Options Added to IEHA's Product Testing Program

Westerville, OH – November 4, 2010.  IEHA’s High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) testing program in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Lowell TURI Laboratory is expanding to include equipment and non-chemical process testing.

  According to Beth Risinger, CEO and Executive Director of IEHA:  “The IEHA Board of Directors has received several requests to evaluate the performance of equipment and processes in addition to chemical cleaning solutions, and after review, IEHA has agreed to develop a supplemental equipment testing program for hard surfaces that will augment the current HPCP test protocols.”

  The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) Laboratory that has been at the forefront of testing to find high-performance cleaning alternatives to toxic chemistries, will conduct the equipment testing.

  “Cleaning effectiveness depends on the formulation, equipment, processes, and workers.  We will apply our testing experience, both in industrial and janitorial cleaning, to evaluate equipment performance starting with hard surface cleaning tools.  The goal is to enable safer, healthier and more effective cleaning,” said Jason Marshall, Director of the UMass Lowell TURI Lab.

  Examples of equipment and process testing to be performed under the HPCP Equipment Testing program include: vacuuming versus dust mopping; steam vapor cleaning versus traditional approaches; hard floor scrubbing machines - non-chemical versus chemical usage; spray-and-vac restroom machines; and others.

  “We offer extensive skills training of workers through IEHA’s Professional Education Credentialing Program (PECP),” noted Risinger.  “By now also evaluating chemicals, processes and equipment for hard surface cleaning, we help to round out the information our members need to be most effective.”

  Manufacturers or suppliers of equipment that would like to suggest products or methods to be considered for inclusion in the equipment testing program, should contact Beth Risinger, CEO and Executive Director of IEHA at (800) 200-6342.