Cleaning & Maintenance - July 2020

JULY 2020

THE OFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE CLEANING SHOW

IN THIS ISSUE: COVID-19 Update

C&M provides a round-up of the cleaning industry’s evolving role in meeting the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Chemicals/Chemical-Free & Dosing

Steam, bio-cleaning, stabilised aqueous ozone, as well as targeted chemicals come under the spotlight as the country prepares to come out of coronavirus lockdown.

Laundry Systems

A look at the importance of effective laundry in dealing with serious threats to public health caused by outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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J U LY 2 020

PLUS: • Industry news • People • Contracts • Products

COVID-19 Update C&M provides a round-up of the cleaning industry’s evolving role in meeting the challenge posed

by COVID-19. >>> page 18

Chemicals/ChemicalFree & Dosing Steam, bio-cleaning, stabilised aqueous ozone, as well as targeted chemicals come under the spotlight as the country prepares to come out of coronavirus lockdown. >>> page 24

Laundry Systems A look at the importance of effective laundry in dealing with serious threats to public health caused by outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. >>> page 28

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EDITOR’S LETTER C&M

A culture of cleanliness

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly had an immense impact on the restaurant sector. A recent report forecasts losses of between 51 and 77% of expected revenue this year, but there is a glimmer of hope following the government’s announcements concerning the partial reopening of premises from 4 July.

I spoke with Peter Teska, global infection prevention application expert at Diversey, to get a better understanding of the challenge ahead, and of the critical need for restauranteurs to embrace a culture of cleanliness. Peter said: “Restaurants need to be prepared for a new standard of cleanliness…It requires businesses to overhaul cleaning procedures, conduct thorough training and implement new employee-centric policies. Many restaurants will need to rethink their approach to cleaning as the pandemic continues to bring cleanliness to the forefront of everyone’s minds. There are several considerations that owners and managers must take when establishing new cleaning procedures, including frequency, thoroughness, accountability, as well as teaching core values and processes.”

Peter points to training as a key element in safely reopening restaurants. “Training topics should include infection prevention, food safety and personal hygiene,” he continued.

“When employees understand the ‘why’ behind hand hygiene, social distancing measures and proper cleaning, it minimises the risk of lapses in cleanliness.”

As restaurants plan to reopen we all hope that their long-term survival will be assured. All foodies out there can’t wait to get back to their favourite eating houses, but consumer confidence as well as excellent cuisine must be high on the menu. In closing, Peter Teska said: “It’s important for restaurant owners to understand where to invest their funds now to support their long-term survival. Taking the time to reassess the corporate culture and educate employees about the role of cleanliness is an important first step ahead of reopening. Training ensures that all employees understand the expectations around cleaning and know how to execute the processes and procedures correctly. This not only supports the well-being of workers but also the health and safety of diners.”

Please don’t forget to visit www.cleaningmag.com for daily news updates and to also view ‘on demand’ our recent webinars - and find out details of forthcoming online events from C&M. Wishing you a happy, clean, tidy and healthy month ahead.

Neil Nixon, Editor Cleaning & Maintenance Magazine

@cleaningmag

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

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JULY 2020 5

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CONTENTS C&M

22 Face to Face: Neil Nixon speaks with Ricky Smith, head of sales at ICE.

JULY 2020

08 13 14 18 24 32

Industry News.

In the news this month… Facilities worldwide commit to GBAC STAR accreditation programme, CHSA calls on CMA to investigate unscrupulous traders, Cleanology issues uniforms made from plastic bottles, Government joins WHO and CDC in confirming safe use of hand dryers during pandemic.

People.

Personnel news and new appointments from across the cleaning and FM sectors.

Contracts.

We take a look at all the latest contracts awarded across the industry.

28

Special Report: COVID-19 Update.

C&M provides a round-up of the cleaning industry’s evolving role in meeting the challenge posed by COVID-19.

Feature: Laundry Systems.

A look at the importance of effective laundry in dealing with serious threats to public health caused by outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feature: Chemicals/Chemical-Free & Dosing.

Steam, bio-cleaning, stabilised aqueous ozone, as well as targeted chemicals come under the spotlight as the country prepares to come out of coronavirus lockdown.

New Products.

An overview of some of the new products available on the market this month.

05 Editor’s Comment

15 BICSc Comment

Looking back at the past month in the cleaning sector.

Now wash your hands.

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

16 BCC Comment Profiteering or entrepreneurialism?

Darren Marston, British Cleaning Council (BCC) representative on the BCC (Exhibitions) board, reports.

17 A job worth doing – a contractor’s blog.

Lee Andrews reports.

JULY 2020 7

C&M INDUSTRY NEWS

Facilities worldwide commit to GBAC STAR accreditation programme ORGANISATIONS from more than 30 countries in America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia have committed to accredit their facilities to

Cleanology issues uniforms made from plastic bottles

GBAC STAR in the programme’s first weeks.

This accreditation establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARSCoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The programme was launched by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the

The industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC

international response that the GBAC STAR

STAR helps organisations establish protocols

programme has received,” said GBAC executive

and procedures, offers expert-led training and

director, Patricia Olinger. “With more and more

assesses a facility’s preparedness for bio-risk

organisations committing to follow the GBAC

situations. The programme ensures facilities

STAR framework, we can create a world that

use best practices to limit future outbreaks,

values cleanliness and implements it to the

empowers cleaning staff to do their jobs safety

highest degree.”

and effectively and gives customers greater

GBAC STAR is designed for any size facility including schools, offices, hotels, convention

peace of mind.

“Now is the time for businesses of every size

centres, airports, assisted care facilities,

to be transparent about the measures they’re

stadiums, and other public venues - to

taking to protect customers and employees,

establish a comprehensive system of cleaning,

including proper cleaning and disinfection,” said

disinfection, and infectious disease prevention.

ISSA executive director, John Barrett. “GBAC

Tourism bureaus and cities also are

STAR programme participants demonstrate

starting to join the programme to get multiple

their commitment to going the extra mile by

businesses in their community GBAC STAR

implementing prevention and response best

accredited to provide stronger assurance to

practices that support health and safety.”

CLEANOLOGY is saving 7000 plastic bottles

residents and visitors.

WWW.GBAC.ORG

a year from landfill by kitting out staff in uniforms made from recycled plastic. CEO

CHSA calls on CMA to investigate unscrupulous traders

Dominic Ponniah said: “We are extremely proud to be the first to introduce recycled uniforms within our industry. This is just the latest drive to make Cleanology a truly sustainable business. We already operate an

THE Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association

wipes, gloves, masks, aprons, and sacks. With

electric fleet, and tackle portion control with

(CHSA) has written to the Competition

very high prices, they are ripping off buyers of

our chemical-free sachets. Buying recycled, in

and Markets Authority (CMA) requesting

these products. It also appears online trading

the form of recycled uniforms, helps to close

it investigate possible profiteering by

platforms may be giving these organisations

the loop even further.”

unscrupulous organisations capitalising on

preferential listings. If this proves to be the

the exceptional demand for cleaning and

case, it needs to be stopped. In contrast, our

a full trial in 2019. Manufactured from a blend

hygiene products. The CHSA has requested the

members are trading ethically, working hard to

of plastic bottles and organic cotton, they are

investigation particularly examine the delisting

meet demand with reasonably priced product

100% sustainable, ‘fair wear’ garments. Over

of reputable companies by online trading

compliant with industry standards.”

the next year, Cleanology will supply operatives

platforms, in favour of organisations charging

Every member of the CHSA has signed its

The uniforms have been rolled out following

with 2000 branded polo shirts and 1000

rigorous code of practice, which requires

branded sweatshirts. Each shirt is made from

members to be ‘well established in the

around two bottles, while the sweatshirts use

said: “It seems very clear unscrupulous

cleaning and hygiene industry and to

around three bottles. This will save 7000 bottles

organisations are profiteering on the

maintain a high standard in the conduct of

from landfill and reduce the need for energy

extraordinary demands for cleaning products

its business’.

and resources to manufacture new clothing.

like hard surface sanitisers, hand sanitisers,

WWW.CHSA.CO.UK

WWW.CLEANOLOGY.COM

exceptionally high prices.

Lorcan Mekitarian, chair of the CHSA,

8 JULY 2020

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C&M INDUSTRY NEWS

Government joins WHO and CDC in confirming safe use of hand dryers during pandemic THE UK government has joined global

information now states that, to help everyone

health experts, including the World Health

keep good hygiene throughout the working

Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease

day, businesses should provide hand drying

Control and Prevention (CDC), in approving the

facilities in the form of either paper towels or

use of hand dryers throughout the COVID-19

electrical dryers. The guidelines previously

pandemic. This follows a campaign from the

only cited paper towels but, following an

hand drying industry requesting government to

appeal from numerous industry organisations,

update its official guidelines.

including Airdri, for the use of hand dryers to be considered, the latest version now follows the

The government’s ‘Working safely during Coronavirus’ guidance was released in early May

same advice as the WHO and CDC.

to ensure workplaces are as safe as possible. The

WWW.AIRDRI.COM

FM leaders turn to cobotics to drive innovation in the wake of COVID-19 – report 81% of FM leaders see cobotics as a potential

organisations say they are facing increasing

heighten efforts to drive innovation within

solution to cleaning challenges over the next

pressure from clients to demonstrate innovation.

the FM industry, not just in terms of new

FM leaders believe that the introduction of

technologies, but also in regard to new

five years and 73% believe that cobotics has the potential to transform the cleaning industry.

cobots into their operations can deliver the

business and commercial models. This is where

New research from SoftBank Robotics EMEA

technological and operational transformation

cobotics can play a major role in driving overall

highlights the potential benefits of introducing

they need. 93% report that cobots will increase

performance within cleaning operations and

cobots into commercial cleaning operations.

the quality and consistency of service delivery

delivering commercial efficiencies. By taking

Cobots are collaborative robots which work

within commercial cleaning, 77% state that

a cobotic approach, FM organsiations can

alongside cleaning teams and undertake

cobots can drive productivity, and 76% predict

re-invent their resourcing and commercial

repetitive and time-consuming tasks such as

that cobotics will lead to healthier workspaces

models going forward, to take advantage of the

vacuuming, freeing up staff to focus on other

for all employees. Importantly, given the

relative strengths of both people and machines.

tasks such as the deep cleaning and sanitisation

disruptive impact that the COVID-19 pandemic

And importantly, given the current situation,

of hard surfaces which is critical in the fight

has had on commercial cleaning operations,

they can embed agility and resilience into their

against COVID-19.

82% of FM leaders state that cobotics can

operations, by ensuring they have access to

support more agile working in the sector.

scalable cobotic resource should cleaning staff

The research exposes the urgent need for innovation within commercial cleaning. 90%

Stefano Bensi, GM at SoftBank Robotics

be unable to work due to sickness or the need

of FM leaders cite innovation as a top business

EMEA, said: “The disruption that we’ve seen

to self-isolate.”

priority and 70% of those in supply-side

in the market over recent months will only

WWW.SOFTBANKROBOTICS.COM

Axis launches COVID-19 ‘back-to-work’ campaign AS lockdown measures ease and businesses

company is working closely with clients and

start to return to work, Axis Cleaning and

their landlords: “A one-size-fits-all approach

Support Services has launched a ‘back-to-work’

certainly does not apply, rather we are

campaign to support its customers in safely

delivering bespoke cleaning services to suit

returning to work premises.

individual workspaces and client’s schedules.

Central to the campaign is the COVID-19

The initial clean is just the first step in what will

deep cleaning service, a thorough cleaning

be a revised or enhanced cleaning schedule.

process designed to help Axis clients give

Not only their safety, but also ensuring their

their employees and customers robust

working environment is safe. We are therefore

reassurance that every measure has been

continuously refining our operational methods

taken to remove any potential traces of the

to give the best, safe, service that we can for the

virus from their premises.

benefit of all, including our own back of house

Simon Giles, chief operating officer of Axis Cleaning and Support Services, says the 10 JULY 2020

support colleagues.”

WWW.AXIS-CSS.CO.UK WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

INDUSTRY NEWS

C&M

Cleaning team lends hand to Manchester food charity NORTH West based Under

designed to transport food

Pressure Cleaning is supporting

products. These vehicles are

Greater Manchester charity

what people’s food is being

The Bread and Butter Thing

transported in, so we want to

(TBBT) by volunteering its expert

help them and the charity by

cleaning services to fully clean,

making sure they are properly

wash and disinfect the charity’s

cleaned and disinfected,

fleet of seven food refrigeration

especially when there is a global

vehicles which are used to

health crisis taking place.”

deliver food parcels to people on low income.

Under Pressure Cleaning

TBBT operations manager, Rachel Reid-Fernandez, said: “What a fantastic job the guys

managing partner, Peter

have done. We must ensure our

Heseltine, said: “The impact

vans are clean and safe and they

of the COVID-19 crisis has hit

have achieved this for us. It is

everyone hard, so just imagine

brilliant that they have given up

how difficult it is now for those

their own time and energy to

people who needed the help

help us. We hope that we can

of The Bread and Butter Thing

continue to work with Under

before the pandemic. The

Pressure as the results are just

charity delivers food to families

what we need to transport our

who are struggling to afford

food safely to our members.”

everyday basics through a fleet

WWW.UNDER-PRESSURE-

of refrigerated sprinter vans

CLEANING.COM

Cromwell donates plastic film to community fundraiser for NHS gowns CROMWELL Polythene’s

thousands of items of protective

manufacturing and recycling

gear for carers and NHS workers.

division, Cromwell Plastics

So far the group has supplied

Recycling, has donated 500kg

Southampton General Hospital

of blue polythene film to a

with 8000 protective gowns, with

fundraising partnership of

over 25,000 more in the pipeline.

volunteers and marine businesses

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James Lee, managing director

making personal protective

of Cromwell Polythene, said:

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equipment for the NHS.

“We are proud to support this

Stuart Dacre

The film, manufactured at the

worthy cause. These businesses

Alfreton based manufacturing and

and individuals have volunteered

recycling plant, Cromwell Plastics

their time and support to supply

Recycling Ltd, will be made into

some of the heroes on the

approximately 5000 disposable

frontline, including hospitals

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and care homes with vital PPE

General Hospital.

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JULY 2020 11

C&M INDUSTRY NEWS

Ecolab disposes of Holchem to Kersia ARROWPOINT Advisory has advised Ecolab, a

approximately £47 million of revenue in 2019

carve out transaction for listed companies since

global leader in water, hygiene and infection

out of its two UK manufacturing facilities, the

the start of 2018 in the industrials sector alone.

prevention solutions and services, on the

larger in Bury, Greater Manchester and a second

The transaction also marks the second CMA

disposal of Holchem, a UK-based supplier of

in Liphook, Hampshire, both of which supply

related process that Arrowpoint has advised on

hygiene and cleaning products and services, to

mainly the UK and Irish markets. Following

in the last 12 months.

Kersia, an international biosecurity and food

the acquisition, the combined Holchem and

safety company backed by French private equity

Kersia Group will generate over €300 million

Holchem, said: “It was a pleasure to work with

firm, Ardian.

in revenue, with 1500 employees and 18

Graham, Tom and the rest of the Arrowpoint

worldwide manufacturing plants.

team - their commercial and technical

Holchem is a UK supplier of detergents, disinfection and biosecurity solutions. The

Ecolab had acquired Holchem in December

Stuart Middleton, managing director of

knowledge was invaluable. They were friendly,

company generates its revenue mainly in the

2018 was subject to clearance by the UK

hugely supportive and a committed partner in

food and beverage sectors and is also active in

Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), with

getting the team at Holchem through what was

the food service, retail and institutional sectors,

the CMA ultimately ruling against the acquisition.

at times a difficult and complex process.”

as well as dairy farming. Holchem achieved

This transaction is Arrowpoint Advisory’s fifth

WWW.ARROWPOINTADVISORY.COM

770 mile challenge for phs staff STAFF from phs Group are on a mission

engineer, who completed a 100-mile solo

to raise hundreds of pounds for a mental

running challenge in May, fundraising for the

health charity. While they may be based at

Mindstep Foundation.

different locations across the company, seven

Kelly Greenaway, senior brand and

members of the phs team signed up to take

marketing communications manager at phs

part in June One Ten - an initiative to run

Group, said: “John’s achievement in running

110 miles each across the month of June.

100 miles in one month was incredible

Between them, they will clock up in excess of

and inspired all of us to set our own trial.

770 miles and raise more than £600 for the

Everyone is being mentally challenged at the

Mental Health Foundation, a national mental

moment with the COVID-19 crisis and, with

health charity using research, evidence-based

people feeling isolated and lonely, it’s more

information and community programmes to

important than ever to raise awareness and

help prevent mental health problems.

talk freely about mental health. Jogging and

Taking part are Kelly Greenaway, 36,

other keep fit activities can really be helpful

and Kate Lewis, 26, from Caerphilly, Andy

and beneficial, keeping active to balance

Kelly, 58, from Devon, Jay Stewart, 35,

the amount of time spent at a desk working

from Cheshire, Rachael Haydon, 25, from

from home. Feeling healthy can really boost

financial strain at the moment and we wanted

Exeter, Naomi Childe, 40, from Cambridge,

how you feel, give you more purpose, self-

to contribute towards raising vital funds to

and John Davies, 29, from Cambridgeshire.

awareness and promote a happier mind.

ensure they can continue their efforts.”

The challenge was inspired by John, a phs

We also know that charities are feeling the

WWW.PHS.CO.UK

Addmaster claims third Queen’s Award A company that champions the use of its

supplies hundreds of clients, including Dulux,

insertion for authentication and tracing),

Biomaster antimicrobial technology to protect

Dyson and Marks and Spencer.

Scentmaster (fragrance and deodorising

products from bacteria and viruses has

Paul Morris, Addmaster’s founder and CEO,

technology) and Masterpiece for creating

completed a hat-trick of Queen’s Award for

said: “We are extremely honoured to have

bespoke additives. Our Biomaster reusable

Enterprise wins.

had our Biomaster antimicrobial technology

‘bag for life’ and the antimicrobial reusable

recognised with another Queens Award for

coffee cups are just two examples out of

enhancing additives for the plastic, paper,

Enterprise. This prestigious accolade recognises

hundreds of antimicrobial products we have

textile, paints, and coatings industries, has

our commitment to developing innovative

developed. They all demonstrate the important

secured its first win in the Innovation category

solutions that are ahead of the curve and meet

role our technology plays in giving the public

after using its technology to improve hygiene

real life needs in healthcare, retail and industry.

additional hygienic protection when reusing

and preserve the environment by encouraging

Our most established technology is Biomaster

plastics and textiles.”

safer use of reusable products. The company

and this has been joined by Verimaster (additive

WWW.ADDMASTER.CO.UK

Addmaster UK, a developer of performance-

12 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

PEOPLE

C&M

New CEO for ISS UK and Ireland PURVIN Patel has been appointed

within ISS - the UK and Ireland

as the new CEO of ISS UK and

- successfully through its

Ireland (UK&I) with immediate

transformation, while focusing

effect. Matthew Brabin will step

on our growth agenda and key

down from his role as CEO.

accounts. Matthew has led our UK&I

Patel joined ISS as CEO of

business through significant change

ISS India in 2014 and has since

during his 11 years with ISS. Under

then successfully led strategic

his leadership, ISS UK&I has taken

transformation through the

significant steps towards becoming

implementation of the ISS Way

a purpose led, customer-oriented

strategy. The growth rate within key

organisation. I would like to thank

accounts in ISS India has steadily

Matt for his contribution to ISS.”

increased during his period as

Purvin Patel said: “I am humbled

the CEO and has witnessed high

and excited to embark on this new

people engagement and improved

journey. These are unprecedented

financial performance. Patel has

times we live in as we face challenges

more than 25 years of operational

of a different kind, not just in the

leadership experience in companies

UK market but the world over. But

such as Walmart and Kingfisher

we are also seeing opportunities

Group and has previously spent

and I am simply amazed by the

eight years working for a private

commitment and dedication of our

equity portfolio company in the

colleagues in response to this crisis. I

food service and food logistics

am confident that we can capitalise

industry based out of India.

on these opportunities. My first task

Jacob Götzsche, CEO-Europe

will be to navigate and lead the

at ISS, said: “Being a performance

business through this crisis, so that

driven leader with an excellent

we can continue to create fantastic

customer focus, we are confident

workplaces for our customers that

that Purvin will pick up the torch

inspire and engage.”

to lead one of our key countries

WWW.UK.ISSWORLD.COM

GMS appoints new operations director

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Services (GMS) has announced that

and sector-related knowledge from

Lee Wyatt has joined the GMS team

large, complex organisations. He

as operations director. Established

said: “I am delighted to be joining at

in 2018, GMS is an integral part of

a hugely exciting time for GMS. We

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS

have a lot to deliver going forward

Foundation Trust, providing essential

and I look forward to supporting

facilities and estates management

excellent facilities and estates service

services and ensuring a high-quality

management at one of the largest

environment for the benefit of

NHS Trusts in the country.”

staff, visitors and patients. The

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very pleased to welcome Lee

sets to launch its new three-year

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business plan, establishing GMS as a

Establishing the right leadership

sustainable business fit for the future.

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Having most recently worked for

our development and growth and

Cardiff and Vale University Health

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WWW.GLOSHOSPITALS.NHS.UK/GMS

Bio Productions Ltd T: (+44)1444 244000 | E: sales@bio-productions.com W: www.bio-productions.com

JULY 2020 13

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C&M

CONTRACTS

NSS wins sole supply agreement with global FM group NATIONWIDE Specialist Services (NSS) has

consistently striving to provide a best-in-

been awarded a long-term, sole supply,

class and reliable service. We understand the

multi-service contract by ISS. As a strategic

importance of a clean, well-maintained and

partner for almost 10 years, NSS now delivers

fully operational building, and the impact

all aspects of mansafe testing for building

any interruption to this can have on our

maintenance, window and technical cleaning

customers’ own customers or employees.

across the UK for ISS. The five-year framework

We’re delighted to be partnering with an

agreement was renewed following an in-depth

industry-leader like ISS.”

negotiation process, significantly expanding

Derren Chamberlain, procurement director,

on the existing relationship between the two

UK and Ireland at ISS, added: “We were looking

companies. The value of the new contract is in

for a truly specialist partner with a genuine

excess of £35 million.

focus on safety and commitment to quality.

NSS’s track record for delivering responsive

NSS is made up of four divisions: cleaning, maintenance, testing, and hire. The business

customers across the commercial property,

and effective service combined with its ‘at-

operates from bases in Slough, Dartford,

retail, healthcare, and public sector markets.

height’ expertise made the opportunity to work

Manchester, Leeds, and Falkirk to provide complete and responsive coverage to

NSS group commercial director, Eugene Boyle, said: “As a business, we’re

together a compelling one.”

WWW.NSSGROUP.COM

High and mighty - new tanks installed at Christeyns HQ BRADFORD based Christeyns UK has

Using Chem Resist’s advanced spiral-winding

successfully completed the installation of new

manufacturing methods, the four replacement

holding tanks with the help of chemical storage

tanks were each made to a height of around

specialist Chem Resist. The project to replace

nine meters, providing Christeyns with over

four chemical storage tanks and add one new

60% increased capacity totalling almost 240,000

100,000 litre water tank was put in motion in

litres across the four tanks. The tank design

late summer last year. To support customer

was also improved with the inclusion of an

and market growth, the new tanks needed to

Christeyns worked with Chem Resist, a

integrated bund and comprehensive steelwork,

provide increased storage capacity, but with

specialist manufacturer of thermoplastic process

thus providing protection and safety for the

limited space at the Bradford site, the new tanks

plant and chemical storage tanks, which came

environment and workers.

had to sit within the same footprint.

up with the ideal solution - building tall.

WWW.CHRISTEYNS.COM

Merco streamlines operational processes MERCO, the Salford-based contract cleaning

timesheets, payroll and contract compliance

Neil Fagleman, operations manager at Merco.

company, has used SmartTask to consolidate

- freeing up 22.5 hours of administration time

“SmartTask has enabled us to take a coherent

its time and attendance requirements across

each month.

approach that provides complete visibility of

more than 100 customer sites in North-

“We have previously tried a number of time

working times and contract delivery, while

West England and North Wales. As a result,

and attendance solutions at different sites,

making it easy for our cleaning operatives to

the employee scheduling and workforce

but none have proved particularly effective

book on and off of their shifts.”

management software has helped to streamline

and this has also meant we have had no

and automate operational processes - including

consistent system across our operation,” said

Merco was using a mix of systems including manual card and fingerprint clocking machines, which required someone to physically visit sites to retrieve data. Having explored the potential for developing a time and attendance system in-house, the company decided to adopt a proven cloud-based solution that could be tailored to its precise needs.

Following a review of the marketplace, Merco selected SmartTask based on its ability to meet all time and attendance requirements, while possessing a host of other functionality that could be considered in the future.

WWW.SMARTTASK.CO.UK

14 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

BICSc

C&M

Now wash your hands THIS was a phrase always used by my

through proper handwashing after using the

mother when I went to the bathroom or

lavatory. The majority of deaths due to

was available. The consequences of lockdown meant the generosity of neighbours and their willingness to open their

before I sat down at the dinner table.

diarrhoea occurred in young children. It

front door was put to the test. It is no surprise, therefore,

In 2018 I wrote an article regarding a

has been documented that we touch

amid growing pressure, Michigan’s Governor and Detroit

brief history of hand hygiene during

our face with our hands every three to

City officials announced plans to stop shut-offs and

an influenza epidemic! I thought now

four minutes, therefore removing

‘temporarily’ reconnect welfare services for all residents

was an appropriate time to revisit this

germs from our hands with soap and

as part of a plan to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. It is

due to the importance given to hand

water is fundamental hygiene. During

almost inconceivable for us to imagine how you can live

washing during the current pandemic.

the course of the project, two factors

hygienically without running water and sewage removal.

In my 2018 article, I mentioned the religious connotations

emerged - the cost of transporting soap to outlying areas,

of handwashing, and referenced the ancient Greeks who

and the unit cost of a bar of soap. In India, for example,

‘Flushed: How the plumber saved civilization’ (ISBN 978-

used to wash their hands before they ate a meal.

Unilever sold bars of soap in 400 grams - for people living

0-7434-7409-2). Can you imagine having to rely on bottled

literally hand to mouth the unit price was too expensive.

water, the generosity of neighbours and a commode for

access to soap and water – as well as a hygienic means

Unilever reduced the standard size to 100 grams which

your family’s personal hygiene - not a thought that I cherish.

of drying your hands. Most of us know the acronym that

allowed people on a limited income to purchase hand

Amongst many of the invisible workforce, the teams that

goes with assume - it can make an ‘Ass of U and Me’. So,

soap more readily.

supply us with our utilities should not be forgotten.

Washing your hands, however, assumes that you have

I started to question my own paradigm with somewhat surprising results.

OK, that’s India as an example, but at the beginning

One of the books I have in my cleaning library is entitled

It should also be noted that the slogan ‘Stay at home,

of this pandemic - in March 2020 - over 12 million homes

save lives, protect the NHS’ is partly derived from another

in America had their water supply disconnected for

slogan from Professor Didier Pittet: ‘Clean hands save lives’.

available to all of the population. However, where it was

non-payment of bills. In Detroit alone, approximately

Another one of the books from my cleaning library.

available, it was often used for bathing and hand washing

20,000 homes were without running water. That is America

of clothes. In 2010, a project commenced between major

in 2020. Add to this that these usually are the poorest

pandemic, so to look at it in isolation does humanity a

soap manufactures, including Unilever, and the London

families, the effects of lockdown were a double blow.

disservice at the very least. Don’t even start me on drying

School of Tropical Medicine. At this time it was estimated

Prior to lockdown children went to school and adults

your hands properly - that’s for another day.

that around one million lives per annum could be saved

went to work where toilet facilities and handwashing

WWW.BICS.ORG.UK

Basic hand soap in some countries was not readily

As I have motioned before, COVID-19 created a

Your perfect partners in hygiene Where hygiene is essential our cleaning solutions give you the right tools for the job. From cleaning chemicals tested to EN14476 such as Microsan® and Clensan®, through to machines designed to give you efficient and powerful performance such as Fivestar and Steempro Powermax.

Get in touch to discover more about our professional cleaning solutions.

Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

020 8974 1515

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

sales@prochem.co.uk

www.prochem.co.uk JULY 2020 15

C&M BCC COLUMN

Profiteering or entrepreneurialism?

Darren Marston, British Cleaning Council (BCC) representative on the BCC (Exhibitions) board, reports.

AS the enormity of the Coronavirus crisis began

Personally, I have seen and been involved in some excellent initiatives where

to unfold earlier this year, we saw

infection control when proper cleaning processes remain crucial.

BCC member, the Cleaning and Hygiene

businesses, some otherwise

some instances of distressed and

disassociated from the cleaning

panicked behaviour among the

Suppliers Association (CHSA), has been working

public though, on the whole,

sector, look to engage with

to highlight the issue. It has urged the public

people have been calmly

their clients who in turn are in

to buy products from CHSA members and

displaying fortitude during

distress and offer a relevant

has written to the Competition and Markets

the lockdown. We have also

service or product. One such

Authority to call for an investigation.

seen some business practices

example being a ship repair contractor where its niche

which might well be more akin

market sector had been decimated,

to those of the Wild West and can

yet the specialist knowledge of the

only be described as profiteering.

CHSA members sign the association’s rigorous code of practice, which requires them to be ‘well established’ in the cleaning and hygiene industry and to maintain a high

environment and challenges remained important.

standard in the conduct of their business. The

help and guidance, products and services

By providing sound information and credible

CHSA also runs accreditation schemes for

such as personal protective equipment (PPE),

content together with quality products and

distributors and manufacturers of soft tissue,

hand sanitiser, fogging, and spraying. All this is

training, my company ICE was able to facilitate

plastic refuse sacks and industrial cotton mops.

marketed using powerful and alarming language

a sound and professional proposition which

So, if consumers see the CHSA logo and CHSA

such as ‘Coronavirus’, ‘COVID-19’ and ‘pandemic’

allowed the business to continue to trade and

accreditation scheme stamp on cleaning and

and is often only available ‘whilst stocks last’.

provide a valuable resource to its customers.

hygiene products, they should be reassured.

Our inboxes are bombarded by entities offering

My personal view is that the businesses that

Conversely, there have been numerous

Much of this spam comes from new entities which have been set up to capitalise on the

examples of the fast buck brigade, starting up

have stayed true to their principles and leveraged

public’s demand for cleaning and hygiene

virtually overnight and making inappropriate

their expertise and knowledge base have survived

products and services to help them stay healthy

and inaccurate claims about how their product

and will ultimately prosper. For a company like

and well. Largely selling online, these products

or service will kill the virus and redeem us all.

ICE, for example, which has been marketing itself

often carry an exceptionally high mark-up and

Examples of profiteering which have concerned

as a leader in the equipment solution business

there is no guarantee they meet the correct

us include:

for decades, to suddenly be offering a chemical or

standards or indeed are fit for purpose.

• Facemasks that purport to be UK-made but

hand sanitiser would lack credibility.

We are already seeing that these overnight

have labelling in Mandarin Chinese.

The honest and legitimate companies which

• Facemasks that only cost around 2p to make

make up the member organisations of the BCC would frown upon these kind of sharp practices. We

being offered at vastly over-inflated prices.

are concerned that the public could be put at risk or

• Inappropriate fogging and misting services

left out of pocket by the actions of these profiteers.

offered as a silver bullet solution to all

experts, making wild claims, are falling by the wayside. You cannot buy experience and credentials.

WWW.BRITISHCLEANINGCOUNCIL.ORG

The Professional Independent Registered Trade Association for

Window Cleaning Membership offers numerous quality benefits IOSH Accredited Safety Training Safety Accredited Member (SAM) Procurement Scheme Secure online store at: https://www.windowcleaning.org.uk/ Federation of Window Cleaners Tel: 0161 432 8754 - Email: info@f-w-c.co.uk – Web: www.f-w-c.co.uk

16 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

A JOB WORTH DOING - A CONTRACTOR’S BLOG C&M

Returning staff to work in private sector buildings Lee Andrews, CEO of DOC Cleaning, reports.

BY encouraging people back to work,

no revenue is being received. Overall,

enforcing the wearing of face covers on

it has provided a focus for both clients

public transport and issuing details of

and service providers to get staff back

how the furlough scheme will gradually

to work, with 31 October being the clear

end, last month HMG left private sector

target for resuming work at full capacity.

companies and organisations under no

Of course, the gradual return brings

illusion about the need for the country

challenges as well. Persuading multi-

to start firing on all cylinders again.

site cleaning staff to come back to work

However, just as schools have resisted a mass return to normal operation, the response of the private sector, in particular the

at only one of their work sites is difficult, as there is the frustration of paying travelling-to-work and welfare costs when only part of the working day has been restored.

office sector, has also

Then there’s the wider

been variable. For

issue of staff genuinely

cleaning contractors operating mainly in

being concerned about

the public sector,

returning to their job, especially where it

the Government has

involves public transport.

provided security by

To counter the challenges,

instructing publicly funded bodies to, for now at least, carry

I know that many contractors have

on paying contractors. For those with

been busy ramping up measures and

mainly private sector clients, uncertainty

precautions to protect employees’ health

still rules, with each client weighing

and encourage a sense of confidence in

up the when and how of reintroducing

returning to work. Additional training and

employees safely to the workplace and

education has been devised that will be

the extent to which working from home

delivered as staff resume duties, including

can become the norm.

videos, toolbox talks, COVID-19 specific

What’s clear, from a contractor’s point of view, is that the reopening of

RAMS, etc.

KILLS UP TO 99.999% OF BACTERIA ● ●

●

On the client side, liaison is essential

client offices is proving a far trickier

to ensure that sites are safe and that

process to manage than their closure

control measures are in place. These

in mid-March, which was comparatively

could potentially include staggered

abrupt. The good news, however, is

start/finish times for our staff to enable

that the announcement of the tapered

social distancing and avoid using

furlough has made it easier to work with

public transport in rush hours; different

clients in matching up our resources to

points of entry and exit on site - clients

their phased re-opening.

are already talking about this for

On the positive side, part-furloughing

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their own staff; a ‘one way’ system of

has meant that operatives working

workflow around the workplace, with

across more than one site can resume

a temporary focus on zonal cleaning

work at the locations which open

rather than flow cleaning where staff

again, whilst remaining on furlough at

move through a building together;

those that remain closed. And for staff

and, of course, prohibiting the shared

working exclusively at a single site, it

use of equipment.

has created flexibility if the client only

As I said last month, ideally clients

wants a partial service to be provided

will respect contract terms and allow

initially. Meanwhile, the staggered

all our staff to return by the end of

levels of contributions towards the cost

October on existing hours and shift

of furloughed staff means contractors

patterns. Consultation can then follow

have the ability to ‘drip feed’ staff

to re-specify the service provision going

back to work over a longer period

forward, providing time and resource

Bio Productions Ltd

without incurring an initial higher-level

to adapt as required once everyone is

contribution for those still at home,

back to working normally.

T: (+44)1444 244000 | E: sales@bio-productions.com W: www.bio-productions.com

which would be difficult to finance if

WWW.DOCCLEANING.COM JULY 2020 17

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25/03/2020 13:46

C&M

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19

COVID-19: Cleaning sector on the frontline Neil Nixon reports.

As the country begins to return to some

I will, consequently, be using the

I have always appreciated the critical

version of normality, and following on

pages of C&M to look at certain aspects

and outstanding role cleaning

from the features in the May and June

of post-COVID-19 cleaning in detail and,

operatives play in keeping the public

issues of C&M looking at the essential role

as with this month’s column, to seek

safe – once the dust has settled I hope

the cleaning sector is playing in tackling

advice on best practice from recognised

there will be a wider and greater

the COVID-19 pandemic, I have started to

industry experts.

appreciation of cleaning operatives

migrate much of the content surrounding

As mentioned many times previously

and cleaning businesses. I congratulate

new products and services online to allow

– and during the popular series of

everyone involved for the outstanding

for more immediate dissemination of the

webinars I have been hosting on the

work they have done, and continue to

news. Please take a look at

topic of Coronavirus - my association

do, to get the country safely back to

www.cleaningmag.com – content is

with the cleaning sector spans over two

work, to the shops, to restaurants, to

changing on a daily basis.

decades in one capacity or another.

pubs… to normality.

HEALTH AND HYGIENE GO HAND IN HAND Regardless of how the current concerns continue to unfold, COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of hand and surface hygiene within facilities. Chris Wakefield, vice president, European marketing and product development, GOJO Industries-Europe Ltd, says that this must not be forgotten after the pandemic has eased and that businesses must take measures to continue influencing healthy behaviour.

In light of the current coronavirus crisis, high

and increased the frequency of their surface

and continue to influence healthy behaviour. By

standards of surface and hand hygiene have

and hand hygiene regimens, so that cleanliness

putting effective measures in place, companies

proven to be essential in effective facilities

standards are upheld at all times.

can reap multiple rewards. After all, better

management. While many offices, leisure and

At the same time, the public awareness of

health equates to less absenteeism, increased productivity and, ultimately, more profit.

educational facilities had to close to halt the

the connection between health and hygiene,

spread of the virus, for those that continue to

particularly when it comes to having clean

operate, the highest level of hygiene needs to

hands, has never been greater. Once the

an enhanced reputation. Certainly, at first,

be maintained. Hospitals, supermarkets, and

pandemic has eased, businesses must work hard

customers and visitors will demand clean and

other essential organisations have tightened

to ensure that complacency doesn’t creep in,

hygienic facilities, and will make a judgement

Additionally, businesses will benefit from

about the company if high standards are not achieved. In a social media driven society, where negative comments can quickly tarnish an organisation’s image, it has never been more important to take hygiene seriously.

Sanitising surfaces to lower the risk of infection Hands are responsible for transmitting up to 80% of infections and research has shown that 14 people can be infected by touching the same object. Furthermore, germs can survive for a surprisingly long time on surfaces. Preliminary investigations suggest that coronaviruses, including COVID-19, may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days [1].

18 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19

It therefore makes perfect sense for FM managers to pay attention to sanitising surfaces, especially busy touch-points, such

C&M

likely to perform hand hygiene to best practice

transferring germs from one area to another, via

standards in confined and crowded conditions.

their hands.

By taking these proactive infection control

Touch-free technology can also help

as door handles, handrails or lift buttons.

improve compliance, reducing the likelihood

measures, businesses can continue to influence

This helps prevent infections from travelling

of unclean or leaky taps and dispensers, and

healthy behaviour, which will not only help to

from one area, or building, to another. Opt for

in turn lessening the number of people that

protect their staff, visitors and customers, but

sanitising sprays or wipes that are fast acting,

may have otherwise abandoned handwashing.

will benefit the bottom line too.

bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal, and

These dispensers are more hygienic too, since

WWW.GOJO.COM

which can be used in complete confidence.

hands do not need to physically touch them to access the product. Given that the exact dose

[1] www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-

Influencing healthy hand hygiene practice

is released each time, they also help to reduce

coronaviruses.

The first step to encouraging hygienic behaviour

mess and waste.

[2] Building Service Contractor Survey, Cleaning and Maintenance Management, 2014.

is to ensure the washroom offers end-users

Efficacy is also key. When you consider

a positive and welcoming experience. Did

that 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men

you know, that despite being such a small

report having sensitive skin to some degree ,

proportion of a building’s total footprint

formulations must be kind to skin, pleasant

(typically less than 5%), facilities management

to use and be effective at removing dirt and

companies receive four times more complaints

bacteria. Posters and notices also work well to

about the restroom than any other area within

prompt hygienic behaviour, reminding users of

a facility? [2]

best practice.

[3] www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ [3]

Facilities managers should therefore seek

As well as in washrooms, hand hygiene

to provide the best visitor experience possible

facilities should be easily accessible in other

within their budget. Firstly, ensure that the

parts of a building. For example, installing

layout of the space is user-friendly and allows

sanitising stations at the main entrance and

people to move around easily so that they

exits, and other high traffic zones, such as

can reach dispensers without having to

busy reception areas, can help stop people

squeeze past others. People are much less

introducing infections to a building, or

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WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

JULY 2020 19

C&M

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19

Returning to work post-Coronavirus Phil Jones (trainer) and Adam Jankowski (consultant trainer) present a ‘Prochem Europe guide for cleaners’.

Never in living memory has the cleaner been

So, what’s happened? Initial demand for

include power cables, mould/mildew, heavy

so highly valued and appreciated. We are no

fogging systems has slowly subsided as, with no

objects/furniture, and chemicals to name by

longer the ‘silent service’, working out of sight.

conclusive proof of infection or contamination,

a few.

Everybody acknowledges the challenges that

then (subject to a risk assessment) a site’s

the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the door

carpets and hard floors may only require a deep

Identify anyone who could come into

of every home and workspace the world over

(extraction) clean using Prochem products

contact with the work area, be it a contractor,

and how tirelessly we have worked to keep it

such as D500 Microsan and B125 Clensan.

members of the company in a commercial

from spreading.

The market has started to move forward with

property or of a family in a household

But the fact is a strategic return to a ‘normal’ (whether we define it as ‘new’ or ‘old’) is fast

growing demand for these solutions.

D500 Microsan is a multi-surface biocidal

2. Identify who may be harmed and how.

environment.

3. Identify the level of risk. For example, is the level of risk high, medium or low?

approaching. But firstly, we have to make

cleaner for use on all washable hard surfaces,

premises clean and secure and to restore much-

carpets, fabrics, and floors and has been tested

needed confidence in the building user that

to EN14476 standard as well as being proven

measures necessary to reduce the level of

going back through the door is safe. That’s why

effective against many bacteria and viruses

risk to ‘as low as is reasonably practicable’

businesses, schools, healthcare environments,

including the Coronavirus family.

and record what you have done (in writing).

and more are turning to the cleaning industry

B125 Clensan is a multi-surface biocidal

4. Record your findings. Put in place the control

5. Review the risk assessment as often as

for guidance as to how to take those first steps

sanitiser that may be used on all carpets, fabrics

is necessary.

back to work.

and hard surfaces and has also been tested to

Also, a risk assessment is not just a form

Our industry is about to be one of the most

EN14476 standards. It is also effective against a

filling exercise. This is a task which must be

appreciated and highly visible in the country.

range of enveloped viruses as well as Norovirus.

carried out by law to ensure that accidents at

This is not going to be a straight-forward

So how can we decide if we should go back

work do not happen or that the persons doing

transition. From biohazard remediation (or, as

to work and under what conditions? Firstly,

the work or any persons affected by the work do

it’s mistakenly but more commonly known -

we should operate within the most up-to-date

not suffer any short term or long term exposure

infection control) to a deep clean, planning and

government guidelines ensuring that we can

and harm.

negotiating with the customer prior to the job

maintain social distancing until the current

commencing is going to be required.

Coronavirus SARS2 pandemic is deemed to be

with biohazards, you will require appropriate

Pre-cleaning of offices, floors, carpets,

over. If we cannot maintain social distancing

levels of training including health and safety

and toilets are top of the building manager’s

in our work, then we need to ‘stay at home’

training, and training in the correct use of PPE

agenda right now. As they make their own

unless you are a key worker and safe working

including how to select the correct respirator

risk assessments as to the levels of cleaning

practices are put in place by the employer.

for a task, the process of being fit-tested for a

required, they will look to cleaning contractors

Secondly, we should carry out a risk

If you are undertaking work specifically to deal

respirator, and donning and doffing your PPE to

for advice. However, the building manager

assessment. To remind you, a risk assessment

avoid cross-contamination and infecting yourself

should also be responsible for checking the

is a legal duty under Section 3 of The

and others. You should also learn how PPE is the

credentials and certification of the cleaning

Management of Health and Safety at Work

last line of defence in the hierarchy of controls

company to ensure they are trained and

Regulations 1999. No business is exempt from

and what you must be doing in addition to PPE

capable of managing the clean, be it infection

this regulation regardless of whether you are a

to reduce the risk of exposure.

control or a deep clean. They will also be

self-employed sole trader, sub-contractor or a

checking into the credentials of the contractor

business with employees. There are exemptions

and you do not understand the hierarchy of

before asking them to quote. Everybody will

for how the risk assessment may be carried out

controls and you have not had some of the

be under scrutiny. Likewise, the domestic/

depending on the number of persons employed

basic training described above, you should do

residential property sector will see an increase

by a business, but you would be ill-advised not

the training and avoid performing any form of

in demand for deep cleans as families are

to have a written risk assessment when carrying

biohazard work altogether until you have done so.

gradually allowed to regroup under one roof.

out high risk decontamination work like bodily

Examples of risk assessments can be found

Prochem is an established provider of specialist cleaning solutions and technologies.

If you do not already carry out risk assessments

fluid clean-ups, mould, water damage, and

on the Health and Safety Executive website:

other biohazard jobs.

www.hse.gov.uk. If you are already competent, then your risk assessment will tell you whether

Unsurprisingly, we have been inundated with questions on infection control cleaning, fogging

The five stages of a risk assessment

you should be undertaking the work being

and sanitising from building owners and

1. Identify the hazards. Currently, one of them is

offered (assuming that you have passed the

managers as well as from our customer base of

obviously COVID-19 and its possible spread

client’s criteria for selecting you). Once you

cleaning operatives.

if not addressed correctly, but this could also

have decided that the work falls within your

20 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID-19

C&M

competencies, consider the following to decide

which achieves 99.97% filtration of particles to

before departing. This will give them the

if the risks are sufficiently low:

0.3 microns.

confidence that you carry out this safety

• Ask if the customer or anyone in the property

If you are planning on deep cleaning, then

procedure after every job and it was done

has shown any visible symptoms over the past

pre-treat the carpet, fabric or floor with a suitable

before you entered their house or office.

few weeks.

diluted sanitiser, such as Prochems’ D500

•B e seen to disinfect your wheels and any touch

• Even if a property is empty, ask if any user is

Microsan or B125 Clensan, from a sprayer and

points on your machine and wipe them dry.

returning to check postal and courier deliveries

then after allowing for the suitable dwell time for

• After cleaning your wheels, consider covering

- in which case, adjust your risk assessment.

the product to break down the bacteria or virus,

them with cling-film as you enter or exit

wipe, mop or extract away. After the suitable dwell

the property.

cleaning is taking place. If declined, decide

time, carry out deep cleaning with a suitable pre-

• Wipe down your power cables and hoses as

whether the job is safe to do through your

spray and detergent rinse. Once that is completed,

they would have been touching part of the

own risk assessment.

re-apply the sanitiser, leave to dwell and wipe,

indoor property.

mop or extract if required. It is important to always

• Disinfect your hose and wand by sucking a

extraction machine in the building. They are

read the instructions on the solution labels - and

diluted (warm water) solution of a sanitiser (eg,

designed to create a vacuum at one end which

no more so than in these situations.

D500 Microsan) up your wand, through your

• Ask users to vacate the property while

• Consider where you actually place your

also creates an exhaust port at the other, so

The idea of this layered, structured clean is to

hose and into your waste tank.

Finally, to cover yourself, it might be

potentially contaminated air is being blown

firstly protect the technician with a preliminary

out of the machine and recontaminating the

sanitation, then to carry out the clean, and then

advisable to check with your insurance

environment. If possible, place outside with

finally re-sanitise ready for the hand-over to the

company to ensure that you are correctly

the exhaust pointing towards a previously

customer. If you think about it, it is the same

insured to carry out cleaning in this

identified neutral area.

as hand washing - break down the lipid, greasy

period. You may require extra cover if you

coating of the virus, wash away and then hand

are planning on getting into biohazard

sanitise with a gel.

remediation cleaning.

Remember not to hide what you do

- because more than ever, you are needed

Consider HEPA standard filtration for your

Be visibly seen by the client to sanitise your

and valued.

vacuum cleaner - HEPA is a filtration standard

equipment following cleaning their property

WWW.PROCHEM.CO.UK

Normally, pre-vacuuming is a vital part of the carpet cleaning job, but consider firstly whether

Be seen to do everything for your customer

disturbing soil and dust may potentially result in its being inhaled by a cleaning operative.

100% recycled material

Sustainable

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

CHSA compliant

JULY 2020 21

C&M

FACE TO FACE

Face to Face Neil Nixon speaks with Ricky Smith, head of sales, ICE. How has ICE coped during the COVID-19

been working from home as key points of

standards are met. This will enable them to

lockdown? How has it continued to support

contact and support for all our customers.

provide a guarantee to their customers that

its customers during this difficult time?

Additionally, we have seen the demand for

their facilities are safe to visit. Daytime and

Like many businesses, as the situation started

our Smartcall video calling facility increase

visible cleaning will offer confidence that

to intensify throughout March it was clear that

dramatically over the past few months.

important tasks are not only being conducted

our sales pipeline and business plan for 2020

Customers are certainly seeing the value of

but carried out regularly.

was going to be materially affected by the

using this technology to fix simple equipment

COVID-19 pandemic. ICE has always operated a

issues or for completing refresher training, and

guidance and trusted equipment, along with the

very agile and flexible business model - it’s one

we believe that this is an area that will continue

flexibility to innovate and adapt to the changing

of our strongest USPs - so we immediately set

to grow in the future.

needs and requirements of the industry. We also

ICE’s role in this is to provide the support,

have a crucial role in educating the industry on

out developing a range of equipment to support offering sanitisation and infection control to aid

As the country begins to make its way back

the use of autonomous cleaning ‘Co-Bots’ to

customers in the fight against the virus.

to work, what is ICE’s role in ensuring that

work alongside cleaning teams to give further

cleaning teams can provide a clean and

prominence and legitimisation of ‘clean’.

We called this ‘A Clean Start’ - an offer with a variety of both hand-held and ride-on sanitising

sanitised environment?

products to help combat the virus, but also

I believe, based on recent events, that the

How has the Co-Botics range been received?

to measure ‘clean’ in ways such ATP testing.

profile of cleaning will change dramatically in

What is the rationale behind this new line

Our teams have worked tirelessly to bring this

the future - sanitising, infection control and

of equipment?

to life in a very short space of time and have

measurement will be key areas that we will

Our ICE Co-Botics line is the industry’s first

supported many NHS contracts and facilities

all need clarity and comfort around to ensure

comprehensive range of autonomous cleaning

as well as our long-standing FM and contract

clean and safe environments.

machines. We believe these innovations will

cleaning customers.

It’s highly likely that there will be a greater

help shape the way cleaning operations and

Our customer service and operations teams

demand for ‘proof of clean’ as businesses will

functions are carried out in the future, but in a

have continued to work tirelessly throughout the

need to prove to both employees and visitors

collaborative and cohesive way.

lockdown period. Our field-based teams have

that their facilities are hygienic and safe.

continued to attend sites to deal with equipment

They will be looking for guidance around the

integrate into cleaning team operations, picking

issues, and our customer service teams have

activities that should be carried out to ensure

up the manual and repetitive tasks, which will

22 JULY 2020

The equipment has been designed to

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

FACE TO FACE

C&M

then allow operators to focus on hygiene and sanitising activities to promote cleaner and safer environments. It’s not about replacing people, it’s about embracing technology to deliver higher cleaning standards, infection control and ‘proof of clean’.

Co-Botics is a very natural and progressive way of how we can help support and deliver these measures and improve wellbeing for hygienic environments - to ‘co-exist’, to ‘collaborate’, and to work ‘cohesively’ within the workplace to drive standards, efficiency and sterility.

The system is as close to human activity as anything available. It is extremely intelligent and can be fully operated, controlled and managed by the teams on site, and the features ensure that the following key requirements are met: • Safety and efficiency - safe, consistent, and easy to map and control.

• Consistency - it will clean any area without the need for technical intervention.

• Environmentally friendly - water recycling capabilities and a run time of up to 5 hours.

• Proof of clean - fully integrated telemetry and cloud-based reporting on a clean by

customers and have carried out a number of

their new Co-Botics equipment meets many of

clean basis.

demonstrations. Many customers share our

the growing applications where autonomous

vision and see the value of introducing Co-

equipment would benefit both the economic

Botics into their cleaning operations.

and hygiene requirements escalated by this

Co-Botics can be simply and easily incorporated into existing or new cleaning operations in almost any kind of environment

Yvonne Taylor, head of cleaning for UK,

pandemic. I particularly like the term Co-Botics

- commercial, transport, warehousing,

Ireland and Middle East at OCS, said: “Having

and the philosophy that this technology will

manufacturing, or distribution, healthcare,

been part of ICE’s development of robotics

collaborate with human resource to deliver the

retail, hotels, hospitality, and many more.

in the UK we know they have the credentials

levels of sanitation the world now demands,

Over the last few weeks, we have been

and infrastructure to take this technology to

whilst complementing appropriate distancing.”

the wider market. In my opinion, it looks like

WWW.ICE-CLEAN.COM

sharing the details and rationale with our key

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

JULY 2020 23

C&M

CHEMICALS/CHEMICAL-FREE & DOSING

Get home safely Thomas Stuecken, chairman of OspreyDeepclean, reports.

AS COVID-19 spread across the globe, the public

of cross-contamination. One study by the US

transport sector and its staff were on the front

Center for Disease Control and Prevention has

line along with the NHS and first responders.

shown that over two-thirds of soap buckets and

Radical changes to standard cleaning practices

93% of sampled cleaning towels in US hospitals

were needed to protect employees and the

harboured bacteria.

While public transport carries people who

essential workers travelling to their jobs and operators are still working through revamping

are hopefully in better health than those in

these procedures to meet the challenge that the

hospitals, this statistic shows the uphill battle

virus poses to environmental safety.

the industry must fight to keep passengers and

99.99% of known bacteria and viruses, leaving

employees safe.

surfaces decontaminated, safe, and touch dry

Leaders of airlines, bus companies and transit

within 10 minutes.

operators have been scrambling to find the right hygiene tools to step up cleaning efforts and

Cleaners deserve the safest working

reduce the spread of the virus. While operators

environments you can provide

How dry steam vapour cleaning works

are going beyond the government and public

Hong Kong has deployed self-driving disinfectant

Dry steam vapour cleaning tackles bacteria

health guidelines to create safe environments,

robots to clean public areas, but the UK public

and viruses on three fronts with thermal and

there’s confusion across sectors over best

transport industry doesn’t share this luxury. Our

chemical disinfection and decontamination by

practice. Let’s investigate how you can establish

cleaners strap on PPE, arm themselves with

the mechanical action of surface penetration

first-class procedures that ensure and reassure

cleaning materials and head straight into the

and extraction to eliminate contaminants.

drivers, passengers and cleaners that you are

danger zone. Transport operators and cleaning

providing the safest possible environment.

companies owe their cleaners the duty of care

outer layer that seeps into common porous

enjoyed by most workers, despite being thrust on to

materials that have non-smooth, textured or

Encourage passengers to practice

the frontline. The simplest, most efficient and cost-

rough surfaces. Manual disinfection struggles to

good hygiene

effective way to achieve this is through disinfectant

remove buried dangerous organisms, but a mix

Operators can take every precaution, but

fogging and deep steam vapour cleaning.

of super-heated dry steam and disinfectant can

The SARS CoV-2 virus is blanketed by a fatty

penetrate these surfaces to extract and destroy

passengers must shoulder some of the burden.

People jump on and off public transport,

Choose the right technology for the job

touching poles, doors and sets, and drivers and

Disinfectant fogging and dry steam vapour

cleaners can’t run around disinfecting these

cleaning deliver the most efficient, safe and

vehicle, they detach the fogging applicator to

surfaces on a continuous basis.

comprehensive deep clean for public transport.

then concentrate the dry-steam vapour onto

bacteria and viruses.

Once cleaners complete the fogging of the

Visual communication like signage placed

Some organisations like Delta, the third biggest

common touch-points like chairs, rails and

strategically at stops and around the vehicle

airline in North America, have started to rely on

doors. Super-heated steam eradicates residue

can encourage the public to use good hygiene

fogging and dry steam vapour (DSV) to deep

called biofilm, which is commonly known as

practices like washing and sanitising hands.

clean aircraft to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

dirt, grime, dust and similar organisms that

Some countries are even broadcasting public

Scientific studies, focusing on the efficacy and

harbour potentially lethal bacteria and viruses.

education reminders to inform passengers of their

removal of all microbiological decontamination,

You get the added benefit of combining staged

responsibilities. This tool could help to ensure that

demonstrated that DSV performed equal to or

manual cleaning that depends on employees to

UK passengers are aware of changes to public

better than disinfection practices. When you add

deliver comprehensive results into one efficient

health advice and government guidelines.

the success of eradicating bacteria and viruses

and effective activity.

from areas cleaners might miss or not reach, You risk cross-contamination without

along with the speed of completion, you have

Our technology will deliver the ‘gold

approved cleaning materials

the most effective and time-efficient method on

standard’

Ensuring cleaners are equipped with approved

the market.

OspreyDeepclean is a market leading expert

materials is essential to avoiding the pitfalls

and is dedicated to providing technology that

How disinfectant fogging works

delivers the gold standard of environmental

Let’s use a bus that’s just pulled into the

technology. Our contribution and innovations

depot, ready for a deep clean, as an example.

to healthcare environmental safety have earned

Before cleaners enter the bus, they can attach

recognition by the Department of Health

a fogging applicator to the DSV machine that

and NHS Supply Chain. We have engineered

sprays a dry steam mist made up of water and

our products to handle the rigours of public

a non-toxic disinfectant. The water acts as a

transport cleaning and we want to help you

carrier for the disinfectant during the fogging

tackle the spread of COVID-19.

process. Super-heated steam eradicates

WWW.OSPREYDC.COM

24 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

CHEMICALS/CHEMICAL-FREE & DOSING

C&M

Bio-cleaning solution for London landmark SOMERSET House is London’s working arts centre built on historic foundations around one of the most beautiful courtyards in Europe.

Situated at the very heart of the capital, Somerset House is home to the UK’s largest and most exciting creative community and is overflowing with new ideas, young businesses and fresh perspectives.

Supporting a sustainability strategy As part of its long-term sustainability strategy, Somerset House Trust has made positive steps towards greater green credentials, from improving the building’s energy efficiency

aim to reduce plastic waste and chemical

facilities in London and together we’re looking

with insulation, to fitting LED lighting and

consumption during cleaning processes. Greg

at how we can work towards achieving net zero

smart controls.

Van Duin, senior facilities and operations

carbon emissions targets. There is a climate

manager at Somerset House Trust, explained:

emergency, and we need to be responsible with

House Trust’s management team turned

“Sustainability is high on the agenda for

our daily operations to ensure we’re making

its attention to its internal operations and

Somerset House. We’re part of several focus

changes where we can. When approaching

investigated several new systems with the

groups with those operating large cultural

In partnership with Incentive FM, Somerset

Continued on Page 27.

AUTONOMOUS CLEANING THROUGH INNOVATION

CO-BOTICS

The new autonomous cleaning range from ICE

Brand new from ICE - a complete range of robotic cleaning equipment for any environment!

From small robotic vacuums, to scrubber dryers and sweepers of different sizes, we have an autonomous machine to work alongside your cleaning team!

INTEGRATED TELEMETRY WATER RECYCLING CAPABILITIES LONG RUN TIMES & SELF-DOCK CHARGING UNRIVALLED NAVIGATION SYSTEM

www.ice-clean.com WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

0800 389 3869

enquiries@ice-clean.com JULY 2020 25

C&M

CHEMICALS/CHEMICAL-FREE & DOSING

SAO builds on 100 years of science THE COVID-19 pandemic has seen a shift

Aqueous ozone has been used as a highly

other than a toilet pan cleaner were used. We

back towards heavy chemical use as people

effective cleaner and sanitiser for over 100

purchased the Lotus Pro system following

desperately try to keep themselves, their

years. Tersano has found a way to stabilise the

the trial period and have continued to use

customers, employees, and patients safe.

aqueous ozone, making it a powerful cleaner

SAO in all areas of cleaning…Our cleaning

Tersano, however, is a chemical-free option that

for longer. It is 100% natural, using just water,

stores now provide the much needed storage

is effective against COVID-19 and other viruses.

oxygen and electricity to create a powerful

space for electrical equipment, not for endless

According to Killis, Tersano is changing the

cleaning solution. It is safe and harmless to

containers of cleaning chemicals that line

way the world cleans using stabilised aqueous

people but can kill 99.999% of harmful bacteria

the floors. In the 12 months of usage, we

ozone (SAO) - a solution more effective than

without the use of toxic chemicals.

have made a substantial financial reduction

bleach yet free from chemicals. Killis claims that

Tersano manufactures two options - the

in cleaning costs without compromising our

SAO is the simplest, safest, most sustainable

Lotus Pro System which is suited to larger

standard of cleaning.”

way to clean and sanitise.

commercial requirements and the iClean

WWW.KILLIS.CO.UK

Mini, designed for smaller businesses and domestic use.

Organisations benefiting from Tersano already include worldwide hotel chains, restaurants, leisure facilities, schools, care homes, and police stations. Rotherham Council introduced the Lotus Pro in April 2018 on a three month trial basis, and a spokesperson said: “During the trial, all other cleaning chemicals were removed from our cleaning stores to ensure no other products,

26 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

CHEMICALS/CHEMICAL-FREE & DOSING

C&M

Making every drop count Steve Teasdale, co-founder and vice-president of scientific affairs at InnuScience, reports.

COMPANIES

reduce its environmental footprint.

This approach is further developed as an

like InnuScience

InnuScience is committed to preventing over-

integral part of our principle of ‘targeted

spend much

consumption by:

disinfection’. In order to achieve the right

time looking to

• Developing formulations at the appropriate

balance between cleaning and disinfecting

optimise the formulations of

performance level for the cleaning task.

• Training and educating cleaning staff about

effectively for human safety, and the protection of the environment from dramatic

their products

the environmental and health impacts of their

overuse of a product, our approach is to

to achieve the

cleaning activities.

support the use of disinfectants where it

best balance between cost/ concentration/

• Simplifying training through a compact but complete range of products.

•P roviding accurate and easily accessible

makes sense to use them, and rely on effective and rigorous cleaning with an appropriate detergent everywhere else.

dilution systems that help ensure the

In times such as these, this principle

In the case of InnuScience and the

reliable control of product dilution with the

becomes increasingly important. We need

biotechnological route we take, this also

aim to reduce waste and ensure optimal

to keep people safe, and we have seen the

becomes an integral part of our approach to the

product performance.

benefits that the lockdown has brought to

performance.

question of sustainability in the broadest sense.

• Creating maintenance programmes where one

the environment in a matter of months - at

product can be used at different dilutions to

least in terms of air quality. Unfortunately, an

The ‘right dose’ approach

accomplish tasks of a different nature and of

ill-considered approach to mass disinfection

The ‘right dose’ refers to the minimum

varying difficulties.

risks damaging the environment. Take the

quantity and strength of a product required

Whether you are using an eco-friendly cleaning

bleaching of the beaches in Spain that

to accomplish a given cleaning task. For

product or not, respecting the concept of

damaged all the flora and fauna and killed

example, it would be abusive to use a heavy-

the ‘right dose’ minimises the environmental

the migratory birds who were nesting as a

duty degreaser at high concentration to wash

footprint of your cleaning activities. It also

prime example. Never has the approach of

a mirror or a banister. The ‘right dose’ is not a

contributes to the pre-cycling approach

the ‘right dose’ been more apt, especially

profit-generating concept for the manufacturer,

where you avoid using something that does

when combined with the principle of the

but it is an approach that ensures that the right

not need to be used - this has a more positive

right product!

amount and concentration of product is used to

environmental impact than recycling.

WWW.INNUSCIENCE.COM

Continued from Page 25.

effective cleaning solution through a process

allowed us to streamline operations to create

our cleaning regime, we were looking for

called electrochemical activation that kills up to

an impressive degree of efficiency.”

a solution that wouldn’t interfere with the

99.999% of bacteria and is certified as a general

Susan Ryan, head of cleaning at Incentive

building. We have a lot of different surfaces,

disinfectant. It’s also non-toxic, non-hazardous

FM, said: “The system is being used right across

materials, furniture and antiques, and it was

and non-allergenic, so it is safe for staff to use

Somerset House as part of the daytime cleaning

important to reduce the build-up of chemicals

on a daily basis in the majority of areas.

regime including washrooms, offices, gallery spaces – even to spot clean stains on carpets.

that can cause damage long-term. Reducing

Following a trial period, the UK’s first Toucan

our chemical consumption was key not only

Eco Flow unit was installed in Somerset House

We complete the core clean of office and studio

from a sustainability point of view, but also

in September 2019. The larger Flow system

areas in the evening with Toucan Eco, and the

to improve the wellbeing of janitorial staff

creates a continuous supply of concentrated

areas open to public in the mornings, with spot

by reducing contact with chemical cleaning

solution which is stored in a 10-litre holding

checks throughout the day. Spray bottles of the

agents. Cost-effectiveness was another factor

tank, and then diluted while being dispensed

solution are used with microfibre cloths, as well

to consider – being able to eradicate our need

into spray bottles or buckets, producing an

as a flat mop system which allows us to pre-

for consumables would allow us to make

unlimited supply on tap.

soak mop pads with the Toucan Eco solution.

savings that could be invested into other areas of maintenance.”

“The benefits of the larger Flow unit were

Before installing Toucan, we were ordering

obvious for Somerset House,” continued Greg

anywhere up to 150 bottles of cleaning agents

Van Duin. “The fact that it creates unlimited

per month, and these single-use bottles were

Green cleaning with Toucan Eco Flow

amounts of sanitiser is a simpler and more

disposed of after use. We keep a small stock of

Through Incentive FM, Somerset House Trust’s

effective process for our housekeepers. We

descaling agent, but Toucan Eco has allowed

management team was introduced to Robert

operate with a 40-strong janitorial team,

us to drastically reduce the volume of cleaning

Scott’s Toucan Eco bio-cleaning system. The

so minimising risk by reducing the number

chemicals we use, and with that we’ve made

system requires only tap water, salt and a

of products we use and ensuring there’s a

huge savings on our plastic waste.”

low voltage electrical current to produce an

constant supply of cleaning solution has

WWW.TOUCANECO.CO.UK

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

JULY 2020 27

C&M

LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

As one of the UK’s top 100 and largest family run cleaning and facilities service providers, the next generation of Floorbrite are ensuring that we still treat our customers with the same care and attention as when we first began in 1972.

We provide commercial cleaning and facilities services across the UK. Providing daily, industrial and window cleaning services to all sectors of industry. Washroom, hygiene and consumable supplies, waste management, pest control, plants and grounds maintenance, security, building maintenance and MEWP hire ensure we deliver a complete solution to our clients.

Laundry basics are fundamental to heightened levels of cleanliness Neil Nixon caught up with Hydro Systems Europe to understand the importance of effective laundry in dealing with serious threats to public health caused by outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE COVID-19 pandemic has

requiring cleaning and sanitisation

cleanliness across all areas

in every wash cycle, understanding

of facilities, including laundry

correct laundry management is

operations. Contaminated and

crucial. Laundry programmes

improperly laundered textiles can

should re-emphasise proper

potentially spread disease. While

techniques and approach,

laundering doesn’t completely

including:

remove micro-organisms, the

•W ash formula: Bleach (sodium

combination of temperature, time,

hypochlorite) is often added

chemical, and mechanical action

to the wash process to sanitise

significantly reduces numbers to

and bleach linen. Combined

safe levels by killing or inactivating

with high wash temperatures,

harmful pathogens. Using the right

bleach can quickly kill or

chemical dispenser is also crucial.

inactivate pathogens. However,

Moving forward, both on-

0161 972 3000 info@floorbrite.co.uk www.floorbrite.co.uk

With huge volumes of laundry

heightened expectations of

many laundries use bleaching

premise and commercial laundry

agents with hydrogen peroxide

programmes need to reaffirm

instead of chlorinated bleach.

their commitment to standard

Although hydrogen peroxide is

procedures. These ensure

safe on coloured fabrics, when

laundry is properly sanitised and

used at the same levels of

handled in a way that protects

sodium hypochlorite, it doesn’t

staff, visitors and patients in all

offer antimicrobial benefits.

healthcare environments.

Additionally, without proper dilution rates, detergent

Deep cleaning your workplace in response to the global coronavirus pandemic is essential for the wellbeing of your team.

The Floorbrite Group proudly offers 4 levels of deep cleaning for your offices or workplace Visit us online at: www.floorbrite.co.uk/coronavirus/

A persistent threat

may not effectively remove

Infections caused by soiled linens

micro-organisms.

are most commonly viral, such as

shifts can kill certain micro-

and norovirus, but have also

organisms, such as fungi. With

been linked to fungal or bacterial

a pH-sensitive pathogen, it’s

growth. Coronavirus can live for

important to adjust laundry pH

hours, or even days, on a variety of

levels accordingly. For example,

surfaces, including textiles.

soaring rapidly to a pH of five or

28 JULY 2020 floorbrite_half page vert.indd 1

•p H levels: Employing rapid pH

smallpox, hepatitis, coronavirus,

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM 29/06/2020 15:38

LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

C&M

below has proven effective.

• Wash temperature: Higher wash temperatures can kill and remove more micro-organisms.

Although moderate temperatures can inactivate most viruses, more resistant viruses, like hepatitis B, may require higher wash temperatures. Studies show some microorganisms survive temperatures as high as 71 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit) for periods less than 25 minutes. Therefore, ensure washers reach the desired temperature for the appropriate amount of time.

• Wash mechanics: Viruses adhere less effectively to linen than bacteria.

Consequently, they’re removed more easily by the washer’s mechanical action, which does as much to remove them as the temperature

comprehensive laundry programme that

and chemicals do to inactivate them. Bear

fulfils required standards [1]. Train employees

in mind that older washers may not be as

on handling, sorting and using equipment

a comprehensive laundry programme. When

operationally effective.

properly, ensuring they refrain from bringing

combined with use of the correct chemical

contaminants near the processing area. An

dispensers, laundries can achieve cleaner

generally high, which helps drop bacterial

employer’s responsibilities extend to providing

results and enhance safety for staff, patients

counts by 95%. Therefore, it’s important to

the necessary personal protective equipment

and guests.

ensure equipment reaches the necessary

(PPE) to do the job safely. Clean laundry

WWW.HYDROSYSTEMSEUROPE.COM

temperature to inactivate germs.

should be properly transported and stored

• Dryer temperature: Drying temperatures are

• Handling procedures: Handling laundry contaminated with bodily fluids requires a

rewashed according to facility procedures.

Focus on improving these areas to create

to avoid contamination. Anything improperly

[1] www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-

sorted or handled post-washing needs to be

viruses/laundry-treatments.htm

The disinfection debate David Benson, business development director at Christeyns UK, discusses the current laundry industry status on thermal and chemical disinfection and the differences between Europe and the UK. THE treatment of soiled linen is a process that

although with COVID-19 all hospitality

prove disinfection and is easy to monitor and

has evolved over time - more in depth scientific

premises such as hotels, B&Bs, holiday parks

control and to validate every load to meet

knowledge and continued innovation in

etc, will also need to ensure that linen is

the Department of Health and Social Security

chemical application has moved laundering on

hygienically treated and free from any possible

(DHSS) standard. Neither does it leave behind

from the initial soap, soda and water treatments.

contamination. This will mean an enhanced

any chemical residue in the machine.

As a global company, the Christeyns group

set of measures for all launderers.

supplies chemicals in Europe and the UK as well

In general, the nature of the soiling

It is not, however, always the best solution as some spores are temperature resistant and

as around the world. Not all countries have the

determines the way in which items are sorted

the process does not disinfect the press and

same laundry processes in place when it comes

and processed and current UK categorisation

rinse zones and with modern heat recovery and

to handling dirty and contaminated linen.

recommends sorting into used linen - soiled

warm water rinsing, it can lead to biofilm build

There are strict guidelines from the HSE in

and foul - infected linen and heat labile linen.

up in the press. There are also costs to consider

the UK, and from the European Commission

It’s also important to note that ‘cleaning’ and

in terms of the energy required in the wash

for Europe, on how linen should be treated

‘disinfection’ are very different processes.

process to reach the high temperatures.

to eradicate soiling and prevent cross-

Cleaning removes germs but disinfection will

contamination. This, of course, has never been

kill germs completely.

There is continued pressure on laundries to reduce operational costs which can be passed on to the customer and this is now even more of

more important with the current pandemic

In the UK current recommended treatment

causing laundries, healthcare facilities and

to ensure cleaning and disinfection is a thermal

an issue with all concerned parties scrutinising

associated bodies to relook at the measures

one, using a moist heat for a precise amount

expenses from every angle. Possibly one way to

and guidelines in place.

of time to kill bacteria - a minimum 650C ten

do this would be by using chemicals rather than

minutes wash cycle or 710C for not less than

high temperatures to wash soiled and

Contaminated linen comes generally from hospitals, care homes and similar facilities, WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

three minutes. It is the simplest method to

Continued on Page 32.

JULY 2020 29

C&M

LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

Minimising the spread of viruses through effective laundry processes In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark Dennis, managing director of MAG Laundry Equipment, discusses the best practice for killing viruses through the laundry process and general servicing recommendations that should be considered by the commercial laundry sector. that to kill a virus, washing machines need to hold a temperature of 90°C for 10 minutes.

Although washing at cool temperatures is eco-friendly, low temperatures are not effective for killing germs and bacteria, which in light of a health crisis such as the current coronavirus epidemic, needs to be reconsidered and closely managed. That said, MAG Laundry Equipment’s range of washing machines are up to 60% more energy efficient than others on the market and can be re-programmed at any time to ensure

on a daily basis. Deep cleans are essential

WITH regards to general good practice, there

they adhere to Government recommendations.

to minimise the spread of any bacteria and

are lots of easy to implement processes that

As advice changes, we ensure customers are

viruses, with COVID-19 being no exception.

can be put in place to ensure the spread of

provided with the information they need to

MAG Laundry Equipment offers deep cleans

viruses is kept at bay. The best way to minimise

re-programme machines themselves, or we can

to customers, which involves disinfecting all

contamination is through expert-approved

visit them under precautionary measures to

areas of the laundry machine including the

cleaners such as detergents and bleach,

offer this service.

doors, seals, washing drum, panels, and touch

ensuring viruses that live on surfaces such as

Secondly, our recommendation would be

screens. All disinfectant products are certified to

door handles and handrails are eliminated.

to tumble dry at a higher heat for 30 minutes.

European standards and meet the requirements

Information has been shared across numerous

applied to food, industrial, domestic, and

loading the washing machine should also

commercial laundry rooms to tumble dry

institutional areas. Regular deep cleans are

be avoided. Simply bypassing this can help

at higher temperatures to reduce the risk of

important, not only for hygiene purposes, but to

to protect those that use the setting or work

the virus spreading. Kelly Reynolds, a germ

ensure the machines remain in a good working

in the laundry room as it minimises the

researcher at the University of Arizona, advises

order and continue to function to capacity.

possibility of dispersing potential viruses that

that high heat drying for at least 20 minutes

Bacteria tends to lurk in the detergent drawer,

are present on clothing through the air. It is

is the most effective way to kill viruses.

rubber seals and washing drum. These areas

also important not to separate laundry on

These measures should now be taken on as

should be regularly cleaned with hot cloths

the floor, but rather sort it immediately into

standard to ensure the best possible chance

and appropriate sanitising and disinfectant

designated trollies of clean and dirty items.

of eliminating contamination through the

solutions, along with cleaning areas such as the

This also saves a job when it comes to sorting

laundry process.

dryer lint filter on a daily basis.

Shaking dirty laundry to separate it before

In summary, although commercial laundry

colours, as specific trollies are helpful for Deep cleans

equipment and products used within the

Not only is it important to consider how laundry

laundry process are designed to eliminate

room is something we would recommend too.

is being stored, washed and with what, it’s

viruses, I could never have predicted that

Items such as safety gloves, glasses, aprons,

critical that commercial laundry services stay

the industry would find itself responding to

and slip-resistant footwear are helpful for

on top of cleaning the equipment they use

a pandemic such as the current coronavirus

managing the washing of different loads Wearing protective clothing in the laundry

protecting the health and safety of everyone

crisis. The challenge is felt by everyone across

using the setting.

the globe, as we all need to do our bit to alter our behaviour to ensure we are protecting

Minimising contamination

the people this virus could harm the most.

There are several measures that can be taken

Throughout all of this, I am committed to

to minimise the spread of viruses through the

sharing any industry advice I can, to ensure the

laundry process, and we have been working

best possible standards are being upheld with

closely with our customers and the industry to

regards to minimising virus spread through the

share this important information. Firstly, turn up

laundry process.

the temperature! Research in Germany suggests

WWW.MAGLAUNDRYEQUIPMENT.CO.UK

30 JULY 2020

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C&M

LAUNDRY SYSTEMS/PRODUCT NEWS

effects of using increased chemicals.

Continued from Page 29.

not necessarily require steam. Due to the lower

potentially dangerous linen - not a method

temperatures, there is less textile damage,

that is currently used in the UK. This method

giving linen a longer lifespan. The increased

Christeyns has developed a variety of processes

is already accepted in Europe, based on the

use of chemicals provides improved sporicidal

that fit either of these standards but the RKI

Robert Kock Institute (RKI) wash process

effectiveness and the modern Peracetic Acid

accreditation is currently not recognised in the

listings, with temperatures from 40°C upwards.

(PAA) products are excellent disinfectants -

UK. Used in healthcare and hospitality in Europe,

It allows the launderer to choose the best

passing UK standards EN1276, 1650, 13704 and

now could be the time to adopt some of these

process for them - a combination of time,

14476. It does, however, involve increased cost

European methods.

temperature, water, and chemical settings.

in the testing and validation of the process and

As a specialist laundry chemical manufacturer,

There is certainly cause for debate. Peracetic

Less energy usage means it is a more

can be difficult to validate under the current

Acid, recommended by the World Health

environmentally friendly option and it does

guidelines. There are also the environmental

Organisation (WHO) to inactivate the SARSCoV-2 virus, is a recognised bleaching agent in the final wash process in the UK. The washing at lower temperatures with a shorter wash time would allow for more loads to be handled in a more cost-effective manner.

We would be happy to see this issue further discussed with the intention of finding solutions that best fit our customers - one solution does not necessarily fit all. There has never been a better time to look to alternative methods to evaluate how we can all work together to aid as swift a recovery as possible from the current pandemic, whilst preparing for any similar, future scenarios.

WWW.CHRISTEYNS.COM

JANGRO has launched two new guides to help businesses prepare

for the return to work, as the country eases out of lockdown.

New The first is about how to control the risk of COVID-19 via deep resources help cleaning, whilst the second focusses on the importance of businesses safely hand hygiene, with tips and advice to achieve compliance.

Joanne Gilliard, CEO at Jangro, said: “Cleaning and hygiene return have always played an important role in society, but as the to work world battles against COVID-19 they have taken on added significance. Our two new guides aim to help businesses, in clear

and easy to understand language, implement effective infection prevention measures. With these in place, they can rest assured that their workspaces are as clean, hygienic and healthy as possible, thus preventing the spread of germs, and protecting staff, their families, and the wider community.”

Jangro’s new guides - ‘Deep cleaning - controlling the risk’ and ‘Importance of hand hygiene’ - can be downloaded from: WWW.JANGRO.NET/CORONAVIRUS

32 JULY 2020

WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM

PRODUCT NEWS

C&M

UV curing innovator Integration Technology Ltd has introduced a

Virus sanitiser added to portable-UV range

high-power portable handheld UVC rapid sanitiser to its newly-launched PortableUV range. Designed to

EDITOR

inactivate biomolecules and micro-organisms including the elimination of Coronavirus, the ultra-compact, lightweight SubZeroRS-170 is for use on all surfaces

in applications posing a high risk of public cross contamination. Target applications include ambulances and blue light services, buses, aircraft and cruise ship cabins, train carriages, and other public transport, and hospitals, schools, offices, and hotel rooms.

WWW.UVINTEGRATION.COM

Neil Nixon neilnixon@quartzltd.com 07957 713316 SALES DIRECTOR

Stuart Dacre stuartdacre@quartzltd.com 01737 855041 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

BRITANNIA Washing Systems has launched a portable hand-held aerosol, the Britannia, manufactured in Britain, which can be used to both sanitise hands as well as clean and protect surfaces.

The smallest version of the aerosol, which will come in various sizes, can be carried in a purse or a pocket. The product is particularly aimed at the transport sector for use by transport employees and consumers alike, to

Portable aerosol sanitiser for hands and surfaces

Michelle Andrews michelleandrews@quartzltd.com 01737 855086 PRODUCTION MANAGER

Carol Baird carolbaird@quartzltd.com 01923 437619 MANAGING DIRECTOR

Tony Crinion CEO

not only to protect themselves but also to protect the

Steve Diprose

immediate surfaces around them.

CO-CHAIRMAN

Chairman of Britannia Washing Systems, Harvey Alexander, said: “Whist making the wearing of masks compulsory when travelling on public transport is welcome news in the continuing battle against coronavirus, it doesn’t take into account the potential risk of transmitting the disease through coming into contact with contaminated surfaces. Settings where there is a high turnover of people touching multiple surfaces such as buses, trains cars and coaches are particularly

Paul Michael PAID SUBSCRIPTIONS & CIRCULATION ENQUIRIES

Elizabeth Barford subscriptions@quartzltd.com 01737 855028

vulnerable. Having just one easy-to-use portable aerosol product, rather than a mix of gels and wipes, will help operators and drivers, and indeed travellers, to combat the spread of infectious diseases while ensuring vehicles are kept clean and safe.”

WWW.SBW-WASH.COM

ELECTROLUX Professional has unveiled its latest

myPRO XL launched

laundry solution for small business with high laundry load demands up to 12kg, the myPRO XL range of washers and dryers.

Specifically designed for small businesses that require

greater laundry capacity, such as holiday and caravan parks,

PUBLISHED BY

Quartz Business Media Quartz House 20 Clarendon Road Redhill, Surrey RH1 1QX 01737 855086 www.cleaningmag.com Annual Subscriptions 12 copies per year (10 print & 12 digital) UK: 1 yr £125; 2 yrs: £224 Rest of the world: 1 yr: £174; 2 yrs: £310

as well as public sector organisations such as local authorities and housing associations, the myPRO XL range offers a combination of small footprint and commercial quality. The most notable feature of the myPRO XL is the 12kg drum, which has been designed for a larger loading capacity to increase overall washroom productivity. The washers are equipped with a default 35-minute cold water programme, and are able to complete a full load in just 73 minutes, using as little as 1.01kW per cycle. The myPRO XL washer also includes dedicated disinfection programmes which can be set to different temperatures (up to 68°C) and times, to enable operators to meet any necessary hygiene standards.

WWW.ELECTROLUXPROFESSIONAL.COM

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JULY 2020 33

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