It positions cleaning professionals, such as those tasked with microbial contamination prevention and remediation, along with commercial floor cleaning, as front-line health protectors.

By adopting competencies tied to real-world health outcomes, the industry can move from appearance-based cleaning to measurable disease prevention.

Cleaning is now a public health intervention

For decades, cleaning has been judged by how spaces look, smell, and feel. But science, and recent global outbreaks, have made something clear: Cleaning is not about appearance. It is a core public health intervention.

In public health,��Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) are trained professionals who interrupt disease transmission through case investigation, contact tracing, and connecting people to care. This includes cleaning for health. Every day, cleaning professionals clean vomit, diarrhea, blood, and saliva on surfaces. They clean rooms where people have been coughing and sneezing for hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these specialists are essential to stopping infectious diseases at their source.

Now, a major shift is underway: The Certified in Disease Intervention (CDI) certification program, developed by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and supported by partners including the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health, is formalizing this workforce.

For the first time, this certification pathway is directly relevant and accessible to the cleaning industry.

A new workforce model: Environmental Disease Intervention Specialists

The traditional DIS model focuses on people. The cleaning industry focuses on environments. Now we are combining both: Environmental Disease Intervention Specialists (EDIS). These professionals:

• Identify environmental sources of disease transmission.
• Interrupt exposure pathways (surfaces, air, water).
• Apply evidence-based cleaning and disinfection practices.
• Verify outcomes using measurable indicators.

This model aligns directly with recent research findings showing that DIS roles are uniquely positioned at the intersection of data, fieldwork, and human interaction. The same is now true for cleaning professionals.

Why certified in disease intervention matters for the cleaning industry

The CDI certification is more than a credential; it is a standardized competency framework built from real-world job tasks. The CDI Exam Content Outline defines six domains of practice that translate directly into cleaning for health:

1. Planning and environmental risk analysis

• Identify high-risk surfaces and environments.
• Assess contamination pathways (touchpoints, aerosols, fomites).
• Prioritize cleaning based on transmission risk.

Outcome: Reduced exposure to infectious agents.

2. Interviewing and behavioral engagement

• Communicate risks to occupants and staff.
• Train workers on proper cleaning, disinfectant product use, and PPE..
• Address barriers to compliance.

Outcome: Improved adherence to infection prevention practices.

3. Field services and intervention

• Perform targeted cleaning and disinfection.
• Select safer, effective products (e.g., EPA Safer Choice certified products).
• Apply correct dwell times (wet contact time) and techniques.

Outcome: Effective removal or inactivation of pathogens.

4. Surveillance and data collection

• Use ATP testing, Indoor Air Quality Monitors, and environmental monitoring.
• Track cleaning performance and contamination levels.
• Document interventions and outcomes.

Outcome: Measurable verification of cleanliness.

5. Collaboration and systems integration

• Work with facility managers, healthcare teams, and public health.
• Align cleaning protocols with outbreak response plans.
• Integrate with IAQ and building management systems.

Outcome: Coordinated, system-wide disease prevention.

6. Outbreak response and emergency preparedness

• Scale cleaning during outbreaks (e.g., norovirus, influenza, COVID-19).
• Implement enhanced protocols for high-risk pathogens.
• Support rapid response and containment.

Outcome: Faster interruption of transmission during outbreaks.

From tasks to outcomes: Redefining “clean”

One of the most important insights from public health is this: Interventions must be tied to outcomes. Not activities.

Traditional cleaning asks:

• Was the floor mopped?
• Was the surface wiped?

Disease intervention asks:

• Did we reduce transmission risk?
• Did we interrupt the chain of infection?

This shift requires new competencies. The core competencies for the cleaning workforce are:

1. Epidemiologic thinking: Understanding how diseases spread through surfaces, air, water, and human behavior.
2. Risk-based decision making: Prioritizing cleaning where it matters most; not everywhere equally.
3. Product and chemical literacy: Selecting safer, effective products based on:
   • Pathogen type.
   • Surface compatibility.
   • Human health impact.
4. Verification and measurement: Using tools all the time, such as ATP meters and IAQ monitors, to validate outcomes.
5. Communication and trust-building: Engaging occupants and workers to ensure compliance and transparency.
6. Adaptability in complex environments: Operating across healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, and public venues.

Lessons from public health: A workforce under pressure

Research on Disease Intervention Specialists highlights critical challenges:

• Increasing workloads.
• Insufficient training pipelines.
• Under-recognition of their role.

The cleaning industry faces the same issues. By adopting a Certified Disease Intervention-aligned model, the cleaning industry can:

• Professionalize the workforce.
• Create clear career pathways.
• Standardize training and certification.
• Improve recruitment and retention.

The opportunity: Defining cleaning as a health service

The emergence of CDI represents a broader shift. From cleaning as a maintenance function to cleaning as a health intervention system. In this model:

• Cleaning professionals are not just workers. They are disease intervention specialists.
• Buildings are not just spaces. They are determinants of health.
• Outcomes are not visual. They are measurable reductions in risk.

A call to action

The tools, frameworks, and certification pathways now exist. The question is no longer whether the cleaning industry should evolve, but how fast it will move. Adopting the Certified in Disease Intervention framework provides a clear path forward:

• Train the workforce using standardized competencies.
• Certify professionals in disease intervention principles.
• Measure success through health outcomes.

Public health has long understood that stopping disease requires more than medicine. It requires intervention at the source. In the built environment, that source is often the surfaces we touch and the air we breathe. Cleaning professionals do not just clean spaces. They protect people. And they need to be recognized for that. We can do this by defining the standard of practice for the profession.

Visit the Certified in Disease Intervention website for .

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“We are at a time when even the U.S. federal government is recognizing this, and it is imperative that professionals bring themselves up to speed with the proper education and resources to address the relationship between the indoor environment and the health of people,” said Doug Hoffman, founder and executive director of the National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI), a not-for-profit training and certification organization for indoor air quality professionals.

From standards to science

For decades, mold work focused on visible patch jobs and post-flood cleanups. But experts now emphasize that health impacts extend far beyond what the eye can see. Mold fragments, spores, and microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) can affect sensitive individuals even when the walls look clean. Moreover, the industry is shifting from appearance-based cleaning to science-based, health-driven remediation. That shift is embodied in the NORMI Level Four Protocol, an international protocol that sets a higher bar for assessing, documenting, and managing mold issues in buildings. This represents a new era of accountability.

The NORMI Level Four Protocol not only aligns with existing standards such as the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Remediation Certification’s (IICRC) “Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation” (S520), but it goes even further. The protocol incorporates medical insights, baseline sampling, and post-remediation verification to prove that cleanup efforts improve indoor environments.

Testing for mold is imperative when dealing with Condition 2 environments because you’re dealing with invisible contaminants. IICRC S520 describes a Condition 2 environment as an indoor environment primarily contaminated with settled spores or fungal fragments that were dispersed from a source of actual mold growth, which is either visible or hidden.

Human health risks

One of NORMI’s achievements is the formation of the NORMI Medical Advisory Board as part of the remediation industry. Chaired by Dr. Andrew Heyman, a leading expert in environmental health, this board is helping to bridge the gap between medical science and remediation practices.

NORMI’s aim is to ensure that mold remediation methods not only remove visible mold but also address the following hidden contaminants that can cause illness in people:

• Spores: Reproductive cells that can trigger asthma and allergies.
• mVOCs: Gases that indicate active mold growth.
• Mycotoxins: Toxic compounds affecting neurological and immune health.
• Beta-glucans and fragments: Molecules that can inflame the respiratory system.

Mold assessor skills

A successful microbial assessment determines the sources, locations, and extent of microbial growth in a building and identifies the conditions that caused it. Qualified mold assessors are part detective, part scientist, and part health advocate. Their core competencies include:

• Identifying mold growth (visible and hidden).
• Tracing moisture sources and mapping affected areas.
• Measuring moisture and psychrometric data (temperature, humidity, dew point).
• Designing sampling plans that combine air, surface, dust, and mVOC testing.
• Interpreting lab results against industry and NORMI interpretation charts.
• Delivering written reports with site-specific findings and recommendations.

To be a NORMI professional, you need the skills to perform an assessment where suspect microbial growth exists to determine whether a remediation protocol or a biotoxin decontamination is necessary—or, perhaps, both.

These skills include:

• Client intake: Do you know how to ask the right questions to understand why services are needed?
• Building information: Do you have the skills to gather key details—such as building size, HVAC system features, and areas of suspected mold growth—and request mechanical drawings when needed?
• Assessment options: Can you clearly explain sampling types, project pricing, remediation schedules, and deliverable characteristics to set realistic expectations?
• Contract process: Do you know how to prepare and review a contract that protects both you and the client, and act as a trusted resource even before work begins?
• Assessment preparation: Are you trained to select the right diagnostic tools, paperwork, and resources before arriving on-site?
• Payment collection: Do you understand how to manage client agreements and ensure payment before leaving the job site?
• Assessment execution: Do you know how to conduct structured interviews, exterior and interior inspections, and develop a sampling strategy using NORMI Level 4 Protocol guidelines?
• Client communication: Can you set realistic timelines for sample processing, reporting, and unforeseen delays to manage expectations?
• Sample handling: Do you know how to complete the chain of custody forms correctly and ship samples to certified labs, especially for legal cases?
• Data interpretation: Are you skilled at interpreting lab results against NORMI professional practices to determine if sanitization or remediation is required?
• Report writing: Do you know how to prepare a mold assessment report (MAR) that meets NORMI standards and offer a mold remediation protocol (MRP)?
• Protocol development: Can you incorporate the final NORMI Sanitization Protocol and post-project testing requirements into your reports?
• Project closure: Do you know how to verify project completion and apply for a NORMI Certificate of Sanitization to finalize the process?

A holistic assessment

NORMI’s Level Four Protocol helps mold remediators meet these assessment challenges. Unlike standard mold assessment and removal practices, the Level Four Protocol examines the entire environment.

Using the Level Four Protocol, certified NORMI professionals can conduct a thorough assessment and implement a comprehensive whole-building decontamination plan.

Assessors use a sampling plan based on the NORMI Level Four Protocol to establish a baseline before remediation and to confirm success afterward. The plan involves:

• Air samples using spore traps.
• Surface samples using swabs, tapes, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) meters.
• Dust sampling with HERTSMI-2 (Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens – 2nd version) to detect species linked to health effects.
• mVOC testing to detect gases produced by actively growing mold.

Mold assessment today goes beyond just a technical task—it’s a vital public health service. Mold assessors now prioritize creating healthier indoor environments and enhancing medical and building science understanding, rather than simply measuring spores.

NORMI’s partnerships with medical experts and its new NORMIPro Management National Service Provider Network directly enable data from assessments to support doctors and patients.

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As we write this article, alerts continue to pop up on our cell phones. Today, 100 million people are under a severe weather warning. It’s a rain event, thunderstorms, and possible tornadoes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

In 2024, 27 confirmed weather disaster events occurred in the U.S. that resulted in losses exceeding $1 billion each. In 2023, there were 28 confirmed events. The majority of these events were related to water damage to the built environment.

A 2022 report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimated that 47% of homes in the U.S. have some dampness or mold. This highlights the prevalence of mold and moisture issues in residential buildings.

Identify water damage promptly

Water damage in buildings can cause severe structural issues, mold growth, and health hazards. Identifying and addressing water damage promptly is crucial to prevent long-term damage to buildings and potential health risks for users.

While not everyone may be able to address water damage, everyone in the cleaning industry should be aware of how to identify moisture in the built environment. Then, once it is recognized, know who to call to fix it.

How to detect moisture

To detect moisture, we recommend using the following tools: moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, hygrometers, and indoor air quality monitors.

• Moisture meters measure the amount of water within a material.
• Thermal imaging cameras detect differences in heat that may indicate hidden moisture.
• Hygrometers measure the relative humidity in the air.
• An indoor air quality monitor can detect, monitor, and report on specific air pollutants like particulate matter, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, temperature, and humidity.

You can also look for visible signs, such as water stains, mold, or musty odors. However, professionals use tools to detect and measure.

Which tools should you use?

Moisture meters

• What do they do? These devices measure the amount of water within a material.
• How do they work? They use electrical resistance or electromagnetic waves to detect moisture.
• When to use them: For detecting moisture in wood, drywall, concrete, and other building materials.
• Types:
• Pin-type meters: Insert probes into the material to measure resistance.
• Pinless meters: Use electromagnetic waves to measure moisture without penetrating the surface.

Thermal imaging cameras

• What do they do? These cameras detect infrared radiation, allowing them to visualize temperature differences.
• How do they work? They can identify areas with hidden moisture by detecting thermal variations, as wet areas typically exhibit different heat absorption and retention properties.
• When to use them: For identifying leaks, water damage, and areas of high moisture that might not be visible to the naked eye.

Hygrometers

• What do they do? These devices measure the amount of moisture in the air.
• How do they work? They typically use a hygroscopic material, such as a polymer, that changes in size or weight in response to changes in humidity.
• When to use them: For monitoring relative humidity in a space, especially in areas with high moisture or potential water damage.

Indoor air quality monitors

• What do they do? These devices track airborne particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide levels, ozone, temperature, and humidity. These factors influence occupant health and microbial viability.
• How do they work? Use sensors to detect, measure, and report the levels of air pollutants and environmental factors.
• When to use them: Always. We are the “indoor generation,” spending 90% of our lives indoors.

Additional considerations

• Visually inspect for signs of moisture. Look for water stains, dampness, or mold growth. 
• Consider the material: Different materials may require different types of moisture detection.
• Consult with professionals. If you’re unsure about how to use these tools or interpret the results, consider doing a NORMI course or hiring a professional assessor. 

Understanding microbial contaminants

The health of a building is inseparable from the health of its occupants. From office towers and schools to hospitals and commercial spaces, indoor environments can become reservoirs for microorganisms, including fungi, mold, bacteria, and viruses. These microbial contaminants, often invisible to the naked eye, can trigger allergies, asthma, infections, and even structural damage if left unaddressed.

Indoor dampness and microbial growth are a complex mixture of mold and bacteria along with their by-products. Case studies have shown a variety of respiratory health effects, including infections, sinusitis, otitis media, fatigue, and neurological deficits.

Microorganisms thrive in environments that offer moisture, warmth, and organic materials. Water damage, poor ventilation, dirty HVAC systems, and everyday occupant activities all contribute to microbial growth.

While terms like “mold” and “fungi” are often used interchangeably, they represent distinct categories. Mold is a type of fungi that reproduces through spores and can become airborne. Bacteria, often associated with biofilms, can colonize wet surfaces. Viruses, although unable to replicate outside a host, can persist on surfaces and in aerosols, posing significant risks in shared indoor spaces.

NORMI training

National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI) offers training courses that instruct mold and indoor environmental professionals in mold detection, abatement, and removal techniques. NORMI offers a range of online courses and provides over 32 certifications to meet licensing laws in several states.

These educational programs will educate you about building science and provide the framework and tools necessary to assess and manage these threats, ensuring spaces are not only structurally sound but also biologically safe. Utilizing the appropriate tools to detect moisture in a building is a straightforward way to expand business opportunities and safeguard the health and safety of people, animals, and the built environment.

References:

Park, J.-H., & Cox-Ganser, J. M. (2022). NIOSH Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool (DMAT): Documentation and Data Analysis of Dampness and Mold-Related Damage in Buildings and Its Application. Buildings, 12(8),1075.

Thrasher, J. D., Gray, M. R., Kilburn, K. H., Dennis, D. P., & Yu, A. (2012). A water-damaged home and health of occupants: a case study. Journal of environmental and public health,��2012, 312836.

Caldwell v. JH Findorff & Son, Inc., Court of Appeals Wisconsin, 698 N.W.2d 132, 283 Wis. 2d 508

Tomei Torres F. A. (2018). Case Study: Microbial Ecology and Forensics of Chinese Drywall-Elemental Sulfur Disproportionation as Primary Generator of Hydrogen Sulfide. Microbial ecology,��76(1), 37–48.

Jennifer Fisher Wilson. Health and the Environment after Hurricane Katrina. Annals of Internal Medicine.2006;144:153-156. doi:

Mudarri, D., & Fisk, W. J. (2007). Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold. Indoor Air,��17(3), 226–235.

Mendell, M. J., Naco, G. M., Wilcox, T. G., & Sieber, W. K. (2003). Environmental risk factors and work-related lower respiratory symptoms in 80 office buildings: an exploratory analysis of NIOSH data. American Journal of Industrial Medicine,��43(6), 630–641.

The post Moisture is the Enemy: Detection is Essential for Your Business appeared first on Cleanfax.

The past few years have placed a great deal of pressure on stadiums, arenas, and events to ensure protection for not only the public, but also the athletes and performers. The focus on cleaning and health became an even bigger focal point with the need to ensure that events continued to operate and deliver.

Cleaning above and beyond for public safety

The global cleaning industry stands at a defining moment. With every stadium concert, championship game, and sold-out venue, an opportunity arises—not just to clean, but to safeguard public health, enhance performance, and influence billions in spending. This is today’s reality. And the professionals who step up now will be the ones shaping what comes next.

As a former epidemic intelligence service (EIS) officer with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I know the stakes. Our purpose as cleaning professionals is to protect human health. When it goes wrong, it goes really wrong. When we do our jobs right, nobody notices. And that’s how it should be.

But in 2025, doing it right means going far beyond appearances. We can no longer sell labor. We can no longer emphasize illusion. We must be data-driven. We have the standards. We have the science. Now we need to close the gap between what we do and what our customers think we do.

This is especially urgent when it comes to large venues. There are more than 500 stadiums in the U.S. that seat at least 10,000 people. That’s not just a cleaning job—that’s a massive public health responsibility and a multi-million-dollar business opportunity.

Performance on the line: Air, water, and surfaces matter

I don’t just care about the spectators. Because of my work with professional sports teams, I care about the players. What’s the air quality in the locker room? What’s the water quality in the hot tubs? How clean are the surfaces in the team buses and in the corporate suites?

Why this focus? Because performance is on the line. Air quality affects precision. It affects reaction time. Studies show poor indoor air can increase errors among professional athletes. That’s measurable, and that’s powerful.

Everything from locker room air to bus cleanliness matters for professional sports teams. How many buses does it take to move a team? Ten? What’s the air quality like inside those buses? No one was measuring it. So, I did. Every time I showed them the data, it was a wake-up call,

There is proven data showing that NFL quarterbacks and MLB pitchers make more mistakes when indoor air quality is poor. That’s a business case, not just a health one. When poor air means lower performance, that’s millions of dollars in lost value.

We’re not here to sell fear. We’re here to sell performance. Clean air helps athletes win. Clean floors reduce injuries. Measurable outcomes equal repeat contracts.

And it’s not just air quality. For example, there is the case of the kitchens at Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium. There are 28 kitchens. One got flagged for grease on a wall. The next thing we know, they’re being downgraded, not just for grease, but for rotting metal shelves that had been missed entirely. It’s a classic failure of holistic inspection. They fixed the grease but missed the biofilm.

The entertainment industry can be a surprising catalyst for change. For instance, Taylor Swift now includes cleaning protocols in her performance contracts. She demands sustainability and safety in the spaces she uses.

Formula 1’s team village at Hard Rock Stadium is another example. They once asked me, “What if we spray lavender or citrus oils to make the drivers relax?” And I replied, “You’re going to kill Max Verstappen.” People don’t realize that airborne chemicals affect performance—and even health.

Most people have no idea what we do. They don’t know how clean or safe the indoor air is. They don’t understand what biofilms are. They don’t know that vacuuming the wrong way can release more particles than it removes.

This kind of narrow focus is what the cleaning industry must move away from. We must be systems thinkers. We must look at air, water, and surfaces together. That’s how we prevent—not just react.

Innovation in cleaning

We need to make the invisible visible. We’ve got to start using ultraviolet (UV) light, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) meters, particle counters, and measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—not just for science, but for storytelling. Show the client. Show them what they can’t see.

Biofilms, in particular, represent an area of massive opportunity and risk. They’re beautiful under a microscope. But they’re deadly in buildings. Biofilms—communities of microorganisms—are 100 times harder to remove than single organisms and are often resistant to disinfectants. Yet they’re rarely mentioned in cleaning training or invoices. That must change.

We must stop thinking of ourselves as just contractors. We’re managers of the built environment. We manage health and safety. And we have the skills, knowledge, and tools to do it.

The move from reactive cleaning to proactive health management begins with three steps:

1. Measure everything.If you’re not measuring air, water, and surfaces, you’re just guessing.
2. Train differently.Use real-world tools—UV light, particle counters, biofilm swabs—and make it part of everyday operations.
3. Tell your story.Document what you do. Show evidence. Clients don’t know unless you show them.

We also need greater transparency in chemical ingredients, adoption of the metric system, and risk-based tools that holistically consider air, water, and surface exposure. We’ve made it too hard to do this job. We need to simplify. We need to support the frontline.

Creating a global community of practice

To support this shift, we are investing heavily in community building. We’ve received US$1.2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to build a global community of practice. We’re working with 29 university professors. We’re creating videos, tools, dashboards. We’re building storytelling frameworks based on persuasive narratives.

These resources are for everyone. Whether you’re cleaning airports, universities, or sports arenas, we want your story. We want to elevate the profession.

The time to evolve is now. Making safer choices in cleaning is vital. This isn’t about fear. It’s about opportunity.

Airports have $20 million cleaning budgets. Universities? Up to $40 million. Stadiums? The same. But those budgets are being spent without informed decisions. That’s where we come in.

I urge industry professionals to stop waiting for the perfect time to evolve. The right time is now. Not next year. Not when it’s convenient. Now.

.

Today, let’s make one actionable step. Let’s commit to at least one change—whether it’s evaluating the safety of your chemicals, reducing water usage, or setting key performance indicators (KPIs) around sustainability. Because the biggest mistake we’re making right now is believing it’s not the right time to change. It is. Right now is the time.

The post Making the Invisible Visible appeared first on Cleanfax.

Dr. Michael A. Berry, author of Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, emphasized the critical role of effective cleaning in maintaining healthy indoor spaces. Trainers in an 91��Ƶ Cleaning for Health course found that 90% of the 900 frontline workers who went through the course could not recall one ingredient that was in a cleaning product they used.

That’s why I’ve started using a powerful tool—ChatGPT on my mobile phone—to make smarter, safer choices when it comes to cleaning products.

Whether you’re a cleaning professional, a building manager, or just someone who wants to make safer choices, you can take seven steps to use artificial intelligence (AI) to protect health, improve safety, and support sustainability.

Step 1: Take a photo of the product label

Everything starts with a simple step: I take one photo of the cleaning product label using my phone. ChatGPT has image recognition capabilities, so it can read and analyze the label to help identify the product, its ingredients, and its uses.

I simply open the ChatGPT app on my phone, then click the “+” icon and I am given three options—photos, camera, files. Then I choose the camera option and snap a clear photo of the product label.

Step 2: Ask basic questions

Once the image is uploaded to ChatGPT, I ask a series of basic, but important questions. These questions help me understand what I’m dealing with and whether the product aligns with safety and sustainability goals. Note: I don’t type. I ask questions by speaking to ChatGPT using the microphone icon.

Here are my go-to questions:

• What is this product?
  ChatGPT identifies the brand, product type, and purpose (e.g. all-purpose cleaner, carpet care product, degreaser, disinfectant, floor cleaner, window/glass cleaner, wood cleaner, etc.).
• What is this product used for?
  This question clarifies if the product is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, floors, food-contact surfaces, stainless steel, windows, etc.
• How do I use this product safely and effectively?
  ChatGPT reviews the label directions and explains proper product use in plain language: How to dilute it, how long it should stay on a surface, and what personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed.
• How do I store and dispose of this product properly?
  Proper storage (e.g. away from heat or children) and disposal (e.g. don’t pour it down the drain if hazardous) are crucial for safety and environmental protection.
• If ChatGPT tells me the product is a disinfectant, I’ll ask: Can you make a list of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and any other microorganisms this product is effective against? ChatGPT makes a list of the organisms the product can effectively kill, includes the recommended dwell or contact time, provides internet links from where the information was sourced, and then asks me if I want a “pathogen efficacy chart” as a standalone pdf or included in other formats, such as training material.

Step 3: Look for safer certifications

To find if this product has any certifications, I ask: Does this product have any third-party certifications like the EPA Safer Choice label?

ChatGPT looks for logos on the label and cross-references the product with known certification databases. Products with the EPA Safer Choice or UL ECOLOGO or Green Seal label are verified to contain ingredients that are safer for people and the planet.

If the product isn’t certified, I ask ChatGPT for recommendations of safer alternatives that meet criteria for the EPA Safer Choice program or other certifications, and ChatGPT gives me brand-specific suggestions.

Step 4: Create a complete training program

After identifying and understanding the product, I use ChatGPT to develop a customized training program for my team. This is especially helpful for businesses, schools, hospitals, or anyone training cleaning staff.

I ask ChatGPT: I need to train my employees on how to use this product safely and effectively. My employees are both men and women. Can you please outline the training course step by step for this product and highlight any differences for men and women?

ChatGPT responds with a step-by-step course outline that includes target audience, delivery time, format, learning objectives, and instructions that this training be inclusive and practical for both men and women.

But then to my surprise, ChatGPT throws a question back at me. Would you like me to now create the following?

• A printable facilitator guide with a clear outline of how to teach the safe and effective use of the product.
• PowerPoint slides for use in training sessions.
• A quiz and answer key to reinforce key messages.
• Printable graphics showing do’s and don’ts, proper PPE, dilution steps, safety guides, and how-to pictograms.

The best part? It can create content for different groups. You can base your groups on body size, strength, or any characteristic. I always request that the training highlight any differences for men and women, particularly in relation to health and safety risks. For example, some chemicals may pose greater risks to women due to hormonal or reproductive impacts, respiratory health, or cancer risks.

Step 5: Realize that ChatGPT can see, hear, and speak

You don’t need to be a tech expert to do any of this. If you’re using ChatGPT on your phone, you can either type your questions or just press the microphone and speak. Talking is faster and more natural.

Whether you ask: “What’s this product used for?” or “Can you make a printable training graphic for this disinfectant?” ChatGPT will respond in seconds and can read aloud the response, so you don’t have to read it yourself.

Step 6: Access visual learning with graphics

ChatGPT can generate custom images and infographics to help communicate safety and instructional messages more clearly. I often ask it to make:

• Step-by-step visual guides.
• Product safety symbols.
• PPE usage posters.
• Dilution instructions visuals.
• Gender-specific safety tips.

I can download these graphics and print and post them in janitor closets and training rooms or use them in PowerPoints or digital toolkits.

Step 7: Go deeper with ChatGPT’s research mode

Beyond the label, I often want to understand more about what I’m using. On your phone, in the ChatGPT app, tap the “telescope” icon for deep research. ChatGPT can provide deep research on cleaning products and chemicals, including:

• Health and safety issues for women and children.
• Toxicity risks.
• Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels.
• Known links to asthma or hormone disruption.
• Skin sensitivity and dermal exposure.
• Environmental persistence and bioaccumulation.

ChatGPT helps me interpret Safety Data Sheets (SDS), scientific studies, and regulatory guidance, presenting these topics in a way that’s easy to understand.

Final thoughts: You can do this too

If you’ve never used ChatGPT before, now is a great time to try. With just your phone and your voice, you can unlock powerful knowledge about the products you use every day, and learn how to use them more safely.

Whether you’re a cleaning supervisor, instructor, facility manager, healthcare provider, or worker, this tool can help you:

• Identify the ingredients in your cleaning products.
• Find safer alternatives.
• Train staff with customized materials.
• Protect health and the environment.
• Improve indoor air quality.
• Support your sustainability goals.

One last tip: Save your templates

Once ChatGPT has created your training toolkit—PowerPoint slides, facilitator guides, quizzes, and graphics—save them to your phone, email, or cloud storage. You can reuse or update them whenever you train new staff or introduce a new product.

Start today. Take a photo. Ask a question. Build a safer, healthier cleaning program, all from your phone. Make ChatGPT part of your cleaning cart. Join 91��Ƶ Making Safer Choices Community of Practice at

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Related studies on germ transport

Work clothes can transport germs. Germs can accumulate on your work clothes in high numbers. They can spread through contact with soft, porous materials and can be resuspended into the air. Yet, to my knowledge, this has not been studied in work environments and the work clothes of professionals in the cleaning industry.

However, it is well-established that germs can accumulate on hospital uniforms, as reviewed by Haun et al. (2016).¹ Another study showed the accumulation of bacteria on sterilized uniforms worn by nurses and that 70% were positive for antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Sanon and Watkins, 2012).² Also, high concentrations of germs were found on the work clothes of waste collection workers after they had finished their shifts (Park et al., 2011).³ But none of these studies investigated the movement of germs on work clothes to other environments. Nevertheless, these types of studies do highlight the importance of infection control, hygiene, and laundry in relation to work clothes.

“Take-home” exposure, by bringing home contaminated work clothes, has been reported for chemicals such as lead, pesticides, asbestos, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Exposure to biological particles that cause allergies from clothes has been studied for cat allergens, dog allergens, and dust mites, where these allergens were shown to be transported on clothes between homes, schools, and workplaces. Pollen has been shown to accumulate and be transported on clothes. One study showed that fungi and fungal spores in farmers’ homes can be up to 1,000 times higher when compared to apartments where non-farming families live, indicating fungi transport on clothes to the home (Pasanen et al., 1989).⁴

Cleaning professionals work to clean dirty environments and can be exposed to a wide range of germs, pollutants, and contaminants. Several studies have been conducted on exposure to biological risks and how workers could transport fungi and bacteria to vehicles and other non-workplaces through contaminated work clothes, skin, or hair (Møller and Madsen et al., 2022).⁵ They identified 275 fungal species and 54 different species of bacteria on the work clothes of waste collection workers. A series of studies found that workers who work with waste:

• Are exposed to a wide range of fungal and bacterial species, including those that are known to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis and gastrointestinal infections.
• Waste collection has been associated with health symptoms related to exposure to elevated concentrations of germs.
• Workers that handle and sort waste cardboard have high at-work exposure to germs.
• Work clothes can be contaminated by germs from surface-to-surface contact.
• Shoes can spread germs.
• Germs can be aerosolized from the floor.
• Emptying of trash and waste containers can spill germs on the ground or aerosolize them onto clothes.
• Germs generally exhibit lower survival on porous surfaces than on non-porous surfaces. However, they can survive on textiles for days to weeks.
• Staphylococcus aureus,��Escherichia coli, and Escherichia faecium survive on cotton for 21 days.
• Staphylococcus aureus�����Ի���Escherichia faecium survive on polyester for up to seven days.
• Fecal coliforms can survive for 120 days on cotton and blended textiles.
• Clostridium difficile spores have been reported to persist on dry surfaces for five months.
• Candida,��Aspergillus spp.,��Fusarium sp.,��Mucor sp., and Paecilomyces sp. survived from one to more than 30 days on cotton, terry, blended textile, polyester, and spandex.
• SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, persisted on cloth (unspecified material type) for two days, compared to four days on glass and banknotes, and up to seven days on surgical masks, stainless steel, and plastic.
• Poliovirus survives at room temperature for 84–140 days on wool and 42–84 days on cotton.

The verdict

Work clothes can transport germs to places outside the work environment, such as your home. The current assumption that there is a low risk of infection from soft, porous materials and textiles like work clothes, is due to a lack of studies and direct epidemiological evidence. Therefore, there is less emphasis on worker safety and the risk of infection from work clothes, textiles, and soft surfaces.

Germs do survive on textiles for hours, days, and weeks and can transfer onto skin and other surfaces. It is biologically plausible that infectious diseases can be transmitted directly through contact with contaminated textiles. There are a number of case studies that link infection with inadequate laundering of bed linen, towels, and work clothes in hospitals and hotels. I am very concerned due to the lack of control and monitoring of decontamination for those cleaning professionals that are required to wash and dry their work clothes at home.

What can be done?

Germs, just like allergens, pollutants, and contaminants, can accumulate on work clothes, including shoes, throughout a workday and can lead to exposure. These germs can lead to infections and make people sick.

For the cleaning industry, understanding that germs can be transported and resuspended from work clothes is important for everyone, not just those that are immunocompromised, have allergies, or have open wounds and cuts. This knowledge should change workers’ behavior and actions for washing hands with soap and water, donning and doffing and wearing appropriate personal protection equipment, changing out of work clothes at the end of their workday, taking a shower after work, and handling of laundry of work clothes.

Again, I am unaware of studies specifically related to cleaning professionals, but I recommend the cleaning industry not ignore but learn from studies from other professions.

References:

¹Haun, N., Hooper-Lane, C., Safdar, N. 2016. Healthcare personnel attire and devices as fomites: a systematic review. Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology, 37 (11), 1367-1373

²Sanon, M.A., Watkins, S. 2012. Nurses’ uniforms: How many bacteria do they carry after one shift? Journal of Public Health Epidemiology, 4, 311-315

³Park, D.U., Ryu, S.H., Kim, S.B., Yoon, C.S., 2011. An assessment of dust, endotoxin, and microorganism exposure during waste collection and sorting. Journal of Air Waste Management Association. 61 (4), 461-468

⁴Pasanen, A.L., Kalliokoski, P., Pasanen, P., Salmi, T., Tossavainen, A., 1989. Fungi carried from farmer’s work into farm homes. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, Volume 50, Issue 12, 631-633

⁵Møller, S.A, Rasmussen, P.U., Frederiksen, M.W., Madsen, A.M., 2022. Work clothes as a vector for microorganisms: Accumulation, transport, and resuspension of microorganisms as demonstrated for waste collection workers, Environment International, Volume 161, 107112.

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