Every cleaning professional is familiar with standards. These rules and regulations assist with the benchmarking of work, validating services, and allowing organizations to build processes. But did you ever pause to ponder what actually goes into the developing and creating of a consensus standard?

If anyone can answer that question it’s Russ Kendzior. As the chairman and founder of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI), Kendzior has seen his organization publish dozens of standards throughout his decades-long career. These standards help cleaning professionals establish authority and ensure compliance.

In this episode of Straight Talk!, the sixth in an ongoing series on floor safety with Kendzior, the NFSI chairman walks ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross through the history of standards—when they were first implemented, how they’re developed, and why they’re important.

Authoring a nation standard is a long, deliberate process, often times taking years in development. Watch or listen to the complete episode below to learn about the journey of writing a standard. According to Kendzior, cleaning professionals can leverage current standards to provide better service and ensure the safety of both employees and clients. You can also download an audio MP3 of the episode here.

PLUS: Don’t miss the first five parts of Straight Talk!’s continuing interview series with Kendzior:

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5