Clean & Hygiene Review ( Sep-Oct 2014)

Sept-Oct ’14

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W Publisher cum Editor Rajneesh Sharma Resident Editor Sharmila Chand (Delhi) Ashok Malkani (Mumbai) Layout & Design Hari Kumar. V Narender Kumar Production Assistant Mamta Sharma Business Co-ordinator Pooja Anand Advertising Sales Delhi: Debabrath Nath, Sumesh Sharma Mumbai: Rajesh Tupsakhre Subscription Sales Dattaram Gangurde Director Sales Sanjay Anand Director Operations & Finance Rajat Taneja Editorial & Advertising Offices: Delhi: Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 1202, Pragati Tower, 26, Rajindra Place, New Delhi-110008 Phone: 91-11-45084903, 25854103 / 05 Mumbai: Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 105, 1st Floor, Aarpee Centre, Gufic Compound, 11th Road, MIDC, Near Tunga Paradise, Andheri (E), Mumbai-400 093 Ph.: 91-22-28395833 Telefax: 91-22-28388947 Website: www.chrmag.com E-mail: hammerpublishers@vsnl.net © 2014 Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

Clean & Hygiene Review is a bi-monthly magazine, printed, owned and published by Rajneesh Sharma from 313, Himgiri Apartments, J-Block, Vikaspuri, New Delhi. Printed at Print Creations, C-112/3, Basement, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110 028.

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ith a new vigour, the country has now embarked on what could well be the biggest ever mission to clean India – the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched on October 2. One novelty of this mission is that it aims to rope in everyone so that cleaning India becomes a collective responsibility. However, the real warriors of this mission that now needs a war-time urgency will undoubtedly be the nameless cleaning professionals across different sectors. So amid this new found enthusiasm among our urban elite to pick up the broom once in a while and post a picture on their Facebook or Twitter accounts to show their participation, which, of course, deserves appreciation, we must not lose sight of the working conditions and health of our dedicated cleaning workers. They deserve better because cleaning is not an easy job. They are exposed to dirt and harmful chemicals every day, making them very vulnerable to diseases, and at the same time the remuneration that they take home generally remains too low to allow them a good quality of life. So along with the mission of cleaning India, a parallel mission to improve the lives of the cleaning professionals can bring us a step closer to what can be called a “Quality India”, where everyone can live a life full of opportunities and dignity.

Improving the conditions of the cleaning workers has implications for the hospitality industry as well which is struggling for long because of lack of skilled manpower in various segments. Improved remuneration, better security, safe working environment can help the industry tide over the growing problem of skill gap and sustain its future growth. Only in the facility management segment, as the Cover Story of this issue highlights, the projected incremental demand for manpower till 2022 is 10.17 lakhs.

Will it be able to attract these many skilled workers, if the conditions in which they work do not improve, the industry will have to answer.

This is especially important in view of the fact that facility management is expected to grow exponentially in the coming days, thanks to new incentives being rolled out for the construction industry.

The Business Story of this issue maps out the opportunities in the recession-resistant and easy-to-set-up commercial cleaning business. It points out that if you care to plan out well, you can get your business up and running within a few weeks, meaning quicker returns on your investment.

With a focus on e-waste management, indoor air quality in commercial buildings, pest management in gardens, furniture cleaning, and interesting industry updates, I am sure you will find other regular features of this issue equally stimulating.

Happy reading!

Editorial Policy : Editorial emphasis in Clean & Hygiene Review magazine is on educational & informational material specifically designed to assist those responsible for managing cleaning & maintenance, Laundry, Pest Control, Water & Waste Management and Environment. Articles are welcome and will be published on the sole discretion of the editor.

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Sept-Oct ’14

Contents Contents

COVER STORY

Facility Management Coming of Age With the economy put on track for revival, rules for foreign direct investment in construction sector relaxed and plans for 100 SMART cities across the country now being rolled out, it is only a matter time for the still largely unorganized facility management industry in India to mature and realize its full potential



BUSINESS

Cashing in on Commercial Cleaning



Low on investment and competition but high on demand and profit margins, commercial cleaning offers an exciting opportunity to entrepreneurs who wish to carve out a niche for themselves in a short time

CLEANING

Opportunities in Furniture Maintenance



With the right amount of training, experience and at times courage, one may find furniture cleaning to be safe and profitable

PEST MANAGEMENT Keeping Gardens Pest-Free

 Sept-Oct ’14

Although it may take a little more time than what pesticides require, even with constant vigilance and a combination of organic pest control techniques, one can keep the gardens pest-free to a great extent

SECTIONS 4

News Scan

7

Report

19

Hygiene

28

Laundry

30

Waste Management

34

IAQ

37

Face to Face

38

Product Preview

40

Interview 3

NEWS SCAN

National Air Quality Index (AQI) launched

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s part of its mission to introduce the culture of cleanliness in India and to make data on air quality easily understandable for a common person, the government has now launched the National Air Quality Index (AQI).

The Minister for Environment, Forests & Climate Change Prakash Javadekar launched the AQI in New Delhi on October 17.

While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the current measurement index had been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional parameters.

Traditionally, air quality status has been reported through voluminous data. Thus, it was important that information on air quality is put up in public domain in simple linguistic terms that is easily understood by a common person.

Air Quality Index (AQI) is one such tool for effective dissemination of air quality information to people.

There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

Based on the measured ambient concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall AQI. Associated likely health impacts for different AQI categories and pollutants have been also been suggested, with primary inputs from the medical expert members of the group.

Germany to help India deal with untreated wastewater

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he Federal Republic of Ger many has agreed to provide Euros 4 million and services of international experts to help the Ministry of Urban Development in effective implementation of sanitation programmes in urban areas of the country. The focus of technical cooperation will be on enabling effective measures against discharge of untreated waste water into surface and ground water.

India and Germany signed to this effect an ‘Implementation Agreement on Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy’ on October 14.

The agreement was signed by Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary (Urban Development) and Stefan Helming, Country Director, GIZ, on behalf of the Government of Germany.

The agreement valid for three years i.e till March, 2017, seeks to promote capacity development in the urban sanitation sector, formulation of state and city sanitation policies and support states for technical innovation.

This technical cooperation agreement assumes significance in the context of the ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ launched by the government.

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Sept-Oct ’14

NEWS SCAN

First of its kind Mobile Laundry reaches India

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uick Clean Private Limited, authorised partner of Electrolux Professional, showcased its new, innovative laundry solution, Mobile Laundry, as a start-up business opportunity, at the Franchise India 2014 held at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on October 11-12.

Franchise India provides a platform for business franchise opportunities and new business ideas.

“This year we showcased and unveiled our unique concept, the Mobile Laundry, which will revolutionise mechanised cleaning as it will bring hi-end cleaning to the masses, and will prove to be a unique and innovative business opportunity for entrepreneurs, and investors alike,” said Anshul Gupta, Director, Quick Clean Pvt. Ltd. Under the aegis of New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Quick Clean developed and launched this ‘green laundry’ concept which will run on PNG or LPG. It is likely to consume less water and electricity than washing machines used at home.

The project is based on the format of smartcard/ coin-operated laundromat which promotes the concept of community washing machines as prevalent in Western countries, and will be mobile.

The vision behind this mega community project is to make life easier for the residents in the NDMC areas. However, the concept can be rolled into multi-housing facilities, residential neighbourhoods, and local shopping areas too.

“NDMC has approved locations with concentrated resident population, where the mobile laundry can be parked,” Gupta pointed out.

The mobile laundry is selfsustaining and equipped with water tank and generator to run installed equipment, and can also be connected with water and electricity points as available locally at site.

“Q u i c k C l e a n h a v e consolidated their leadership in self-service Laundromats in India. With this colourful, youthful & well designed mobile laundry, they have further modernised the concept of community washing, thereby contributing towards the new Government’s Clean India campaign,” said Animesh Sharma, Sales Manager- Laundry, Electrolux Professional India.

Electrolux Professional is a leading global supplier to the catering, hospitality and care industry providing professional kitchens and laundry solutions.

Sept-Oct ’14

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Supershine Chemikleen joins hands with Indo-German cleaning giant

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ith an aim of “raising the bar” of India’s cleaning and hygiene norms to the European standards, Buzil Rossari, an Indo-German joint venture providing biodegradable cleaning products has tied up with India’s Supershine Chemikleen as their master distributor for India.

Buzil Rossari services the customers in areas of cleaning, hygiene, disinfection, laundry and specialized floor care.

With their strong network and more than 700 installations, Supershine will now be able to provide high-standard eco-friendly services of Buzil Rossari.

“This synergy is going to provide complete solutions to the customers through a single window,” said Suresh Goyal from Supershine Laundry Systems in a recently concluded customer event at Goa. Supershine Chemikleen is a group company of Supershine Laundry Systems Pvt Ltd, which already enjoys exclusive tie-ups with the world’ s leading laundry equipment brands such as Milnor (USA), ADC (USA), Image (Thailand), Italclean (Italy), Jensen (Denmark), Pony (Italy) and Forenta (USA) for laundry equipments.

All the Buzil Rossari products comply with the European standards with bio-degradable certificates. The focus is on minimising the use of chemicals and providing long-lasting and clean results. Buzil Rossari has excellent core competence in terms of manufacturing capabilities. Rossari’s Silvassa factory is ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and FDA accredited plant.

“Buzil’s 108 years of successful history in cleaning and hygiene would be a great fit and the technology from Germany has certainly helped the customers in India and other South Asian and Southeast Asian countries to achieve fantastic results,” said Sumeet Verma, Managing Director of Buzil Rossari.

At a time when the network of Buzil Rossari is expanding and the team is strategically located across India to service the end users, the tie-up with Supershine Chemikleen announced in Goa is expected to further its goal of reaching out to its expanding customer base.

The customer event at Goa was attended by more than 65 key decision makers from hospitality, healthcare and facility management sectors. During the interactive sessions, the participants pointed out the challenging areas where Buzil Rossari can add value with their technologically advanced products and systems.

A few participants showed interest in visiting “Surekleen” which is the largest commercial laundry in India and servicing their customers in mostly Star hotels in Goa. Surekleen has two Lavatech Tunnel laundries and both are managed exclusively by Buzil Rossari.

With their services and training programmess, Buzil Rossari is well-equipped to fill the current vacuum in India’s cleaning and hygiene industry, the participants at the event noted.

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Sept-Oct ’14

Clean

INDIA

REPORT

Mission Launched Responding to the Prime Minister’s call for cleanliness, India Inc and public sector undertakings (PSUs) too pledged support and financial aid towards making India clean by 2019

By Jyotismita Sharma

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ith a broom in his hand and a resolve to bring about a sweeping change in the country in his mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, India’s biggest ever cleanliness drive on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary on October 2.

The Prime Minister said it was a social responsibility of Indian citizens to help fulfill Gandhiji’s vision of Clean India, by his 150th birth anniversary in 2019.

He said the work of Swachh Bharat should become a mass movement, and people should neither litter, nor let others litter.

He repeatedly emphasized that the work of cleaning India cannot be done by one person, or by Government functionaries alone – it has to be done by every Indian.

“If we collectively make it a people’s movement then I don’t see any reason why we will not be counted among the clean cities and nations of the world. India can also do it, Indians can do it,” Modi said, addressing the people from Rajpath in New Delhi.

“If Indians can reach Mars with minimum expense then can’t they clean their neighborhood?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the cleanliness drive for Swachh Bharat Mission from Valmiki Basti, in New Delhi on October 2.

Sept-Oct ’14

No Prime Minister or Minister took us to Mars. It was done by the scientists; children of Mother India. Cleanliness will also be achieved together,” he added.

According to the World Health Organization, an average of Rs. 6,500 per person was lost in India due to lack of cleanliness and hygiene, Modi pointed out.

He said a clean India would therefore make a significant impact on public health, and in safeguarding income of the poor, ultimately contributing to the national economy.

He exhorted people to devote 100 hours every year towards the cause of cleanliness.

Taking an oath to do his bit to clean India, the Prime Minister said,”I take this pledge that I will remain committed towards cleanliness and devote time for this. I will devote 100 hours per year that is two hours per week to voluntary work for cleanliness. I will neither litter nor let others litter. I will initiate the quest for cleanliness with myself, my family, my locality, my village and my work place.”

The launch of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan was preceded by cleanliness campaign week beginning September 25 which saw central government offices being spruced up by discarding or overhauling old furniture and sending old files to record rooms.

The clean India mission comes in the wake of a perception about Indian cities not being very clean.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of building toilets. He said sanitation should not be seen as a political tool, but should only be connected to patriotism (rashtrabhakti) and commitment to public health.

The Prime Minister named nine people -- including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, actors Priyanka Chopra and Salman Khan and industrialist Anil Ambani -- to spread the message of Clean India.

Various ministries of the government also joined the cleanliness drive.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s call for cleanliness, India Inc and public sector undertakings (PSUs) too pledged support and financial aid under corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) launched ‘Mission -Sanitation of Schools (SoS)’ drive under which it would rope in companies to construct toilets across the country.

“We have set up a mechanism to create awareness and encourage industry participation through our network of 64 offices in India, spread across 26 states and two union territories,” Sumit Mazumder, President designate, CII, and Chairman, TIL Ltd. was quoted as saying.

“CII will mobilise construction of 10,000 toilets in the first phase, which is, by the end of fiscal year 2015-16. Based on the feedback and assessments on ground, in the next six months CII will announce targets for the second phase,” the industry body said.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has also started cleaning activities at its headquarters in New Delhi.

“We are happy and encouraged by the prime minister’s call for a ‘Clean India’ by 2019. FICCI shares his vision for ‘Swachch Bharat’ and agrees that the entire nation needs to come forward and commit itself to this noble initiative,” A. Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI, was quoted as saying.

The state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) too launched its special cleaning drive at its facilities in various cities. The PSU said it had identified 765 schools in 37 districts for construction of toilets.

Power Minister Piyush Goyal announced that within a year the PSUs under his ministry will build one lakh toilets in schools.

Making the country clean can bring about enormous benefits like increase in tourism, employment opportunities and income, he pointed out.

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COVER S T O R Y

Facility Management

Coming of Age W

ith the economy put on track for revival, rules for foreign direct investment in construction sector relaxed and plans for 100 SMART cities across the country now being rolled out, it is only a matter time for the still largely unorganized facility management industry in India to mature and realize its full potential

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B

By Ashok Malkani

e it office space, hotels, hospitals, shopping mal ls or schools, the fate of facility management is intimately linked with the real estate and construction sector, the services industry and growing standards of living among the people in general.

Therefore, it is only obvious that the sluggish growth of the real estate industry over the last two-three years has affected the business of facility managers too. But they can now probably take heart and look forward to a brighter future as the government has announced its plans to build 100 smart cities as satellite towns of larger cities and by modernising the existing mid-sized cities. These cities, will, by definition, have all modern amenities and focus on improving the standard of living.

To g i v e a boost to

building these smart cities, the government has now also relaxed foreign direct investment rules in the construction sector.

All these developments bode well for India’s facility management sector which is broadly defined as an interdisciplinary field devoted to the coordination of space, infrastructure, people and organization, often associated with the administration of office blocks, schools, shopping complexes, hospitals, hotels, etc.

According to TechNavio, an independent technolgy focused global research firm, facilit y management services sector in India is slated to grow at a CAGR of 31.17 percent during the period 2013-2018.

The emergence of integrated facilities management services is one major trend upcoming in this market. The concept of availing integrated facilities management is increasingly gaining popularity among organizations across India.

The provision of both hard and soft services by a single vendor makes it easy for customers to manage and resolve any issues related to facilities management.

“Facility management services is gaining huge acceptance among

Sept-Oct ’14

C O V E R STORY customers in the commercial sector because it helps companies in the hassle-free management of their facilities in a professional manner,” said Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of TechNavio Research.

“Many commercial complexes are being constructed, including offices, business centers, and manufacturing units. This has resulted in a huge demand for facilities management services across various verticals,” Ghaus added.

Another report by Netscribes, a market intelligence and content firm, outlines how the facilities management segment has now been elevated to a strategic level of importance.

The reason for the growth of facility managements firms is that they provide clients with dedicated team to solve day-to-day problems associated with a property. FMs provide single point reference or contact, said the research report titled Facilities Management Services Market in India 2014.

Growth of FMS Facility management primarily constitutes two major segments – soft services and hard services.

Soft services include services like housekeeping, janitorial, gardening, pest control, waste management, security, catering services, help desk management, vendor management,

etc. Hard services, on the other hand, include managing critical environment of an organisation like ensuring uninterrupted power supply, maintenance of air conditioning, etc.

As the reports cited above underline, the facilities management market in India is poised to witness significant momentum over the next five years. However, this market is still dominated by small and medium sized unorganized players with few clients and services. The small

unorganized players operate on low margins. However, consolidation in this segment is on the horizon as players are growing their business by acquiring smaller firms.

Of late, the growth in the office space and the creation of more integrated facilities and campuses has created growth opportunities for more organized players.

The market for facility management grew with the boom in the information technology (IT) sector. International players also entered the Indian market to tap the growing opportunity. As per the latest industry estimate the market size for the facility management services is close to Rs.8,000 crores and has an employment potential of 50 lakh people.

Reasons for Growth The ser vices are primarily concentrated in and around metros with low penetration in tier II and III cities.

The increasing demand in metros is due to the growing modernisation of office spaces in urban areas. The facility management sector is also expected to grow in the near future due to the booming real estate, which is driven by the economic growth of the country. Strong growth in real estate sector has given immense

Sept-Oct ’14

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COVER S T O R Y potential to property management companies to provide integrated facility management ser vices.

Many residential and commercial complexes are being constructed including offices, business centres, housing apartments, manufacturing units and other such facilities.

This has led to a huge demand for facility management services like housekeeping, security, cleaning, electrical, mechanical and civil engineering. The growth in real estate is expected to spur the growth of facilities management sector further.

Evolving Role of Facility Managers With facility management gaining strategic importance, the role of facility managers is also evolving.

Most of them now operate at two levels: strategic-tactical and operational. The facilities management department in an organization is required to control and manage many safety related issues. The threat from fire carries one of the highest risks to loss of life. The facilities management department needs to have in place maintenance, inspection and testing

Skill Pyramid for the Facility Management industry

for all of the fire safety equipment and systems. Security also comes under FM. Electrical maintenance is also part of facility management.

The facility management sector thus embraces a wide spectrum of activities – comprising of keeping the place safe and also neat and clean.

Lack of Skilled Workforce Though hundreds of millions of young people are expected to come into the job market in the next decade, they will find it difficult to find jobs as they are obsessed with white collar dreams. Most of them shy away from blue collar

Manpower Demand in Facility Management

As per the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS) report, the projected incremental demand for manpower till 2022 is as below.

All figures in lakhs Sector

Roles

Hospitality

Housekeeping Electrical and Maintenance Services Landscaping and Gardening Fire Fighting Environmental Services

Facility Management Waiters Room Attendants Houseman Housekeeping Supervisors Healthcare

Total

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Bedside patient assistant Technicians Paramedics and others Store operations

Incremental Manpower Requirement by 2022

39.37

10.17

7.85 57.39

careers that could guarantee them employment and income. The less formally-educated youth lack proper vocational training and are doomed to drift from one lowpaying stint to another. According to an estimate, the government or private institutions will have to spend at least Rs 10,000 to train one person in the right skills.

It may be mentioned that facilit y management requires three-fold manpower comprising of professional, skilled and unskilled people. There are very few professionals who can handle large infrastructure projects. The demand for them is huge. The problem with unskilled manpower is that they easily switch jobs for better payments. Controlling the employee turnover at that level is a big challenge.

On the other hand, the demand for facility management workers is increasing. Many companies are looking for new facility management talent, while also striving to increase the technological expertise of the workforce as a whole. A better understanding of millennials (generatioin Y, following generation X. Those born in the 1980s or 1990s) along with new recruitment and management strategies, is required to refill the talent. The demand for facility management workers far exceeds supply, creating a pronounced talent gap which will only worsen in the years to come.

Facing this looming challenge, the facility management industry needs proactive strategies to educate the youth about the advantages of the field.

Sept-Oct ’14

C O V E R STORY for recruiting and retaining the next generation of facility management leaders can be applied: Meet them where they are: Direct contact to help millennials make career decisions is much more effective than waiting for them to voluntarily explore the field.

Seventy-six percent of millennials say that internships are their most useful source for choosing a career,

Currentl y, f e w mil lennials can even begin to define facility management, let alone realize its potential to match their values, skills and goals. According to a Jones Lang LaSalle ( JLL) report, among the millennials who are aware that facility management is an industry, fewer know what the work actually entails. The report adds, “When asked what facility managers do, nearly 30 percent simply did not respond to the question.”

Facility management professionals know that, in reality, the field offers

a variety of roles and career paths.

Given that 71 per cent of millennials say they are open to new career ideas, what can facility management professionals do to create visibility for the field — and therefore a more sustainable future for the industry?

Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Personnel According to International Facility Management Association (IFMA), the future of facility management reveals several trends that suggest a way forward. The following strategies

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COVER S T O R Y

which suggests that facility team managers should pursue this avenue more aggressively.

Convey the alignment of millennial career values with facility management. The youth of today generally value jobs that offer constant learning opportunities, a clear career path and an enjoyable, rewarding workplace. These are hallmarks of facility management careers that organizations could more effectively convey in their recruitment tools.

Define a successful career trajector y : M i l l e n n i a l s h a v e positive impressions of several different facility management jobs. Defining such job roles as steps on a ladder to achievement can inspire millennials who seek a career path with clear advancement milestones.

Promote diversity: Engaging with a diverse talent base will help expand the potential workforce and position the industry for a more sustainable future. JLL’s study found that 95 percent of millennials consider working for an organization that embraces diversity “very important ” or “extremely important” and 85 percent want to interact with diverse groups of clients and coworkers.

With increasing demand for facilities management education, several training and certification courses have been started. IFMA has signed an MOU with the

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National Academy of Construction, Hyderabad, to provide certification courses in facility management.

A recent sur vey found that 97 percent of employers plan to hire interns and co-ops in 2014. From both the student and employer perspective, these types of training opportunities are invaluable. For the student, they provide an opportunity to gain on-the-job experience and evaluate a potential employer. For the employer, an internship can serve as an opportunity to evaluate potential future employees’ The International Facilit y Management Association (IFMA)

reports that the average age of facility managers is 49 — an age when many employees are beginning to plan for retirement.

Facility management outsourcing is one solution for corporations seeking to offset FM talent recruitment and development challenges. But the outsourcing agencies too would need trained personnel.

The only solution is for FMs to encourage the youth to train for jobs in facility management firms. With several international FM companies entering India, the scope for employment in this sector is, in fact, huge. 

Sept-Oct ’14

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Sept-Oct ’14

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BUSINESS

Cashing in on

Commercial Cleaning Low on investment and competition but high on demand and profit margins, commercial cleaning offers an exciting opportunity to entrepreneurs who wish to carve out a niche for themselves in a short time

By Ashok Malkani

F

o r a n y c o m m e rc i a l establishment, not keeping the premises c lean could lead to declining number of customers. Be it a hotel, a shopping complex, a cinema hall or even a health establishment, clean environs, is an essential element.

However, for all these commercial establishments, cleaning could be a time consuming and labourintensive programme with the potential to distract their attention from their core competence. This is where commercial cleaning steps in.

One good thing about this business is that you can start on a shoestring budget. Also, you require no special qualifications; just the ability to keep the place clean.

Added to this is the rising number of commercial establishments,

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residential complexes, retail trade, and increasing number of hotels to cater to the growing number of both domestic and international tourists – factors that are now contributing to the rising demand for commercial cleaners, offering them better profit margins in the bargain.

Commercial cleaning encompasses a vast arena ranging from janitorial services to cleaning of water tanks, different types of floors, laundry, carpet cleaning, et al.

The scope of work may include all internal, general and routine cleaning to include floors, tiles, partition walls, internal walls, suspended ceilings, lighting, furniture and cleaning, window cleaning, deep cleans of sanitary conveniences and washing facilities, kitchens and dining areas, consumables and feminine hygiene facilities as well

Sept-Oct ’14

BUSINESS

as cleaning of telephones, IT and other periodic cleaning as required.

External cleaning, litter picking and removal of graffiti may also be incorporated.

Since the demand for qualified cleaning services outstrips the supply, there is an unlimited scope for anyone entering the commercial cleaning industry.

Recession-Resistant Industry Cleaning is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is so essential to health and hygiene that hardly any establishment can afford to do away with it – even in times of recession, according to the experts. Moreover, commercial establishments know that they do not have to pay through their nose to avail cleaning services.

So as long as there are commercial buildings, office complexes, banks, retail shopping centers, industrial facilities and medical centers, there will always be a need for quality cleaning professionals, regardless of economic conditions. It is estimated

Sept-Oct ’14

that as new buildings are completed and new businesses open, there will be more opportunities for commercial cleaners.

Even during the recent economic downturn that has impacted most parts of the world the Indian commercial cleaning industry has managed to continue to grow. This could be attributed to the fact that there has been a steady increase in commercial complexes and retail trade as well as real estate.

The Indian cleaning industry was quick to respond to the recovery process. Even a flattened growth curve projected during the third quarter of 2011 was corrected in the last quarter of the year.

Advantages This segment offers ample opportunities for small as well as

large scale enterprises to set shop.

There are a number of advantages starting a commercial cleaning company – starting with the fact that it requires very little capital to get established.

In addition, the business requires no specialised training or background and,it can be started on a part-time basis, so you can remain with your present job while you get established and build up a nice list of clientele.

Another nice feature about the commercial cleaning business is that it can provide very high profit margins.

Business plan However, you cannot jump into the field blindfolded. No business prospers that way. If you are planning on venturing into this field then you must have a solid business plan.

This plan should contain at the very least an overview of your company and the services you plan to offer, the strategies you plan to use in order to obtain customers, financial information such as a cash flow and income statements, and an action plan for how your company plans to achieve its profitability goals.

You will also need to have a target market. Even though you are starting a commercial cleaning company, you will still want to decide upon and pare down your target customer. For example, you need to decide whether you would like to focus on working with large office complexes or smaller retail locations. For many, residential spaces could be an attractive option.

So depending on an analysis of

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BUSINESS

your strengths, you should note down which areas of commercial cleaning could offer you more profit than others and which areas you should avoid. And once you kick off your business, acquiring client is the first big job. Then you need to know how to manage the accounts and keep the customers happy so that you keep them for a long time.

There is no use in getting a bunch of accounts only to lose them in a few months because you cannot keep your customers happy.

Exploring the business opportunities in areas where you have the expertise can give you the edge over others. So one should have thorough understanding of the market trends and its behavior, the competition, the current rates, your investment options and the profit margins involved.

Field of Operation Office buildings and other commercial establishments usually prefer their cleaning services at night or in weekends only so that there is minimal disruption to their other works. Washing the floors,

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cleaning the bathrooms, emptying trash cans, cleaning kitchen areas, and washing doors and windows is often included in this type of service However, in the hospitality industry, cleaning services could be a 24 X 7 job.

So while zeroing on on the services to offer, it is important to think about what your abilities are and what niche you can fill in your community. Here are a few types of services you could consider offering: • Floor cleaning • Gutter cleaning • Roof cleaning • Carpet cleaning • Pool cleaning • Windows cleaning • Office cleaning

Equipment Needed What type of equipment you will require will depend on profiles of your clients, the nature of services you intend to offer and how much you can charge in return.

Commercial office cleaning companies use a wide variety of cleaning methods, chemicals and equipment to facilitate and expedite the cleaning process.

F loor Cleaning Machines: While small scale entrepreneurs normally adopt manual methods for cleaning floors, some may prefer to use machines. Floor cleaning machines are usually of three main types: hard floor cleaners, polishers, and vacuum cleaners for other

surfaces.

Hard floor c leaners: H a rd floor cleaners are perhaps the most common type of commercial cleaning equipment. Made to scrub, they clean a variety of hard surfaces ranging from wooden floors to cemented areas. There are two types of hard floor cleaners: the swing floor machine and the auto scrubber. Swing floor machines have floor pads that spin around to push and scrub dirt and dust from the ground. Usually, water must be applied to the floor, cleaned with the machine, then the dirty water must be wiped down with a mop or squeegee. Auto scrubbers, on the other hand, can do all these steps on their own. These machines spray the floor, scrub it down, and then suck up the excess water. These types of scrubbers are a little on the expensive side, but they can be very efficient. They are, therefore, used mostly in large establishments such as hotels and warehouses.

Polishers or Burnishers: They are used to give a beautiful, shiny finish to the floor. Most types of flooring use a synthetic acrylic polymer to protect the surface from heavy foot traffic. This coating can be buffed continuously to “refresh” the floor and create a shine, giving the floor a clean appearance and also enhancing its protective effect. Sometimes, use of additional chemicals may be required to fill in any small scores or marks and create a more brilliant shine.

Sept-Oct ’14

Sept-Oct ’14

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BUSINESS Vacuum cleaners: To be able to decide on the types of vacuum cleaner needed it is first important to assess the nature of the cleaning jobs to be carried out in the premises. Look around the area to be cleaned paying close attention to the variety of surfaces. These may include carpeted and non carpeted floors. So for different types of surfaces, there are different types of vacuum cleaners and one need to choose accordingly. However, the upright vacuums and backpack vacuums are the most popular.

Upright vacuums usually look just like regular vacuums, but they may be larger, have a longer cord, and will definitely have a stronger motor to ensure every surface and piece of furniture is cleaned thoroughly.

Backpack vacuums are popular with cleaning services, as they allow the user to maneuver around small spaces (like office cubicles or living room furniture) without having to move heavy furniture.

Franchising Franchising can also be considered for the commercial cleaning industry, as a whole. But one has to consider the pros and cons when contemplating on the franchise route.

H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e b o t h advantages and drawbacks of going with the franchise model. One big advantage of this model is that it can offer instant business. This is because you may find the groundwork done for you as the franchisor takes care of putting together the business model and you can simply follow

18

their steps to getting the business up and running quickly.

Running a franchise, therefore, can be like following pre-written instructions.

Moreover, franchises are also known for the vast training and support that they offer to their franchisees. So you need not spend your capital providing training to your staff.

Franchisors generally offer initial training prior to getting your company up and running. They will usually also provide ongoing support to you – and to your employees, if applicable – should you ever have any questions or concerns.

But there are some major drawbacks in franchising. One of the biggest drawbacks that most people feel that a franchise presents is cost. In most cases, franchisees

must first come up with an initial down payment in order to buy into the franchise. There could be additional fees taken as a percentage of the franchisee’s revenue or sales performance.

Lack of control is another of the drawbacks of the franchise model. Unlike in your own company where you can control each and every aspect of the business, with a franchise, you are usually required to sign an agreement stating that you will follow their rules and operate the business in the manner that is set forth by the franchisor.

The beauty of the commercial cleaning business is that even if you do not go for a franchise model, you can have your business up and running within a few weeks, meaning quicker returns on your investment. 

Sept-Oct ’14

HYGIENE

   Washroom Hygiene W

ashroom hygiene is an essential part of any cleaning regime. Studies have shown that the state of the washroom has a major impact on customer and employee perceptions and can be a factor in repeat business and staff retention. And with increasing awareness among the people about the role that hygiene plays in healthy living, providing a clean and fresh washroom environment has never been more important than it is today.

However, despite its growing importance in healthy living and in ensuring customer satisfaction for those in the hospitality business, many people still have the tendency to take washroom hygiene for granted.

But in practices, ensuring washroom hygiene requires a well thought out plan, careful selection of products that are healthy for the users and the environment alike and strict execution.

Two key Aspects of Hygiene Although a number of factors contribute to overall hygiene, there are perhaps two that have the biggest impact: The first is providing washroom users with the best possible personal hygiene products. Personal hygiene starts with effective hand washing. Although many common infections are passed on by hand-to-hand contact it is still a surprise to learn that many people simply do not know how to wash their hands. For basic hygiene, there is no substitute for good old fashioned soap and water. A liquid soap in a wall mounted dispenser is all that is needed for hygienic results as long as people wash their hands properly. Scented products are more pleasant and likely to encourage more people to use them.

When infection control is required, hand washing followed by a disinfecting and sanitising hand rub can be highly effective.

In healthcare facilities, for example, alcohol based gel are ideal for disinfecting hands when pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses including flu may be present. The alcohol

Sept-Oct ’14

Providing the washroom users with effective personal hygiene products is as important an aspect of a sound washroom hygiene regime as keeping the washroom itself clean

kills the bug while the gel keeps the cleaner on the hand longer for lasting protection. These products can also be used when washing is not possible.

The second major factor in washroom hygiene is keeping the washroom itself clean. A number of products are available to help the cleaning staff do their work more easily. Trolley systems, for example, help cleaning staff to be well organised by holding products and tools in the correct position for ergonomic working, easy access and safe handling.

The addition of perfumes with odour neutralising technology eliminates, rather than masks, nasty smells and leaves the washroom smelling nice and fresh. Because the exact range is supplied in concentrate format, where water is added at the point of use, they also minimise the environmental impact and “chemical miles” of packaging and transport.

When infection control is an issue, in health or food businesses for example, sanitising and disinfecting cleaners are essential. A broad-spectrum detergentdisinfectant is suitable for a wider range of uses compared with products using quaternary ammonium compounds. Its patented accelerated hydrogen peroxide constituent provides powerful disinfection against viruses, bacteria and fungi. It is safe to use on most washable surfaces, including fabrics, while slight acidity helps to remove build up of limescale.

The use of micro and ultra microfibre products, offer a completely new approach to cleaning hard surfaces. Used without chemicals, ultra microfibres have been shown to remove as many bacteria from a contaminated surface as traditional cleaning practices such as mop and bucket. Clothes are generally colour coded for easy identification and use in separate areas to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. Using microfibre clothes as part of the overall washroom cleaning regime in this way reduces reliance on chemicals which is  excellent news for the environment.

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CLEANING

Opportunities in

Furniture

Maintenance W

With the right amount of training, experience and at times courage, one may find hile carpet approach this very reluctance furniture cleaning to be safe cleaning has to include furniture cleaning as and profitable

gained wide currency among consumers across the hospitality industry, people still tend to ignore furniture maintenance. This is quite surprising given the role well-maintained furniture play in making an area attractive. It is also now common knowledge that the upholstered furniture can harbour as much allergy-causing agents as the carpets can. Furniture that is not cleaned regularly may turn into a fine habitat for animal dander, pollen, dust mites and other allergens that can pollute the indoor air and increase risk of many diseases among the residents and employees.

Since the fabric is closer to

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the breathing zone, keeping the furniture free of allergens is as critical as cleaning the carpet.

Moreover, regular cleaning can also increase the longevity of furniture materials.

H o w e v e r, w i t h p r o p e r communication and the right

part of the regular cleaning process in a property can be turned into an opportunity for those who are in the business of cleaning. One need not forget that preserving or restoring the colours of that specially selected furniture item could mean a lot to the consumer with an eye for décor.

Moreover, the level of competition in the fur niture c leaning business is still considerably less. This is an untapped market which is hardly a focus of any cleaning company. Most of the professional cleaners perform absolutely no furniture cleaning at all. So the cleaners must find out how to make furniture cleaning a significant part of their income.

Sept-Oct ’14

CLEANING

the seat of a chair or sofa using a powerful hand vacuum with a dark nylon cloth where the filter bag usually goes. Showing them the soil accumulated on the cloth with just vacuum should convince them of the value of thorough cleaning. As with any service you offer, once the customer trusts you enough to let you in and start cleaning the carpet, all we have to do is to make a sale!

The Potential If you are not presently cleaning fur niture, would a 10 to 25 percent increase in revenues have a welcoming effect on your bottom line? Consider the income potential cleaning furniture represents. Pricing will vary by your target market, the fabric being cleaned, soil level and so forth. According to the trend in developed countries, cleaners make equal or greater income cleaning furniture compared to their carpet cleaning business.

According to an estimate, including furniture cleaning in your menu of cleaning services, the possibility of earning revenue per person can increase by 25 percent.

And what’s more, to avail yourself of

Sept-Oct ’14

this additional income opportunity will require stocking just a few additional cleaning agents and the purchase of an upholstery cleaning machine of some sort, or simply a tool to attach to your extractor.

The Right Approach Will you be able to convince potential clients that furniture cleaning is a service they need?

You can tell them, to avoid allergies they need to keep their upholstered furniture clean. Marketing your service to designers and furniture retailers can give you a big boost into the market.

Demonstrating the amount of soil collected in the fabric can be a real eye-opener. Vacuum

Necessary Equipment As with cleaning carpet, there are a variety of systems and tools to help you accomplish the job. Furniture cleaning tools are available that attach to your portable extractor.

This provides plenty of water, heat and vacuum for cleaning heavily soiled synthetics. But that may be too much for natural fibers and blends.

Cut back on the water pressure and temperature and open the vacuum relief valve on the tool when dealing with more delicate fabrics. A portable unit designed for upholstery cleaning allows a separate technician to clean upholstery. Vacuum, water pressure and adjustable heat allow just the right touch for any fabric you encounter.

A low moisture tool may be selected for faster drying times, or if bleeding or shrinkage are of concern. Some units permit cleaning with solvents as well as water. Hand tools along with fiber pads are available if you choose the upholstery cleaning equivalent of bonnet or pad cleaning.

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CLEANING

Misting a c leaning solution and toweling off by hand is another option for sensitiv e fabrics, light soil loads or if you wish to try your hand at furniture cleaning without purchasing a machine. Shampoo and dr y foam methods are also used but are less common than other procedures.

M a n y fabrics you will be asked to clean have moderate or heavy

soiling. A cleaning solution formulated to remove the heaviest body oils, food spills and grease transferred from a mechanic’s jeans is not suitable for all fabrics. So in certain circumstances, cleaning

22

professionals may need to educate their customers on the r ight cleaning approach and ask for remunerations accordingly.

Products with a solvent booster are a good choice for that oily, greasy fabric, if the fabric type and condition allow it. High pH ammoniated cleaners are selfneutralising. They work well on a wide variety of heavy soils. Neutral or acid side cleaners often include ingredients to suspend soil particles.

These less aggressive cleaners are safe for most fabrics.

Testing The variety of fibers, fabrics and construction methods increases the likelihood of a problem arising during c leaning. The c lient ’s attachment to the piece increases the likelihood he will notice any change.

Thorough testing and inspection before you start cleaning should be mandatory!

Do a complete inspection, looking for previous damage or problems that may come up during your cleaning. Analyse the piping, welting, skirting, etc. Open a zipper on a cushion (if available) to locate a strand of yarn that can be used for fiber ID and do a burn test. At the same time, inspect for manufacturing ink markings that could bleed out during cleaning.

You should be able to determine if the fabric is synthetic, natural or a blend, if not the exact fiber itself. Test for colorfastness. Look carefully for any indication that dyes may have bled in the past.

Apply the cleaner you intend to use to a white cotton towel. Dampen an inconspicuous area of the piece to be cleaned. Be prepared with a blow dryer and rinse agents just in case.

If a fabric is likely to bleed you will probably see the first signs in five or 10 minutes.

Many fabrics do not bleed until the final stages of drying, which is why some cleaners prefer to clean furniture in their shops.

This is a good precaution when working with expensive pieces or those with many colours in the pattern. An alternative is to apply a product prior to cleaning that will stabilize the dyes. Do not neglect the colourfast test just because you have cleaned an item or a similar one before.

Age, use and ultraviolet light degrade dyes. A fabric cleaned without bleeding one time may also bleed in the future. Deep, richcolours, an abundance of colours and age are all indicators that a fabric has the potential to bleed.

However, bleeders are rare. When you encounter one, consider solvent cleaning or use a dye block prior to cleaning. Low moisture with additional drying is another choice for some bleeders.

The fabric can be saturated with a solvent before wet cleaning. The solvent prevents moisture from penetrating the fiber.

W ith the r ight amount of training, experience and at times courage, you will find furniture cleaning to be safe and profitable.

It is a natural add-on for carpet cleaners. 

Sept-Oct ’14

May-June ’13 Sept-Oct ’14

53 23

PEST MANAGEMENT

 Although it may take a little more time than what pesticides require, even with constant vigilance and a combination of organic pest control techniques, one can keep the gardens pest-free to a great extent

s the winter slowly sets in and the joys of spending an idle afternoon in a lush green lawn under the sun or amid the natural fragrance of flowers return, controlling the pests that can infest your plants calls for urgent action.

This is because what starts out as a beautiful garden with bright foliage on your plants may soon turn into a veggie buffet for pests and diseases like bugs and fungus that live and feed on plants leaves, flowers, stem and root. However, with constant vigilance, proper plan and preparedness, gardeners can easily pull off the challenges that pests and diseases pose to the love of their labour.

What is even more significant is that the experienced gardeners may

24

not have to rely always on pesticides to get rid of the pests as a lot of green solutions can offer a healthy alternative to harmful overuse of pesticides that can even damage the soil.

Sept-Oct ’14

PEST MANAGEMENT Be Prepared for Pests Before planting a single seed, every gardener should be prepared for an infestation of either pests or diseases. If you have a bad fortune, you might experience a problem with both pests and diseases.

However, if the gardener understands what makes the perfect home for bugs and diseases then, perhaps, they can avoid a problem completely.

The objective is to create an environment that is not pest/disease friendly.

Such a plan can include growing some plants in a hydroponics application as that could minimise pest attacks simply because most pests are found in the soil. It is also important to keep the environment where you grow plants clean and sanitised and maintain good ventilation or airow.

Gardeners must also make sure that the plants receive ample amount of light. The more light a plant receives the bigger and stronger it grows. Check your solutions pH, EC and TDS. A stabilised nutrient solution will grow plants vigorously and healthy.

Healthy plants are more resistant to pests

Sept-Oct ’14

25

PEST MANAGEMENT

and diseases.

Monitoring plants c losely, often for pests and diseases is another important part of the pest management programme. A good gardener will check every section of a plant - roots, stems, leaves (on

Lawn Care

both sides), flowers and fruits -- for problems.

Possible signs of a pest or disease problem may be spots,

• Find out what grass species will do well in your area and try to plant only those.

• Over-seed thin areas in the spring and autumn.

• Water deeply but infrequently.

• Perform routine maintenance on sprinkler heads.

• Apply fertiliser appropriately.

• Aerate your lawn annually; remove thatch if it exceeds 1/2 inch.

• Cut only 1/3 of grass height at each mowing and keep lawnmower blades sharp.

• Brown spots in lawns also can be caused by over- or under-watering, plant disease, a fertilizer/herbicide spill or overapplication, or dog urine.

• Confirm that insects are present at numbers high enough to cause damage before applying an insecticide.

• For grubs, dig around roots. A few grubs will not do serious damage, but six or more per square foot can.

• If you do not find live pest insects at high levels, do not treat with pesticides.

If there is a damaging number of insects: • See of changing your lawn environment can discourage the pest.

• And even in circumstances when an insecticide is required, select the least toxic product available for the pest you are targeting.

• Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and spinosad are least toxic pesticides that kill caterpillars.

• Insect-attacking nematodes control caterpillars or grubs.

• Azadirachtin controls cutworms, armyworms, and larvae of lawn moths.

• Imidacloprid controls young lawn grubs but can injure bees on flowering weeds and earthworms.

• It is better to avoid products containing carbaryl and pyrethroids (eg. bifenthrin). These are broadly toxic insecticides that kill chinch bugs, grubs, lawn moths, and cutworms, but also kill beneficial insects and impair water quality.

Source: University of California Agricultural & Natural Resources

26

holes or bumps on leaves. Droopy, discoloured, fuzzy or dying foliage might be a signal as well although that could be nutrient related.

Green Solutions Chemical pesticides can cause health and environmental problems.

They are many ways to control pests in the garden without resorting to pesticides. One old fashioned way is by using a soap spray. You can mix three tablespoons of a mild soap with a gallon of water. Sprawy on the plants with a spray bottle.

This kills most soft bodied insects such as aphids, mealy bugs, spider mites, stinkbugs, crickets and grasshoppers. Most of the insects will be dead within an hour.

However, one must resist against overdoing it as some plants can be damaged by repeated soap sprays.

So the appropriate concentration of the solution and the right frequency of the spray are to vital points in application of this pest control method.

Another alternative is Pyrethrum, a natural pesticide derived from c hr y santhemums. Meant for spraying in the evening, it can kill many insects and repels others.

However, one must note that combining this solution with soap sprays is not the right approach.

Diatomaceous earth, a mineral dust found in most plant nurseries, can kill many insects.

Crushed mint leaves, oil of clove, and camphor are all natural insect repellents and can be used around garden. For ants sprinkle powdered chili pepper, paprika, dried peppermint, borax or blended citrus peel and water to stop them from entering an area.

Sept-Oct ’14

PEST MANAGEMENT

Another very effective form of pest control is by planting plants that repel insects. Some such plants are: • Asters repel most insects • Basil repels flies and mosquitoes • Calendula repels most insects as do chrysanthemum • Marigold discourages Mexican bean beetles, nematodes and other insects • Mint deters ants • Onions repel many insects • Rue deters Japanese beetles And many other plants, especially herbs should be used as companion plants for certain vegetables to keep away insects that eat and destroy the vegetables. So, with knowledge and work you can control the pests in your garden without resorting to chemicals and pesticides.

Sept-Oct ’14

A few other common green pest control solutions include:

Varietal Selection: The simplest organic pest control method is to select plants that are resistant to bugs. Look on the package for resistance to pests or diseases.

Cultural Controls: Removing diseased plant material from the garden will help prevent the spread of the disease to healthy plants.

Crop rotation also falls under this category of organic pest control.

Physical Controls: It is as easy as it sounds: picking bugs off plants.

Physical controls may also include placing nets or screen enclosures over plants, and washing them off with water.

Natural Pesticides: Be careful with these; natural does not always mean safe. However, light oils are very good at controlling mites, aphids, mealy bugs, and others.

Biological Controls: This is the practice of using beneficial insects to keep harmful ones away. It can be difficult, however, to keep the creatures in balance.

Other Remedies: Many people use things like neem seeds, black pepper spray, and beer bait which are both easy to find and scientifically proven to be an effective organic pest control technique. Organic gardening enthusiasts are generally happy to share their recipes. These days, there are a number of products available in health-food and specialty stores that incorporate these remedies into a convenient form; it is easier to buy a spray, after all, than to mix up the ingredients yourself.

By using a combination of the organic pest control techniques, one can free the garden from chemical pesticides for good. They may take more time, but reward will be good and a clean conscience is not a bad payoff, overall. 

27

LAUNDRY

Wastewater Management in Laundry

W

ater has always been precious. Today it is even more. This is primarily because only a small portion of the total water reserve that the Earth has can be used for our dayto-day activities. Moreover, the number of people claiming share of this resource is only rising every day. However, researchers have now established that the common surfactants such as soaps and detergents used in cleaning clothes do not pose a serious threat to our water bodies if the wastewater is treated before disposing. But certain chemicals used in laundry, especially in dry cleaning, can have serious environmental repercussions. Therefore, proper wastewater management is an issue that laundry facilities can ignore at its own peril.

Rules say that dry cleaners are prohibited from discharging solventcontaminated wastewater from the water separation process of the dry cleaning machine to any sanitary sewer, septic system, and boiler or state waters.

This prohibition includes separator water from perchloroethylene (perc), petroleum, synthetic hydracarbons, silicon based solvent, and all other types of dry cleaning solvent.

Even a small amount of perc in wastewater discharged to concrete

28

sewer lines can leak into the soil through cracks in the sewer line or directly through the concrete. Dry cleaners that use the sewer to dispose of their perc-contaminated wastewater may be contributing to perc contamination of soil and groundwater.

Wastewater contaminated with perc is a hazardous waste if the level of perc in the wastewater is 0.70 parts per million or above.

Wastewater contaminated with other dry cleaning solvents may also be a hazardous waste. For example, wastewater containing petroleum solvent is hazardous if it contains 0.50 parts per million of benzene or greater.

Wastewater from new, less toxic solvents may not be hazardous and may have different management requirements.

How to Manage Separator Water If the separator wastewater is hazardous waste, dry cleaners must either ship it to a hazardous waste disposal facility, or treat it onsite according to prevailing municipal rules. Separator water that has come in contact with perc is always hazardous waste.

Even if the separator wastewater is not hazardous, it may not be poured down the sewer, septic system, boiler or waters of the state, poured on the ground, or put in the garbage. It may

A wastewater treatment unit can remove solvent from hazardous wastewater to below hazardous waste levels and then either evaporate or atomize the treated water to the outside air as water vapor be managed so that it is released to the air provided no visible liquid deposition or accumulation is present and no nuisance condition is created.

However, cooling water and process water that does not come in contact with a dry cleaning solvent may be discharged into the sewer, if the municipal agency allows it.

Wastewater from machines that use water to clean clothes is not subject to the prohibition, because the water has not come in contact with dry cleaning solvent. This wastewater should also be managed according to municipal regulations.

One should be sure of the rules before putting any wastewater into the sewer.

How to Manage Hazardous SolventContaminated Wastewater Dry cleaners have three allowable solvent-contaminated wastewater management options.

• Drum the wastewater up and ship it offsite to a hazardous waste facility.

• Manage the wastewater onsite.

Wastewater is delivered to the wastewater treatment unit by piping from the dry cleaning machine water separator.

• Manage the wastewater onsite.

Wastewater is collected in a container and carried to the wastewater treatment unit.

A wastewater treatment unit removes solvent from hazardous wastewater to below hazardous waste levels and then either evaporates or atomizes the treated water to the outside air as water vapor.

According to some, industry express dry cleaners need to store

Sept-Oct ’14

LAUNDRY perc-contaminated wastewaters in containers that are always closed unless wastewater is being added or removed. In addition, dry cleaner rules require these containers to be labeled with the words ‘Hazardous Waste’, and the date wastewater was first placed in the container. The container must also be in secondary containment.

Evaporating solvent-contaminated wastewater that is hazardous waste, in crock pots, pans, or other open devices, is not allowed and may disqualify the dry cleaner from the liability protection provision of the law.

Disposal of solvent-contaminated wastewater to the land in any form is not allowed.

Hazardous Wastewater Treatment The following features and performance are required for a wastewater treatment unit that treats hazardous wastewater: Secondary Separator: A wastewater treatment unit must have at least one solvent/water separation settling chamber and at least two stages of filtration to remove remaining solvent from the wastewater. The separation settling chamber allows recovery of any phase-separated or “free” perc that escapes the dry cleaning machine.

The “free” perc settles in the separation chamber and can then be retrieved and returned to the dry cleaning machine.

This is important to ensure that only wastewater containing no “free” perc and only trace amounts of solvent is sent to the filters for treatment.

Two Filters: An initial filter and a secondary filter are necessary to capture harmful chemicals from wastewater.

It should always be kept in mind, the wastewater bucket must be closed, labeled with the words “Hazardous Waste’, and the date wastewater was first placed in the container.

The container must also be in secondary containment, which does most of the

Sept-Oct ’14

work to remove dry cleaning solvent from the water. When the initial filter is full of solvent it must be changed. It is the job of the solvent warning alarm and shut-off valve to notify the operator when the initial filter is full of solvent.

The secondary filter will continue to treat the wastewater until the alarm sounds and the machine automatically shuts itself down. Filters are necessary because they capture perc from the wastewater.

Filters will typically be made of carbon; however other materials that remove solvent may be used. Filters should be changed according to the manufacturer’s recommendations or when the machine shuts down.

Wastewater filters that have treated perc-contaminated water must be managed as a hazardous waste and should be placed in a hazardous waste drum. It is a good idea to log the wastewater filter changes on the Dry Cleaner Compliance Calendar so the laundry operators can know how long the filters last.

Solvent Warning Alarm and Shutoff Valve: A wastewater treatment unit must have an alarm or warning device and shut-off valve that alerts the operator to high levels of solvent in the wastewater going to the secondary filter. The wastewater treatment unit must shut down when the initial filter becomes saturated with solvent Equipment Manual: An operation and maintenance manual for the wastewater treatment unit must be kept onsite at all times

Discharge of Treated Wastewater Wastewater treatment units must treat perccontaminated wastewater to below 0.7 parts per million and discharge that water in such a way that no visible liquid deposition or accumulation is present and no nuisance condition is created. Treated wastewater should be discharged as water vapor to the

outside of a building. If a unit discharges inside a building, it must be well ventilated to ensure that solvent levels in the air do not exceed the standards.

Locating a wastewater treatment unit near a window or doorway will help provide adequate ventilation.

Treatment Units Not all wastewater treatment units on the market have all the required components to properly treat hazardous wastewater.

Wastewater treatment units are designed to manage wastewater containing very small amounts of perc, not pure perc.

Wastewater treatment units must be operated and maintained according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and guidelines.

All wastewater treatment units must have a solvent/water separation settling chamber, initial and secondary filters, a monitor that alerts the operator when the initial filter is saturated, a shut off valve that automatically shuts down the unit, and safe discharge of treated wastewater vapors outside or to a wellvented area.

Performance Requirements If a wastewater treatment unit does not have all the components, it may still be used if it can meet the following performance requirements.

• The unit is designed to remove free phase dry cleaning solvent.

• The wastewater is treated below hazardous waste levels. To meet this requirement, a dry cleaner must test to see if hazardous waste levels of solvents exist in the treated wastewater.

• The unit will not operate if hazardous waste levels of solvents exist in the treated wastewater.

• An operation and maintenance manual for the unit must be kept onsite at all times.

• Treated wastewater is released to the environment in such a way that no visible liquid deposition or accumulation is present and no nuisance condition is created.

With time, trends are changing in the laundry business in our country.

The operators are becoming more updated and complying with the rules set by the industry and other municipal regulations. 

29

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Dealing with

Mounting

By Jyotismita Sharma

Responsibility by all stake holders and efďŹ cient public-private-partnership models replicated across the country could help India tide over the increasing electronic waste

W

ith the world around us getting increasingly digitized and p u rc h a s i n g p ow e r o f p e o p l e steadily rising, the use of electronic appliances has grown considerably.

These electronics such as mobile phones, laptops, air conditioners and television touch every aspect of our lives every single day. The growing usage of electronic equipment has made electronic

30

waste, or what is commonly referred to as e-waste, management a major challenge everywhere, including in India.

E-waste in India is defined as waste electrical and electronic equipment, whole or in part or rejects from their manufacturing and repair process, which are intended to be discarded. From mobile phones to

televisions, computers, air conditioners, washing machines and other electronics that are used everywhere -- from home to ofďŹ ce -- fall within this bracket.

According to a recent report, India generates approximately 2.7 million tonnes of e-waste annually.

Managing this enormous amount of e-waste is a major challenger primarily because it is considered one of the most hazardous

Sept-Oct Sep-Oct ’14

WASTE MANAGEMENT portions of the overall waste stream.

On the other hand, awareness about the importance of managing this waste and knowledge about proper handling is acutely lacking.

An ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India) report has found that a meagre four percent of India’s ewaste is recycled, pointing towards the reality that a huge percentage of this waste may simply be dumped in the environment.

“Computer equipment accounts for almost 68 percent of e-waste material followed by telecommunication equipment (12 percent), electrical equipment (8 percent) and medical equipment (7 percent),” the report highlighted.

O t h e r e q u i pm e n t , i n c l u d i n g household e-crap account for the remaining 5 percent, it said.

If not properly handled or the guidelines for recycling are not followed, which is generally the case with local scrap dealers who burn the waste to extract valuable

Sept-Oct ’14

materials like gold or copper, the toxic elements in the discarded electronics can pose serious threats to the environment and human health.

“E-waste-connected health risks may result from direct contact with harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), from inhalation

of toxic fumes, as well as from accumulation of chemicals in soil, water and food,” the World Health Organisation noted.

While e-waste can give rise to a number of toxic by-products likely to affect human health, recycling activities such as dismantling of electrical equipment may potentially bear an increased risk of injury, it added.

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WASTE MANAGEMENT quoted as saying by Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

“The easiest way for them is to ship it out to a country like India.

So, we are faced with this burden of e-waste from developed countries,” she explained.

International traders are aware of loopholes in India and help bypass laws by labeling scrap as ‘used working computers’, the Delhi-based NGO pointed out in a report.

E-Waste Management Challenges India is grappling with several challenges of e-waste management that ranges from lack of awareness to ineffective implementation of policies, inadequate infrastructure and poor training. What, however, has contributed most to the e-waste mess is that the e-waste management industry in India still largely remains unorganized – leading to unhealthy recycling practices that could harm the environment and expose humans to serious health risks. Researchers have found that over 95 percent of India’s e-waste is managed by the informal sector or local scrap dealers who dismantle the disposed products instead of recycling it.

They are generally untrained and ignorant about the hazardous nature of e-waste. Application of hazardous methods like acid stripping and open air incineration for processing e-waste is common among them. Such practices are not only unsafe, but they can also cause pollution by releasing toxins from e-waste into the environment.

In a recent research on ‘Electronic Waste Management in India’, ASSOCHAM, along with Frost & Sullivan, a global consulting firm found that employment of child labour is rampant among the unorganized e-waste management industry.

“In India, about 4.5 lakhs child labours between the age group of 10-14 are observed to be engaged in various e-waste (electronic

32

waste) activities, without adequate protection and safeguards in various yards and recycling workshops,” the report pointed out.

M o r e o v e r, a l t h o u g h t h e government has come up with national regulation in 2008 and 2011, the stringent rules and cost required for those who wish to formalise their recycling business have proved to be prohibitory for many.

It has also been reported that developed countries are shipping in large quantities of e-waste to India, aggravating the country’s problem of dealing with such waste which is already domestically increasing within the country at a rapid pace. “ I n t h e We s t , t re a t i n g o r processing e-waste is expensive, and smaller countries are running out of landfill space,” Priti Mahesh, a senior program coordinator for Toxics Link, an NGO focused on toxic waste issues in India, was

Collaboration is Key In view of the growing challenges of handling e-waste in the country, all stakeholders should be held equally responsible for it, said a report brought out by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Business Council for Sustainable Development and Yes Bank, in October this year.

“There is an urgent need for all stakeholders in the E-waste value chain, to particularly engage with the entire E-waste ecosystem to ensure proper end of life disposal of electrical and electronic equipments,” said Rana Kapoor, Managing Director & CEO, Yes Bank.

The report, ‘E-waste management in India -- The Corporate Imperative’, said e-waste recycling could be made a profitable business opportunity with the introduction of new business model.

The report explores a shared responsibility model in which all three primary stakeholders - the producer, the generator (households and bulk consumers), and the local

Sept-Oct ’14

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Measures to Combat e-Waste

I

ndia has taken a number of steps to ensure environmentally sound management of ewaste in the country. These include: • The Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008, are in place for proper management and handling of hazardous wastes including e-waste.

• The guidelines for Environmentally Sound Management of e-waste, published by CPCB, provide approach and methodology for environmentally sound management of e-waste.

• Separate e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 are in place. The concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) has been enshrined in these rules to make EPR a mandatory activity associated with the production of electronic and electrical equipments.

The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environment protection strategy that makes the producer responsible for the entire life cycle of the product, especially for take back, recycling and final disposal of the product.

• E-waste recycling can be undertaken only in facilities authorized and registered with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees. Waste generated is required to be sent or sold to a registered or authorized recycler or re-processor having environmentally sound facilities.

Scheme to provide financial assistance for setting up of treatment, disposal and storage facility for hazardous and integrated recycling facilities for e-waste on public private partnership mode.

regulatory body (municipality) - share the e-waste management costs.

The new institutional framework could be centred on the concept of a PRO (Producer Responsibility Organization) - an entity which is intended to have the physical responsibility for the e-waste recycling mechanism by providing forward and backward linkages with all other stakeholders involved in the process.

“In order to finance the operation of the collection and recycling system by the PROs, it is suggested that the producers (manufacturers and importers) bear the part of the financial

Sept-Oct ’14

responsibility by contributing to a Producer Responsibility Fund that would finance the costs of the establishing and operating PROs,” the report said.

Such a fund could primarily cover the cost of hardware and operation and maintenance. It is expected that like other urban waste management projects, the required land to PROs would be provided by local government under long lease agreement, the report stressed.

The Central Government also needs to relax the duty on the imported equipment to make the project financially attractive to the project developers.

The e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 are based on EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) concept. The rules came into force from May 2012 and since then e-waste management infrastructure has slowly been on the rise in India.

As of February 2014, there were a total of 98 number of registered recyclers and dismantlers having recycling/ dismantling capacity of 2,93,572 MTA for environmentally sound management of e-waste.

The report also identified key aspects that would enable profitable e-waste management in India.

Efficient PPP models for waste management where public and private entities collaborate to manage e-waste profitably need to be created and replicated across India, it said.

The report highlighted that international funding agencies and venture capitalists have provided seed money to e-waste recycling companies in India, thus opening new opportunities in the sector.

F i n a l l y, e n h a n c e d p u b l i c awareness must be on the policy makers’ agenda to ensure that consumers make informed  purchasing decisions, it said.

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IAQ

What Affects Indoor Air in

Commercial

Buildings

By Jyotismita Sharma

From location of the building to design, construction techniques, contaminant sources, maintenance and personal care products of building occupants, a large number of factors need to be considered to ensure healthy indoor air quality o breathe is to liv e, but we often tend to ignore the quality of air that we inhale. And even when we do so, it is always the outdoor air, not indoor air, that most of us are seemed to be bothered about. This is quite surprising especially in the face of growing evidence that indoor air could be a bigger killer than even outdoor air.

Indoor air is a bigger threat primarily because we spend most of our time indoor and awareness about how poor indoor air quality can affect our lives

34

is poor. If the office where you work or the school where you teach have a leaky roof or window, you could well be inhaling unhealthy air at least eight hours a day. The same can be said in case of any indoor condition where humidity is very high due to dampness caused by water leakage or flooding events.

A damp building is one where there is unwanted or excessive moisture. Such buildings provide a fertile ground for the growth of mold, fungi, and bacteria which leads to the release of volatile organic compounds and the breakdown of building materials.

It is now established that those

who are exposed to molds that grow on wet materials have increased risks of respiratory symptoms, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, rhinosinusitis, bronchitis, and respiratory infections. Therefore, people who already suffer from asthma and other respirator y problems, continued exposure to damp buildings can aggravate their conditions.

While steps to prevent dampness in buildings should ideally start from very design and construction of the building, improper maintenance also contributes to such an indoor environment that puts the health of building occupants at risks.

Sept-Oct ’14

water damage, mold growth, as well as when they experience mold odors.

However, it is not just dampness that leads to poor indoor air quality, various other factors could also contribute to unhealthy air inside large commercial buildings.

But thankfully, it is not very difficult to recognize the problem of building dampness. Building occupants may evaluate their health risks simply by observing dampness,

Sept-Oct ’14

Other Sources of Indoor Air Pollution The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the US offers a comprehensive list of factors affecting indoor air in large buildings. According to CDC, “The indoor environment in any building is a result of the interaction between the site, climate, building system (original design and later modifications in the structure and mechanical systems), construction techniques, contaminant sources (building materials and furnishings, moisture, processes and activities within the building, and outdoor sources), and building occupants.”

Some of the sources of indoor air pollution mentioned by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the US include: Building Location: Where a building is located may have a lot to do with how healthy the indoor air could be as presence of indoor pollutants depends a lot on the building site. Highways or busy thoroughfares may be sources of particulates and other pollutants in nearby buildings. Also, if a building is located on land where there was prior industrial use or where there is a high water table may result in leaching of water or chemical pollutants into the building.

Building Design: It is already mentioned that design and construction techniques play a very important role in maintaining good indoor air quality. Poor foundations, roofs, facades, and window and door openings may allow pollutant or water intrusion. Outside air intakes placed near sources where pollutants are drawn back into the building (e.g., idling vehicles, products of combustion, waste containers, etc.) or where building exhaust reenters into the building can be a constant

35

IAQ

36

source of pollutants.

Building Systems Design and Maintenance: In large buildings it is important to see that the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) system is functioning properly. The building is often placed under negative pressure when the HVAC sys does not work properly. This may lead to infiltration of outdoor pollutants suc h as par ticulates, v ehic le exhaust, humid air, parking garage contaminants, etc.

Along with maintenance, updating the HVAC system is also equally important after renovation or redesign of certain building spaces.

“For example, one floor of a building that housed computer services may be renovated for offices. The HVAC system would need to be modified for office employee occupancy (i.e., modifying temperature, relative humidity, and air flow),” the OSHA explained.

air quality. Kitchens, laboratories, maintenance shops, parking garages, beauty and nail salons, toilet rooms, trash rooms, soiled laundry rooms, locker rooms, copy rooms and other specialized areas may be a source of pollutants when they lack adequate local exhaust ventilation.

Building Materials and Furnishings: Certain building materials such as those containing damaged asbestos may also contribute to indoor air pollution.

Furniture made of certain pressedwood products may also release pollutants into the indoor air.

Building Maintenance: Use of pesticides, cleaning products, or personal-care products could also contribute to poor indoor air.

Allowing cleaned carpets to dry without active ventilation may promote microbial growth.

Occupant Activities: Perfumes or colognes used by building occupants or their body odour may be the

Renovation Activities: When painting and other renovations are being conducted, dust or other byproducts of the construction materials are sources of pollutants that may circulate through a building. OSHA recommends isolation by barriers and increased ventilation to dilute and remove the contaminants.

Local Exhaust Ventilation: They can also help maintain good indoor

source of indoor air pollutants.

Maintenance is Key to Preventing Dampness As a healthy workplace and living environment is critical for enhanced performance and productivity of workers, it is the responsibility of building owners to provide space free of excess moisture or mould odour. This cannot be possible if

dampness is allowed to occur or persist. Preventing dampness in buildings and rapidly correcting dampness problems when they occur are important considerations, not only for protecting the health of occupants, but for minimising costs associated with repair or replacement of moisture-damaged building materials, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes.

Some measures that can help prevent dampness and therefore mold growth include: • Regular inspection of building areas such as roofs, ceilings, walls, basements, crawl spaces, and slab construction for evidence of dampness; • Fix leaky plumbing and leaks in the building envelope as soon as possible.

• Conduct regularly scheduled inspections of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and promptly correct any problems. Keep the HVAC drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed.

• Prevent high indoor humidity through the proper design and operation of HVAC systems.

Maintain low indoor humidity, below 60 percent relative humidity (RH), ideally 30-50 percent, if possible.

• Dr y any porous building

materials that have become wet from leaks or flooding within 48 hours.

• Clean and repair or replace any building materials that are moisturedamaged.

• Do not let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage and slope the ground away from the foundation.

• Vent moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers, to the  outside.

Sept-Oct ’14

FACE TO FACE

‘Cleaning industry to witness good growth in all segments’

T

he Indian cleaning industry has come a long way to experience a very fastpaced growth at the moment, but the best for this industry is yet to come, believes Varun Karthikeyan who has taken over as the Managing Director of Roots Multiclean Ltd, an indigenous manufacturer of cleaning equipment. With strong domain expertise in manufacturing and marketing, besides proven administrative skills, Varun has been training under his father, K Ramasamy, Chairman, Roots Group of companies for several years now.

For the last two years, Varun was overseeing manufacturing and technical operations of the company as Director-Operations before taking charge as the Managing Director in 2013. A graduate in mechanical engineering and business administration, Varun brings with him the dual advantage of understanding the corporate legacy of the group and skills to operate and steer the company in a new direction.

Excerpts from an interview with this dynamic leader:

By Jyotismita Sharma Do you see the Indian cleaning industry developing over the past decade? How far has it come?

The cleaning industry in India is developing at a very fast pace.

Today people are much more aware about the importance of cleaning and also about what role various cleaning equipment can play in dramatically improving their lives. At the time when we had started the company twenty years back, hardly anyone was even aware of mechanized cleaning equipment and their capabilities. Things are very different now. People across the country now have greater awareness about cleaning equipment.

What do you think are the major challenges before the industry today?

One major challenge for cleaning equipment manufacturers like us is providing good after sales services to the customers. This is primarily due to the high rate of attrition among equipment operators.

Hiring new operators does not automatically solve the problem as training is required for them to perform the jobs properly. And training a constantly changing workforce is a huge challenge.

Which market segments do you think will evolve faster to spearhead the growth of cleaning industry in the near future?

India is still a very nascent market for the cleaning industry. Therefore, as the market matures with further economic development, we can expect a real good growth across all segments.

What role do you see of contractors and facility management companies in the coming period?

In the recent past, outsourcing cleaning activity has become almost a norm in India. This has really paved the way for the exploding growth for contractors and facility management companies. And as

Sept-Oct ’14

the market for cleaning activities heads towards maturity, this trend of outsourcing cleaning jobs will continue to grow at an even faster pace in the coming days. Take, for example, the case of developed countries where almost all such works are done through contractors and facility management companies.

Product innovation, as per local needs, is a must to stay relevant in this age of competition. Your comment and how is your company offering solution towards the same?

India is a very unique market for cleaning equipment manufacturers.

The sight of untrained workers handling sophisticated machines is not at all uncommon here. So we focus on developing machines that are reliable and robust. With an R&D team of 30 people, our products are designed for Indian conditions – products that can withstand both use and abuse.

Do you think the locally manufactured cleaning equipment can offer economical indigenous solutions to the expensive imported products?

It is absolutely possible, and, in fact, we have been locally manufacturing cleaning equipment for the last 20 years. As compared to imported products, we can offer a cheaper and more reliable product. Another advantage of indigenous manufacturers is that they need less lead time for delivery.

What role can the government play in growth of the cleaning industry?

The attention that the new Government at the Centre is currently paying to the issue of cleaning is a step in the right direction. Furthermore, if it can give tax breaks for companies who sell cleaning equipment in India, the products will be a lot cheaper for the end users.

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PRODUC T P R E V I E W

USHERING SUPERIOR CLEANSING

G

rand Chemical Works is the producer of Gainda brand phenyl, a name which has a formidable reputation in the phenyl market. Gainda is a superior quality concentrated phenyl brand that is based on cresol oil and certified with ISI:1061. It has no adverse effects on health and environment as well. Moreover, it is easy to use and economical too. No wonder, most of the hospitals, offices, hotels and restaurants, educational institutions in India, and Railways, and also millions of Indian homes are regularly using Gainda phenyle.

The company has introduced a whole range of disinfectant fluids, which include packing options ranging from 450ml bottle pack to 1 litre and 5 litres of printed tin pack, and up to 20 litres of printed drum of Gainda brand among others. Over the years, the company has diversified into various other products like Cleanzer, naphthalene balls.

Its white ant repellants are now being marketed in most parts of the country.

Grand Chemical Works info@grandchemicalworks.com

WIZARD FLOOR CLEANER

Q

uartz Home Care’s ( Q H C ) W i z a rd Floor Cleaner is a product which is being used by most of the leading institutions for day-to -day cleaning and disinfection. The p ro d u c t h a s l i m e fresh fragrance and is capable of destroying germs and bacteria at the source. Wizard has been upgraded with innovative raw-materials which are sourced from various countries across the globle.

Being multipurpose and very safe, non-acidic and non-toxic, this product can be used for cleaning of any type of floors, laminated surfaces, plastics, etc. without defacing or destroying the originality of surfaces. Available in user-friendly packings, Wizard has two variants; low-foam for machine use and regular for manual use. The product is also reasonably priced.

Quartz Home Care (I) P Ltd. qhcindia@gmail.com, quartz@bol.net.in

TURNKEY LAUNDRY SOLUTIONS

S

upershine has been successfully installing and maintaining commercial laundry equipment since 1990, in India and its neighbouring countries. Supershine offers turnkey solutions for any type of laundry projects.

It represents world’s leading brands specialising in laundry and drycleaning equipment.

The company has pan-Indian presence to provide quality services and spares, as per the requirements of the clients.

The list of clients range from the best in the hospitality industry, which include names like Oberoi, Taj, Hyatt, Sheraton, Le Meridien, Radisson, Marriot, Leela, etc., to the leading healthcare industry players like Apollo, Escorts, Medanta - The Medicity, AIIMS, etc. to the major army hospitals like AFMC and various establishments and units of Army, Navy, and Air Force, and also garment exporters and commercial laundries.

Supershine Laundry Systems Pvt. Ltd. corporate@supershine.in

COSMIC HEALERS PRESENTS BATH & WASHROOM CLEANER FROM CLEENOL

C

osmic Healers Pvt. Ltd., one of the corporate divisions of Global Excellence Group, presents Bath & Washroom Cleaner from the house of Cleenol, an UK-based group manufacturing quality cleaning and hygiene products.

Formulated for the frequent cleaning of bath and washrooms, the solution is an effective cleaner and descaler for both light to medium soiling. The cleaner is ideal for cleaning and descaling taps, baths, showers, ceramics, plastics and porcelain surfaces. After cleaning, a fresh citrus fragrance leaves the room deodorised.

The product is bio-degradable, contains no phosphate, and has minimal impact on the environment. The Bath & Washroom Cleaner, imported and presented in India by Cosmic Healers Pvt. Ltd., is based on citric acid, which is derived from renewable resource plants, and the product has proven to be effective against MRSA. Cosmic Healers (P) Ltd. info@cosmichealers.com

T

he information published in this section is as per the details furnished by the respective manufacturer/distributor. In any case, it does not represent the views of Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

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Sept-Oct ’14

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

A D V E R T I S E R S PAGE NO.

COMPANY

COMPANY

I N D E X PAGE NO.

AMAN CLEANING EQUIPMENTS PVT. LTD.

......................25

PEST CONTROL (INDIA) PVT. LTD.

......................13

ATLANTIC PASTE & GLUE CO. INC.

......................31

QUARTZ HOME CARE (I) P LTD.

......................11

BORGHI BRUSH MACHINERY PVT. LTD.

......................05

ROOTS MULTICLEAN LTD.

......................BC

DIVERSEY INDIA PVT. LTD.

......................01

SNOOZER BEDDING LTD.

......................17

GRAND CHEMICAL WORKS

......................27

SUPESHINE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS PVT. LTD.

......................BIC

IFB INDUSTRIES LTD.

......................23

TANISHKA PRODUCTS

......................04

NAVIN POLYCON

......................06

UNIQUE TRADING COMPANY

......................35

NUTECH JETTING EQUIPMENTS INDIA PVT. LTD.

......................GF

PRODUCT PREVIEW

......................38

MIRACLEAN TOOLS PVT. LTD.

......................FIC

* BC - BACK COVER

Sept-Oct ’14

* GF-GATE FOLD

* FIC - FRONT INSIDE COVER

* BIC - BACK INSIDE COVER

39

INTERVIEW

‘Housekeeping Housekeeping is the Heart of a Hotel Hotel’

W

ith over 16 years of experience in housekeeping, Abhaya Bhalekar manages all aspects of housekeeping operations at Hyatt Regency Pune. As the Executive Housekeeper of this prestigious property, she lays maximum emphasis on guest service orientation and people development through guest interaction and employee engagement.

Her primary responsibilities include: Closely monitoring all processes related to ensuring high level of housekeeping services to the guest; forecasting monthly expenses; planning yearly departmental budgets, capital expenditure and refurbishment; handling extensive hotel rooms and public spaces’ renovations and pre openings.

Excerpts from an interview:

By Sharmila Chand How important in your opinion is housekeeping to hospitality?

Housekeeping is the backbone of the establishment. The department is primarily responsible for the cleanliness, maintenance and aesthetic upkeep of the hotel and takes pride in keeping the hotel clean and comfortable so as to create a ‘home away from home’.

Housekeeping may be defined as the provision of a clean, comfortable and safe environment.

At Hyatt we believe in looking after our housekeeping department as they are the guardians of the core product and a large part of the labor expense.

What is the modus operandi of housekeeping operations at your hotel?

• Maximize efficiency in the care and comfort of the guests by ensuring a high standard of cleanliness and general upkeep in all areas for which the housekeeping department is responsible.

• To ensure contemporary facilities for guests.

• To maximize departmental profitability through diligent cost management.

• Ensure high quality linen management.

• Establish a welcoming atmosphere and a courteous, reliable service from all staff of the department directed towards guest satisfaction.

• Establish a good working relationship with other departments.

What are the new trends in housekeeping?

Please comment on the latest housekeeping scenario.

Eco practices are one of the emerging trends in hotel housekeeping. Reducing costs through energy saving and waste management without affecting guest satisfaction is important. For example, compact fluorescent lamps and motion sensors in meeting rooms, conference rooms and public areas is a step in that direction. Ozone treatment is also emerging as a clean and environment friendly technique.

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Outsourcing in housekeeping is helping hotels reduce manpower related issues, especially as it is a labour intensive department.

The usage of new cleaning tools such as microfiber clothes and increasing use of information technology for day-to-day operations are remarkable.

Please name any one tool which has made the operations much easier?

Microfibre as a cleaning system has greatly eased cleaning functions as it coats the surface, making it highly resistant to dust and dirt. Microfiber is not treated with any chemicals. The capillary effect between the filaments and nylon core creates a high absorbency, which in turn enables the fiber to clean and polish at the same time. Therefore, only water is needed to clean most types of surfaces. Microfiber picks up and traps dust, dirt, grease, and particles inside the “starshaped” grooves of the fiber.

How much of an emphasis does the hotel place on training?

We recommend that only employees who have been through the Train the Trainer Program and are certified departmental trainers should be training the employees. Once housekeeping personnel are well trained, cross training begins. Cross training qualifies people to do a variety of jobs outside of their standard job categories. For example, all housekeeping personnel can learn to clean rooms, deliver linen, operate laundry machines and clean public areas.

Focus is primarily on on-the-job training.

Training on soft skills is also given due importance with one session conducted weekly on guest interaction and complaint handling mainly through role plays.

How does India compare with the international scenario with regards to housekeeping?

India is still lagging behind in terms of expertise in housekeeping. There are very few housekeepers who are passionate about making a career in housekeeping primarily due to certain stereotypes. People are still of the opinion that housekeeping is mainly “toilet cleaning”. While the core function of the department is cleaning, it is not the only job that housekeepers do. It encompasses aesthetic upkeep of the property. Only once this realization strikes, the department will get its due.

What elements do you take into account in recruiting staff in the housekeeping department?

While we prefer hotel management graduates or diploma holders, added advantage of previous experience is desired. However, the most important factor that we look for in prospective candidates is the passion for housekeeping.

What is the role of the housekeeping staff in the context of security?

Next to the security department, housekeeping plays the most important role in ensuring a safe environment for guests and employees as we as housekeepers have access to all areas like guest rooms, meeting and function halls and washrooms. During emergency situations too housekeeping personnel deployed in various areas can assist in evacuations.

Any other input you would like to give in context to housekeeping in your hotel?

People management is an important aspect and we believe that employee engagement plays an important role in increasing motivation and boosting morale. We have “1 minute games” which are held every week. One-on-one chats with room attendants and monthly activities like quizzes, competitions like fault finding, bed making, pantry and trolley setting are conducted.

Sept-Oct ’14

Regd. No. R.N. DELENG/2001/7213

July-Aug ’14

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