INCLEAN November-December 2019 by The Intermedia Group

DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE HYGIENE INFORMATION

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November / December 2019

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Editor’s letter

he ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo has continued to build on its local success in Australia, with industry and product leaders gathering in Melbourne for the third annual event. Run in partnership with ISSA and Interpoint Events, this year’s trade show reported a 15 per cent year-on-year increase of first day attendees. Among the highlights of this year’s event was a discussion on the future of the industry, where panelists offered opinions from all areas of the sector. Panelists agreed the industry needs to offer value to customers beyond price, with one stating, “if you win business on price, you will lose business on price”. Investment in staff and employee training was another discussion topic, as well as the definition of ‘clean’, where panellists argued the focus of cleaning needs to move beyond visual appearance and be based on measurable standards. Read our wrap-up of the event from page 20. The winners of this year’s Innovation Awards were also announced at the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. Read about the innovative products and services that won in their respective categories on page 24. For our focus on hospitality and retail settings in this issue, Cameron Cooper examines how cleaning product and services providers in the commercial kitchen and food-preparation space are upping the ante through science and technology innovation, and we also look at the impact of the hotel industry going green in their operations and ditching single-use plastics. Also in the issue, we share highlights from the Rapid Group’s annual conference in Sydney; GECA’s Kendall Benton-Collins shares her four key steps to writing a sustainable procurement policy and Dr Melissa Marot continues her series on dealing with stress and trauma during disaster recovery. The team at INCLEAN would like to wish all our valued readers, advertisers, contributors, and associate partners, a very merry Christmas and happy holiday season! We would also like to thank you for your ongoing support throughout 2019 and look forward to working with you in 2020! Happy reading,

Claire Hibbit Managing Editor

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What’s on ISSA North America

18-21 November, 2019 Las Vegas is the host city for the 2019 ISSA North American ISSA convention. www.issa.com

Interclean Amsterdam 12-15 May, 2020

Interclean is the world’s leading platform for cleaning and hygiene professionals. www.intercleanshow.com

MOST CLICKED www.incleanmag.com.au

RIA Conference and Tradeshow

United Voice launches action against UTAS contractor

Brainy bins help councils get smart about waste

The 2020 RIA Conference and Tradeshow will return to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

Union lodges proceedings with FWC following claims cleaners would be forced to take unpaid leave ahead of Christmas.

Sydney council launches nation’s largest roll out of long-range smart bin technology.

10-12 June, 2020

Coles partners with Cleanaway to convert waste into fuel

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo sets date for 2020

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo 26-27 August, 2020

The industry’s leading trade event will be held in Sydney.

ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo announces 2020 date and co-location partner.

Coles trials first zero waste to landfill supermarket in partnership with Cleanaway.

Central Cleaning Supplies opens new store

Quayclean wins Sydney Showground contract

Central Cleaning Supplies open largest store to date, with expansion set to continue.

Quayclean secures multi-year contract with Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.

Safety In Action Conference 26-27 August, 2020

The leading workplace health and safety event will be co-located with the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo.

Budapest Cleaning Show 14-15 October, 2020

Professional cleaning exhibition hosted by the Hungarian Cleaning Technology Association (MATISZ).

4 INCLEAN November / December 2019

ON THE COVER Kärcher’s latest innovation, the BD 80/100 is a robust and reliable classic walk-behind scrubber. It provides a simple operatorfriendly design and tough materials for an amazing cleaning performance.

IN THIS ISSUE NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2019

ISSUE #6 VOLUME 32

Regulars

COVER STORY

03 Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter 08 Industry 16 Cover story 38 Distribution 40 Technology 42 Restoration 44 Opinion 52 Products

Features

20 Leading by example Highlights from the ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo

24 INCLEAN Innovation Awards The 2019 INCLEAN Innovation Award winners 38 The power of co-operation RapidClean proves the power of co-operation

Focus

26 Food for thought 30 Room service 34 HACCP, VACCP, TACCP and HARPC 36 Why 2020 is the time for automation

44 www.incleanmag.com.au 5

NEWS

Quayclean wins three-year Metricon Stadium contract Quayclean Australia has won the Metricon Stadium cleaning contract. Under the initial three-year agreement, Quayclean has set key waste recycling targets for the Gold Coast venue and will introduce infrastructure and technology to assist with waste movement and separation. Quayclean Australia CEO, Mark Piwkowski, said the company’s recycling and waste management programs are key

pillars in its modern cleaning practices. “The cleaning services industry has evolved where clients are demanding more sustainable outcomes. Our responsible recycling and waste management solutions result in diminishing volumes of waste going to landfill while generating considerable savings for clients,” explained Piwkowski. Quayclean was awarded the cleaning and presentation contract by the Gold

Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Corporation (GOLDOC) for Metricon Stadium and 11 other competition venues during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The addition of Metricon Stadium to its national portfolio now sees Quayclean manage services for 11 AFL teams which play at the Gabba, SCG, Marvel Stadium, Adelaide Oval and GMHBA Stadium in Geelong.

Property Council launches platform for modern slavery reporting The Property Council of Australia has collaborated with CSR tech platform Informed 365 to launch a supplier platform for modern slavery reporting. The Modern Slavery Act requires companies with more than $100 million annual revenue, based or operating in Australia, to report on the actions they are taking to identify risks and remediate instances of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. This industry-first collaboration allows Property Council members to engage with suppliers on what they are doing to manage modern slavery risks through an online questionnaire. Frankie Muskovic, national policy manager for the Property Council, said: “Our strong intention is to create resources that are open-source for the entire sector, and that remove the barriers for suppliers to engage with our members on these issues.” Nicholas Bernhardt, CEO and co-founder of Informed 365, said:“It’s the first time we are seeing an entire industry adopt a strategy of collaboration to gather accurate reporting on human rights and modern slavery risks – across clients, suppliers and sub-contractors, including organisations that might usually be seen as competitors.”

8 INCLEAN November / December 2019

NEWS

Vale Terry Fraser Industry pioneer Terry Fraser has passed away. Terry was a leader and innovator in the Australian commercial cleaning sector, credited with spearheading the launch of Rotobic Aussie Products and the Rapid Group. Beginning his career as an electrician, Terry’s first venture into the cleaning industry was a small shopfront in Kogarah, Sydney where he formulated cleaning chemicals. Shortly after Terry founded Rotobic Aussie Products, where he launched the first backpack-vacuum and double-reduction drive suction polisher, an innovation not just in Australia but globally. Terry was also instrumental in the creation of the RAPID Group. Terry formed the Rotobic Network, designed to expand the Rotobic Distributor base. The co-operative changed its name to RAPID (Rotobic Aussie Products Independent Dealers) in 1988. Today it is the industry’s largest co-operative. Following the sale of Rotobic to S C Johnson, Terry moved into the development of materials handling equipment. However, he continued to support the industry through his involvement with NCSA.

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He returned to the industry when he moved to the UK where he introduced his backpack-vacuum technology to the market. He also served as a Director of The British Institute of Cleaning Science, assisting in the development of the organisation and its accreditation programs. He was particularly proud of being a Member of Lloyds of London. Terry was recognised for his contribution to the industry throughout his long career. He was the first recipient of the RAPID Group’s Industry Achievement Award in 2004 and in 2015 was awarded the ‘A Legend of the Industry’ plaque at CleanScene. Stuart Nicol said Terry was a true entrepreneur: “He was one of the most influential entrepreneurs of his time. He built Rotobic into a major force in Australia and was one of the first to introduce modern cleaning techniques to the industry.” Bruce Stewart said Terry led an inspired life but was also an inspiring person. “He was a true-blue Aussie, a pioneer and a great showman, but above all he had significant self-belief in himself and in others. He was committed to the industry and felt a responsibility to support it and the people in it. He carried that belief throughout his career and even during serious illness. It will be a long time before we see the likes of another Terry Fraser in the industry.”

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NEWS

CAF completes contractor prequalification pilot The Cleaning Accountability Framework (CAF) has completed the first pilot of its contractor prequalification framework. Prequalification assesses that appropriate policies and procedures are in place from the contractor side, and CAF building certification will verify whether these policies and procedures are being implemented at a worker-level. The first three cleaning contractors to be CAF prequalified following the pilot are BIC Services, ISS Facility Services Australia (cleaning), and Consolidated Property Services. All three contractors underwent an audit of their policies and

procedures to assess alignment with the CAF 3 Star Standard. Poonam Datar, CEO of CAF, said the overall objective of the contractor pre-qualification process is to assess whether the framework (policy, procedure and process) implemented by the contractor, is adequate to achieve compliance with the CAF 3 Star Standard, if implemented appropriately at various buildings. BIC, ISS and Consolidated Properties Services have also assisted CAF post-pilot to further refine the framework for a second pilot which will be commencing shortly. CAF expects to launch the prequalification framework to market in early 2020.

Central Cleaning Supplies continues to expand retail footprint Central Cleaning Supplies has continued its retail expansion with the opening of a new store in St Peters, Sydney. It follows the opening of its largest store to date in Dandenong in Victoria’s south east in October. Central Cleaning Supplies, one of the largest distributors of cleaning materials, chemicals and equipment, operates seven sites in Victoria as well as Mascot, Sydney and Hobart, Tasmania. Daniel Pisaniello, general manager of Central Cleaning Supplies, said the new store will assist Central Cleaning Supplies’ customer coverage and convenience in Sydney. Central Cleaning Supplies plans to extend its network next year, with new stores slated for Queensland in February and Western Australia in April. “Our coverage and customer convenience is our number one priority for our customers so that our company and brand is accessible geographically better in the Sydney metropolitan area,” Pisaniello said. “Our new St Peters outlet provides an extensive range of products and our dedicated staff members provide our customers in store product knowledge and demonstrations, and free on-site demonstrations for machinery for better customer convenience.” According to Pisaniello the 800sqm Dandenong store has reported strong results following its opening, with Central Cleaning Supplies planning to “increase and develop its customer base and presence in this area”. 10 INCLEAN November / December 2019

NEWS

RapidClean appoints first NZ board member RapidClean has appointed Graydon Smith as the co-operative’s first New Zealand-based board member. Smith is the co-owner and director of Waikato Cleaning Supplies – one of the first cleaning supply stores to join the RapidClean New Zealand network at the time of its launch in 2017. Craig Newton, who was appointed as the group’s first country manager for NZ in 2018, said it has been exciting to grow RapidClean and its national member base in New Zealand. “RapidClean New Zealand finished FY19 with a tremendous growth locally, and with members embracing the program delivering savings, education and innovative products to the cleaning segments of New Zealand.” Smith, who began his career as an after-school cleaner, has operated Waikato Cleaning Supplies since 2016. Prior to that his previous roles included B2B and corporate account management, retail management, branch management and SME regional sales management. RapidClean NZ members are 100 per cent New Zealand-owned. The Rapid Group has 12 members in NZ and 56 members in Australia.

Tennant Australia appoints regional sales manager Tennant Australia has appointed David Miller as regional sales manager north, completing its national sales team restructure. Miller has more than 20 years’ strategic management experience with multi-channel sales teams in the capital equipment and floor cleaning industry. Tennant ANZ general manager Chad Angeli said the company has worked extensively over the past year on rebuilding its field sales and sales leadership positions. “I’m extremely excited to have David Miller join our team. Dave is extremely

well thought of in our industry. He has a great mix of capital equipment and multichannel experience, with incredible team values. He is also extremely customer focused,” Angeli said. “As we move into 2020, I couldn’t be happier about Conrad Pearson leading our south team, Nick Garrety leading our NZ business, and now David Miller leading our north team. “We believe that investing in our people today makes a great company for tomorrow and develops our future leaders.”

Pall Mall partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities Pall Mall has announced a new corporate partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). RMHC is a not-for-profit charity that provides care and support for families and seriously ill children. There are currently 18 RMHC houses and 18 Ronald McDonald family rooms in Australia which provide a comfortable place for families with seriously ill children to rest close to the hospital to where the child is being treated. As part of its corporate partnership, Pall Mall donates much needed cleaning accessories as and when required to all the Ronald McDonald Houses around Australia. Pall Mall managing director Errol Goldberg said the more cleaning products donated, the more of the charity’s hard raised funds can go to other more critical areas of running these houses.

12 INCLEAN November / December 2019

“As a member of the Australian commercial cleaning community we are urging the industry to become involved in any way you can. “There are many different ways cleaning companies can be involved and give to this great cause, whether it be a financial donation, donation of cleaning products or services or simply volunteering at one of the houses.”

NEWS

Conquest Equipment launches short-term hire division Conquest has launched its short-term hire division in Melbourne. Conquest’s Melbourne-based short-term hire fleet is available now, with the equipment provider planning to extend the offer to Brisbane from January 2020, followed by Sydney. The range includes compact floor sweepers and scrubbers, large ride on floor cleaning machines, and specialist scrubbers for those one-off jobs or longer-term projects. Transport trailers are also available for hire to transport equipment. To assist with the expansion of its short-term hire division Conquest has appointed Dean Molander as hire controller. Molander has previous experience within the hire industry and is an experienced rental fleet manager. Commenting on his appointment, Molander said he is excited to join the Conquest team and is looking forward to building the short-term hire division throughout Australia.

Kärcher Australia adds to executive sales team Kärcher Australia has appointed Franziska Geyer as sales director of professional institutional. Geyer has been working for Kärcher for 12 years, starting at Kärcher global head office as an international junior key account manager. She later took on the role of global business development – BSC. Geyer joined Kärcher Australia in 2015 as a business manager direct and later led the national customer service and process improvement team. Commenting on her appointment Geyer said: ‘’I am looking forward to continuing to provide customers with solutions for their cleaning challenges and working with different industries to help them make cleaning easy and efficient.’’

IQ Safety launches new brand identity and website IQ Safety has unveiled its new branding, which includes a new look logo and updated website. Sandra Ducak, business manager – iQ Safety, said the new branding gave the logo a modern feel. Using the Chameleon from its parent company – family-owned business Matthews – shows the link between the two and their ability to continue adapting to the market. Ducak said the updated tag line – “intelligent spill management” – more clearly described what iQ Safety does.

14 INCLEAN November / December 2019

The company, a division of Matthews Australasia, has also launched a new website. “In the past few years, we’ve added a lot of breadth to our range of top global safety products, focusing on spill and hazardous-goods management.” According to Ducak the redesigned website features an industry-first product-comparison tool. For instance: where products are part of the same subcategory, customers can use the tool’s drop-down menu to instantly identify the size options available.

“This is important, because while having safety-management tools on hand is vital in manufacturing businesses, it’s actually just as important to have the right product for the job,” Ducak said.

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COVER STORY

THE KÄRCHER SCRUBBER YOU’LL WANT TO GET BEHIND The Kärcher BD 80/100 W Bp Classic walkbehind scrubber

*With minimum flow 30ml/min nonstop cleaning of 3.300m²

16 INCLEAN November / December 2019

ärcher’s latest innovation, the BD 80/100 is a robust and reliable classic walk-behind scrubber. It provides a simple operator-friendly design and tough materials for an amazing cleaning performance. The Classic walkbehind floor scrubber is designed for frequent, everyday use. Don’t let its affordable price tag fool you. Intuitive user controls and a highly rugged build make the BD 80/100 a reliable daily cleaning solution without sacrificing quality. The BD 80/100 has a powerful traction drive, meaning it effortlessly travels inclines and has easy manoeuvrability. Components which are exposed to extreme stress in tough working conditions, such as the squeegee and the disc brush head, are made from solid die-cast aluminium, and therefore have a particularly

long service life. With a 100L tank volume*, a maximum cleaning speed of up to 3km/h and an 81cm cleaning width, the BD 80/100 W Bp Classic is the largest walk-behind floor scrubber in our classic range. With a strong and maintenance-friendly scrub head and two included disc pad dryers, this scrubber is ideally suited for large high-traffic areas that need powerful cleaning such as grocery stores, educational facilities, industrial facilities, general retail stores and office buildings. In the case of very stubborn dirt for de-coating, the brush contact pressure on the BD 80/100 can be increased at any time from 40 to 69 kgs. The simple operating concept with colourcoded elements and the Home Base adapter for carrying manual cleaning equipment, provide the operator with great comfort and flexibility.

COVER STORY

“

With a strong and maintenancefriendly scrub head and two included disc pad dryers, this scrubber is ideally suited for large high-traffic areas that need powerful cleaning such as grocery stores, educational facilities, industrial facilities, general retail stores and office buildings.

”

Simple operation and maintenance characterise the new Classic scrubber. The only switch is the On/Off button - all other settings are made manually. To ensure quick and easy orientation on the machine, all the operating elements are colour-coded so users can familiarise themselves with the machine in a very short time. Errors of use are practically impossible! Our Kärcher machines, like the BD 80/100 undergo a wide range of testing methods to stress parts and components to their maximum. Therefore any failures or breakdowns are immediately eliminated. Once a usable prototype machine is completed, we run it for hundreds of hours in real working conditions. This is why our machines provide not only the best cleaning result, but are also 100% tested and guarantee reliability. ■

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Did you know Kärcher offer free site surveys? Before selecting a specific machine for your worksite, we always recommend a Kärcher representative complete a site survey to understand your exact cleaning needs. Commercial cleaning is often very specialised, so our site surveys ensure the right machine is chosen for the right job! First we come out and survey your site, giving you complete cleaning recommendations tailored to your workplace needs. We’ll then use that knowledge to bring our recommended machine back to your worksite for a live demonstration.

Both of these visits are completely free of charge! www.incleanmag.com.au 17

NEWS

Parliament launches inquiry into waste and recycling industries The House Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources has launched an inquiry into Australia’s waste management and recycling industries. Committee chair Barnaby Joyce said the inquiry will examine different processes within Australia, and between Australia and best practice in the world. “The committee will investigate innovative ways to reduce the millions of

tonnes of waste discarded in landfill and waterways in Australia each year. “Improving waste management and recycling in Australia not only provides for a cleaner and more sustainable environment, but it also presents a range of economic opportunities. New jobs and industries will be created – particularly in our regions – along with new products and services,” Joyce said. The committee will consider opportunities to better manage industrial,

ATO receives record-breaking tip-offs amid black economy blitz The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) received a record-breaking 15,000 tip-offs to its Tax Integrity Centre in the first quarter of this financial year as the agency continues its focus on the black economy. Assistant Commissioner Peter Holt said the results are not surprising. “We’re hearing loud and clear that people are sick and tired of this kind of dodgy behaviour. Running a small business can be a really tough gig, and when dishonest competitors are cheating the tax system by operating off the books, it’s really unfair and makes it even harder to succeed. It’s also effectively stealing from the community.” The ATO also received high volumes of tip-offs about black economy behaviour in the hairdressing and beauty, building and construction, and cleaning industries. 18 INCLEAN November / December 2019

“A tip-off from the community could be the missing piece of the puzzle we need to successfully audit or prosecute someone who is illegally operating in the black economy, so we really value and rely on the community letting us know when something doesn’t add up.” In one day in early August, the ATO’s Tax Integrity Centre received almost 300 tip-offs. Tip-offs from New South Wales topped the ATO’s list, closely followed by Victoria and Queensland. The Black Economy Taskforce estimates the black economy is costing the community as much as $50 billion each year, which is approximately three per cent of GDP. The ATO plans to visits 10,000 businesses this financial year as part of their strategy to deal with the black economy.

commercial and domestic waste, as well as any current impediments to innovation in these sectors. Strategies to reduce waste in waterways and oceans will also be examined. The committee would like to hear from interested people, organisations and agencies working to reduce, reuse and recycle waste in Australia. Submissions to the inquiry should be received by 31 January 2020.

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INDUSTRY

Leading by

example

1/ T he ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo achieved record attendance on the first day in Melbourne 2/ Tennant ANZ showcases its new autonomous machine 3/ From left: Stuart Nicol, Dianna Steinbach, Ted Stark and Simon Cooper 4/ Pacvac Australia 5/ White Magic Australia 6/ The Karcher Australia team

20 INCLEAN November / December 2019

Topics of this year’s education program ranged from developing data-driven business models to the need for social responsibility. Other sessions included infection prevention, crisis management, environmental trends, work health safety concerns, procurement and business management. Workshops included the Australian Institute of Packaging’s technical seminar on sustainable packaging and the 2025 National Packaging Targets; Work Health Safety and an IICRC Rug Cleaning Technician Course. Simon Cooper, managing director of Interpoint Events, said the atmosphere on the exhibition floor was extremely positive. “The feedback from visitors on the strong education program was complemented by comments we received on the number of new and innovative products.” ISSA vice president, international services Dianna Steinbach, said the show experienced steady traffic over the two-days, with attendees also receiving additional value and benefit from the event’s co-location partner, Waste Expo Australia. Visitors were able to attend Waste Expo Australia, including its speaker series which covered trends, developments, strategies and policies shaping Australasia’s waste and recycling industry.

INDUSTRY

FUTURE THINKING A thought-provoking discussion on the future of the industry offered opinions from all areas of the sector. During a discussion on price, Joe Cardamone, managing director of Cell Biosciences warned delegates, “If you win business on price, you will lose business on price”. He was joined by Christianne Davis, senior marketing manager, Rubbermaid Commercial Products; Gareth Marriott, managing director of OCS ANZ; Hamish Matheson, region president, Karcher Australia and Michelle Thomas, general manager, GECA. Marriott agreed, arguing the industry needs to be take more pride in its products and services and provide value to customers beyond price. “As an industry we need to have more passion and belief in the services we offer, and price it accordingly, otherwise all we do is create a race to the bottom.” Davis told attendees there’s a growing focus on cleaning services with peer-to-peer (P2P) influence, such as online reviews, within the hospitality and food and beverage sectors. “Cleaning is not just a background service; it is now at the forefront of conversations. People trust online comments and reviews more than brands, and cleaning is becoming an essential part of that online conversation,” Davis said adding consumers are becoming more “mindful” of the products and services they use. “’Mindfulness’ is a buzzword, but I think the cleaning industry, and cleaning service providers, do need to be mindful of the products they use.” Matheson said over the last five years product innovation has been based on mobility, such as the move towards cordless technology, and visibility of assets, with automation expected to significantly increase over the next five years.

6 www.incleanmag.com.au 21

INDUSTRY

10 8

9 STAFF INVESTMENT AND STANDARDS

8/ Oates 9/ U nger products on display at the Pall Mall stand 10/ Makita Australia demonstrates its backpack technology 11/ Blue Sky Commercial Cleaning

22 INCLEAN November / December 2019

Investment in staff and employee training was another theme of the event. “Our industry could be interesting to a younger generation of workers,” Steinbach explained. “They have the potential to help an entire industry understand the data that is being generated from new [technological advancements]. We need to invest back into our people, so they feel they have the tools they need to succeed.” Matthew McMahon, Thomson Greer associate, urged cleaning providers to reevaluate their operations including staffing levels amid the Aged Care Royal Commission. “Every aged care facility relies heavily on cleaners and cleaning products to operate on a day-to-day basis,’ McMahon said. GECA’s Thomas said cleaning companies need to identify any issues in their supply chain as cleaning remains a high-risk sector of modern slavery. “Companies need to examine their supply chain and understand what those risks could be from a legislative aspect,” Thomas said. The modern slavery panel also shone a spotlight on the cleaning sector that is

11 considered high-risk for modern slavery and exploitation due to the complexity of the industry, the nature of the workforce, and the often-opaque nature of operations. The definition of ‘clean’ was another panel topic of debate. Bridget Gardner argued the focus of cleaning needs to move beyond visual appearance and be based on measurable standards. “The purpose of cleaning is to ensure healthy environments and keep people in those settings healthy.” Joining Gardner on the panel, Chris Chuah, national operations manager of Frasers Property Group, said cleaning should not be treated as a commodity. “For me it’s not just about the pricing schedule, but qualitative benefits. Cleaning is often treated as a commodity and it shouldn’t be. It’s becoming more important to landlords to see the benefits services bring to the local community. It’s important for cleaning companies to communicate those social benefits in the tendering process.” The event concluded with networking drinks hosted by the event’s platinum sponsor Karcher Australia, followed by the annual INCLEAN Innovation Awards. ■

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INDUSTRY

Innovation Awards

he 2019 INCLEAN Innovation Awards recognised the industry’s most innovative products and services at this year’s ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo. Now in its eighth year, the awards showcase innovative and progressive products and services within the cleaning industry. The awards, presented following the conclusion of the trade show’s first day, encourage the achievements of those demonstrating quality and excellence within their respective markets while clearly defining application benefits for end-users. Categories included Paper & Dispensing, Cleaning Agents, Services & Technology, Janitorial, and for the first time Equipment was divided into two categories – small and large. This year’s judges included Kim Puxty, national president of the Building Service Contractors Association (BSCAA); Ted Stark, president and co-owner of US-based Dalco Enterprises and former past president of ISSA and INCLEAN editor Claire Hibbit.

PAPER & DISPENSING

IntelliLinen Data Management Remote Monitoring System from Diversey Designed to manage laundry operations the IntelliLinen Data Management Remote Monitoring System consists of a reliable dispenser with real-time remote monitoring capabilities. The system provides real-time and remote transparency of energy/water consumption, chemical accuracy, machine downtime and day-to-day operational costs to prevent disruptions and errors within laundry operations. Wayne Hill, managing director, Diversey ANZ, said IntelliLinen is an exciting addition to its extensive product portfolio for ANZ customers and is part of its ‘Internet of Clean platform’ enabling connection to any mobile device to give teams visibility of the entire laundry wash process together with real time actionable insights. “Laundry managers can review water and energy consumption, accuracy of chemical dosage and re-wash levels, understand machine usage including under use or bottlenecks, and identify if hygiene compliance is compromised. “IntelliLinen provides in-depth insights, assists to minimise disruption and improve a laundry’s wash results, productivity, budget control, sustainability and hygiene compliance,” Hill said. Judges’ comments: “Remote capabilities are a growing need within most businesses, as well as the reduction in use of water and costs. The product’s real-time data monitoring system provides essential information pertaining to such environmental impacts including water usage, chemical and energy.” 24 INCLEAN November / December 2019

CLEANING AGENTS

Purehold door hand solution from Richard Jay The Purehold antibacterial door handle product range from Richard Jay was the winner of this year’s Cleaning Agents category. The range of handles use silver ion technology and hand sanitiser to effectively kill bacteria including E-coli, salmonella, streptococcus, staphyloccus and campylobacteur. The range is ideal for communal environments in the healthcare, aged care, education, hospitality and food processing industries. Matthew Manterfield, national commercial and new business manager of Richard Jay, said the company is delighted to receive such significant industry recognition for its Purehold antibacterial door handle products. “Richard Jay is honoured to achieve such high praise for the Purehold door handle products, which we believe are a game changer for hand hygiene and preventing the spread of bacteria in so many industries,” Manterfield said. Judges’ comments: “A simple but an innovative product that can be used not only in healthcare and aged care, but childcare centres and schools too where the spread of bacteria is constant. It is a product that provides a solution that is thinking outside of the box.”

SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY

Hygiena EnSURE Touch from Spillz Australia EnSURE Touch is Hygiena’s new design hygiene testing luminometer that collects, analyses and reports data from multiple tests such as ATP, microorganisms and enzymes. It enables users to test and compare the effectiveness of cleaning products and procedures. Scott Rozendaal, sales director of Spillz Australia, said it’s vital the cleaning industry utilises ever-evolving technology to achieve more effective cleans. “Winning the INCLEAN innovation award for the second consecutive year is evidence that our focus on innovation truly is providing real benefits for our partners, clients and the Australian cleaning industry,” Rozendaal said. Judges’ comments: “This product is moving into an area that is growing within the industry – ATP. The product provides an innovative and up-to-date approach within its technology.

INDUSTRY

JANITORIAL

WaveBrake from Rubbermaid Commercial Products The ergonomically designed WaveBrake buckets result in less splashing of up to 80 per cent while mopping and manoeuvring, helping to create a safer environment for patrons and staff. Christiaane Davis, senior marketing manager APAC at Rubbermaid Commercial Products, said the WaveBrake is proof of Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ continued commitment to innovation. “We are thrilled to be awarded the 2019 Inclean Innovation Award. The WaveBrake is proof of Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ continued commitment to innovation, at the same time ensuring the delivery of the highest quality and durability that the cleaning industry has come to expect from us,” Davis said. Judges’ comments: “This product offers a range of innovative technologies including its varieties of brush and suction speeds, as well as a diversity of functions, such as scrubbing, buffing and stripping all in one machine.”

EQUIPMENT (SMALL)

“

The cleaning industry is ready for more than just good products; it is hungry for innovative processes that can reduce costs and improve productivity. – Kim Puxty

”

The awards were presented during the expo’s afternoon networking event, sponsored by Karcher Australia

Mira 40 battery-powered scrubber dryer from Cleanstar

EQUIPMENT (LARGE)

The commercial-grade battery powered Mira40 scrubber offers a range of innovative features including three brush speeds, with eight different suction speeds from one 36V motor. The Mira40 generates up to 30kg of brush pressure and offers a diversity of functions. Another innovative feature the ability to affix the optional transformer, converting the Mira40 to an electric product. Cleanstar managing director, Garth Michalson, said the award benchmarks Cleanstar as a leading product supplier. “We are delighted to receive the award as it benchmarks Cleanstar as an innovative product supplier, recognising that Cleanstar is capable of bringing world class innovation and cleaning solutions to our industry in a space where equipment is dominated by the multi-national companies. “The Cleanstar Mira40 really has no equal in terms of its innovative functionality, with the robustness of a product which has proven to stand up to the rigors of working in a commercial cleaning environment.” Judges’ comments: “This product offers a range of innovative technologies such as its varieties of brush and suction speeds, as well as a diversity of functions, such as scrubbing, buffing and stripping all in one machine.”

Winner of the highly coveted equipment category was Nilfisk’s CS7010 Sweeper and Scrubber/Dryer Combination Machine. The machine features state-ofthe-art electric drive technology - removing complexity as well as improving productivity and reducing power consumption. Michael T Hansen, managing director of Nilfisk – Pacific Region, said Nilfisk innovation is focused on improving its customers’ operations and supporting sustainability. “The SC7010 is the perfect machine for large sweeping and scrubbing applications. Its intelligent design increases productivity, and performance, while lowering cost and environmental impact. We are incredibly honoured to be recognised by INCLEAN for this unique product.” Judges’ comments: “This machinery is designed to not only provide businesses with a high-quality service but give the end user an efficient, cost saving and highly innovative designed piece of equipment. The mechanics have been designed to increase productivity, performance, but not cost. It also has the innovation to meet environmental issues with its reduced power consumption. The machine is a well-planned and designed piece of equipment.” ■

Nilfisk CS7010 Sweeper and Scrubber/Dryer Combination Machine

www.incleanmag.com.au 25

HOSPITALITY

for

Food thought Cleaning product and services providers in the commercial kitchen and food-preparation space are upping the ante through science and technology innovation, along with the adoption of smart and sustainable practices. Cameron Cooper reports.

he old days of caustic chemicals and environmentally unfriendly practices being the norm in commercial kitchens are becoming a distant memory as cleaning services providers move with the times. From recycling and product advances to smarter machinery, the emphasis is on safer and more efficient cleaning options for ever more demanding clients. Cleaning products suppliers such as Jasol, Agar Cleaning Systems and Diversey are at the forefront of such initiatives, while contractors are also upping the ante. Australasian hygiene service solutions provider Jasol is committed to a sustainable innovation whereby its chemical containers are made from recyclable or reusable materials. Dr Alice Makardij, director of innovation and technology at George Weston Foods, which owns Jasol, says the company’s chemical containers are sent back to plastic recyclers for reuse, cartons and cardboard are also recycled, while its chemicals are filled into food contact safe packaging. “Such a community-minded approach flows through to our product development of chemicals for commercial kitchen and 26 INCLEAN November / December 2019

food services cleaning customers as they seek to meet rigorous Food Standards Australia New Zealand rules.” For example, the company has opted to remove the antibacterial and antifungal agent triclosan from its hand-care amid industry concerns that it may contribute to antibiotic resistance and disrupt hormones. “We made a conscious decision, although triclosan is not banned in Australia, that we were going to stop using this raw material in our hand-care products,” Dr Makardij says.

CHEMICAL CLOUT Cleaning of commercial kitchens in the past has entailed the use of often harsh chemical degreasers and disinfectant sprays. Damien Owens, whose business Owens Management Services has cleaning contracts with the likes of KFC and Grill’d, says the industry is now engaged in a constant effort to develop cleaning chemicals that retain their clout while being less caustic. “And that all leads to being more sustainable and green friendly.” While these newer products can sometimes cost more than traditional chemicals, Owens is confident they will become more viable “as there is more activity in this space”.

Despite workplace health and safety compliance demands being more stringent than ever, Owens says many operators of commercial kitchens in restaurants, cafes, bars and canteens are so preoccupied with making a living that they neglect regular cleaning routines. “A lot of times when we are called in it’s the result of a lack of general maintenance cleaning through the days and weeks and months. The staff are on the tools cooking food and getting it out to customers and trying to make some money. They have less of a desire or inclination to keep their premises clean and sanitised.” The smart operators clean regularly, including a monthly full stainless steel clean of all items and cookers, rather than getting to a crisis point. “If they have set up scheduled maintenance, then life’s pretty easy, but you’ve got to have discipline around that,” Owens says Steve Agar, joint managing director of Agar Cleaning Systems, which provides commercial and industrial chemical cleaning products to businesses such as abattoirs, food manufacturers and even beer and wine producers, agrees that careful cleaning plans and ongoing education is crucial for those running foodrelated enterprises.

HOSPITALITY “Good practice is something they should demonstrate every day and then they get in the habit and it becomes second nature,” he comments. Agar says the key for his company is to provide an entire range of effective products – everything from heavy duty cleaners and sanitisers to alkaline and acid-based cleaners and hook-cleaning chemicals. Some players in the food-service business, he warns, fall into the trap of buying cheap chemicals. “But they’re effectively plastic containers with a lot of water in them and not a lot of chemicals. Our goal is to reduce their monthly cost with a more concentrated product and to also reduce the labour component because the products will be more effective and work quicker.”

FLOOR-CARE EVOLUTION Without question, one of the biggest concerns for commercial kitchen operators is to maintain safe, hygienic floors. Agar notes floors which are constantly cleaned inevitably present a slip hazard, which means they require some sort of texture to achieve a good slip rating when wet. “But those surfaces can be hard to clean and running a simple mop over them doesn’t always work.” The trick, he says, is to use chemicals that can truly dissolve foodstuffs, while quality cleaning machines with appropriate brushes and bristles, or stem cleaners, can be effective. Diversey, an international provider of cleaning and hygiene products, believes the way of the future for floor cleaning will involve larger robotic machines. These hands-free machines can run autonomously, allowing employees to focus on other important tasks, rather than floor care. Jan-Willem Tinge, vice-president of the facilities and machines platform at Diversey in the United States, says buyers will seek out machines that are autonomous and safe, and which deliver on their productivity and cost-savings claims. “Buyers also want hands-free machines to be a zero-risk investment, since an accident could result in expensive lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims, as well as damage to the brand’s reputation. Thankfully, hands-free machines are equipped with certain features that enhance safety for those in the vicinity of the machine. Additionally, robots are ideal for eliminating musculoskeletal strain on workers.” Tinge says today’s robotic machines have a number of helpful capabilities to enhance the cleaning process. When selecting a machine, buyers should enquire about standard and added features such as built-in sensors (which allow robotic machines to be more efficient because they do not need operators to help them manoeuvre around objects and people), a fleet-management system (it is important for managers to be able to remotely access machine location, activity and critical service information when they are not on-site or are not in the same area as the machine), solution flow technology (this allows machines to dispense the proper amount of cleaning solution and water on to the floor according to the speed of the machine) and site performance tracking (the machine should be able to measure site performance and conduct software updates to keep the robot up to date). Looking ahead, Tinge says manufacturers may focus on features such as anti-hacking systems, logfiles and enhanced energy consumption to encourage better battery management.

E&OE / 5022-19

www.incleanmag.com.au 27

HOSPITALITY

“

If you take a proactive and measured approach to budgeting then it won’t be a burden on the business or risk a potential shutdown that can lead to a loss of reputation and income. Good budgeting also flows through to the way the cooks and staff all work, too.

”

PLAYING IT SAFE There is no room for lax cleaning standards with equipment such as commercial ovens, which should be kept grease and odour free. Agar says the “absolutely mission-critical thing” is food safety, while the health and safety of employees is also a non-negotiable. His business focuses on restaurants, clubs, hotels and pubs, covering ware washing of dishes, glasses pots and so forth, through to the cleaning and sanitising of kitchen equipment such as grills, hotplates and rangehoods. While most kitchen operators are aware of the need to meet Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) standards to prevent food-safety risks related to biological, chemical and physical hazards, they often come unstuck because of a failure to clean properly before sanitising. Agar says removing dirt cuts down on bacteria growth, while rinse-free sanitisers can then be sprayed without a poisoning risk and continue to be effective while the surface is wet.

Owens agrees rigour around degreasing, disinfection and sanitisation is crucial to proper cleaning of food-service and kitchen areas so that oils and fats can be broken down and neutralised. He advises a staged process for floor cleaning; for example, whereby chemicals are given enough time to agitate and break down grime before scrubbing and sanitising occurs. Following the manufacturer’s product instructions is also critical as some people put too little or too much chemicals in the water and then rush the cleaning process. “They’ll try to either just mop it down or bristle brush it without actually allowing time for the chemicals to work properly,” Owens says.

RIGHT PRODUCT, RIGHT PLACE The other critical aspect that commercial kitchen operators must be on top of is the location of hygiene products in food-service settings. Chemicals used for cleaning are capable of hurting people and must be used and stored safely.

How to reduce the risk of cross-contamination Look above your eye line Agar Cleaning Systems’ Steve Agar says too often commercial kitchen users worry about floor hygiene and forget about equipment and locations in higher spots. Soilage from such areas can fall down on to shelves and food-preparation areas and cause contamination. “So while it may be out of sight, out of mind, those high areas do need to be regularly cleaned,” says Agar, who advises a “top-down mentality” so that all areas of the kitchen are hygienic.

Practice proper hand hygiene Dr Alice Makardij and her team of scientists at George Weston Foods are strong advocates of proper hand washing in commercial kitchens – and a critic of gloves – when it comes to food safety. While many kitchen operators concentrate on cleaning surfaces, pots, pans and machinery, she says “all of that can often be negated because of dirty hands that are full of bacteria”. Dr Makardij advises

28 INCLEAN November / December 2019

regularly using sanitisers that are soft on hands, rather than relying on gloves that can be cut during food preparation and result in small slices of the gloves ending up in meals. “If you don’t change these gloves regularly, then there’s no point wearing them. And if you sanitise your hands frequently, you don’t need the gloves.”

Learn how to budget wisely At Owens Management Services, Damien Owens says spending money on good commercial cleaning chemicals, machines and service providers will pay off over time. The alternative can lead to contamination of food products and the potential for kitchen closures as food-standards authorities conduct checks. “If you take a proactive and measured approach to budgeting then it won’t be a burden on the business, or risk a potential shutdown that can lead to a loss of reputation and income. Good budgeting also flows through to the way the cooks and staff all work, too.”

HOSPITALITY

BRUSHLESS MOTOR *

3 Stage Suction Control

Dr Makardij notes Jasol kitchen products are all colourcoded – pink for dishwashing, green for sanitisers, blue for glass cleaners and yellow for floor degreasers. “(So there’s a) very slim chance that our customers are going to use the wrong product,” she says. Users should also insist that their providers give appropriate training and instructions before getting to work with chemicals, cloths, machines and any other associated materials. Dr Makardij explains Jasol has also developed a single solvent-based environmentally responsible degreaser that is non-caustic based, which can be used on all floor surfaces, negating the need to buy or store myriad chemicals for tile, vinyl, concrete or other floor surfaces. “We don’t want to confuse users, so we designed one product that fits all floors.” The aim for Jasol is to provide chemicals that can be used simply and safely in kitchen spaces, even by people who have had very little training in the industry. Dr. Makardij recommends using compact, concentrated chemical containers to assist with economical storage, and for chemicals to be stored away from food-service areas. “It comes down to planning and knowing which chemical and how much chemical you’re going to use, so then you don’t have to overstock.” At Agar Cleaning Systems, great care and attention goes into the labelling of containers and dispenser bottles so that the right substances are used for the appropriate cleaning job. “There’s been confusion leading to accidents with some other suppliers where people have grabbed what they thought was vinegar and splashed a caustic grill cleaner on their chips,” Agar says. He is an advocate of signage that acts as a visual reminder to chefs, cooks and kitchen staff about chemical use, while the logical location of products and dispensers also leads to greater efficiency and safety. “You want to have the products available close to where they’re being used to make it as easy as possible for staff to do their duties.” As food standards laws and the cleaning industry evolve, Dr Makardij believes those companies which devote the most time and money into research and development will be best placed to succeed. ■

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HOSPITALITY

Room service Hotels around the world are embracing more sustainable products and techniques.

30 INCLEAN November / December 2019

otels around the world are making huge strides in reducing the impacts associated with their operations, including their cleaning programs. This movement has been largely led by the rise of ‘ecotourism’. According to Where Sustainable Travel is Headed in 2018 conducted by Booking.com, 68 per cent of travellers in 2018 intended to stay in ecoaccommodation, up from 62 per cent in 2016. The report indicated the green travel trend is set to continue, with a large majority of global travellers (87 per cent) stating they want to travel sustainably, and nearly four in 10 (39 per cent) confirming they often or always manage to do so. According to the report the top reasons travellers give for choosing these eco-friendly places to rest their heads are to help reduce environmental impact (40 per cent), to have a locally relevant experience (34 per cent) and wanting to feel good about an accommodation choice (33 per cent). With this growth in mind, adapting to green cleaning has many benefits for housekeeping staff, says Christianne Davis, senior marketing manager, Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “Green cleaning has the potential to deliver many savings and benefits from staff productivity to cleaning more efficiently and

achieving more consistent hygienic results within timeframes that were previously unrealistic. Ultimately, green cleaning improves the customer experience for guests.” Some of the key issues facing the accommodation industry include food waste reduction, energy and water saving initiatives. “Thanks to the growth in sustainable products and brands, we are seeing many different departments within hotels embracing more sustainable products and techniques, explains Davis. The housekeeping team is no exception, with most of the housekeeping teams now implementing best practices when it comes to cleaning. This includes conserving water by using microfibre products which require less water, reducing the usage of harsh chemicals and using environment friendly products that easily sorts recycling and waste management issues.

SMARTER DESIGN Perhaps one of the most significant developments and opportunities for progress in relation to the accommodation industry is the move toward smarter design. This involves the sustainable sourcing of local products and sustainable materials, as hotels seek to increase buildings efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint.

HOSPITALITY Accor Australia, in conjunction with the Fragrance Group, launched the ibis Styles Hobart to the market as Australia’s first and only 5-Star Green Star certified hotel. According to Accor Australia these kinds of projects represent the future direction the group is moving in. Products such as guest amenities are also undergoing a redesign as a growing number of global chains ditch single-use plastic bottles. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced its entire hotel estate of almost 843,000 guest rooms will switch to bulk-size bathroom amenities, with the transition to be completed during 2021.The move is part of IHG’s broader sustainability strategy to reduce plastic waste. Keith Barr, IHG CEO, said switching to larger-size amenities across more than 5600 hotels around the world will help the hotel chain to significantly reduce its waste footprint and environmental impact. “It’s more important than ever that companies challenge themselves to operate responsibly – we know it’s what our guests,

owners, colleagues, investors and suppliers rightly expect,” Barr said. IHG currently has an average of 200 million-bathroom miniatures in use across its entire hotel estate every year. As the new brand standard is adopted between now and 2021, the company expects to see a significant reduction in plastic waste. Marriott International also recently announced it was expanding its initiative to replace small, single-use toiletry bottles of shampoo, conditioner and bath gel in guestroom showers with larger, pumptopped bottles. To date, the company has already rolled out larger bottles at about 1000 properties in North America, and now expects most of its other hotels to make the switch by December 2020. When fully implemented across the globe, Marriott International’s expanded toiletry program is expected to prevent about 500 million tiny bottles annually from going to landfills; 1.7 million pounds of plastic, a 30 per cent annual reduction from current amenity plastic usage.

Davis says as more major hotel chains remove single-use amenities bottles, and seek to minimise water usage, energy, waste, housekeeping staff should start using this to their advantage for future initiatives within their department and embrace better cleaning techniques. “By reducing water consumption, for example, cleaning teams can make less trips back and forth to fill and empty buckets, allowing them to clean more in less time. Importantly, reducing the movement of buckets and water and using ergonomic cleaning equipment enables staff to perform cleaning tasks closer to their core benefiting the user and reducing the risk of work-related injuries.”

GREEN INITIATIVES Hotels are also fine tuning their waste, sorting and recycling practices. For many reducing food waste is a top priority. Accor Australia served more than 14 million meals from more than 170 food outlets in 2018. Accor has a target to recycle 65 per cent of all waste across

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HOSPITALITY Hilton has also committed to cutting its environmental footprint in half and doubling its social impact investment by 2030. Hilton plans to reduce water usage by 50 per cent and remove plastic straws from all of its 650 managed hotels globally.

AWARENESS AND TRAINING

How service providers can help boost hotels’ environmental performance: • Introduce hotel and cleaning staff to environmental practices or incentives to achieve the right balance between ecological and financial costs. • Provide product solutions which best address economic, social and environmental sustainability issues.

“

Green cleaning has the potential to deliver many savings and benefits from staff productivity to cleaning more efficiently and achieving more consistent hygienic results within timeframes that were previously unrealistic.

”

32 INCLEAN November / December 2019

• Be aware of brands that use and promote sustainable ingredients. • Examine government policies which seek to introduce mandatory standards which must be followed for example, commercial businesses to have a recycling solution or face fines.

the group, taking into account food waste as well. Accor hotels are commencing regular weighing and monitoring of food waste, as well as implementing various solutions that improve how food waste is re-used and recycled, diverting valuable resources away from landfill. Many hotels have shifted away from single-use bottles in meetings and conferences, working with suppliers to move away from unnecessary plastic packaging. Some hotels have successfully changed their process of sending uniforms to the laundry provider, reducing the use of plastic bags, while others are also now participating in various container deposit schemes. Hotels are showing sustainable housekeeping initiatives by offering light housekeeping options, giving guests the opportunity to be more sustainable during their stay. This includes re-using towels and linen. IHG’s global ‘A Greener Stay’ initiative has been heralded as a big win for both the environment and the bottom line. Guests are incentivised to opt out of housekeeping in return for IHG Rewards Club points for each night they stay. Reusable soap programs such as Soap Aid and Diversey’s Soap for Hope program. Soap for Hope is a recycling initiative developed by Diversey in 2013. Discarded hotel room soap is recovered from Diversey hotel customers, which are Soap for Hope program partners, and is reconstituted and repackaged. Diversey and its partners have produced more than 6.1 million bars of soap and distributed them to more than 400,000 people. DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street, donates more than 140kg to Soap Aid per year. The hotel has also replaced plastic straws with paper straws (saving more than 3,000 straws per year from landfill) and sells reusable coffee cups.

Reducing the risk of cross contamination and reducing the number of germs is a huge element to the cleaning process. Davis says this can be now better managed, thanks to products such as microfibre cloths, which are specifically designed with fibres that are engineered to attract and trap dirt, dust, grease, food and liquid. “Furthermore, colour coded microfibre products are also available that are designed to be used in specific rooms for designated purposes. For example, the red microfibre is for the bathroom only and the blue microfibre for the bedroom.” While these local and international waste and recycling initiatives have been welcomed by industry, Libby Sharp, president of the South East Queensland Professional Housekeepers Association (SEQPHA), says regular training about the environmental issues facing the industry, as well as what staff can do, is needed for housekeeping staff to help encourage sustainability. “Productivity remains a huge issue. Housekeeping staff are under significant time constraints and face unrealistic expectations to clean rooms. They are often so rushed they are unable to have the time to stop and consider if there are ways to reduce waste or if there are products such as towels or bin liners that can be re-used,” says Sharp. “Housekeeping staff and their cleaning programs have an important part to play, but they need to be more engaged to be able to have the same commitment and passion. This can only be done if they are given more realistic time frames to clean,” she says, adding equipment also needs to cater to these strategies, such as trolleys that offer compartments for multiple waste streams. “Training about these initiatives should not be a one-off session; it should be ongoing. Staff need to be regularly educated on the programs being implemented by the hotel to reduce its environmental impact, and the benefits these programs, and the cleaning programs, can provide to the environment. Visuals are an effective way to show staff the impact some of these [programs] are having on the environment and the wastage that it is creating. “Younger staff are more conscious of the environment but for many they aren’t as engaged as they should be. It’s up to the hotels to put a plan into action to ensure everyone is committed to helping the environment.” ■

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HOSPITALITY

HACCP, VACCP, TACCP and HARPC Dr Denis Boulais sheds light on an emerging food safety term in Australia.

first commenced employment within the cleaning industry in 2001. Back then the term Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) was rarely heard of within the cleaning industry. I had first commenced my career as a food microbiologist in 1994 and when completing cleaning related risk assessments within food processing facilities I felt confident that my background with HACCP was very useful. Over time the concept of HACCP has gained momentum within the cleaning industry where many organisations are opting to become certified to certain food safety standards. Last year I wrote an article covering HACCP and some new terms VACCP and TACCP. With another food safety term coming to light on the Australian market - HARPC (Hazard Analysis and RiskBased Preventative Controls), this article will introduce this new term and refresh readers on terms previously covered.

In recent years, a number of high-profile cases of deliberate food contamination have occurred that HACCP could not prevent. This has led to the development of TACCP and VACCP.

HAZARD ANALYSIS CRITICAL CONTROL POINT (HACCP)

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT CRITICAL CONTROL POINT (VACCP)

HACCP was first developed by NASA in the 1960’s to prevent astronauts from contracting food poisoning in space. It then evolved and become a cornerstone in the food industry and eventually found its way into the cleaning industry. HACCP is a process that needs to be strictly followed in order for it to work effectively. The HACCP system can be best described in seven steps: • Hazard analysis • Critical control points (CCPs) identification • Establishing critical limits at CCPs • Monitoring critical limits • Establishing corrective actions when CCPs control is lost • Verifying that the HACCP system is working effectively • Use of documentation and records relating to the process. The HACCP system provides a method of identifying and assessing potential hazards in food processing/production and establishing preventative control procedures for those hazards.

VACCP is best summarised below: • Prevention of economically motivated food fraud. • Preventing the deception of consumers using food products, ingredients and packaging for economic gain which may include unapproved enhancements, misbranding, substitutions and use of stolen goods etc. • The UK horsemeat scandal is an example where customers were defrauded by adding horsemeat to batches of beef labelled as pure beef.

34 INCLEAN November / December 2019

THREAT ASSESSMENT CRITICAL CONTROL POINT (TACCP) TACCP is best summarised below: • Prevention of malicious threats to food, such as extortion, sabotage or terrorism. • Prevention of intentional adulteration whether behaviourally or ideologically motivated. • The main generic threats are malicious contamination with toxic materials, misuse of food and drink materials, and sabotage of the supply chain for terrorist or criminal purposes. An attack should it be successful may disrupt business, have adverse effects on brands, and may lead to serious illness or death.

HAZARD ANALYSIS AND RISK-BASED PREVENTATIVE CONTROLS (HARPC). HARPC is not a common term used in Australia – yet. However, with the term HACCP and sometimes VACCP and TACCP being occasionally raised then it’s likely a knowledge of HARPC may be useful in future. HARPC is a preventative control system with a broad food safety

HOSPITALITY hazard-based assessment process considering risks such as: • Naturally occurring hazard/s • Unintentionally introduced hazards • Intentionally introduced hazards • Biological, physical, chemical and radiological hazards • Natural toxins, pesticides, drug residues, parasites, allergens, decomposed materials, and unapproved food and colour additives. There are seven steps to HARPC: • Assess the hazards • Implement preventative controls • Monitor control effectiveness • Establish corrective action measures • Establish verification measures • Ensure proper record keeping • Re-analysing the plan as required, or as required by standards/legislation If cleaning a food production facility, an area that a cleaning organisation may be required to become involved in is implementation of preventative controls. Eg. In consultation with the client, sanitation procedures may require revision, resulting in further training, monitoring and verification procedures etc.

FINAL THOUGHTS When cleaning around food areas it is important to have a HACCP program in place and liaise closely with the client to ensure they are happy with the program and it is a good fit with their regime. As the concepts of TACCP, VACCP and HARPC grow alongside HACCP then I would expect food related clients to be more careful about those working (and cleaning) within their food supply and processing chains. I wouldn’t be surprised if clients call for greater supervision of cleaners and more detailed pre-employment screening. It is important to remember that in most cases the cleaning process is one step removed from the food handling process. I hope this article has shed some light on these emerging HACCP associated concepts (TACCP, VACCP and HARPC) and better prepares cleaning organisations to expect tighter requirements from clients in order for cleaners to comply with their food safety systems.

“

When cleaning around food areas it is important to have a HACCP program in place and liaise closely with the client to ensure they are happy with the program.

”

Dr Denis Boulais is national risk manager at Broadlex Services. ■

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HOSPITALITY

Why 2020 is the time for automation

he end of the year is near. We at Duplex have worked strongly in 2019 to implement change – from researching the market to conducting trials, particularly in automation technology – to gauge how ready the market is for the shift. Why should it happen in 2020?

THE RISING PROBLEM

By Murray McDonald

“

With the rising demand from travellers, next year is really the time for the retail and hospitality industries to improve the skills of their workforce.

”

36 INCLEAN November / December 2019

You might have heard this: manual handling is the main source of most common injuries to housekeepers such as lower back pain and every other associated injuries. As much as advanced technology attempts to control and reduce these risks, it is a further challenge for us to transform the system. We have spoken to some of our customers in accommodation and retail facilities that have raised various facility cleaning challenges ranging from operation management, timeefficiency, to quality management systems. Just within the Melbourne CBD itself, most employees only spend 15-20 minutes to clean an average of 120m2 space daily with a broom, mop and bucket in two sequences: sweeping and then mopping. Most of them have been shown to miss these key points: • They do not sweep under benches • They missed hard to reach corners • They do not regularly clean ceilings • They do not change their water bucket frequently • They do daily cleaning for the sake of doing it While the industry has given clear evidence that future hotel guests will predominantly be harder to win over, with Australia’s tourism sector growing extensively over the next three years; their own plans to cope with it seem to be less progressive and projected to create a wider gap between traveller actions and industry reactions. The industry could transform their management systems in order to create a level playing field – including cleaning and hygiene.

A FRIENDLIER CHOICE You may have used steam technology previously and are aware of the virtues. Although enforcing the shift to chemical free cleaning in the retail and hospitality industries may seem to be a daunting task, many in the kitchen have slowly adapted to steam vapour and microfiber mitts with a little help from detergent in efficient kitchen cleaning. The use of detergent is somewhat less important to them, yet psychologically appeases the cleaning process. In 2020, we should be able to completely remove chemicals, saving our budget, and respecting the environment.

Automation, although many of us can see it often applied in Europe and the United States, has not yet gained much popularity here in Australia. We were perhaps too early to the market but that is quickly turning around as we approach 2020. A recent market trial has proven our point. Today a fleet of intelligent cleaners in corridors of a renowned accommodation facility in Melbourne are cleaning during low traffic times at midnight. While these co-bots can automatically clean areas by themselves, cleaners have the option to be home at midnight and focus on more complex environment during the day. They should no longer be doing dull and repetitive tasks each day, and be able to focus more on other tasks that would serve customers’ experiences. The more we automate, the more possibility for us to improve human productivity as well as focusing ourselves in more important tasks. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cognitive technologies and robotics to augment work is allowing the jobs today to become more datadriven with better skills in problem-solving, communication, interpretation and design. A Deloitte study has shown humans should focus more on their cognitive skills instead of manual skills. Superjobs are to be created and will require better skills in problem-solving, communication, interpretation, and design. With the rising demand from travellers, next year is really the time for the retail and hospitality industries to improve the skills of their workforce. Robots, according to our trial, are capable of cleaning 100 per cent of an area without missing a speck of dust, as well as accessing difficult corners that humans can’t reach with normal vacuum cleaners. The robots can do four hours worth of labour within just one hour.

IMPROVEMENT AND CONSISTENCY ON QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY The best thing about AI is that the entire system is data-driven, through remote monitoring and connected technology. Management can easily see the cleaning progress in real time or view the robots’ route logs from any devices, being able to validate cleaning in a very efficient manner. Maps of rooms and buildings can be updated in real time, displaying detailed day-to-day planning of cleaning activities, ensuring jobs are done and performance is measurable. It is time to improve the quality and manage consistency, as automation technology does not need to get out of routine or celebrate christmas like humans! Murray McDonald is a director of Duplex Cleaning Machines Australia. ■

IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE In proceedings brought by SafeWork NSW, the District Court of New South Wales has found that INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD contravened its health and safety duty under section 19(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (“the Act”), as it failed to comply with that duty and thereby exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury contrary to section 32 of the Act. The offence relates to an incident in October 2015 when two workers were left permanently disabled after a suspended platform or building maintenance unit fell about 30 metres down the facade of a Sydney CBD building. INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD was the building manager and arranged for the workers to carry out window cleaning work from the building maintenance unit. When the load bearing bolts of the building maintenance unit suddenly failed, the building maintenance unit fell and crashed into the street awning below. One worker was trapped inside the building maintenance unit while the other worker went over the awning’s edge, hanging by his safety harness. The District Court found that INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD breached the Act by failing to arrange a 10-year major inspection of the building maintenance unit complying with Australian Standard AS 2550. 13-1997 (“AS 2550. 13-1997”), thereby exposing the two workers to a risk of death or serious injury in that:  The incident occurred due to extensive fatigue cracking in the load bearing bolts of the building maintenance unit, which arose from the rocking backwards-and-forwards of the building maintenance unit during its normal operation over the preceding 15 years, resulting in the sudden failure without visible warning signs;  The purpose of a 10-year major inspection was to identify cracking in critical components of a building maintenance unit, such as the load bearing bolts, that could not be identified from inspection by the naked eye or routine servicing but which could cause catastrophic failure, and this was known by INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD;  The building maintenance unit was overdue for a 10-year major inspection, and the longer it was overdue, the greater the likelihood of a catastrophic incident occurring;  Prior to the incident INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD was advised of the need for a 10-year major inspection complying with AS 2550. 13-1997 by the building maintenance unit service provider, and failed to ensure that this important safety information was passed on to its facilities manager and senior facilities manager for the building;  There was no cost to INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD in arranging a 10-year major inspection as this cost would have been met by the building’s owner, and it was part of the facilities manager’s job to obtain quotes for this type of inspection work from reputable service providers. The District Court has imposed upon INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD:  a conviction for a failure that exposed two workers to a risk of death or serious injury;  a monetary penalty of $400,000 for the offence;  an order that it pay the costs of the proceedings; and  an obligation to publish the details of the order of the Court. This Notice is published and paid for by INVESTA ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD in accordance with the Order of the District Court of New South Wales made on 19.8.19 in the proceedings brought by SafeWork NSW.

DISTRIBUTION The Rapid Group 2019

The power of co-operation

“

The Rapid Group is nothing without its members and for the group to grow and succeed, our members must grow and succeed.

”

38 INCLEAN November / December 2019

he Rapid Group has proved the power of co-operation, celebrating its most successful year to date at the co-operative’s annual conference in Sydney. The Rapid Group reported its ninth consecutive year of double-digit growth last financial year in Australia, collectively generating more than 17 per cent growth, while RapidClean New Zealand more than doubled turnover. “This year the Rapid Group has had its most successful year in the history of the group,” Rapid Group general manager Bruce Lees told attendees in Sydney. “The Rapid Group has now had nine consecutive years of double-digit growth, which is a remarkable run of success over an extended time frame.” Lees said there were significant achievements for the network including the expansion of its footprint – adding three new members in Australia. New Zealand also added three new members, taking its total to 12. The Rapid Group added new suppliers across both Australia and New Zealand including Karcher, Gojo and Whiteley New Zealand, and secured several key national accounts. “There’s lot of positive activity in play for future expansion and national account activity [in New Zealand]. We are already starting to benefit from each other’s activities on both sides of the Tasman,” Lees said.

DIGITALISATION A significant factor assisting the group’s growth this year was digitalistion, with the group launching an integrated online ordering platform and Rapid Green – a dedicated e-commerce platform for environmentally friendly products with third-party accreditation. “Of all the improvements and advancements RapidClean made last financial year, the most exciting and transformative was the launch of our fully integrated ordering platform for our national accounts,” Lees said. The Rapid Group also expanded its private label range and welcomed two new administrative personnel at its newly relocated head office. Lees also announced the appointment of Trish Ridsdale as its first independent board member. It follows the appointment of Lucas Paris to the newly created role of general manager for sales earlier this year, and the appointment of the group’s first New Zealand-based board member. Despite its continued accomplishments Lees said the group will need to continue to work hard to maintain its success. “The world keeps getting more competitive and integrated technology more complex. There are challenges, difficulties and competitors to address and we will need to work hard to maintain our success. “But it is important to recognise the amazing results [members] have achieved and be confident that we can overcome the hurdles.

DISTRIBUTION

Member of the Year: Winner: RapidClean Griffith Second place: RapidClean Tasmania Third place: RapidClean Coffs Harbour

Supplier of the Year Winner: Oates Freudenberg Second place: Huhtamaki Tailored Packaging

From left: Brendan Cappello and Bruce Lees

“The five-year plan is a 40-page document with specific detail about what we want to achieve and how we plan to achieve it. The plan outlines the actions the group will undertake to assist with the growth. “The Rapid Group is nothing without its members and for the group to grow and succeed, our members must grow and succeed.”

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

From left: Bruce Lees, Matthew Collins and Sue Wilton

“This room is filled with the brightest minds in the cleaning industry, which is a testament to the success of unity and achievable benefits of working together,” Lees said. “RapidClean is the 65th biggest co-operative in Australia and if we continue to grow at our current rate, we will soon be in the top 50.”

FIVE-YEAR PLAN Providing an update on the group’s fiveyear plan, Lees said the co-operative was two years ahead of schedule following the launch of the strategy at the 2017 conference in Adelaide. “Two years ago, at our Adelaide conference we outlined our five-year business plan, with a principal goal to double the purchasing power of the group and leverage our purchasing power to benefit our members. After two years we’re ahead of schedule.

The Rapid Group also outlined plans to build its international reach following its partnership with INPACS. The Rapid Group is understood to be the only Australasian member of the international organisaiton, which represents groups throughout the world with a collective turnover of $2.4 billion. “One of the most compelling reasons [to be an INPACS member] is to see into the future with what is happening in international markets,” Lees said. “That foresight enables us to make decisions in Australia and NZ that benefits our suppliers and members. INPACS bids on international tenders and we’re now participating in those tenders.” This year the Rapid Group was named INPACS’ Global Partner of the Year.

COLLABORATION Newly appointed independent board member Trish Ridsdale spoke of the benefits of CMEs (Cooperative and Mutual Enterprises), which she said “emphasise collaboration, rather than competition and contribute directly to communities. “In Australia there are more than 2000 CMEs,” Ridsdale said, adding “co-operatives focus on meeting current and emerging needs of its members”.

“Central to the CME existence is making their customer, or member, central to everything they do. Every members’ voice is equal to every other members’ voice, regardless of the size of the business,” Ridsdale said. “Right now, not only in Australia but globally, we are experiencing a trust deficit with many large organisations. There’s a concern these companies might be doing what’s in the best interest of the shareholders, but not what’s in the best interest of their communities. “Co-operatives are in a wonderful position to claim that space. We contribute economically, socially and sustainably in the communities we operate in.”

AWARDS RECOGNISE SUCCESS The Rapid Group conference concluded with its annual gala awards night. Member of the Year – the group’s highest accolade – was awarded to RapidClean Griffith, which reported more than 60 per cent growth. Accepting the award, RapidClean Griffith’s Brendan Cappello thanked the company’s customers and suppliers for their support. Oates Freudenberg received the member-voted award, Supplier of the Year. More than $10,500 was raised for the Cancer Council at the Sharon Lees Memorial Afternoon Tea and auction at the gala awards. Guest speakers at the conference included David Thyne, David Staughton, Jose Del Pino, Bruce Carr and Lucas Paris, with presentations followed by the Rapid Group’s supplier member speed meetings. Other event highlights included a Sydney Harbour Bridge climb and harbour cruise, followed by evening events at Madame Tussauds and Luna Park. The 2020 Rapid Group conference will be held in Fiji. INCLEAN attended the RapidClean Conference as a guest of RapidClean. ■ www.incleanmag.com.au 39

TECHNOLOGY

Build trust with transparency when cleaning public spaces

By Martin Callan

aintaining hygiene in a public setting such as retail or hospitality can be tough. Firstly, these areas are open to the public, meaning anyone can (and often does make a mess), even if you just cleaned it. And as per Murphy’s Law, just before the client walks past! You need to be able to verify tasks that you have done when needed. Public areas often have regular, cyclical work that requires monitoring to ensure a suitable level of frequency is achieved. Members of the public have differing expectations as to what a sufficient frequency of work will be for a clean, hygienic and even a safe environment. What one person is happy with, another may be unhappy enough to report to management and trigger a flurry of remedial action. Finding the right balance is not always easy. And of course, spills can be downright dangerous for anyone not confident or careful with their footing. Being able to report and respond to incidents allows on-site cleaners to be the hero and not the villain – and with transparency and proof you build trust in your performance. Setting and maintaining suitable standards with accurate reporting and delivery excellence is achievable, with the right training and tools.

PROVE YOU DID THE WORK Nothing kills trust more than a “he said-she said” stare down. You can train your team not to blink when challenged by clients, but in the end the client holds the cards! (I hope you know I am joking reader…?). With today’s technology there is no reason not to have the proof to back up your work and be rewarded accordingly. When we first started getfreshOps.com we had a client with a public bathroom who was being chased by the client regularly for not cleaning a certain public restroom. Yet each time the client complained, the team on the ground were adamant that the facility had been cleaned. We quickly implemented task verification and the staff uploaded time-stamped photos of the site being cleaned. Proof! Armed with this proof the client then asked security to review video tapes and then the culprit was found. Within minutes of the team finishing a local pest was in the facility leaving it in disarray for the public who followed, and the complaints that followed that. Security was able to intervene accordingly, and the cleaning staff were able to demonstrate that their work was completed correctly. A great outcome.

MONITOR CLEANING FREQUENCY Retail and hospitality settings have large enough environments that a team is doing rounds of cleaning. If you can’t report the frequency of their rotations at key checkpoints, then your service and quality will remain open to questioning. Monitoring needs to be able to identify waypoints on rounds and provide time stamps when actions are reported to have been completed. Spot checks may still be needed, or you can ask staff to capture a photo of key problem areas to eliminate any doubt.

CONSIDER A PUBLIC FEEDBACK LOOP In almost any conversation on service breakdown someone will mention ‘communication failures’ as being the root cause. Being a communication technologist, I am not 40 INCLEAN November / December 2019

TECHNOLOGY

about to argue. But I am going to add that the communication can be a lot more convenient, especially when we all have mobile phones to hand. The public can be your ally if you allow them the means to let you know if an area needs attention. Posting simple signage can allow the public to SMS a text message to a monitored number with a unique location ID. More tech-savvy players might consider a chat-bot that can be readily programmed to allow customers to alert workers to areas of concern and collect all required information instantly. Or where that is too hard, a phone number for reporting more urgent spills or other slip and fall hazards. Staff can even record what chemicals or other running repairs have been used at a site if the public and client need to know. And logs of any public or client interaction can be collated and worked through with your team for training, and with the client for validation of service standards.

MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER Cleaning of a location that is constantly available to the public is not easy. But doing it without the tools that verify your hard work and connect your team to where they are needed most, is even harder. To excel you can look to engage the public and your clients with readily available technology and prove who was where, at what time and doing what tasks. It is now simple to highlight with photos the completion of any key tasks that may be the cause of frequent complaints. And doing so in an environment that can be especially challenging during holiday seasons and extended trading hours without missing a beat will set your operation apart from others. Martin Callan is the CEO of www.getfreshOps. com, an Australian-made, mobile workforce application and management portal. The author can be reached at martin@getfreshOps. ■

“

Being able to report and respond to incidents allows on-site cleaners to be the hero and not the villain – and with transparency and proof you build trust in your performance.

”

www.incleanmag.com.au 41

RESTORATION

Stress and trauma during

disaster recovery By Dr Melissa Marot

T “

When people experience disaster, they go through various stages of emotional response and attempts to process the event.

”

42 INCLEAN November / December 2019

he nature of the work we do every day exposes us to stress and trauma our clients are experiencing. Not only do we manage 24/7 response, quick deployment of our team, deal with multiple stakeholders, insurance companies and other trades, stresses and strains of managing our own business and team – we also deal with the homeowner or building owner’s stress and trauma related to the event. We are having to deal with: • The complex emotional state of the client/ homeowner to achieve the expected result. They are often overloaded and overwhelmed. • Our own emotions and reactions to the disaster and emergency through this process. When people experience disaster, they go through various stages of emotional response and attempts to process the event. The initial stages are often of shock, a shocking event brings about a shock response – understanding this response helps us to understand our clients. This initial reaction is often freeze, fight or flight – which manifests as paralysis/overwhelm, anger or avoidance. You may find a client being totally paralysed and unable to act, or they might get angry at you, or they may not be answering your phone calls/emails or responding to insurance requests. People may not be themselves.

We can’t control these feelings, but we can learn how to manage them better. Emergency services and first responders such as police, defence, fire fighters, international aid and disaster response are trained to look out for common reactions and how to manage it, however, as restorers we are often not trained in this way.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON REACTIONS? 1. Emotional reactions: A range of emotional reactions are possible, that can happen in combination which makes things very difficult. Emotional reactions can be – anger, fear and anxiety, sadness, guilt, feeling numb (protective mechanism when it’s all too much), might be worried that they should be feeling things but are not. 2. People will replay the event: They will think about it, talk about, from many different angles and will keep on coming back to it. Concentration and sleep can be affected by this constant replay. Related things can trigger this replay, you might ask a question, they will see a phone number calling, an email, photos, news stories… this can be exhausting. 3. Avoid things related to the event: People will try not to think about it, avoid talking about it, avoid people and things connected to it. 4. Hyperactive nervous system: People might feel like they are on high alert, looking out for threats and danger, feeling jumpy, sleep is difficult.

RESTORATION

5. Can change how people see the world: People might find it hard to trust people, believe the world is a dangerous place, engage in “if only I would have done this and that” thinking, critical of themselves “why can’t I just get over it”. These common reactions are part of being human. It’s important to be mindful that these reactions can affect the way clients interact with you as the professional restorer.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO MANAGE THE SITUATION? We have a job to do as restorers, not the counsellor in the room, we can listen and act with respect and empathy, and complete our jobs as professionals. What to do: • Understand the client, what’s happening for them and their current circumstances regarding the event • Build trust and understanding • Be the professional restorer • Be aware of our own reactions What not to do: It’s just the client’s problem, they are just being emotional…

*This article is based on a recent presentation at the RIA Conference in Queensland. Dr Melissa Marot has a specialist interest in wellbeing and performance at work. . She has engaged in individual coaching, workshop facilitation, and organisational consulting around building effective organisations, leadership, transition and change. ■

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We can engage in some simple actions to build trust, right from the beginning. • Listen, be compassionate • Communicate clearly and well right from the start and throughout the process • Communicate often, simple and to the point, especially in the early stages of the job • Be empathetic to the situation and to the client’s feelings • Be aware of your words and actions, and how you can be perceived Over time, as professionals we can be affected by witnessing our client’s stress and trauma. In the next edition I will examine the effect on us and how we can manage that better for us and our team.

Water, fire and mould damage restoration.

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www.incleanmag.com.au 43

OPINION

FOUR KEY STEPS to writing a sustainable procurement policy

D By Kendall Benton-Collins

eveloping a sustainable procurement policy is an important and worthy goal for any organisation or business. It’s not just about buying the eco-friendliest products out there – sustainable procurement means taking the social and economic impacts of purchased goods and services into account, along with their environmental footprint. Through sustainable procurement, your business can build resilience and become future-proofed through increased efficiency and effectiveness. A policy will benefit your bottom line and help you to manage supply chain risk, so it’s a win for your business as well as for the planet and the people on it. Getting started can feel daunting, especially when you don’t have experience with sustainable purchasing or an understanding of the complex issues surrounding it. Knowing what sort of criteria to include in your policy document, and how to find products and services which meet all those criteria, can also be challenging. So, GECA has put together this handy guide to help get you started!

ECIDE WHAT MATTERS MOST D TO YOUR ORGANISATION

When writing your policy, keep your organisation’s top sustainability priorities in 44 INCLEAN November / December 2019

mind, making sure these are clearly defined and aligned with your organisation’s core values. Sometimes it may not be feasible to try to meet every possible sustainable goal. Some businesses may place a higher value on lowering their environmental impact, while others may be drawn to labour practices or human rights issues. Ultimately, every policy should include a requirement for continual improvement towards meeting sustainability goals. As the cleaning and hospitality sectors have been identified as modern slavery hotspots in Australia, human rights issues are particularly relevant. With the introduction of the Commonwealth Modern Slavery Act 2018, certain large businesses and other entities will be required to publish annual Modern Slavery Statements. The Australian Government has recently released a guidance document for reporting entities, which is an excellent resource.

ET YOUR CORE S PROCUREMENT CRITERIA

Once priorities have been set, it’s time to identify the potential environmental, health and social impacts of products and services, as well as the risks. This is where the International Organisation for Standardisation’s ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement Standard can help.

OPINION This international standard provides practical guidance to ensure that the procurement policies of organisations, both big and small, are robust and address key sustainable supply chain issues.

HOOSE GOODS AND SERVICES C THAT MEET CRITERIA

Independent certification is the only way to make sure your business is genuinely buying sustainable products and services, thanks to the built-in assurance processes. A Type 1 ecolabel is the most stringent form of ‘voluntary label’ because it tests the product on not one, but multiple criteria to make sure that it is the best at protecting your health and health of the planet. A Type 1 ecolabel demonstrates the overall sustainability of a product within a product category based on life cycle considerations. A Type I ecolabel also means that the product or service has been tested by an independent third-party. Ecolabels like GECA can fit perfectly into sustainable procurement policies, as they’ve done the hard work for you in determining whether a product meets certain sustainability criteria. GECA’s standards, for example, contain detailed criteria for environmental, health and social performance, as well as including criteria that ensure products and services are fit for purpose. Another useful resource is the Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN), which is a nonprofit association of leading ecolabelling organisations spread across 57 countries and territories. GECA is proud to be the only Australian member of GEN. With so many certified products available, there has never been a better time for organisations and businesses to start creating a sustainable procurement policy.

EEP RECORDS AND COMMUNICATE K TO YOUR STAKEHOLDERS

Finally, make sure you keep accurate records of all purchasing decisions for future reference. These are important for measuring progress against your sustainable purchasing goals, managing risk, and for informing any ongoing development of your policy document. It’s also important to communicate your purchasing decisions to stakeholders, establishing your organisation’s reputation for responsible procurement and building trust. Kendall Benton-Collins is strategic communications manager at GECA. ■

“

When writing your policy, keep your organisation’s top sustainability priorities in mind.

”

www.incleanmag.com.au 45

OPINION

Social

sustainability

In the final part of this series on the hottest sustainable cleaning trends for 2019, Bridget Gardner examines the role of social sustainability.

“

Social sustainability reminds us that a healthy and sustainable environment is a social justice issue, and a ‘clean’ cleaning company is an essential part of maintaining a clean building.

”

46 INCLEAN November / December 2019

he final topic in this series exploring the hottest sustainable cleaning trends for 2019, is social sustainability. Covering diverse issues from human rights through to wellbeing, this is probably one of the most complex issues that cleaning companies and suppliers have to grapple with today. Fair labour practices, decent living conditions, health and wellbeing, diversity and equity, quality of life, philanthropy and volunteerism, can all fall under the umbrella of social sustainability. Trying to keep up with the latest areas of concern can result in a folder of policies, or documents that are forever tweaked and never finalised. Several years ago, I helped a company write their corporate social responsibility policy, only to be asked to rewrite it a month later to match a different set of tender requirements! No, that’s not a policy, that’s a sales document. How do you develop policies that will enable you to comply with your customer’s latest social sustainability benchmarks and regulations, while building a lasting culture of social responsibility within your own organisation? You start with a corporate social responsibility policy, then link it to procedures for meeting social sustainability initiatives and laws, such as social procurement and the Modern Slavery Act.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is your stated intention to put processes into place to evaluate and minimise the negative impact that running your business may have on people and the planet. The concept that businesses had a ‘social responsibility’ originated in the sixties. But it was not until the late nineties, that an accounting framework called the triple bottom line (TBL) enabled corporations to make decisions that measured their environmental and social performance alongside their financial performance. For several decades, globalisation had been able to keep dirty secrets of social and

environmental disasters because they happened in faraway places. But public awareness of the devastation caused by major oil spills, deforestation, sweat shops, and malpractices such as the 2013 Dhaka garment factory collapse, is growing. Motivated by the risk of reputational damage, and consumer, employee and shareholder demand for greater corporate accountability, CSR policies with TBL reporting became the norm. This expectation was passed up their supply chain to providers of products and services. An early criticism of CSR was that it was too vague and prone to spin. Each company decided which issues to be responsible for and how to address them. Fortunately, there are now regulations and voluntary standards that address many social sustainability issues, providing a much-needed level of guidance and compliance. A CSR policy is still highly relevant. It provides your company with an overarching framework for declaring your intention to comply with regulations and measuring your triple bottom line. It should identify risks and responsibilities toward your staff, your customers, the wider community, and those working in your own supply chain. And finally, it should describe how your procurement, employment and operational procedures and strategies must achieve these aims. For example: • Sustainable procurement: To purchase products and materials that are certified by eco-labels that set standards for minimal environmental impact, and require evidence to support claims that materials are sustainably and ethically harvested and produced. • Wellbeing: To implement methods that improve indoor air quality and reduce surface contamination, for the wellbeing of building users. • Charities: To support those that improve the environmental and social living conditions of vulnerable people.

OPINION

SOCIAL PROCUREMENT Covering issues such as inclusivity and fair labour practices, social procurement relates to your own staff when you are the supplier of services or products, and to the staff engaged in providing the products and services you purchase. The Victorian Government has released an excellent social procurement Framework1 that covers: • Purchasing from social enterprises • Purchasing from Indigenous businesses • Purchasing from Australian Disability Enterprises • Suppliers that provide inclusive opportunities This framework requires government providers to demonstrate outcomes for: antidiscrimination, anti-bullying, equal pay, job opportunities for people with disabilities and disadvantages and purchasing from social and indigenous enterprises. Managing and reporting on your compliance with industrial laws or demonstrating your commitment to providing fair and inclusive working conditions, is not difficult. Here are some strategies to consider: • External auditing of the procedures in your quality management system. • Using software that tracks the labour hours delivered and wages paid. • Providing training and equipment to ensure cleaners can complete duties in the given time.

• Asking suppliers for evidence of their initiatives to prevent exploitation in their supply chain. • Post positive stories and photos on your website or newsletters of your social procurement policy in action. • Support charities and community programs and engage staff in events.

MODERN SLAVERY ACT You may think that slavery is not something we have to worry about in Australia, but modern slavery is a global human rights issue. The risk of forced labour is in your supply chain, not just your own company. The Australian Government enacted the Modern Slavery Act in January 2019, with reporting requirements for companies that turn over more than $100 million per annum, or $50 million in NSW. While your company may not operate in this league, your clients may well do. Dexus, Vicinity and Mirvac are three REIT (real estate investment trust) operators taking the biggest steps to identify their supply chain risks2. With a migrant, part-time workforce, working after-hours across multiple buildings, cleaners are at high risk of casual exploitation by rogue managers unless there are effective policies and systems in place to prevent it. Proving that your company has a low risk profile is now a requirement for many

corporate, institutional and government employers. There are several ways to do this: • Prepare and submit a Voluntary Statement of Compliance to the Modern Slavery Act through your operations and supply chain to the Home Affairs Office. • Directly employ your labour force and use management and payroll software that enables you to report on wages and super payments as required. • Fully disclose your sub-contractors if you use them and ensure they meet your own strict policies. • Have a sustainable procurement policy to only purchase products and materials that are certified by eco-labels that set labour and fair-trade standards. Social sustainability reminds us that a healthy and sustainable environment is a social justice issue, and a ‘clean’ cleaning company is an essential part of maintaining a clean building. ■ References: Victorian Government Social Procurement Framework: www.procurement.vic.gov.au/ files/76320119-eeaf-4926-87f1-a8ce00bda72f/ Victorias-Social-Procurement-Framework.pdf 1

Australian Financial Review: www.afr.com/property/commercial/propertyindustry-leads-on-assessing-slavery-supply-chainrisks-20190410-p51czz 2

Bridget Gardner is Australia’s leading sustainable cleaning specialist and director of High Performance Cleaning Solutions (previously Fresh Green Clean): www.hpcsolutions.com.au

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OPINION

BSCAA on the front line against sham contracting

By Kim Puxty

ham contracting, or sham subcontracting, has been a hot topic in the cleaning industry for a while now. However, there still seems to be some confusion about what it all really means and why we should be so concerned about its existence. So, as the industry leadership body, we at the BSCAA felt it was important to be absolutely clear about what sham contracting is all about, and why we are so opposed to it – whether that’s in the cleaning industry, security, hospitality, or any other industry for that matter. In this article we explain exactly what sham contracting is, common examples we might find in the cleaning industry, and why we at the BSCAA are leading an industry-wide fight against the practice of sham contracting in all its forms, both in the interests of fairness for workers and building better businesses.

SHAM CONTRACTING – THE FACTS Let’s be clear. In essence, sham contracting is a fraudulent employment relationship where the true nature of employment is disguised from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and regulatory bodies, such as the Fair Work Ombudsman. Let’s take an example. A cleaning business has an employment arrangement where individual 48 INCLEAN November / December 2019

cleaners are working at night to clean a retail premises, and each of the cleaners has an individual ABN, and each of them is paid a flat amount to clean the store. In the eyes of the ATO, that is clearly a case of sham sub-contracting. Another example is where an arrangement is made where a company engages another company as a sub-contractor and that subcontractor simply pays its cleaners a flat mount of $17.00 per hour cash in hand. In the eyes of the Fair Work Ombudsman, this too is clearly a case of shame sub-contracting. Other types of sham contracting arrangements include: building a pyramid structure of multiple companies that eventually lead to individual cleaners getting pay rates nowhere near the Award rates; calling groups of cleaners ‘subcontractors’ when in reality they are simply workers getting paid less than Award rates; and using a company to engage cleaners that never makes a single PAYG payment to the ATO, only for the company to be deregistered and taken over by a new company. The fact is, these types of arrangements were rife in the cleaning, security and hospitality industries for a number of years. And if you’ve been around any of these industries long enough, it’s likely you’ll recognise some of these types of sham-contracting arrangements yourself.

SHAM CONTRACTING ON THE ROPES The good news is that sham contracting is definitely on the way out. And there are a few important factors that are helping this along: • The first is the Tax Office system called the taxable payments reporting system or TPRS that came into force on 28 August 2019. This will provide a clear picture of who is paying PAYG and who is not. • The second is intense investigations into cleaning businesses by the Fair Work Ombudsman that is unearthing unfair work practices like never before. • The third factor is the HRC and Bayton court decisions in New South Wales that impose a penalty – called a deemed employment agency penalty – on companies that use subcontractors to reduce or eliminate its payroll tax liabilities.

STATES LEADING THE CHARGE

“

It’s clear there will soon be no room for sham contracting and unscrupulous operators in our industry.

”

Another factor forcing out the unscrupulous operators are changes to state regulations, such as the South Australian government’s intention to amend the laws regulating labour hire businesses in the state. In affect, what this means is that from 1 November 2019, if you provide labour hire services without being licensed, or you engage an unlicensed labour hire provider, you may face penalties. The particular focus of the scheme is on industries, such as cleaning, where workers are most vulnerable to exploitation due to the low-skilled nature of the work they undertake. Similar regulations are already in force in Queensland and Victoria, while the ACT is planning its own labour hire licensing laws. In Tassie, BSCAA members are literally taking the fight to the front lines by circulating newsletters and placing them in cleaning rooms of buildings, and contacting property managers they believe are being serviced by sham contractors. What’s more, they’ve won the fight to have a clause inserted into Tasmanian Government contracts that gives them the right to terminate a contract if it is determined that the contractor is engaging in sham contracting activities. When you consider all of these factors, plus the ongoing work of the BSCAA in shining a light on these issues, it’s clear there will soon be no room for sham contracting and unscrupulous operators in our industry. Finally, let’s remember that sub-contracting itself isn’t illegal or wrong. It is non-compliant subcontracting that is illegal. If you have any questions about sub-contracting, contact BSCAA National on 1800 312 970 or at national@bscaa.com. Kim Puxty is president of BSCAA National. ■

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OPINION

Getting your payroll tax right: Top tips for employers

A By David Allan

s a business, you pay tax on the profit your business makes. As an employer, you must pay tax on your workers’ wages. This is known as payroll tax. Getting payroll tax right is important. We find that many employers owe additional payroll tax due to undeclared liabilities. These employers are often subject to penalty tax and interest, in addition to the unpaid tax. We don’t want this to happen to you. We also find that many employers in the cleaning industry make the same types of mistakes when calculating their payroll tax liability. Here are some tips to help you avoid the most common errors, so that you can meet your payroll obligations and get it right the first time.

1. REGISTER FOR PAYROLL TAX If you’re an employer, register for payroll tax. You won’t need to pay if you’re under the threshold, so it’s best to be on the safe side.

2. CHECK EMPLOYEE DETAILS Ensure employee details are accurate and kept up-to-date, such as their tax file number (TFN), full name and address, date of birth, employment period and pay details, including gross wages, expenses, allowances, additional payments and hourly rates.

3. KNOW THE RATES AND THRESHOLDS Tax rates and thresholds change every year. And the rates and thresholds differ in each state and territory. From 1 July each year, ensure tax rates are updated. Particularly if you engage staff 50 INCLEAN November / December 2019

outside of the state or territory in which your business is located. It’s also good business practice to keep up-todate with payroll tax changes and stay informed about issues specific to the cleaning industry, such as the treatment of contractors.

4. KNOW PAYMENT DUE DATES It’s important you know whether you’re obliged to pay monthly or annually – your estimated tax payable in a financial year determines this. And make sure you don’t miss the payroll deadlines, as penalties can apply.

5. KEEP RECORDS You must keep accurate payroll tax records for your employees and contractors, as it helps you claim any deductions or exemptions. Records can be paper or digital and must be kept for five years. The types of records you must keep essentially confirm anything of financial worth that you give to your workers. This affects their income and the tax you must pay.

6. LODGE YOUR RETURN The best way to meet your payroll tax obligations is to complete your return accurately and consistently and lodge it by the due date with the same information you’ve provided other government entities.

7. KNOW YOUR OPTIONS There are several ways you can manage payroll tax. You can manage it yourself or employ an in-house payroll officer, use online payroll software or a

OPINION

payroll service (third-party processing company), or work with a tax professional. If you use a payroll system, ensure your wage codes are set up correctly for payroll tax. On top of this payroll tax checklist, you may also need to consider the following:

APPRENTICE/TRAINEE REBATES

SUPERANNUATION

FRINGE BENEFITS

All employee superannuation contributions you make are liable for payroll tax. This includes superannuation payments exceeding the superannuation guarantee charge, salary sacrifice amounts, and additional superannuation paid to a director outside of the payroll system.

All taxable fringe benefits are liable for payroll tax.

You can only claim the rebate on apprentices and new entrant trainees, not existing worker trainees. These employees must also be registered with the NSW Department of Industries for the duration of their qualification.

INTERSTATE WAGES

CONTRACTORS OR CONSULTANTS

You must include wages paid in other Australian states or territories when you lodge your NSW payroll tax returns. Your business can’t claim the full threshold in NSW because of interstate wages. Use these tips when you’re next calculating your annual payroll tax reconciliation. It will help you avoid costly and unnecessary mistakes, and reduce the likelihood of your business being audited.

Payments to contractors or consultants providing services under a contract are liable for payroll tax, unless one of the seven exemptions apply.

David Allan is manager, key customers, business taxes for Revenue NSW. ■

GROUPED BUSINESSES For payroll tax purposes, your business may be grouped with other businesses if there is a link between them. This will have implications on your threshold entitlements.

“

It’s also good business practice to keep up-to-date with payroll tax changes and stay informed about issues specific to the cleaning industry, such as the treatment of contractors.

”

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Enquiries Phone: +61 (0)2 9678 9577 www.sebo.com.au | info@sebo.com.au

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EverPrime EverPrime is a simple and cost-effective solution to avoid dried out and smelly floor drains, a perennial facility problem. Reduces service calls and man hours. ` Does not evaporate ` Lasts indefinitely (Unless flushed out)

BlueSeal

` For floor drains in restrooms, kitchens, A/C traps and more

BlueSeal is the original waterless urinal sealing liquid.

` $A5.00 per drain

` Environmentally friendly

Waterless Australia 0418 531 025

` Pleasant fragrance

www.waterlessaustralia.com.au

` Cost effective ` Used in waterless urinals in Australia for more than 25 years

Waterless Australia 0418 531 025 www.waterlessaustralia.com.au

YOUR TRUSTED PARTNER

YOUR RESTORATION EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST Every facility manager’s, building owner, carpet cleaner’s ideal equipment in Cleaning, Dust Management or Water Damage • Sanosil Aerosol Disinfectant • Dust Management • Moisture Meters • Sensor Push • RE-U-ZIP

GREAT PRICE

AIR SCRUBBERS FOR WORKPLACE OR FACTORY

1300 654 684 • info@der.com.au 6/413 Dorset Road Bayswater 3153

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PRODUCTS

Cleanstar expands Serengeti range Cleanstar prides itself on putting guest comfort at the forefront with its Serengeti collection of hotel amenities. In addition to its line-up of hand and body soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, shower cap, tooth brush, sanitary pack and dishwashing liquid, the range will soon be expanded to include slippers and a vanity kit, making the Serengeti collection an all-in-one solution for high quality and economical guest amenities.

Cleanstar (03) 9460 5655 www.cleanstar.com.au

Roots Wizzard floor scrubber The Roots Wizzard floor scrubber is the next generation in cleaning equipment. The floor scrubberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high-speed productivity offers businesses massive savings on chemical and water costs. Other features include: ` Highly maneuverable, compact, easy to operate ` Can be used on a variety of surfaces including vinyl, concrete, tiles, pavers or checker plate ` Quiet operation and can clean up to 450sqm per hour

Industrial Brushware 03 3 9310 1111 www.industrialbrushware.com.au

A fast, easy, convenient way to wipe away grease Clean baked-on grease quickly and easily and leave behind a protective layer that can cut future cleaning time by 45 per cent â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even after one use. ` Non-caustic with a pleasant scent ` Ideal for removing grease from stainless steel surfaces such as kitchen exhaust hoods, backsplash, refrigerator doors and non-food contact areas on fryers and grills ` HACCP international certified

3M 13 61 36 www.3m.com/wipeoutgrease

62 INCLEAN November / December 2019

PRODUCTS

Drain Solution Drain Solution utilises advanced biologically-active ingredients to digest and consume the organic soilage, food scraps and fats found in drains, grease traps and effluent waste systems. Because it removes the “food” for bad-smelling bacteria, Drain Solution deodorises pipes and drains that have had a history of bad odours and generating complaints from people using the facilities.

Agar Cleaning Systems 03 9480 3000 www.agar.com.au

XPOWER powers on XPOWER Australia’s professional range of restoration products continues to grow, becoming a powerhouse brand in the flooding and restoration industry. Leveraging its co-branding association with Cleanstar, the XPOWER brand has grown rapidly with its high quality range of air movers, blowers, air scrubbers and LGR dehumidifiers. Further highlighting this growth is the soon to be launched desiccant dehumidifiers which uses a chemically coated rotating wheel that absorbs moisture from the air, making it more effective than refrigerated models in colder climates.

XPOWER (03) 9460 5655 www.xpoweraustralia.com.au

BAC2WORK

BIOLOGICAL WASHROOM CLEANER

USE ON: TOILETS

SHOWERS

CERAMIC TILES STAINLESS STEEL

SAVE ON LABOUR Leave overnight and have bacteria do the work for you!

This non-hazardous, stable liquid suspension contains bacterial spores that consume organic waste matter, stopping the growth of odour causing bacteria. Find out more today!

1800 301 302

www.agar.com.au

12-14 Cope Street, Preston VIC 3070

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PRODUCTS

SEBO Automatic XP10 The SEBO Automatic XP10 offers easy and effective floor care automatically: A computer control system monitors performance and adjusts the brush height to the optimum floor setting, ensuring the best performance at all times on all floors. ` Featuring the anti-allergy S-Class-Filtration, the Automatic XP10 is ideal for use in environments where indoor air quality is paramount ` The compact 31cm working width vacuums between chair legs in one pass and stores neatly on housekeeping trolleys ` Low handle weight and electric brush roller assures easy vacuuming ` Integrated hose with telescopic tube is conveniently located for hard to reach areas ` Machine maintenance is quick and easy with minimal downtime

SEBO Australia 1300 697 326 www.sebo.com.au

NEW Cleanstar Carpet & Artificial Turf Rake Ever heard of a carpet rake? It is a simple tool that can help prolong the life of your carpet by loosening deep down dirt and debris from the base of your carpet fibres prior to vacuuming. Made in the USA, the new addition is light weight, easy to use, comes with a telescopic long reach handle, and is the ideal complementary tool for any commercial cleaner wanting to get the best vacuuming results.

Cleanstar (03) 9460 5655 www.cleanstar.com.au

RapidClean Automotive range RapidClean’s Automotive range delivers professional cleaning results for a wide range of vehicles and commercial equipment. RapidClean Automotive includes: ` A1 Auto Wash – Car, Truck & Equipment Wash – 5L and 15L ` A2 Auto HD – Heavy Duty Degreaser – 5L, 15L and 500ml bottle ` A3 Auto Revive – Vinyl & Dash Rejuvenator – 5L and 500ml bottle ` A4 Auto Wheel – Mag Wheel Clean & Shine – 5L, 15L and 500ml bottle ` A5 Auto Wash & Wax – For Cars, Trucks & Equipment – 5L and 15L

RapidClean 02 4721 1993 www.rapidclean.com.au

64 INCLEAN November / December 2019

PRODUCTS

Tough on grime, gentle on the environment The EarthSmart® range offers high performance cleaning with the added comfort of knowing you are not harming the environment. All products are non-hazardous in accordance with the GHS. The range is readily biodegradable and non-toxic. It is chlorine and phosphate free. EarthSmart® environmental cleaning products have been designed for use in 500ml refill-reuse bottles. Available in 5L bottle with 500ml spray bottles.

Whiteley Corporation 1800 833 566 www.whiteley.com.au

Predator MKIII - Carpet Extractor When you want a portable, fully featured carpet extractor machine, you can rely on the legendary long life and reliability of Polivac Predator. ` Designed for maximum performance and portability for large/small-scale carpet cleaning or tile cleaning ` The heart of the Predator-spring-mounted on rubber seals vacuum motors deliver vibration-free, low-noise extraction power in a minimum profile body ` Comes with 7.5m/15m solution hose and 12″ 3-jet stainless steel wand (optional Spinner tool for tile cleaning)

Polivac International 03 8378 0000 www.polivac.com.au

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PRODUCTS

IICRC standards organisational premium subscription Purchase licenses for full access to current, historical and withdrawn standards; technical papers, multimedia publications and partner organisations’ reference guides. ` Discounted rates based on your organisation’s needs ` Assign, edit and revoke from your license portal ` Any device, any time ` Save time and sort the information you need

IICRC Publications.iicrc.org

Conquest Scrub 50 Autonomous Floor Scrubbing Using advanced camera and sensor technologies, the Scrub 50 manoeuvres obstacles and patrons safely. Fully autonomous, Conquest’s Scrub 50 can be pre-programed for deployment to mapped areas for up to three hours of cleaning - day or night - improving efficiencies and reducing the cost of labour.

Conquest Equipment 1800 826 789 www.conquestequipment.com.au

66 INCLEAN November / December 2019

NEW Organic Concentrate Dispensing System.

Introducing Rubix, an innovative organic concentrate dispensing system that removes chemical wastage from your site, whilst enforcing full chemical compliance. Distributing up to four different concentrated chemicals at just the touch of a button. Dispense the Enviroplus X range into spray bottles, buckets and automatic scrubbers at the corrrect dilution rate. Perfectly paired with the organic concentrate Enviroplus X Range

E-Guard X

E-Surface X

E-Washroom X

E-Z-Kleen X

E-Power X