INCLEAN - New Zealand May 2019 by The Intermedia Group

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

May 2019

CLEANING | PACKAGING | CATERING | SAFETY

National distributor of

13 STORES ACROSS NEW ZEALAND

Contents

May 2019

Features

06 Starting Fresh How Bio-Fresh is changing the way we clean

10 Site spotlight Behind-the-scenes at Auckland Zoo

20 T ransforming the training landscape Careerforce weighs in on current changes happening across the industry

Training Focus 14 C ustomers right to turn up heat on cleaning companies that fail to train 18 Are you ready to train your future workforce? 24 Safety training

Regulars 04 Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Letter 26 Carpet & Restoration

30 Technology 32 Opinion 38 Management 42 Marketing 46 Products

Editor’s note Training is often an overlooked aspect of business, yet it remains one of the most important. It’s understood there are around 40,000 people currently employed in New Zealand’s cleaning sector, with growth expected in the coming years. However new technologies, increasing social responsibility and the drive for sustainable business practices are continuing to influence and re-shape the industry landscape. To support this transformation while continuing to meet the needs of the sector, frontline staff, management and employers all need to be equipped with the latest knowledge. This has led to a review of the industry’s current training practices. Next month will see a review of the cleaning qualifications listed on the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF). Assisting in this process is industry training organisation Careerforce, which will be working with stakeholders to gather feedback on the changes needed to ensure the qualifications offered are fitfor-purpose and continue to reflect industry requirements. Another continual challenge for the industry remains the retention of frontline team members, with many companies failing to realise training is an investment in the stability and longevity of their business. In this issue, Careerforce CEO Jane Wenman discusses the impending review as well as the importance of training as a motivation and retention tool for employees. Continuing on the topic of training, Dr Denis Boulais examines why a positive, proactive and preventative safety program with a focus on training is appreciated by workers and improves safety culture; Freshops’ Mark Jones talks training from a technology perspective and ISS NZ’s Helo Tamme looks at how to capture and inform the next generation of digital savvy workers. Also in this issue, Rosemary Pritchard-Lundy provides an update on the key developments affecting the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry, and how best to operate in a changing environment. ECNZ’s Francesca Lipscombe shares a first-hand account of how responsible environmental thinking and practices play a role in a typical day for a cleaner; MBIE’s Jonathon To discusses how to future-proof your business against compliance risks; and Bridget Gardner examines the plastic pollution problem and what the cleaning industry can do about it.

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 MANAGER: Samantha Ewart Email: sewart@intermedia.com.au Phone: +61 2 8586 6106 PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jacqui Cooper GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Adrian Tipper HEAD OF CIRCULATION: Chris Blacklock

Happy reading!

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The review of cleaning qualifications listed on the New Zealand Qualification Framework will begin in June

Claire Hibbit Editor

, Career m an for en ce W O

Jan

DISCLAIMER

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

May 2019

CLEANING | PACKAGING | CATERING | SAFETY

On the cover: National distributor of

13 STORES ACROSS NEW ZEALAND

RapidClean New Zealand is a one-stop-shop for cleaning, packaging, catering and safety supplies, with 13 stores across the country.

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Published

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11 July, 2019

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This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by New Zealand and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. Copyright © 2019 - The Intermedia Group Ltd

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research and development in this space that demand for sustainable products is huge. “In our opinion they are just as efficient. The cleaning performance is just as effective and has low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Particularly in settings such as commercial offices, where there usually aren’t any opened windows, all the cleaning products taken on-site are in the air, if they’re not washed down the drain. Indoor air quality is going to be a bigger issue in the future. Some people think [green] is fad, but it’s here to stay. “Another misconception is that green cleaners are more expensive in terms of cost per litre, however when they are diluted properly in terms of cost per wash, they far exceed traditionally products. While we have been developing our new products, we have been putting lot of effort into making concentrated products.”

Customer-led design The Bio-Fresh range includes eight products; Bio-Urine Go, Stain and Odour Remover (available in 750ml spray bottle and five litres); Bio-No Rinse, Clean and Leave Floor Treatment (available in five litres and 20 litres); Bio-Grease Go, Drains, Fats & Oils (available in five litres); Bio-Stain Go, Laundry & Carpets (available in 750ml spray bottle and five litres); Bio-Bath, Washrooms & Toilets (available in 750ml spray bottle, five litres and 20 litres); Bio-HD, Heavy-Duty Floor Treatment (available in 750ml spray bottle, one litre chamber pack, five litres, and 20 litres) and Bio-Multi, Bathroom & Janitorial Hard Surfaces (available in 750ml spray bottle, one litre chamber pack, five litres, and 20 litres). Morris says the range is ideal for floor surfaces in settings such as commercial kitchens, food preparation and processing factories, high traffic washroom areas and waste facilities.

“In such a highly competitive industry which is constantly under pressure, the winners will be those that are efficient and use the latest methods.” 8 INCLEANNZ May 2019

After: 10 minute contact time on surface and clean

He believes there’s scope for the Bio-Fresh range to be expanded, with new products currently being trialled in marine situations. Chemical Solutions is also developing a specifically designed product for waste and wheelie bins. “There’s a number of directions the range can go and a lot of our research and development is being led by our customers, but the feedback we have received from the market so far has been extremely positive.” Candace Borchert, general manager of Whoa! Studios in Henderson, Auckland, says Bio-Fresh has created a cleaner and safer environment for its patrons and staff, effectively removing grime and grease from its floors in service areas as well as back-of-house. “[Whoa! Studios] is a purpose-built $25 million family venue so health and safety [of our customers and staff] is incredibly important to us,” Borchert says. “Before we introduced [Bio-Fresh] at Whoa! Studios and The Grounds at Whoa! Studios we had a real problem with the floors becoming greasy [after service]. “We have a lot of children running around, particular in our peak season during school holidays. For us slip hazards are a real concern and we also want to ensure our staff have a safe working environment. Since using [Bio-Fresh] the floors are much cleaner and safer.” Borchert adds as a seasonal venue, with a high intake of casual workers during its peak seasons, simple and effective training for staff is paramount, with Bio-Fresh offering an easy-to-use colourcoded system. The system has also been trialled by Statewide Quality Services, which provides cleaning services for shopping malls and food courts in Auckland. At Sky World in Auckland, Statewide Quality Services has conducted successful trials with Bio-Fresh Bio-HD Heavy-Duty Floor Treatment on the centre’s vinyl surfaces in the scullery and also on white matte tiles in the food court. Morris says one of the major advantages for cleaning companies using Bio-Fresh’s innovative technology is that its products reduce cleaners’ labour time. “Labour is a huge component of cleaning and contractors are expected to deliver on the lowest price. The advantage for cleaning companies using the [Bio-Fresh] system is that they will use less labour by placing the product on the surfacing and leaving it there. This method is repeated for two weeks and after that they will begin to see a much cleaner surface. “In such a highly competitive industry which is constantly under pressure, the winners will be those that are efficient and use the latest methods.”

SITE SPOTLIGHT

Who’s who in the zoo Working alongside more than 1400 animals is all in a day’s work for PPCS staff at Auckland Zoo. Lizzie Hunter reports.

Each year more than 700,000 people visit Auckland Zoo, which is home to 135 different species and more than 1400 animals. But for those who work behind-the-scenes and clean the site every day, being among the diverse array of animals is all in a day’s work. In October 2018, facility and cleaning service provider PPCS won a three-year cleaning contract for the zoo. PPCS staff clean the 3000sqm site 364 days a year. Along with the Vet Hospital/New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine, where animal check-ups, procedures and surgeries regularly take place, this includes public areas and restrooms, kids’ play areas, the zoo’s information centres and staff offices. PPCS marketing and business development administrator Guiann Corcuera says staff are excited to work at the site, simply because of what they could potentially encounter each day. “For a few of our staff, working at the zoo has been their first encounter with animals,” he said. “Our custodian cleaners are also very happy with the Auckland Zoo staff they work alongside.” Among the perks, PPCS cleaners get to see many of the Zoo’s wildlife as they go about their work, including animals – from birds and reptiles to kunekune pigs that may be out and about with the zoo’s specialist Animal Experiences keepers. There are five cleaners and one team leader on-site each day from 6:00am until the Zoo closes at 5.30pm. One staff member remains on-site throughout the day. During peak seasons, such as school holidays, a second cleaner remains on-site. 10 INCLEANNZ May 2019

“When we took over the contract, the main focus for us was to assign areas to cleaners to ensure we had enough resources in each area,” PPCS Auckland divisional manager Ray Ruan said. “We needed to dispatch the staff into different areas, taking into account the distance and time from each area as well. The zoo is quite large, and we only have access to one of the Zoo’s golf carts.” Cleaning tasks involve emptying bins, sweeping and vacuuming, as well as mopping and scrubbing floors. Cleaning and maintenance of the animal inside quarters and external habitats are handled by the Zoo’s internal maintenance team. Corcuera says there are strict guidelines for the prevention and control of infection cleaners need to abide by at the site’s facilities such as at the Vet hospital. “Since they’re dealing with animals, there are a lot of strict do’s and don’ts of what we can clean, where we can clean, and how we can clean.”

“PPCS staff clean the 3000sqm site 364 days a year. This includes public areas and restrooms, kids play areas, the zoo’s information centres and staff offices.”

SITE SPOTLIGHT

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www.enzymewizard.com.au INCLEANNZ May 2019 11

SITE SPOTLIGHT

“Auckland Zoo is also CarboNZero certified, having eliminated single-use plastic bags in 2010 and using compostable food packaging/utensils.” To ensure cleaners abide by the zoo’s regulations, staff have undergone extensive training with the veterinary staff, to avoid cross contamination and spread of infections. “Our cleaning staff join the veterinary’s staff for their internal training processes. This covers what areas staff are supposed to clean and the areas they can’t touch. It also covers chemical dilution ratings and the chemical application as well, because the main thing they talk about is disinfection, instead of the sanitising,” said Ruan. A not-for-profit conservation organisation, Auckland Zoo is CarboNZero accredited and focused on continually improving its sustainability performance. It eliminated single-use plastic bags many years ago and also introduced commercially compostable food packaging/utensils. Over the past year, the Zoo has furthered its efforts to lessen its impact on the environment, introducing water stations throughout the Zoo. It has also removed all single-use plastic water and juice bottles from food outlets, and encourages visitors to bring their own or purchase re-usable bottles at the Zoo. “From the get-go, we have been using completely biodegradable materials, chemicals and rubbish bags,” says Corcuera. “We also go a little step further by opting for refills as opposed to using completely new bottles and cannisters.” All products PPCS use onsite – from toilet paper to cleaning chemicals and rubbish bags – have ECNZ approval. All chemicals used must contain RSPO certified sustainable palm oil, or else be palm oil-free. Water quality is also a major focus at Auckland Zoo. For several years, the zoo has tested and treated water coming into and out of the zoo to ensure water sanitation and improved water quality. To achieve this, all water leaving is specially treated with an ecofriendly Envirolyte solution. 12 INCLEANNZ May 2019

“ [The products we use] can only contain certified sustainable and traceable palm oil – so grown in a way that doesn’t destroy rainforests that are vital wildlife habitat, to produce. This is to assist with the zoo’s conservation of the environment and wildlife,” said Corcuera. “Another thing our cleaners have to be aware of is the residue from chemicals that could find its way into animal habitats and affect the water for the animals.” PPCS has set its own sustainability targets – aiming to be the most sustainable locally-owned facility services provider in New Zealand. The company, started in 1991, has grown to be one of NZ’s leading providers of property services, commercial cleaning and grounds services to local council, corporate, educational and governmental facilities. It has more than 570 staff serving its clients through its seven branches in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Horowhenua, Wellington and Christchurch. The company provides general cleaning and event cleaning, hygiene services, window cleaning, waste management, specialist floor care and grounds maintenance. Earlier this year the facilities provider received more than $380,000 in co-funding for two major electric vehicle (EV) projects as part of the government’s latest round of low emission vehicle funding – adding to its existing fleet of 62 vehicles. It introduced its first electric vehicle in August last year and since added two other electric and hybrid vehicles. Its short-term target is to have 20 per cent of its fleet converted to fully electric vehicles by the end of 2019. It plans to convert 70 per cent of its fleet by 2025. Next for the service provider at Auckland Zoo is the roll out of new technology. Following trials of different tracking software at Auckland Zoo, PPCS is preparing to implement the Kärcher ECO!Manager to log working hours and track all maintenance performed. Through the use of individual barcodes on doors, facilities and machines, PPCS can access documentation of attendance, cleaning activities, facility manager activities, working hours, machine inventory and other activities simply by scanning. “We have trialled technology like sensors, however, since the products weren’t ECNZ certified, we have had to hold off on implementing these until we find a certified and efficient alternative.” www.proservice.co.nz

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TRAINING

Customers right to turn up heat on cleaning companies that fail to train Cleaning companies that see training as an investment and not a cost will be the ones to prosper, writes Adam Hodge, CEO Master Cleaners Training Institute. In the first four months of this year I received a number of calls from cleaning companies requesting urgent training for their staff. The reason for their urgency is quite simple; some of their customers are now asking for evidence that the cleaners looking after their premises have received relevant, properly recorded, and certificated training. Interestingly, in all of these cases, cost was not an issue. A comment I heard time and again was: “Whatever it takes to get my people trained.” Unfortunately due to demand, Master Cleaners Training Institute has been unable to assist these companies in meeting their customers’ very reasonable request. I understand some customers of these cleaning companies have gone to market. 14 INCLEANNZ May 2019

I find it a sad indictment that so many in our industry pay lip service to training until they are forced into doing something about it by their customers. As well as the cost of their cleaning increasing, due to factors outside our industry’s control, customers, are now being asked hard questions by their own personnel. People are becoming more aware of the effects that poor cleaning has on their health and working environment. So it’s hardly surprising customers are asking for hard evidence of the credentials of the company providing a cleaning service. It’s reasonable to be more than a bit inquisitive and ask: “What training, if any, has the cleaner on our site actually received?”

TRAINING

Having asked the question, it is only natural to ask for hard evidence of that training. For example, the content of training, the facilitator of the training, certification on completion of the training and is ongoing or upskilling training provided on a regular basis? This is when I get the panicky phone calls by the companies that cannot give a positive answer to this perfectly reasonable question posed by their customers. By not being able to provide certificated, and properly recorded, evidence of training, these companies are in danger of losing their customers’ trust and respect, closely followed by their business. How, as an industry, can we expect our customers to respect and trust us if we don’t provide the necessary training that will empower

“How, as an industry, can we expect our customers to respect and trust us if we don’t provide the necessary training that will empower our cleaning personnel to deliver the quality of cleaning expected by the customer?”

our cleaning personnel to deliver the quality of cleaning expected by the customer? If we wish others to treat our own people with fairness, dignity, trust and respect, for the service they provide, then the first step is for us to treat them with the same, by providing the support and training they deserve. As the public face of our industry, cleaners carry out a very necessary, and at times, a thankless task. It drives me to despair when I hear cleaning professionals reply to the question, “so, what do you do?” And their stock reply is, “me, I’m just a cleaner”. We need to encourage them in recognising the importance of the work they do, the benefits they provide to their customer and to the wider society. The best way we can do that is by providing training that gives them the skills and knowledge, that builds their confidence to answer the question, “so what do you do?” and they proudly reply, “I’m YOUR Cleaner”. Providing the right training programmes not only provides better outcomes for your customers, it has many other benefits. It will contribute to your bottom line by improving the wellbeing of your staff, you’ll have healthy happy people, less turnover, less sickness, and an increase in productivity. Cleaning companies that see training as an investment and not a cost will be the companies to prosper. Others, who only pay lip service to training, their days are surely numbered. www.mastercleaners.org.nz

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INCLEANNZ May 2019 15 8/04/2019 4:28 PM

The Rapid Group is very focused on offering excellent service levels, great products and honest advice at a cost effective price. RapidClean has 13 cleaning supply stores located throughout New Zealand and our aim is to provide our customers with the support of a national organisation while providing a local service, offering a single sourcing, cost effective one-stop-shop solution. Our stores are owned and managed by cleaning supply experts who supply a huge range of cleaning, packaging, catering and safety products. Our turnover is over $100m and we use our huge buying power to save our customers money on excellent products and support them with our product knowledge and experience.

ON-LINE SUPPORT RapidClean products are supported by a complete package of educational material including safety data sheets, product information sheets, risk assessment sheets, wall charts, training manuals and 14 online training courses. These are easily accessible from our website www.rapidclean.co.nz or can be collated and provided in hard copy.

WHY CHOOSE RAPIDCLEAN? RapidClean has been trading for over 30 years. RapidClean have 13 stores in New Zealand and can supply nationally.

NATIONAL ACCOUNTS Our National Account customers benefit from selecting their product range at head office and negotiating a price utilising their collated buying power complemented with a centralised national account. The RapidNational online ordering platform offers our national customers an easy to use system with the ability to set budgets, order limits and complete customisation. What sets us apart from multi-national “box movers” is our delivery system and the fact all profits stay in New Zealand. Our products are delivered to you by a RapidClean team member who know exactly what’s in the box, how it works and how to service it. This unique system offers our customers a “one-stop-shop” solution, from sales to repairs.

RapidClean stores in New Zealand are all New Zealand owned and managed. All profits stay in New Zealand. RapidClean have a huge range of cleaning, catering, packaging and safety supplies. RapidClean stock the best brands from the best suppliers. RapidClean sell and service cleaning equipment. RapidClean offer National Accounts for large customers. RapidClean has huge buying power which enables us to pass on the savings to our customers.

Cleancare Supplies

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Dunedin

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RapidClean is Quality Assured

RAPIDCLEAN & COTTONSOFT PARTNERING IN 2019 RapidClean and Cottonsoft’s successful partnership continues into 2019 with the ongoing supply of LIVI® brand tissue and hygiene products. Cottonsoft is a New Zealand operated and managed company that manufactures high quality toilet and tissue paper products. Its LIVI® brand has a wide range of Away-from-Home lines for commercial and private facilities nationwide. These include toilet paper, paper hand towel, facial tissues, commercial wipes, soaps, sanitisers and complementing dispenser systems. RapidClean choose Cottonsoft because the company adheres to strict, independently audited Legal Origin Verification and Chain-of-Custody protocols, and because of its zero-tolerance policy on illegal fibres entering the supply chain. The relationship’s year-on-year growth is attributed to the two companies’ shared values regarding transparency, responsibility and sustainability. The LIVI® brand offers Bathroom Tissue, Facial Tissue, Paper Towel and Napkin products across three tiers – Basic, Essentials and Impressa – as well as Soap, Sanitiser and dispensers, satisfying the requirements of RapidClean’s customers throughout multiple, diverse industries. The standard and scope of products have made it a logical choice for its flexibility and cost-effectiveness, without compromising on quality and hygiene.

LIVI PRODUCT RANGE LIVI® products are split into 3 ranges to meet the quality requirements and budgetary constraints of all customers. LIVI® Basics A concise range for high volume facilities

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PARTNERSHIP THAT BENEFITS OUR CUSTOMERS RapidClean supplies LIVI® products to many different customers including building service contractors, health care facilities, schools and hospitality businesses. (LIVI® Towels and Wipes are HACCP certified, a critical feature for hospitality and food manufacturing applications.) Together, the two companies devise combined solution propositions tailored to customers’ needs. Nationwide availability of LIVI® products guarantees consistency of supply into RapidClean outlets throughout New Zealand. This is an important factor for RapidClean, who appreciate being able to provide customers with their preferred products, wherever they are located. Customers can count on LIVI® for sustainable procurement as all products are PEFC Certified. PEFC is the world’s largest forest certification system. Its purpose is to transform the way forests are managed for long-term environmental, social and economic benefits.

LIVI® Essentials Premium products for all of your daily needs

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TRAINING

Are you ready to train your future workforce? As digital video consumption continues to rise among the next generation workforce so too has the need for interactive training, explains Helo Tamme national people manager NZ, ISS Facilities Services. A few years ago when my son was about 10 years old he asked me “mum, who is your favorite YouTuber”? At that time, I just stared at him with my mouth and eyes wide open. This question struck me with a surprise. I, of course, had heard the term ‘YouTuber’ but I definitely didn’t know to name any of them. Big mistake considering that the most popular YouTubers, also known as digital influencers, already have hundreds of thousands of followers. Moreover, not only Generation Z (people born after 1997) is addicted to YouTube. It turns out that in an average month about 80 per cent of people in ages 18 to 49 watch YouTube. YouTube has changed the way we learn new skills and prefer to solve problems – we now prefer to watch educational movies and videos, instead of sitting in the classroom or reading bulky manuals. Which means this is a trend we need to consider when designing our next workplace training or development programs. Instead of planning usual classroom training with PowerPoint slides and excessive textbook for team members to educate them how to clean we should be preparing videos that our people could watch whenever and wherever they want by using their smart devices. Moreover, we should be ready to design different job-related training as e-learning trainings. For instance, at ISS we use e-learning platform, MyLearning that has different training modules available. So yes, boring long manuals are so yesterday and learning becomes a more visual process with lots of pictures, videos, and games. Did you

“YouTube has changed the way we learn new skills and prefer to solve problems – we now prefer to watch educational movies and videos, instead of sitting in the classroom or reading bulky manuals.” 18 INCLEANNZ May 2019

know 57 per cent of 18 to 34 year-olds play video games at least three times a week, and two-thirds of them say it is important in helping them learn how to create winning strategies, solve problems, and work successfully on a team? And this is not all, there are a lot of people who love to play different games (like well-known card game Solitaire) and take part of challenges (like PokemonGo that drove people crazy in 2016). In knowing this, Siemens decided to use gamification in their training program that taught operations managers how to successfully run its plants. They used a game called PlantVille (which mimics Facebook’s popular FarmVille). The game is a simulation experience of the roles a plant manager typically has. Players need to navigate these daily job responsibilities and make decisions based on the best plan for their plant. In addition to a job or task-related training, companies can also use gamification to educate people about HSE or code of conduct training that is offered by e-learning Industry. But, of course, we shouldn’t leave it only up to the technology and videos how today’s workforce is trained. Especially considering the facts that, firstly, we are working in the service industry. Secondly, we are working together with people from five different generations, between ages 16 and 80. It is challenging to design a training program that fits all age groups, different nationalities, and genders, but our experience at ISS has shown that this is possible. The most effective training that suits all age groups is an interactive workshop. At ISS we call this a ‘Service with a Human Touch’ workshop that focuses on five key customer expectations. This one-day workshop includes a lot of different discussions and group works. The two key indicators for the success here are; to keep it simple and the use of storytelling. One of the stories shared during the Service with a Human Touch workshop is one from 1961 when US president John F. Kennedy visited NASA headquarters for the first time. While touring the facility he introduced himself to a cleaner who was mopping the floor and asked what the person did at NASA. The answer he got was; “I’m helping put a man on the moon!” www.nz.issworld.com

National Accounts

One National Point Of Contact

Consolidated Buying Power

Consistent Products & Pricing

Centralised Billing

Over 10 Preferred Suppliers Expert Product Knowledge

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TRAINING SPONSORED

Transforming the training landscape The industry’s impending training review will ensure the qualifications offered are fit-for-purpose and continue to reflect industry trends re-shaping the sector. The commercial cleaning industry is facing rapid change. New technologies, increasing social responsibility and the drive for sustainable business practices are all factors reshaping the industry landscape. To support this transformation while continuing to meet the needs of the sector, frontline staff, management and employers all need to be equipped with the latest knowledge. This has led to a review of the industry’s current training practices. From June this year, an examination will begin of the cleaning qualifications listed on the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF). This includes the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) with optional endorsement in Healthcare Facilities Cleaning and the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning (Level 3) with optional strands in Specialist Cleaning and Supervision. Industry training organisation (ITO) Careerforce is the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) developer for the cleaning industry, as well as the government appointed body that sets skills standards and facilitates the achievement of NZQA qualifications for the sector. Careerforce offers qualifications to advance the skills of the cleaning workforce from entry level to providing specialist skills in areas such as healthcare facility cleaning, carpet and textiles, contagion and specialised infection control, hard floor surfaces, food production and high-risk environments. Jane Wenman, CEO of Careerforce, says the impending review will ensure the qualifications offered are fit-for-purpose and continue to reflect industry requirements. “There have been a few changes within the industry in recent years such as the increased use of chemical free cleaning and new 20 INCLEANNZ May 2019

[equipment] technology. Because of this we want to make sure the qualifications [Certificate in Cleaning (Level 2) and Certificate in Cleaning (Level 3)] remain relevant,” she says. “These qualifications are also often the first step for trainees in their learning journey so it’s important they are given the most up-to-date industry knowledge.” Careerforce will be working closely with individuals, interest groups, sector representatives, tertiary education organisations and employers to gather feedback. This is expected to be via a combination of online consultation and face to face meetings. The review will consider the qualification details, specifications and conditions to ensure they reflect the skills, knowledge and application expected to be demonstrated as graduate outcomes. “A big part of the review is that we have all stakeholders engaged in the process. It is really important we hear from as many people as possible about what they need in the qualifications.”

Retention benefits Training is often an overlooked aspect of business yet is one of the most important. It is understood there are around 40,000 people currently employed in New Zealand’s cleaning sector, with growth expected in the coming years. However, the retention of frontline team members is a continual challenge facing the industry, with many companies failing to realise training is an investment in the stability and longevity of their business. Wenman agrees and says training should be viewed as a motivation and retention tool.

TRAINING SPONSORED

“We often hear that employers are weary of [investing in] training because there is a high turnover of staff [in the cleaning sector]. But when you offer training and provide a pathway it helps retain employees. Staff are more likely to stay when they know there is a learning journey ahead of them. “Training should be used as a retention tool, rather than be seen as a risk – that after you provide [training] to staff you may lose some of them. However, it’s really not playing out that way in the workforce.” Commercial cleaning service provider Kleenrite puts every staff member who has been with the company for a year through training to achieve the New Zealand Certificate in Cleaning Level 2. The service provider also offers those interested to progress to higher level qualifications. Kleenrite general manager Chris Begley says formal recognition of training for staff has been an ongoing company ethos since its inception 25 years ago. “We feel strongly that our people be recognised for the skills they have and it gives them a formal qualification they can take with them should they move on from our employment. “We feel proud to be able to go to our client and say to them that all of the staff working on their site are formally qualified and we have achieved a lot of positive recognition from our client base as a result of this. Formal training has had a positive impact on reduction in client complaints and health and safety incidents.” Kleenrite has more than 120 staff across its brands Kleenrite (Auckland), Orbit Cleaning and ToTal Maintenance Solutions. The company’s goal is to be as close as possible to 100 per cent fully trained on Level 2. “We have noticed a substantial increase in staff confidence when they have achieved certification – they are proud of having achieved and been given recognition for the skills that they have. All of this has led to improved outcomes for both ourselves and our client so a good all round win for everybody.” Yvonne Percival, Kleenrite customer services manager, can also

“Careerforce is working with a number of commercial cleaning companies throughout New Zealand to ensure the content of their training is what the industry needs. If the industry works together on process, content and outcome we will see the levels of training increase.” attest to the quality of work and service improving as a result of training. Supporting staff to achieve a qualification is an investment Kleenrite is happy to make – since they believe it pays off in terms of client satisfaction. “It also gives them a sense of ownership. A sense of self-worth. We get it back tenfold,” says Percival. “I think [staff] sometimes don’t quite believe that the certificate is theirs, like it’s the company’s, but it’s not. It’s theirs.”

Second chance learning Wenman says Careerforce’s on-the-job, practical training model better supports ‘second chance learners’. “Careerforce programs are mostly on-the-job. Within the cleaning sector, [the programs] are a reflection of the cost and labour pressures companies face. We have found that employers find it hard to release staff from the worksite to undertake training, however, on-the-job training offers an alternative to this issue. “On-the-job training provides one-on-one contact and immediate feedback. For some, they are new to learning or attaining

Kleenrite staff on-site

INCLEANNZ May 2019 21

TRAINING SPONSORED

Kleenrite staff on-site

qualifications so this provides them with better support than an institutional classroom environment. We base our training on what [staff] are doing day-to-day rather than abstract ideology learnt from a book. “With the employer supporting trainees to learn on the job, and assessments being carried out on the job, there’s a much better chance of keeping that knowledge and learning that knowledge rather than being abstract theory in a classroom.” Begley says on-the-job training is ideal for Kleenrite as it allow staff to continue working without the need to attend off site courses and take them away from their main job. “[On-the-job] training allows them to apply their learnings immediately on site. Being on job is less intimidating for staff who are in their familiar environment and retain their learnings more so than if they had to go off site.” Sarah McBride CEO of the Building Service Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ) and a Careerforce director, says collaboration is key for training to be increased in the industry. “Careerforce is working with a number of commercial cleaning companies throughout New Zealand to ensure the content of their

“If the wider business community that procures commercial cleaning starts to understand that our service is made up of ‘people’ and that they are investing their buying power into people, then we hope they will understand the value of training.”

training is what the industry needs. If the industry works together on process, content and outcome we will see the levels of training increase,” she says. “Staff turnover in the commercial cleaning industry is high and investing in training for any business is an expense, so how commercial cleaning companies invest in training needs to be well thought-out, fit for purpose and sustainable.” McBride says the industry has witnessed a change in the government’s approach to procuring commercial cleaning. “Training is very much a part of the [government’s] investment. We have seen evidence of this in the latest Ministry of Social Development (MSD) tender, which stipulates training levels for supervisors and cleaners.” McBride said as part of the multi-employer agreement (MECA) that was finalised for public hospital service workers, including cleaners, in November 2018, cleaners now have access to formal training. As cleaners receive their qualifications their pay scale will increase, incentivising training for the cleaner. “If the wider business community that procures commercial cleaning starts to understand that our service is made up of ‘people’ and that they are investing their buying power into people, then we hope they will understand the value of training and how this impacts and reflects upon the service levels and people’s livelihoods. Wenman says there are significant benefits to both the organisation as well as individual team members, including greater efficiency and increased productivity. “Creating a pathway is really important because often these second chance learners haven’t achieved success academically in the past, and this is the first step on their learning journey. The joy we see when people receive their Level 2 or Level 3 qualification is amazing.” Anyone wishing to participate in the review can register their interest by contacting Careerforce via email qualreview@careerforce.org.nz www.careerforce.org.nz

22 INCLEANNZ May 2019

Have Your Say.

Are New Zealand’s Cleaning Qualifications meeting your needs? A major review of New Zealand’s cleaning qualifications is underway as part of Careerforce’s Qualification Pathway Review (QPR). Careerforce will undertake information gathering, collate sector feedback, and finally, make a submission of recommended changes to NZQA. We will be working closely with sector representatives, tertiary education organisations and employers to gather feedback. A robust review will ensure that any necessary amendments are made to qualifications to reflect emerging trends, and changes happening across the cleaning industry.

Get involved now Feedback from the cleaning sector is absolutely essential to ensure that the qualifications remain fit for purpose, and we urge all affected stakeholders to get involved. Register your interest by emailing

qualreview@careerforce.org.nz

Our website will be kept up to date with the progress of the review careerforce.org.nz/QPRCleaning Careerforce is the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) appointed qualification developer for the cleaning sector, and while this review is a requirement of NZQA, we think it’s good practice to ensure qualifications remain fit for purpose and continue to meet the needs of the sector.

TRAINING

Safety training

A positive, proactive and preventative safety program with a focus on training will be appreciated by workers and improve safety culture, writes Broadlex Service national risk manager Dr Denis Boulais. In the safety field, the difference between effective and ineffective training may be pain, injury or even death – in addition to significant cost losses. Training is the cornerstone of the risk management process as research has shown participants are likely to remember 10 per cent of what they hear and 51 per cent of what they see and hear. Ninety two per cent are likely to remember what they see, hear and become involved in. It’s for this reason that I am of the opinion competency-based training is very important. It is integral to explaining, demonstrating and observing what needs to be done, while also providing documentation of the training. There has also been research to demonstrate that financial performance may be associated with safety achievement. In one study, 31 companies known for adopting high safety standards demonstrated higher stock market values compared to the market average where data was examined over a 13-year period. Safety needs to be integrated into all operational processes as safety and productivity are strongly linked. A positive, proactive and preventative safety program with a focus on training will be appreciated by workers and improve safety culture. I truly believe safety just doesn’t stop companies from losing money – it improves their ability to make money. An example here may be the presentation of certain certifications and innovations during tender submissions and presentations to win over a potential client. Take training on how to mop a floor as an example – ideally training is not as simple as issuing a procedure. It is important to carefully explain the procedure with participants, then actually show the participants how to properly mop a floor (for example, with a figure of eight style motion). It is important to observe the participant conducting the process and provide constructive feedback so the trainer can be 100 per cent certain the participant is competent in the process. 24 INCLEANNZ May 2019

“It is important cleaners have extensive training in awareness to ensure they stay focused and look before they move.” Training elements to consider There are some important elements to consider in training. • Trainers should involve participants in the learning process and act as facilitators not teachers. • Life experiences of the trainer and participants should be encouraged and included to promote connectivity and relevance. • Training should be structured with defined elements which are consistent with the goals of the training. • Defined objectives should be set that the participants can relate to so participants can relate to the objectives and apply them to everyday life. • The concepts of ‘what and why’ should be focused on so participants can apply the elements most useful to their work environment. • Trainers should strongly encourage participants to add value by sharing their experiences through freedom of expression. It is widely noted in the literature that human error is implicated in 75 per cent of incidents. My research indicates this may be in the ballpark of 65.5 per cent in the cleaning industry. Further research I have conduced indicates 51.5 per cent of those incidents in the cleaning industry may be because cleaners move their

TRAINING

feet before their eyes (complacency). It is important cleaners have extensive training in awareness to ensure they stay focused and look before they move. There are plenty of movie clips on the internet showing live examples of complacency that can be used in training – some trainers refer to the more gruesome movies (bad accidents) as impact training. I often use impact training myself where I present a relevant movie clip and then explain the hazard and how it could ideally have been prevented.

Presentation tips Safety training can get dry and this movie medium of training can certainly liven up a training session, make the safety message much more memorable and get everybody talking about the issue. In my experience training is commonly used as a form of risk control in the cleaning industry. My analysis of 150 incident investigations indicated 87 per cent implemented training as a corrective action. In the event of an incident then training is an effective risk control because it can immediately address a situation and document the fact the cleaner has been trained in the area that resulted in the incident. It is important all training is documented – where all training session details are noted on the training record. One of the most effective strategies a trainer can use to improve their training is to select appropriate stories for inclusion in the training. Stories grab the attention of trainees and make them more alert, noting that people tend to remember stories. The literature

notes that stories are a powerful training technique because they: • Create an environment of trust • Empower the speaker • Engage thinking • Create a personal bond between listeners • Provide a way to learn from experience A common technique speaker’s use in safety training and during presentations is telling a story about a tragic event. People tend to remember these stories because they make an emotional connection and management and participants are then more likely to implement long term and lasting changes. I am aware of one conference speaker who always opens up with the same story about the death of close friend in a workplace accident, an event that inspired him to move into the field of safety. He believes his approach establishes a bond between him and his audience and in doing so, allows his audience to learn a lesson about how to reduce risk in the workplace. Where well executed, these training objectives can become part of the safety culture and fabric of the organisation. As such where implemented with an integrated management systems approach then such a positive training strategy can become ingrained and selfsustaining within organisational culture. On a final note, organisations that establish and implement an effective safety training system shall benefit from continuous improvement. www.broadlex.com.au

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CARPET & RESTORATION

The science of customer service First impressions are important. Mould Rescue’s Penny Tralau, CR, WLS, CMP, explains how to make them count. As restorers, we have to be skilled at many functional and practical things like how to extract water, where to position equipment, how to put up effective containment and how to interpret industry standards and guidelines. However, what is often forgotten is the other side of the business and sometimes the most important: customer service. What is the impact and importance of first impressions? It can be the difference between getting the job or not. It can be the difference between an easy to handle customer and a difficult to handle customer and it can also mean whether they will refer you. First impressions are important; make them count.

What is customer service to you? When you are engaged to inspect a home, or you are completing a remediation job, these things might be routine to you, but you must remember that you are in someone’s home. It’s where they live, where they raise their family and where they keep their worldly possessions. What might be inconsequential to you might be paramount to them, so your actions, demeanour and how you communicate are significant in the role of excellent customer service. As restorers, we go into many homes and see a quite a variety of how people live. It’s not our role to judge them! Sure, in our head we might be thinking, ‘that’s not how I would live’ but it’s not about you. How can you demonstrate excellent customer service when you are on the job or merely doing another routine inspection? It’s the little things that make the difference. So what are they I hear you ask? How you present yourself, turning up on time, addressing your customer with respect, speak clearly, don’t talk down to the customer and never confuse them with industry jargon are just a few. The Greeks refer to ethos, logos and pathos. Simply explained, (because it’s not my intention to give you a complete history lesson), the ethos of communication is defined as the ethical part, this revolves around the person you are and, more important, the person you are perceived to be. Logos refers to logic and reason and pathos refers to the appeal to emotion. The ethos, pathos, logos that I have adopted in my company is: • Connect • Commit • Communicate It’s simple but it works. • Connect: Connect with your customer at any level. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but they need to be able to feel like they 26 INCLEANNZ May 2019

“What is the impact and importance of first impressions? It can be the difference between getting the job or not.” can trust you. Every situation and every customer is different, so you need to find something that works, whether it’s complimenting their home, patting the dog or looking them in the eye and just saying, “thank you for allowing me to inspect your home today”. Moreover, remember facial expressions and body language often speak louder than words so remember to keep those in check. • Commit: When you have secured the job you need to commit to doing a good job, commit to respecting their home and commit to respecting their possessions. Again, it’s simple but extremely important. • Communicate: Talk to your customer, make sure they understand what you are doing during your inspection. Little things like asking if it’s ok to open cupboards or go into rooms. Don’t assume! When quoting a job for mould, or turning up in the middle of the night for an emergency escape of liquid, make sure they understand what you will be doing and what is going to happen in the coming days. There is nothing worse for you as the restorer or the homeowner when there is a silly misunderstanding, and they won’t pay the bill because they thought you were going to do something that you had clearly stated you weren’t. Write things down, talk to them about what you’re doing, how you’re doing it and what those things mean. Clarity is essential; it shortens the war by years and saves millions of lives. This also applies to written communication as well as oral; you must be literate and clear. Some of the things I do at Mould Rescue are: • Double check the time and date of the appointment • Put down a doormat and wipe my feet before entering their home. • Always ask if it’s ok to open cupboard doors or go into other areas of the house. • Always ask if it’s ok to move furniture ( If I move furniture, I make the effort to put it back) • Listen to the customer • Ask them about what’s important to them My message: figure out what customer service means to you and how you can continuously improve it with the little things.

CARPET & RESTORATION

How to grow your business Carpet Cleaners Association of New Zealand (CCANZ) vice president Paul Prichard shares four reasons why you should outsource training.

1. Business development Training yourself or your staff is admittedly an initial cost, but if you do it is a tax deductible cost. Do it yourself and it remains a cost that takes longer to recover (some estimates put it at around two years). Train with professional providers and recover costs quicker as well as save on costly mistakes or inefficient work methods.

2. Improve industry standards If you analysed all the successful operators and companies, both big and small in our industry across the country, what is the common denominator to their success? They are all using recognised training providers and systems and are committed to ongoing, quality training. You don’t need to look far to see the gap that is ever widening between those that are trained to a recognised standard and those that are not. Training breeds success and limits your liability.

3. Enhance knowledge and efficiency While it is true you may be experienced and skilled in your own right, it is very difficult to keep up with changing standards, legislation and

compliancy, technology and improved methods. Some of the best technicians are not always the best teachers. Under the Health & Safety at Work Act there is more emphasis on training and heavier penalties for employers who fail to provide it.

4. Increase staff productivity and engagement Nothing says you trust and appreciate your staff than by investing in their future. What better way than to provide them with training that is going to upskill and motivate them? It’s a mistake to think money is the only motivation for employees, but if they become more productive why shouldn’t they be rewarded? For that matter if you become more productive and make less costly mistakes isn’t that investing in your future? There are industry training courses available to suit your needs and that of your staff such as NZQA as well as internationally recognised courses including IICRC. Contact your local industry association such as CCANZ or BSCNZ or an industry training organisation (ITO) to find out more. www.carpetcleaners.org.nz INCLEANNZ May 2019 27

CARPET & RESTORATION

What is coming for the methamphetamine test and remediation industry Rosemary Pritchard-Lundy* gives an update on the key developments affecting the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry, and how best to operate in a changing environment. Since the release of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor’s Report (the PMCSA Report) by Sir Peter Gluckman in May last year there has been a dark cloud hanging over the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry. Immediately following the release of the PMCSA Report the industry was in the firing line, accused of exploiting the public and causing widespread panic over methamphetamine contamination for pecuniary gain. At the time Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford vowed to clean up the “out of control” industry. Almost a year on and things seem to have calmed considerably. However, many know change is coming and want to know what that will look like for the industry.

The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 2) The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No 2) proposes changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, seeking to address three distinct issues relating to residential tenancies: 1. Liability for damage to rental premises caused by a tenant; 2. Tenancies over rental premises that are unlawful for residential use; and 3. Contamination of rental premises. The Bill’s provisions in relation to contaminated rental properties will undoubtedly impact the methamphetamine testing and 28 INCLEANNZ May 2019

decontamination industry. The Bill provides regulation-making powers in relation to property contamination. Such regulations might include: • Setting maximum acceptable levels of contamination; • Prescribing methods for carrying out testing for contamination and specifying who is authorised to carry out testing; • Describing the decontamination process. The Bill passed its second reading in November 2018. Some members were critical of the contradiction between the advice and research that supported the making of NZS8510:2017 and the advice and research which formed the basis of the findings in the PMCSA Report. Others remain sceptical of the methamphetamine testing and decontamination industry. When introducing the Bill at the second reading, Minister Twyford stated: “I’ve made no secret of my concerns about the unregulated nature of the meth testing and decontamination industry. Proper regulation is desperately needed to ensure that the cost and energy spent on testing and remediation in rental housing is proportionate to the actual risks.” It appears Minister Twyford intends to use the regulation-making powers under the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill to regulate the methamphetamine testing and remediation industry. According to his comments it appears work on proposed regulations is already underway.

CARPET & RESTORATION

“Until regulations are made under the Bill (once passed) it is recommended to continue to work to NZS8510:2017, as it remains the paramount guide as to best industry practice.” 1.5m/100cm2 and others following the recommendation of the PMSCA Report of 15m/100cm2. In these cases questions may also arise as to the expertise or qualification of the testing company and therefore the reliability of the test results obtained and their value on an evidential basis. This is another reason to work towards appropriate qualification without delay.

NZQA Qualification – Micro-Credential in Methamphetamine Sampling and Screening

The Bill provides that NZS8510:2017 must be taken into account by the minister before making recommendations on regulations. However, once a regulation is made it will supersede NZS8510:2017 and be legally binding. Interestingly the Bill makes specific provision for testing of properties by landlords. Accordingly, once the Bill is passed it may in fact lead to an increase in the frequency of testing properties for contamination. Now the Bill has passed its second reading, the next stage is Committee of the Whole House. The House forms itself into a committee, comprised of all members of parliament, and the Bill is considered part by part where members can debate it in detail. Once the committee has agreed on the final text of the Bill, it will be ready for the third reading and finally, Royal Assent. The exact timeframe for the completion of this process and the making of regulations is not yet known. Until regulations are made under the Bill (once passed) it is recommended to continue to work to NZS8510:2017, as it remains the paramount guide as to best industry practice. Notwithstanding the debate around what the maximum level of contamination should be (1.5m/100cm2 per NZS8510:2017 or 15m/100cm2 per the PMSCA Report) NZS8510:2017 is the only guide as to the processes involved in testing and decontamination work. Those in the industry should know NZS8510:2017 intimately and work strictly to the guidelines it details. It is also recommended that you work towards becoming appropriately qualified without delay.

Decisions in the Tenancy Tribunal and District Court There continues to be a high volume of cases relating to methamphetamine contamination being determined by the Tenancy Tribunal and the District Court. There has been some discrepancy in the decisions, some applying the NZS8510:2017 standard of

NZQA have developed a micro-credential in methamphetamine sampling and screening. The micro-credential includes the following Unit Standards: • 30892 – Demonstrate knowledge of methamphetamine contamination of property in New Zealand (level 3, 2 credits). In this Unit Standard, you must be able to: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the impacts of methamphetamine contamination on property; 2. Demonstrate knowledge of the processes of testing property for contamination by methamphetamine; and 3. Demonstrate knowledge of the processes of decontamination of property contaminated by methamphetamine. • 30893 – Demonstrate knowledge of methamphetamine screening sampling in accordance with NZS8510:2017 (level 4, 4 credits). In this Unit Standard you must be able to: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of health and safety for methamphetamine screening samplers; and 2. Demonstrate knowledge of methamphetamine screening sampling. • 30894 – Carry out methamphetamine screening sampling and assessment on property (level 4, 4 credits). In this Unit Standard you must be able to: 1. Prepare for methamphetamine screening sampling; 2. Complete methamphetamine screening sampling; and 3. Complete methamphetamine screening sampling assessment in accordance with selected testing methods and organisational requirements. Cleaning Systems Limited is one of the few organisations able to provide training towards the NZQA micro-credential. Our training courses and programmes support learning and build practical skills facilitated by industry experts and supported by Careerforce’s assessment platform, to attain NZQA qualification. Whilst it is not yet known what is to come for the testing and remediation industry, by arming yourself with knowledge, qualifications and a professional operation in accordance with NZS8510:2017, you will undoubtedly weather any changes to come. *

Rosemary Pritchard-Lundy is managing director of Cleaning Systems

www.cleaningsystems.co.nz INCLEANNZ May 2019 29

TECHNOLOGY

Training systems for excellence Mark Jones* examines how going digital can assist employee training. There are many reasons we train our teams. The onboarding activities of the businesses we work with focus on performing duties at a consistently high standard. This provides for reliable work and of course to meet the myriad of compliance and OH&S training needed for the safety of staff, clients and the public. Much of this training requires the adoption of systems in the performance of repetitive tasks. But the training is a system of itself and has a few key components that are needed for it to drive your business toward delivering excellence with consistency.

Keep training delivery simple

“Continued use of mobile workforce software to provide clear instructions to your team and capture feedback from your staff in the field will provide an ongoing training system.”

If we read the training literature we would now launch into a discussion on identifying needs, define objectives, program design… etc. This may be important for formalising your overall training plan, but it is equally important to focus on some things you can do every day to reinforce delivering training information and improve your training effectiveness.

Provide frequent, smaller snippets of information

Identify your repetitive activities that impact customer value

Avoid training fatigue

Take it as given we need to meet all the regulatory obligations we carry, but beyond that we want to be excellent at the activities our customers care about. Identify these activities by reviewing customer feedback, asking customers and talking to our team. By doing this we can have a greater effect on improving the perception of excellence in our service delivery.

Establish procedures for excellence For each activity you will want to very simply and clearly articulate how each should be completed and reported against. The simpler the better and a means to have the team confirm completion and compliance will reduce the risk of omissions of quality failures.

Reinforce training regularly A challenge reported by managers in delivering training is the difficulty at getting the team together. This can lead to training during onboarding but challenges getting the team together readily. Use of digital tools to communicate with the team at the start of shifts that focus on certain client or task needs can embed learnings and reinforce earlier training. 30 INCLEANNZ May 2019

Avoid requiring big blocks of extended time for the whole team with snippets of information regularly. Numerous communications tools allow management to message staff with the latest techniques for improved quality of work and adhering to regulatory requirements.

Training does not need to be intensive and excess information delivered in one session. This can overwhelm the staff and lead to low recall. Capture training for each team member in a mobile workforce management system to help your staff have a ready reckoner for specific activities, clients and tools.

Monitor and provide feedback Now you have repetitive, high value activities identified and have helped your staff with clear procedures on the ideal approach for each, you need a way to capture ongoing feedback. Continued use of mobile workforce software to provide clear instructions to your team and capture feedback from your staff in the field will provide an ongoing training system. This will provide an environment that consistently delivers work to an increasingly higher standard over time. Involving clients and staff in this process can only help you and build trust and transparency in the quality for you and the team. *Mark Jones is a director of www.GetFreshOps.com, an Australian made, mobile workforce application and management portal built purely for cleaners by cleaners. Questions or feedback welcome to mark@getfreshops.com

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OPINION

Raising industry standards to drive success Building Service Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ) CEO Sarah McBride provides an update on the association’s recent raft of changes. An area of significant change for the BSCNZ this year has been the review of our member audit. This process has been updated to take into consideration the new BSCNZ code of practice and the government’s employment law changes. Our code of practice was recently updated to reflect industry best practice as well as the current business environment. The key focus of BSCNZ members is to be the voice of the commercial cleaning sector and work collaboratively to raise standards. The update to the BSCNZ audit adds focus to sub-contracting and the processes in place to manage staff transferring under Part 6A of the Employment Relations Bill. Sub-contracting within our sector has lacked transparency and monitoring, leading to unfair practices. Through our auditing process we want to create transparency and ensure we implement best practice. The Employment Relations Bill Part 6A means all cleaners can now choose to transfer when a contract changes hands (previously if there were 20 employees or less this didn’t apply). For too long our industry has seen margins eroded by unethical behaviour. As an industry body we want to ensure our members have best practice in place when transferring cleaners. Through the audit process BSCNZ members can show transparency and evidence of high ethical standards. All amendments to the audit have been reviewed by the Labour Inspectorate. The government has also noted the commercial cleaning industry in one of its four priority outcomes. The government is focused on showing leadership in the procurement area. Evidence of this is the Ministry of Social Development’s (MSD) recently released commercial cleaning tender. In its overview the Ministry stated: “not only do we seek a quality cleaning service for our sites, but we want to ensure that legislation is understood by each employee of each provider so that good practice is adopted and celebrated sector wide”. In this tender BSCNZ members are noted as already meeting many of the pre-conditions specified in the application. BSCNZ will continue to work with MBIE and government advisors to ensure they understand the work of our members and why they should be shown preference. We are also pleased to announce our current national president Paul Emery from ToTal Property Services (Canterbury) will remain in his 32 INCLEANNZ May 2019

position for 2019. Dominic Drumm from Westferry Property Services has been appointed as vice president. Joining the board is Neil Anslow (OCS NZ), Jan Bezuidenhout (OCS NZ), Sarel Bloem (PPCS) and Craig White (City Cleaning). It has always been a priority to have a variety of commercial cleaning companies on the council to ensure all companies from within our sector are represented and have the opportunity to contribute. I would like to thank David Milne (Simply The Best) for his many years of service on the council. His contribution has been greatly appreciated. Paul and the board are keen to carry on the projects BSCNZ has developed over the last 12 months and want to continue building the BSCNZ’s relationship with government and industry at large. There has been significant progress made under the guidance of our current board and we want to see this momentum continue. Finally, the BSCNZ biennial commercial cleaning conference will be held on 17 and 18 September this year at the Hilton in Taupo. The BSCNZ conference will be tailored to educate, motivate and inspire success through a variety of national and international speakers, including Stan Doobin, president and owner of Harvard Maintenance, one of America’s largest janitorial companies. The Minister Iain Lees Galloway will open the event and address our industry. The theme of this year’s event is ‘Driving Success’ and is open to both BSCNZ members and non-members to attend. BSCNZ would like to thank our event sponsors Tork, Kärcher, Cottonsoft and Makita for making this event possible. We encourage our industry to join us in what we hope to be another memorable industry conference. www.bscnz.org.nz

“The key focus of BSCNZ members is to be the voice of the commercial cleaning sector and work collaboratively to raise standards.”

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OPINION

Environmental considerations from the front line Francesca Lipscombe* gives a first-hand view of how responsible environmental thinking and practices play a role in a typical day for a cleaner. Cleaning takes place around the clock in many thousands of locations; it’s an indispensable part of life. As I’ve noted in this column in the past, environmental and sustainability considerations loom large in the cleaning sector. Products and processes, containers, fleet vehicles, energy and water use, waste disposal – there are many opportunities to minimise harm to the environment and act sustainably. But what do the people at the frontline of cleaning think of this? I wanted to get a first-hand view of how responsible environmental thinking and practices played a role in a typical day for a cleaner. To give us that perspective I caught up with East Auckland-based CrestClean franchise-holder Anmol Prasad. Originally from Fiji, where he worked in the biosecurity sector, Anmol came to New Zealand with his wife and two children 10 years ago and after a year in New Zealand decided to buy a cleaning franchise. He’s still fulltime in that role nine years on, assisted on a part-time basis by his wife and son. Anmol looks after three schools and two offices and supervises other cleaning teams for short periods at three other sites. He also takes part in training, running inductions for new CrestClean employees, as well as training modules and assessments, health and safety observations and specialist floor-care trainer. Anmol says the environment at Howick Primary School, one of his customers, illustrates how important it is to have responsible cleaning practices and safe products. “The biggest difference we can make is in the chemicals we use. We’re using cleaning products every day and it’s important to 34 INCLEANNZ May 2019

Anmol Prasad

OPINION

understand the impact they can have on our health. If we used dangerous chemicals, they can affect us, but also the pupils and teachers using the surfaces we clean. “If such chemicals linger and the kids touch them there can be serious health issues, even later in life. Eco-friendly chemicals are an important part of what we do.” Anmol says the other big environmental subject he’s very conscious of in his rounds is rubbish. New Zealand’s population is growing and construction is booming, but landfill space is at a premium, he says. “We have to be much more mindful of our rubbish – not just at home but in offices and places like schools. “When I first started out cleaning there were rubbish bins everywhere and not much recycling happening. But now we’re seeing more and more a move to fewer bins and more division of bins into those for paper, those for plastics and those for landfill. There’s a lot more management of rubbish at schools and that’s great to see. “When I look at the kids at schools, the future generations, I want them to be able to live in a good environment – not a polluted one. And it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment as they go through their daily business. Whatever they do, or buy, they should be thinking about reducing, recycling or reuse. “I think it’s important too, that our children learn to manage their rubbish.”

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One initiative Anmol suggested at one of his schools was to ask parents not to send their children to school with lunches that include a lot of plastic wrapping or packaging. He’s also been pleased to see the establishment of worm farms in some schools to make use of organic waste. Anmol says the response of his customers is generally positive to environmentally preferable cleaning initiatives but he feels there’s still scope for businesses to improve. “I’d like to see less rubbish in general and more recycling. There’s talk but often they’re not serious about it.” “But it’s a lot better than it was 10 years ago. The community and businesses are much more eco-focused.” www.environmentalchoice.org.nz

Francesca Lipscombe is the general manager of the New Zealand Ecolabelling Trust, which manages the Environmental Choice New Zealand ecolabel on behalf of the New Zealand Government. *

“Products and processes, containers, fleet vehicles, energy and water use, waste disposal – there are many opportunities to minimise harm to the environment and act.”

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OPINION

The problem with plastic

In the second article of a five-part series on 2019’s biggest sustainability topics, Bridget Gardner* examines the plastic pollution problem and what the cleaning industry can do about it. In the second of five articles I am writing about the five hottest sustainability topics for 2019 and their implications for the cleaning industry, the global plastic pollution problem is the obvious issue to discuss following on from the recycling crisis article in last month’s publication. Since the 1950s, plastic has become an intrinsic part of modern life. It is cheap, incredibly versatile, and indispensable to the cleaning industry. Yet every year, more than 8 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean. It is washing up on remote beaches and forming large islands of floating debris. Apart from being an eye-sore, plastic pollution is harmful to wildlife. Animals get trapped in larger items such as carrier bags or food packaging. When plastic breaks down in the ocean, it turns into tiny pieces that fish, birds, shellfish and sea turtles mistake for food. Plastic fills their stomachs, causing them to slowly starve. It is understood 219, 000 tonnes of microplastics enter the water per annum from Europe alone. If we continue on this trajectory, it is estimated that by the year 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean will weigh more than the amount of fish. 36 INCLEANNZ May 2019

What does this pollution come from? Unfortunately, the majority of plastic pollution comes from countries with less developed landfill systems, such as Asia. However as major consumers, Australians and New Zealanders still contribute heavily to plastic pollution from single-use items, such as packaging. According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 95 per cent of the value of plastic packaging material, worth between $80 billion and $120 billion annually, is being lost from the economy.

“With a growing appetite for solutions to the waste problem, the business sector will be expecting cleaning services providers to take the initiative.”

OPINION

What is the government doing about it?

Finding a solution to single-use plastic bin-liners

This problem is being taken seriously by governments around the world, many of whom are phasing out single use and “avoidable” plastics in the future. Single-use shopping bags were voluntarily phased out of the Australian supermarket giants last year, and a ban will start in New Zealand in July 2019. Many companies have taken the initiative, including IKEA, which is phasing out single-use plastics by the year 2020. Significantly, the Australian Government has pledged to ensure that 100 per cent of the country’s packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025. This includes mandating the widespread uptake of recyclable packaging and finding ways to use and process it – called the “circle economy” discussed in the previous article.

Now that plastic shopping bags are no longer available as domestic bin-liners, alternatives such as compostable, biodegradable, degradable and ‘oxo-degradable’ bags have been put under the spotlight. Comparing these alternatives is too complex to do justice to here, so I have added a fact sheet on my website and added some links below with excellent information.1 Multiple investigations have confirmed what I have been suspected all along about degradable bin-liners – they are an environmental hazard. For example: “Degradable plastic is a term for a polymer that will break down into smaller parts or pieces... creating microplastic pollution. Oxo-degradable plastic includes conventional plastic that contains an additive to induce breakdown… when oxygen and sunlight are present. Like degradable plastics, these bags create microplastic pollution.”2 Biodegradable bin-liners need a moist environment to break down – such as a compost bin - while compostable bin-liners should only be used to hold organic waste (which is dry). Unfortunately, and bizarrely, it appears that standard commercial LDPE and HDPE bin-liners cause the least problems from a plastics pollution perspective. Solving the single-use commercial bin-liner problem will not be easy. Yet it is necessary. So, whoever produces the first commercially viable reusable bin-liner, self-cleaning bin or other bin-liner free innovation, will have a very good news story to sell. Where there is a problem, there is always an opportunity.

How will the war on waste effect the cleaning industry? The cleaning industry does more than handle waste – it produces its fair share too, from chemical containers, disposable wipes, gloves and bin-liners. With a growing appetite for solutions to the waste problem, the business sector will be expecting cleaning services providers to take the initiative.

Eliminating the single-use chemical container While I have been advised that recyclable plastic is not strong enough for storing cleaning chemicals, that may well change in the future with investment being poured into recycling. Reusing canisters is currently the most obvious solution, yet the logistics of selling them back to manufacturers has been too challenging for the supply industry up till now. Known as ‘product stewardship’, this practice is mandated in parts of Europe and is being considered by our own governments. It is advisable that suppliers explore their options as single-use containers may well be redundant in the future. Options that may minimise or eliminate packaging waste that service providers could consider include: • altered water technology • a durable microfibre system • single dose chemicals in dissolvable sachets • super concentrated chemical in 15 litre canisters.

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To find out more: 1. www.freshgreenclean.com.au/learn/unpacking/bin-liners 2. Implementing a lightweight single-use plastic bag ban in Western Australia Discussion paper 3. www.burnside.sa.gov.au/files/assets/public/environment-amp-sustainability/ waste-recycling-amp-composting/recycling/why-waste-it/compostable-degradableand-biodegradable-bags-fact-sheet.pdf * Bridget Gardner is director of Fresh Green Clean and is Australia’s leading sustainable cleaning consultant and trainer. www.freshgreenclean.com.au

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INCLEANNZ May 2019 37 15/4/19 2:06 pm

MANAGEMENT

Future-proof your business against compliance risks As the world becomes more labour standard aware, there is a call for more transparency and responsibility, writes Jonathon To*. Most New Zealanders believe in “A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” and think that this is everyone’s reality. Unfortunately, this is not always true. Employment standards, the minimum employment entitlements, exist to ensure all employers receive some basic employment entitlements. There are employers that deliberately breach employment standards for their personal gain. This gives those businesses an unfair competitive advantage with unsustainable non-compliant businesses cutting corners to win and deliver contracts. The cleaning sector is not immune to this. These situations also create a significant reputational risk for businesses procuring cleaning services. The speed and accessibility of social media means that news of issues in a supply chain travels quickly; and consumers and procurers are not afraid to act with their feet. In the past, procurers have been satisfied with a signed commitment to a code of conduct or single line in a contract confirming the vendor would adhere to NZ law, but increasingly procurers will be looking for evidence or demonstrations of how employment standards are being met. There are a number of reasons for this increase in requirement.

1. Modern Slavery legislation Following the UK, Canada and France, Australia has recently introduced legislation in which a key feature is an annual requirement for businesses operating in Australia with a global turnover of more 38 INCLEANNZ May 2019

than $100 million to report publicly on the actions they have taken to address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply. While the legislation only directly impacts larger businesses you can be sure those businesses will be looking for assurance from their supply chain.

2. Investors are increasingly supporting companies that have a social purpose Larry Fink CEO of $US6.3 trillion investment fund BlackRock, publishes an open letter to CEOs of public companies annually. His 2018 and 2019 letters highlight the role of companies in the promotion of practices that drive sustainable, long-term growth and profitability, at the heart of this sits the fair treatment of workers. This increased emphasis on businesses accounting for their effect on society is a global phenomena.

3. NZ looks to leverage broader outcomes through government contracts The NZ government is currently considering prioritising the improvement of conditions for workers and future-proofing New Zealand business’s ability to trade, as one of a number of broader outcomes sought from government contracts. This priority would aim to protect workers from unfair and unsafe behaviour, and incentivise wellperforming firms – ensuring they are not undercut by those who have reduced costs by adopting poor labour practices.

MANAGEMENT

If accepted as the government outcomes are proposed, prospective government contractors will be required to demonstrate and ensure their business, sub-contractors and domestic suppliers comply with employment standards in targeted sectors. Cleaning has been proposed as one of three sectors for initial focus. The broader outcomes have been reflected in a proposed update to government rules of sourcing which were recently out for public consultation.

4. A new approach to employer assisted work visas In March, Immigration New Zealand sought public consultation on a proposed new approach to employer assisted work visas. Three gateways to access migrant labour were proposed. Gateway 1 – ‘The employer check’ proposed introducing a compulsory accreditation which would require employers demonstrate their business practice meets minimum immigration and employment regulatory standards, to minimise the exploitation of migrant workers.

What does all this mean for you? The world is changing and becoming more labour standard aware. As a result, there is a call for more transparency and more responsibility. There is also increased business risk in terms of: • unfair competition within industry entrenching poor business models;

• enforcement and adverse publicity; • damage to employer and product brand including NZ Inc. in the form of consumer backlash; difficulty attracting the right people; loss of access to migrant labour; • local workforce disengagement/alienation; • failure to realise productivity potential. Taking the right steps now could futureproof your business’s ability to operate. Whilst your business may be compliant or even act well above the minimum, currently there appears to be little to differentiate a “good” business from a non-compliant business. In recognition of this a number of industries are implementing third party audits as a way of evidencing compliance to employment standards. This allows them to show how they differ from those businesses who exhibit poor labour practices. Additionally, in a time where a number of sectors are signalling labour shortages, demonstrating the fair treatment of workers can help in attracting and retaining workers in the industry. Demonstrating compliance may be a new concept and seem like extra work for you today, but our expectation is that this will soon become the norm to secure and maintain a contract. Jonathan To is principal advisor assurance and sector engagement at the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment *

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MANAGEMENT

Employment law changes:

Back to the future The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2018 is coming into force in stages. While some parts of the Act have already come into effect, others will follow shortly. So how much change will it really make in practice? Paul McBride* explains.

New Zealand employment law has been something of a political football in the last 30 years. Each time the political winds change, the pendulum swings back, depending on the political party leading government at the time. In 1973 Labour introduced the Industrial Relations Act. The 70s and 80s saw significant industrial action – some of the more memorable being Cook Strait ferries, Marsden Point, BNZ Centre and Mangere Bridge. 1987 saw the introduction of the Labour Relations Act, however, little changed in terms of unions, rights and obligations. Three years later in 1991 a National Government introduced the Employment Contracts Act that did not refer to unions at all. Overall however there was little substantial change in the law between 1976 and 2000: • Personal grievance rights existed; • Minimum employment rights existed; 40 INCLEANNZ May 2019

• Rules about bargaining were detailed; and • Rights to strike and lock out were regulated. In 2000 the Labour led government introduced the Employment Relations Act. With changes in political winds, that Act has seen a number of changes from the time that a National led Government was again in power. Changes such as 90-day trial periods for new employees were introduced, as well as amendments seeking to allow ‘flexibility’ were also made. Another was limiting the scope of Part 6A to only large employers. In 2018 Labour made modifications to the Act that largely rolled back the changes of the previous government. Those were described as restoring employees’ rights at work. The vast majority of the legislative changes made in 2018 are to restore rules that companies have operated under in the (fairly recent) past. The major changes are;

MANAGEMENT

The removal of the right of employers of 20 or more to use 90-day trial periods for new employees

“The vast majority of the legislative changes made in 2018 are to restore rules that companies have operated under in the (fairly recent) past.”

90 day trial periods – if properly set up – limit rights of employees to challenge dismissal inside the first 90 days. Originally trial periods were only for small employers; later a change was made in the legislation to allow all employers this option. The latest change in the Act has reversed this decision and restored it to once again only applying to employers of less than 20 staff.

Reinstatement as primary remedy Until 1991 reinstatement was the primary remedy for a personal grievance. During the following years reinstatement varied from being the primary remedy – being ordered whenever practicable, to simply being one potential remedy. 2018 saw reinstatement again being the designated primary remedy in unjustified dismissal cases. This emphasises the importance of getting dismissal right (or as right as is feasible!) to limit risk of the employee coming back.

Statutory rest and meal breaks After two to four hours of work employees are entitled to a 10-minute paid break. After four hours they are entitled to a half hour unpaid break. These breaks are compulsory and cannot be paid out.

Part 6A – transfer of cleaning employees on the change of contract The pendulum has swung back, meaning Part 6A again applies to all cleaning contractors operating in the New Zealand market regardless of size or employment model.

Collective bargaining Some tweaking in terms of timeframes and processes. There is again a duty to reach an agreement absent very good reasons, rather than bargaining ending with a deadlock.

Partial strike pay deductions The National Government had introduced the ability of employers to impact the wages of individuals who where taking partial strike

action, such as not wearing the correct uniform etc. Labour has reversed this decision.

Union access to premises Unions now have the ability to enter any premises unannounced subject to continuity of work and health and safety. As this may cause issues for the cleaning industry it is suggested companies contact the union to discuss workable arrangements for site access in advance. The introduction of Domestic Violence leave is a separate change. That allows individuals affected by domestic violence to take up to 10 days per annum paid leave under restricted circumstances. These 10 days are in addition to the annual sick leave entitlement and the cost is borne by the employer. Fair pay agreements have also been announced as a concept. Those are likely to be introduced in the next 12 to18 months as a new form of collective agreement to help a non-unionised workforce to mitigate (or avoid) what the Workplace Minister has labelled “the race to the bottom”. These agreements are likely to cover all individuals working in a given sector regardless of their employment model. This unlikely to significantly affect the cleaning industry or those parts of it that currently have a MECA in place. For now it is business as usual, however, watch this space as there is a number of proposed upcoming legislative changes. www.mdjlaw.co.nz *

Paul McBride is a partner of specialist law firm McBride Davenport James

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MARKETING

New range from Chemical Solutions NZ cleaning supplier Chemical Solutions Ltd has added a new cleaning range to its product line. Available around New Zealand from May this year, Bio-Fresh is a dedicated bio-enzyme based product range designed to cover more cleaning needs. ‘Bio’ relates to a biological vs. traditional chemical approach to cleaning and ‘Fresh’ relates to the way an enzyme-based product does not only clean a surface but can also work its way deep into the substrate it is cleaning, for example a very porous surface. “Bio-Fresh has been created to change the way we clean,”said Chemical Solutions Ltd. “Traditionally, we treat an area with a chemical product, allowing it to either chemically react with the soil or soften the soil, so it can be removed with agitation or flushed with water. “With Bio-Fresh products it is bio-enzymes that do nearly all the work in a natural, safer and more environmentally friendly way.” Bio-Fresh products contain non-pathogenic microbes that produce enzymes. The enzymes break down soiling, so it can be consumed by the microbes, and/or washed away. When conditions remain wet and there is soiling present, the microbes continue to multiply and produce enzymes. Once the soiling has been consumed, remaining microbes are flushed through the plumbing system, and continue to work, keeping plumbing free-

flowing by consuming fats and soiling that form in drains and pipes. In systems connected to sceptic tank systems the bio-enzymes boost microbe levels and help keep sceptic systems working at optimum levels, and free of odours. The Bio-Fresh range is made up of a stain and odour remover, laundry and carpet cleaner, floor cleaner, kitchen and hard surface cleaner, and industrial cleaner, as well as cleaners for drains, grease traps, septic tanks, wastewater systems, washrooms and toilets. www.biofresh.co.nz

Unger hits the Road in NZ

Hakansson’s appointment comes just ahead of the release of OfficeMax’s cleaning and hygiene catalogue in June. The catalogue introduces a comprehensive range of cleaning equipment from suppliers including PacVac, Tennant and Karcher. It also features the i-product range including the i-mop, i-scrub and i-gum, which OfficeMax is the exclusive distributor of in New Zealand.

Unger hit the road with the Filta team to demonstrate the latest innovations in window and surface solutions. Unger Asia Pacific sales manager Phil Boot visited four cities, Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in four days, conducting more than15 demonstrations for more than 60 cleaners, key account managers, owners and suppliers. Hands on training included Unger’s pure water systems for outdoor window cleaning, the Unger Stingray indoor window cleaning kit and the erGo flat mop system. The main objective of the trip was to introduce Unger’s latest technology in cleaning products that is ergonomically designed with the cleaner in mind and can clean surfaces more efficiently, offering substantial time savings. Filta sales manager Liz Nichols said since the demonstrations sales have grown dramatically. “We have sold 22 pure water systems, 11 erGo mops and 35 stingray kits. “The feedback post purchase of Unger training has been amazing, with customers commenting on happy they are using Unger and how simple the equipment is to use.”

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www.filta.co.nz

OfficeMax appoints sales specialist OfficeMax has appointed Soren Hakansson as a nationwide sales specialist for cleaning equipment. “Soren is an expert when it comes to cleaning equipment with 13 years of experience in the industry,” said the company. “He will travel throughout New Zealand to help customers find the right equipment solutions for their cleaning needs, ensuring cost reductions and increased efficiency.” 42 INCLEANNZ May 2019

MARKETING

RapidClean members unveil new signage RapidClean members Commercial Cleaning Repairs and Pack Centre have unveiled new RapidClean branding and signage. Following the move to a new premise, four times the size of the previous warehouse this year, Commercial Cleaning Repairs (CCR) unveiled new RapidClean branding and signage in February. “CCR were previously in a smaller premise in Henderson predominately selling and servicing machinery with limited sales of chemicals and associated cleaning products due to space,” said RapidClean New Zealand’s national manager, Craig Newton. “After joining RapidClean in 2018 it became apparent there was an opportunity to increase not only the machinery side of the business but also other segments of product sales. Owners Lynda and Terry found a fantastic building offering a larger space and better parking, increasing the ability to serve the customer base.” Pack Centre in New Plymouth has also added new RapidClean branding to its fleet of vehicles in February and March. “Look out for Pack Centre’s new vans and specialist vehicles which continue to deliver quality products to the market,” said Newton. “Pack Centre is fully New Zealand-owned and operated. While its physical store is based in New Plymouth, the business provides fast deliveries to customers throughout the country.” www.rapidclean.co.nz

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INCLEANNZ May 2019 43

MARKETING

Enzyme Wizard re-enters NZ market

Australian-owned Enzyme Wizard entered into a distribution arrangement in February this year with Auckland-based distributor Filta Cleaning Products to control the reintroduction of Enzyme Wizard’s new range of safe, natural and sustainable cleaning solutions throughout New Zealand. Enzyme Wizard director Jamie Flinkier told INCLEAN NZ due to the ongoing success and positive reputation of Enzyme Wizard in Australia, it was extremely important to partner with a proven and respected company in New Zealand. “Known for only supplying quality and stand out products, the collaboration will enable both companies to become a true force across several of New Zealand’s markets and industries.” Filta sales manager Liz Nichols said Filta is excited to be in partnership with Enzyme Wizard. “We are excited to offer the New Zealand market a cleaning solution that not only protects the cleaner and environment from harmful chemicals when in use but works better than standard chemicals.” Flinkier said Enzyme Wizard’s goals have always been to offer the best performing and cost-effective sustainable cleaning products on the market. “Our head of research and development, Raymond Subel has allowed this goal to be realised by solving problems and improving technology,” said Flinkier. Subel explains: “Our unique plant derived, renewable enzyme technology is specifically designed to reduce cleaning time by removing stains and odours at the source. “Enzyme Wizard spends extensively on research and development, as well as market research to find out what cleaners and facility managers are needing to maintain their sites.” The two areas where Enzyme Wizard has focused its efforts are urine odours and stains on carpets, floors and drains, and floor safety and nonslip resistance. “Odours and stains can all be easily and safely taken care of with Enzyme Wizard’s soap free, Ph neutral, plant based multi enzyme products,” said Flinkier. “Floor safety and nonslip resistance is where Enzyme Wizard’s no-rinse floor cleaner has all the industry talking. Soap free, Ph neutral and using Enzyme Wizard’s unique surfactant technology is fast becoming the market leader in floor maintenance.” f

PacVac proves a hit at CrestClean workshop Tauranga-based CrestClean’ franchisees recently had the chance to try out new cleaning products at a skills workshop specifically for CrestClean personnel. Among the new gear being demonstrated by Filta Products’ territory manager Gavin Smith was the upgraded battery-powered PacVac unit. Smith said the units have proved popular already, with Filta Products seeing a big demand for them. “Cleaners love them,” he said. “It’s the cordless convenience of getting around without being hampered by a mains cord. You can walk into a room and immediately start cleaning.” The unit is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Two sets of batteries provide up to 90 minutes of running time. The batteries take two hours to fully recharge and are designed for 500 charge/discharge cycles. The vacuums are particularly useful when working in confined spaces, added Smith. “If you are cleaning a cinema for instance, where space is tight between the rows of seats, or if you are on board a boat, not having a cord is a big advantage.” Independent studies have found using a cordless vacuum can bring a time-saving benefit of about 30 per cent. Tauranga business owner Pinakin Patel, who already uses a cordless PacVac, plans to buy another unit. He says the cost-saving to his CrestClean business is a no-brainer. “You are making big savings in time, and that equals a saving in money.” And the practical benefit is a big plus. “You can go anywhere and in any direction when you are using the vacuum. You are not restricted by the cable.” But there’s also an important health and safety benefit over the traditional mains-powered vacuum cleaners, he says. “You don’t have to worry about tripping over the cord or getting it jammed while you are working.” Adam Hodge, CEO of Master Cleaners, believes battery-operated is the future for cleaning. “Battery life is being improved all the time and every year there are advancements in technology making batteries cheaper and longer lasting.” www.crestclean.co.nz

Latest odour solution from Diversey now available in NZ To tackle urine odours that create unpleasant experiences in facilities, Diversey has released an odour eliminating solution that cleans and deodorises a variety of hard and soft surfaces to the New Zealand cleaning market. Removing urine odours can be a challenging task. Now available in New Zealand, the TASKI BreakDown odour eliminator works against a wide range of odours and soils found in washrooms, urinals, on floors, walls, carpets, drains and waste bins. 44 INCLEANNZ May 2019

The enzyme-producing bacteria in BreakDown helps clean and deodorise a variety of hard and soft surfaces. For best results, the solution should be used one to three times a week as part of a periodic cleaning program, says Diversey, to eliminate unpleasant odours from floors, drains, pipes and toilets, leaving a pleasant experience for residents, guests and visitors. www.diversey.com

PRODUCTS

Skin protecting moisturiser

Ready-to-use hospital grade detergent wipe

Bactol moisturiser is designed to protect the skin. Enriched with Vitamin E, pH balanced and lanolin free it absorbs quickly and is suitable for use under gloves. Dry, cracked skin can create the risk of infection and increase the risk of transmission to others. The use of an oil-containing lotion or a barrier cream, three times a shift, can substantially protect the hands of healthcare workers. Bactol is available in a 500ml bottle or 1 litre Pod for use with dispenser.

Speedy Clean Wipes are designed for use in healthcare facilities including hospitals, general practices, aged care and dental facilities. Speedy Clean wipes assist in removing organic soils from contaminated surfaces. The wipes are pleasantly perfumed and available as a ready to use solution or convenient single use wipe. The wipes are fast drying, leaving surfaces streak free and are suitable for pre-cleaning soiled surfaces before disinfection.

2019

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

Commercial grade microfibre

RapidClean’s microfibre is a premium commercial grade 40cmx40cm 300GSM cloth that can be washed up to 400 times. The microfibre’s long life span makes it an economical choice. The microfibre can also minimise cleaning time due to cleaners only needing to wipe a surface once to achieve a hygienically clean surface with no cross contamination. RapidClean 027 238 6601 www.rapidclean.co.nz

Heavy-duty detergent

RapidClean Ecoclean a heavy-duty cleaner, sanitiser and disinfectant detergent with natural citrus solvents. It is an excellent floor cleaner and degreaser suitable for most hard surfaces. Ecoclean cleans, sanitises and deodorises all surfaces in one action and is safe on all metals including aluminium. Ecoclean can be used for a number of purposes from degreasing equipment, to dissolving cooking oils and baked on grime from kitchen surfaces. Will clean effectively in heavily soiled conditions. RapidClean 027 238 6601 www.rapidclean.co.nz

All-in-one stain and odour remover

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.

Enzyme Wizard’s Urine Stain and Odour Removal is an all-in-one product that works on urine from all sources. As the plant-based, multi-function enzymatic formula removes both the water-soluble urea and the uric acid crystals found in urine, it eliminates both the stain and the odour for good. Also, Enzyme Wizard’s Urine Stain and Odour Removal is one of the most economical options on the market. This non-toxic product contains no harsh ingredients; is pH neutral, biodegradable and environmentally friendly; and is safe to use around humans and animals. Enzyme Wizard 03 8555 4844 www.enzymewizard.com.au

Three-in-one wash

Solutions for a Cleaner World

Call us now on 0800 277 678 View more online - www.proquipnz.co.nz 46 INCLEANNZ May 2019

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Dermalux Enrich three-in-one shampoo, conditioner and body wash is pH balanced and gentle on skin and hair. It contains added moisturisers including Lipidure Biomimetic moisturiser to hydrate and replenish skin and hair. It is ideal for use in aged care facilities as it is easy to use, gentle on all skin types and delicately fragranced. Dermalux Enrich contains Betaine, a rapid, long-lasting moisturiser with low irritancy to skin. The three-in-one shampoo, conditioner and body wash is available in 500ml bottles or 1litre pods for use in Whiteley dispensing systems. Whiteley Corporation 0800 257 352 www.whiteley.co.nz

23-24

OCTOBER

2019

23 –Melbourne 24 OCTOBER 2019 MELBOURNE Convention

& Exhibition Centre

GET READY FOR...

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the date 23-24 OCTOBER Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

• CUTTING EDGE PRODUCTS & SERVICES • LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS • IN-DEPTH EDUCATION SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS NEW CO-LOCATOR Complimentary access to Waste Expo Australia & All Energy Australia Expo plus their education sessions.

www.issacleaninghygieneexpo.com 1300 789 845 | info@interpoint.com.au Organised by

Media Partner

Oh no! It’s flu season!

Insist on Whiteley Medical when ordering your Infection Control products Hand and general hygiene is critical to the control of infectious diseases ...especially in colder months where the Influenza Virus can survive longer outside the body than in the warmer months*. Bactol® Alcohol Gel provides antibacterial hand cleansing without the need for water. w Formulated with natural emollients to maintain skin integrity and prevent moisture loss leaving your hands hygienic, soft and replenished.

BACTOL® ALCOHOL GEL is available in: 12x500ml bottles (product code 020066) 6 x 1 Litre pods (product code 020059) for use in Whiteley dispensing systems.

w Meets the recommendations of the National Hand Hygiene Initiative - EN 1500 compliant. w It is formulated with an alcohol concentration of 70% Ethanol v/v, as recommended by WHO for maximum efficacy.**

* WHO Factsheet No. 211, March 2003 **WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare, World Health Organisation, 2009

Always read the label. Use only as directed.

For more information about Whiteley Medical products visit www.whiteley.co.nz or call the Product Support Hotline on 0800 257 352

AUST R 155 397

ASMI 28773-0418

BACTOL® MOISTURISER Softens and Conditions Skin pH Balanced Enriched with Vitamin E Available in: 6x500ml bottles (product code 020047)