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GMI First BSC to Attain Green Certification

June 19, 2005
GMI, a San Diego based building service contractor has qualified as the first BSC to attain the (OS1) Green Certified Cleaning Program designation. The designation was achieved by reaching the ManageMen Standard on the annual (OS1) Progress Audit conducted at GMI cleaned sites in Southern California.

The (OS1) Green Certified Cleaning program recognizes organizations dedicated to cleaning for health and reducing environmental harm. The determination of certified organizations is based on a rigorous 3rd party audit conducted by ManageMen, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah. The audit contains over 225 factors that have been benchmarked as best practices in cleaning organizations.

Responsibility for compliance to the (OS1) standard is documented for several organizational functions including senior management, management, supervision, purchasing, training and the cleaning workers. This provides guidance for organizations as to where responsibility lies and how to improve operations. The certification criteria documents that a cleaning organization is using practices that have been benchmarked as best practices in causing facilities to be clean, with a minimal impact on the environment.

By earning the (OS1) Green Certified Cleaning Program designation, GMI demonstrates their on-going commitment to excellence in green cleaning operations. GMI is the first building service contractor in the nation to attain the (OS1) Green Certified Cleaning Program designation.

(OS1) Certified Green Cleaning organizations must document to an outside auditor that they are actively reducing hazardous chemicals, waste, reusing cleaning materials rather than sending them to the landfill and effectively recycling.

The Boeing Company-Anaheim was the first organization to receive certification in April 2005. Sandia National Labs a division of Lockheed Martin, Albuquerque, New Mexico and the State of Washington Capitol Facilities Division, Olympia, Washington achieved the designation earlier this month. The awards will be presented at the annual (OS1) Users Group Symposium in July.

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