May 2021

Page A19 MAY 2021 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on A spot, that is exactly its purpose. Being aware of these areas that may have been neglected will save you time and money the next time there’s an unexpected visit from OSHA. Surprisingly, some of the finest funeral homes around this country have filthy prep rooms…and the odor is always the first sign. Often, these same beautifully dec- orated and maintained funeral homes have prep rooms that tell a different story. The sinks, floors and back walls, for example, will be covered with dried splatter. Most likely, the prep room hasn’t seen a fresh coat of paint or new flooring, etc., in years. Other than a local hairdresser, no one except employ- ees has seen the prep room. Signs reading, “No En- trance,” “Employees Only” or “Private” bar the gen- eral public from entering, right? But are these placards an excuse to ignore cleaning and disinfecting the em- balming room? Forty years ago, the state board’s inspectors were old school and would go off on you if the embalming room was nasty dirty. They didn’t just look for cold and hot running water. The room – floor to ceiling – better be in tip-top shape. Any decedents in the prep room must be covered with a clean white sheet with only the head uncovered. The counter tops were bare. Every- thing was in its place. Otherwise, there were written complaints to go through the board’s process, often with fines to follow. In the old days there were no ventilation systems. In fact, the only way to dilute the odor of fluids and formaldehyde in the embalming room was a ceiling Continued from Page A18 Most Hallowed Room in your Funeral Home John had a sturdy German work ethic and was strict with his employees regarding disinfection, thorough embalming and respect for the deceased. A clean oper- ation in many ways…and, of course, there were other firms with similar values. So, the question to you would be, do you give your prep room’s cleanliness and order the same attention as your front entrance and reception area? At least 50 years have passed since that time and, needless to say, some things have changed. For example, OSHA has recommended removal of any surface that can attract and/or trap bacteria. Fiber- glass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) had now replaced wall tiles, seamless flooring has replaced linoleum and tile floors. Never the less, dried blood, dirt or other un- known fluids often find their ways to land and dry on prep room floors, walls or even the ceiling. Did the stronger dictates of OSHA make a differ- ence? One practice that changed was that OSHA did not allow prep room cleaning tools, like brooms, mops, sponges and cleaning cloths to be used anywhere else in the funeral home. Garbage was red-bagged and cleaning supplies, like bleach, was used generously. Some funeral homes, visibly, have denied appropriate sanitary care and cleaning and, as well, greet visitors with a noticeable and offensive odor coming from the embalming or dressing rooms. Okay, so your firm was slammed with new cases. You got busy and will take care of it later…and do you? Not to single out anyone, but as the old saying goes, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” And if this article hits a sore fan or an open window. Now, protecting employees – head to toe, whatever it takes, from PPE to proper lighting, ventilation systems, proper flooring and ad- equate storage to make a space for everything – are re- quired of every owner, every manager, every FDIC. Times have changed in new prep room design, as well. Whether a firm is two days old or 50 years old, this sacred place needs to remain at all times as clean as the restroom in your own home, designated for guests to use Be proud of your entire facility. When a suppli- er makes an in-person call or a funeral director vis- its from another town, don’t hesitate to show off your prep room as well as your selection rooms. There’s an old adage that goes, “You would not eat in any restaurant in town if you saw the kitchen.” Kudos to restaurants who have a clean kitchen! Soon- er or later, someone – maybe a VIP – will have to walk through it, and that one person making that one trip through that kitchen can make or break that restau- rant’s reputation. Same goes for funeral homes and their clean prep rooms! SEND US YOUR NEWS! PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 info@nomispublications.com www.clearviewcaskets.com 305-721-5554 • 305-699-7410 Silver Religious Platinum Collection New! Crystal Collection ® Oversized Gold Collection U.S. Patent No. 10,596,055,B1 U.S. Patent No. 10,596,055,B1 U.S. Patent No. 10,596,055,B1