Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 0.3	$ 127.4	$ 97.8
(Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(0.1)	0.1	(1.8)
Income from continuing operations	0.2	127.5	95.9
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract]
Depreciation and amortization	96.4	107.4	112.5
Proceeds from termination of interest rate swaps	0.0	0.0	25.9
Impairment loss	172.8	0.0	26.5
Deferred income taxes	(36.6)	9.7	(23.7)
Share-based compensation expense	20.3	17.5	17.0
Provision for bad debt	19.6	6.7	6.4
Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive gain on interest rate swaps	(6.7)	(5.7)	(2.5)
Discount accretion on insurance claims	0.8	0.8	0.8
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	2.1	(0.6)	0.5
Reserves on other assets	17.6	0.0	0.0
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(2.2)	(3.0)	(3.2)
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	0.1	5.4	1.9
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions
Trade accounts receivable and costs incurred in excess of amounts billed	141.4	(78.3)	16.0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(15.5)	(13.2)	2.4
Right-of-use assets	24.4
Other noncurrent assets	(10.4)	4.5	11.3
Trade accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(53.5)	85.8	(1.5)
Long-term lease liabilities	(22.9)
Insurance claims	5.7	3.9	13.9
Income taxes payable	7.6	3.2	0.7
Other noncurrent liabilities	96.2	(8.7)	(1.2)
Total adjustments	457.2	135.3	203.7
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	457.4	262.8	299.7
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	0.1	(0.1)	21.2
Net cash provided by operating activities	457.5	262.7	320.9
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(38.0)	(59.6)	(50.9)
Proceeds from sale of assets	5.5	1.3	2.3
Adjustments to sale of business	0.0	0.0	(1.9)
Proceeds from redemption of auction rate security	5.0	0.0	2.9
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0.0	0.0	(0.4)
Net cash used in investing activities	(27.5)	(58.3)	(48.1)
Cash flows from financing activities
Taxes withheld from issuance of share-based compensation awards, net	(0.9)	(1.3)	(1.0)
Repurchases of common stock	(5.1)	0.0	0.0
Dividends paid	(49.3)	(47.7)	(46.0)
Deferred financing costs paid	(4.4)	0.0	(0.1)
Borrowings from credit facility	1,058.5	1,755.9	1,184.2
Repayment of borrowings from credit facility	(1,141.6)	(1,896.5)	(1,426.4)
Changes in book cash overdrafts	41.2	(0.2)	(8.5)
Financing of energy savings performance contracts	11.1	8.1	5.4
Repayment of finance lease obligations	(3.4)	(3.1)	(3.3)
Net cash used in financing activities	(94.1)	(184.8)	(295.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(0.2)	(0.2)	(0.7)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	335.7	19.4	(23.7)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	58.5	39.1	62.8
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	394.2	58.5	39.1
Supplemental cash flow information
Income tax payments (refunds), net	82.2	20.6	(1.0)
Interest paid on credit facility	$ 32.9	$ 39.9	$ 49.6