Oct. 26-29: ISSA Show, Chicago, offers training and solutions for preventing the coronavirus spread
There never has been a more compelling time for facilities managers to attend the ISSA Show than October 2020 as they meet the challenges of providing a sustainable healthy workplace for their fellow employees. Environmental health and safety professionals at colleges and universities, K-12 schools, hospitals, all patient-care facilities, and the office in all its configurations from a one-story suburban park to an 80+ story skyscraper, will gather to hear experts share their best advice for preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
The return to the workplace is on everyone’s mind, encompassing every place the public gathers to reopen and reignite the economy. Wherever work is performed, it is likely organizations will be adding uniformed, visible cleaning staff to ensure surfaces are being cleaned, pantries are pristine, and all the high-touch surfaces are regularly sanitized to keep everyone healthy.
Facilities managers, along with human resources professionals and members of the C-suite, will have plans in place for social distancing and frequent cleaning of employee and student gathering areas. By late October, they will be looking to expand solutions, prepare for the flu season, and the potential for a second wave of coronavirus infections and cases of COVID-19 in schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and religious institutions.
The ISSA Show North America is the one week where ISSA members and the entire professional cleaning industry come together to learn and do business. It’s where attendees discover new solutions for improving their efficiency, skills, and profitability. ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its more than 9,300 member organizations with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line.
Education sessions begin on October 26, in the following tracks: Commercial Cleaning; Healthy Green Schools & Colleges; Healthcare; Hospitality; Residential Cleaning; and Distributor. The trade show is open October 27 through 29 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
COVID-19 Education sessions, certifications and workshops
The ISSA conference program offers more than 100 education sessions and workshops are expanding from six last year to 16. “The conference program covers many other critical areas in addition to the tracks,” said Kim Althoff, ISSA vice president of trade shows, education, media, and sales. “To date, we have sixteen certifications and workshops on the schedule spanning all four days of the event.” Below are examples of the education sessions that will address the COVID-19 pandemic, lessons learned, as well as detecting and preventing the spread of infectious diseases:
- COVID-19 The Triad – Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications to health care providers and staff, this session will address the three key departments and the associated implications going forward. Presented by IEHA, a Division of ISSA.
- COVID-19 Response: Maintaining Healthy Green Schools & Colleges during a Global Pandemic – Learn the importance of proactive leadership during public health crises, how to develop key processes and best practices to ensure staff are trained and prepared for future emergency response. Presented by Healthy Green Schools & Colleges
- Coronavirus Pandemic: Lessons Learned for the Residential Cleaning Community – Join the industry experts in an in-depth discussion on lessons learned from the pandemic. The panel will look at what changes being made in businesses to improve the residential cleaning community moving forward. Presented by ARCSI, a Division of ISSA.
- GBAC Bioremediation and Response Fundamentals (2-DAY WORKSHOP) – Develop the knowledge and competence to identify, evaluate, reduce, and eliminate biological threats and improve environmental and patient recovery. This two-part course demonstrates hands-on situational response training and covers the fundamentals of biohazardous material cleanup and waste management. Presented by GBAC, a Division of ISSA.
Further, ISSA is dedicated to helping facilities managers, sanitation staff and cleaning industry professionals understand how to properly clean and safely disinfect for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Visit the association’s coronavirus resource page to access regularly updated information such as downloadable tip sheets, online training, webinars, government updates and additional business resources for the industry.