially important as they can cause fatal infections in
immunosuppressed patients.

Mixing (dilution) instructions should be followed when using disinfectants. (Too
much or too little water may reduce the effectiveness of disinfectants.)

Cleaning methods and written cleaning schedules should be based on the type of
surface, amount and type of soil present and the purpose of the area.

Routine cleaning is necessary to maintain a standard of cleanliness. Schedules and
procedures should be consistent and posted.

John Weir Training