Everyday Champion Nominee Among us in Abbotsford

ABBOTSFORD, BC – OCTOBER 9, 2013 - MENNO PLACE, one of BC's largest campuses-of-care for seniors, has achieved the nearly impossible feat of removing chemicals from the cleaning regime. This achievement has earned Bas Kervel, Manager of Facilities and Housekeeping a nomination with the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council for the Everyday Champion Award.

As the Manager of Facilities and Housekeeping at Abbotsford's Menno Place, which cares for 700 residents, Bas Kervel oversees the quality of cleaning in the facility's six buildings. Several instances of housekeeping team members suffering allergic reactions and sensitivity to cleaning products combined with Bas' concern for residents who suffer cognitive impairment motivated him to find a new cleaning method.

Bas spent hundreds of hours, many outside of his regular workday, researching possibilities and bringing his findings to the management team and the board of Menno Place. He was led to an aqueous ozone system that provides chemical-free cleaning, sanitizing and stain removal by infusing tap water with ozone. After consulting with Fraser Health and WorkSafeBC, leading a six-month trial and training his 30 housekeeping staff on the new system, Bas helped Menno Place become the first residential care facility in BC to use an aqueous ozone system for cleaning.

Now, 99.99% of the bacteria, viruses and other organisms that threaten the lives of fragile seniors are killed in two seconds, compared with keeping a surface wet for up to 5 minutes under the previous chemical system. This reduces the amount of time that floor surfaces are wet and greatly reduces the possibility of a slip or fall by residents, families and staff. Since there are no chemicals, there is no fear of leaving a harsh, toxic residue on surfaces.

This new system also alleviates Bas' concern for residents who are not able to verbalize when they are suffering an effect from the chemicals' fragrances or vapours, as well as residents unable to leave the facility when the fragrances waft through the air.

Bas estimates that staff productivity has increased by 50% since they began using the aqueous ozone system. He also predicts that Menno Place will break even in the first year of implementing the new system and anticipates a 50+% reduction in costs once the equipment is paid off.

The Everyday Champion Award nominees were chosen by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council. The winner is decided by online vote. The winner will receive a $2,500 sponsorship to help support or disseminate learning from his or her project. To vote for Bas Kervel, go to: http://bcpsqc.ca/bc-quality-awards/everyday-champion-award.

Voting can be done once daily per computer until closing on October 23rd.