*The IWCA recommends as a company, you make the best decision you can for your employees, yourself, and the public’s health. Checking with legal and your state on your own for clarification of essential is important besides just hearing from us. We do not believe, even if deemed “Essential”, you should keep working if you have not trained your employees on the risks, put proper safety measures in place, provided the proper PPE and procedures to protect the public, the employee, or yourself form contracting the virus or spreading it. You should also let the business or residence make the decision to have you continue cleaning or not as well.

Update on our IWCA Clarification Letter

The President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your massive effort to protect the American people and overcome the pandemic crisis. We truly appreciate the decisions made and path being followed to protect our society, our people, and our economy.

The International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) is now in its 31^st year of existence. Our Association was formed as professional window cleaners across the country and internationally came together to educate our industry, keep our workers safe, and protect them from falls from heights.  Over the years, our efforts have reduced falls significantly in our industry and deaths have dwindled to zero. These results are due largely in part to our working relationship with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which includes an OSHA Alliance and Ambassadorship; both of which we are incredibly proud of and thankful for.

Our communities and states are starting to shut down as we overcome this pandemic together. We truly appreciate being able to band together to stop this invisible enemy. As an Association dedicated to the safety and health of people in our industry, our Board of Directors and member companies are completely committed to this as well. We believe this is in the best interest of the American people and the best way to slow this infection down so we can all get back to work as soon as possible.

We strongly believe our services are a valuable part of combating and slowing down the spread of this disease. According to the Journal of Hospital Infections we understand that the survival time on glass surfaces for this virus has been shown by to be between 4-5 days. This amount of time without cleaning and disinfecting the surface of glass and windows can increase the spread and prolong the time we spend in quarantine while following “stay at home” orders in our communities. We also believe any type of cleaning is critically needed to reduce overall health issues and to aid in strengthening immune systems during this time. In addition, many of our companies provide exterior façade cleaning, power washing, and soft washing services to increase the benefit of our cleaning services to combat this virus. We believe the additional services should also be considered, “Essential”. Together the services have the greatest impact to reduce the spread of the virus.

The professionals in our industry have the means of being part of the solution and feel it is our responsibility, nay, our duty, to help protect our citizens and our communities.

Based on our belief, we are asking for a clarification statement from the Office of the President to our states and communities around the country to include window and building cleaning services as an “essential” business during this time of crisis.

We believe window and building cleaning should be an essential part of sanitation efforts around the country and it should be a cleaning service the White House and our Government recommends to commercial buildings, residential buildings, and businesses while they are open; or while closed and prior to re-opening.

Thank you for your attention to this issue as a way to increase the protection from infection in residential homes, commercial facilities, and high rise buildings in our country.

Sincerely,

Paul Collum – IWCA President

CC:       The Honorable Chad F. Wolf

Acting Secretary – Department of Homeland Security

The Honorable Alex M. Azar II

Secretary – Department of Health and Human Services

The Honorable Elaine Chao

Secretary – Department of Transportation

IWCA – International Window Cleaning Association

800-875-4922 ~ www.iwca.org  ~ info@iwca.org

The IWCA would like to have suppliers and companies who sell or have stock of cleaning products, chemicals, detergents, disinfectants, tools, PPE Supplies, Masks, Gloves, and any other product which can help cleaning companies and emergency responders get the proper supplies they need to post their information, logos, and links to their product websites or contact information. Please do not post pricing in this page. Posts will be in first come order. We will be asking other associations and organizations to post this link on their pages as well. Please help all you can so we can get this slowed down, save lives, and get companies back to work!

		
	

		
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*The IWCA recommends as a company, you make the best decision you can for your employees, yourself, and the public’s health. Checking with legal and your state on your own for clarification of essential is important besides just hearing from us. We do not believe, even if deemed “Essential”, you should keep working if you have not trained your employees on the risks, put proper safety measures in place, provided the proper PPE and procedures to protect the public, the employee, or yourself form contracting the virus or spreading it. You should also let the business or residence make the decision to have you continue cleaning or not as well.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Information on the Sick Leave Bill, Employee and Employer/Small Business Relief, Family Benefits and Relief: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/politics/coronavirus-congress-relief-senate-house/index.html

Update on the Stimulus Plan: https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-administration-senate-democrats-said-to-reach-stimulus-bill-deal-11585113371

American Workers to Receive Paid Sick Leave

US Chamber Letter, Coronavirus_Essential_Infrastructure_Business_Letter_Final, to the President on “Essential” and their website with tons of information for employers and employees. https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus

Family First Act Info: publication-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-families-first-coronavirus-response-act

IRS Filing Extension Info: https://www.aicpa.org/content/dam/aicpa/advocacy/tax/downloadabledocuments/coronavirus-state-filing-relief.pdf

Small Business Loans/Information: https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/sba-provide-disaster-assistance-loans-small-businesses-impacted-coronavirus-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR3nd8dCP

Great list of Small Business Resources from the Government, Local States, and Online resources for Credit Cards, Loans, Software Programs, etc. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/small-business-resources-coronavirus/

Employers and Employees should check with each state and area for Unemployment Options. Many states are offering no wait benefits. It will potentially take care of your employees and safe the company the costs if you need to shut down or slow down. You should also check with states and cities for options for food pantries, food stamps and programs, and many non profit organizations helping out with food options in this crisis. Many schools are offering meals for breakfast and lunch while students are out if any employees have kids.

All should check with local utility companies, loans, payments, anything you have open currently. Many companies are waiving payments, fees, and offering free resources all around the country. SBA has emergency paperwork you can file for disaster planning. You can also file creditor and loan hardship forms to push payments back for the time we need.

Are your businesses considered “Essential” and allowed to stay open? We believe in most cases yes as a sanitation and cleaning business. Please check with your local city leaders but as we see in a few cities, you are allowed to keep operating.

If employees are still working, consider moving to one person per vehicle, training on hygiene, precautions, and PPE usage.

Contractors Playbook: https://www.servicetitan.com/coronavirus/covid-19-contractor-playbook?

Customer Education Letter Examples to Reduce Cancellations (Can you keep customers on the schedule? Yes you can if you have a plan!) *As a reminder the IWCA does not claim to be experts in what product kills the virus nor do we recommend you claim you can kill it 100% no matter what product you use, even if the CDC/EPA tell you they can: Customer Education Letters – Corona Virus

Customer Education Infographic Example:

Customer Letter Example for Sales and Estimating (Can you keep selling new customers? Yes you can with a plan and consistently selling!): Coronavirus_Letter_to_Customers for in person sales meetings example

Education Committee Newsletter – Thoughts on Operating Through this: blog 3-11-2020

Add On Services Other IWCA Companies are adding to keep business & residential coming in (More to come….): Soft washing and Power Washing. Outside Only Cleanings. Wiping down handles and often touched services. Wiping down shopping carts and handles. Marketing to high need businesses – Medical Facilities, Schools, Grocery Stores, Churches, Property Managers, Government Buildings, etc. Adding recommended EPA sanitizing agents to their cleaning solutions.

Employee PowerPoint Training: CoronaPPTEmployeeTraining

What each Business and Business Owner Can Do to Minimize the threat: https://www.cspdailynews.com/company-news/what-businesses-can-do-minimize-coronavirus-threat

Also: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

Here are two documents from the CDC and OSHA on preparation and prevention for the COVID Virus. Please read them and utilize the information in them.

Cleaning Product Recommendations to Disinfect for COVID – https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

OSHA Guidance Document on Preparing the Workplace – https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

White House Corona Virus Guidance: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf

EPA Website: https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus

ISSA Website: https://www.issa.com/education/cleaning-for-infection-prevention/coronavirus-prevention-and-control-for-the-cleaning-industry

Surface Lifespan Study and How to Effectively Clean: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/03/14/811609026/the-new-coronavirus-can-live-on-surfaces-for-2-3-days-heres-how-to-clean-them

Developing Cleaning Programs: https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article/How-To-Prepare-For-Infectious-Outbreaks–25242

Basic Cleaning Process Info-graphic:

Household cleaners which may kill the virus: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/household-cleaners-that-kill-coronavirus/

Do not mix these chemicals:

Workiz How Service Businesses Can Protect Themselves: https://workiz.com/how-service-pros-can-protect-themselves-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=intercom&utm_campaign=workizcoronablogandfblive_adgroup=nurture&utm_content=corona-blog-post&utm_term=coronablogandfblive

Tucker/RHG USA Info-graphic on a plan of attack right now for your business:

FAMILY RESOURCES

Daily Schedule for Kids at Home:

Science Experiments for Kids: https://www.mkewithkids.com/post/here-are-two-weeks-worth-of-fun-and-easy-science-experiments

Free Tutoring: https://www.varsitytutors.com

Virtual Classroom to Learn At Home: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html

Other Free Education Resources If Schools Close: Resources for Free if Schools Close

Giant List of Ideas for Kids: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1o6kEgCKLn3cyIm2hehhhSTIk7yRTd0C3zx49JS4wwCI/mobilebasic

Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids: https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html

More Virtual Field Trip Options: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/mobilebasic

Virtual Tour of 33 National Parks: https://totallythebomb.com/heres-33-national-park-tours-you-can-take-virtually-from-the-comfort-of-your-home

Live Zoo Cams: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/zoos-aquariums/virtual-zoo-live-animal-cams

https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/17/21181541/soothing-live-animal-webcams-aquarium-zoo

https://www.earthcam.com/events/animalcams/

Museums Around The World with Virtual Tours: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours%3famp=true

DIY Hand Sanitizer: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer

Homemade Pasta: https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/homemade-pasta-2-ingredient/

Best Foods if you need to be stationary for awhile: https://www.allrecipes.com/article/how-to-stock-emergency-pantry/

Banana Bread Recipe from old Bananas: https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/prep-school-got-old-bananas-make-banana-bread/html_fb9b9f9a-968e-5ecf-b18c-a69979917a45.html

Example of a grocery list and procedures: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/health/coronavirus-quarantine-grocery-list-drayer-wellness/index.html

Homemade Bread: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/basic-homemade-bread/

Below is an Educational PowerPoint to talk through the COVID19 Virus with your staff. All information is from the CDC and OSHA Guidelines and any claims you make to customers should have some solid education and guidance behind them from reputable sources. The last slide has some links to the CDC, ISSA, OSHA, and EPA websites for safe practices and cleaning products approved to reduce the risk of COVID19 spreading.

CoronaTrainingPowerPointForEmployees

Here are two documents from the CDC and OSHA on preparation and prevention for the COVID Virus. Please read them and utilize the information in them.

Cleaning Product Reccomendations to Disinfect for COVID – https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-03/documents/sars-cov-2-list_03-03-2020.pdf

OSHA Guidance Document on Preparing the Workplace – https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

Register NOW

2021 IWCA Convention Pricing List

2021 IWCA Prospectus & Sponsorship Opportunities

Room Booking Link ($85 a night for most nights for IWCA’s Discounted Rate):  https://goldennugget.reztrip.com/ext/promoRate?property=1115&mode=b&pm=true&sr=557465&vr=3

January 25-30, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

Certifications Courses Tuesday January 26th, 2021

Convention runs from Wednesday January 27th, 2021 until Saturday January 30th, 2021.

Trade Show Booth Spaces (SOLD OUT!): Trade Show Floor Plan Sold Out

Tentative Schedule Layout

How might 2020 be shaping up for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)? Here are some key points of interest to contemplate.

1. OSHA Leader?

The start of 2020 for OSHA looks just like the start of 2019 – without a confirmed leader. Currently Loren Sweatt, who is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, is still the acting Assistant Secretary of Labor. President Trump nominated Scott Mugno in October of 2017, but Mungo’s confirmation was delayed and then he withdrew himself from the process in May of 2019.

2. 2020 Budget? Read more here…..