INCLEAN - New Zealand August 2018

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

August 2018

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We all like to feel valued and appreciated!

Thank Your Cleaner Day™ is now in its 4th year and is gathering momentum globally.

Join with us to celebrate the day on the 17th October 2018.

Please visit www.thankyourcleanerday.co.nz for more details.

August 2018

page 14

Events Calendar 2018 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo Australia August 29 – 30 Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural event, the 2018 ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo Australia will be at ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour. www.issacleaninghygieneexpo.com

Contents 06 Industry 18 Healthcare 24 Distribution 28 Carpet & Restoration 31 Marketing 37 Products

Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) August 29 – 30 AWRE 2018 will be co-located with the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo at ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour. www.awre.com.au

Budapest Cleaning Show October 5 – 6 The Budapest Cleaning Show is a trade show and educational congress run by the Hungarian Cleaning-Technology Association (MATISZ). www.budapestcleaningshow.hu/en/

Forum Pulire October 10 – 11 The Forum Pulire will take place at the UniCredit Pavilion in Milano, Italy. www.forumpulire.it/it/

Thank Your Cleaner Day October 17 Now a global event, Thank Your Cleaner Day is a day dedicated to cleaners to show they are valued and appreciated. www.thankyourcleanerday.co.nz

ISSA Show North America October 29 – November 1 Dallas, Texas is the host city for the 2018 ISSA Show North America and ISSA Convention. www.issa.com

2019 The Cleaning Show

page 20

March 19 – 21 The Cleaning Show is the UK’s major event for the cleaning and hygiene sector. www.cleaningshow.co.uk

Editor’s note Healthcare cleaning remains one of the most demanding sectors of the cleaning industry in terms of the delivery of truly hygienic outcomes.

Just as much as cleaning is critical in a healthcare environment, so too is hand hygiene.

A recent study conducted by medical researchers from the University of New South Wales in Australia found hospital staff pay dramatically less attention to hand hygiene when they feel no one is watching.

The researchers compared human and automated methods of surveillance in an Australian teaching hospital over a period of two years. Automated surveillance consisted of hand hygiene dispensers at sinks and bedsides recording hand hygiene by touch, while human surveillance was direct observation of healthcare workers by human auditors.

According to the findings, as soon as human eyes were off the clock outside of the mandatory 20-minute audit and the automated method continued to monitor compliance, hand hygiene compliance went from 94 per cent to 30 per cent.

The researchers said the result is an example of what is known as the ‘Hawthorn effect’, used to describe the phenomenon of people changing their usual behaviour when they know they are being watched. Dr Greg Whiteley shares his view on the study and its findings on page 18.

Also tackling the topic of hand hygiene in this issue is Dr Denis Boulias who shares some handy tips associated with hand washing, as well as the importance of understanding the difference between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting on page 22.

Also in the issue we recap CleanNZ and share some of the learnings from the event’s education program, as well as highlights from the BSCNZ CleanSweep Awards, where the industry’s best were celebrated.

INCLEAN NZ is published by The Intermedia Group Ltd 505 Rosebank Road, Avondale Auckland, 1026, New Zealand Phone: 021 361 136 MANAGING DIRECTOR: Dale Spencer PUBLISHER: Simon Cooper MANAGING EDITOR: Claire Hibbit Email: chibbit@intermedia.com.au Phone: +61 2 8586 6140 ASSISTANT EDITOR: Lizzie Hunter Email: lhunter@intermedia.com.au Phone: +61 2 8586 6102 ADVERTISING MANAGERS: Samantha Ewart Email: sewart@intermedia.com.au Phone: +61 2 8586 6106 Samantha Mackey-Wood Email: swood@intermedianz.co.nz Phone: +64 21 2566 351 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jacqui Cooper GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Sanja Spuzanic HEAD OF CIRCULATION: Chris Blacklock

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DISCLAIMER

Next issue November INCLEAN NZ 2018 FOCUS: Sustainability Sustainability is being increasingly cast into the spotlight, with more businesses exploring the benefits of sustainable and ‘green’ cleaning practices. INCLEAN NZ looks at how the New Zealand cleaning industry has embraced sustainability and why it is so important for the future of the industry and the planet.

Published: 19th November, 2018 Editorial deadline: 18th October, 2018 Advertising deadline: 31st October, 2018 Advertising material deadline: 5th November, 2018

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INDUSTRY

Winc NZ sold to Tiri Group

Vale Rick Sowman

The Commerce Commission has approved a purchaser for Winc NZ to address its competition concerns regarding Platinum’s acquisition of rival stationery and office products firm, OfficeMax. The Commission has approved the purchase of Winc by TSPV1 Limited (a subsidiary of the Tiri Group Limited).

Winc and OfficeMax are the two largest suppliers of stationery and office products to large corporate and government customers in New Zealand.

Platinum acquired Winc in March 2017. Under new ownership Winc rebranded in August 2017. The new name, a creative take on ‘work incorporated’, was at the time said to be part of a wider transformation strategy by Platinum Equity.

In April 2017 Platinum sought to acquire OfficeMax. Platinum had not applied for clearance to acquire OfficeMax and the Commission was concerned the acquisition would be likely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in the supply of stationery and office products to large corporate and government customers.

In November 2017 the Commission joined Complete Office Supplies’ High Court injunction proceedings to prevent the acquisition. In April 2018, Platinum provided an undertaking to the Commission and the court committing to divest Winc to a purchaser approved by the Commission once Platinum acquired OfficeMax.

It is with great sadness we advise the passing of Rick Sowman who passed away on 21 June, 2018. The Building Services Contractors of New Zealand issued the following statement: “Rick and his wife Maggie founded family-owned and operated Allbrite Services in 1983. With strong working class roots Rick and Maggie started the business on a solid foundation of quality and professionalism. They built Allbrite Service’s reputation on that foundation and grew the business to employ more than 100 staff.

During his time, Rick consistently elevated Allbrite Services reputation and under his management, many changes took place. The company progressed rapidly, enjoying excellent working relationships with many major organisations and clients. While the business continued to grow and expand Rick still retained the personal touch offering direct access to the CEO at all times to both the clientele and staff.

“From the beginning Rick had a passion for developing those from the ‘other’ side of the tracks. He employed many staff from WINZ giving them a chance to provide for their families and gain essential work skills. Under Rick’s initiative Allbrite also supported a number of local charities.

For many years Rick has served on the BSCNZ Auckland committee and the BSCNZ council, always willing to share his in-depth and valuable industry knowledge. In 2016 Rick was recognised for his contribution to the New Zealand cleaning industry with a BSCNZ lifetime achievement award. His presence and contribution at BSCNZ council meetings will be missed.

Rick Sowman was undoubtedly a passionate, humble, kind and generous man who assisted and supported his employees and gave back to the community in a number ways.

On behalf of the BSCNZ staff and members, we want to take this opportunity to extend our condolences to Rick’s staff and family for your loss.”

RapidClean expands in NZ Off the back of another successful year RapidClean’s national footprint continues to grow, adding two new members in New Zealand and four in Australia.

RapidClean’s new members in NZ include Pack Centre NZ in Plymouth and CleantechNZ in Papamoa – bringing the RapidClean New Zealand Group to a total of 10 members.

In Australia the group has also added four new members: Bundaberg Cleaning Supplies, Queensland; Southern Cross Hygiene, Lismore NSW; RapidClean North West, Broome, WA; and Never 2 Clean, NSW; taking the group total to 55 throughout Australia.

According to Rob Musilli, RapidClean’s national account manager for ANZ, the new members have elevated RapidClean credentials to a true national supply and distribution organisation.

“Our ability to have local stores and cleaning supply experts on the ground and at the front of line in solving our local and national

6 INCLEANNZ August 2018

The team at Pack Centre NZ

customer’s supply and servicing requirements is paramount to our success,” said Musilli.

“This has elevated RapidClean credentials to a true national supply and distribution organisation that’s an Australian owned business that offers a total one stop shop in sales, after sales, service and a distribution model that provides supply and service solutions”. www.rapidclean.co.nz

INDUSTRY

Future proofing the cleaning industry BSCNZ CEO Sarah McBride provides an update on the latest initiatives and activities by the association including Thank Your Cleaner Day. On 6 July the BSCNZ had a formal meeting with Minister Iain LeesGalloway and his advisors. This meeting was to address the current issues facing our industry and discuss the pending law changes such as the Employment Relations Bill and Fair Pay Agreements, and potential impacts of these changes.

There were some great outcomes including additional introductions to other relevant ministers to further the message of the BSCNZ and influence positive change. Through the collaborative voice of the BSCNZ, we will continue to work together to ensure government understands our industry, the issues we face and how we can future proof the well-being of the cleaning industry.

Thank Your Cleaner Day is on 17 October and a big thank you goes to Karcher for partnering with the BSC globally to support this wonderful day. Through Kärcher’s endorsement, this day is now celebrated in 20 countries worldwide.

This year the BSCNZ, with the help of OfficeMax, is putting together BSCNZ Thank Your Cleaner Day gift boxes. These gift boxes have elicited a great response from members and their

clients. We will plan to create these gift boxes every year, keeping the gifts novel and creative expressions of our appreciation.

We wish to thank OfficeMax, Tork, Diversey and Rentokil Initial for their contributions to the gift box contents. Without their support we could not be offering this initiative. One of the main goals of the day is to uplift the morale of cleaners and show they are appreciated for their hard work. With this in mind, in conjunction with the Mental Health Foundation we will also include a “Five Ways to Wellbeing” message within the gift box.

If you wish to purchase a BSCNZ Thank Your Cleaner Day gift box please visit www.thankyourcleanerday.co.nz to find out how.

We look forward to celebrating the day with you all. www.bsc.org.nz

INDUSTRY

Best in show CleanNZ Expo, New Zealand’s only dedicated trade event for the cleaning and hygiene industries, was held on Wednesday, 9 May and Thursday 10, May, with more than 50 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services available in the local market.

Returning exhibitors included Kärcher, Careerforce, Advance International Cleaning Systems, Whiteley Corporation, Tennant, Tork Professional Hygiene, Hako, Pacer, Glomesh NZ, Diversey, Nilfisk, Filta Cleaning Products and NZ Cleaning Supplies.

New exhibitors included P Lab Cleaning Solutions, Zero Impact, RapidClean, Clorox, Makita, The Restoration Group, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, BE Pressure, Coach8, AlorAir Australia, Megall Industires, R&J Batteries, Metrotest and iChem.

Held in conjunction with CleanNZ was the inaugural New Zealand Indoor Environmental Health (NZIEH). Organised by the CCANZ and supported by the RIA and sponsored by Cleaning Systems, the primary objective of the conference was to promote education, and professionalism in the restoration industry.

“After more three decades in this industry I still learnt so much,” CCANZ past president Paul Pritchard said of the NZIEH. “CCANZ hopes to make this a feature at CleanNZ in years to come and hopes the industry can support this opportunity.”

8 INCLEANNZ August 2018

INDUSTRY

Leadership lessons The importance of collaboration, diversification and storytelling were among the key themes at this year’s CleanNZ education program.

Leading local and international cleaning and restoration experts took to the stage at CleanNZ, sharing insights, providing new ways of thinking and challenging traditional methods.

Among the highlights, Fresh Green Clean director Bridget Gardner introduced her concept, the Cleaning Activity Levels (CAL) model, designed to accurately document and measure cleaning standards.

“We define cleaning as the removal of unwanted dirt from surfaces.

Yet, I’ve researched every cleaning standard from around the world and have found these standards to be highly complex documents,” she said.

Gardner said the standard process of defining cleaning by the amount of dirt that has to be removed doesn’t factor in the process of removing dirt, materials used, the equipment purchased or training required to complete the job.

“The number one aim of this model is to better communicate what needs to be done to the cleaners who are actually doing the job.”

Whiteley Corporation executive chairman Greg Whiteley raised awareness about the lack of standards on a fundamental cleaning action – wiping.

“You would think the process of how to wipe is well understood, defined and documented, but that could not be further from the truth,” Whiteley told attendees.

“It’s important we understand that from a generation point of view, young people are interested in sustainability.”

Abbie Reynolds, executive director Sustainable Business Council “There is not one single standard method to measure wiping anywhere in the world. And that’s terrifying if you consider 20 years ago, most infections were easily controlled and cured with antibiotics.

But now we have antibiotic resistance bacteria, and standard first line medicinal treatments that are meant to protect the general population are not actually working anymore.”

Whiteley compared the results of multiple studies and papers published on wiping, wipes, and cleaning methods, as well as the materials used in an effective cleaning process.

“Wiping is one of the fundamental parts of cleaning, but how do cleaners carry out this action?” he asked.

“When we consider the process of wiping in an intensive care ward with critically unwell patients who are incredibly vulnerable, cleaning can literally become a life or death matter.”

Whiteley challenged attendees to think about the wiping process to improve cleanliness, reduce cleaning failure and minimise cross contamination. He also demonstrated how the “one wipe, one room” approach should be considered a standard measure for cleaning hospital facilities to avoid cross-transmission.

“Cleaning processes must be validated. Cleaning performance must be monitored with a validated series of measures and controlled with both qualitative and quantitative measurements.”

10 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Collaboration and diversification PRISMA Facilities Management director Jack Crutzen shared his tips on tender writing, highlighting the importance of communication between parties.

“Many facility managers do not understand the value of the cleaning industry. I often come across cleaning service providers who struggle to find out the real objective of their client,” he explained.

“In every business, it is important to distinguish yourself from the competition.

To do this, you need to be using the best products and following the best processes” Dr Agnes Zsednai, managing director, Woolsafe “This is vital. Without knowing their objective, how you can really deliver a service which they accept and don’t complain about the cost?”

“So many contracts are not well managed because staff aren’t properly trained or there is a lack of qualified supervision. This can create issues in the delivery of a cleaning contract.”

Crutzen also noted the benefits of cleaning contractors diversifying their service offering, advising attendees to quickly adapt to where the need is and consider offering more services than just cleaning.

“Many cleaning companies today want to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for customers, providing a whole range of cleaning services. Be an enabler of productivity.”

Storytelling Sustainable Business Council executive director Abbie Reynolds told attendees in a growing war for talent in NZ, businesses need to emphasise their social and environmental responsibility.

According to research shared by Reynolds 73 per cent of New Zealanders say it’s important to them to work for a company that is socially and environmentally responsible. Additionally, 69 per cent of New Zealanders are willing to pay more to get the best organic, sustainable and ethically produced products.

Although sustainability performance is improving, Reynolds pointed out SBC members continue to find it challenging to use it to build authentic connections with their customers.

“The conversations I have constantly with businesses is that they are in a war for talent. Therefore, they are increasingly needing to talk about what they’re doing in sustainability.

“Cleaning companies have a responsibility to contribute positively to the environment by not only selecting the correct products but also by training their staff of how to use products correctly” Francesca Lipscombe, general manager, ECNZ

INDUSTRY

“We [in NZ] are a humble lot, particularly when talking about what we’re doing. However, there is a growing number of CEOs and big businesses who are tackling social and environmental issues publicly. In the US it’s called ‘CEO activism’ but we’re starting to see a growing number of businesses doing that here.”

Reynolds said the challenge for many business is sharing their stories.

“So many businesses here are integrating environmental performance but that’s the easy part. The hard part is telling that story and finding a way to use it to build relationships with customers or consumers.”

Positive action Francesca Lipscombe, general manager of Environmental Choice New Zealand (ECNZ) told delegates the cleaning industry has a responsibility to contribute positively to the environment.

“Cleaning companies have a responsibility to contribute positively to the environment by not only selecting the correct products

“Cleaning is one of the only professions that is judged by what hasn’t been done. A job well done in cleaning is a job that isn’t noticed.”

Bridget Gardner, director Fresh Green Clean

“To build an effective relationship with your union, you need to change your perspective to see the union as your business partner.

Think of it this way -- would you rather work with people or against them?”

Dinesh Sundararaj, training & service manager, Auckland District Health Board but also by training their staff of how to use products correctly,” Lipscombe said.

“Cleaning services providers can play a role in encourage building occupants to reduce their waste and landfill and of course, they all have a plan in place. The cleaning service provider needs to provide training which underpins all of this. Not only initial training but site specific ongoing training for all staff.

Reynolds concluded by reminding attendees sustainability isn’t just about the environment but also about ‘social giveback’ “We are in a war for talent. For those of you interested in the idea of ‘social giveback’ actually, think about how you can get some of those unengaged young people into the workforce.”

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INCLEANNZ August 2018 11

INDUSTRY Pre-dinner networking drinks hosted by Karcher NZ

CleanSweep Awards celebrate industry New Zealand’s cleaning industry was celebrated at the BSCNZ (Building Services Contractors of New Zealand) CleanSweep Awards. Claire Hibbit reports.

The BSCNZ’s biennial CleanSweep Awards, held in May, recognised excellence in cleaning for businesses of all sizes across the building service industry.

The CleanSweep Awards featured 12 categories across education, manufacturing, commercial offices, public sector buildings, healthcare and retail and leisure.

This year’s awards ceremony also saw the introduction of two new award categories; Business Innovation and Outstanding Account Management.

“I’m very proud to represent the cleaning industry and very pleased we have nights like tonight to celebrate your accomplishments and high achievements,” BSCNZ CEO Sarah McBride said in her opening address to attendees. “Together, we are working as a group to raise the standards of the industry.”

Guest speaker Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway said New Zealand’s cleaning industry “embodies the Kiwi working spirit”.

“The success of your industry represents the success of every single one of you working in that industry. And, where would we be without

Business Innovation Award winner: Rentokil Initial

12 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Millennium NZ

“This industry embodies the Kiwi working spirit…It’s not an easy industry but it’s a very, very important one so thank you for the incredible work that you do.” you guys? This industry embodies the Kiwi working spirit – hard work, long hours [and] often strange hours of the night. It’s not an easy industry but it’s a very, very important one so thank you for the incredible work that you do.”

Lees-Galloway also acknowledged BSCNZ “for the standards that have been set and [their] willingness to set high standards across the industry.”

CleanSweep Awards judge Dinesh Sundararaj said the awards highlighted the industry’s dedicated and hardworking companies.

“There are a lot of challenging circumstances in this industry, but it is really assuring to know, after being [onsite] and seeing the teams doing the work, the standard of cleaning is continually being raised.” www.bsc.org.nz

INDUSTRY

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS YEAR’S CLEANSWEEP AWARD WINNERS: INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING SPACE Winner: Total Property Services

RETAIL, HOSPITALITY OR LEISURE (UNDER 15,000SQM) Winner: Millennium NZ

RETAIL, HOSPITALITY OR LEISURE (OVER 15,000SQM) Winner: ISS Facility Services – Sylvia Park Shopping Centre

EDUCATION – EARLY LEARNING, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY Winner: Kleenrite Total (Wellington)

ISS Facility Services

HEALTHCARE (PUBLIC AND PRIVATE) Winner: Total Property Services (Canterbury) – Cantebury Charity Hospital Trust

Simply The Best Cleaning

COMMERCIAL OFFICE (UNDER 2,500SQM) Winner: Westferry Property Services – Mercedes-Benz Auckland

COMMERCIAL OFFICE (2,500SQM – 5,000SQM) Winner: Total Property Services (Canterbury) – Westpac

COMMERCIAL OFFICE (OVER 5,000SQM) Winner: Total Property Services (Auckland) – Auckland Transport

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL AND OTHER Winner: Simply The Best Cleaning – Arana College

LONG SERVICE EXCELLENCE Winner: Lana Reily – Total Property Services (Central)

OUTSTANDING ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT Winner: Rebecca Williams – Total Property Services (Wellington)

BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD Winner: Rentokil Initial – MyInitital

Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway and BSCNZ CEO Sarah McBride

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INDUSTRY

The challenge of

WASTE

Waste arising from cleaning services extends beyond what is picked up, vacuumed up or cleaned off, explains Francesca Lipscombe*.

The cleaning industry produces a lot of waste.

Cleaning companies must deal with, and dispose of, the dirt and rubbish collected during the cleaning process.

That may be in the form of solid materials like paper rubbish or food scraps, or in the form of liquid run-off from the cleaning process itself.

But the waste arising from cleaning services extends beyond what is picked up, vacuumed up or cleaned off. A cleaning operation encounters waste in a range of other aspects of their operations, and that waste also has to be addressed responsibly if the provider wishes to meet environmental standards and protect the environment.

If you look at the cleaning business through a typical day, additional waste can be found in a number of areas: • cleaning materials like cloths and brushes which eventually become worn and unusable • empty cleaning product containers • packaging of any consumables used • used equipment parts like floor cleaners, when they reach the end of their useful life and have to be replaced.

Under Environmental Choice New Zealand’s cleaning services specification, licensees must have effective waste management policies and procedures, including initiatives to reduce waste generation.

Environmentally conscious cleaning companies ensure waste management is a key part of their business processes, including instruction in how to reduce and manage waste in the training they give their staff.

14 INCLEANNZ August 2018

But there is also an onus on building managers to do their part.

Buildings should have recycling programmes in place that cleaning organisations can utilise to help manage waste. That means bins for material which can be recycled, that cleaners can readily and easily access.

The Environmental Choice specification requires service providers to help building managers with their waste management and support their recycling programmes, though owners may not always have good systems in place.

The specification also obliges service providers to use refillable plastic containers for their cleaning products which can also be recycled, and to buy their cleaning chemicals and accessories in quantities that minimise packaging waste, where feasible.

Even the choice of chemicals you use has an impact on waste. A lot of cleaning waste enters sewage and stormwater systems through a building’s plumbing and the less toxic the chemicals in that waste the better for the environment and the community.

I’m pleased to say heartening progress is happening in that area, with an ever-increasing range of environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals now available in New Zealand.

Good service providers also instil a sense of care in their employees around the use of chemicals to avoid overuse or spillage – wastage that can also put employee health at risk. Proper training emphasises those risks and fosters greater care in chemicals handling.

Another sort of waste Other aspects of cleaning operations where waste – a different sort of waste - can be reduced are fleet management and energy saving.

Fuel – and power-saving policies and practices “save waste” in the sense of wasted energy. Providers can achieve better outcomes through purchasing more environmentally friendly vehicles, for

INDUSTRY

“Environmentally conscious cleaning companies ensure waste management is a key part of their business processes, including instruction in how to reduce and manage waste in the training they give their staff.” example – avoiding unnecessarily large “gas guzzlers” or moving to electric or hybrid vehicles as some providers have done in New Zealand. Better driving saves petrol too. Reducing carbon emissions is just as much a part of waste reduction as cutting down on throwaway packaging.

The same applies to use of electricity: cleaning organisations use appliances and often clean by night when lighting is necessary.

Prudent use of power in both cases is worth pursuing.

The cultural shift here is from seeing waste as an unavoidable byproduct of cleaning, to seeing waste management and reduction as one of your core operational and business goals.

In return, the environment benefits – but so does the standing and reputation of the organisation, giving customers and employees

greater satisfaction and giving the business a competitive edge over competitors that don’t take waste reduction seriously. *Francesca Lipscombe is the general manager of the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust which administers the Environmental Choice New Zealand ecolabel on behalf of the New Zealand Government. www.environmentalchoice.org.nz

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HEALTHCARE

The role of the hospital environment in

THE TRANSMISSION OF INFECTIONS In light of recent research findings on hand hygiene compliance rates, cleaning has never been more important within healthcare settings, writes Dr Greg Whiteley.

There have been an interesting series of papers published recently focused on the transmission of infectious microbes via hands and hospital surfaces. There are new superbugs to consider, as well as some new evidence on old problems.

Firstly, the team led by Professor Mary Lou McLaws have been at it again with real and quantitative hand hygiene compliance data. This latest research demonstrated that – surprise – doctors don’t wash their hands very often. But the contentious aspect is that the official Australian Hand Hygiene Compliance data suggests everything is terrific.

This is incredibly important work. There is a real problem in the quality of hand hygiene compliance data which is biased by the audit approach of a person with a clipboard counting hand hygiene opportunities (under the ‘5 Moments of Hand Hygiene’) and then counting hand hygiene compliance events.

In Australia the mantra was set for 70 per cent compliance but more recently it was lifted to 80 per cent. Most Australian hospitals report compliance in excess of the guidelines, all based on the clipboard audit model.

The work by the UNSW team led by Professor McLaws used quantitative methods of counting hand hygiene compliance events and triangulated the data for comparisons. The real data suggests the official numbers are wrong by between 30 per cent and 50 per cent!

So, the last thing touched by a health care worker prior to patient contact becomes pretty important. If that surface or object was contaminated by biofilms or transient pathogens, then those hands are contaminated.

“Hand hygiene and the hospital environment are inevitably linked because of the human behaviours of touching.”

Those unwashed hands can transfer bugs straight from the contaminated surface or object, and then onto a patient! Hand hygiene and the hospital environment are inevitably linked because of the human behaviours of touching.

Despite the assurance of the official data on Hand Hygiene compliance, Professor McLaws’ research demonstrates the real position is hand hygiene compliance is woefully lacking where it is needed most.

Touching can be an act of friendship and warmth between two people. There are many healthcare tasks that require touching a patient in the normal course of patient care. However, if a well-meaning healthcare worker touches a patient with unwashed hands, they are potentially passing on infectious, pathogenic, and multi drug resistant microbes. The personal care of touching with contaminated hands is perhaps just “killing them softly” (a quote from Professor McLaws).

18 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Work published internationally by the Dry Surface Biofilm team at Macquarie University and Western Sydney University has already found the dirtiest locations in any Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are where the cleaners are not allowed to work.

Objects such as movable chairs in the ICU and at the workstation and items located on the workstation desks are highly contaminated.

More recent work has again reconfirmed mobile elements are also a cause of significant concern with organisms such as VRE. A recent Australian study published in the Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology journal looked at the transmission of VRE within the ICU of a major teaching hospital in Sydney.

The VRE bugs moved seamlessly from patients into the environment, onto other patients, and then back again. Mobile elements including resuable medical devices such as ultrasound machines (none of which are cleaned by cleaning staff) were regularly contaminated and bugs moved around the ICU on these mobile devices. Unwashed hands were again an implicated pathway for microbial transmission and cross infection.

Another recent paper by Professor Elaine Larsen, the very eminent editor of the American Journal of Infection Control, demonstrated via a ‘meta-analysis’ that the biggest single risk for catching an MRO is when a hospital bed was previously occupied by an infected patient.

The unclean bed acted as the vehicle of microbial transmission.

Superbugs are located within the healthcare environment and if they are not cleaned away they try to find a new home, and any patient will do. The recipient of the next infection could be your mum or dad, your sister of brother, one of your children, another relative, or a close friend that gets an infection when they are already sick and in hospital.

Effective cleaning is the answer.

But wait, there’s more. It’s the terrifying new yeast infection named Candida auris (C. auris). A paper at the recent Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America conference in the US reviewed serious issues with this horrible little beast and the mortality rate for blood stream infections (Candidemia).

Not only is it resistant to two of the three classes of available antimicrobial treatments, it is also resistant to most disinfectants and is able to survive on surfaces for more than a few weeks. Fortunately, a multi drug resistant (MDR) C. auris has not been reported in Australia – yet.

Cleaning has never been more important within healthcare settings, and the cleaning staff are the significant heroes in this real life epic.

Cleaning done well saves lives. All of which should remind you to wash your hands after every bathroom visit. So, keep clean and keep well. www.whiteley.com.au

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HEALTHCARE

The floor hygiene factors What’s the prescription for hygienically clean flooring?

Gordon McVean, international sales and marketing director of Truvox International, outlines the key factors for healthcare facilities managers to consider.

Hygiene and infection control have probably never had higher priority in the healthcare sector. The public and patients too share clinicians’ concerns about the spread of flu, tummy and super-bugs.

Everybody wants and expects to see scrupulous cleanliness and hand hygiene practice. But what about floors?

Floor cleaning not only affects the general perception of cleanliness.

Failure to clean floors thoroughly and efficiently can pose a risk to health and also waste resources.

Hospitals, clinics and care homes may use a mix of cleaning methods and machines, such as rotary polishers, scrubber dryers and vacuums, while mopping persists in some cases, even if only in confined areas, such as toilets and washrooms.

Though the stakes may be higher than in other sectors, the managers of healthcare facilities need to deliver consistently costeffective cleaning. So what are the key factors when prescribing a hygienic and efficient cleaning regime for floors?

Versatility is important, especially where cleaning teams are responsible for a variety of floor types from entrances to birthing suites, waiting areas to wards, canteens to operating theatres.

Hard floors may predominate, given they should be easier to keep clean, but they pose a slip risk when wet that mopping only exacerbates.

It also fails the hygiene test. This method fails to remove soils effectively and re-circulates those that are picked up by the mop-head and mixed with the cleaning solution.

New surfaces, coatings and materials adopted over recent years have brought benefits, such as anti-slip properties. But they can be trickier to clean properly.

That challenge is compounded by strict infection control rules, which favour natural detergents and taurine-based products. To remove soiling completely, the surface must be agitated vigorously without accelerating wear.

20 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Other factors to consider are the trip risk to staff, patients and visitors from trailing cables during daytime cleaning – and noise disturbance while cleaning at any time of day or night.

Cordless equipment can provide reassurance on both fronts, while providing added flexibility and minimising interruptions for the cleaning team.

Their needs must be considered too. Machines and equipment should be easy to operate and handle, and minimise repetitive motions and musculoskeletal strains.

A final factor to mention is the cleanability of the machine itself, its brushes or pads, solution and soil tanks, and attachments.

Healthcare settings and priorities vary, but experience teaches us that scrubber dryers often play a central role in hygienic cleaning strategies.

The ability to wash, mop, scrub and dry in one pass makes for high efficiency and output. Constant application of only-clean solution and removal of soils is crucial. A modern model should also minimise water and chemical consumption, leaving floors dry in minutes.

Versatility for tackling different floor types – from hard to entrance matting and low-pile carpets – is highly valued.

Less widely appreciated perhaps, but a major technical advantage, is cylindrical brush technology. Contra-rotating brushes exert sufficient pressure to remove embedded grime from the grout lines of tiled floors and other crevices. They also overcome the difficulties of cleaning safety flooring without potentially harmful chemical disinfectants.

A cordless machine can deliver these gains without compromising productivity. Modern gel batteries provide sufficient power for around 50 minutes’ non-stop operation, while swopping to a backup battery should be simple and rapid.

When it comes to disinfecting the machine itself, it is advisable to avoid brushes made from natural fibres. A synthetic material, such as polypropylene, can be sanitised far more reliably. Colour-coding of brushes helps prevent cross-contamination between areas with different levels of risk, as well as matching the brush design to the type of surface.

These are among the main factors for ensuring that floor cleaning plays its part in supporting the highest standards of hygiene in healthcare settings. www.truvox.com

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HEALTHCARE

HAND HYGIENE:

A cleaning fundamental Dr Denis Boulais* goes back to basics and shares some important tips associated with hand washing.

With this issue of INCLEAN magazine focused on healthcare and hygiene – an article on the fundamental cleaning element of hand washing seemed quite fitting.

Hand washing programs in workplace settings have resulted in reduced sick days, according to some studies. Hand washing programs in the community have resulted in cold and flu reductions of up to 21 per cent, and gastrointestinal illness by as much as 58 per cent.

It is important cleaners understand the difference between cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting and how poor hygiene can compromise these processes.

Cleaning removes germs, dirt and other impurities from surfaces by using detergent (such as soap) and water to physically remove germs. It doesn’t necessarily kill the germs but lowers their numbers on the surface.

The terms ‘disinfectant’ and ‘sanitiser’ are regularly used interchangeably. Disinfection kills germs via the use of chemicals on surfaces. Disinfection doesn’t necessarily remove germs, but killing them certainly reduces their numbers. Sanitising significantly lowers germs on surfaces to a safe level with a fast kill.

In practicality the food industry may benefit primarily from sanitisers. For example; when cleaning dishes it is important to get an effective kill of germs fast so dishes can be reused as soon as required.

The medical industry, however, may prefer disinfectants because they aim to kill specific germs specified on their label. Both the food and hospital industries are prime examples of where correct hand washing and good hygiene can reduce the spread of germs.

Poor hand hygiene can comprise the level of cleaning we are aiming to achieve. For example, in handling rubbish a cleaner may come into contact with items such as tissues noting the flu virus can infect a person for up to eight hours after being deposited on a surface.

It is always important cleaners are trained to never put their hands where they cannot see them when handling rubbish and wash hands as required.

22 INCLEANNZ August 2018

There are a number of reasons cleaners may not follow a strict regime of washing their hands which include: Workload: If busy a cleaner may be less likely to hand wash.

Time: There may not be enough time to wash hands fully and properly.

Appearance: Hands may not appear dirty – but germs are too small to be seen.

Presence: A sink may be hard to get to – such as in a messy cleaning room. Hence it is important that cleaners are trained that hand washing is a priority for their own health benefits and that of the client.

Handwashing Soap acts as a detergent with one side of its molecule liking water (hydrophilic) and the other side of its molecule liking oil (hydrophobic). Cell membranes are also made up of a dual sided hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecule. As such, soap solvates the hydrophobic parts of a cell membrane and hence kills the bacteria by dissolving the membrane. Furthermore, the hydrophilic part of the molecule then causes it to be easily washed away.

Soap isn’t as effective against viruses because viral membranes are more protein based than lipid based and hence the viral membrane isn’t as easily dissolved. That said, however, a soapy environment can still adversely affect protein structure and inactivate a virus. Of course, alcohol-based hand sanitisers and antibacterial soaps are likely to be more effective than soap.

It is normal to have germs living on the skin. While soap and water do a good job of removing germs from the hands it is important to ensure hands are properly dried. It is more likely that wet hands will spread germs more than dry ones. It takes around 20-30 seconds to dry the hands well with paper cloth towels and 30-45 seconds under an air dryer.

There are three important tips associated with washing hands: 1. Don’t scrub hands as it can damage the skin and potentially provide small cuts for germs to enter.

2. Try to keep your fingernails short as bacteria like the area under the nails and longer nails are harder to keep clean.

3. Don’t be in a hurry as it takes around a minute to properly wash and dry the hands.

HEALTHCARE

“It is always important cleaners are trained to never put their hands where they cannot see them when handling rubbish and wash hands as required.”

Alcohol-based cleansers kill germs by denaturing (changing the shape) of proteins essential to the survival of viruses and bacteria. Most cleansers have a high level of alcohol (around 60 per cent) mixed in with skin conditioners as alcohol itself would dry out the skin. Research has shown that alcohol based cleansers have reduced germ counts on hands better than soap.

Alcohol, however, does not kill everything such as bacterial spores and nonenveloped viruses. A non-enveloped virus is very virulent, can damage host cells significantly and is more resistant to harsh environments than an enveloped virus with its membrane of lipids and protein.

That’s why each environment needs to carefully assess its hand cleaning requirements. For example, many hospitals go back to soap and water cleansing during cold weather vomiting outbreaks that may be caused by non-enveloped more virulent viruses.

A hand wash poster developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a good example of hand washing

*Dr Denis Boulais is national risk manager at Broadlex Services www.broadlex.com.au

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INCLEANNZ August 2018 23

DISTRUBUTION

Filta builds on offering One month on from acquiring cleaning equipment supplier Glomesh NZ, Filta Cleaning Products shares an update on the business with INCLEAN NZ’s Lizzie Hunter.

Filta Cleaning Products acquired equipment supplier Glomesh NZ. The acquisition saw Filta add Mat World, Unger and Glomesh NZ’s floor pad range to its portfolio, allowing the business to target new categories and increase its product range to 2500 lines.

Filta Cleaning Products general manager Lee James described the acquisition as a good fit for the company.

“Glomesh NZ is a long-standing NZ brand that is well respected and trusted by customers,” said James.

“It operated in a very similar space to Filta yet we didn’t sell any [Glomesh] products, so adding their unique products to our range will benefit and create opportunities for our clients.”

Glomesh NZ said the sale was in response to the need to better service customers with a wider range of products, and due to the restrictions experienced with certain aspects of the business while trying to operate from Australia.

“The sale of the business to Filta Cleaning Products will allow all Glomesh NZ customers to continue to access the highest quality of product and service that they have come to expect from Glomesh NZ, and now combined with the product range and service that they can get from Filta Cleaning Products,” the company said at the time of the sale.

Under Filta’s ownership Glomesh NZ has retained its name and all staff have remained with the company, but its head office has moved from Swanson to join Filta’s new head office in Henderson.

“We wanted to move ourselves into a position where something like an acquisition was a viable opportunity for us,” said James.

Filta Cleaning Products sales manager Liz Nichols said the Glomesh NZ team have fit in very well with Filta team based in Henderson.

“It’s been a fantastic merge,” she said.

“Our new warehouse is fantastic too. It has become fuller a lot quicker than what 24 INCLEANNZ August 2018

we anticipated, but that’s because we keep building on what we supply.”

The new site includes an extra-large showroom presenting Filta’s extensive range of products, a training space where the use of products can be demonstrated and a customer meeting hub. Earlier this year Filta

“The fact Glomesh NZ is a really well trusted and respected brand was a key factor in acquiring the company.” partnered with one of India’s largest cotton producers to launch a professional tea towel range for the commercial cleaning market.

“The new tea towel range is still finding its feet in the market, but overall it’s going well,” said James.

“New initiatives always take a bit of time.

We’ve also launched new ranges within our microfibre brand and added some more vacuum accessories to our range.

We’ve tripled our product line in the last three years.”

On 1 August Filta also became the master distributor of Chrizarna triggers and bottles.

“Every single cleaner in New Zealand needs triggers and bottles so when the

opportunity to distribute Chrizarna – one of the best-selling trigger ranges in New Zealand – came along, we grabbed it,” said Nichols.

“Our focus is on the customer. If we can make life as simple as possible for them by supplying everything they need from the one place, then that’s what we will do. Increasing our range regularly continues to enhance our relationship with customers.”

Today, Filta Cleaning Products is a multilevel business with a national reach across supply categories including supermarkets, trade and commercial cleaning.

The relocation to a larger premise this year and introduction of new product lines means the company has enhanced its position to take advantage of new opportunities, not only in the commercial cleaning space, but in other industries as well.

“The fact Glomesh NZ is a really well trusted and respected brand was a key factor in acquiring the company.

“Are there other opportunities out there?

Yes, and that includes looking overseas to places like Europe and Australia.

“We work with a few Australian companies now to try and make the border between Australia and New Zealand easier to operate in.

“We like to think we can be the distributor for any Australian company, either already operating in NZ or looking to enter the market. www.filta.co.nz

DISTRUBUTION

ADVANCE INTERNATIONAL CLEANING SYSTEMS

CELEBRATES

40 YEARS

It’s been a busy few months for Advance International Cleaning Systems. Following the launch of its new app Advance One this year, the company also celebrated its 40th anniversary. As CEO Jiwa Nadan tells INCLEAN NZ’s Lizzie Hunter, embracing change has always remained a top priority for the business.

Advance International Cleaning Systems is a New Zealand-owned company that specialises in the design, development and marketing of cleaning solutions for the professional cleaning and hygiene markets. The company offers products and services to several key markets, including general commercial buildings, industrial and warehousing, healthcare, education, hospitality and automotive.

“Since the early days, we have designed and manufactured a number of our own products to ensure we remained competitive and innovative in the marketplace,” said Advance International Cleaning Systems CEO, Jiwa Nadan.

Headquartered in Penrose, Advance International Cleaning Systems operates a manufacturing site in Otahuhu, with branches in Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Waikato, Wellington, Whangarei, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Nelson.

In July, the company launched its own mobile app, Advance One. “Advance One simplifies the buying process for our customers,” explained Nadan.

“All the information customers need to make a purchase is now at their fingertips.

All they need to do is press a button and the information is there.”

The idea behind Advance One is to ensure the company remains relevant and appeals to the next generation of customers and workforce.

“Within the next five years, millennials will be the main business customers. This generation is digitally savvy and look for ways to simplify how they do business. They also look out for businesses that have a competitive edge.

“Digital migration is real and those who are savvy in terms of the way they provide solutions in a digital manner are going to win.”

“Advance Clean doesn’t change the way our customers interacts with our business; it purely simplifies the process they follow when doing business with us.”

Nadan says the company wants to use this technology as the way to connect to customers and add value to their business.

“In some industries, technology has become a standard that you must use. The cleaning industry is much slower. We constantly strive to keep up with modern day technology to offer clients cleaning equipment that will optimise their business performance.”

According to Nadan, NZ’s cleaning industry is evolving, but many in the industry struggle because the thinking isn’t where it should be today. As he explains, clients are becoming more tech savvy and there are many opportunities out there for cleaning companies to offer specially tailored solutions.

“We’re still flogging the same thing, the same product or service, at a cheaper cost.

To stand out in the crowd, businesses have to provide something unique that is meaningful to the customer.

“A big part of the market is not ready for the digital change, mainly because of the traditional view held by those who have been in the business for 20 to 30 years and they’ve done it the same way for a very long time.

“What they are forgetting is that digital migration is real and those who are savvy in terms of the way they provide solutions in a digital manner are going to win in the future.” www.advanceclean.co.nz INCLEANNZ August 2018 25

DISTRUBUTION

METHOD makes the

DIFFERENCE INCLEAN’s Lizzie Hunter spoke to Method co-founder India Korner about her company’s mission to improve workplace recycling habits through a new design of rubbish bins.

Seven years ago, India and Steven Korner decided to take a risk. Leaving their full-time roles in office leasing and mechanical engineering respectively, the couple purchased New Zealand-based bin distributor Total Bins.

Through their commitment to environmental awareness, the couple soon discovered a gap in the market they knew they could fill.

“During our travels we continued to see beautiful office spaces virtually littered with ugly bins,” explained Method co-founder India Korner. “It was quite detracting from what the architects and designers of the building were clearly trying to create in these spaces.”

Inspired to create an attractive and accessible recycling solution that people would want to use, India and Steven spent three years researching and analysing office trends, mapping out waste streams in businesses and even helping commercial cleaners on night shifts to further understand waste disposal processes.

In January 2015, the first Method 60 litre recycling bin, which sold out in pre-production, was launched in NZ. After seven months of operation, Method made its first international sale to software company Atlassian in Australia.

In August 2016, Method introduced its product line to Hong Kong and Singapore and opened its second office in Auckland, NZ. Two years later in 2017, Method opened its third office in Sydney and forth office in Melbourne.

Method’s target markets include office buildings, universities and airports. In Australia it supplies recycling bins to venues such as the Sydney Cricket Ground and Melbourne University, while some of its NZ clients include Westpac and Wellington Airport. The start-up has also already made sales to the US and is currently progressing into the UK market.

26 INCLEANNZ August 2018

“We currently have an agent selling our products in the UK, and have just employed a full time UK salesperson,” said Korner.

During the three years since its launch, Method has designed and added more products to its line, including desktop recycling accessories. It currently offers 60 litre office recycling bins, compostable, black and clear bin liners and individual desk bins called precyclers.

“The recycling accessories are for companies that are transitioning from all workers having a desk bin to just the one Method bin in the office,” explained Korner. “Some workers find it hard when the desk bins are taken away, so we introduced what we call ‘precyclers’ which replace individual desk bins and provide short term desktop storage. Users simply put their rubbish in the precycler and empty it in the bin at the end of the day or on their lunch break.”

Method co-founders Steven and India Korner

recycling stations in large facilities and highflow environments.

“We have more products in the pipeline and do see ourselves continuing to develop products in the recycling space,” said Korner.

Focusing on the design of the recycling bins is what sets Method apart from its competitors, according to Korner.

“People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on creating office spaces that are meant to be a pleasant and healthy place for staff to work, so we feel like products like office bins should be well designed to fit into that environment.

“We want our bins to be displayed throughout the workspace, not hidden “We have more products in the away. If it’s not a good looking or accessible product, companies won’t pipeline and do see ourselves want to have it around desk areas. continuing to develop products “We considered small things in the design process. For example, we decided in the recycling space.” not to put any sharp corners on the bins so they are very easy to keep clean and In May this year, Method launched its new the angles of the lid mean you can’t see the website which features an online shop. contents of the bin from afar.

“Our website definitely needed a refresh,” “Usually with a bin you can see a bin liner said Korner. “My husband and I started the hanging out around the edge like an untucked business together so initially we did everything, shirt, but the way the bin liners fit into our bins including creating the website. But we really mean its quick for the cleaners to change and needed the website to be as beautiful as our the bin liners are hidden from view.” products, so we spent a lot of time creating “Everyone recycles at home, but no one really instructional videos for the website to make it does it at work. We’re a piece in the puzzle that easier for customers to navigate around.” is helping make workplace recycling simpler This year the company also released a for businesses.”

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CARPET & RESTORATION

TO TEST

or not TO TEST? Rosemary Pritchard-Lundy* weighs in on the Gluckman report and what it means for the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry.

On 29 May 2018 the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Sir Peter Gluckman, dropped a bombshell with the release of his report, Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties: Exposures, risk levels, and interpretation of standards. The conclusions of the report can be summarised as follows:

Report conclusions • There is currently no evidence that levels typically resulting from third-hand exposure to methamphetamine smoking residues on household surfaces will cause adverse health effects. Noting that an absence of evidence is no evidence of absence of an effect.

There is a need for more research.

• The level of 1.5/100cm2 used in NZ Standard, NZS 8510:2017, to guide remediation does not distinguish between sites of manufacture and sites of use and is deliberately conservative with large safety margins.

• Exposure to methamphetamine levels below 15/100cm2 would be unlikely to give rise to any adverse health effects.

• Testing for low-levels of methamphetamine in New Zealand has come at a high cost and whilst aimed at being protective of health, has been disproportionate to the actual health risks.

Trade-offs need to be considered, particularly in relation to social housing, where the risks of unstable housing situations are likely to be far greater than the risk of exposure to low-level methamphetamine residue.

• It is important that guidelines for mitigation measures are proportionate to the risk posed and that remediation strategies are informed by a risk-based approach. Accordingly testing is not warranted in most cases. Remediation according to NZS 8510:2017 is only appropriate for identified former labs and properties where excessive methamphetamine use has occurred, as indicated by high levels of methamphetamine contamination.

Following the release of the Gluckman report Minister Twyford announced with immediate effect Housing NZ would change its policy so that hundreds of properties with contamination levels of up to 15/100cm2 could be put back into use. Minister Twyford also stated that within 12 months a new, less stringent, standard would be made.

NZS 8510:2017 In June 2017 Standards NZ published NZS 8510:2017 which recommended an acceptable remediated level of 1.5/100cm2 for both labs and sites of use of methamphetamine. NZS 8510:2017 is 28 INCLEANNZ August 2018

voluntary. At that time it was the highest standard internationally. It remains the highest standard internationally.

Critics of NZS 8510:2017 say that the 1.5/100cm2 level should not have been applied to properties where methamphetamine has been used as opposed to manufactured. Some say the Gluckman report sensibly highlights different requirements for former labs and sites of use.

However the 2016 ESR report clearly considered both situations and recommended clean-up levels of 0.5/100cm2 for former labs and 1.5 – 2.0/100cm2 for non-labs. It is understood that the Gluckman report considers the same information available to the ESR when completing the 2016 report.

I recently approached the ESR to enquire whether it stands behind the recommendations in its 2016 report, in light of the Gluckman report. I was advised in response that the science in both the ESR report and the Gluckman report are correct, however, it is the interpretation of the resulting level that differs.

So, which is right – NZS 8510:2017 or the Gluckman report?

What is the safe level – 1.5/100cm2 or 15/100cm2 or something in between? As I understand it, the scientific research is not yet in a place to give us a definitive answer. Even the Gluckman report acknowledges “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence of an effect. There is a clear need for more research and a co-ordinated inter-agency effort to build up a robust dataset.”

Dr Jackie Wright of Flinders University in Adelaide completed a thesis in 2016 titled, Exposure and Risk Associated with Clandestine Amphetamine-Type Stimulant Drug Laboratories. Dr Wright was consulted and her thesis referred to in the Gluckman report.

However, Dr Wright has advised key research was not considered in the Gluckman report, which she provided to Mr Gluckman’s office.

Those matters overlooked include: • The Gluckman report suggests a cut off of 30/100cm2 as indicative of a site where manufacture of methamphetamine has occurred. Dr Wright presented data from 100 homes known to be used for manufacture, covering a wide range of manufacture methods, which shows methamphetamine residue levels that are from manufacture are routinely below 30/100cm2. The inference that only high levels of methamphetamine residue relate to manufacture and lower levels relate to use, is not supported by any data.

• The Gluckman report asserts the toxicity of methamphetamine residue from manufacture is different to that from methamphetamine use. There is no data to support that assertion. Scientific studies that have been conducted in this area have regularly used methamphetamine residues deposited from use as an alternative for residues deposited from manufacture, as they are deposited in the same way.

CARPET & RESTORATION

• Dr Wright presented five case studies where the source of methamphetamine contamination on surfaces includes manufacture and/or use. The case studies show varied and significant health effects in a range of individuals exposed to methamphetamine residues below the level of 15/100cm2, they also showed data on methamphetamine levels within the body (derived from hair sampling).

Conclusions from the Gluckman report In my own experience I see the following issues with the conclusions in the Gluckman report: • It is difficult on inspection to identify whether a suspected contaminated property has been a lab or a site of methamphetamine use. The report’s suggestion that only properties suspected of being labs should be tested will therefore create a dangerous precedent.

• I have personally spoken to hundreds of people who have suffered ill health effects from properties contaminated by use or with low-level contamination. No doubt there are many more cases. Unfortunately there is a lack of medical reporting in this respect. I believe there needs to be education around identifying health issues caused by contaminated properties and processes to report such cases. With many Housing NZ tenants returning to properties with contamination levels up to 15/100cm2, such education/processes will be crucial. I agree with the Gluckman report that more research in this area is needed to satisfactorily determine what are safe levels of contamination.

• I have more than 30 years’ experience in the cleaning industry and that experience tells me that we need to take a cautious approach in respect of methamphetamine contamination levels.

It took years before the serious risks associated with asbestos and pesticides became public knowledge.

Residential Tenancies Bill (No 2)

The coming months will undoubtedly see a number of developments in this area. The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 2) will soon have its second reading in Parliament. If the Bill is approved it allows for the Governor General, on the recommendation

of the Minister, to make regulations which can include the following matters: • Maximum acceptable levels of contaminants (methamphetamine); • Methods for carrying out tests for the presence of contaminants and who is authorised to carry out testing; and • Describing decontamination processes.

Minister Twyford has indicated the Gluckman report, along with NZS 8510:2017 will contribute to any regulations that may be made under the Residential Tenancies Bill (No 2).

Public consultation on acceptable methamphetamine contamination levels or a review of NZS 8510:2017 will be a key step towards resolution of the issues currently faced.

Where to from here?

Where does that leave those working in the industry in the meantime? Until NZS 8510:2017 is reviewed or a level is confirmed in legislation, it remains best and safest practice to work to NZS 8510:2017 (particularly considering recent Tenancy Tribunal decisions and the approach of insurance companies).

However NZS 8510:2017 is voluntary. Accordingly, before commencing any work it will be important for practitioners to have frank discussions with clients about their expectations. Practitioners should ensure that they have clear instructions from clients regarding the level they are expected to work to and if necessary record such understandings in writing.

Whilst there is concern about what the Gluckman report will mean for the industry, what prevails with every industry colleague that I have spoken to is a genuine concern about the safety and wellbeing of New Zealanders who will be affected by contaminated properties.

We are yet to see the full impact of the Gluckman report and the outcome of any review of NZS 8510:2017, but by actively participating in any public consultation it is hoped that a credible standard can be reached that will give confidence to both the public and the industry. *Rosemary Pritchard-Lundy is managing director of Cleaning Systems www.cleaningsystems.co.nz

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INCLEANNZ August 2018 29

CARPET & RESTORATION

TEST AND TAG: Making it work for you Mark Goldthorpe* explains the importance of proper test and tag procedures.

cause a current exceeding that of 10,000 milliamps through the protective earth! If it has only been tested at 200milliamps then we know the earth can handle that current, but we do not know if it can handle more.

What I am saying is we are only testing to see if the life jacket I have been involved with the electrical safety floats in theory. It is my opinion that in most cases this is pointless industry as far back as 1991 and I have met and stupid – why would you try and prove safety by testing it below many people during the intervening years who its rating? consider test and tag to just be another health The majority of electrical test equipment used for testing and and safety necessary evil. tagging, normally called PATS (Portable Appliance Testers) only They believe test and tag is just another scam designed to help test the protective earth at 200 milliamps (0.2Amps). This is empty their wallets with no benefits to themselves. Let me say, this because people want small and manufacturers want to build cheap. was not the intention when things started although sadly this can Sadly, it is not about the best practice and electrical safety but often be the case. rather about compliance. I am sure people are wondering if it costs If the testing, however, is real safety testing not just a compliance more to do safety testing or to buy “real testers” and the answer is tick and a tag then it becomes worthwhile. People’s lives are no – but it is definitely cheaper to build junk. saved and their legal and moral If you are setting up or reviewing responsibilities are met. your test and tag program remember I believe sadly as much as 80 per that you are in control, you can even “The cleaning industry uses cent of so called test and tag is either do it in-house. For most cleaning a lot of long leads and dodgy, incompetently done or ‘tag companies this is likely the cheapest only’ which of course is fraudulent option and if staff are trained protectively earthed equipment and downright dangerous! So the properly and have the right PAT it is question is, how do you ensure that the probably the best option. such as floor polishes, so testing you are going to do or get done The cleaning industry uses a lot of these represent significant means something? long leads and protectively earthed Firstly it needs to be real, not just equipment such as floor polishes, so dangers if not tested and compliance testing. Let’s change track these represent significant dangers if for a moment and suppose you had to not tested and maintained properly. maintained properly. Doing it check life jackets; would it be sufficient Doing it right does not cost more and right does not cost more and enough to place them in water and see may save a life. if they float? Maybe a better way to do Because of the amount of “unreal” may save a life.” a “real test” would be to add a weight testing/dodgy testing there is also an appropriate to the weight of the wearer opportunity for the legitimate testing of the life jacket and then see if it floats. I know how I would like companies to stand out. If you have clients that have a need for mine to be tested! testing then there is an opportunity for your company to gain Electrical testing is only worthwhile when it proves that the life jacket passive income simply by gaining a commission on testing done by floats. A little education here – all electrical equipment within NZ and a testing company.

Australia is either protectively earthed and singularly insulated for Metrotest already does this for many multi service providers user safety or has the live electrical parts protected by two layers of but be aware that there are many non-legitimate small and large insulation (these are normally called double insulated appliances). testing companies. Choose carefully who you partner with or do These double insulated items have no protective earth and rely it yourself. solely on the double insulation for user safety. The life jacket for We can provide training in how to test nationwide and have been the user of earthed equipment is the protective earth. Should the doing this around New Zealand for 20 years, we are not a Johnny equipment become faulty, this protective earth allows for a fault come lately and teach what we do. No other training provider has current to travel to the ground (earth) that you are standing on, our credentials in New Zealand or Australia, including PAT system instead of going through you and potentially giving you a shock design, build, calibration, repair, Testing and Training (including which could prove fatal.

EWRB authorised training) nationwide!

A pretend earth will not protect people so surely protective earth Remember, compliance does not automatically make it safe. If it testing should prove two things: Is there a protective earth and is it is compliant when tested but still not safe, what was the point? real or pretend?

Mark Goldthorpe is a founding director of Metrotest. For nearly 20 years he The majority of earth testing on appliances is performed by low has been on the committee that write ASNZS3760 (Test and Tag standard). current testing, usually 200 milliamps when in real life a fault could www.metrotest.co.nz 30 INCLEANNZ August 2018

MARKETING

Proquip sees increase in demand for battery-operated vacuums According to commercial cleaning equipment supplier Proquip NZ, there has been a noticeable increase over the past five years in the uptake of battery powered vacuums being purchased by commercial cleaners.

“Our customers tell us they can achieve an 80 per cent increase in vacuuming productivity by simply using battery vacuums,” said Proquip NZ marketing manager Kerry Boon.

“Productivity isn’t the only gain though,” he added. “90 per cent of commercial vacuum repairs involve the power lead. Battery vacuums don’t have a power lead so repair and maintenance costs are dramatically decreased.

“Being able to clean around people and in areas with no power points such as stairwells is also a major advantage of battery vacuuming.”

Proquip currently stocks a large range of commercial grade vacuum cleaners to suit a wide range of commercial cleaning needs. The battery powered, cordless vacuums offer high productivity, are lightweight and easy to use.

“Battery technology has also come a long way in the last few years,” said Boon.

“These batteries are more stable and give much more consistent power.

They are also lighter in weight and can hold more energy in a smaller cell.

All round, battery powered vacuums are a winning concept that is making the job of the cleaner safer and easier.” www.proquipnz.co.nz

Kärcher appoints national business manager Kärcher has appointed Simon Taylor as the company’s national business manager of the professional B2B direct channel.

Simon Taylor Taylor has been with Kärcher since 2012, working in various professional category roles, including key account manager, regional sales manager, and more recently, as the international training manager for Kärcher head office, based in the UK. Taylor comes to the role with a wealth of experience in sales management, training and technical and mechanical knowledge.

Taylor said he loves working for Kärcher because of its customer centric approach, which runs throughout the organisation. “From my time in the industry coupled with an engineering background, I know it is of the utmost importance to have the correct solution for every application.”

“There is no room for a ‘one size fits all’ approach when it comes to cleaning. Every application is unique and sometimes it’s the smaller things we do which make the biggest difference for not only our customers, but more importantly, our ‘customers’ customer’. It is our passion to drive innovation for the benefit of our customers.

“I’m joining Kärcher NZ at an exciting time and look forward to meeting those in the industry,” he said. “I have been very fortunate with my time in the cleaning industry so far and I am extremely happy to be joining the Kärcher team here in New Zealand. As a family we are really looking forward to emerging ourselves in the culture and experiencing new things.” www.karcher.co.nz

Biggest ever gathering of Crest business owners It was one of the biggest ever gatherings for Crestclean when 380 business owners and their employees from Auckland came together for their team meeting.

The event, at the city’s Alexandra Park, marked a stellar year for the CrestClean franchise owners and saw a number of long service awards presented by CrestClean’s managing director Grant McLauchlan.

During his presentation, McLauchlan thanked Crest’s franchise owners for their commitment to the brand and said the company was in great shape.

“Our foundation is rock solid and we have the right people, the right systems in place and we are seeing growth accelerate throughout New Zealand.”

He said CrestClean’s personnel represented 45 different nations.

“It’s our diversity that helps to give strength to our brand and our business in the marketplace.”

The event was not just a chance to meet and socialise but an occasion where personal pride shone bright. Long service recipients included personnel who received awards for three, five, seven, 10 and 15 years of service.

CrestClean franchisee Sanjay Patel, from Auckland’s North Shore region, received a spot prize of $10,000 gross turnover for his business. www.crestclean.co.nz

Long service recipients receive their certificates from CrestClean MD Grant McLauchlan

INCLEANNZ August 2018 31

MARKETING

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32 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Tork shines spotlight on industry ‘shortfall’ A number of tissue companies have recently been investigated by authorities for ‘shortfalls’ in the supply of their toilet paper.

In New Zealand, all businesses are required to be accurate in their measurements of the quantities of the products they manufacture, pack and/or sell. Whether the product is imported or not, the onus is on the packer and seller to ensure it is correct.

A ‘shortfall’ is a term used throughout the packaging sections of the trade measurement legislation. It refers to the extent to which production or output falls short of expectation. Anything below 100 percent correct is considered a shortfall.

The tissue companies in question were reported to authorities for significant shortfalls in their Jumbo toilet paper supply. Customers have been reportedly undersupplied as much as 30 per cent per roll or 150 metres per roll. This calculates out to a substantial cost to customers when you consider the value of the Jumbo toilet paper market is approximately $13,000,000.

Businesses who are caught short supplying or selling products with a shortfall can be fined and may be required to compensate customers. Questions need to be asked whether this is accidental, the result of poor quality control or if some businesses are knowingly and intentionally under-supplying their product.

According to Tork Professional Hygiene, quality control and measurement is a critical part of the manufacturing process.

Ian Shepherd, quality control manager at Tork explained: “Quality control is important to us. It’s why we have purchased new measuring equipment, to ensure we are supplying what we claim we are. If in doubt, we recommend that customers check the products they buy. As a quick reference, we have posted a number of different methods of measurement on our website. Some methods are easier and less time-consuming than others.”

Shepherd is greatly concerned the issue is so common and has offered to measure Jumbo toilet rolls of any brand sent to him by concerned customers.

At a time when price is driving many decisions in business, it’s important to consider whether you are actually getting what you’re paying for. www.tork.co.nz

Have a marketing story for INCLEAN NZ? Contact Lizzie Hunter on +61 2 8586 6102 or email lhunter@intermedia.com.au

MARKETING

Premier Hygiene draws international inspiration A visit to Interclean Amsterdam in May this year has led to a number of ideas and tools being developed at Premier Hygiene, according to Premier Hygiene owner Essam Yousef.

“It was a fantastic show to attend and I learned a lot,” said Yousef.

“My focus at the show was to find something different and simple that would benefit our cleaners. I saw a great deal of new products and innovations there and now Premier Hygiene is working with suppliers to introduce some of these to our market in due course.”

A highlight of the show for Yousef was the fact that many European suppliers in the industry are forward thinkers, focusing

on ergonomics and time saving products to enable cleaners to do their jobs more efficiently and with as little physical strain as possible from a health and safety point of view.

“I found it very interesting that single bucket and Kentucky mops are now a thing of the past in Europe,” said Yousef.

“It is apparent from many trials carried out that these products spread dirt around wards and can easily cause an outbreak of disease. I discovered pre-charged mops and single use mop are the way to go.” www.premierhygiene.co.nz

Whiteley appoints Asia Pacific sales manager to spearhead growth

Deb Group launches customisable dispenser design website Deb Group has launched an updated Pick and Mix dispenser design website.

Visitors to the site can now customise different types of skin care dispensers, including the one litre manual, two litre manual and touch free. After choosing a dispenser model, users can customise the dispenser, selecting different colour options for the dispenser backplate, button and cover as well as adding chrome accents on the cover. The site also now allows users to upload a logo or image and insert text.

Isabelle Faivre, vice president of marketing, Deb Group said the company is thrilled to provide new ways for customers to customise and create their perfect dispenser.

“Whether a dispenser features a school mascot, business logo or elegant design, our dispensers provide reliable hand care solutions that can match the décor of any facility. With the largest customisable print area of any skin care dispenser, Deb encourages creativity through the Pick and Mix website to help embrace the importance of hand hygiene,” Faivre said.

The website features a gallery of custom dispensers, offering new users examples and inspiration. After mixing and matching different dispensers, users can save their designs, as well as create a login and password to return to the site to make any changes.

Users can also download a JPEG of their customised design without going through the final stages of the process. Once the custom dispenser is finalised, users can proceed by submitting their design to start the custom dispenser ordering process. www.debgroup.com

Whiteley Corporation has appointed Kathryn Kathryn Bran Bran as Asia Pacific sales manager.

Based in Sydney, Bran is responsible for all sales divisions within the Whiteley Group including Australia, New Zealand and export markets.

“Kathryn brings with her extensive industry experience and knowledge, and her appointment will enable us to continue to deliver on our growth and expansion plans in ANZ, and beyond,” said Whiteley Corporation managing director Darran Leyden.

Bran comes from a medical aesthetics background, where she held senior management positions in both customer education and sales management for key suppliers and large corporate groups.

Prior to this, she was with Pall Corporation, where she worked at both a hospital and laboratory level on biofilm reduction and liquid filtration.

“This role gives me the opportunity to deliver Whiteley’s ambitious growth plans and leverage our innovation within both the healthcare and industrial settings,” said Bran.

“I look forward to building long-standing relationships with our customers and partnering with reputable industry bodies to promote the world class range of product and services for which Whiteley Corporation has come to be highly regarded.” www.whiteley.co.nz

Sign up to INCLEAN NZ’s digital newsletter e:clean to receive the latest industry news.

Visit www.incleanmag.co.nz”

INCLEANNZ August 2018 33

MARKETING

Training staff in chemical-free cleaning means quicker, more efficient results for DHB Clinical nurse specialist, Claire Underwood was left inspired, motivated and eager to learn more after hearing about an Australian Hospital going chemical free. Melbourne-based Monash Health transformed hospital environmental cleaning by introducing chemical free cleaning across its entire health service which has more than 40 sites. Underwood’s interest and frequent questions led her and colleague manager, Domestic Service, Debbie Jennings to get an invite to attend a seminar to learn more.

This resulted in a major shift in cleaning processes and thinking throughout the Hutt Valley District Health Board as it moves towards being chemical free. The DHB has trained its staff in chemical free cleaning and now industry training organisation Careerforce, is aligning its assessments so that staff can complete the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning (Level 3) qualification.

Careerforce is working with the Hutt Valley DHB and their operations. It is working towards reviewing, updating and adapting its learning resources and assessment questions so that trainees using microfibre and steam can still achieve the qualification.

“Careerforce provides education for our domestic staff,” said Underwood. “This method of cleaning has required a lot of teaching and we have had to engage with the organisation to design a new teaching package.”

Chemical free cleaning makes use of steam and ultramicrofibre cloths to perform daily and terminal cleaning without the use of chemicals. These cloths are dampened with water for daily wiping and dusting of surfaces. Steam machines are used in bathrooms, toilets and isolation rooms to loosen stubborn dirt and bacteria and viruses which are then collected as the item or area is wiped over with the microfibre cloth.

The microfibre works by static attraction.

Therefore, instead of killing germs, it traps and holds them tightly in the cloth and does not re-distribute them.

Steam machines deliver steam at high temperatures to a surface which will have a sterilising effect.

“We first trialled this method of cleaning in our isolation rooms and we sourced steamers and microfibre cloths,” said Underwood. “This type of microfibre 34 INCLEANNZ August 2018

did not exist in New Zealand. We then presented it to our Infection Prevention and Control Committee who agreed to roll it out slowly across the DHB. “We trained the domestic service staff to clean this way and then rolled it out to other areas in the hospital. Next we will roll it out to nursing staff after successfully procuring a disposable microfibre cloth for equipment cleaning.”

Chemical free cleaning offers a broad range of benefits that include cost savings, health and safety, quality and environmental areas. According to Claire, the Hutt Valley DHB has seen a number of benefits from introducing these processes: “Sensitive equipment and soft furnishings can be damaged or discoloured by bleach products and other cleaning chemicals.

“The dry cleaning of curtains can be very costly. Instead window drapes are cleaned using steam and microfibre, while still hanging.

“Another issue is that some of the cleaning wipes with chemicals were causing fluid ingress into equipment that was causing damage. When we examined and looked at how things were cleaned, we also found that not a lot of cleaning was taking place – staff were wiping things with a ‘powerful kill- all chemical’ - a disinfectant which doesn’t do its job unless you clean with soap and water first and that can account for a high rate of some infections.

“Effective cleaning with chemicals requires a two-step process with detergent and water and then effective contact time with a disinfectant. This is very time consuming in a hospital that requires cleaning to take place quickly. Steam and microfibre offers a system that is one step which speeds up cleaning and does not rely on contact time of chemicals.

The DHB needed to prove that this method of cleaning really worked. A cleaning audit was introduced to assess if cleaning had taken place. Invisible fluorescent markers were placed on ten high touch points (light switches, door handles, taps, bed rails, call bells) and then the area was exposed to cleaning.

Twenty-four hours later the presence of the markers was audited with an ultraviolet light. If the marker had disappeared, it demonstrated that the cloth was wet to the required standard and had removed the marker.

“We’ve also tested this method of cleaning by assessing for the presence of Adenosine Triphosphate, a protein present in all living things,” said Underwood.

“It’s also a bench mark for cleaning standards in many NZ hospitals. With this microfibre/steam method of cleaning, we are seeing very low levels of this protein present after cleaning.

“We’ve also seen a drop in Clostridium difficile infections. This type of bacteria is very resistant to chemicals and the spores can thrive in the hospital environment for a very long time.

Other benefits of chemical free cleaning include: reduced environmental impacts by eliminating chemicals, and reducing the amount of water used. Cost savings resulting from the elimination of chemicals.

Additionally, chemical free cleaning usually means less physical effort as the use of steam eliminates the need for scrubbing and scouring surfaces, so staff do not become as tired and cleaning can be completed quicker.

According to Underwood, some staff resisted this form of cleaning at first.

Once the fluorescent marker removal properties of the cloth and the Adenosine Triphosphate results were demonstrated, these staff were amazed. We still use some chemicals – namely detergent and water and bleach for spill management as per standard precautions. Staff on the whole supported the use of less chemicals and appreciate feedback of audit results.

“For other organisations wishing to introduce this system of cleaning, you need to have full support of staff and management and resilience,” added Underwood. www.careerforce.org.nz

MARKETING

Pacvac celebrates 40 years This year marks 40 successful years of business for Australian vacuum cleaner manufacturer Pacvac.

Pacvac began operations in Perth, Western Australia in 1978, designing and manufacturing cleaning products for the Australian commercial cleaning market. Today, its cleaning range is distributed across the world, in countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, India and Indonesia.

In New Zealand, Pacvac is distributed by Filta Cleaning Products. Filta sales manager Liz Nichols said Pacvac is continually seeking out the latest innovations and technological advancements.

“Passionate about providing efficient design solutions, Pacvac is constantly seeking out the latest technological advancements, resulting in a range that is the preferred choice for professional cleaners,” said Nichols.

“Pacvac is humbled by the wonderful support of its customers and aims to serve the industry to ensure the highest level of satisfaction for years to come.” www.filta.co.nz

Over 600 CrestClean teams shine across New Zealand - every day. They all share a vision - to own a successful business and have the future and security a large 100% New Zealand owned corporate can offer.

CrestClean’s success comes from 20 years of creating healthy, clean workplaces, constant training, upskilling, and a Health, Safety and Environmental culture second to none.

CrestClean offers Environmental Choice accredited cleaning services.

Please include CrestClean on your tender or RFP list - for all of your commercial cleaning needs, carpet and hard floor care... we’re ready.

Call 0800 273 780 and visit www.crestclean.co.nz

INCLEANNZ August 2018 35

MARKETING

Workplace Minister goes undercover as a cleaner ahead of TYCD Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway went ‘undercover’ as a cleaner in an effort to raise the profile of the industry ahead of Thank Your Cleaner Day. Organised in partnership with the Building Services Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ), Lees-Galloway spent the day working with staff from OCS, Westferry Property Services and Total Property Services, cleaning the Auckland Museum, Queen Street and Eden Park Stadium.

Sarah McBride BSCNZ CEO said the aim of the event was to give individuals in leadership the opportunity to experience what 30,000 cleaners in New Zealand do every day.

“We organised for Minister Lees-Galloway to work with BSCNZ members staff so that he could experience how the best cleaner employers operate in New Zealand,” McBride said.

“Cleaning can be quite an isolated role, so when someone in leadership takes the time to understand their role, and show appreciation – it is very powerful.”

Thank Your Cleaner Day, supported by Karcher, started in NZ in 2015, and is held on 17 October to celebrate the vital and valued contribution professional cleaners make to the community.

“Like the hospitality and horticultural industries, the government has highlighted that the cleaning industry also contains vulnerable NZ workers,” McBride said.

“BSCNZ members work together to ensure best practice, the idea of Thank Your Cleaner Day came from BSCNZ member Lance Pattullo. The heart behind the idea was so individuals and businesses stop for one day and think about the person who primarily turns up between at 8pm working till 6am to keep their environment clean.”

Since launching four years ago, the day has gained global attention, with around 20 countries expected to participate this year including Canada, US, UK, Spain Mexico, Argentina and Chile.

McBride is hoping to double the amount of participants over the next few years. BSCNZ has also launched a new initiative as part of Thank Your Cleaner Day this year in partnership with Officemax, distributing gift boxes to cleaners.

“We hope that in connecting with the individual cleaners, corporates will give thought to their cleaning contract. Eighty per cent of a cleaning contract’s price is made up of labour, so it is one day to stop and think about the betterment of these workers.

“Education is power. Therefore we need to reach out to the wider community around the issues we face as an industry and how end consumers can make positive choices. As a concept and strategy Thank Your Cleaner Day is a positive and profound way of engaging that end consumer.”

Have a news story for INCLEAN NZ? Call Claire Hibbit on +61 2 8586 6140 or email chibbit@intermedia.com.au 36 INCLEANNZ August 2018

PRODUCTS

Modular trolley system The Filmop Alpha trolley is a modular trolley system that can be built around site specific customer needs. Great for use in public buildings and healthcare settings where security, health and safety is a focus, preventing unwanted hands helping themselves to products that cleaners need to carry for daily tasks. Features include soft close lids, drawers to separate different cleaning items or consumables. The trolley can be set up with single room presoaked microfibre mops which prevent cross contamination in sensitive areas.

Premier Hygiene 09 250 0084 www.premierhygiene.co.nz

Wet and dry vacuum cleaner Kärcher’s NT 30/1 Tact Te L wet and dry vacuum cleaner with 30 litre container capacity is both compact and robust. The suction power enables the effortless removal of large amounts of fine dust, coarse dirt and liquids. Equipped with Kärcher’s TACT automatic filter cleaning system, the machine cleans itself with powerful bursts of air without losing suction. The NT 30/1 Tact Te L promises outstanding suction power, simple and comfortable operation, as well as durability and longevity.

Kärcher NZ 0800 527 2437 www.karcher.co.nz

Waterless hand cleanser Developed in compliance with EN1500 testing standard for alcohol-based hand rubs, Bactol alcohol gel waterless hand cleanser is formulated with an alcohol concentration of 70 per cent Ethanol v/v, as recommended by WHO for maximum efficacy. Bactol alcohol gel is available in 500ml pump packs or 1 litre pods for use in manual or infrared hand dispensers.

Whiteley Corporation 0800 257 352 www.whiteley.co.nz

Biodegradable healthcare cleansing wipes Dermalux cleansing wipes are a single use wipe designed for everyday use. They are suitable for use in aged care, in-home care, hospitals and palliative care facilities. Dermalux cleansing wipes are gentle on skin, and contain natural emollients leaving skin feeling fresh and invigorated. One wipe should be used for each patient area i.e. face, hands, back and perineal area. A key point of difference is the fact that they are made from sustainable bamboo and are 100 per cent biodegradable.

Whiteley Corporation 0800 257 352 www.whiteley.co.nz

Powerful multi-use detergent Sudzee sink detergent has a wide variety of uses including hand dishwashing operations in all institutional areas such as hospitals, food service, clubs and restaurants.

The highly active biodegradable synthetic wetting agents in the detergent ensures the toughest soils and grease are removed quickly and effectively to leave crockery and cutlery sparkling clean. The detergent is delicately perfumed with an apple fragrance and is guaranteed to deliver great cleaning results.

Sudzee is available in five litre or 15 litre bottles.

RapidClean 61 2 4721 1993 www.rapidclean.co.nz

New Zealand

WE CARE ABOUT DIRT Call Proquip today to discuss your sweeping requirements. We stock a large range of solutions for all sweeping applications.

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Call us now on 0800 277 678 View more online - www.proquipnz.co.nz INCLEANNZ August 2018 37 Carpet Cleaning.indd 1

11/04/2018 10:39:25 AM

PRODUCTS

Two-in-one cleaner

Durable, rotationally moulded upholstery tool The Evolution glided upholstery tool is lighter than conventional steel upholstery tools, reducing hand and wrist fatigue in upholstery cleaning. This durable, rotationally moulded tool was designed to smooth airflow and boost water recovery performance compared to the harsh angles of a steel tool. The glided head moves across the upholstery fabric better and increases water recovery.

Cleaning Systems 0800 100 117 www.cleaningsystems.co.nz

Kärcher’s SGV 8/5 uses 8 bar pressurised steam and a powerful wet and dry vacuum function to ensure hygiene-critical environments like restaurant kitchens, bathrooms, hospitals and Provi rest homes are hygienically d clean with minimal operator effort. The steam hygie es nic cuts through grease, fat and dirt, whilst the c l e a n vacuum instantly dries the area being cleaned.

The unique self-clean function ensures the machine itself is thoroughly cleaned after each use. Manoeuvre easily, even in tight spaces, thanks to the SGV’s small footprint, high handle and large wheels.

Kärcher NZ 0800 527 2437 www.karcher.co.nz

Powerful general use cleaner and deodorant Lemex is general use cleaner and deodorant with a pleasant lemon fragrance. It is a neutral detergent containing a powerful cationic surfactant and a fresh long-lasting lemon perfume. Being neutral it has excellent materials compatibility. It is non-corrosive to fibres and common hard surfaces including normal domestic, commercial and healthcare environments.

Suitable for surface cleaning and use on other Class 1 medical devices, Lemex is available in 5 litre bottles with a 500ml spray bottle.

Whiteley Corporation 0800 257 352 www.whiteley.co.nz

ECNZ and PEFC certified paper towel Made in New Zealand from local and imported materials, Tuffy Commercial paper towels are now ECNZ and PEFC certified. Made with renewable plantation fibre sourced from sustainably managed forests, the paper towels are strong and absorbent due to the quad-weave technology and thick two-ply, dual textured paper. The paper towels come in recyclable soft Stron plastic packaging. abs g &

orben

t

Cottonsoft 0800 223 411 www.cottonsoftb2b.co.nz

Simple and handy dustpan system The Filmop baggy is an upright dustpan with a squeegee.

This simple tool can be used in any environment or public space where solid and semi-liquid waste needs to be cleaned from hard surfaces. Simply attach a plastic to the pan and sweep the mess using the squeegee into the bag. The bag can then be removed and disposed of.

Premier Hygiene 09 250 0084 www.premierhygiene.co.nz 38 INCLEANNZ August 2018

Heavy duty bin connector Method’s heavy duty (HD) connector is engineered to seamlessly lock workplace recycling stations into place. The connector is designed for Method bins in large facilities and high-flow environments. The HD connectors come in two and three bin station sizes, as well as an expansion kit size. Simply attach the connector to lock Method’s bins back-to-back or in line. It can also be used to mount the bins to a wall. The strong clamp system means cleaners no longer have to realign or move bins after servicing them, saving time and money.

Method Recycling 0477 630 220 www.methodrecycling.com

Advanced battery powered sweeping machine Equipped with a powerful motor that drives the twin side brooms and the main roller brooms, the Matrix sweeping machine can collect almost anything that it travels over. This includes smaller heavy items such as nails and screws. The dust control system traps dust that the Matrix sweeps up, instead of being blown out the sides. The Matrix is commonly used across many applications including indoors, outdoors, warehouses and even carpet sweeping.

Proquip 0800 277 678 www.proquipnz.co.nz

New Zealand’s Leading Provider of Professional Cleaning Equipment.

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www.proquipnz.co.nz