City Hall H1N1 Cleanup
Wearing masks and gloves, a custodial team Friday evening began a weekend-long disinfecting of Birmingham City Hall ordered by Mayor Larry Langford after an employee there tested positive for the new H1N1 flu.
City Hall was closed Friday as a precaution, but security guards staffed a desk Friday evening and city spokeswoman April Odom said other employees came in and out if they had work they needed to do.
Odom said Rite Way Service was paid $700 to disinfect City Hall, the City Hall annex and the information management systems offices. The Birmingham-based company is the regular after-hours cleaner of City Hall.
The company has performed similar swine flu-related work at Trussville High School, Briarwood Christian School, Altamont School and Morgan Keegan offices, said district manager Brenda Bolden.
The work is much like any other assignment, Bolden said, except that the 21 employees who are working shifts around the clock are using TB-Cide Quat, a cleaner used in restaurants, nursing homes and hospitals to stop H1N1 and a host of other diseases.
"They'll be cleaning anything you touch with your hands, any surface touched when people come in to do business with the city," said Deputy Public Works Director Charles Yates.
As another precaution against the spread of swine flu, 120 64-ounce bottles of hand sanitizer are being placed at the entrance of city buildings, Yates said.
Bolden said the work would likely be complete by 6 p.m. Sunday.
Rite Way Service and Employee Howard Thompson Win Awards
The Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities for the State of Alabama awarded Rite Way Service the Employer of the Year Award and Howard Thompson, Rite Way Service employee at Walker Baptist Hospital, the State Employee Award last month. Also, Rite Way Service Director, Tim McGill, was recognized for his leadership in hiring employees with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
The Employer of the Year Award was based on outstanding achievement of a company in enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The State Employee Award was given in recognition of an employee with outstanding personal achievement.
The following information is from the ARC of Walker County:
Howard Thompson completed assessments and was hired by Rite Way in 2006. He is a member of the Rite Way housekeeping crew, contracted by Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper, Alabama. Howard is responsible for collecting garbage at the hospital. He takes great pride in his work and he is happy to have a job. He never misses work, works hard, and leaves his job feeling good about the work he has accomplished.
Howard cannot read or write, yet he was able to obtain a driver’s license. He achieved his goal of buying a vehicle, so he would have transportation to work. His car is now “bought-and-paid for.” He had to learn how to clock in and out and how to find his way around the vast expanse of the hospital. (If you have been at Walker Baptist, you know it’s not an easy thing to do!) Howard is full of common sense and he has used this to help him overcome obstacles. He is living the American Dream!
According to the ARC of Walker County, “When Rite Way was approached by our job coach about hiring employees with cognitive, intellectual, and developmental disabilities, they were eager to learn about our program, our consumers and our success in our past endeavors. Rite Way Director, Tim McGill, who supervises the program, was enthusiastic and optimistic about the possibility of success within the Walker Baptist Health System. He hired the first employee and we were on our way!
Since hiring the first applicant with special needs in 2004, two people successfully completed the training program and have been hired by Rite Way. The ARC of Walker County job coaches have “faded” from the program and these two young men are now gainfully employed at Rite Way.
Tim McGill, impressed by our workers’ performance, dedication, attendance, and willingness to learn is now an advocate for hiring persons with disabilities. Rite Way is an exemplary role-model for other employers who have yet to experience the rewards of giving a person with disabilities a chance to succeed in the work force. Mr. McGill gladly speaks with potential employers, assuring them they will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Of our young men he says, ‘I wish I had more like them. They are fine workers.’ McGill truly deserves recognition for his leadership.”
Rite Way Introduces Managers Safety Certification Level 1
The new Safety Certification designation program has been introduced to managers on the Rite Way website. There are 10 modules for managers to review and complete electronically at their own pace until they satisfactorily finish the program. The modules are based on a number of mandatory annual training topics such as Hazard Communication plus specialty topics like Chemical Handling and HIPAA Privacy Laws which relate primarily to the Health Care Division. The instruction media contains reading materials and videotaped presentations from resident experts such as Glenn Keedy, Safety Manager for RWS, and vendor partners such as Mark Garlington, our Spartan Chemical representative.
There has been a very enthusiastic response to the program and recently 5 managers have achieved Level I Safety Certification. They are: Jack Reis (EVS Director, St. Martin in the Pines); Constance Smiley (District Manager, Montgomery, AL); Terry Campbell (EVS Director, Princeton Baptist Hospital); Tim McGill (EVS Director, Walker Baptist Hospital), and David Weimar (Project Manager, Wallace Schools).
For completing the program, they will receive chevron type badges to display on their uniform shirts, a certificate, an incentive gift (Leatherman type tool), and their names displayed on the Corporate Wall Plaque.
Level II of the Safety Certification Program is under development and will involve more advanced safety training as well as additional structured training by the managers for the field employees.
Rite Way customer, Hewitt-Trussville High School, wins Health Officer's Healthy School Award
In an email from Principal Jennifer Hogan of Hewitt-Trussville High School, Rite Way Service cleaners and other HTHS employees were congratulated on helping HTHS win the Health Officer's Healthy School Award for the second year in a row.
HTHS was one of three high schools in Jefferson County that received this award. A total of 17 schools received this award in Jefferson County.
The Health Officer's Healthy School Award recognizes public and private schools in Jefferson County that create and maintain a healthy school environment. The first phase of the official recognition is the Health Officer's Seal of Approval Award. The criteria for this award are as follows:
Lunchroom inspections scores - a score of 97 or above on all three inspections in the calendar year of 2008-2009.
Clean and sanitary conditions, as evidenced by:
- Soap, paper towels and toilet paper are provided.
- Water fountains are clean with adequate pressure to provide sanitary use.
- Toilets and sinks are operable and in good repair.
Immunization survey of 97 or greater on last survey audit.
Congratulations Hewitt-Trussville High School and thank you to all the Rite Way employees on helping them receive this award!
Rite Way Service Named "Best in Business"
Rite Way Service was named "Best in Business" by the Birmingham Business Journal on Thursday, June 26. Rite Way was selected Best in Business in the Large Company category of 400+ employees.
"I'd like to thank the Birmingham Business Journal staff, all the judges, and the customers and vendors who recommended us; but most importantly I'd like to thank our team and all of our front line employees, says Anthony Lepore, President of Rite Way. "I'd also like to extend a special thanks to Jeff Stern, our Founder, for his great leadership and providing a great company to work with, and to Rhonda Siegel, for her great insight, and continued passion to make us better!"
Rite Way was chosen for this award based on their strong financial performance, outstanding customer service, innovative marketing strategies, high quality services and a spirit of community involvement. Rite Way employees received recognition and honors over the past year including James Hariston's recognition of excellence by Colliers Keenen, Sheleasa Ingram's "Above and Beyond" award by Princeton Baptist Hospital, and Darlene Shaw's recognition of quality control score achievement at Vaughan Regional Medical Center.
Rite Way was recognized by its long-standing customers and vendors such as Cushman and Wakefield, Steelcase, Memorial Development Company, Regions Bank, The University of Tennessee, and Hilb, Rogal and Hobbs Insurance Company.
"We are honored to have been chosen for this prestigious award," says Lepore, "and we look forward to continued growth and success in the Birmingham community and throughout the Southeast."
Other nominees in the Best in Business category of 400+ employees included Alacare Home Health and Hospice, Robins & Morton, and U.S. Pipe and Foundry Company, LLC.