ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Restrooms and showers in the cadmium-regulated areas of the Nichols Industrial Complex take longer to clean and depot and Opportunity Center leaders ask all employees to be patient and respectful while those areas are being cleaned.

"There are more steps involved in cleaning the cadmium areas," said Warren Talley, project manager for janitorial services with the Opportunity Center. "Those areas must be cleaned twice a day and they take longer to clean."

Buildings affected include the Combat Vehicle Repair Facility, Combat Vehicle Cleaning and Painting Building, the Tank Repair Shop and its breakroom as well as the Vehicle Component Repair and Paint Facility.

Showers and restrooms in these areas are cleaned at 9:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

Break rooms must also be scrubbed twice a day to remove any cadmium particles. The times for break room cleaning are 7:15 a.m. and 2:20 p.m.

These times are posted on signs outside each restroom, shower and break room in cadmium-regulated areas.

While these spaces are being cleaned, employees are asked to refrain from using the facilities.

Additionally, employees are asked not to leave personal items or food on the tables in the break rooms.

During the cleaning process, the janitorial staff must scrub the floors, walls, tables, benches and all external surfaces of the facility - essentially, any area where traces of cadmium dust may linger.

If personal items and food are in the area, the staff cannot move those items, meaning these areas cannot be cleaned.

"We are not paying for them to housekeep personal items," said Mike Finn, a contract support specialist with the depot's Directorate of Public Works.

Personal items on top of lockers in the cadmium areas can also prevent proper cleaning. These areas are also scrubbed by the staff and if clothing is stacked on the lockers it cannot be moved, thus preventing cleaning.