By Susan Minichiello

The cold and flu season is at hand, and PMI is working to help keep clients and its own employees healthy and safe.

Most cold and flu viruses are transmitted via contaminated surfaces people touch and then touch their eyes, noses and mouths. According to Dr. Charles Gerba, AKA "Dr. Germ," of the University of Arizona, active office workers touch up to 30 surfaces per minute including computer keyboards, telephones, copy machines and more. Cold and flu viruses can also be spread from person to person when an ill person coughs or sneezes in close proximity to others.


 

PMI Director of Operations Frank Cepero says, "Proper hand washing is perhaps the most important factor in preventing transmission, whether washing with water and an appropriate antimicrobial or an alcohol-based sanitizer."

Building owners, managers and employers can help to prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses in the workplace by:

-Providing tissues, no-touch trash cans, hand soap and hand sanitizers, disinfectants and disposable towels for employees to regularly clean their work surfaces

-Encouraging employees to get flu vaccines

-Reducing face-to-face contact with sick people through increased use of email, teleconferencing and videoconferencing

-Discouraging employees from using coworkers' offices, phones, computers or other  equipment

-Encouraging sick employees to stay home

Other important tips include:

Covering your coughs and sneezes, but not with your hands. Medical experts now say people should sneeze or cough into the elbow or upper sleeve.

Avoid touching buttons on copy machines elevators and phones. It's best to press wth a knuckle, elbow or pen.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be a great defense against spreading germs. These sanitizers allow you to clean your hands at any time and can be gentler on your skin than repeated hand washing.

Using disinfecting wipes to clean desk and other work surfaces can also be helpful. But, be sure they are either "disinfecting" or "sanitizing" wipes.  Products which are only "antibacterial" have no effect on the viruses that cause colds and flu.

Edwin Cruz has been working full time as a maintenance cleaner in the Enterprise Apartments in Waterbury since July of 2006. Edwin came to the US from Puerto Rico in 2005. This is his first job in the cleaning industry.

Edwin is well respected for his dedication to the job; he has excellent attendance and is a loyal, hard worker. His supervisor, Pedro Pabon, says, "Edwin is a very responsible and dependable employee. Everybody here loves him. He does everything we ask of him with no problem and always works at 100 percent. We are proud to have him on board, and I'm happy he is receiving this award."

In Edwin's first week on the job, he was hit on the temple with a dumpster lid and required 25 stitches, but he was back to work the very next day. More recently, on November 19^th, when opening the trash rooms at the Enterprise Apartments, Edwin discovered a fire in one of the rooms. He immediately called Pedro and rushed, with other members of the crew, to extinguish the fire. Edwin inhaled a lot of smoke and was sent to the emergency room. He was released within a few hours and, again, was right back to work the next day.

"We are very fortunate to have Mr. Cruz on our site," says Michael Dagostino, Property Manager at the Enterprise/Schoolhouse Apartments. "Not only is he polite, courteous and a very hard worker, but Mr. Cruz's quick thinking and bravery saved our property a great deal of damage. As customers, we could not be more satisfied."

Edwin says he likes working for PMI because he gets along with everyone, the company treats him well, and he enjoys his work. He feels that the Green Cleaning solutions PMI uses are important because they not only provide a clean environment, but also make the apartments a safer place in which to live.

Edwin resides in Waterbury with his girlfriend.