Green Label Vacs Perform Well in UNC Study

Dalton, GA, February 1, 2007--Dr. Michael A. Berry, author of "Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health," recently completed a study of cleaning at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that found a standardized approach to housekeeping affords the highest level of cleaning. Conducted April-July 2006, the study, commissioned by the University and conducted by a committee of housekeepers, students, faculty, environmental, HR, purchasing, facilities and safety experts, evaluated the traditional zone cleaning program currently in use at UNC versus the ManageMen Operating System 1 (OS1). The UNC committee engaged Dr. Berry to act as Technical Advisor for the project. In this capacity, Berry was assigned to scientifically evaluate cleaning and to report his findings of both the traditional and (OS1) cleaning programs in terms of cleaning and housekeeping effectiveness, training, equipment, ergonomics, quality control, work loading, indoor environmental quality and building health, worker safety, physical security, and environmental sustainability. Throughout the pilot study, beginning in the training sessions, measurements were made of particulate matter emissions associated with the (OS1) CRI Green Label backpack vacuums and other vacuums currently in use as part of the zone cleaning system. During the (OS1) training a dust measurement was made on a Green Label backpack vacuum and an upright vacuum. There was virtually no detectable emission from the Green Label vacuum (32 ug/m3) compared to a very high emission (240 ug/m3) from the upright. A level greater than 100 ug/m3 is considered unsanitary and potentially harmful to a large segment of the population.