African Cleaning Review SeptOct '20 by African Cleaning Review

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Carpet care customisation Sustainable cleaning Readying hotels to accept guests

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

contents African Cleaning Review is aimed at end users, contractors and suppliers of products and services to Africa’s Cleaning, Hygiene, Maintenance, Laundry, Pest Control and Facility Management Services industries. It is published every other month by: e-squared publications. Tel: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 VOL 21 NO. 5 Cover story Carpet care customisation Natural fibres are often more difficult to clean and can require special chemistry. Sustainable fibres typically need to avoid water, so specialised cleaning methods are needed for removing soil from those carpets. The increase in sustainable carpet is a huge factor in why carpet care requires customisation.

@AfricanCleanMag

Publishing Editor: Johann van Vuuren +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Advertising: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Operations and Accounts: Nandé Jacobs Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

Read more on page 12.

Industry News

Partnership delivers hand sanitiser in the face of exceptional demand Global safety and hygiene stamp for V&A Waterfront Botswana cleaning companies to form industry body Amalgamation to create foremost cleaning specialist New premises for Prime Cleaning Suppliers Gauteng

Editorial

Creating a successful coronavirus cleaning regime – GCE Exercise extreme caution when hand sanitising – Biodx Shift in how cleaning will be viewed in a post COVID-19 era – Industroclean

Fact Check

Investigating inflated claims to sell unnecessary COVID-19 ”deep cleans”

Features

FM Review

Case Study

Laundry Review

E-training

People and Events

Are hotels ready to welcome guests? Skills e-programme to ensure effective cleaning and sanitising GCE appoints new Cape Town branch manager New appointment at Tsebo Solutions Group Interclean Amsterdam 2020 a virtual affair International integrated services congress Virtual UK exhibition and conference to replace October event NCCA Gauteng AGM a virtual affair in 2020 Industry loss – Dr Clive Roffey

Robotics in cleaning making headway Europe’s largest single order for robotics recorded

New Products

Introducing market-leading HEPA filtration The indispensable hand sanitiser system Mechanical floor cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in one application Locally engineered mobile disinfectant trailer Clean small areas without the hassle of a cable

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in African Cleaning Review, e-squared publications and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright of all material published in African Cleaning Review remains with e-squared publications and its agents.

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Carpet care • A case for carpet care customisation • A guide to cleaning entrance matting Sustainable cleaning • Simple steps toward more sustainable floor care • Navigating towel and tissue sustainability FM in a post COVID-19 world

All editorial contributions can be sent to the editor who reserves the right to publish editorial based on the strength of its content. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publishers.

Opinion

As COVID-19 restrictions are lowered, workplace health and safely remains a priority

AfricanCleaningReview

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Planned features for 2020 Nov/Dec issue: Editorial deadline 16 October • Hospitality cleaning solutions • Washroom products and cleaning Feature sections in every issue: • Laundry and dry cleaning review • Facilities management review

Update your details to appear in the 2021 annual African Cleaning Review Buyer’s Guide on page 33

COVID-19

Be safe. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. Wear a mask. Published by:

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African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

from the editor

opinion

As COVID-19 restrictions are lowered, workplace health and safety remains a priority The relaxation of lockdown regulations and the gradual reopening of more

Level 1 is here and the new normal dawns

parts of the South African economy does not remove the need for strict

It was with a great deal of anticipation that South Africa woke up to the first day of lockdown level 1 restrictions following a tough 179-day lockdown regime that started with level 5, said to be one of strictest in world. However, we are not out of the woods yet as President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed in his latest national address when he cautioned the country against complacency and the reality of a second wave of COVID-19 infections. The relaxation of restrictions will kickstart many sectors of the economy following months of inactivity and more people will return to the workplace. However, with no vaccine available yet, COVID-19 precautions will become the new normal, especially where gatherings of people will pose the everpresent risk of spreading the coronavirus. With this in mind, it is important to realise that all over the world the role of the cleaning industry has been enhanced as people comprehend the importance of a hygienic environment. Furthermore, cleaning plays a vital part in the economy, emphasising innovation and technological advances that manifests cleaning as an essential service to all areas of society. Unfortunately, these calamitous times brought with them instances of misrepresentation of facts under the guise of blanket disinfection procedures. Read more about this practice that exploits consumer ignorance to market coronavirus cleaning solutions. Also, articles featured in this issue amongst others include, carpet care customisation, sustainable cleaning, a robotics case study and updates about some of the most important virtual cleaning events taking place during October and November. Remember to constantly build on the newfound awareness associated with cleaning for health.

have proper systems in place to keep their teams and customers healthy and

Enjoy the read.

African Cleaning Review May/June 2020

workplace health and safety measures. Employers should ensure that they

to be able to respond appropriately if a coronavirus infection is confirmed.

“L

arge numbers of South Africans have been able to return to work which means that bigger groups are now spending time in close proximity with each other. This makes it critical to ensure that their work spaces are properly cleansed and that hygiene measures are kept at the highest possible level to prevent the possible transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The risk of possible infection can be greatly reduced if everyone continues to follow the rules and remain alert,” says Fidelity Services Group CEO, Wahl Bartmann. “It is important to remember that the virus is spread when someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales. Droplets of infected fluids can land on any nearby surface and objects, which makes regular and thorough cleaning and disinfecting more important than ever before,” says Bartmann. “Our efforts to assist customers across the country are based on guidelines published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and on the advice provided by local health authorities. Social distancing measures should also be part of this for the foreseeable future,” says Bartmann. Health and cleaning measures should still remain in place under alert level two, which Bartmann says include: • Display posters promoting hand-washing – Informational

and educational posters can be downloaded from a number of websites, such as the South African Government and the CDC. This should be combined with other communication measures such as offering guidance from occupational health and safety officers, briefings at internal meetings, and information on intranet sites to promote hand-washing • Ensure that face masks or paper tissues are available for everyone at your workplace, along with closed bins that allow for their hygienic disposal. Face masks and paper tissues are especially important for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work • Encourage video conferencing or conference calls – While the country works to stem the further spread of the coronavirus, it is better to avoid contact meetings if this is at all feasible • Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic – Surfaces that are touched regularly (such as door handles, desks, tables, phones and keyboards) need to be wiped down and disinfected regularly with an approved QAC or sanitising product. Ensure products used are SANS 1828 and NCRS approved • Promote regular and thorough hand-washing by employees, contractors, and customers – Place sanitising hand rub dispensers

opinion in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled with approved products • Prepare for the best, but plan for the worst – Ensure that you have accurate contact details for any employee or visitor on hand, so that, in the event of an infection, everyone that has visited your workplace can be contacted. Allocate a room or a space where anyone that thinks they may have fallen ill, can be kept isolated until they can safely be transported for medical treatment if this becomes necessary • Proper disposal of PPE equipment/environmental awareness must be adhered to so as to ensure PPE is disposed of by authorized waste disposers according to Waste Classification and Management Regulations, 2013, published under Government Notice R634 in Gazette No. 36784 of 23 August 2013

• Strict screening procedures – Need to remain in place to ensure that every single person entering a workplace is screened and authorized to enter the workplace. Any queries can be referred to the on-site nurse for clarification Bartmann offers the following advice for employers who become aware of an infection at the workplace: “You must ensure that any infected staff member is sent home or does not report to work. Ensure the work space is either fogged or cleaned using disinfectant chemicals. We also recommend that all the direct contacts at the office must be traced and sent for a 14 day self-quarantine period, away from the office. “My suggestion to any business owner is to make sure they have put the best possible measures in place to protect employees and customers. If you have any doubt about the measures you have taken, get in contact with your local health authority. It is also important to stay appraised of

Wahl Bartmann government’s latest announcements and regulations issued in the fight against the coronavirus,” concludes Bartmann. Fidelity Cleaning Services is a member of the Fidelity Services Group that provides specialised cleaning services to corporate clients.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

industry news Partnership delivers hand sanitiser in the face of exceptional demand

eading global hygiene and cleaning products company Diversey is manufacturing hand sanitiser in partnership with South African Breweries (SAB) – a proud member of the AB InBev family – to help local efforts in combatting the spread of COVID-19. SAB swiftly redirected its Innovation and Communities strategies to respond to the COVID-19 crisis through the production of hand sanitisers. SAB donated the ethanol for Diversey to use in the process and the resulting production run was

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

then donated by SAB to local hospitals and clinics in critical areas where the COVID-19 pandemic is already causing serious impact. Boniface Kariuki of Diversey, reflecting on the partnership, said: “As a company we are recognised for extending help to the communities in which we operate, particularly in difficult times; and none more so than now, with the unique threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Combining our renowned expertise in hygiene in this collaboration means we are able to respond and get the required help to the critical areas on the ground much quicker. In working closely with SAB we have been able to contribute in addressing the serious shortage of hand sanitiser.” Diversey’s efforts are part of a privatesector response that runs parallel to the South African Government’s efforts, including the lockdown measures that together are designed to protect the nation and ensure the spread of the

virus is contained by flattening the curve of infection. The exceptional global demand for alcohol-based sanitiser has resulted in significant shortages in this pandemic. However, due to their collaboration, Diversey and SAB have been able to produce hand sanitiser for the local healthcare sector. In total, SAB has donated 150 000 litres of hand sanitiser over a period of three months. The initial production target of 100 000 bottles for Phase One of the project is equivalent to 50 000 litres. Initially, a total of 10 000 of these bottles were delivered to the Riverpark clinic in Alexandra, Johannesburg and the rest have been distributed to the Provincial Departments of Health for distribution to hospitals in need. SAB/AB InBev subsequently agreed to proceed with Phases Two and Three (each 50 000 litres) which made their way to the Department of Transport and the Department of Basic Education for distribution to under-resourced schools.

industry news Global safety and hygiene stamp for V&A Waterfront

ape Town’s V&A Waterfront has become the first tourist attraction in South Africa to be awarded what is known as a “global safety and hygiene stamp”, an initiative of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). “This is the world’s first-ever global safety and hygiene stamp for travel and tourism. It is designed to address COVID-19 and similar outbreaks. It’s awarded only after all hygiene protocols have been implemented,” said V&A Waterfront spokesperson Donald Kau. According to Kau, the Waterfront implemented a host of measures to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the attraction. “We modified the ventilation system to take advantage of natural ventilation, we introduced digital vouchers for shopping, made the parking payment system contactless and introduced an online shopping click-and-collect drive-through.” The World Travel & Tourism Council launched a set of hygiene standards for tourism – with a stamp of approval for those who comply – to assist in welcoming

travellers back safely. As lockdowns lift and parts of the world cautiously reopen for tourism, a major industry concern is people’s fears – making them reluctant to stray far from home, stay in hotels or even dine in restaurants – mainly due to lingering worries about their health. To address that, the WTTC has launched the first global safety and hygiene stamp, which will allow travellers to recognise countries, cities and businesses that have adopted a standardised set of health and hygiene protocols to ensure people’s safety. The WTTC, which represents the private sector in global travel and tourism, says the new set of protocols “will encourage the return of ‘safe travels’ around the world.” Businesses including hotels, restaurants, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators, restaurants, outdoor markets, transportation companies and airports will be able to use the stamp once the health and hygiene measures, outlined by WTTC, have been implemented. WTTC president Gloria Guevara said: “We have learnt from past crises

that global standard protocols and consistency provide confidence for the traveller. Our new global safety stamp is designed to help rebuild consumer confidence worldwide.” The initiative has the support of the UN World Tourism Organisation and the Council has published specific protocols for several sectors which are being updated as new information about COVID-19 becomes available. For more information about the World Travel & Tourism Council’s new stamp of safety visit: www.wttc.org

Botswana cleaning companies to form industry body

leaning companies in neighbouring country Botswana resolved to establish the country’s first cleaning association to be named the Botswana Cleaning Association (BCA). The BCA will be a registered industry body under the country’s Societies Act with a mandate to regulate the cleaning industry in Botswana. Cleaning companies in the country decided to establish the association in order to address common challenges faced by the industry, among them the lack of professionalism in executing cleaning contracts. In addition, the BCA will become the voice of the cleaning industry, particularly when interacting with the Labour Department regarding

issues like unfair labour practices. To address this and other issues the BCA will introduce standard operating procedures for members. Membership of the association will consist of two categories: • Regular membership – wholly Botswana citizen owned cleaning companies • Associate membership – cleaning product suppliers including noncitizens The Botswana Cleaning Association will be formally launched on 3 October 2020 in Gaborone at which time the first AGM will be held and a National Executive Committee elected. It is expected that 36 regular and two

supplier members will be confirmed. The BCA launch event will also act as a platform for various guest speakers representing the government to address the fledgling cleaning association. For more information about BCA email: jerryreginald90@gmail.com

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

industry news Amalgamation to create foremost cleaning specialist

n what is regarded as a major move towards the creation of a diversified entity in the cleaning and hygiene space, Prime Cleaning Suppliers (PCS) Gauteng announced the integration of industrial cleaning chemical manufacturer, Blendwell Chemicals. The two businesses will be co-located at the new state-of-the-art facility in Old Mint Park, Centurion, thereby offering a comprehensive range of products. According to PCS Gauteng’s Willie Smit, the strategic acquisition will result in a diversified product offering, economies of scale and, most importantly, the synergies and leverage of this acquisition makes this a perfect fit for both parties to remain relevant, competitive and sustainable in an ever-changing marketplace. “As we unite I am really excited at the prospect of what we will be able to offer the cleaning industry. This integration will allow us to offer complete cleaning solutions to the cleaning industry and service providers in Southern Africa. There

is no better way to celebrate Blendwell’s 30 years in business,” said Blendwell Chemicals’ Judy Sunasky. “From a PCS perspective we are now able to service other industries with our larger product offering. Our contract cleaning clients and hygiene service suppliers will have access to a comprehensive range of food-certified products as well as a locally manufactured, internationally certified, and environmentally friendly product range under the Enviroblend banner,” added Jaco Strydom – Prime Cleaning Suppliers Gauteng. PCS and Blendwell Chemicals have common values that aim to encourage and support local business and strengthen confidence in the value South Africa has to offer. The parties agree that, as a business, they have a responsibility to grow manufacturing and employment locally as much as possible. Quality products and efficient service have always been of major importance to both

organisations and this further enhances opportunities for all stakeholders. This integration allows for a unification of companies that bring complementary qualities to one another and creates a dynamic and versatile cleaning products specialist for the industry. “As we enter the second half of 2020, we believe businesses with the ability to adapt and meet market needs will thrive in a rapidly changing commercial backdrop. Prime Cleaning Suppliers with Blendwell Chemicals on board is therefore perfectly positioned to do just that,” commented Trevor Longmore – Prime Cleaning Suppliers Group.

New premises for Prime Cleaning Suppliers Gauteng

eading South African cleaning solutions provider Prime Cleaning Suppliers’ (PCS) Gauteng operations moved into their new turnkey-developed premises situated at Old Mint Park. The new industrial development is conveniently situated between Midrand and Centurion on the N1 motorway between the Brakfontein interchange (Old Johannesburg/Pretoria Road) and the Samrand off-ramps. One of Old Mint Park’s biggest draw cards is the excellent highway exposure. The N1 motorway between Johannesburg and Pretoria carries 300 000 vehicles per day and is reported to be the busiest stretch of road in Southern Africa. As such, the site offers fantastic advertising and brand exposure opportunities for PCS. “Over the past few years we experienced a rapid

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

growth phase in our business cycle and therefore deemed it necessary to expand operations to ensure future sustainability and growth,” commented PCS’ Willie Smit. Prime Cleaning Suppliers Group’s Trevor Longmore added, “The new facility will result in increased capacity and capabilities in our aim to offer world-class solutions in the Gauteng area and will contain amongst other things, offices, warehousing, a showroom, training and service centre, chemical factory and a tissue factory, all under one roof. This will streamline all operations enabling us to provide a more diversified range of cleaning supplies backed by superior service levels.” According to Jaco Strydom, PCS head of sales, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an increased

focus on hygiene and cleaning, hence PCS is ideally positioned to meet customer needs by offering turnkey solutions.

editorial GCE

Creating a successful coronavirus cleaning regime As more businesses reopen following the drop to level 1 COVID-19 restrictions, the need to reassure facility workers and visitors that they will be safe becomes imperative. It is therefore essential to keep workplaces clean in order to protect staff and visitors from the coronavirus. In this article Greg Venter, Managing Director of Goscor Cleaning Equipment, points out: “In cleaning building premises, especially equipment and surfaces that are touched often, many companies have increased the frequency, scope and intensity of their cleaning regimes. Problems arise however, when incorrect methods are used.” It has been scientifically proven that certain disinfectants can leave a chemical residue when used frequently and this causes a build-up, which is particularly common if the surface is not rinsed correctly after application. When the residue from a disinfectant is left behind on a surface, it creates a unique environment for both existing and new forms of bacteria to grow, which have the potential to become resistant to the disinfecting agent used. “To effectively clean surfaces, you have to thoroughly remove dirt and contaminants,” states Venter. “The best way for companies to do this is to use state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and detergents or disinfectants. Vacuums used to clean carpets and hard floor surfaces should be fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and should undergo regular maintenance, which includes changing the filters,” he adds. Goscor Cleaning Equipment supplies a range of carpet extractors from the world-leading cleaning brand, Tennant. From deep cleaning to handheld spot extractors, Tennant offers proven carpet cleaning machines to meet the exacting standards that the current workplace demands. Tennant’s E5 deep-cleaning carpet extractor provides powerful cleaning for small spaces. Cleaning in congested and hard-to-reach areas is easy with this model’s compact design and its dual overlapping spray jets and exceptional vacuum suction provide maximum cleaning performance across the entire cleaning path. For a fast-drying interim cleaning solution in high-traffic areas, Venter recommends Tennant’s walk-behind or ride-on industrial carpet cleaners featuring the patented ReadySpace® technology. “ReadySpace® removes soil before it becomes embedded, thereby extending the life of the carpet and extending the time between deep cleaning,” he says. Adding, “this revolutionary breakthrough carpet cleaning technology leaves carpets clean, dry and ready for traffic in less than 30 minutes. With ReadySpace® you will use less water thereby never saturating the carpet, which minimises odours and mould caused by excess water.” With its walk-behind options – the 1610 and the R3 – room and carpet area shutdown times can be reduced dramatically. Both the 1610 and R3 carpet extractors, each featuring ReadySpace® technology, are ideal for interim cleanings in between deep cleans. The 1610 walk-behind, dual-technology extractor is also a deep-cleaning extractor for periodic, restorative cleaning that helps to prolong carpet life. Cleaning is made easy in tight, congested areas, such as office spaces, with near effortless forward and reverse cleaning action. “Ultimately the goal of cleaning is to produce a hygienic and healthy environment that goes beyond cleaning for appearance only, and focuses on properly killing and removing bacteria, mould, parasites, allergens and viruses. Effective infection prevention and control is central to providing a safe and healthy work and business environment,” concludes Venter. For more information visit: www.goscorcleaning.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

fact check cleaning for COVID-19

Investigating inflated claims to sell unnecessary COVID-19 “deep cleans” The COVID-19 pandemic created a phenomenon whereby some companies are utilising the fear factor and exploiting consumer ignorance to market coronavirus cleaning solutions which are both unnecessary and expensive. This article, first published by GroundUp, takes a closer look at some of these outrageous claims and calls out a specific culprit.

fter some of their colleagues tested positive for COVID-19, teachers at a Cape Town school refused to return to work until the school had a “deep clean”. This type of incident has played itself out over and over across the country since the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), hit our shores. Professor Francois Venter, an infectious disease doctor at Ezintsha, Wits University, explains: “These so-called ‘deep cleans’ after a work colleague tests positive are absolutely unnecessary. Regular, normal cleaning of surfaces using standard household products, like water and bleach, are sufficient. If you spend thousands of Rands on a ‘deep clean’ and someone infected with COVID-19 sneezes or coughs and touches surfaces in the room a short while later, what was the point of it?” “Do not get distracted by endless concerns about catching the virus off a surface; it infects the vast majority of us through the air. So distance, wearing a mask and spending time outdoors will keep you safe, not strong chemicals,” he says. Even worse than deep cleans are “disinfection tunnels”. “The Department of Health and the Minister of Health have warned against the use of sanitising tunnels,” says Momeena Omarjee of the Law and Enforcement division of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Furthermore, a recent article in the South African Medical Journal states: “To mitigate the spread of the SARS-

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

CoV-2 virus, a concerning practice of spraying individuals with disinfectant via so-called ‘disinfection tunnels’ has come to light. The Allergy Society of South Africa supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in strongly condemning all human spraying, due to lack of efficacy and potential dangers, especially to patients with co-existing allergic conditions.”

NanoWorks’ misleading claims A company that is marketing antiCOVID-19 cleaning products especially hard is NanoWorks, a division of JC Wholesalers. On its website there is a COVID-19 menu link. Clicking on it brings up various disinfectant products as well as “Sanitising Tunnels and liquids for protecting people in high traffic areas”. GroundUp has seen an order sheet for various NanoWorks products and services, for which they are charging many thousands of Rands. But its claims are greatly exaggerated and the money could be better spent on standard cleaning services. Here are some examples of the company’s misleading claims: It is selling an unproven “electric fogger” that it claims sanitises environments against COVID-19. But the company has failed to provide any compelling evidence that its product works better than standard cleaning. A video shows this fogger being used to spray food in a supermarket. The spray has an elaborate name: Nano Deionized Aqua Solution containing Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+

formulation. The evidence that it is safe to spray this product on fruit and vegetables, and into the environment, is however lacking. Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+ is described as a “multi-purpose 3-in-1 sanitiser and disinfectant containing nano-silver complex to provide longer lasting biocidal surface protection after disinfection”. The company claims its disinfectant protects against germs, including SARSCoV-2 for 90 days. “COVID-19 peace of mind: our nanotechnology revolutionise sanitising and disinfectant world” and “Can’t wait to lose your mask? Conquer COVID-19 with nanotechnology… Sanitisers; Disinfectants; Anti-Bac coatings... All our products offers anti-germ, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial solutions that eradicates 99.9999% of all disease causing organisms, for prolonged periods, even permanently!” (language as in the original) The company also claims: “Our antibacterial technology has scientifically been proven to achieve a 99.9999% (complete) kill against 660+ disease causing micro-organisms, with absolutely no side effects or adverse effects on positive bacteria (pro-biotica) or human or animal tissue and health.” (language as in the original) The company’s website does not display compelling evidence to support its claims, nor does it provide compelling evidence that its products have “absolutely no side effects or adverse effects on positive bacteria (pro-biotica) or human or animal tissue and health”.

fact check that the WHO has published an analysis that finds inconclusive evidence of the safety or efficacy of such products, at least when used in drinking water. Dr Jack Meintjes, Occupational Health Officer for Tygerberg Hospital, says, “We know that some metals (including silver, copper, etc.) have anti-microbial action and these are used in a number of surface coatings. I would normally look at the clinical evidence of a product, and not just claims based on other research (or simple laboratory studies). I have not seen any clinical studies on these and would therefore be hesitant to recommend [these products].”

And what about COVID-19? Both GroundUp and consumer activist Dr Harris Steinman asked the company for evidence of its claims. The company responded by e-mailing many documents but on close perusal, these did not change the picture. As Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+ is marketed to protect against COVID-19, it has to comply with specific regulations. SAHPRA, South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) on 20 May 2020 released a statement titled: “Regulatory Status of Equipment Being Used to Help Prevent Coronavirus (COVID-19)”. Omarjee of SAHPRA says: “The product [Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+] claims for use as a hand and surface sanitiser. Therefore the regulation and compliance should be according to the various standards for surface and for human use, i.e. the NRCS standards and compulsory specifications.” NanoWorks indeed holds an NRCS certification, dated 13 December 2011, for a product “marketed as Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+”. But the NRCS product description is: • sodium chloride disinfectant, • strength 0.26%, • perfume variant – slight chlorine smell. This is basically a standard household chlorine product. And, critically, as Steinman points out, this product is not the “nano-silver complex” that NanoWorks claims in the name, but a sodium chloride solution – chlorine in other words. “Chlorine is used as

a disinfectant but does not last for months on end. It is essentially just another chlorine bleach.” Either “nano-silver complex” has nothing to do with silver and is just the company’s misleading name for chlorine or the company is misleading the public and operating in direct conflict of its nine-year-old NRCS certification stipulation: “No modifications shall be made to the disinfectant or detergent-disinfectant formulation itself, its composition and information that shall appear on each container or on a label securely attached to each container as required by the appropriate compulsory specification without prior notification of the NRCS.”

Is it really safe? NanoWorks sent us documentation that claims that Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+ is “safe to use on children, babies and pets”.This statement, however, is in direct contradiction to a statement on the company’s Safety Data Material Sheet: “Environmental stability: No specific data is available for this product; however, this product is expected to be readily biodegradable.” “Effect of Product on plant and animals: No evidence is currently available on this product’s effects on plants or animals.” “Effect of product to aquatic life: No evidence is currently available on this product’s effects on aquatic life.” If the product does indeed contain silver nano-particles, it’s worth noting

We asked for evidence that Natrolyte 815.312 Ag T ion+ is specifically effective against COVID-19. Jaco Van der Merwe, general manager at NanoWorks, replied that Hypochlorous acid (HOCI) (formed when chlorine dissolves in water) “has been proven by a USA laboratory to kill the COVID-19 virus within 2 minutes.” But in fact the test was on a different coronavirus, not SARSCoV-2. Furthermore, while HOCI may kill micro-organisms and pathogens, it is not the formulation referred to in NanoWorks’s nine-year-old NRCS certificate. Nevertheless, it’s plausible, even probable, that NanoWorks’s product does destroy SARS-CoV-2. But then almost any household cleaning agent does! GroundUp selected NanoWorks as an example because its marketing is especially aggressive and because of a video that circulated on social media promoting its product. However there are other companies making similar claims. It is therefore conclusive – don’t waste your money or put people who visit your facility at risk with untested methods. Just make sure surfaces are cleaned often using standard cleaning products. This abridged article by Natasha Bolognesi was originally published by GroundUp, a news agency that report on news that is in the public interest, with an emphasis on the human rights of vulnerable communities. For more information visit: www.groundup.org.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

editorial Biodx

Exercise extreme caution when hand sanitising

he latest research carried out by accredited laboratory SciCorp in KwaZulu-Natal has shown that out of 11 hand sanitisers – 9 bought from stores and 2 given out at the entrance of the mall or shop – 5 were found to be non-compliant. This means they did not contain the minimum 70 percent alcohol content, required by law. In this article, Burt Rodrigues CEO of Biodx and dermatologist, Dr Selwyn Schwartz, give their insight into the hand sanitiser landscape. “What was particularly frightening to note was that labels on two of the products claimed to have 70 percent alcohol content, whilst in reality one had 46.3 percent ethanol and another, claiming to have 85 percent alcohol had 54.9 percent propanol,” comments Rodrigues. In a recent report in Times Live, SciCorp Laboratories’ business development director Adrian Barnard said, “Our biggest concern scientifically is what people are adding to products when there is less alcohol.” “This at a time when people’s very lives depend on trusting these sanitisers, not just to keep them free of COVID-19 but also not to cause irreparable harm to their skin or health. Many of these products were produced during the rush to get sanitisers to the retail market, often forgoing the rigorous and often lengthy SABS and NRCS testing procedures,” said Rodrigues.

Skin reactions to sanitisers According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) there are two major types of skin reactions that could be caused by hand sanitising.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

Most common would be dryness, irritation, itching and even cracking and bleeding (referred to as irritant contact dermatitis) or a stronger allergic reaction to an ingredient in a particular product which could cause respiratory distress and even anaphylaxis. “In any one day people are using hand sanitisers innumerable times without knowing if that product is safe to use within that time frame. And that’s assuming it’s a safe product in the first place. With this in mind we are currently developing an alcohol-free, 99.999% kill-rate hand sanitiser called vitrodx® hand with bioactive™, which is not only safer than alcohol but effective for up to 7 hours. And, like all our products, has been developed not only to be kinder to human skin but also the planet,” says Rodrigues. The CFC (Center for Disease Control) confirms that these reactions are often the case when methanol, a type of toxic alcohol, is used in these products. Methanol can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed and has recently resulted in several deaths in New Mexico. This has led to the FDA recalling products containing a significant amount of methanol which doesn’t always appear on the label but is discovered after testing of the product has been carried out.

the latter which will ensure you are moisturising as well as keeping the virus at bay. For some people who are in and out of buildings and shops where the only options are sanitisers they should try and wash with soap and water as soon as they can and then moisturise with hand cream.” When asked if ‘all hand creams were equal’ Dr Schwartz replied, “Definitely not. You must use a thick cream, particularly before going to bed at night. The thicker the cream the more moisture it contains. Many products including aqueous cream contain lauryl sulphate which is a vanishing cream ingredient that dries skin out further instead of maintaining surface moisture.”

Preventing sanitiser-damaged skin in light of COVID-19 • Use your own sanitiser (which you have verified as effective and safe) when entering and leaving any premises • Wear gloves which you can sanitise and then washing your hands before and after wearing these • Where possible wash with soap and water rather than use sanitiser Biodx is on a journey to reduce society’s dependence on synthetic chemicals. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, breaking boundaries, crossing new frontiers, and helping to evolve the future of disinfection.

Tips from a dermatologist

With technical support from the CSIR (Council

According to leading Johannesburg dermatologist Dr Selwyn Schwartz, by far the best and safest way to keep your skin safe and healthy is to rather wash with soap and water when you can. “If you have the option of using sanitiser or soap and water, then definitely choose

for Scientific and Industrial Research) as well as financial support from TIA (Technology Innovation Agency) and IDC (Industrial Development Corporation), we’ve spent the last 15 years researching and developing cutting edge antimicrobial and antiviral technologies. For more information visit: https://biodx.co/

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

feature carpet care

A case for carpet care customisation By: Stephen Lewis

Some of the most recent advances in the carpet industry stem from the increasing demand for sustainable carpet or carpet made from renewable resources. There has been significant progress on the sustainability front regarding fibres. Varieties of natural fibres (from animals or plants) are becoming more and more prevalent in the carpet industry. Even sustainable synthetic fibres (man-made from recycled materials) have seen progress with the development of a new fibre called Triexta, that combines the properties of nylon and polypropylene with increased resilience for better wear.

hile the progress toward a more sustainable industry is positive, such advances are not happening at the same rate for the maintenance aspect of these new sustainable sources. Natural fibres are often more difficult to clean and can require special chemistry. Sustainable fibres typically need to avoid water, so specialised cleaning methods are needed for removing soil from those carpets. The increase in sustainable carpet is a huge factor in why carpet care requires customisation.

What factors matter in customisation No two buildings are the same, and a customised care plan may even differentiate cleaning frequencies on each floor. All carpet care methods, however, are ultimately determined by two factors: fibre type and soil load.

Fibre type What a carpet fibre is made of determines the carpet cleaning methods employed. A natural fibre, like wool or bamboo, will have greater absorption properties than synthetic fibres, and a dry-centred cleaning approach will be necessary in order to avoid shrinkage and growth of mould or mildew. Synthetic carpet fibres are typically more resilient to water-based cleaning methods. Another cleaning variable that’s determined by carpet fibre type is

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

brush stiffness of your agitation equipment. Here, again, natural fibres are more likely to be damaged by stiff brushes, while synthetic fibres are generally more resistant.

Soil load The second factor in determining cleaning methods is soil load. The soil load will determine the level of aggression in the cleaning methods employed. Carpet with more soil will require a more aggressive approach than carpet with less soil. Because of the soil load coming in, a customised carpet care plan will frequently target entryways as a top priority. A number of factors matter here, as well, including: • Amount of foot traffic on the carpet • Frequency of spills on the carpet • Types of spills occurring • Type of soil being tracked into the facility The type of soil is a factor often overlooked, but the outside environment must be considered. If, for example, employees frequently track in snow and ice, the moisture level may be more of a concern in that facility than for one that is located in a dryer climate. There is no “one size fits all” approach to carpet care.

Which carpet care chemicals to use Maintenance methods chosen must, as a rule, do less harm than leaving the soil in the carpet would. And

accordingly, chemicals should be a key consideration. Chemicals used on carpets should strike the perfect balance between being effective and not harming the construction of the carpet fibres. That chemical balance is determined by fibre type and whether it is natural or synthetic.

Natural fibres As previously mentioned, natural fibres can be high maintenance. Most can be damaged by a high-alkaline pH. Wool specifically does not require special cleaning chemicals but does require those used to stay between a pH of 4.5 and 8.5. Whether other natural fibres require cleaning chemicals with specific chemistry levels depends entirely on the fibre source and whether it’s

feature carpet care

blended with any other materials. When installing a sustainable carpet with natural fibres, it’s imperative to ask the manufacturer about any particular chemical requirements.

Synthetic fibres Facility managers should still ask the carpet manufacturers for any chemical requirements as these can also vary by fibre source. However, even sustainably sourced synthetic fibres generally have a much wider range of acceptable chemicals. It’s common that synthetic sustainable fibres are made of recycled nylon or polypropylene – fibres that only mandate cleaning chemicals with a pH level below 10.

Why cleaning is important to prolonging carpet life Over 79 percent of the soil that’s brought into a building is actually silicate or sand which is extremely abrasive and easily scratches and wears away at carpet fibres, no matter what they are made of. Imagine someone using sandpaper on fabric – that’s what sand and silicates are doing to carpet fibres. When a carpet has soil in it, the last thing it needs is foot traffic grinding that soil in even deeper. Extending the life of carpet hinges on keeping soil and dirt out, and the most effective way to do that is through vacuuming. Frequent vacuuming is absolutely critical to any facility.

The remaining 21 percent of soil is sticky substances that actually bond to carpet fibres. This 21 percent is what requires professional maintenance teams to come in and remove the build-up, using detergent that causes the substances to release from the fibres.

How facility managers can customise their cleaning schedules Facility managers know their space better than anyone. They know what kinds of wear their carpet endures each day and over time. They know what their carpet is made of, how much soil it attracts, and which areas receive the most wear. Facility managers should consider all these factors when creating and implementing a carpet care schedule and when communicating with the cleaning staff.

Cleaning staff The most important way to prolong a carpet’s life is through its maintenance, so it’s important that trained professionals are hired to clean the facility. The day-to-day cleaning staff is the first line of defence against the carpet’s wear and should be well vetted. Facility managers must verify that vacuuming is scheduled and even provide the staff with a programme of frequency that may vary by area, depending on the facility’s needs.

Carpet care professionals When a deeper carpet cleaning is required, there are a few key indications facility managers should look for when hiring professional carpet cleaners. First, when a new carpet cleaner is brought into the facility, he or she should ask them to perform a test clean or demo on a small patch of carpet to determine proper cleaning methods for the rest of the facility. Second, professionals should ask about the carpet fibre type and know exactly how much water to use. Finally, they should know the level of wear the carpet should be able to sustain and employ methods that are not likely to damage the carpet fibres and will instead extend the life of the carpet. It is also worthwhile for facility managers to hire professionals who will provide interim care if a spill or accident occurs on the carpet between cleanings. Stains on the carpet may damage a facility’s reputation from an aesthetic standpoint but are even more likely to harm the carpet fibres themselves if the spill contains liquid, oil or any material with acidic properties. Having a professional carpet cleaner quickly target the spot or stain will ensure the life of the carpet is not drastically reduced.

Facility manager checklist In summary, taking a standard approach to carpet care will not provide an optimal method that is focused on addressing a facility’s specific needs.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

feature carpet care Facility managers should determine a customised carpet care plan using the following checklist: • What type of fibre is used in my carpet? Is it natural or synthetic? • How many people come in and out of the building on a daily basis? • What types of spills are happening on the carpet and how frequently? • How many entryways are in my facility? • What is the type of outdoor environment?

• How much soil is being tracked into my facility? What type of soil is it? • Does the cleaning staff meet the requirements necessary to extend the life of my carpet? • Are the cleaning staff using chemicals that do more good than harm? Asking these questions will determine both the frequency and methods necessary to keep carpets clean and ensure its long life through an effective customisation plan.

Stephen Lewis serves as the technical director at milliCare and has been part of the milliCare team since 1988. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario with a degree in mechanical engineering, Stephen manages all equipment, methods and products used to provide milliCare services. Stephen is a certified Senior Carpet Inspector by the Floor Covering Institute of Technical Services, an IICRC Master Textile Cleaner and Approved Instructor, an ISSA Green Cleaning Professional and a recipient of the Facility Management Journal award for excellence in writing. For more information or to contact milliCare locally visit: www.millicare.co.za

A guide to cleaning entrance matting Entrance matting manufacturer and installer, COBA Africa, is supporting its customers’ long-term product maintenance by providing what is regarded as the most comprehensive cleaning guide yet specifically for welcome mats.

he guide has been compiled to assist COBA’s customers in developing an effective cleaning and maintenance programme for their various entrance mat systems and doormats. Entrance matting is an investment in interior floor covering protection and very importantly, underfoot safety – even in environments that feature mainly dry dust/debris. Selecting the correct matting for specific entrance areas is imperative for effective scraping/wiping benefits and durability. This is where evaluating not only the primary purpose of the matting (i.e. scraping or moisture wiping) but also the levels of footfall is essential for assessing whether entrance matting is suitable for light-, medium- or heavyduty use. With the correct matting

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

Entrance matting is an investment in interior floor covering protection and very importantly, underfoot safety – even in environments that feature mainly dry dust/debris. in place, a well-planned strategy for regular mat cleaning/maintenance is essential for optimum performance, product lifespan and return on investment. Installation methods vary according to the entrance matting choice, but will either be fitted in recessed mat-wells or laid to the floor surface, as a conventional loose floor mat. Cleaning methods for these different solutions vary and it’s important that the maintenance program is well suited

to the product to ensure continued effectiveness and longevity of the installation. An example of different cleaning methods would be whether matting has an open or closed top surface, otherwise described as ‘fall through’ or ‘surface cleaned’. A closed surface mat will require more regular vacuuming in order to maintain cleanliness and safety, whilst ‘fall through’ matting features open holes that allow debris to collect under the mat. In this situation, cleaning

feature carpet care Selecting the correct matting for specific entrance areas is imperative for effective scraping/wiping benefits and durability. This is where evaluating not only the primary purpose of the matting but also the levels of footfall is essential for assessing whether entrance matting is suitable for light-, medium- or heavy-duty use. can be performed less regularly but the mat has to be lifted and rolled back. “Should a wet spillage occur, the first step is to blot or wet vacuum (for large spillages) as much of the spillage as possible. In the case of a recent spillage, a white absorbent towel and plain water in a spray bottle are the best option. Spray the water onto the towel (not the mat) and dab the spillage. Check if the spot is transferring from the mat to the towel. If so, all that is required is patience – you should then repeat the process until the spot no longer

transfers to the towel. Most people quit too soon! You will ultimately be successful in removing the spot if it is transferring from the mat to the towel. Another advantage of using plain water is that no chemical residue is left in the mat,” says DynamiCX’s Arthur Bath. According to Bath an important aspect of carpet maintenance is to distinguish between wet spillages and solid matter spillages. “When addressing solid matter spillages, the first step is to scrape and remove as much of the matter as possible and

then blot the spot. When blotting the remaining spot use the same method as indicated to remove wet spots. Probably the most common spot found on entrance matting is chewing gum. A spotting specialist should be consulted if none of the above methods prove successful,” added Bath. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, COBA has introduced a number of new products and services aimed at improving floor level hygiene. The ‘COBA Care’ brand has been created to encompass this offering and includes a range of disinfectant mats and liquid disinfectant. It has been proven that viruses can be transported between areas on footwear, making floor level cleanliness arguably as important as other hygiene practices such as handwashing for overall site hygiene. The entrance matting cleaning guidelines document can be downloaded from: www.matting.co.za/download/cleaning-andmaintenance-guide

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

editorial Industroclean

Shift in how cleaning will be viewed in a post COVID-19 era COVID-19 has created the biggest shift in how we think and look at the cleaning industry. Pre-pandemic, for most businesses, their cleaning routine has always been a back-office service and as unobtrusive as possible – with the basics becoming an everyday mundane task.

Emma Corder

reviously, the public never blinked an eye when going into public spaces or travelling because businesses were taking a ‘functional approach’ to sanitisation. However, during the past six months this sector has seen a monumental shift: Hygiene and sanitisation are now an essential front-line commodity. This approach focused mainly on recommended health and safety procedures, correct cleaning equipment and products and maintaining a strict routine. Industroclean MD Emma Corder attributes this to not only the global pandemic but to society and businesses’ heightened awareness and demand for hygiene. Corder explains,

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

“These demands and new cleaning trends will play a major role in our ability to return to full-time business activities with confidence.” This is being seen in one of the most interesting changes within this sector as big corporations begin to include new sanitisation protocols into their communication strategies and incorporating these into their brand messaging. These changes are part of a new approach to doing business, approaching strategy and growing in a post COVID-19 era. The psychological aspect of cleaning and a focus on what it means, must also be considered. “In this approach, cleaning is viewed as a way of improving safety in order to build and maintain trust with customers. Showing that your business takes the responsibility to keep customers safe, and always being transparent in all cleaning procedures will be the new way of doing business,” added Corder. American hospitality giant Marriott International is a good example: Executive Chairman Bill Marriott released a statement and video detailing the group’s cleaning protocols in early May which specifically focused on the psychological aspect of safety. Another example is international airline Cathay Pacific that developed a program called Cathay Care. It was created as part of their marketing campaign to enhance in-flight safety measures and explains their cleaning protocols to ensure their customers can fly with confidence.

To succeed, businesses must understand the interconnectedness of the functional and psychological perceptions that people have about hygiene and a sanitised environment. If they can integrate this into day-today routine, they have an opportunity to gain the competitive edge. “If this pandemic has taught us one thing it is that we can’t predict exactly which changes will remain permanent and which will pass. One thing I do believe is that all businesses that want to survive will have to make a significant change to the prominence of cleaning and hygiene as a business imperative and how it’s implemented within their organisation,” concludes Corder. For more information visit: www.industroclean.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

feature sustainable cleaning

Simple steps toward more sustainable floor care It’s no wonder that floor care consumes a large portion of most cleaning budgets (it has been estimated that approximately 67 percent is related to floor care) and is generally more labour-intensive than any other cleaning task. But when it comes to environmental impact, floor care is one of the biggest culprits in any cleaning programme.

he industry is bringing even safer green floor care options to the forefront and more and more facilities are adopting sustainable floor care practices. These practices significantly decrease your program’s environmental impact and also can save money and time when implemented correctly.

Strip less by cleaning more Of all the processes that go into a floor care program, stripping and refinishing can have the biggest impact on human health and the environment. That’s because floor strippers can be much harsher for the environment and human health, plus the process is very labourand time-intensive. Keep in mind that these harsh products are flushed down drains into the water treatment facilities or waterways following their use. One of the easiest ways to make your floor care program more environmentally preferable is to make your floor finishes more durable, reducing the need to strip and recoat your floors frequently. While many newer, trending floor types like concrete, terrazzo and luxury vinyl tile don’t need to be stripped or finished, more traditional flooring like wood floors and VCT (vinyl composite) will continue to need this step. However, there are ways to prolong the time between the stripping and finishing process. Some educational institutions have done so for more than five years, protecting the health of the students and staff in their buildings without compromising the integrity of their floors. Implementing the sort of necessary scheduling to achieve these lengths of

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

time can be simpler than you realise. By simply following five critical elements of floor care and paying close attention to pre-routine, routine, and interim procedures, you can drastically cut down on the required frequency of stripping and refinishing your floors. Pro-tip: Preventive matting and frequent dust mopping may be two cost-effective ways to prolong the need to strip. Frequent dust mopping is an easy way to extend the life of your current floor care program and reduce the risk of slip-and-falls, airborne debris, and allergic reactions within your building.

Five critical elements of floor care There are five critical elements of floor care that need to be incorporated into any program to protect occupant safety and preserve flooring substrates. However, the goal of a more environmentally-preferable floor care program will be to strictly adhere to the first three elements regularly to prolong the need for completing the fourth and fifth elements. Pre-routine: Imagine the advantage of preventing up to 85 percent of all dirt from entering your facility. That is what pre-routine floor care will do for your entire floor care program, cutting your job virtually in half. Soils originate and are tracked long before a facility is entered. Parking lots, garages, and sidewalks are all areas where debris and other contaminants are picked up on footwear and ultimately tracked into a facility. Using the right equipment to manage these soils, and a highly effective entrance matting program, will protect your flooring and prolong

its life. What are the two most effective ways to do this? Regularly sweep sidewalks and parking lots that are in close proximity and implement an appropriate entrance matting program. You can manually sweep or use a walkbehind, power, or ride-on sweeper for your sidewalks and parking lots, but the most important part will be to do this regularly. Routine maintenance: Routine maintenance is actually the easiest and least costly element of your floor care program. It is imperative in keeping your floors safe, consistently clean, and preserving the finish and floors themselves. Your routine floor care will include dust mopping, damp mopping, and a good quality cleaner. Colourcoded microfiber dust mop systems contain dust better than traditional dry mops and use less water and chemical when used in a damp mop system. Because over 90 percent of the cost of floor care is labour, a simple change to microfiber will have significant cost savings because of the timesaving factor. Auto scrubbers can also significantly reduce cleaning time and improve efficiency. Remember that a very small percentage of your floor care budget goes toward product. A high-quality, neutral floor cleaner for daily cleaning is recommended. Use disinfectant products only when needed and winter floor cleaners only during the months when you are combating winter residue to keep your staff’s chemical exposure to a minimum. Interim maintenance: Soils permitted to penetrate through floor finish can result in your floors looking scratched and worn, reduce traction,

feature sustainable cleaning

and lead to slip-and-falls. Interim maintenance, which includes spray buffing and traction enhancement, will restore shine while preventing slip-and-falls. Spray buffing, burnishing, auto scrubbing, and frequent damp mopping are all elements of interim maintenance that, when performed regularly, will help preserve your finish and prolong the time in between deep stripping/finishing. If you are following the first three critical elements of your floor care program regularly, you will need to complete steps four and five less often, thus protecting the environment and human health while saving time and money in the long run. Partial restorative: When your floors stop responding

to interim maintenance, you will want to consider partial restorative, also referred to as scrub-and-recoat, to get your floors into shape. Partial restorative floor care is the process of removing one to two coats of damaged finish and embedded dirt to prepare the floor for a fresh top coating. This is done in half the time, with half the chemicals, of the deep stripping process. This step prolongs the time your facility can go between the need to deep strip floors. You will find excellent results in half the time of deep stripping, and by saving time and reducing the intensive floor stripping process, you can even improve your teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morale. Complete restorative: Eventually, you will need to deep strip your floors. Some facilities can prolong the need to strip floors for years when adhering to the first four elements of floor care listed here. When the time comes, consider using a sealer in conjunction with a finish to preserve the finish even longer the next time around. In fact, tests have shown that a floor coated with two coats of finish and two coats of sealer will stand up to more wear and tear than a floor coated with just four coats of finish. By regularly adhering to the first three of these five critical steps and paying special attention to the details, your floor care program will shine. This abridged article was written by Jim Flieler, vice president of Canadian sales and marketing for Charlotte Products Ltd., a producer of innovative cleaning solutions that help make work and living environments healthier and eco-friendlier, while supporting business sustainability.

Navigating towel and tissue sustainability

n this era of rising concerns about global environmental challenges such as ocean plastics, greenhouse gases, deforestation, and more, there is no shortage of voices calling for action. The challenge for all businesses is determining which voices to listen to. Companies frequently become either paralyzed by the complexity, and do nothing, or try to do everything, and accomplish very little. Leading distributors, BSCs, and in-house service providers often face these same challenges when trying to choose the most sustainable paper products for their washroom operations. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the great news: You can take immediate steps that promise meaningful sustainability impacts, while not compromising the satisfaction or hygiene needs of your customers, nor adversely impacting your budget.

Use responsibly sourced paper Ensuring that the fibre in the paper products is responsibly sourced, remains vital. Not all paper products sold are responsibly sourced. In some cases, this contributes to global deforestation.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

feature sustainable cleaning How can you help contribute to healthy forests? By making sure all your paper products have been certified by a credible third-party organisation, such as SFI (The Sustainable Forestry Initiative), FSC (The Forest Stewardship Council), or PEFC (The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). If responsibly managed, forests provide the world with a truly renewable and sustainable resource. Third-party certifications can also help ensure that other global social responsibility concerns have been addressed as well. What about bamboo and other alternative fibres that are trending up? The reality is that many are not sourced locally and require long-distance shipping, which raises the productsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; emissions impacts. When considering alternative fibre options, ensure the fibre is locally sourced and third-party certified.

Optimise and maximise recycled content The paper in most commercial washrooms today incorporates some

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

level of recycled content. To go from good to better, and better to best in your sustainability efforts, evaluate recycled content percentages and types across your paper portfolio. Good: Using paper containing some recycled content is good because it helps provide a base level of demand and support that helps divert these materials from landfills. Better: Using paper that exceeds the EPA post-consumer waste minimums (20 percent for tissue and 40 percent for towels) is better as the higher levels of post-consumer fibre create more demand for at-risk (of landfill) materials being diverted. Best: Using paper that is 100 percent recycled fibre and sourced from materials more likely to have ended up in the landfill (i.e. more mixed paper and less old corrugated containers) is best. Across the United States, municipalities and material recovery operators are dealing with a glut of excess paper as supply greatly exceeds demand. This has led to many municipalities either discontinuing

paper recycling programs, or continuing to collect paper, but ultimately shipping it to a landfill. Higher levels of recycled post-consumer content help support collection and recovery efforts for lower grade/at-risk materials like mixed paper. Super Best: Going from best to super best is one of the easier steps you can take to elevate your sustainability efforts. Super best involves doing everything previously mentioned, but taking proactive steps to communicate your recycled content message to your customers and other stakeholders.

feature sustainable cleaning towels with recycled paper. Studies also show that using high-quality brown paper towels improved customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; perception of the washroom.

Look beyond the content

Signage, emails, website content, and the like, are effective ways to let stakeholders know about the great things you are doing with recycled content. Another interesting and very impactful way to communicate and reinforce your sustainability commitment is to go brown. Brown paper towels provide a visual cue that you are using a sustainable towel option. Studies show that consumers have a positive impression of products with recycled content and that 62 percent of consumers associate brown paper

Innovations in product design and packaging now allow operators to reduce overall packaging material waste by up to 90 percent. Some systems have gone coreless by eliminating the need for the inner core, which often ends up as trash. And a number of manufacturers have taken steps to reduce the amount of secondary packaging used with their products. Innovations in dispensing systems offer yet another means of reducing washroom paper usage. In fact, some dispensers can reduce paper usage by 20 to 30 percent without impacting customer satisfaction or hygiene. In the pursuit of sustainability, some operators have replaced paper towels with air dryers, only to find dissatisfied customers. According to a Mayo Clinic study, air dryers create a less hygienic washroom environment.

By deploying the latest towel dispensers, you are better able to control usage and reduce change-out waste, while improving customer satisfaction and hygiene. Usage control results from your ability to adjust the size and amount of product being dispensed. Change-out waste reduction is due to new design and capacity features that help minimise and/ or eliminate the need for staff to change out rolls of paper before they are fully used. When discussing sustainability, the myriad of voices will continue. By ensuring your paper is from responsibly sourced fibre, optimising and maximising your use of recovered materials, and leveraging innovations to reduce packaging, usage, and waste, you will make a meaningful difference for your stakeholders, your operation, and the planet. Abridged article by Jeffrey R. Sturgis, vice president of Consumer Business Sustainability at Georgia-Pacific, leading the sustainability strategy development for the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retail and professional tissue, towel, napkin, and food service businesses.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

facilities management review

FM in a post COVID-19 world Nurses, doctors, first responders – all these job titles evoke a sense of urgency and importance. Now with the impact of COVID-19, facility managers are moving into that same spotlight. They are all essential workers. In this article, Eugene Carr offers unique insight into how the world has changed in 2020 and what the new normal will hold for facility managers following the reopening of economies.

uring the early months of this outbreak, I attended most of the online International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) town hall meetings and witnessed how managers were preoccupied with scenario-building for potential reopenings, creating new operating procedures, protocols for health checks, and redesigning seating maps and traffic flows. Now that the initial shock of the coronavirus pandemic has subsided and the new normal is upon us, it’s time to step back and look at the shifts in our industry that will be continuing. Predicting the future may seem like a fool’s errand, but I’ve had conversations with a wide variety of facility executives and a few ideas about the future have emerged.

Living with change and uncertainty If there’s one constant we’re going to have to live with, it’s that we are in a time of increased uncertainty. And the best way to address this is to be open to change and adopt a creative and innovative mindset. Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, summed it up well when he said: “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” At many facilities, change comes slowly, either because of bureaucratic or municipal red-tape or simply because when things are not broken there is little motivation to make big changes. But Kelly Bargabos, CFO/COO at San Diego Theatres says, “If there is any silver lining to this pandemic, it’s that it is giving us an opportunity to step back and re-evaluate our business. We are not going back to the way we used

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

to do things.” She continues, “We’re looking at all aspects of our business, and challenging ourselves. Can we do it better, and do the financials line up?” And the focus on financials is particularly important. After all, you now have a huge list of new things you need to accomplish – and it’s not like anyone is offering you a significantly increased budget. So, the only way to operate is by being more productive, by eliminating manual processes, adopting new technology for automation, and redesigning processes.

But, in the aftermath of that attack, as a society, we agreed to a new level of security checks at public gatherings. I’m no longer surprised when I go to a meeting at an office building and I am asked to show ID, have my picture taken, and to wear a badge. Just as security processes changed our world after 9/11, cleaning and janitorial operations have now become critically important. According to Kevin Daly, assistant General Manager at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, “Our janitors and housekeeping staff are the

As new standards and requirements are put in place, you are going to need to track and fully manage all aspects of the cleaning process. This is an area where technology could help by using GPS and mobile phones to manage the cleaning in your facility and help you maximize efficiency with algorithms that can highlight cleaning that took too long or not long enough without supervisors walking around and micro-managing. Even the notion of internal meetings needs to be re-thought. Robby Elliott, the director of production at Mesa Arts Center in Arizona sums it up concisely: “Technology has proved that all those staff meetings could have been emailed!”

Cleaning takes centre stage Those of us that were working in the facilities industry before 9/11 remember all too well how open we were as a society.

new heroes.” He envisions janitorial staff wearing brightly coloured shirts emblazoned with a phrase such as “The Clean Team.” Kevin says, “People are going to expect more.” I am reminded that sometimes when I arrive in a hotel room, I see a narrow strip of paper draped across the toilet indicating that the bathroom has been cleaned. What ways will you be able to show the public that your facility is clean?

facilities management review How will you be able to certify that the facility is clean and ready to open? As new standards and requirements are put in place, you are going to need to track and fully manage all aspects of the cleaning process. This is an area where technology could help by using GPS and mobile phones to manage the cleaning in your facility and help you maximize efficiency with algorithms that can highlight cleaning that took too long or not long enough without supervisors walking around and micromanaging. Your operations teams as well as your patrons need improved communication.

Besides this, almost everyone has a more modern communication device constantly with them – their mobile phone. And they can use this in a wide variety of ways in conjunction with radios. It’s not uncommon for a team to use some mixture of two-way radios, text messages, email, phone, and group chat apps like Slack or Teams. However, this can hamper productivity, as tasks get lost between these various communications systems. If managers need to relay urgent information, it’s nearly impossible to reach everyone instantly.

Internal team communication

In short, team communications for on-site operations must now modernise and move away from the disjointed silos of communication that prevent teams from operating at maximum efficiency.

At the heart of any team that works well together is effective communication. And now, with increased pressure on delivering a safe environment for guests, this is more important than ever. Amazingly, the technology developed during WW II in the 1940s remains the backbone of most venue teams’ communications systems – two-way radios. Although these radios work extremely well to communicate short bursts of information, they are analogue like fax machines. If you’re not listening in on the channel, you won’t know what is happening. Also, there are distance and spectrum limitations. Chris Brawner, compliance officer at Kentucky Venues says, “Radios do not always work because people don’t always answer.”

External guest communication Your guests’ expectations for resolving problems at your venue are now being heavily influenced by their online experience. More and more websites offer the ability to chat with a live person to get service immediately. And customers expect that their email service inquiries will be responded to either the same day or the next. In a live event setting, your customers now expect to be able to communicate with your venue’s management in real-time, sharing information about problems they encounter. If they report “the women’s

washroom needs toilet paper on Level 4,” they need to know that the issue will be taken care of immediately. From the outset, Twitter and other social media sites tended to be the goto repository for complaints of this sort and many companies, from airlines to retailers, have invested in digital teams to respond quickly so that customers’ grievances from social media are responded to promptly. Far better than customers complaining on social media about an unsafe sanitary condition would be to give guests a channel to contact your team instantly without face-to-face contact. This is another example of how technology can help. Whether you use QR codes, a website, or text messaging, complaints and questions can be digitally parsed and routed to the appropriate staff, either on-site or even working remotely. With the improved communications systems noted above, you will need to be responsive to your guests faster than before. Finally, getting a handle on where guests are at within your venue is now much more important. Paul Cathey, general manager at AT&T Performing Arts Center envisions a day when he can have a real-time map of guest movements inside his theaters so he can see where they are and direct traffic to ease congestion, perhaps using real-time digital signage to help avoid bottlenecks. In summary, more data and enhanced communication make everyone safer. In a few short months, the world of facility managers has changed in fundamental ways forever. Your role has now been elevated and is essential for protecting public health. So, as your venues begin to reopen, I hope the ideas presented here, culled from the sentiments of your colleagues, help you envision a better future for you, your team, and your guests. This abridged article was originally written by Eugene Carr, CEO and co-founder of ALO.ai. (www.alo.ai), a communications technology company, he is an entrepreneur who has been a visionary in bringing internet-based technology solutions to the live event industry since the earliest days of the consumer web.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

case study

Robotics in cleaning making headway ICE Robotics, a leading cleaning solutions provider have been working with SASSE FM to introduce robotic cleaning and sanitising equipment to the daily cleaning operations at LDN Luton Airport, which has hugely contributed to their accreditation.

Europe’s largest single order for robotics recorded

uton Airport (LLA) became the first airport in the UK to receive certification from the Airports Council International (ACI) Airport Health Accreditation programme, which provides airports with an assessment of how well their health measures align with worldwide standards and industry best practices. Working alongside Sasse Facilities Management & ICE, Luton Airport have introduced innovative robotic cleaning and sanitising equipment into their daily cleaning operations, which has hugely contributed to the accreditation and means that passengers and staff can be confident of the utmost cleanliness and hygiene levels throughout the airport. With the introduction of the Co-Botics range, supplied by ICE, a partnership between automated robotics and human operatives has allowed Sasse to completely redesign its cleaning concept at Luton Airport. A significant number of hours were previously consumed with operatives using scrubber dryers. Now, with the introduction of automated robotics, vast areas of the airport’s flooring is cleaned whilst unsupervised. The digital link between the Co-Botics technology and on-site supervisor allows the cleaning operatives to communicate via a smartphone. Once cleaning is complete, a report is generated for complete transparency whilst the Co-Botic machines await further instruction. Shannon Murnane, Office Manager for Sasse at LLA, said, “The introduction of Co-Botics at LLA is a smart and advanced move for

Sasse and the cleaning operation at London Luton Airport. This innovative technology is here to assist the cleaners who continue to refocus their attention on high-value tasks such as washroom hygiene and the cleaning of touchpoints. This is a first for aviation in the UK, and is a helpful technology which I would hope to see implemented in further areas in the future. The time spent implementing the Co-Botics into LLA has also been instrumental in achieving increased hygiene standards, and has had a positive impact on passengers and airport staff feeling more secure in the current climate.” Mark Bresnihan, Managing Director of ICE, said, “We would like to congratulate LLA and Sasse on their accreditation and are delighted that they share our vision and long-standing belief in the benefits that automated cleaning can bring. To clean as we have always cleaned will not be good enough as the world around us changes and we are always looking for ways to innovate and develop. Facilities’ service providers must achieve more, both in terms of productivity and quality, without compromising financial budgets. Therefore, we share the belief with Sasse that investment in automated cleaning is not just pioneering, but essential for future cleaning.” To see how Sasse and Luton Airport have worked with ICE to be the first UK airport to incorporate Co-Botics into their cleaning operations, please click: https://vimeo. com/453658197/474c2be9ff

Birkin, a UK national cleaning services company, truly embraced autonomous floor cleaning as part of their forward-thinking strategy, following their investment in a fleet of 13 machines from ICE’s recently launched Co-Botics range. This means the company now have the largest robotic scrubber-dryer fleet in Europe! The machines include the new ICE Eco Vac 40, Eco Bot 50 (small scrubber dryer), and Eco Bot 75 (large scrubber dryer), and these will be deployed at various schools across London, Essex, and Milton Keynes. Birkin are convinced that introducing autonomous equipment will result in increased efficiency as the schools have long corridors which take the operatives a long time to clean. The Co-Bots will be utilised to clean the floors whilst the valuable labour resource focuses on detailed cleaning tasks such as sanitising and deep cleaning. They also see real value in deploying autonomous equipment to support in the fight against viruses. The Co-Botic equipment helps with socially distanced cleaning and will be able to support cleaning with minimal human interaction should there be any future outbreaks or lockdown situations. Soo Bartholomew, Technical Director at Birkin, said, “Having been working in the cleaning industry for over 35 years, starting as a cleaning operative myself in a local school (and being a confirmed skeptic), I have seen the development of these machines over the last 17 years and know that now is the right time to start deploying them. The advances in the technology and reliability will now greatly assist and enhance the cleaning operation, particularly at this time with the global pandemic continuing and the workforce diminishing. I especially like the term ‘Co-Botics’ as it is not about replacing people, it is about working with the machines to deliver a more efficient, clean and COVID-secure result. We are pleased to partner with ICE as our supplier and innovation lead at this time, as their range meets our needs and that of our clients.” See how Birken worked with ICE to incorporate Co-Botics into their cleaning operations,

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

please click: https://vimeo.com/iceclean/ review/410530950/5d7b25e281

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

laundry review Are hotels ready to welcome guests?

iverseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Application Expert â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fabric Care Nikos Pastras offers hints and tips for the laundry process. While a significant number of countries are still in (partial) lockdown, local authorities in other parts of the world have already shared their roadmap to relax the strict COVID-19 measures according to a step-by-step process. This also means that hotels are looking to reopen their facilities in the coming period. Evidently, this leads to numerous questions related to cleaning and disinfection of all the different hotel areas, given that all hotels must aim to create a safe and welcoming environment that reassures both guests and staff.

Deep clean before reopening and prepare for enhanced cleaning and disinfection after reopening Your hotel may have been fully or partially closed or it may have served temporarily as a residence for COVID-19 patients. As you only have one chance for a first good impression when reopening, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s better to start with a once-off deep cleaning exercise. This is especially needed for hotel linen, as linen is considered one of the biggest guest touch points. The recommendation is to wash all linen from guest rooms and from linen storage rooms using the recommended (disinfection) wash programmes. In addition, we recommend washing items like curtains, bed skirts and covers of decorative pillows to create an overall pleasant and fresh-smelling environment that will make your guests feel safe and relaxed. For mattresses and sofa cleaning and sanitation, you can follow special in-room cleaning practices. When handling linen, staff should wear the appropriate PPE in line with local health authority guidelines and follow the Enhanced Laundry Best Practices for linen handling explained below. Needless to say, providing adequate training to your laundry and housekeeping staff is key to successful implementation. Of course, the laundry itself should not be forgotten in the whole deep cleaning exercise: it is important that the entire laundry is cleaned thoroughly followed by disinfection of critical touch points such as linen carts. Before you reopen, we recommend revisiting some of your current hotel practices for guest rooms. For example, the use of protectors for pillows, duvets and mattresses is highly recommended as this will provide an extra layer of safety for your guests, beyond the normal covers. In addition, you can consider temporarily refraining from using certain luxury items such as blankets and/or limit, for example, the number of decorative pillows. Guest laundry is another area to review as guest clothes typically require very mild processes that may not provide the necessary efficacy against the virus. With a letter from your GM in every guest room, it should be possible to explain why, in the best interest of guest safety, your hotel has temporarily decided to make some items and services only available on request.

Follow local authority guidelines for the wash process Regarding the actual wash process, countries should always follow (laundry) guidelines from local health authorities for thermal or chemo-thermal disinfection. In case local guidelines

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

laundry review are not available or they are unclear, we recommend that countries follow World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Thermal disinfection is a commonly applied and easy-to-implement laundry disinfection process, included in almost all local guidelines. It relies on a specific temperature and contact time and is not dependent on a specific product. Most countries follow WHO guidelines for thermal disinfection, which specifies a temperature of 70 °C for 25 minutes. More stringent European guidelines from Germany are also allowed, i.e. 85 °C for 15 minutes or 90 °C for 10 minutes. The chemo-thermal process is also acceptable and makes use of a combination of chemicals, temperature and contact time. This process is less flexible and more complex than thermal disinfection, because it depends on specific products with antimicrobial claims. Furthermore, it is extremely important that all the wash process steps are followed exactly as described.

Chemo-thermal disinfection is normally recommended for items that cannot withstand high temperatures.

Once your hotel is open, follow Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Guidelines From the first happy day of reopening your hotel onwards, it is important that you follow the Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfection Guidelines. As part of these guidelines, we recommend that after every guest check-out, all linen, including all unused linen, is washed. Should you still be using pillows and duvets without a protector, then we recommend enhancing the wash frequency of these items after every guest as well. For fabrics such as curtains, we recommend (at minimum) doubling the frequency of washing vs current hotel practices. As mentioned before, for linen handling, it is important to scale up to Infection Prevention procedures and therefore we have issued Enhanced

Skills e-programme to ensure effective cleaning and sanitising

ukhula Global Projects, a nationwide training provider, found the need for a COVID-19 cleaning and sanitisation programme for both domestic and commercial cleaners in every industry. When employees started returning to the workplace and domestic cleaners started entering the homes of their employers, the importance of cleaning and sanitising to ensure the health and safety of staff, visitors, and suppliers was paramount and the same applied for the home, with their families. Kukhula designed a programme that would cover all of the standard operating procedures and policies following the guidelines of WHO, the NICD, CDC and an Occupational Health, Safety & Environmental Advisor to clean and sanitise the workplace or home

effectively. To further expand on the cleaner’s knowledge, basic hygiene and cleaning skills were incorporated into the course such as cleaning bathrooms, surfaces, windows, and floors to name but a few, which is aligned and accredited with the Services SETA. Ensuring the daily cleaning and sanitisation of the office and home is imperative and must be conducted correctly to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well as other illnesses and diseases. These practices should become the new normal for all cleaners. The course is available Online with Virtual Classroom sessions. The duration is approximately 1-2 months (COVID-19 section is approx. 1-2 weeks), dependent on the learner’s pace. “We develop learners through our dynamic facilitation and practical

Laundry Best Practices for hotels. A critical requirement of these guidelines is that agitation of linen should be limited as much as possible to prevent spreading of the virus. To this end, you should consider using different carts for collecting soiled bed vs bath linen, so that sorting in the laundry can be avoided. In the event of a suspected case, we recommend that you bag all linen. And, in case your hotel uses linen chutes, it is important to ensure safe procedures are in place for the use of these chutes. Finally – to prevent contact of staff with potentially infected linen – it is important that you temporarily switch from pre-spotting to post-spotting. Of course, we are happy to assist with any further question you may have in these challenging times. Contact Diversey’s Hospitality Sector lead South Africa, Mariette van Vuuren at: Mariette.vanvuuren@diversey.com

e-training

application to give learners practical competencies and skills that will enable them to fulfil and exceed in their roles within the organisation and optimise future growth,” says Kukhula Director Robert Ramagoma. Learners will gain 58 credits towards the GETC: Hygiene and Cleaning NQF1 qualification. There is no minimum or maximum number of learners that need to be enrolled and they can start at any time. The course fee is R2 500.00 excl. VAT per delegate. For additional information, e-mail Kukhula Global Projects: sales@kukhula.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

people and events New appointment at Tsebo Solutions Group Kumaran Pillay joined Tsebo Solutions Group in September as National Sales Director. Pillay has 15 years’ experience in the facilities services sector.

Interclean Amsterdam 2020 a virtual event GCE appoints new Cape Town branch manager Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE), announced the appointment of Robert Cooper as branch manager at their Cape Town operation. Cooper will be filling the shoes of Petra Minutelli, who retired after being with the company since 2012, when it was still known as Tennant Western Cape. Cooper comes from the sales and cleaning arena and brings more than 14 years of experience in managing large teams in the contract cleaning industry, as well as expertise in the food and beverage and retail space. “He has unmatched professional experience and we look forward to his contribution,” said Greg Venter, GCE Managing Director. “Goscor Cleaning Equipment is a national leader in this industry that understands the importance of providing the best possible service to their customers and I’m excited to join their growing company,” Cooper added. For more information visit: www.goscorcleaning.co.za

The organisers of Interclean Amsterdam decided to cancel the 2020 in-person event and will host a virtual version of the exhibition from 3-6 November. “This decision is disappointing for all of us, especially as RAI Amsterdam is ready to organise Interclean Amsterdam COVID-secure and fully in line with all health and safety guidelines. RAI Amsterdam has worked tirelessly to adapt all its facilities and protocols to enable events to be held in a safe, responsible and hospitable manner,” says Bas Dalm, Executive Vice President Exhibition & Sales at RAI Amsterdam. “But as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, and many of our international exhibitors and visitors have been forced to cancel their plans to participate at Interclean due to market conditions and continued travel restrictions, we feel that the show can no longer deliver the quality expected of Interclean as the largest global cleaning and hygiene platform and therefore will move forward to a virtual experience for 2020.” “For more than 50 years, Interclean has provided the most complete meeting place for the global cleaning and hygiene industry. By organising the virtual event from 3-6 November, we plan to continue to play a vital role in supporting the industry to get back on track, wherever we are able. Online educational sessions with different themes will complement each other and are available for everybody throughout the day as well as the possibility to visit companies, plan meetings and socialise with peers.” Dalm continues: “This year’s Interclean Amsterdam in May would have been the largest ever, postponing the event to 2022 will result again in a strong, value-adding event for the industry with high benefits for all parties. Due to the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, our mission cannot be accomplished successfully now, thus we believe it is the right decision to hold on and come back even stronger together in 2022. Going completely virtual this year allows us to still provide a place for the industry to gather, share knowledge and connect with other industries who are in need of expertise.”

International integrated services congress Forum Pulire was founded in 2012 with the goal of creating a much needed new opportunity for reflection on the cleaning and hygiene support services industry. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Forum Pulire event is formulated to recreate the experience of a physical congress, taking the meeting to a digital location and offering access to industry knowledge by participating in the congress through a variety of channels for interaction. In its new guise, the Forum Pulire digital event continues to be the place for the integrated services sector to meet and exchange views, gain knowledge, inspiration, experience and insights. In recent months, cleanliness has emerged as one of the most effective ways of containing the pandemic, therefore this dramatic experience highlighted the importance of cleaning and hygiene. “Never before has it been more vital to share our challenges, celebrate our achievements and to recognise the importance of the professional cleaning sector,” says ISSA Pulire Network CEO Toni D’Andrea. The fifth edition of Forum Pulire will take place on 13-14 and 20-21 October, to watch the event video click: https://youtu.be/jK97PcjRVEk

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

people and events Virtual UK exhibition and conference to replace October event The Manchester Cleaning Show became the latest industry event to announce a postponement to September 2021. Described as a saddening decision by everyone working on the Manchester Cleaning Show, the September 2020 postponement decision was a unanimous agreement. The latest UK government rules regarding social gatherings, and the ongoing local lockdown in the Greater Manchester Area forced the organisers to reevaluate their plans for the event in order to put the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors first. The British Cleaning Council Exhibitions (BCCE) Board stated:

“There is so much to discuss right now. So many of our exhibitors have products that can help the UK get back to business; and so many individuals need the support and the contacts that an event brings. The UK cleaning industry needs an opportunity to come together now, so we will be staging a virtual version of the Manchester Cleaning Show on the same dates of the planned event on 14-15 October 2020. The BCCE remain steadfast in their commitment to stage a much-needed physical exhibition and conference for the industry. The Board hope that the move to 2021 will see a situation where they are able to operate freely

without social distancing restrictions, or interferences with other planned industry events. “This isn’t what we had hoped for, but the opportunities that this virtual event presents are exciting and we have a really innovative platform to show. There are no apps to download, everything can be viewed on a device of choice, and it will deliver exciting content and business solutions for our visitors and a vital commercial opportunity for our exhibitors. It’s important that we come together,” the BCCE further stated. For more information visit: www.cleaningshow.co.uk/manchester

NCCA Gauteng AGM a virtual affair in 2020

Patrick Makhubela

The NCCA Gauteng branch AGM was held on 19 August and due to the coronavirus pandemic regulations pertaining to group gatherings it was, for the first time, conducted as a Zoom meeting. Some of the most salient issues raised by Patrick Makhubela in his Chairman’s report included: After a period of 3 years the new NCCA constitution was registered with the Department of Labour in December 2019. A copy of the

new constitution is available on the NCCA website. The Gauteng committee took a decision in November 2019 that only companies which have been found compliant during the 2019/20 membership year would be invoiced for 2020/21 membership year renewals. The Gauteng branch will carry the cost of compliance audits. NCCA (National) nominated Geoffrey Phiri of Cleaning Africa Services to represent the NCCA on the Services SETA Chamber. Patrick reported growth in branch membership – at the end of the current membership year (March ’20) the Gauteng branch recorded 463 paid-up members compared to 451 paid-up members for the previous year. As a collective, contract cleaning member companies in Gauteng employed 67 760 cleaning workers at the end of March ’20.

One positive that stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic was the huge increase in membership enquiries which numbered close to 3 000 from the beginning of the year. Gauteng Branch Administrator Sandy Deale read out the following names of individuals elected as Branch Executive Council Members: Vice Chairman – Lennox Batchelor (Bidvest Prestige), Treasurer – Arthur Bath, Janine Botha (Numatic), Chairman – Patrick Makhubela (Neledzi Services), Sushi Naidoo (Nakisani), Patrick Nndwamato (Cleaning Africa Services), Dave Reynolds (Supercare Group) and Pieter van der Westhuizen (Afriboom). Patrick Makhubela extended his congratulations to the Council, thanked Steve Braham for his many years of dedicated service on the Council and welcomed Sushi Naidoo as the newly elected Council member.

Industry loss Dr. Clive Roffey, senior technical consultant at IPS Procurement Services and CEO of Indvac passed away during July following a motor vehicle accident. Clive’s link to the professional cleaning industry was mainly through Indvac, a leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial vacuums and cleaning equipment. The company also distributed the Lavor brand of high pressure cleaning equipment in South Africa. Clive was possibly best known for his role as one of Business Day TV’s most popular market analysts.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

new products Introducing market-leading HEPA filtration

Providing a clean air solution for the commercial environment, the HEPA13 filter cartridge cleans and traps allergy triggers such as pollen, dust mites, pet allergens and pathogens, including bacteria, thus eliminating the risk of re-circulation and exposure to fine particles during vacuuming. The Numatic NVR170H vacuum cleaner delivers certified HEPA13 standards – typically

demanded in healthcare environments – of filtration down to 0.3 microns at 99.97 percent efficiency.

Features: • Powerful Motor: Tested for a minimum of 1 600 hours of continuous life, delivering powerful, efficient and long-life cleaning performance.

• HEPA Filter: Certified HEPA13 filtration down to 0.3 microns at 99.97 percent efficiency. The most advanced filtration in the Numatic commercial vacuum series. • 3-Stage Filtration: Advanced, 3-stage filtration system captures and traps fine dust, eliminating the risk of re-circulation and exposure. • TriTex Filter: Traps fine dust within its high-efficiency, triple-layer membrane. • HepaFlo Filter Bag: 3 layers of high-efficiency filter material and unique self-seal tab trap, retains fine dust during vacuuming and emptying. • Built to Last: Tested beyond industry standards, delivering performance you can trust from the UK’s most reliable vacuum brand. For more information visit: www.numatic.co.za

The indispensable hand sanitiser system With regular hand disinfection set to become a normal part of our daily habits, large-scale operations such as airports and shopping malls can’t possibly manage the constant replenishment of sanitiser and batteries required when using traditional 500 ml or 1 000 ml dispensers. Global cleaning and hygiene expert SEKO has announced the release of DispenserONE®, its latest innovation that solves the issues associated with traditional hand sanitiser dispensers while adding a multitude of features to benefit users and operators alike. With a capacity of 25 litres providing an average of 25 000 doses of sanitiser, DispenserONE® offers up to 50 times the capacity of a conventional dispenser, ensuring users always have access to a plentiful supply of product while vastly reducing refill frequency for the cleaning services provider.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

This makes it ideal for operators looking to safely reopen buildings to the public at a time when visitors are anxious for assurance that workplaces and commercial spaces are COVID-19 secure. This mains-powered system removes reliance on batteries while automatic touch-free dispensing maximizes user safety. Meanwhile, with remote-access possible via an in-built Wi-Fi hotspot, operators can view live statistics on sanitiser levels and usage data on multiple units across different sites through their personal dashboard. With this information they’re able to make dosing adjustments from any location through their personal dashboard. DispenserONE®’s customisation options allow the unit to be branded with bespoke colours and logo, while an optional 17” video screen can be used to sell advertising space, run promotions or display visitor information

in supermarkets, airports, shopping malls and other commercial spaces. For more information visit www.dispenserone.com

new products Mechanical floor cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in one application

We all know the current pandemic can’t last forever and that all businesses want to get back to work as soon as possible. As part of the ‘back-to-work’ mobilisation it is only natural that employees will look to their employers to ensure their workplace is safe and

hygienic. Many responsible employers may insist upon a full decontamination of the workspace, especially high-risk spaces. Now more than ever the work environment needs to be cleaned to the highest hygiene and safety standards and without compromise. TASKI IntelliSpray technology redefines what a cleaning machine is capable of. For the first time in a single-pass, floors are first cleaned and then both floors and surfaces can be disinfected for complete peace of mind. The multi-nozzle system delivers a fine mist of your chosen disinfectant. Facility users are now offered end-toend protection, from the moment they enter the facility, until they leave. Designed for use with TASKI rideon scrubber-dryers for maximum productivity, the TASKI IntelliSpray also has an integrated hand spray tool for manual disinfection of surfaces with complete flexibility. Using a smart modular design, TASKI IntelliSpray

is available as a retrofit for existing machines or can be specified with new TASKI ride-on machines to scrub, clean, dry and disinfect surfaces in a single pass. Find out more about how IntelliSpray can create protected environments for facility users by clicking on: http://taski.com/machines/taski-intellispray

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

new products Locally engineered mobile disinfectant trailer

In a bid to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions South Africa (tkISSA) has locally engineered, designed and manufactured a customdesigned, portable Sodium Hypochlorite disinfection trailer unit for spraying disinfectant in COVID-19 hotspot areas to help curb the spread of the virus. The primary way that the extremely contagious virus spreads is from person to person but as the virus attaches to surfaces, infection can also occur by people touching their face after touching

an infected area. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests Sodium Hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach, for effectively disinfecting surfaces potentially infected with COVID-19. As chemicals should be used at the lowest possible effective concentration for safety reasons, the WHO recommends a 0.5 percent Hypochlorite solution which is achieved through one-part bleach (household bleach is commonly available as a 3.5 percent concentration) to seven parts water to kill the virus. This dilution is as good as the alcohol used in hand sanitisers. thyssenkrupp has designed the trailer unit for effectively spraying the recommended 0.5 percent Hypochlorite concentration over large street, pavement and vertical surfaces. The company is globally renowned for its engineering capabilities when it comes to machines and equipment for the mining, minerals processing and cement sectors as well as for its cutting-edge technologies with regard to the solar and

biomass sectors. “By combining these proficiencies together with our local fabrication expertise, we have produced this robust and cost-effective trailer,” says Neville Eve, GM Chemical Process Technology. Equipped with a 500-litre easy-to-refill concentrate tank, the Hypochlorite trailer can spray a 50 000 sqm surface area per day with the replenishment of water only into the diluted liquid tank. The unit is fitted with four spay nozzles allowing four operators to efficiently spray both sides of the street simultaneously. Weighing 1 600 kg (gross), the trailer is easily towed by a bakkie or light utility vehicle and is ideal for use by local municipalities, health departments, industrial cleaning companies, and various other organisations. Due to the smart modular design, multiple units can be manufactured with very short lead times. For more information visit: www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com

Clean small areas without the hassle of a cable Introducing Scrubby, the new extremely handy scrubbing machine developed by Cleanfix for the cleaning of small surfaces and stairs. The Scrubby offers easy and comfortable cleaning in all kinds of difficult and narrow areas without the annoying presence of an electric cable. Additional precautions for working in damp areas are no longer required. The scrubbing machine is light, weighing less than 3 kg including the 9,0 Volt rechargeable battery. This scrubber will prove to be a perfect assistant on the cleaning trolley or as a companion to larger

floor cleaning machines. The 18cm cylinder brush head and free space around the motor allows the Scrubby to function in corners, on skirting boards, walls, ceilings, and various other areas. The functionality of the Scrubby is best shown in those places where conventional cleaning or polishing methods are either impractical or laborious.

Technical specifications: Brush speed: 350 rpm Battery charging time: 1 hour Maximum running time: 1,5 hours Length: 110 – 137cm Working width: 18cm

The Cleanfix Scrubby is distributed in South Africa by Safic, for more information visit: www.safic.co.za

Promote your company in The Source of Workplace Hygiene Solutions! Reach your target market cost effectively by advertising in African Cleaning Review. The direct link to end users, building service contractors, FM service providers and key institutional sectors. Contact us for more information regarding cost-effective advertising options: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za | www.africancleaningreview.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2020

R any DE mp IN c o ! M lis t n o w RE d or ails en det Am

10 MAIN ENTRIES ONLY r Absorbents – Oil/Chemicals r Access Equipment/Ladders r Air Cleaning Equipment/Air Duct Cleaning r Air Filters/Air Purifiers r Air Fresheners r Anti-Stain Treatments r Aprons – Cloth/Disposable/Plastic r Baby Changing Stations r Bactericides r Barrier Creams & Cleaners r Biological & Enzyme Products r Bird Repellent r Bleaches r Blind Cleaning Equipment r Buckets/Wringers r Caps & Hats r Carpet Cleaners r Carpet Cleaning Systems r Carpet Detergents r Car Valet Products/Services r Car/Truck Wash Systems r Catering Equipment Cleaning r Catering Hygiene Products r Ceiling & Wall Cleaning Equipment r Chemical Dilution & Dispensing Systems r Chemical Raw Materials r Chewing Gum Removal r Cleaning Chemicals/Agents & Consumables r Cleaning Equipment/Cleaning Equipment Hire r Cloths & Dusters r Compactors/Compactor Bags & Tubing r Computer & Cleanroom Cleaning r Curtain Cleaning r Customised Cleaning Solutions r Descalers & Degreasers r Detergents r Dishwashers r Dishwasher Dispensing Equipment r Disinfectants & Sanitisers r Dispensers r Dosing Equipment r Drain & Grease-Trap Maintenance r Drain Cleaning Chemicals r Drain Cleaning Equipment r Dryers – Tumble/Clothes r Dry Ice Cleaning Equipment & Services r Duct Cleaning r Dust Control &/or Logo Mats r Dust/Litter Bins r Dustpans & Dusters r Escalator Cleaners r Fabric Softeners r Facade Cleaners r Facial Tissue r Facilities Management r Floor Pads r Floor Polishers r Floor Scarifiers r Fragrance Units r Glass Cleaning Chemicals r Glass & Aluminium Restoration r Glass Washers r Gloves – Disposable/ Plastic/Rubber/Latex r Graffiti Removal Products r Green Cleaning/Products r Guest Amenities/Hospitality r HACCP Cleaning Specialists r Hand Cleansers & Protectors r Hand Dryers (Air) r Hard Floor Treatments r Hazard Material – Disposal/Control/ Emergency Spill Response/Clean-up r High Pressure Cleaners r Housekeeping – Carts r Hygiene &/or Cleaning Consultants r Hygiene Audits r Hygiene Brushware & Consumables r Hygiene Services r Industrial Chemicals r Industrial Cleaning Systems r Industrial Laundry Equipment/Dispensers r Insect Killing & Pest Control Equipment/Repellent r Irons – Steam/Automatic r Laundry Bags/Bins

r Laundry Design & Layout Consultants r Laundry & Dry Clean Consumables r Laundry Extractors/Technologies r Laundry Services r Laundry Suppliers r Liners – Dustbins r Lubricants r Maintenance Management Services r Matting r Microbiological Testing r Microfibre Products r Mopping & Flat Mopping Systems r Mops – Dish/Floor r Nappy & Incontinence Waste Disposal r Non-Electric Proportional Liquid Dispensers r Odour Control Services r On-Premise Laundry Systems r Paper Towel Dispensers r Paper, Serviettes & Wipes (Disposable) r Parts & Accessories – Floorcare & Laundry Equipment r Pest Control Services r Pesticides r Polishes r Presses – Trousers/Coats r Protective Clothing/Workwear r Public Safety & Signage r Refuse Disposal Equipment, Vehicles & Systems r Road Sweepers/Vacuum Trucks r Rust Removers r Sanitary Bins r Sanitary Bin Services r Sanitary Disposal r Scourers – Floor r Scrubber Dryers/Sweepers r Shoe Cleaning Equipment/ Supplies r Single Disc Floor Maintenance Machines r Soaps & Soap Dispensers r Solvents & Strippers r Specialised Cleaning Services r Speciality Own-Label Products r Sponge Wipes r Spray Extraction Cleaners r Squeegees, Brooms & Brushes r Steamers – Clothing r Steam Cleaners r Sterilisers r Surface Cleaning Pads & Cloths r Sweepers (Manual/Ride-On) r Telephone Cleaning r Terrazzo Floor Cleaning r Textile Testing r Time, Attendance and People Management Solutions & Software r Toilet Cleaners r Toiletries r Toilet Seat Sanitisers r Toilet Tissue r Towels/Disposable Towels r Training & Education – Development/ Recruitment/HACCP r Training Materials, Books, Software, Reports, Videos r Trolley Systems r Upholstery Cleaning r Urinal Dosing Systems r Urinal Gel Block/Pads r Vacuum Cleaners – Wet/Dry r Ventilators & Ventilation Systems, Kitchen Extraction Systems – Cleaning r Washing Machines r Washroom Accessories & Consumables o Water Saving Systems r Waste Disposal Systems r Waste Environmental Management r Watercoolers r Waterless Urinals/Toilets r Water Treatment Systems r Window Cleaning r Window Cleaning Equipment r Woven & Non-Woven Wipes r Other (Please specify): _______________________________ _______________________________ _______________________________

Buyer’s Guide

2021

Harness the power of this comprehensive reference manual containing products and services available within the cleaning and related industries. Ensure that your company is listed in the next Buyer’s Guide – the only reference tool for companies and individuals requiring information about hygiene, cleaning, maintenance, pest control, laundry, dry cleaning and facility management services.

EMAIL: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za in order to secure your copy entry in the African Cleaning Review 2021 Buyer’s Guide edition. Once-off charge: R500 for 365 days! DEADLINE: NO ENTRIES CAN BE ACCEPTED AFTER 11 DECEMBER 2020 Please complete the form in BLOCK LETTERS Company name: ................................................................................................... Head office address:............................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. Postal address: PO Box......................................................................................... Town/city: ...............................................................Code: ................................... Country: ................................................................................................................ Email: ................................................................................................................... Website: ............................................................................................................... Tel: ........................................................ Cell:....................................................... Social media:

Twitter

Other:.......................................

Major activity of company (e.g. chemicals, cleaning equipment, cleaning service, laundry equipment, insecticides): .......................................................... .............................................................................................................................. Brand/s represented:........................................................................................... Association member: SAPCA

NCCA

ISSA

BEECA

SATSA

SAFMA

Other:............................................................................................

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Person completing form:...................................................................................... Email: .................................................................................................................. Cell: ......................................................................... Date: ................................... NB: Product Entries Tick in the appropriate block/s for services, products and equipment manufactured or distributed by your company. Please tick no more than 10 main products/services as additional entries2020 can not be African Cleaning Review September/October guaranteed.

FOCUSED MANAGEMENT = EXTERNAL EXCELLENCE!

SAPCA Cleantex Executive Summit Africa 15–16 September 2021 Cape Town | South Africa A two-day co-located executive event for professionals in cleaning, hygiene, laundry and pest control Day 1: Strategic business management sessions for all delegates Topics: Strategic thinking, leadership, customer care, the future workplace, digitisation, scenario planning, corporate culture and business evolution Day 2: Two independent tracks Track 1: Professional Cleaning Industry summit focusing on business growth, infection control, sustainability, in-depth customer journey mapping, resetting business practices to adapt to COVID-19 Track 2: Pest Control Industry subject matter and training sessions

REGISTER NOW AND SAVE! ISSA | NCCA | BEECA | SAPCA members qualify for preferential rates Two-day delegate package includes access to the cocktail party and gala dinner Sponsors:

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cleantexsummit.co.za • nande@cleantex.co.za || sapca.org.za • info@sapca.org.za

African Cleaning Review SeptOct '20

Articles inside

New Products

People and Events

E-training

Exercise extreme caution when hand sanitising

FM Review

Laundry Review

Global safety and hygiene stamp for V&A Waterfront

Simple steps toward more sustainable floor care

Shift in how cleaning will be viewed in a post COVID-19 era

Editorial

Industry News