from the editor
opinion
Beyond appearances: Creating a culture of hygiene The cleaning industry must move beyond hygiene theatre to create a “culture of hygiene,” says Stephen P. Ashkin, President of The Ashkin Group,
Sustainability in cleaning a growing force The term ‘sustainable cleaning’ has become a key driver in the industry, reflecting sustainable trends and increasing expectations among customers for products and services that respond to the environmentally friendly agenda. Green cleaning reduces the health and environmental impact of chemicals, products, and processes employed in building cleaning and maintenance, while raising the profile of cleaning as a whole and demonstrates that clean is not just a cost burden. In this issue, we cover this important topic from various angles in order to provide contractors and end users with valuable facts to gauge whether the products used are indeed proven green. A further subject addressed in this issue is the importance of regular carpet care. Rather than focusing on price, facility managers should look at using the correct equipment and chemical products together with a well-planned maintenance programme to deliver the best service and avoid costly problems down the road. Hand hygiene became a critical issue during the coronavirus pandemic which resulted in an unprecedented increase in frequent handwashing, boosting demand for paper products. This issue highlights a piece on towel and tissue sustainability and the challenges faced by contractors and end users in trying to choose the most sustainable paper products for use in washroom facilities. Finally, I want to remind industry suppliers of our upcoming features as detailed in the contents page section of the magazine. We look forward to your participation. Enjoy the read, #StaySafe, and #VaccinateToSaveSouthAfrica
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a consulting firm specialising in green cleaning and sustainability. Ashkin offers valuable insight as to the significance of creating a healthy facility.
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he COVID-19 pandemic has changed how the world views cleaning. With over 1 million deaths worldwide from this disease, people increasingly understand the importance of hand hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting. However, the cleaning industry must consider which pandemic cleaning protocols should remain when COVID-19 has been defeated.
Thompson continued, “COVID-19 has reawakened America’s spirit of misdirected anxiety, inspiring businesses and families to obsess over risk-reduction rituals that make us feel safer but don’t actually do much to reduce risk – even as more dangerous activities are still allowed. This is hygiene theatre.”
Creating a culture of hygiene Defining health In his book “Cleaning for Health: Protecting the Built Environment,” Michael Berry, Ph.D., defines health as “The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. To this point, many facilities would benefit by recognising they need to address occupant concerns and fears that their health and safety, as well as that of their co-workers, family members and friends, may be at risk when they enter office buildings, workplaces, schools, restaurants, retailers, and other public facilities.
Hygiene theatre To prove their efforts in making buildings safe, some resort to extreme measures. Derek Thompson wrote in The Atlantic, “To some American companies […] COVID-19 is apparently a war that will be won through antimicrobial blasting, to ensure that pathogens are banished from every square inch of America’s surface area. But what if this is all just a huge waste of time?”
Thus, the cleaning industry must move beyond hygiene theatre to create a “culture of hygiene”. It is no longer adequate to keep cleaning staff invisible, working when buildings are unoccupied, totally separated and isolated from the actual activities of the building occupants. Now, occupants want to see and know that the work has actually been performed. Creating a culture of hygiene includes specific efforts to engage and educate occupants. These efforts include: electronic signage highlighting cleaning efforts; checklists indicating when a room was last cleaned appearing in areas other than washrooms, such as conference rooms; door hangers and note cards, like those used in hotels, placed on occupant desks to indicate they have been cleaned; and the strategic placement of hand sanitiser stands throughout the building with signage to encourage their use. These are all examples of occupant engagement and education that can give comfort and confidence, and actually contribute to a healthy building.
