Project# 3, Part 1

I chose to research on the cleaners and solvents that OCAD use to clean its interior space and so I had to interview one of member of the management team, Straun. I am writing down my questions and his responses below:

Farah: Is OCAD environmentally friendly enough when it comes to cleaning? What kind of products do you use to clean the buildings.

Straun: Lot of our house keeping services are contracted out, they have to confront to certain cleaning standers. We have to keep in mind about the Green Zone. OCAD's very particular about chemical; the chemical they bring first of all has to go through the WHIMS procedure. The management of health and safety have 3 or 4 binders those have all the WHIMS steps guild lines. OCAD tends to use lots of safety products, for example we don't use drainer to clean the sink if its clogged; instead they use vinegar or baking soda because they are natural and environmentally friendly. We don't want the drainer to react negatively with the products or chemicals that students use. Besides the water ends up going into the water system or lake, so we have to be very careful. Same applies with the toilets.

Farah: I asked one of the cleaning person who told me that they have to use a kind of chemical to clean the wall graffiti that has a very strong smell. She couldn't tell me the name, could you explain what it is?

Straun: Well we use a new product now to clean the walls, and it's soy based. Many years ago OCAD used to use other types of chemicals which caused dangerous reactions. That's why we have the new product now and does have a strong smell to it. However we do sometimes use the other ones if we really need it. That's why we apply them at night when the school is empty and the workers are required to wear masks wherever they are. Beside many people have various kinds of allergies and we don't know who has what kind. So we can't take any risk.

So this is basically what we talked about. He asked me to email him asking the exact names of the products, because he couldn't say from the top of his head so he was going to talk to the head office. I emailed him but he hasn't replied yet, so I am still waiting for the names.

FARAH JAHAN