Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a large classification group of chemicals widely used in kitchen cookware, fire-fighting foams, adhesives, clothing apparel, and polymer coatings. PFAS, or “Forever Chemicals”, were first produced in the 1940’s, for non-stick coatings on cookware.

These substances are concerning because:

They do not break down in the environment. They can move through soil and contaminate drinking water. They build up (bioaccumulate) in fish, wildlife, and humans. PFAS are manmade chemicals that have been used in consumer products worldwide since the 1940s.

The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) states that exposure to particular levels of certain PFAS may lead to:

• Adverse health outcomes include immune system effects and natural hormone interference. Research is ongoing to enhance understanding of any health impacts.
• In a lifetime, a person may be exposed to PFAS from various ways, including:
  • Eating food packaged in materials that contain PFAS.
  • Swallowing residue or dust from PFAS products, such as stain-resistant carpet or water-repellent clothing.
  • Drinking water that has been contaminated with PFAS.

Some adults and children may have a higher risk of being exposed to PFAS:

• Industrial workers are more likely to be exposed to products through active contact.
• Pregnant and lactating women are more susceptible to being exposed due to the need to drink more water per pound of body weight.
• Children tend to drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more than adults, which can increase their exposure to PFAS
• Younger children who put items in their mouths are more likely to be exposed to PFAS in carpets, toys, and cleaning products.

Resources and Products

PFAS have historically been used in the cleaning and polish industry to give such qualities as wetting, leveling, and water/oil repellency to floor care products.  Buckeye has never intentionally added PFAS to most of our products.  We are working hard to remove PFAS from all our products, ensuring that they are safe and sustainable for our customers. We will continue to update our PFAS-free product listings as more information and research is conducted.

To stay proactive of the emerging EPA guidance and new state legislations for PFAS, Buckeye removed this material in early 2023 from the following products: 

• Base Hit™
• Juggernaut®
• Liquid Shovel®
• Penetrate™
• Revelation®
• Ripsaw®
• S.W.A.T.® NA

In our sustainability efforts, we have always prioritized safety for workers and the environment. We are committed to enhancing product performance and safety through specialized training programs and education. In continuation of this, Buckeye has also field tested and approved changes to the following products that do not contain intentionally added PFAS:  

• Clarion®25
• Aspida™
• Arena®300
• Verde®
• Verde™Ultra

If you want to learn more about PFAS, check out our Research fact Sheet about PFAS, and visit the CDC or EPA Websites.

Happy World Hand Hygiene Day! Healthcare providers everywhere work daily to prevent the spread of diseases in healthcare facilities all over the world. In light of this, we want to share our gratitude by promoting healthy hand hygiene practices. 

This year, WHO (World Health Organization) is focusing on sharing the importance of hand hygiene; we want to share best practices for healthy hand hygiene and why it’s important when at point of care for patients and healthcare workers.

Point of Care

Point of Care refers to the moments when healthcare workers are in contact with patients and are at the highest risk of spreading infections. In a hospital, there are many locations where workers are at the highest risk of spreading diseases from touching. 

5 Most Contaminated High Touch Surfaces in Hospitals (Infection Control Today):

1. Bed rails
2. Bed surfaces
3. Supply carts
4. Over-bed tales
5. Intravenous pumps

These high touch surfaces overlap with the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene that most healthcare workers are familiar with. The 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene approach defines the key moments when healthcare workers should perform hand hygiene. This evidence-based, field-tested, user-centered approach is designed to be easy to learn, logical, and applicable in a wide range of settings.

5 Moments for Hand Hygiene (World Health Organization): 

1. Before patient contact 
2. Before aseptic task 
3. After body fluid exposure 
4. After patient contact 
5. After contact with patient surroundings

“If you don’t make it [hand hygiene products] convenient right there at that second, no one is going to go around the corner and wash their hands. It must be available in the flow of what the employee is doing."William Parks, MD,

To combat Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI’s) at the source, Symmetry®  provides Point of Care Tools like 50 ml Tray Table Clips, 50 ml Suction Cups, and 550 ml Suction Cups. These tools make hand hygiene accessible to healthcare workers during the 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene, reducing the spread of disease and encouraging healthy hand hygiene practices. 

Lowering HAI’s

With the high-risk spread of HAIs and point of care being our focus, Symmetry provides helpful educational and awareness tools to support hand hygiene practices for all, not just in hospital areas but in most indoor settings. Symmetry’s goal is to lower HAI’s, with systems such as SBMS (Symmetry Behavior Modification System). SBMS is a set of unique, cost-effective tools based on six key tenets designed to INSPIRE hand hygiene compliance.

SBMS Six Key Tenets are:

1. Benevolence
2. Variation
3. Responsibility
4. Emotion
5. Accountability
6. Direction

With SBMS, Symmetry offers tools that provide Education and Awareness such as Digital Behavioral Driver Placards that use motion and sound to trigger a response to take action. Allowing for quick and easy customization of campaigns and initiatives, and offering image and video variation that keeps messaging fresh to avoid sign fatigue. SBMS also offers Symmetry Visual Lighting Cue (VLC) which uses light projections to trigger a response to take action. These light projections utilize various emojis from thumbs up, and smiley face, to heart.

Healthy hand hygiene is a daily practice and commitment for healthcare facilities. We thank our Healthcare providers for their amazing work to keep us all safe.

Contact your local representative to see how Symmetry’s point of care tools can help improve compliance in your facility.

Last November, the Leapfrog Group released an independent study on 2023 Hospital Safety Grades. Their study found that since the pandemic, infection rates in hospitals have dramatically improved. However, there is still work to be done in many states, and that work begins by improving basic cleaning and disinfecting procedures for patient rooms and communal areas.

The Buckeye Prescription Training Program can standardize cleaning and disinfecting in your hospital to keep patient, staff, and visitors healthy.

Patient Room Cleaning with Prescription

Prescription breaks down cleaning into manageable steps for EVS staff, covering all areas of the hospital including hallways, restrooms, and lobby areas. However, the most important room is the patient room. It must be cleaned properly to prevent cross infection during and between hospital stays.

Patient Rooms fall into 1 of 5 categories:

Occupied – the patient is in the room.

Discharge – the patient has just been discharged.

Unoccupied – the room remains vacant after discharge cleaning.

Isolation – the room is occupied by a patient requiring isolation precautions. 

Discharge Isolation – isolation patient has just been discharged.

Patient Room Cleaning Procedures 

The Prescription website and manual cover each of these scenarios in detail, following 6 basic cleaning procedures.

1. Empty Trash
2. High Dust
3. Damp Wipe
4. Clean Restrooms
5. Dust Mop or Sweep
6. Damp Mop

To help guide EVS staff, Prescription offers customizable wall charts and tools. Download our sample wall chart to help remind your staff about proper procedures in patient rooms.

The Complete Prescription Program 

Routine cleaning is only part of keeping a hospital clean. The Prescription program provides training in routine cleaning, patient room cleaning, surgery room cleaning, restroom, carpet care, hard floor care, and product safety.

Each video breaks down the procedures and equipment needed for each custodial task. The Prescription website serves as an online EVS training manual with resources including wall charts, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), product literature, and more. Your EVS staff will have 24/7 access to all of the tools they need to keep your hospital clean.

Contact a Buckeye representative to learn about all Prescription features and resources.