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2009 Worldwide Soap & Cleaning Compound Manufacturing Industry report now available
The Worldwide Soap & Cleaning Compound Manufacturing Industry report, published annually, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics.
The report features 2009 current and 2010 forecast estimates on the size of the industry (sales, establishments, employment) for the 47 largest world countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, China, Japan, India, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa.
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£451 million - the cost of the global recession on the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry
The recession has cost the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry £451 million in lost profit in the last year according to new research by market analyst Plimsoll.
David Pattison, senior analyst and author of the Plimsoll Analysis – Cleaning Equipment & Materials, says: “The recession has hit the sector hard with more than half of the companies analysed in our new report making less profit than they were a year before. The bill in lost profits stands at £451 million.”
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8 Solutions wins major contract with ISG
Specialist data centre cleaning provider, 8 Solutions, has been awarded the Enhanced Builders Clean and Clinical Clean package, for information firm Electronic Data Systems’ new flagship data facility, being built by Interior Services Group.
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£2400 fine after cleaning injury
A Teesside food firm has been fined £2,400 after a worker’s hand was trapped between the rollers of a cooling conveyor while he was cleaning it.
The Baked Snacks Company of Middlesbrough, was also ordered to pay costs of £2,000 and a victim surcharge of £15 at Teesside Magistrates’ Court after it pleaded guilty of two breaches of The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
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Adler & Allan: absolutely A list
Adler and Allan, one of the UK’s leading oil and environmental service groups, has announced three major customer contract renewals..
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AHCP 2009 deemed "Best ever"
The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals says that its 34th annual conference & exhibition, held last month in Glasgow, proved to be the most successful event to date, with record numbers of delegates and exhibitors.
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AHCP's 2010 Conference & Exhibition will be held in Bristol
Following its highly successful 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Glasgow this June, the Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals has announced headline themes and a new format for its 2010 event, taking place 8th - 10th June next at the Bristol Marriott Hotel, City Centre.
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AHCP Conference organiser now taking bookings
With the theme of ‘Hand in hand: caring for our patients, our colleagues, ourselves’, the 35th annual Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals' conference will focus on the patient experience, explore & strengthen partnerships between professional industry colleagues and challenge existing practices. Those attending the event, which is taking place at the Bristol Marriott Hotel City Centre, from 8 - 10th June, will benefit from:
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AMA report provides a major review of the UK commercial washrooms market
The UK commercial washrooms market was estimated to be worth £346 million in 2008, according to the second edition of the 'Commercial Washrooms Market' report recently published by AMA Research.
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Andersen Company publishes new Green Matting Catalogue
The Andersen Company has published its new Green Matting Catalogue.
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And in the US the dirtiest hotels are...
TripAdvisor also announced yesterday, for the fourth year, the top 10 dirtiest hotels in America, based on traveller ratings for cleanliness. They are:
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Anheuser-Busch cleaners brew up a storm
Despite years of dedicated service at Anheuser-Busch's Newark brewery, the long-standing brewery cleaners found themselves without a job earlier this week. The company's new cleaning contractors have refused to accept job applications from these men and women.
"Doesn't Anheuser-Busch get that we need to feed our families?" asked Luci Peralta, a cleaner who has worked at the brewery for six years. "With no income, I don't know how I'll put food on the table and make our house payments."
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The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games will use a mixture of new, existing and temporary venues, with their cleaning, facilities management and waste disposal having a broad requirement across these disparate venues. The centrepiece of the games is in the regenerated Stratford in east London, which will be the site of the Olympic Park.
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Annual benchmark survey shows massive UK-wide rodent pest surge
A massive surge in rat and mouse problems across the UK has been revealed in the latest National Pest Technician’s Association benchmark annual rodent survey.
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Anti-social clean up role for GumBusters machines
With the disgusting aftermath of widespread binge-drinking creating a serious anti-social blight, with pools of vomit and urine making a stinking mess of shop doorways and public footpaths in town centres all over the country, an important new role is being played out by GumBusters machines - that of killing potentially harmful bacteria and eradicating odours.
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A pleasantly scented room will elicit fairness and honesty from its occupants, new study finds
The odour in a room is enough to elicit a stronger impulse towards fairness, researchers from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University have claimed. They believe their research proves there is a correlation between hygiene and decency and that by improving our environment we can improve our behaviour. The research found an increase in ethical behaviour when the smell of a fruit-scented cleaner fills a room.
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AQS makes the case for high performance green schools
US House Resolution HR 2187, the 21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act, is being considered by the US Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. This resolution will boost national efforts to make US public schools safer, healthier and greener, and will direct more than $6 billion to school renovation and modernisation projects. Further, if this bill becomes law, school districts would be assured of quickly receiving funds for improving schools' teaching and learning environments, health & safety, and energy efficiency.
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Are bugs recession-proof?
A Florida company which is one of the leaders in growing bacteria for cleaning, reports that its sales were up 32% in 2008 compared with 2007 - despite the nation's economic problems!
"The microbe business is wonderfully healthy," says Lauren Danielson, executive vice president of Osprey Biotechnics.
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Are you bagging up and binning it?
‘Bag it Bin it’ campaign, which enjoys the support of the AA, the RAC Foundation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, aims to alert road users to the problems that litter can cause on motorways and major A roads.
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Last Monday, Advanced Sterilization Products, a leading global infection prevention solution provider, announced the acquisition by its French affiliate, Apsis S.A.S., of Gloster Europe - a privately held developer of innovative disinfection processes and technologies to prevent healthcare-acquired infections. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
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Asset Skills will outline its new qualification at series of free roadshows
Asset Skills has launched details of its Public Service Skills Framework in conjunction with ‘Get on at Work’, a series of Foundation Learning Tier qualifications, together with the dates and locations of a series of free roadshows.
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Association celebrates 'International Pooper Scooper Week'
The Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (aPaws) was founded in February 2002 by a group of US pooper scoopers who believe every dog should have its day. In recognition of a growing problem in communities, environment and water tables, aPaws has established a special week of educating pet owners on the importance of cleaning up after their dogs.
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A tall storey?
According to an Associated Press report, a Wisconsin window cleaner has endured a six-storey fall but has survived to tell the story of his ordeal.
Alex Clay, 21, said the problem developed when he noticed a clip on his gear for rappelling wasn't fastened. He took comfort though in the fact that his safety line was connected on the back of his harness and the efforts of a colleague to pull him back up.
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A test case: proving biocidal efficacy
In the face of competition from copycat products, DCCL - manufacturer of residual biocide-treated disposable cubicle curtains – decided to take proactive measures to prove its curtains’ efficacy. Research organisation Campden BRI was selected to provide independent verification, and the results were conclusive: DCCL’s impregnated curtain material inhibits the growth of MRSA, E. coli and VRE.
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Attaining (and maintaining) hygienic environmental surfaces
Faraday Partner in science and technology to the UK, William F. (Bill) Hadley, CEO of Bio-Pro Research, has lectured globally on bio-technology applications in environmental health and facility maintenance. Here he explains some of the misconceptions regarding surface cleaning and the products used.
Attaining and maintaining a truly hygienic condition in facilities has become a major focus as it has been determined that environmental surfaces in public environments can pose a formidable foe in the battle against communicable diseases.
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Australian Cleaning Institute
We have Mail
Hi Jan,
Recently you ran an article about the Australian Cleaning Institute. The institute has become the voice of the cleaning industry in Australia and at this point it has all the established cleaning associations as members. Individual cleaners at this stage can't become members so I have started www.individualcleaner.org
I have attached a brief promo which the cleaning magazines in Australia will be running possibly in their next issues. Many Individual Cleaners don't receive these magazines but possibly receive your emag.
Any chance of putting the promo up on your emag so all cleaners in Australia have a fair chance of seeing it? (Click here for the open letter download)
Patrick Burgess
T: 0419 424 130
sonsan@bigpond.net.au
Australian building service contractors are being encouraged to plan their industrial relations strategy to ensure they comply with the new industrial relations laws there.
“As we are entering a period of significant change to industrial relations laws, labour intensive businesses such as cleaning contractors need protect themselves against risk of action for non-compliance”, warns Rodney Barnes, National President of the Building Service Contractors Association (BSCAA).
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By way of explanation, earlier in the year the Commission set a series of minimum rates of pay and allowances which will be compulsory to be paid from 1st January 2010. These rates and various other matters form part of the Modem Cleaning Award. The Modern Cleaning award must also be read in conjunction with the National Employment Conditions which includes information on Sick Leave entitlements, Holiday Pay and Loading, Long Service Leave etc.
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Avica UK, the fast growing, Watford and Tunbridge Wells based distributor of janitorial supplies, catering and medical products and equipment; has redesigned and doubled the size of both its trade counters in a move to provide an enhanced customer service and greater product displays. The Watford base has added space by expanding into the building next door, and the Tunbridge trade counter has moved to a new ground floor showroom.
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Avmor seals its sales in floorcare!
Avmor UK, the supplier of the popular Canadian range of professional cleaning chemicals, has announced a rapid growth in sales for Distance, Acra-Lok and Lokseal, which are three core products in its floor finishes and sealers line.
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Awards ceremony honoured UK's best cleaners
The skills and talents of the UK's best cleaners were recognised at an awards ceremony in central London recently.
The entrants took part in two cleaning competitions organised by Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the cleaning industry. One contest was open to industry, the other took place within prisons.
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Award-winning cleaning chemical range explained
In this article, Daunpol explains the benefits of its new NanoClean line of professional chemical products, which won a Golden Broom award at last month's ISSA/Interclean exhibition in Poland.
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Award-winning documentary 'The Philosopher Kings' cleans up the janitor stereotype
In search of wisdom found in unlikely places, a new documentary film, 'The Philosopher Kings', takes us on a journey through the halls of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the US to learn from the staff members who see it all and have been through it all: the janitors.
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Backing a winner at Newmarket Racecourses
ACS has been appointed to provide cleaning services to the prestigious Newmarket Racecourses, the Rowley Mile course and the July course, for the year 2009. The company - based in Exning, just outside Newmarket - won the contract even though it was up against event cleaning specialist companies. It will be responsible for providing full facilities preparation, event cleaning, litter picking and window cleaning at both courses.
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Bad corporate manners can damage a company’s health!
One in six jobseekers aged over 50 feel that they are treated like second-class citizens when applying for jobs, according to a survey to determine the views of older jobseekers, carried out by online recruitment agency SkilledPeople.com.
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Battle to improve England's dirty streets must continue
Minister for Sustainable Development & Innovation, Lord Hunt, has called for the public and local authorities to step up the fight against litter as the latest Local Environment Quality Survey shows that streets around the country are still in an unsatisfactory condition.
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Baudoin Wash-Systems wins Green Clean Award at Pulire, Verona
Baudoin Wash-Systems b.v. has echoed its success at this year's Cleaning Show in England, where it won an Innovations Award for its ergonomical and ecological Indoor Clean Pole, with a win the the recent Pulire exhibition in Verona, Italy - this time in the Green Cleaning Awards programme.
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Beijing achieved cleaning & hygiene goals during Olympics
Beijing achieved and largely exceeded the drinking water and waste-management goals it set as part of its bid for last summer's Olympics, according to a new report.
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Belfast's Martin Services grows even bigger
Martin Services, the well-known independent distributor and supplier of hygiene and first aid products to the industrial and commercial markets, has announced a further acquisition: the distribution business of Hygiene Plus in Belfast has been acquired by its subsidiary Hilditch Martin Services.
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Benn's Bill will send packaging waste packing
UK consumers will see a major overhaul of all packaging over the next decade, under plans announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn at the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Futuresource conference.
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Berlin cleaning show set to defy financial crisis
CMS 2009 – Cleaning. Management. Services. is just four months away and already bookings are at their highest level yet for this four-day industry event, which takes place every two years.
More than 300 exhibitors from over 20 countries will be presenting an up-to-date review of the products, systems and processes covering their entire field of cleaning technology. In addition a 24,000 square metre display area will be devoted to special shows with a practical emphasis, dealing with the subjects of 'Cleaning Glass and Facades', 'Aerial Work Platforms' and 'Expanded Services'.
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BICSc Awards: the photos
A gallery of photos from the recent BICSc Awards is available for you to view.
Big clean-up in Bulgaria's capital
Some 400 cleaning machines have been used by several contractors working together, in a week-long 'crisis' clean-up of Bulgarian capital Sofia. The companies include Iskar 200, Sodos 'Construction and Restoration', Transport construction & restoration' and Novera. Some 1,500 workers were initially involved; these were later joined for the second stage of the clean-up by 1,500 sweepers. Extra cleaning inspectors were also employed.
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'Big guns' aim to help employers nurture recession-stressed employees
New guidance, jointly funded by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development, the Health & Safety Executive and Investors in People, is launched today as part of a four-year project to identify the management behaviours that will help organisations reduce stress at work.
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A littered and dirty environment encourages crime, damages tourism, and dampens the spirits of those living in the area or passing through it. In a bid to encourage members of the public to sign up to its latest campaign and help make their neighbourhood a better place to live, Keep Britain Tidy is about to kick off its 50-day-long tour - the Big Tidy Up - which will cover locations across northern England.
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On Tuesday, Bio-Clean, the distributor of non-toxic, non-corrosive and biodegradable commercial cleaners and solvents, has entered into a letter of intent to acquire American Bio-Tech Cleaning, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bio-Clean International.
ABT currently supplies the cleaning products that Bio-Clean distributes. All the companies are based in the US.
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Biodegradable chewing gum still a sticky problem
The launch of a new biodegradable chewing gum does not give users a licence to 'chuck', says Keep Britain Tidy.
This warning comes in the wake of media coverage about the new product and its potential 'environmental benefits'.
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BioNeutral's Ygiene achieves world's fastest kill time with 100% total spore eradication
BioNeutral Group has announced that ATS Labs, using the EPA required AOAC Sporicidal Test with Ygiene Hospital Grade formula, delivered a 100% total kill of over one million live Clostridium Sporogenes spores in a four minute time frame - performance which is up to 75 times faster than some well known competitive products.
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Bio-Productions acquires Brapack and Xola
Bio-Productions acquired well-respected UK chemical manufacturer Brapack / Xola on 19th December, with the directors of both companies working together to facilitate a smooth transfer over the Christmas & New Year holidays.
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Black box signals U-turn in bad driver behaviour, turning White Van Man into Golden Boy
The knave of Britain’s highways and byways will be transformed into the king of the road by the latest technology, says mobile resource management company, Trimble MRM.
The 'Driver DNA' Box can be attached to any vehicle and records where it is travelling and even how it is being driven. Trimble then sends the diagnostic information back to the business so managers can monitor bad driving habits and how well the car is running.
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bpi.recycled products supports major green cleaning event
In line with its commitment to both the environment and its customers, Europe’s largest supplier of refuse sacks is set to speak at a major green event for the UK’s cleaning industry.
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Britain's central government could cut costs by managing its cleaning contracts better, says NAO report
Central government could make large savings by better managing its contracts for services such as cleaning, catering, security and IT, according to a report issued by the National Audit Office. Better contract management could potentially generate estimated savings of between £160 million and £290 million a year, across total annual expenditure on service contracts of around £12 billion. In addition, nearly all the organisations surveyed for the report thought that better contract management could improve the quality and/or quantity of the services provided by suppliers.
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Britain to become a 'zero waste' nation
The path to Britain becoming a zero waste nation was announced on Tuesday by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn at a summit of Local Authorities and the waste industry.
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BTA Conference 2009 sees launch of 'Where can I go?' campaign
Despite the current economic climate, the 2009 edition of the annual British Toilet Association Conference and AGM, held two weeks ago, was well attended - attracting delegates from BTA members, senior representatives from leading Local Authorities and companies involved in providing and supplying toilets. The Agenda was designed to provide an overview of topical issues, introduce innovation, and offer solutions to toilet providers. The new BTA ‘Where can I go?’ Campaign was also launched at the conference.
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Bucking the economic trend: it's Capital!
Bucking the economic climate in which many companies are struggling, Kent-based Capital Cleaning Supplies has completed its second successful acquisition in 12 months. Last Spring it took over Medway Hygiene and this month Force Five was absorbed into the Capital group.
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Byotrol wins major food hygiene award
Byotrol, an anti-microbial technology that includes a range of surface cleaners and hand sanitisers, has been awarded the Best New Product at the annual Society of Food Hygiene & Technology Awards in recognition of its ground-breaking technology and incredible anti-microbial efficacy.
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Call for UK independents to unite in adversity
Bob Vincent, Executive Chairman of the successful national independent LCC Support Services organisation, has offered management support to smaller UK independent cleaning contractors during the current recession.
The offer includes a package of all non-cleaning activities such as BICSc and IOSH training, health & safety courses, site risk assessment, payroll and invoice management, access to equipment and a full management and HR back up service.
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Canadian parent sells Kruger UK
Kruger Tissue in the UK has been sold by its Canadian based parent to the owners of Northwood Paper Sales.
The deal was struck when it became clear that the UK based manufacturer and converter was no longer core to Kruger Inc’s long term strategy. Having considered a number of options, the synergy with the Northwood owners, headed by Paul Fecher, not only secured short term objectives, but provided an ideal springboard for the future growth of the company.
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Carpet & Upholstery cleaning courses: well worth attending
Anyone contemplating setting up in business as a carpet cleaner could find a weekend in Leicester well spent.
This is where the National Carpet Cleaners Association is holding its next training course, aimed at both newcomers to the business as well as more experienced professionals, who may wish to extend - or update - their technical skills and knowledge, or perhaps complement the training courses provided by equipment manufacturers.
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Car valeting company taken to the cleaners
In a recent employment law case the Court of Appeal decided that a group of 20 self-employed car valeters who worked for Autoclenz were actually employees. Qdos Consulting examines the details.
This judgement will raise alarm bells for those businesses that use sub-contract labour on a frequent and ongoing basis in the genuine belief that those workers are self-employed. The case further highlights the different approaches used in determining employment status when considering employment rights as opposed to tax.
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Celebrity Chef fronts Fattrap launch
Organic Absorbents, manufacturer of the Fattrap environmentally-friendly fat catching device, has pulled off a coup with the signing of celebrity chef Brian Turner, CBE to formally launch the product at a series of events across the country. A key part of his role will involve encouraging people to use the Fattrap as a clean, cost-effective and convenient way of disposing of unwanted cooking fats and oils, without damaging the environment.
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For tourists, local New Yorkers and avid lovers-of-the-arts alike, the best 'seats' on Broadway this holiday season are in the Charmin Restrooms! CProcter & Gamble's Charmin teamed up with non-profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to present 'Bathrooms over Broadway', the first-ever Broadway show in a bathroom.
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Chemex International is expanding its overseas network following a surge in demand for its cleaning and hygiene products. The company is set to open up distribution operations in the Middle East, Western Europe and South Africa.
Since it was formed 22 years ago UK based Chemex has grown to become a leading supplier of cleaning and hygiene materials in Europe with operations in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Now it is looking to strengthen its European arm by expanding into Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain.
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Hygiene specialist Chemex is working with environmental health departments across the country as part of a campaign to help restaurants and food producers run safe and successful businesses.
Chemex and EHOs are staging a series of focus groups across the UK for butchers and meat producers to provide them with the latest information on hygiene systems and food safety standards.
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Chemical dispensing and dosing - consumer demand crossing to commercial, says PVA
Growing consumer demand for cleaning chemical solutions that do not require mixing and dispensing is crossing over into the commercial sector, says specialist provider PVA Hygiene.
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Chemstar's supermarket deep cleaning programmes combat Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli
Food retailers concerned about pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli in their perishable departments can now outsource deep cleaning services to Chemstar, a company that operates food safety and sanitation programmes throughout the US and Canada. In response to increased concern about food safety, Chemstar has expanded its sanitation services to include deep cleaning in perishables departments such as deli, bakery, meat, seafood, and produce.
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China and UN plan Carbon Exchange
China and the United Nations are working to set up a carbon trading exchange in Beijing - a move that would establish the Chinese capital as an important Centre for the multibillion dollar global trade in carbon credits, according to the UN's top official in China.
If successful, the exchange, which would be the first in the developing world, would compete with private sector carbon exchanges established in Europe and the US, and would help to open up further the lucrative Chinese market in carbon credits.
Reproduced with kind permission of China Clean Publication (CCP)
clean-china.com.cn
China's demand for recyclable materials helps boost prices
Greater demand from China is helping to increase prices for recyclable materials from the UK, Waste & Resources Action Programme's Director of Market Development, Marcus Gover, told an Associate Parliamentary group of MPs, Peers and industry sector representatives in London earlier this week.
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Five hospital officials have been sacked for their lack of action in containing infections in at the Jixian County Maternal & Child Care Service Center, the largest hospital of its kind in the Jixian county of Tianjin, northern China. The poor hygiene lead to the deaths late last month of five newborn babies, who developed breathing difficulties and died four days later. A sixth was still undergoing treatment as this news item was being prepared.
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To mark its 20th anniversary, Principle Cleaning Services held a celebratory event on 20th May for staff, clients, suppliers and guests. Valued client Christie’s - the world famous auction house, kindly played host and provided an exquisite room for the evening.
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CIPD cuts through TUPE complexities with practical guidance for people managers
The Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development today launches practical guidance on the people management requirements of organisations involved in business transfers and service provision changes.
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CIPD/KPMG quarterly survey points to even bigger jobs cull and tighter squeeze on pay
The latest quarterly Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development/KPMG survey of employers' recruitment and redundancy plans indicates that UK job prospects are deteriorating 'at an alarming rate' while the size of average pay rises is shrinking.
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CIPD offers a helping hand with its guide to internships
On Tuesday, the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development launched 'Internships That Work' to help employers deliver effective internships across the UK as part of the drive to combat the growing problem of youth unemployment.
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Cities with highest rates of skills shortages risk long term cycle of decline
As Corby, Walsall, Swindon, Blaenau Gwent and the Wear Valley emerge with the UK’s fastest rising rates of unemployment over the past year, new research from The Work Foundation argues that it is cities with the highest numbers of people with low or no skills that are faring the worst during the recession.
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Citrica takes swipe at swine flu with Selgiene Ultra
Citrica, which tells us that it is the first commercial cleaning company to gain the Carbon Trust Standard and to be recognised as Carbon Clear, has extended its green range of consumables with the introduction of the swine flu and MRSA cleaning product Selgiene Ultra.
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CK Group member CK Consumables has won the Open Tender contract from Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust hospitals for the supply of cleaners' microfibre trolleys and consumables.
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From 1st January 2010 all cleaners employed in Australia will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Cleaning Industry Award 2010. In addition the Government has set out a schedule of National Employment Standards which cover minimum hours, annual leave, long service leave, personal leave, redundancy and so on. This means that in five years time, workers in all states will have the same pay awards and conditions.
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Following the win of major energy provider NPower, cleaning companies Keep IT Clean and Eastern Knight Services have announced a new partnership whereby both companies will refer their existing and potential clients to each other. This is following the successful implementation of an initial trial period which has yielded promising results.
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Cleaning firms warned: You spend too much on fuel
Cleaning companies have been warned that they are probably over-spending on diesel and petrol. Steve Clarke, general manager of The Fuelcard People, said:
“Any cleaning firm without a fuel card will be losing money, while even those who already have one may be missing benefits. Anyone who thinks that all fuel cards are the same is wrong and almost certainly over-pays as a consequence. Every day, thousands of cleaners’ vans and other vehicles are refuelled at pump prices, although discounts of 10p per litre and more are available. It is financial madness to pay for fuel without enjoying discount pricing.”
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Only one public hospital in the country has been rated by patients in the top 10 cleanest hospitals in Ireland, with the others in the hygiene top 10 all private hospitals, according to the latest figures from irishhealth.com's Rate my Hospital facility. However, a number of public hospitals have been rated as cleaner than some private centres, according to the data.
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Cleaning machinery not meeting new regulations will have to be mothballed
This coming December 29th, the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC comes into effect. It will apply to all commercial cleaning machines, so manufacturers must adapt their products as well as related documents to the new legislation.
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Cleaning tips for this winter
by Dolana Blount, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Senior Microbiologist at PURE Bioscience
With the swine flu vaccine inaccessible to many so far this year, the next best thing is disinfecting homes and workspaces to keep them virus free. However, there is a lot of misinformation about what kills H1N1 and what doesn't. For instance, popular alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not kill viruses - only bacteria. Although it's true that alcohol makes your hands inhospitable to viruses (reducing the amount of the virus that will cling to your hands), the threat of the virus remains.
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Clean Tile and Grout Training Centre up and running!
Clean Tile and Grout - the specialist providers of machines and services for tile and grout cleaning and Colour Sealing has opened its custom built Training School and retail outlet.
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Cleen Rite 2000 goes the extra distance with Teupen spiderlift
Using this Teupen Leo36T spiderlift, difficult nooks and crannies are no object to cleaning specialist, Cleen Rite 2000, in maintaining the sparkle to windows at Newcastle-upon-Tyne's flagship Trinity Gardens.
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Cleaning workers: new guidance issued
The European Agency for Safety & Health at Work has issued new guidance publications and videos on ensuring the health and safety of cleaners, as part of last month's European Week for Safety & Health at Work.
The reports highlight the health & safety risks posed by cleaning work, and explain some of the steps that have been taken at European, national and company level to deal with them.
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CMS 2009 exceeded expectations
With the international cleaning trade fair CMS 2009 – Cleaning Management Services - having come to a successful conclusion there are signs that the cleaning industry is recovering.
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A scheme that puts graffiti vandals to work cleaning up a local area of Southampton has been praised by the government's Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey.
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Company fined £8,000 after employee falls from height
Employers are being warned by the Health & Safety Executive to ensure they assess the risks of falling from height in the workplace, make proper plans for work to be carried out at height and supervise the work adequately.
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Company fined after worker suffers fatal injuries after being run over at work
The Health & Safety Executive is urging companies to ensure that sufficient safety procedures and risk assessments are in place to properly protect staff, following the prosecution last week of John Stacey & Sons.
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ISSA has this week released initial details of the conference programme it will be organising at the ISSA/Interclean-Amsterdam 2010 exhibition, which is being held from 26th to 29th April at the RAI Exhibition Centre, Amsterdam.
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Contract cleaning market to ‘replace & replenish’ in 2010 The UK contract cleaning market responded quickly and positively to the recession in 2009, according to a new report from MTW Research, with streamlining activities preventing spiralling declines in profitability and standing the market in good stead for growth in 2010.
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Coverall named among '50 Top Franchises for Minorities' for third consecutive year
Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System, a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses, announced yesterday that it has been recognised as one of the '50 Top Franchises for Minorities' by the National Minority Franchising Initiative for the third year in a row.
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Cover your cough!
Marvin Klein of PortionPac Corporation, writes...
The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued an estimate that "Hundreds of thousands of Americans could die of Swine Flu (H1N1) over the next two years if the vaccine being developed for this Influenza is not effective or if enough vaccine is not available for everyone, and at the pandemic's peak as much as 40% of the work force could be affected."
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Crothall Services Group, of Pennsylvania, US, has completed the requirements for the Cleaning Industry Management Standard certification programme, and says it is the first company dedicated exclusively to healthcare support services to receive the certification from ISSA. In addition, ISSA has granted Crothall the certification with honours.
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CSSA Luncheon
I was lucky enough to attend the 42nd Annual Luncheon of the Cleaning & Support Services Association last week. It's always a pleasure to be a part of a gathering of industry players and I only wish I could include more of what I learn at these 'do's' in Cleanzine (but I'm always made to promise not to before the incriminating information is divulged...)
Addressing the assembled guests, CSSA Chairman Douglas Cooke confirmed that the CSSA is doing well despite the recession and is investing some of its growing cash reserves in activities such as providing training and certification services - something that will be available to members in the coming months. He went on to outline other achievements...
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CSSA tells NHS "We can help", following Care Quality Commission's latest report
The Cleaning and Support Services Association today welcomed the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s report on NHS Performance ratings 2008/09.
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The deadline is looming for young cleaners to be entered in to two high profile cleaning competitions.
Entrants are wanted for EuroSkills in Lisbon 2010 and WorldSkills in London 2011. Both contests offer cleaning employers the chance to showcase their staffs’ talents to a wide audience and gain substantial positive publicity.
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Defying the downturn: Evans Vanodine exports janitorial supplies to over 60 countries
Preston-based Evans Vanodine, which exports its janitorial supplies to over 60 countries, is riding out the recession thanks to its robust international trade strategy, which is allowing it to continue expanding despite the economic climate.
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Dema's latest offerings are priced lower than previous systems
Dema has produced a new range of chemical proportioning systems, called Dilution @ Hand Extreme, which, it tells us, is priced lower than all the company's previous systems.
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Double sustainability coup for SCA
Tork washroom systems manufacturer SCA has again been included in two prestigious Dow Jones sustainability indexes.
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Do your surfaces hold a dark and dirty secret?
If a surface looks clean, then it most probably is, right? Wrong! Many surfaces may look clean because they appear to be free from stains; however surfaces such as toilet seats are a common breeding place for a vast array of bacteria that can be very harmful to humans who come into contact with them. With the risk of Swine Flu on the increase, it is even more important than ever to make proper surface hygiene a main concern to stop cross contamination.
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Draught marks: a widespread problem with a range of solutions
Chemspec Europe's Julie Roberts explains those bands of grubby carpet often found alongside skirting boards - and - more importantly, just how to get rid of them.
Draught marks have a variety of causes but, essentially, are the result of the filtration of soiling that passes through the carpet fibres. The soiling is usually airborne, carried by draughts passing under doors or through the gaps between floorboards.
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Dry Fusion MD Appointed Executive Director of LMCCA
Shaun Bradbury, Lancashire based Managing Director of Dry Fusion UK, has been appointed European Director to the Low Moisture Carpet Cleaners Association (LMCCA).
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Early success of new digital laser label printer "Astonishing" says Greyland
Greyland, one of the leading cleaning chemical manufacturers in the UK, recently installed a new digital laser printer and already the new technology has had "Astonishing" success, according to Sales Manager Roger Davies, who himself ran a label printing business several years ago.
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EC explains thinking behind illegal workers directive
The European Commission has defended its recent Directive which sanctions against employers of those it terms as 'illegally staying third-country nationals' or those who have no right to work in the country in which they're living.
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Ecolab has acquired the UK pest elimination business of ISS. Sales of the acquired business are currently £4million.The business operations and staff will be integrated with Ecolab's existing UK Pest Elimination business. No further details were disclosed.
www.ecolab.com
Ecolab announces that it has developed Exelerate ZTF, a breakthrough cleaning programme to help food manufacturers address the growing problem with cleaning zero trans fat food oil residue from processing equipment and environmental surfaces.
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Ecolab earns fourth consecutive 'Best Places to Work' award
Ecolab was recognised as one of the 'Best Places to Work' in the Twin Cities of Eastern Minnesota for the fourth consecutive year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Ecolab was named one of the top-scoring businesses after its associates completed an employee survey conducted by Quantum Market Research and the Business Journal earlier this spring.
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Economic maelstrom brews ‘perfect storm’ for executive derailment
Research of 14,000 UK employees by people assessment company, Talent Q, has shown that as the economic squeeze continues, ‘executive derailment’ is a growing phenomena and likelihood. As individuals face increasing pressure to achieve more with less, underlying personality characteristics come to the fore, with the potential to create havoc in organisations.
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Elder Pharmaceuticals' tie-up with Sterisol AB improves product portfolio
Setting its sights on the fast growing infection control segment, the multi-billion turnover Elder Pharmaceuticals has formed a strategic alliance in this sector with M/s Chemische Fabrik Dr. Weigert GmbH & Co. KG, a German and European leader in equipment, services and technologies for infection control related to operating theatres, diagnostics, patient hygiene, patient handling and wound care. Elder is already well established in this segment by virtue of its existing tie-up with Ms Sterisol AB of Sweden.
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Emcor awarded contract extension with Natural History Museum
Emcor Group (UK) has been awarded a three-year extension of its facilities management contract with one of London’s most iconic institutions, the Natural History Museum.
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Employee survey highlights mistrust of management, as redundancy takes toll on survivors
The damaging impact of redundancies on staff morale, combined with a fundamental lack of trust in senior management, threaten to undermine the performance of companies just as they are preparing to capitalise on early signs of economic recovery. These are the findings of a survey of 3,000 employees for the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.
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Envac scores at Wembley
Already a major player in over 30 countries, Swedish company Envac's rubbish removal system has now successfully transferred to the landmark Wembley City development in the UK where it is removing rubbish via underground vacuum pipes. The development involves some 85 acres of land surrounding the new Wembley Stadium, and will eventually comprise up to 10 million sq.ft (929,000 sq.m) of residential, retail, commercial and leisure space as well as extensive public open space and 4,200 homes.
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In 1979 a first-class letter cost just 15 cents to mail in the US, the unemployment rate was 5.8% nationwide, and, even more important, environmental concerns were on the rise. Following the accident at Three Mile Island and a sustained gas shortage, consumers were starting to take more notice of natural resources and environmental conditions.
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EU gets involved in fight against healthcare-acquired infections
The number of patients in the EU with at least one hospital-acquired infection is estimated at 4.1 million patients - equivalent to one-in-20 hospitalised patients. These infections are often difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance of the micro-organisms causing them, and with the increasing mobility of populations within and between healthcare systems and the freedom in the European Union to seek medical treatment outside the country of residence, resistant micro-organisms can rapidly spread between countries.
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EUnited Cleaning, the European Association of leading cleaning machine manufacturers, held its General Assembly at the recent PULIRE 2009 exhibition in Verona. As well as discussing many topics important to the industry, the assembly elected a new Board for the next three years.
Bernd Heilmann (HAKO) was confirmed as President and the former Vice Presidents Markus Asch (Alfred Kärcher) and Lars Gjødsbøl (Nilfisk Advance) were also re-elected.
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Eurest Services substantially expands international contract with Shell
Eurest Services, part of Compass Group, has signed one of the largest international food and support services contracts of its kind with the global energy and petrochemicals company, Royal Dutch Shell.
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European workers face new and increasing health risks from hazardous substances
Contact with a wide range of chemicals and other hazardous substances at work is endangering the health of workers across Europe, and nanotechnology is one of the risks causing most concern to experts from 21 European countries.
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Europe's top companies need to learn lessons of past recessions, says report
One in three companies across Europe is preparing to cut its full-time workforce, according to a survey by The Boston Consulting Group and the European Association for People Management. But business leaders risk doing long-term harm to their companies if they repeat some common mistakes made during the last recession, warn the report's writers.
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ExpoClean Moscow
ExpoClean, the 11th international exhibition for the cleaning industry, and Dry-Cleaners and Laundry Moscow, the 8th international exhibition for dry-cleaners and laundry, takes place on from 18th - 20th November 2009 in Olimpiysky Complex, Moscow. The projects are organised by Primexpo (St.Petersburg) and ITE Group (London).
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Ex-Truvox trooper Simon Collins launches floorcare machine business
Following nearly five years as National Sales Manager with Truvox International, Simon Collins has started his own business, Industrial Floorcare Machines (UK).
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Facilities Management market set for change in 2010
The Facilities Management market will continue to see a dramatic shift toward multi-service provision in 2010, according to a new market report from MTW Research, with FM clients following ‘flight to price’ procurement strategies to reduce outsourcing costs.
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The latest in-depth study from consultancy and research specialist AMA reports that the Facilities Management market has shown good growth since the early 1990’s, and that this is influenced by the desire to control operational efficiencies and costs, as well as more recently a trend within the private sector for companies to refocus their business to concentrate on core competencies.
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When infection outbreak threatens your business, your staff and your sales, one call to SitexOrbis can get your offices, your warehouse and your vehicles totally disinfected in a matter of hours from your call, so that 99.99% of all viruses and bacteria present are eliminated.
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FCC approval for Chicopee J-Cloth wipes
In this ever changing marketplace where hygiene is one of the most important factors we face, J-Cloth can give you the cutting edge difference, for it is stronger then ever and now has Food Contact Clearance approval according to the latest EU regulations.
J-Cloth wipes have been recently granted the Certificate of Compliance by the German test institute ISEGA for direct food contact.
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A campaign to give females improved choice, dignity and safety in continence care is promoting the use of female urinals.
While it is standard practice for male patients who are unable to access toilet facilities to use urinals, and devices are widely available both in hospitals and the community, the use of urinals by women is very limited.
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"Fewer job cuts to come", reveals new comparative US/UK labour market data
The proportion of US employers making cuts to their workforces has more than halved in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter, with the UK predicted to follow suit.
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Fighting to remove low pay from our public services
GMB Scotland - the Union that represents many of the lowest paid workers in the public sector, such as cleaners, road sweepers and refuse collectors - has welcomed the latest step in the fight to remove low pay in the public sector.
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The Health & Safety Executive has warned of the importance of using safe working procedures when cleaning machinery, following the prosecution of East Lancashire Box Company of Rishton, Lancashire after a 16-year old employee's hand was dragged into a printing machine while he was cleaning it. The company was fined a total of £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,451 costs.
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Firm fined £180,000 after recycling site fatality
The Health & Safety Executive issued a warning this week about the potential risks to those working in recycling centres, after a major industry player was fined over the death of an employee at the Kingshill Recycling Centre at Cricklade, Wiltshire.
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Since their launch in 1990, the Tidy Wales Award ceremonies have recognised individuals, businesses, schools and voluntary organisations that have gone the extra mile to make real and lasting improvements to their local areas.
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Flush-wiser from PHS Washrooms supports Loo of the Year Awards 2009
Leading washroom services provider PHS Washrooms, has announced that its award-winning WC flush-control device, Flush-wiser, is supporting this year’s Loo of the Year Awards.
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FM Employers plan to create thousands of new apprenticeships
A new apprenticeship is being fast-tracked that will enable thousands of young people to be taken on in facilities management.
Around 10 major FM companies including Interserve, MITIE, Carillion and OCS have called for the new qualification following the government’s recent push on apprenticeships fronted by Sir Alan Sugar. It comes as Apprenticeships Minister Lord Young this week announced a further £7 million to fund more apprentices during the downturn.
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FM Outsourcing, Central & Local Government Markets report 2009-13, now available
The Facilities Management market has shown good growth since the early 1990's, influenced by the desire to control operational efficiencies and costs across a wide variety of sectors, as well as more recently a trend within the private sector for companies to refocus their business to concentrate on core competencies.
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FM to benefit from £25m to fund NHS apprentices
The Government has announced funding for facilities management apprentices in the NHS just as the new apprenticeship in FM is officially approved. The money is part of a £25 million package to more than treble the number of apprenticeships in non-clinical roles such as estates and facilities management, catering and IT support and clinical roles such as dental nurses and pharmacy support workers.
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Forthcoming Amsterdam show will feature 'High Pressure' pavilion
ISSA/Interclean 2010's 'High Pressure' pavilion will spotlight specialised cleaning methods in the field of high pressure cleaning. The interactive pavilion will showcase products and parts for graffiti, paint and chewing gum removal from floors and façades, and the cleaning of cars, machines and streets. But less familiar pressure washer technologies will also be on show - such as blast cleaning, reaching hard-to-access areas and chemical and industrial cleaning.
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FPB public procurement research reveals ‘postcode lottery’ for council suppliers
A major study by the Forum of Private Business has revealed vast differences in the amount of time British councils take to pay their suppliers.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the FPB asked local authorities across the UK how quickly they pay firms providing them with goods and services.
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Free exhibitions highlight innovation
JohnsonDiversey will be highlighting innovation, cost savings and sustainability at a series of free 'Changing World' exhibitions taking place across the UK during the summer.
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Despite the fact that we did not get the snow we were expecting this week, we probably haven't seen the back of the bad weather so Barbour Environment, Health & Safety's latest specialist guide could well prove useful.
‘The Barbour Kit for Coping with Snow and Ice’ features useful and detailed information on the topic of coping and working safely in cold weather conditions and is split into four parts:
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Further Capital growth as Express Cleaning Supplies enters the fold
Bucking the current economic downturn, where many companies are struggling, Kent-based Capital Cleaning Supplies is doing very well, having just completed its third successful acquisition within the last 15 months - that of Worcestershire-based Express Cleaning Supplies.
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Gap yawns between the sick and the healthy in UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials market
The first snapshot of how the cleaning equipment & materials market is changing as a result of the UK economic slowdown has just been released by industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing.
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GBM makes shoppers feel secure
GBM Support Services Group has again been recognised for its good work - this time at the SCEPTRE Awards.
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Georgia-Pacific Professional expands 'Green by Design' platform with Ecologo certified products
Earlier this week, Georgia-Pacific Professional announced EcoLogo certification of a broad selection of the company's tissue, towel and napkin products. This designation by the EcoLogo Program - a third party environmental certification organisation, is another building block in the company's 'Green By Design' programme.
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Germany's cleaning industry in the downturn: the experts' views
At a press conference last week, a group of Germany's cleaning industry experts gave their take on how the economic downturn is affecting the industry. They warned that the trades providing building cleaning services are expecting a general downturn in the frequency and scope of cleaning work as a consequence of the economic crisis.
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"Get a grip," says CIPD
An alarming number of UK organisations do not calculate how much they spend in total on remunerating staff (including base pay, variable pay, benefits and employer national insurance contributions), according to this year's Annual Reward Management Survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. Almost half of the organisations surveyed (46%) fall into this category.
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The recession is starting to bite and many cleaners will no doubt be feeling disgruntled that the annual Christmas party has been cancelled this year.
They may still be feeling a bit miffed when they turn up after the holidays so what better way to put a smile back on their faces than to invite a new member of a popular family into the cleaning cupboard?
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Taipei residents are claiming that the Environmental Protection Administration's move to hire short-term contractors to report - but not clean up waste - is just a poorly planned scheme to boost employment.
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Global demand for green cleaning products growing faster than was forecast
Gearing up to meet the environmental challenge, the global cleaning products market is projected to reach €37.6 billion in 2009, growing marginally by 1.1% over 2008 estimates. This market is forecast to touch €48.3 billion in 2014, with a Compound annual growth rate of 5.1% during the 2009 - 14 period, according to a new study by IntertechPira.
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Goan beach cleaning contracts being investigated
Goan tourism minister Francisco Xavier Pacheco has promised to get the Vigilance Department to launch an enquiry into the area's beach cleaning contracts, following accusations that government money is "being siphoned off in the name of beach cleaning."
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Golden Service Awards 2009: celebrations all round
More than 500 professionals from the cleaning industry converged upon the Lancaster London Hotel last Friday to see the winners of the 2009 Golden Service Awards receive their awards. The event began with a champagne reception and an opportunity to network, before everyone was ushered into the plush dining room for a lunch that culminated in entertainment by comedian Jason Manford.
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Principle Cleaning Services, now in its 20th year, won its Award for its work for Carillion and the Sports Complex at the University of Hertfordshire, just four months after being awarded a £1.7 million contract for the vast majority of the University Estate at the De Havilland and College Lane Campus.
Chief Executive Douglas Cooke (far right of picture) said: “This is great achievement for the company and particularly special in our 20th year. I would like to thank all the staff who have worked so hard to make this contract successful and I am extremely proud that they have been recognised for delivering high cleaning standards for the University.”
www.principlecleaning.com
Grand Teton Lodge shares sustainability success story on Earth Day
Using green products throughout the entire operation for cleaning and chemical needs and maintaining a 50% waste-diversion rate by recycling or reusing everything from food waste to horse manure, are just a few of Grand Teton Lodge Company's environmental achievements outlined in its latest sustainability report. GTLC tells us it celebrated Earth Day by releasing the report in an effort to encourage continuing dialogue within the tourism industry on best practices for reducing environmental impacts.
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Greater council savings possible with smarter procurement - Roots review
Earlier this year, Cleanzine ran a news item headed: 'Central Government could cut costs by managing its cleaning contracts better, says NAO report'. The findings of this report have been underlined and expanded upon by a further independent report published today, which says that councils can make even greater savings through improved procurement processes. This will of course impact on suppliers of cleaning equipment and disposables used by councils with in-house cleaning services.
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Green Bridge Industries acquired by NXGen Holdings
NXGen Holdings is entering the $17.5 billion industrial and household cleaning products industry by completing the acquisition of Green Bridge Industries, which manufactures and distributes non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products. NXGen will be applying for a name and symbol change in the near future to better reflect the overall business strategy of the company.
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Green Bridge Industries to enter industrial and institutional cleaning products market
Green Bridge Industries has acquired Brightside Products, an innovator of all natural based, eco-friendly chemicals, from Organic Products Solutions in exchange for $300,000. The acquisition, along with the company's relationship with Shot Spirits Corporation, will enable it to enter the industrial and institutional cleaning products market, which is estimated to grow to $10 Billion in the United States by 2012.
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Green Sack scoops gold
Since their introduction, the Green Sack range of 100% recycled refuse sacks has gained firm favour with most of the major names in the facilities management and cleaning industries. Now it seems their popularity has spread even further afield with the products recently scooping an award - in the marketing sector.
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Green Seal's Cleaning Product Standard defines leaders
Green Seal, the 3rd-party certifier of green products and services, first published its standard for institutional cleaning products - GS-37 - in October 2000, and this, it says, has become the single most-referenced environmental standard in the cleaning industry.
Increased concerns about the impact of chemicals on health and the environment have led to the recent revision of this standard. The final result of the 21-month revision process, completed at the end of August 2008, is a standard that Green Seal says represents leadership in the industry and takes environmental stewardship and the protection of human health to a whole new level.
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Greenspeed expands European distribution network
In the past few months, Greenspeed, the Dutch supplier of microfibre cleaning products, has expanded its international distribution network to three new European countries; the UK, Germany and Italy. By doing so, the company’s vision of ‘Being a Leading International Brand in Innovative Cleaning Solutions Based Upon the Microfibre Technology’ is being realised step by step.
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Greyland becomes a member of the CHSA
Greyland, one of the fastest growing cleaning chemical manufacturers in the UK has become a member of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA).
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Greyland brand products undergo a change of image
Greyland, fast becoming one of the leading cleaning chemical manufacturers in the UK, has redesigned its own brand product labels.
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Greyland is 10
Soon to be celebrating its tenth anniversary, leading UK cleaning chemicals manufacturer Greyland has not only now achieved the latest ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Standard but has also further invested in new equipment at its Stockport, Cheshire, factory, including one of the latest chemical-resistant digital label printers that is capable of even sharper customer images and logos than ever before.
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Greyland to play Knebworth
Of course, we don't mean Knebworth the famed music venue held at the grand country estate, instead we do mean Knebworth the Golf Club.
Taking place on 5th September, the golf tournament is organised by Phil Wilkinson of Turners Cleaning and Support Services, a 40 years established cleaning company based in nearby Stevenage, Herts.
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Greyland's famous five
Greyland delivery lorries travelling up and down the country are fast becoming a common sight on the roads these days, with most deliveries being accomplished within four days from order, and with the Next Day service becoming increasingly popular, it seems that the lorries are always on the road!
As the company goes from strength to strength, two more vehicles, making five in all, have now joined Greyland's existing fleet.
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Gross germ-spreading behaviours remain the norm, despite flu season concerns
Do you cough without covering your mouth while standing in the lunch queue? Or sneeze loudly into the air when squeezed onto the morning bus? Nearly all Americans (96%) have seen you do things like this -- and a shocking three quarters (77%) say they are guilty themselves - and no doubt it's the same wherever you go in the world.
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Growth of biocides used in disinfectants and sanitisers exceeds growth of specialty biocides in US
Average growth of specialty biocides used in disinfectants and sanitisers in industrial, institutional and household cleaners was 2.9% in 2008, which exceeded growth of the overall biocide industry in the US (downplayed due to recession to 1%), according to the latest research Specialty Biocides 2008: A Global Series of Regional Market Analyses, from worldwide consulting and research firm Kline & Company.
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Hand cleanliness swab tests help Cannon Hygiene prove a point
Cannon Hygiene shared in the success of Leisure Industry Week 2009 with huge interest in the company’s stand which this year featured a message of high current importance to the industry – ‘How Safe Are Your Hands?’.
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Hands up for hand hygiene
Deb has produced a suite of new educational posters to highlight the importance of adopting good hand hygiene practices in the workplace.
Christine Mottershead, Marketing Director at Deb advises: “Employers can encourage good hand hygiene practices by providing easy-to-understand employee educational materials on the importance of keeping hands clean.”
The posters are available to download free from Deb’s website and can be printed for use around the workplace.
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The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health has announced the launch of the CIEH Level 2 Award in Environmental Principles & Best Practice. The one day course will provide awareness of key environmental concepts and an introduction to environmental management. It is designed to educate every member of the workforce whose activities could have a significant impact on the environment. In addition, the qualification will support managers who are being introduced to environmental issues for the first time.
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Helping European social policymakers fight undeclared work
Some 5% of workers in the 27 EU Member States and Norway carry out undeclared work, seriously affecting public finances by tax and social contributions, according to a new report from Eurofound, the Dublin-based EU Agency.
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Help at hand for small firms struggling with employment law
The Forum of Private Business has launched its new Employment Guide to help small businesses comply with employment law, which is an increasing headache for companies forced to make redundancies because of the recession or dismiss staff following disciplinary breaches.
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Here's the World's Fastest Female Window Cleaner
England's Deborah Morris, from Hayle, Cornwall, became the World's Fastest Female Window Cleaner, in a competition held by the Federation of Window Cleaners in Blackpool recently.
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High level window cleaner achieves ISO 9001:2000 certification
Leading high level window cleaning company J V Price has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 Certification, as provided by ISOQAR with the help of Linden Management Services.
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The University of Iowa has created a low-cost, green technology to track the use of hand hygiene dispensers used by healthcare workers.
Epidemiologists and computer scientists collaborated to develop a novel method of monitoring hand hygiene compliance, which is essential for infection control in hospitals.
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The Brazilian Association of Market Cleanliness Training (Abralimp) opens the next Higiexpo – Fair of Products and Services for Hygiene , Cleaning and Environmental Preservation, and also Higicon – International Congress of the Professional Cleaning Market from 5th to 7th of August, in São Paulo, Brazil.
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Hilex Poly announces plan to double recycling capacity
Hilex Poly, a leading manufacturer of plastic bag and film products and the operator of what is thought to be the world's largest plastic bag recycling facility, has announced its plan to double recycling capacity at its North Vernon, Indiana facility.
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Hired instrument helps hospitals check swine flu safety masks
As part of a strategy to manage the swine flu pandemic, hundreds of respiratory face masks worn by staff at hospitals and in primary care across Hertfordshire have been checked by advanced Fit Tester instrumentation hired from Ashtead Technology.
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Hit TV show turns spotlight on cleaning as new apprenticeship is launched
A new apprenticeship scheme for cleaning would have helped teams on a recently screened episode of hit show The Apprentice avoid the pitfalls that led to a mauling from Sir Alan Sugar.
The programme, in which young entrepreneurs compete to become an apprentice to Sir Alan, showed how tough it is to run a successful cleaning business.
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Hospital cleaners worth more to society than City bankers
On Monday, the New Economics Foundation released a study that places hospital cleaners above City bankers in terms of their worth to society. Titled ‘A Bit Rich’, the report on the social impacts of six different professions revealed that City workers, advertising executives and tax advisers destroyed financial wealth, while hospital cleaners, childcare workers and staff in the waste-recycling industry all create a positive return to the British economy.
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Hospital grade antimicrobial proven inert to steel
BioNeutral Group announced today independent steel corrosion test results conducted at Criterion Chemical. Following an impartial blind testing protocol, Ygiene hospital grade antimicrobial was found to be completely non-corrosive to steel.
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Hospitals and care homes need to improve communication to prevent infections
The Care Quality Commission has set out its concerns around the lack of communication between care homes and hospitals in preventing infections passing between these two settings. The CQC found that there was a need for hospitals and care homes to provide information about infections to each other to make sure that people with, or recovering from, an infection are cared for properly and to reduce the chances of other people being infected.
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Hospitals in India's fifth largest city inspected for cleanliness
The health and sanitation facilities at a number of hospitals in Kanpur, India's fifth largest city, were inspected recently following an order by the Chief Minister, reports the Times of India.
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Hotel workers' study reveals more injuries for women, Hispanic and Asian workers and that housekeepers face most risk
A landmark study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine finds that for US hotel workers, injury rates are higher based on sex, race/ethnicity, job and hotel employer, that housekeepers face the highest rate of injury and that these injuries are preventable. Study results were presented last week at the American Public Health Association's 2009 annual meeting in Philadelphia.
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How's your building ambience?
The hunt is about to commence for buildings that are designed for effective cleaning – both from a cost and user comfort perspective.
The 2009/2010 Building Cleanability Awards will be the eighth scheme promoted by the cleaning industry Livery Company – The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, supported, as Awards Patron, by The British Cleaning Council.
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How many germs does your keyboard conceal?
Research into the cleanliness of offices shows that each square inch of a keyboard can contain up to 3,295 different kinds of germs, and that bugs such as listeria or salmonella can linger for up to 24 hours on the keys, the computer mouse and phone. Statistically, that makes your workstation dirtier than the average toilet. When the IT equipment you use is shared with colleagues such as in call centres or 'hot desk' environments the problem intensifies.
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Integrated Cleaning Management has won a major contract with Europe’s largest racquets and health & fitness club operator.
David Lloyd Leisure has over 78 clubs in the UK, and ICM – said to be the country's largest independent specialist provider of cleaning and related services – has landed a deal covering over 50% of the estate in England and Wales.
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The International Facility Management Association has announced the formation of the Religious Facilities Community, a useful new 'community of practice' devoted to those who work as full-time, part-time or volunteer facilities managers in their houses of worship.
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IFMA Names Tony Keane President and CEO
The International Facility Management Association announced yesterday the appointment of Anthony 'Tony' J. Keane, CAE, as the association’s new president and CEO from 18th January next. His appointment coincides with the announced retirement of David J. Brady, current IFMA president and CEO, at the end of February 2010.
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IFMA Foundation releases Facility Management Higher Education Guide
The IFMA Foundation has announced the publication of the first 'North American Facility Management Degree Program Guide'.
The new guide provides a listing of all known facility management programmes in North America. Its purpose is to help educational institutions develop standards for facility management curricula and the details of the course of study. It also serves as a reference for students, educators and professionals interested in facility management higher education degree programmes.
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IFMA releases new benchmarking research
The International Facility Management Association has released 'Operations and Maintenance Benchmarks, Research Report #32', a study outlining the facility trends affecting workplaces throughout North America.
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While many of those living in the UK are angry that their weekly bin collections are going to be reduced to once a fortnight, those in Shanghai have for some time been facing a different problem: how to get rid of illegal rubbish collectors.
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Impact of cleaning up after the night out
Measures to combat the impact of alcohol on communities have been unveiled by both Labour and the Conservatives, as the two main parties target excessive drinking to help fund the additional cost of policing and cleaning up after nights out.
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From 1st July, the contact details for the British Cleaning Council will be: 478-480 Salisbury House
London Wall
London
EC2M 5QQ
T: 0207 920 9640
F: 0207 638 6990
Improve cleaning and greening while cutting costs
Xpedx, one of the largest US distributors of cleaning and maintenance supplies and equipment, says it can show property owners and managers how they can reduce total cleaning costs while improving building cleanliness, health, safety and sustainability.
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Incentive FM acquires Quality Assured Services
Leading independent facilities management company Incentive FM has acquired Quality Assured Services, in a move designed to complement its existing FM business and further strengthen its presence in the commercial cleaning sector.
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Indian city hopes 35 new cleaning machines will deal with 'choked sewerage' system
The Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana, India has invited tenders for the supply of 35 sewerage cleaning machines, which it hopes will help solve the problem of the city's 'choked sewerages'. Cleanzine understands that four private bidders have applied for the tender.
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The Indian Minister of State for Ministry of Railways, Dr. R. Velu, has announced stringent guidelines to keep the Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation's catering, or 'pantry' cars clean and hygienic. He warned that punitive action will be taken, if the pantry cars are found the to be in an unhygienic condition.
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Industry giant Balfour Beatty Workplace joins CSSA
Balfour Beatty Workplace, a market leader in support services to both private and public sector customers, has joined the Cleaning & Support Services Association. Until recently known as Haden Building Management, the company has a total workforce of 10,000, with revenues of over £400 million through providing facilities management services to clients such as the BBC, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Metropolitan Police.
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Infection Control specialists team up for hospital infections TV documentary
"Tackling MRSA and other hospital related infections" is one of a series of documentaries to be aired via Sky TV and simultaneously broadcast on the NHS TV web site.
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Initial Washrooms make 10% energy savings with Gem traps
Initial Washroom Solutions is fulfilling its environmental pledge of reducing energy usage by installing the award winning Venturi orifice traps from GEM. Trialled at the company's new Reading plant, which has a number of on- site steam meters, Initial Washroom Solutions was able to verify a 10% saving in energy consumption despite there being no failures with the plant's mechanical traps.
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Integrated Cleaning Management delivers the goods for Comet
Integrated Cleaning Management has been awarded a new contract for cleaning services for Comet. With more than 250 stores throughout the UK, Comet offers a range of services including home delivery, full installation of products, take back facilities for large products, and a comprehensive after sales service. The Comet team takes pride in a trading philosophy based on three principles: best price, best choice, best service. This is reflected by the supply partners with whom Comet chooses to work.
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IntoCleaning reduces costs for Stratstone of Cheltenham Land Rover by 30%
One of the region’s leading cleaning service companies, IntoCleaning, has been appointed by Stratstone of Cheltenham Land Rover following a competitive tender.
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Ionised water technology now proven to kill 99.999% of common bacteria
Activeion Cleaning Solutions used the recent ISSA/Interclean North America show to announce the testing results which will support the introduction of its second product, the Ionator. When used as directed, the Ionator has demonstrated that it can kill more than 99.999% of common bacteria. It also provides the same great cleaning performance of the widely adopted Activeion Pro.
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Irish hospital first to fight HAI's with copper
An Irish hospital is thought to be the the first in the world to specify hygienic copper door handles throughout in a bid to reduce healthcare associated infections such as MRSA.
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ISSA & CSSA renew strategic alliance
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has renewed its business alliance with the UK's Cleaning & Support Services Association.
The agreement allows for CSSA members to have access to ISSA’s vast collection of cleaning industry articles and publications and also to purchase educational products at discounted rates.
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ISS and Canary Wharf go for extended rally at squash tournament
The upcoming ISS Canary Wharf Classic has been buoyed by the news that leading international facilities services company, ISS, will be extending its association with the event for at least another two years.
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ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2010 brought forward a week
Amsterdam RAI and its worldwide alliance partner ISSA have announced new show dates for ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2010. The show, which will now take place from 26th through 29th April 2010, will be one week earlier than initially planned.
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ISSA launches green cleaning university programme
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is to launch a new sales-education programme called ISSA Green Cleaning University, with a view to helping members better understand and utilise green cleaning in their sales activities.
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ISSA launches Spanish-language website
ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has officially expanded its global member services by launching a Spanish-language website dedicated to the association's Spanish-speaking membership base. The new site serves as the only comprehensive website dedicated to the Latin American cleaning market, providing regional news updates, educational videos, ISSA membership and services information, and much more.
www.issa.com/latam
ISSA putts its way to success
The inaugural ISSA UK Cleaning Industry Golf Day was held at the end of June 2009 at the Toft Golf Club in Lincolnshire. ISSA, the world's leading association for the cleaning and sanitary services industry, hosted a sociable day of golf for its members including industry-leading firms such as Truvox, Vectair, Chemex, Greyland, Numatic, Radal Technology and SRS Clean. The line-up was completed by players from the CHSA Council, CPD and ex Council Member, Colin Haynes.
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ISS has been ranked as the seventh best company in the world among the best service providers and advisors. The list of the top 100 outsourcing companies has just been published in the American Fortune Magazine, known for its Fortune 500 lists of the largest US and international companies.
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ISSA releases first European-language educational quick clip video
In an effort to expand its educational offerings to European members, ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, has released the first in a series of Educational Quick Clip videos recorded in European languages with English subtitles. The video, 'Advancing the Industry in Poland', was recorded in Polish and features Polish Cleaning Association (PCA) President Marek Kowalski.
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JohnsonDiversey announces name change and investment deal that will massively boost sales growth
Cleaning industry giant JohnsonDiversey and Clayton Dubilier & Rice - one of the oldest private equity investment firms in the world, announced an agreement under which a CD&R-managed fund will invest $477 million for a 46% equity interest in JD as part of a broader recapitalisation transaction valued at $2.6 billion.
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Karcher reveals that Britain is a nation of dirty car owners
'Manners maketh the man', the saying goes, but 'motors maketh the man' could be a lot nearer the target. Why? Because your car says as much about you as a well-tailored suit or the latest gadget (and our headline may not be as ambiguous as it seems!).
And yet, as a Karcher survey reveals, 40% of us only wash our car every few months.
Other findings show:
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K-CP donates supplies to assist flood cleanup efforts
Kimberly-Clark Professional is donating thousands of health and hygiene products to help businesses and residents in Fargo, ND, US, clean up from the extensive damage caused by the recent Red River flooding.
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K-CP's European factories now meet ISO 14001 environmental standard
Leading washroom and hygiene products supplier Kimberly-Clark Professional has achieved ISO 14001 certification at each of its European manufacturing sites. Certification to the internationally accepted, independently audited standard demonstrates that the company has introduced an Environment Management System within its tissue mills.
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Kent Council determined that 'Garden of England' won't be rubbished
Kent County Council is set to become the first county council in the UK to use SmartWater, an innovative crime reduction strategy which will help in the fight against fly tipping. SmartWater incorporates state of the art forensic technology which will be used strategically as part of a proactive drive by Clean Kent to try and eliminate this type of environmental crime by bringing those responsible to justice.
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Kerbside or co-mingled collections? Quality should come first
Sorting household recycling at the kerbside is the best and cheapest option in most cases, according to Waste & Resources Action Programme, which used the platform of the FutureResource conference to present the results of three years' investigation into the subject. The presentation coincided with the launch of a leaflet ‘Choosing the Right Recycling Collection System’.
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Kimberly-Clark to cut 1,600 salaried positions globally this year
Kimberly-Clark Corporation has announced actions designed to improve its competitive position and become a stronger, faster, and leaner organisation. The company said it will reduce its worldwide salaried workforce by approximately 1,600 positions by the end of the year.
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Kimberly-Clark Corporation has today announced stronger fibre sourcing standards that will increase conservation of forests globally and will make the company a leader for sustainably produced tissue products. Greenpeace, which worked with the organisation on its revised standards, announced that it will end its 'Kleercut' campaign, which focused on the company and its brands.
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Laid-off cleaners set up protest camp outside employer's HQ
On April 30, one hundred cleaners and their supporters marched and set up a permanent encampment on the pavement in front of Cisco Systems' corporate headquarters in San Jose, California, to protest against the firing of more than 75 low-wage cleaners. The cleaners, many of whom are single mothers, say they cannot pay their rent this month, and are instead camping in front of Cisco until the company orders its contractor American Building Management to reinstate them.
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Landfill down; recycling up, figures show
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs today published provisional estimates from the Department's survey of municipal waste in England, incorporating the first quarter of the 2008/09 financial year (April to June 2008). These results are based on information supplied by all 394 local authorities to WasteDataFlow.
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Landmark redundancy decision for Australian cleaning services
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has issued a determination that the redundancy provisions within the National Employment Standards can be amended in respect of the Cleaning Services Award 2010.
This means that, on change of contract, provided a certain process of consultation and cooperation is met, redundancy payments on loss of contract do not apply to the cleaning industry to employees who are engaged by the incoming contractor.
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Latest industry report reveals many companies still rated as strong
A new study by industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing looking into the financial state of the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry has, despite the UK recession, awarded 226 of UK’s top 651 Cleaning Equipment & Materials companies a strong financial rating for their outstanding financial performance.
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LCC Support Services gets some Northern soul
LCC Support Services, the national independent contract cleaning specialist, has made its first acquisition as part of its plan to open new bases around the UK to service its national clients.
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LCC helps keep healthcare regulator clean
LCC has won another contract for its growing healthcare office cleaning business.
The latest win is the Nursing & Midwifery Council offices in Portland Place, London W1. The cleaning work includes daily office cleaning, periodic cleaning, window cleaning, day janitors and provision of consumables.
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Following a highly successful pilot project, leading support services business, LPM Group, is expanding the coverage of Vision Site Manager across many locations throughout the UK. Indeed, this clever software solution is now such an integral part of the overall LPM support service offering that the company has rebranded it as 'LPM Vision'.
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Police in Gwent, Wales, believe that a chemical leak at a South Wales specialist liquid laundry detergent plant was caused deliberately.
Officers called to Eastern Valley Chemicals on the Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate in Blaenavon, early one morning last week, discovered that valves had been deliberately turned on - causing large quantities of various chemicals to spill from containers.
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Lockheed Martin awards Incentive QAS key contract
Leading global security company Lockheed Martin has awarded a three year contract to Incentive QAS, part of the Incentive FM Group, to provide cleaning & support services at its high security site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire.
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London's litter blitz underway
A three-metre wall of waste kick-started London's latest litter blitz... The 1,000 bag Trafalgar Square rubbish site represented 1% of all litter found on the capital's streets every day and it gave a clear message to Londoners to take action and join the Capital Clean-up campaign.
As part of the campaign, litter pickers will be unleashed across the city at events including 140 clean-ups led by McDonald's and the intensive graffiti and litter cleanse of the Grand Union Canal in Camden (26th/27th May).
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A familiar name to many Cleanzine readers, industry sales and management recruiter m2r has been invited to no 10 Downing Street to talk about its successful export strategy in the Middle East.
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'Magic' works for new Queen Elizabeth Hospital
With the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham opening in June 2010, senior managers at both Sellyoak and Queen Elizabeth hospitals have already decided to look to the future and invest in 125 of the new Magic trolley systems to accompany their microfibre mopping operations. The trolleys are currently being used on the Selly Oak site prior to the move next year.
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Engaging staff could help the UK thrive in the upturn, is the unanimous verdict of 150 CEOs and HR Directors from companies employing over one million UK employees, polled for a business leaders' conference held today by employee engagement survey specialist ETS.
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Make sure the sanitisers you are using to combat swine flu are capable of doing the job
Mike James of Bio-Productions, writes...
During the past months there have been a number of articles in national newspapers, magazines and trade journals about the growing resistance to 'super-bugs' or viral strains such as Swine Flu which have become progressively more tolerant to disinfectants and sanitisers.
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Offering car owners quality professional car washes that reclaim and recycle treated water for future wash cycles, while discharging effluent to a sanitary sewer system, has led to certification under the International Carwash Association's WaterSavers programme for Splash Car Wash of Conneticut, USA.
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Malaysia's Premises & Public Cleaning Inventory almost complete
Datuk Zaini Md Nor, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia's National Solid Waste Management & Public Cleaning Corporation, announced at the start of the year that the premises and public cleaning inventory, which involves some five million premises nationwide, is 80% completed.
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McDonald's customers "worst in the country" for littering
Keep Britain Tidy has named McDonald's as the most littered fast food brand in the country, having found the company's burger wrappers and drinks cartons littering our streets more than any other brand in its first ever snapshot survey of the problem, which it carried out in 10 city centres and suburbs/out-of-town locations across England.
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McDonald's is overall winner 0f UK's Loo of the Year Awards
McDonald's has won the much coveted UK Overall Winners Trophy in the 22nd Anniversary Loo of the Year Awards competition to find the very best 'away from home' washrooms in the UK.
Awards managing director, Mike Bone quotes: "The UK's restaurant and hospitality sectors are placing significantly increasing importance on provision of first class toilets that contain the facilities their customers need and expect when visiting their premises. McDonald's has continued to improve the quality of its customer toilets since winning National Awards in previous years.
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Mexico's 'Cleanest City' Award to become annual as part of anti-litter campaign
Yesterday, as part of an ongoing effort to clean up Mexico, the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, and Grupo Salinas Founder and Chairman, Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego, made awards to the winners of the Ciudades Mas Limpias de Mexico, (Mexico's Cleanest City) Recicla 2009 (Recycle 2009) and Lideres ambientales de la Comunidad (Community environmental leaders) contests as part of the Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico (Clean Up Mexico) campaign. Also participating in the awards ceremony was Yucatan Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco.
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Midland Linen chooses Girbau for quality cleaning performance and cost savings
Leading West Midlands linen hire company Midland Linen Services, is benefiting from substantial efficiency gains and cost savings after having installed the latest in a long line of high-speed washers from Girbau UK.
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Minimum workplace heating requirements: things you should know...
John McClean, the GMB Union's National Health & Safety Officer, tells us that the GMB has taken a large volume of calls during this severe cold spell, from members as well as the public, regarding the law on temperatures at work.
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MITIE awarded preferred bidder status for Derbyshire BSF project
MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and asset management company, has been awarded preferred bidder status for the Derbyshire County Council Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project as part of the Equitix consortium. The deal will total £65 million for MITIE, running over a period of 25 years and will see MITIE providing facilities management to 46 schools across the county.
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MITIE crowns the Real Apprentice 2009
MITIE has awarded the prestigious title - the Real Apprentice 2009 - to joint winners Gary Cupid and Abdul Razak. The Real Apprentice is a best practice employer-led training programme run with ELBA, (East London Business Alliance). It is currently open to everyone between the ages of 17-25 and takes away the barriers to employment faced by young people from disadvantaged areas in East London.
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MITIE helping to improve Edinburgh's city centre
MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and asset management company, is helping the world famous city of Edinburgh to be even cleaner and friendlier. MITIE has won a contract with Essential Edinburgh, the city centre's Business Improvement District company, to improve the city's visitor perception and make it more environmentally friendly.
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MITIE launches CarbonCare – the fully integrated carbon & energy management service
MITIE has launched CarbonCare – thought to be the first fully integrated carbon management service providing organisations with an all-encompassing service to manage energy usage and carbon emissions.
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MITIE moves into No 10
Barack Obama has moved into the White House and MITIE has moved its cleaning head office into No. 10... Sadly it's not 10 Downing Street but No. 10 Brook Office Park in Bristol.
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More companies to take zero-tolerance approach to vehicle damage recharges
More companies are planning to tighten up employee accidental damage recharge policies as a Masterlease survey reveals that almost 95% of businesses regularly receive cars back with unexplained dents and scrapes.
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Moscow's 11th international cleaning exhibition incorporates 8th laundry & dry cleaning show
The 11th International Exhibition for the cleaning industry, ‘ExpoClean’, will be held on from 18th through 20th November in the Olympisky Complex in Moscow. The 8th International Dry-Cleaners & Laundry Exhibition will be held at the same time. The events are organised by Primexpo (St. Petersburg), part of the ITE Group (UK).
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Most successful RWM ever heralds expansion for environmental sector event
“Recession? What recession?” was heard up and down the aisles at this year’s Recycling & Waste Management exhibition. Confirming its place as the number one recycling and waste management exhibition in the UK, RWM 09 attracted more visitors and exhibitors than ever before.
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Mouse nest found on policeman's desk
Exterminators called in to deal with a mice infestation at a London police station found a nest on one officer's messy desk.
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Muscle and joint pain costs European economies up to €240 billion a year
A new study has found that musculoskeletal disorders (the umbrella term covering over 200 conditions that affect the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, peripheral nerves and supporting blood vessels, causing pain and functional impairment to sufferers account for nearly half of all absences from work and 60% of permanent work incapacity in the European Union.
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Naming and shaming improves hospital hand hygiene 300%
In a presumably sterile environment such as a hospital, diligence of staff washing their hands when moving from patient to patient can easily be taken for granted. Yet, according to The Joint Commission, handwashing failures contribute to healthcare-associated infections that kill nearly 100,000 Americans each year and cost U.S. hospitals $4 billion to $29 billion annually to combat.
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National business award for redundant worker who invested wisely
A former factory worker who used his redundancy payment to start a new business and a new life has had his achievements recognised with a national award.
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With their worst fears of prolonged recession behind them, CEOs' confidence for future growth has bounced back from the gloomy prospects of a year ago, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers 13th Annual Global CEO Survey, released on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos.
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The growing asthma & allergy friendly Certification Programme in the US announced on Tuesday that it has developed and adopted a certification standard and testing protocol for HEPA, (high efficiency particulate air) Air Cleaning Devices.
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A Kent hospital that was at the centre of an investigation in 2007, following the deaths of an estimated 120 patients from C.difficile, has made "substantial improvements", according to a report issued by the Healthcare Commission last Friday. The report says that the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust must maintain momentum and make further improvements.
Better standards of cleaning and staff training - helped by an extra £1million allocated to the cleaning budget - have been identified as key improvements. Extra cleaning staff have been appointed, new audit systems implemented, and urgent cleaning needs are being more rapidly addressed.
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Professor Hugh Pennington has called for local authorities to set up a programme of audits to ensure that all schools have adequate toilet and hand washing facilities. The recommendation comes in his report into the September 2005 outbreak of E. coli in Wales and has been welcomed by hygiene consultant Mike Burton.
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New commercial buildings cement IFM's prospects in Vietnam
The Vietnamese integrated facilities management services market is poised grow, thanks to a spate of construction activities, especially in the commercial office space in cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In fact, in Ho Chi Minh City, grade A office space is likely to increase to three times its current size between 2009 and 2011. Hanoi is also expected to experience signification expansion of office space in 2009, and the overall occupancy is projected to be around 90%.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan Integrated Facilities Management Services Market in Vietnam, finds that market earned revenues of $1.2 million in 2008 and estimates this to reach $12.9 million by 2015.
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New Contract Wins for Temco
Following closely on from its contract wins in the defence sector earlier this year, Temco continues to power ahead with four new awards. This includes Fluor in the engineering sector, Cobham in defence again, Renesas in software and RSA in security.
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Initial Facilities Services has combined its PROtech IT Hygiene and HItech Cleaning Solutions businesses to create what is believed to be the UK's largest desktop and data cleaning services provider. The move follows an increase in the demand for computer and telephone hygiene services following the Swine Flu outbreak and the growth of specialist cleaning sectors such as the £40 million data centre market.
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In addition to its 'Cleaning Windows Safely' Institute of Occupational Safety & Health-accredited training launched in 2008, The Federation of Window Cleaners has launched a New Training DVD: 'Safe use of portable ladders and Waterfed Pole systems'.
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New HMRC team targets employers who flout Minimum Wage laws
This year heralds a new strategy in the fight to rout out rogue employers who flout the National Minimum Wage regulations. HM Revenue and Customs’ new Dynamic Response Team will work on the most high profile and complicated National Minimum Wage cases faced by HMRC, particularly in areas where employers are using migrant labour to undercut competitors by paying below the minimum wage.
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Attendees at The Soap and Detergent Association 2010 Annual Meeting & Industry Convention will have more business networking opportunities than ever before at the cleaning product industry’s acclaimed business forum.
The new location for the meeting will only increase these opportunities, as well as provide more attractions for registrants who want to bring their friends or family.
The Convention takes place January 26-30, 2010 at the Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. But the clock is ticking for companies wanting to qualify for early bird registration: discounted registration ends on January 1st.
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New Orleans' French Quarter will once again be getting down and dirty
Budget constraints are likely to bring the much lauded expanded sanitation services in New Orleans' French Quarter to an end at the end of January and the Quarter's residents and visitors are upset.
Mayor Ray Nagin's administration has asked contractor SDT Waste & Debris to stop rubbish bin patrols, mechanical sweeping and street washing from 31st January, saying New Orleans no longer has the money to pay for the services, which cost the city about $3 million a year.
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New Peterborough City Hospital chooses Pland Stainless
Peterborough’s new 612 bed super-hospital is benefiting from a range of healthcare products and emergency equipment supplied by Pland Stainless. Stainless steel healthcare products were specified for the surgical and clinical areas of the hospital because they provide a durable, easy to clean and hygienic surface.
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New public sector NVQ for hospital staff
Cleaners, caterers, porters and housekeepers at a Hampshire hospital have been the first to gain from a new training programme aimed at raising skills in public services, which we announced in Cleanzine in June.
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New qualifications set to strengthen facilities management
Work to ensure facilities management has a highly skilled workforce with the know-how to deal with a fast changing industry is underway through the development of new qualifications.
As well as fast tracking an Apprenticeship in response to employer demand, Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for FM, is also seeking to make available the new raft of vocational awards.
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New research shows surprising attitudes towards health & safety
UK workplace deaths and injuries have fallen over the past 30 years but thousands still die every year as a result of work-related accidents and ill health.
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New software enhances productivity for window cleaners
A software firm in Sussex has released a new programme designed to help window cleaners - wherever they are in the world - manage their businesses more efficiently. It includes a number of advanced features and tools to help companies streamline their work, allowing them to spend less time on administration and more time expanding and improving their business and maximising profitability.
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New study shows infectious bacteria growing in 98% of hospital baths
Hospital patients may be opening themselves up to infection as a result of bathing practices applied in hospitals. According to a study published in the January 2009 American Journal of Critical Care, baths are a significant source for the transmission of hospital acquired infections, especially to patients that are immune-compromised and those at high-risk. It is estimated that 1.75 million to 3.5 million patients admitted to US hospitals, or 5 to 10% of all patients, contract nosocomial or HAIs leading to approximately 100,000 deaths annually.
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The University of Miami UM-JMH Center for Patient Safety has successfully launched a Hand Hygiene Compliance pilot project with the help of two Michigan-based technology businesses - Dynamic Computer Corporation - a healthcare real-time locating solutions systems integrator, and Versus Technology - whose patented, automatic infrared-radio frequency technology HHC systems are deployed in hundreds of hospitals for automating patient workflow events.
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Local authorities and other public bodies are being urged to take part in a new project to raise the skills of support staff in public services.
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New York Yankees hit a winner in sanitising new Stadium
The potential of a serious Staphylococcus infection affecting a member of the team has not been lost on the New York Yankees. According to CSG Sportscoatings, the provider of disinfecting sports coating, the Yankees have been proactive in their quest to keep the new stadium - which stages its first 'home' game in April - as clean as possible.
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Next year's Amsterdam show will house special 'Washrooms' pavilion
ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2010, which is taking place from Monday 26th through to Thursday 29th April, is going to incorporate a new 'area' - 'Washroom'. This pilot will offer exhibitors the opportunity to address visitors in a very targeted manner with a total solution in the sanitary sector.
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No-Germs from PHS proven to kill swine flu
Leading workplace services provider, PHS Group, has announced that No-Germs, the popular alcohol-free hand sanitiser, has been certified as effective against the current strain of pandemic swine flu.
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Norse builds new cleaning partnership
Norse Commercial Services has launched a joint venture with the London Borough of Enfield, worth more than £35 million.
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Specialist hygiene, cleaning and maintenance provider, TWO Services, is celebrating its double accreditation from the International Organisation for Standardisation following last month’s presentation of the awards by local MP John Baron, at the company's Basildon head office.
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Novel technology reduces workplace illness
One of the UK's leading recruitment companies has trialled a novel air disinfection device and reports a dramatic reduction in the spread of infections at the company's Milton Keynes headquarters.
Jonathan Harvey is a senior manager at the recruitment company F10. He says: "We installed an Air Disinfection (AD) Unit from Inov8 Science in one of our main offices during April 2009 and since that time we have witnessed a substantial drop in the levels of staff sickness."
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Now an Integral part of BICSc
Integral UK, the fast growing, independent provider of nationwide property maintenance services, is the latest member of the British Institute of Cleaning Science.
Integral’s Cleaning Division is now a corporate member of BICSC, which has 5,000 members in all areas of the cleaning industry, including local authorities, contract cleaners, manufacturers, suppliers, and trainers.
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NUCCA is now NUCCRA
Australia's National Upholstery & Carpet Cleaning Association has changed its name. It is now the National Upholstery, Carpet Cleaners & Restorers Association - no doubt to better reflect the wider range of services its members offer.
General Manager Brian Clark tells us that an AGM for the new organisation will be announced shortly but in the meantime he wishes to draw everyone's attention to the Cleaning Industry Modern Award for 2010.
"There have been significant changes and an increased pay scale. If you are an employer or if you are planning to employ people, this is an essential document," he warns.
(click here to download the document)
T: 0414944615
E: brian@nuccra.asn.au
W: www.nuccra.asn.au
Michigan-based NXGen Holdings has announced that it has launched an aggressive merger & acquisition campaign in order to expand its presence mainly in the multi-billion dollar 'green' industry. In addition to building its wholly owned subsidiary, Green Bridge Industries, (which supplies non-toxic, environmentally friendly cleaning products to the medical, agricultural, military, retail and fund raising market segments) NXGen is in the process of evaluating acquisition candidates that have a unique technology or product that can quickly add value to the company's business model and corporate philosophy.
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OCS 'Best Manager' receives award
At last week's 2nd Team Clean Challenge Awards Ceremony in London's Westminster, Eddie Green of OCS was named Best Overall Manager. As reported in last week's Cleanzine, in this year's Team Clean Challenge organised by Asset Skills, 22 teams from the private and public sectors took part with specialisms ranging from office cleaning to healthcare, industrial and school cleaning. Eddie was praised by the competition judges for his 'outstanding performance', exceptional leadership, organisational skills, and decisive action, as well as his awareness of Health &Safety and effective use of PPE.
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OCS helps give young people 'Chance to Shine'
International facilities services group OCS has continued its support for Chance to Shine, a scheme now in its fourth year which recognises the power of cricket to help young people acquire important skills, values and attitudes for their future life. Surrey Cricket and associated clubs run a cricket project, including some 70 county primary schools, where one school from each project has the opportunity to compete at the OCS Chance to Shine Finals Day at the Brit Oval, London.
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OCS impresses BSI with its commitment to CSR
OCS has proved its commitment to Corporate social responsibility, recently achieving triple certification with BSI (British Standards) for quality (ISO 9001:2000), environment (ISO 14001:2004) and Health & Safety (BS OHSAS 18001: for cleaning & support services).
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OCS sets higher standards with healthcare contract win
OCS Healthcare - part of the 'One Complete Solution' property support services group - has won the contract to provide professional domestic services across 16 Mental Health NHS Trust sites in South West London. The contract was awarded by South West London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust which serves around one million people across five London boroughs. Typically, the Trust operates around 30 mental health teams and treats over 20,000 people at any one time.
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OCS signs for 10 more years with the Brit Oval
International facilities services group OCS has agreed a 10 year extension to its deal with the Brit Oval for continued sponsorship of its flagship stand, and guaranteed naming rights to the OCS Stand at the historic ground until 2019.
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Office temperature study examines worker complaints and comfort vs.cost
The International Facility Management Association has released 'Temperature Wars: Savings vs. Comfort', a new study that takes an in-depth look at the most common thermal complaints made by workers and the variety of ways facility professionals respond to them.
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Do you know what's in your public pool? Findings from a recent survey show that when it comes to public pools this summer, watch your fellow swimmer closely! Rather than worry about the availability of lounge chairs, lockers, and food and beverages, swimmers should be thinking more about basic questions of pool water cleanliness.
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On the buses: promoting 'Clean Hong Kong' in Kowloon City
The Kowloon City District Office is holding a series of weekend bus parades to promote the importance of hygiene. Kowloon City District Councillors and members of the respective Area Committees are also using the buses to distribute disinfectant packs and information leaflets to passers-by.
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OspreyDeepclean announces Steam Scrappage Scheme
OspreyDeepclean announces the new Steam Scrappage Scheme in which owners of older or non-working steam cleaning machines may scrap them in favour of new models at 20% discounted prices.
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Outpatient infection rates cleverly controlled
Cancer treatment leaves patients with weakened immune systems... So it would seem obvious that an outpatient cancer clinic would be a prime breeding ground for infections because of the constantly revolving door of patients, visitors and staff, all of whom could be exposed to bacteria and viruses at home or in the community. After all, infections are among the most common causes of illness and death among cancer patients.
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Outsourcing at Western Australian hospitals under consideration
Australia’s peak body for the building service industry has welcomed a proposal to outsource non-medical services in Western Australian hospitals.
The Western Australian Health Minister, Dr Kim Hames, has put forward a proposal to seek expressions of interest from private contractors to operate non-clinical cleaning and other services at the new Murdoch hospital as well as the Fiona Stanley Hospital.
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P&G Professional supports businesses in preparation of H1N1 surge
Procter & Gamble Professional, the away-from-home division of Procter & Gamble, announced this week that it has bolstered its anti-H1N1 offering in response to predictions that there will be a surge in numbers of those suffering from swine flu over the coming months. The new measures, including a 10% increase in disinfectant production and the introduction of online resources, help to prepare customers for the imminent surge.
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P&G improves sustainability goals despite economic climate
Last Friday, Gianni Ciserani, President for Procter & Gamble, Western Europe, told an audience of European business leaders that in a world of uncertainty, European customers could continue to rely on P&G to provide products that delivered great value, performance and sustainability.
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P&G recognises top performing global suppliers
Procter & Gamble Company hosted its annual supplier awards event last night, recognising the company's top performing suppliers.
"P&G's growth strategy is to touch and improve more consumers' lives in more parts of the world more completely," said Bob McDonald, P&G's president and chief executive officer, while speaking to suppliers attending the Company's annual supplier awards dinner.
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Pandemic Preparedness & Sustainability, highlight World Workplace 2009 educational sessions
Heading to Orlando October 7th - 9th, the International Facility Management Association's World Workplace 2009 Conference & Expo will feature more than 75 educational sessions addressing issues relevant to the performance and safety of the workplace.
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Paul Daniels sees the magic of Flush-wiser
At the recent Loo of the Year Awards, Paul Daniels was introduced to the ‘magical’ water saving device that is Flush-wiser WC Flush Control, from PHS Washrooms.
PHS Washrooms’ Product Manager, Katie Barlow, explained the water saving properties of award winning Flush-wiser, and the top magician was suitably impressed that something so simple could make wasting up to three litres of water on every flush ‘disappear’!
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PGI acquires remaining 40% stake of its Argentinean joint venture
Polymer Group, Inc. announced last Friday that it has completed a transaction to purchase the 40% minority stake in Dominion Nonwovens Sudamericana, S.A. (PGI Argentina) from its partner, Guillermo E. Kraves. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
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PGI acquires Spanish nonwovens business Tesalca-Texnovo
Last Thursday, PGI announced that it has completed the initial phase of the previously announced acquisition of the Barcelona, Spain-based Tesalca-Texnovo nonwovens businesses from Grupo Corinpa, S.L.
With the closure of the sale, the company began operations of its new wholly owned subsidiary, PGI Spain, strengthening its position as a global leader in the hygiene market by giving it a new presence in the European market with state-of-the-art technology.
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PHS Group announces exclusive 'NO-GERMS' distribution agreement with Advanced Formulations (Europe)
PHS Group has become the away from home distributor of Advanced Formulations NO-GERMS alcohol free hand sanitiser, said to be the UK's leading product in this category, and the exclusive distributor of its 5 Litre format.
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Leading retailers in Japan, the US and the UK are looking closely at a new range of recycled yarns from Japan's Teijin Fibers, for the creation of high quality fabrics and the production of suits and trousers. Of particular interest amongst the recycled yarns is one which is made from recycled plastic bottles through a one-of-a-kind process using Ecopet. The company that innovated this process is N.I. Teijin Shoji, a global company that manufactures fibres, textiles and apparel.
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'Poop' Dermatitis linked to fashionable wooden toilet seats and/or harsh chemicals
Considered a dermatological nuisance that was long gone, skin irritations caused by toilet seats appear to be making a comeback in pediatricians’ offices, according to research led by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center investigator.
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Present Value acquires Rozalex
Present Value, a business development company serving the needs of the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, has acquired the rights in the UK and selected territories worldwide for Rozalex. The product range was acquired for an undisclosed sum from JohnsonDiversey for a one-off cash consideration financed through the company's debt facility.
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Prochem extends Contract carpet cleaning offer
A lower cost mainstay of Prochem Europe's extensive carpet maintenance offer has been expanded with the addition of sanitising and defoaming products.
Prochem's Contract range is well established in the company's portfolio on the strength of offering professional cleaners a comprehensive selection of specialist solutions from a respected brand at keen price points. New to the range - which constitutes a carpet foam shampoo, deodoriser, prespotter and extraction cleaner - are A225 Contract Carpet Sanitiser and S761 Contract Carpet Defoamer.
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Prochem packs lots in 2009 cleaning product catalogue
Clearer, easy-to-use sourcing from one of the most comprehensive ranges of cleaning solutions available, is again a hallmark of new product sales literature from Prochem Europe.
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Prompt payment code of practice launched
A new Code of Practice to help increase the speed of payments to smaller companies was launched yesterday at a prompt payment summit, attended by representatives from some of the UK's top companies. The code, developed with the Institute of Credit Management and supported by major business organisations, aims to establish a clear and consistent policy in the payment of business-to-business bills.
The Institute of Credit Management will host the code on its website and will include a facility for suppliers to raise concerns about late payers.
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Public Service Skills Framework will be supported by ‘Get on at Work’ qualifications and learning
Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning and parking, has led in the development of the Public Service Skills Framework. This aims to enhance the customer service and other skills of public sector employees, in both direct and contracted services.
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Pulire, Verona "an enormous success"
The ninth edition of Pulire, the cleaning exhibition that took place last month in Verona, Italy, proved an enormous success, with 19,509 visitors attending - an incredible increase of 14.9% over the 2007 edition of this biennial event, bearing in mind the current economic climate.
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Ramon Hygiene Products launch new-look website with huge success
The site, which has had the same layout for some time, now includes more product information, training videos, product specification sheets, the function to request brochures, images, price lists, visits from Territory Managers and much more.
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Ramon Hygiene reports huge demand for two new products
Ramon Hygiene reports that two of the latest additions to its range are selling well.
The first is the company's range of 60gsm disposable microfibre cloths, which allow extremely high dirt, grease and bacteria pick up when used with only water. The cloths can also be used with sanitising liquids.
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REACH list of dangerous chemicals doubled
The European Chemicals Agency has added 14 substances to the list of 'very high concern' chemicals to undergo special health & safety scrutiny under the bloc's chemical regulation REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals).
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REACHReady expands service to offer practical advice on CLP
From 1st December 2010 a new regime for the classification and labelling of chemicals will commence. Many of the same people championing REACH are also wrestling with the implementation of the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation. CLP introduces new symbols, warning phrases, criteria for classification and larger and more colourful labels. Some chemicals not subject to labelling under the old classification and labelling regime will now need labels; some chemicals with relatively mild warnings will be labelled in a much more severe way.
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Reasons to be cheerful: Greyland customer poll wins distributors vote
Cleaning chemicals manufacturer Greyland recently conducted a customer survey that asked distributors to provide feedback on its products and services.
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Recession-busting 0% finance on Teupen’s entry level spiderlift
Teupen’s recent launch of the budget-priced Leo 13GT spiderlift raised a smile with tool hirers and smaller end-users looking for an ultra-reliable, ultra-simple 13m spiderlift with a quality pedigree.
Now they have even more reasons to be cheerful with the introduction of 0% finance to sweeten purchase.
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Recession leads to cleaning cutbacks
A survey of 1,000 workers by support services firm resource GB has revealed that two out of every five organisations have had to cut back on cleaning their offices because of the recession.The research displayed a culture of dangerously poor hygiene in workplaces across the UK, which can lead to the spread of bacteria and add to the costly and damaging problem of absenteeism through ill-health.
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Recognition for new technologies put to work in the fight against healthcare infections
New technologies for use by the NHS to help combat healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) such as MRSA and C. difficile won praise and recognition last week at the first HCAI Technology Innovation Programme Awards.
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Recycling advice for SMEs in London
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in London now have the benefit of their own dedicated team of recycling advisers, thanks to Waste & Resources Action programme's Recycle At Work Advisory Programme in partnership with London Remade.
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Recycling continues to be the best option
Reports in yesterday's media suggesting that recycling adds to global warming, rather than tackling it, are misleading and factually incorrect, claims WRAP. Speaking yesterday, Dr Liz Goodwin, CEO WRAP said: "Today's reports threaten the environmental benefits currently being delivered by the public through the UK's recycling schemes."
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Reduced hand injuries thanks to Ansell's Enhanced Visibility Gloves
Brussells-based Ansell Healthcare, has launched what it says is the first enhanced-visibility gloves to feature a water-based coating. They are comfortable and flexible and are recommended for improving workers' visibility in varying light conditions.
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Reducing the risks of data centre contamination
While a visual inspection might suggest that a data centre or computer room is adequately clean, unchecked contamination could be causing thousands of pounds of damage, warns deep cleaning specialist 8 Solutions.
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Redundancy threat now hangs over 13 million UK workers
A survey of public and private sector organisations reveals that 44% are likely to make redundancies as a result of the recession. The findings, from people assessment firm, Talent Q, show marked differences across sectors, with civil servants the most likely to hang on to their jobs in the current economic environment.
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Refuse workers' dispute leads to a less bonny Scotland
Edinburgh council is considering a series of modernisation measures involving the restructuring of pay and bonuses, as public sector pay structures are simplified across Scotland. But Union leaders are warning of a 'summer of discontent' if the council does not quickly come up with more realistic proposals on the council's refuse collectors' wages. Rubbish collections are already running several days late as the binmen work-to-rule because of the threatened changes, which could see their wages cut from £18,000 to around £12,000.
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Registration open for 2010 SDA Annual Meeting & Industry Convention
Registration is now open for the cleaning product industry’s global forum for business interaction and networking: The 2010 Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) Annual Meeting & Industry Convention.
The event takes place from January 26th through 30th, 2010 at a new location: The Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida.
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Removing pensions from outsourcing equation levels the playing field, says CBI
Businesses are being put off bidding for public service contracts by the need to mirror costly public sector pensions when staff are transferred from the public sector to the private, the CBI warned last week.
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Research finds toilet tissue and towel dispensers have more bacteria than toilet seats
If you thought a toilet seat was the most bacteria-laden place in a public washroom, think again.
According to new research conducted by microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona, the average toilet paper dispenser has more than 150 times the amount of bacteria than the average toilet seat. The picture isn't much improved when it comes to paper towel dispensers. These were found to have over 50 times more bacteria on average than a typical public washroom toilet seat.
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Research reveals benefits of an ageing workforce
New research has proved that older workers bring distinct benefits to the workplace and that UK employers are missing a trick by not exploiting latent talent within their ranks. With many reports predicting that the retirement age will pushed up to age 70 within a generation, the findings offer employers helpful pointers about getting the very best out of older workers.
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Research shows 25% of SMEs unprepared for remote working
Tuesday last was Remote Office Day, but small businesses suffering from the pressures of the UK recession had concerns over allowing their staff to work remotely.
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Resource wins new shopping centre contracts worth £1.4m
Resource, one of Ireland's leading support services companies, has been awarded cleaning and security contracts worth a combined value of £1.4m for shopping centres across the island of Ireland.
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Restoration Industry Association: swine flu prevention tips for education sector
As schools and colleges open for the Autumn semester, concerns regarding transmission prevention of the swine flu virus in these settings becomes a priority for administrators, educators, students and parents. The Restoration Industry Association provides these recommendations for reducing the spread of the virus in various education settings:
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RIA calls for presentations for 2010 Convention
The Restoration Industry Association (formerly the Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration) which is holding its 65th Annual Convention & Exhibition in Atlanta, GA, next March, has issued a call for presentations from individuals who would like to speak at the event. Proposed presentations may run anywhere from 50 - 90 minutes and should relate to environmental, textiles/floor coverings, property damage repair and restoration, or business issues. RIA encourages all presenters to emphasise health & safety issues where possible.
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RIA Convention to focus on health & safety
The Restoration Industry Association will hold its 65th Annual Convention & Exhibition from March 23rd -27th, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta in Atlanta, Ga. With so much in the media today about H1N1, indoor air quality issues, and going green, the primary focus of the convention will be on health & safety and how those topics apply to cleaning and restoration professionals.
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Riding the waves
Exide Technologies (CMP Batteries) has supplied a number of no maintenance gel batteries for a revolutionary wave farm project off the coast of Portugal. The batteries used are the same as the batteries used in a range of cleaning machines; they are considered much safer than conventional 'flooded' batteries which require periodic topping up.
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Rockingham Castle back HSE campaign during first clean of 18th century chandeliers in 25 years!
Nationally, 61 people died and more than 14,000 suffered serious injury last year because of slips, trips or falls from height at work, costing British society an estimated £700 million. These figures include one death and 583 serious injuries in Northamptonshire alone.
To help improve safety, the county's Rockingham Castle is supporting the second phase of the Health & Safety Executive's Shattered Lives campaign. As part of this, HSE Inspector Neil Craig and Corby Borough Council Health & Safety Inspector Paul Burrell will be checking out the processes used by Rockingham Castle to clean its 18th Century chandeliers for the first time in 25 years.
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RoSPA offers free BTEC opportunity to those whose work involves driving
Drivers who pass the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents' advanced driving test for business motorists now have the opportunity to upgrade their qualification free of charge.
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Internationally-renowned air duct cleaning specialist Rotobrush International is offering a turnkey package that will enable users to enter the growing energy efficiency services market and become total indoor environment specialists, offering uch services as energy audits, duct sealing, radiant barriers, insulation and dryer vent cleaning, in addition to air duct system cleaning.
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Rubbermaid and TC first 'Visionary Supporters' of ISSA's Green Connections Centre
ISSA has announced that Rubbermaid Commercial Products and Technical Concepts have become the first Visionary Supporters of the association's new Green Connections Centre, which will serve as the centerpiece of the ISSA/Interclean North America 2009 tradeshow which is taking place in Chicago, from October 6th through 9th.
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Rug Doctor stockists to benefit from brand's TV exposure this Autumn
Building on its successful Spring TV campaigns in both the UK and Ireland, Rug Doctor has just returned to TV screens with a four week burst of nationwide TV advertising coverage. Stockists are being encouraged to increase their supplies now to satisfy the extra demand that will be created in the run up to the Christmas peak.
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Rwanda boasts 50 new food safety and hygiene experts
Rwanda's Bureau of Standards has just put 50 people through a three-day training course on food safety and hygiene, to address concerns about poor food hygiene right from processing, through storage and during serving. The course covered food management systems and international standards related to food safety as well as the Hazard Critical Control Programme (HACCP).
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RWM offers free seminars to tackle council waste worries
What is the secret to Private Finance Initiative success? How can Facebook and Twitter encourage your residents to recycle more? How do you conquer the planning process to minimise delay and achieve a cost effective result? Are macerators the answer to food waste, and what’s the best policy for handling radioactive waste?
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Safety info a big draw at window cleaners' trade show
An estimated 300 people attended The Federation of Window Cleaners' annual trade show at the De Vere Hotel in Blackpool earlier this month. From these, the Federation managed to attract four new members and sold numerous DVD's of its new window cleaning safety production over the course of the day.
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Saints above! MITIE secures facilities management contract on new development
MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and asset management company, has secured a new three-year contract with a total value of £6m to provide facilities management services to Land Securities’ prestigious new building, One New Change in London.
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SaniPost joins fight against swine flu in local shopping centres
Installed in 36 shopping centres around the UK, a unique, six foot high, hand sanitising device is helping to keep the public's hands germ free while out and about. Free to use, SaniPost is proven to kill 99.9% of all known germs, including the H1N1 virus.
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SaniTab proven to deal with H1N1
Ashgrove Specialist Products has launched a new product proven to help in the fight against Swine Flu.
SaniTab is a new chlorine tablet that has specifically formulated to counter Influenza A (H1N1) and has proven efficacy against A/H1N1 strain by an independent laboratory, in accordance with the EN14476 European protocol standard.
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Santander in new FM deal with GSH Group
Santander Global Facilities has awarded a new three year contract worth £6.2 million per annum to GSH Group for the provision of facilities management services across its retail banking portfolio. This new agreement builds on the existing partnership and includes an increased UK network now totaling more than 1,200 sites, to incorporate Santander's acquisitions of Bradley & Bingley and Alliance & Leicester last year.
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SCA one of the world's 100 most sustainable companies
For the fifth consecutive year, SCA has been recognised as one of the world's 100 most sustainable companies by Canadian Corporate Knights. SCA has qualified as one of the 100 most sustainable companies each year since the global sustainability list was first presented in 2005.
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SC Johnson a 'Best Place to Work in America' for 7th year running
For the seventh year in a row, SC Johnson has been recognised as a 100 Best company on Fortune magazine's list of the '100 Best Companies to Work For' in America. SC Johnson appears at number 81 on this year's list, and it is the company's ninth recognition since the list began in 1998.
Fortune specifically credited SC Johnson for its extended annual holiday break, competitive salaries, and having the lowest turnover. Also noted was the company's world-class fitness centre, job sharing and telecommuting opportunities.
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Scotland safety seminar aims to reduce accidents in the cleaning industry
Last year over 350 cleaners were seriously injured while at work in Scotland while many more suffered health problems caused, or made worse by work.
A free seminar being held in Perth in April aims to reduce this toll of injury and ill health by providing practical information to the cleaning industry in Scotland.
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Scotland prepares for Team Clean Challenge
Asset Skills Scotland is now gearing up for the next round of the Team Clean Challenge.
A prison strand has been added to the competition which will see jails from Scotland compete against each other to take top honours in cleaning excellence. It is hoped the roll out to prisons will help highlight the excellent training available to offenders while they serve their sentences.
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SDA defends cleaning industry
US environmental Group Earthjustice has filed a lawsuit in New York, in an attempt to force cleaning chemicals manufacturers to make public both the chemical contents of their products and the results of their research into the adverse effects the products may have on users. The lawsuit is based on a 1976 New York law designed to stop the use of phosphates in detergent and is likely to impact on both commercial/professional and consumer products.
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SDA goes to 'L'
The Soap & Detergent Association is going to 'L' – 1331 L Street NW, Suite 650, to be specific – as of 1st August 2009.
The trade association for the US cleaning products industry is moving after nearly a decade at its present base, which it moved to following 75 years in New York City. The new location will offer approximately 9,700 square feet in one of Washington DC’s first office buildings designed for Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification.
“SDA will still be in the centre of Washington, D.C., offering our members and staff a modern, convenient, Metro-accessible location,” says Ernie Rosenberg, SDA President and CEO.
T: 202-347-2900
www.cleaning101.com
SDA's Ingredient Central!
The Soap & Detergent Association has launched Ingredient Central, an online gateway to where users can find specific cleaning product companies’ ingredient information. The page describes where and how companies will provide information about the specific ingredients in their cleaning products.
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Selden offers invaluable iNsight into the best way of doing things!
Selden Research is launching an interactive document library service, through which - at the touch of a button or two - you register your site and the chemicals being used there to gain access to a variety of invaluable documents and services that will help you run your cleaning operations more efficiently and cost-effectively and ensure that your operations are complying with the necessary health & safety legislation.
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Selden rises to swine flu challenge
Selden Research has strengthened its position as a major player in the global fight against swine flu by gaining accreditation for its independent research laboratory.
The laboratory, based at Selden Research’s Buxton headquarters, is said to be only the fourth in Britain to be endorsed for EN1276 disinfectant testing by the Government-approved United Kingdom Accreditation Service - the sole national accreditation body recognised by the Government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. UKAS accreditation is voluntary.
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Selden’s Selgiene Ultra proven by independent laboratory to kill swine flu virus
Selden Research is celebrating after Selgiene Ultra passed independent laboratory tests proving its efficacy against the H1N1 Influenza A Virus. The disinfectant has passed both virus and toxicity tests at the DEFRA-approved Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
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ServiceMaster: one of few to offer start-up franchise financing as banks restrict lending
Timing, opportunity and economic feasibility - all three factors are key to giving people the extra push they need to get started on the road to business ownership.
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Shanghai's foodstores must improve basket hygiene to eradicate deadly bacteria and mould
The Shanghai Health Supervision Agency warned last week that it is to introduce hygiene regulations designed to ensure the cleanliness of shopping baskets and carts used in the city's supermarkets, following the discovery that many baskets are contaminated with dangerous bacteria and mould.
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Shanghai sets up food poisoning early warning system
Shanghai is claiming to be the first municipality in China to set up an early warning system to help prevent bacterial food poisoning, according to a report published in China Clean.
The system will be put into trial operation during April and will be launched formally during the Shanghai 2010 Expo.
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Should we let these cleaning businesses fail?
The latest report into the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials market from industry analyst Plimsoll, rates 141 of the UK's leading 667 Cleaning Equipment & Materials companies as being in financial danger. Amid calls for bail-outs and emergency measures, Senior Analyst David Pattison asks: "Should we just let them fail?"
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Singaporean jobs for Singaporean workers, thanks to Government cash incentive
The Singaporean government is offering cash incentives that should improve Best Value in cleaning and boost the number of Singaporean cleaners, reducing the reliance on foreign workers.
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Singapore's first Washroom Awards recipients announced on World Toilet Day
Timed to coincide with World Toilet Day yesterday, the Restroom Association (Singapore) held its first ever LOO Awards. The winners were first announced in the morning at a media conference held in a Koufu’s coffeeshop – Ang Mo Kio VariNice Eating House, and the 15 winners were presented with their awards during a networking dinner session at the World Toilet Summit & Expo.
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Slips, trips and falls are no joke - London injury statisticsrevealed
In London workplaces last year, 21 people died and more than 3,700 suffered serious injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall from height. These shocking statistics have prompted the launch of an awareness raising campaign from the Health & Safety Executive.
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The Forum of Private Business is calling for bank lending to be made more accessible and affordable following a report identifying a ‘permanent gap’ in small business finance.
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Small businesses to get more help on health & safety and employment legislation
Small businesses will get a one stop shop for guidance on health & safety and employment legislation, that will help make sure they comply with the law and save them time and money, under new recommendations announced yesterday.
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The city of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, is one of the principal seaports of the country. Wickipedia tells us that it has an estimated population of 600,000, with an extended metropolitan population of about 1.5 million, and that this makes it the largest urban agglomeration and the second largest city in Kerala after the capital. And therein lies the problem... public toilet provision.
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Smurfit Kappa Recycling celebrates green decade of Yellow Pages
One of the largest reprocessors of paper and cardboard in the UK, Smurfit Kappa Recycling, is celebrating 10 years of successfully turning old editions of Yellow Pages directories into new packaging materials at its paper mills in Birmingham and Kent. Thanks to the processes and technologies used at the mills, Smurfit was one of the first UK organisations to accept Yellow Pages for recycling, and as public recycling facilities for old directories improve, it is now receiving greater volumes than ever before.
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Smurfit Kappa Recycling rolls out £1.5m fleet renewal programme
Smurfit Kappa Recycling has received delivery of 28 new vehicles as part of its £1.5 million fleet renewal programme. Already in operation, these new vehicles will help to improve collection efficiency, health & safety and environmental performance for the company which collects paper and card from businesses and local authorities across the UK to reprocess at its own paper mills in Birmingham and Kent.
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Soapbox:
10 pricing mistakes companies make
by Per Sjofors, a speaker with more than 20 years of executive management experience. He is currently managing partner of strategic pricing consultant Atenga (www.atenga.com)
Today’s savvy companies are implementing price-optimisation schemes and focusing on building their organisation to serve their most profitable customers. Many are even 'firing' customers who are unprofitable.
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Soapbox:
The Cleaning & Support Services Association's Andrew Large speaks out about the Independent Safeguarding Authority
I would like to alert the industry to an emerging issue that will affect the employment of staff who have contact with children and vulnerable adults.
Letters have been dropping on to the mats of employers up and down the country in the past few weeks concerning a new quango called the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
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Soapbox
Jeff Charlton, an internationally recognised leader and instructor in decontamination and restoration, argues that every pandemic or hazardous situation that requires cleaning, offers an opportunity for the cleaning industry...
Opportunities in Hazards
The current threat and risk of Swine flu should make most employers conscious of the need for better hygiene and sanitation at the workplace. This could mean cleaners gathering additional charges from wiping a polluted cloth around areas of the office that are not normally cleaned - creating a greater hazard from cross contamination of the cloth. The next more obvious conclusion would be that cleaners would have to cover every surface that people touch within a couple of hours - a major problem when you consider hospitals have rarely achieved this in infection control!
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Soapbox
John Laws, of the Australian Contract Cleaners Association, asks of the Australian cleaning market:
Six golden rules for cleaning firms to find the best fuel cost savings
Cleaning contractors have been shown how to find the best way to cut fuel costs, with ‘Six Golden Rules’ produced by The Fuelcard People. Steve Clarke, general manager, said: “Firms who know that fuel cards cut costs may not realise that fuel cards are not all the same. It makes a difference which one they choose and, with some suppliers offering similar cards, picking the right provider can be vital.”
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Subcontracting: is it worth it?
In the past few weeks there have been many developments in the saga of subcontracting within the cleaning industry.
In New South Wales we have had a year-long audit being conducted by WorkCover NSW in an effort to catch out employers trying to rort* their Workers’ Compensation responsibilities and they are only auditing years 2005 to 2007. They have successfully recovered some very large sums from contractors both large and small. Every company in the cleaning industry can expect to be audited and possibly more than once.
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Survey reveals more than 29% of small businesses cut back on cleaning during downturn
The Small Business Index deployed by Mr. Clean Professional, a provider of small business cleaning solutions, and the National Federation of Independent Business in the US, finds that more than one-quarter (29%) of small businesses have scaled back on workplace cleaning. The Index was conducted to identify how the economy has affected small business cleaning standards, and revealed critical resource shortages faced by owners today.
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Social Dialogue within Europe: input required
The Cleaning & Support Services Association recently attended the EU Social Dialogue in Brussels. This brings together trade unions, employers and the European Commission to discuss labour force issues in cleaning. Key issues include daytime cleaning and health and safety policy.
The employers' side is looking to push the debate away from classical employment relations, to issues such as absenteeism, illegal working and employability. Any examples of how employers tackle these issues would be gratefully received by the CSSA and passed on to the EU as part of the Social Dialogue.
T: Tel: 020 7920 9632 Fax: 020 7256 9360
www.cleaningindustry.org
Spaghetti Junction rated 'scariest' Unless of course you can tell us differently.....
Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham is Britain's most intimidating road system, a survey has revealed. As many as 8% of motorists avoid "scary" junctions altogether and drive an average of 238 miles extra a year on detours, a survey by breakdown company Britannia Rescue found.
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Specialist anti-contamination company bucks economic trend
A specialist contamination prevention company in Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire, is bucking the economic trend with big growth plans in 2009.Connect 2 Cleanrooms is expecting to increase turnover by 60% in the next 12 months through both organic growth and innovation according to its business advisor, Joyce Tombs, of Moore & Smalley Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors.
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Rainbow International, based in Coventry, recently celebrated its five-year anniversary and during that time the business has undergone some big changes. When the company formed, in 2006, it employed just four people and had a turnover of about £120,000 a year. Now, under the guidance of directors Ian Rix and Derrick Ramsdall, it has grown to a company which employs 10 people and has a turnover of almost £1 million a year.
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Spidagility: Teupen Spiderlift displays clever manoeuvres
- before it even gets to work.
In most situations, a powered access lift will always be first choice for work at height. But what if you can't actually get the platform to the place you need it?
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Cleaning product manufacturer, Spontex, has teamed up with cookware manufacturer Tefal to endorse its Brilliant scourer range.
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Steam decontamination for Scotland's NHS
Proventec plc, the provider of specialist cleaning and coatings technologies, reports that it has received a substantial order from the Scottish NHS for its specialist OspreyDeepclean Dry Steam Vapour decontamination machines.
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Strand celebrates 50 years in the city by introducing Premier Brand Alliance
At a `sparkling' event at the IPC Blue Fin Building in London to celebrate its 50th , Strand, synonymous with top class cleaning in London's iconic buildings, introduced Eligo and Resolution as a premier brand alliance to top City clients.
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At Purdy High School in Purdy, Missouri, US, students are learning first-hand about the benefits of recycling. Members of the school’s Spanish Club operate the for-profit Purdy Recycling Center to raise funds for club activities and gain points toward scholarships.
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Study proves environmental sustainability benefits of using Activeion Pro
According to the results of a new study, the Activeion Pro, a breakthrough, on-demand, hand-held cleaning tool that transforms tap water into a powerful cleaner, delivers significant environmental sustainability benefits. When compared to cleaning with traditional chemical detergents, the Activeion Pro offers a greater than 97% benefit across seven key indicators tied to environmental sustainability.
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Study proves environmental sustainability of ec-H2O cleaning technology
Tennant Company has announced that its ec-H2O technology has been proven to significantly reduce environmental footprints across seven key categories when compared to traditional cleaning chemicals. The findings are the result of an independent study conducted by the US environmental sustainability group EcoForm.
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Epidemiologists and computer scientists at the University of Iowa have collaborated to create a new low-cost, green technology for automatically tracking the use of hand hygiene dispensers before healthcare workers enter and after they exit patient rooms.
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Substantial increase in visitors to ISSA/Interclean Central & Eastern Europe 2009
Last month's ISSA/Interclean Central & Eastern Europe, held in Warsaw, Poland and organised by Amsterdam RAI with ISSA and local partner PSC, enjoyed a very successful fourth edition.
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Success for groundbreaking wine initiative
WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) has announced the latest glass savings of over 20,000 tonnes - equivalent to over 3,600 African elephants - from its pioneering GlassRite Wine project. This has been achieved by working with the entire international wine supply chain to deliver major environmental and commercial benefits.
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Supplier and distributor come together for innovative solutions
Rubbermaid and The Supplies House have signed a distributor agreement which they believe will assist contract cleaning companies to improve their service to end customers. The agreement brings together two innovative companies, combining their strengths and proactive approach to improving cleaning and becoming more environmentally and cost-conscious.
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Job satisfaction has surprisingly increased since 2006 despite the impact of the recession, according to the new quarterly Employee Outlook survey of more than 3,000 employees by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.
The survey finds that the net proportion of people satisfied with their job has increased to +46 from +26 in 2006 and the proportion of people who say their job makes them feel cheerful most or all of the time has also gone up.
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Sustainable cleaning solutions means real savings
Servi-Tek Janitorial Services employs environmentally sound practices through the exclusive use of products that meet the strict requirements of green cleaning. The company offers green cleaning as a standard of operation, not as an option in a menu of services like many of its competitors. This practice reduces the impact on natural resource consumption, enhances occupant comfort and health and minimises strain on local infrastructure while improving the bottom line.
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Swedish restaurants taking the pizza over hygiene!
To most of the rest of the world, Sweden is squeaky clean. Food inspectors in the coastal town of Halmstad in Western Sweden, however, have blown that theory wide open, having disclosed that 61 of 70 pizzerias they inspected during the Spring, failed to meet hygiene regulations.
They have said they were horrified by the unacceptably low standards of hygiene at the vast majority of restaurants.
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Swimming pool chemical injuries send thousands to hospital each year
Now that summer is approaching (for some of us anyway) let's remember that swimming pool chemical injuries account for as many as 5,200 US emergency room visits each year. A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that these injuries are preventable, and during 2007 almost half of those injuries occurred at a residence.
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By Paul Stuart, Business Link adviser
The recession has made many people in the cleaning and hygienebindustry step back, take stock, examine process and finances, and find better ways to operate. Adverse conditions have sharpened the desire to survive and succeed. Also the current climate has provided an impetus to diversify and grow.
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Take Part in Shaping the Agenda for Better Life!
We need new approaches to overcome the challenges facing the environment worldwide. Chemistry plays a significant role in finding and contributing to sustainable solutions for environmental problems and consumer concerns. This is why the Helsinki Chemicals Forum is inviting national and international authorities, companies and industry associations, international organisations, non-governmental bodies, human interest groups, and academia for an open dialogue with true impact.
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Tarmac selects Initial Facilities Services for multi-service solution
Tarmac, the UK's largest quarrying company and leading supplier of heavy building materials has awarded a multi-million pound, three-year contract to Initial Facilities Services.
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Tennant customers benefit from capital allowance savings through DEFRA scheme
Tennant UK is now able to offer its customers the opportunity to further boost their cash flow, reduce water use and reduce water bills through the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Efficient Technologies.
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TC Contractors wins lion's share of Tesco business
Reflecting its ability to deliver a first class service on a nationwide basis using a highly skilled workforce and best of breed equipment, TC Contractors - one of Europe’s leading independent multi-contract cleaning specialists - has been successful in a competitive tender for an expanded contract covering 801 Tesco stores across the South of England and Wales.
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Building on three recent contract awards, Temco has chalked up two more prestigious wins in the defence industry. The first was Ultra Electronics' production site in High Wycombe, followed by GKN Aerospace's production facility in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The latter is a major engineering complex with a cleanable area of approximately 32,450sq.m (350,000sq.ft) over two sites.
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Tennant Company announced yesterday that its breakthrough ec-H2O technology has won – out of over 7,000 applications - the European Business Award 2009 for the Business Innovation of the Year, one of the most prestigious business awards. ec-H2O converts plain tap water into a powerful cleaning agent without any added chemicals.
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10th China Clean Expo a growing success
The 10th China Clean Expo (CCE), and 2009 International Indoor Environment Technology & Product Exhibition was held concurrent with Hotelex Shanghai, and Expo Build China, at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, 31st March - 2nd April of this year.
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Terminix launches EcoControl programme for commercial clients
Terminix has officially launched its eco-friendly service for commercial customers - a pest management system designed to nurture a more sustainable environment. The Terminix Commercial EcoControl programme introduces solutions to protect businesses from pests that allow these partners to be more environmentally responsible.
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Woodward Labs, a leading antimicrobial skincare company, has announced that an independent testing laboratory has confirmed the efficacy of HandClens, an alcohol-free hand sanitiser, against H1N1 flu virus.
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'The complete healthcare and hygiene solution' is the front cover description of the new product and services brochure from CK Consumables, a division of the CK Group.
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The Co-operative shops with MITIE
MITIE, the strategic outsourcing and asset management company, has announced a facilities management contract worth £20.4 million per annum with The Co-operative Group. Under the new agreement, MITIE will be providing a range of cleaning services to all Co-operative food retail stores across the UK.
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The latest on H1N1 flu from the Harvard Health Letter
So far, the 2009 swine flu (H1N1) pandemic has been more widespread than lethal, notes the Harvard Health Letter. The novel H1N1 virus has some properties that seem to make it less capable of causing serious disease than had been expected.
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The sky's the limit as AirClic expands airline solution portfolio
AirClic has announced the expansion of its airline solutions to include airport and aircraft services such as cabin cleaning and pre-flight inspection, employee time tracking and cargo and baggage handling.
The expansion is a result of the company's recent success in working with airlines such as British Airways and Delta, United, Alaska and Frontier Airlines and the move is a direct reflection of the airline industry's growing need to curb costs through greater operational efficiencies.
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The train now arriving at the clean platform...
It's hard to imagine that this beautiful station, at Charbagh in Lucknow, India, could be allowed to get into a mess, but according to the Times of India, the 100,000 people using it each day are greeted by dirty platforms and filthy tracks. And although the railway authorities have tried to keep the station clean, their efforts have been thwarted - partly because there isn't a disposal area where the collected waste can be thrown. Mostly the waste is seen scattered at the ends of the platforms.
Now though, concerted efforts are to be made the resolve the problems.
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Think health & safety is all rubbish?
Waste, recycling and skip hire companies in and around London are being invited to attend a free course in a bid to help reduce the high levels of death and injury in the sector.
The waste and recycling industry has nine times more fatal accidents than the national average and four times as many workers suffer injuries.
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Thorns' team launches new staffing business
Thorns Group is capitalising on its experience in the events and exhibitions markets by launching a new specialist staffing company - Thorns Support Services. The business will provide both short-term staff and longer-term contract personnel, such as kitchen cleaners, porters, back-of-house staff, warehouse operatives and security personnel, to customers including catering companies, hoteliers, restaurateurs, exhibition organisers and sporting arenas. Other target customers will range from office-based businesses to shopping centres.
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Three cleaners die while working in New York well
Three workers who had been hired to clean out a putrid well at a waste transfer station in Queens, New York City last week, died after being overcome by toxic fumes and falling down a narrow shaft and into the well.
According to the Associated Press report, initially just one worker had gone into the shaft. His failure to return prompted the other two to go in and find out what had happened to him and they suffered the same fate, falling through the shaft and into the well itself.
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Top DJ Chris Evans is Toilet Champion!
Chris Evans showed genuine interest in the British Toilet Association's 'Where can I go?' Campaign when he interviewed mystery guest BTA Director Mike Bone, on his Breakfast Show last Wednesday. Chris agreed to be a 'toilet champion' in supporting the Campaign.
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Top safety accreditation for Advanced Cleaning Services
Newmarket-based ACS is one of the latest companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record. The firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health & safety practise amongst UK contractors.
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Top safety accreditation for David Morris Window Cleaning
David Morris Window Cleaning is one of the latest companies to join a leading edge scheme, designed to help industry improve its safety record.
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Tork Elevation washroom dispensers beat entries from 39 nations to win design award
The Tork Elevation washroom dispenser line from SCA has won a prestigious iF product design award. The new dispenser line, launched earlier this month, is the work of a leading designer whose brief was to keep functionality, design and concern for the environment firmly in mind. Contenders for the iF awards were assessed on various criteria including functionality, design quality, degree of innovation and environmental friendliness.
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Torking shop: new publication shares industry knowledge
A publication designed to share industry knowledge on vital topics such as hygiene and efficiency has just been launched by Tork manufacturer SCA Tissue Europe.
The Tork Report will be published three times a year and comprise academic and general articles written by professionals both inside and outside the cleaning industry.
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To the moon and back
A survey of shoppers in the UK found that on average we use more than 160 new carrier bags each every year - or at least 400 a year for the average household. In 2008 alone, 9.9 billion carrier bags were distributed - enough to fill 188 Olympic swimming pools - and if laid end to end they would reach to the moon and back seven times.
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New powers to ensure that all drivers who break the rules of the road face tough penalties came into force last week.
Under the new laws drivers - including hauliers - living outside the UK will no longer be able to escape the penalties faced by UK offenders.
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Training cleaners to achieve nationally recognised qualifications makes more sense for commercial cleaners than hiring unskilled, untrained staff at the minimum wage, says the managing director of New Zealand-based Crest Commercial Cleaning.
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Sebo's Dart is right on target!
By John Austen
With oak and tiled floors at home and wood laminate floors in my office, I had always rather liked the idea of owning a mechanical hard floor cleaner / polisher, rather than always having the work done manually.
So when we saw the Sebo Dart dual-purpose floor machine demonstrated on the stand next to Cleanzine's at last autumn's CleanExpo, I was delighted with the idea of having the opportunity to try one out for myself. Jan, the editor, as a qualified cleaner, normally gets all the fun, but we thought that as a real novice it would be the ultimate test for me to try it at my office instead of Jan's for a change.
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TripAdvisor, which says it's the world's largest travel community, yesterday unveiled what it believes are the dirtiest British hotels in the seventh annual TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards. This is the third year that the cleanliness (or lack of it) has featured in the programme. Unlike other hotel programmes, the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards are based on the millions of candid reviews and opinions about hotels on the TripAdvisor site and content from across the web.
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Vernacare’s universal Tuffie 5 cleaning and disinfecting wipe is now scientifically proven to eradicate the swine flu virus. Independent laboratory tests have certified the new generation wipe effective against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus to EN14476 standard.
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TV's The Apprentice Syed Ahmed launches futuristic new hand dryer
SAVortex has launched what it says is the greenest, quietest and fastest hand dryer to commercial washrooms : The Vortex Hand Dryer - spinning air hand dryer using no heating elements, saving energy and drying hands in just 10 seconds.
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20-year Principle
In these pressing economic times and with businesses struggling to survive, it is inspirational to know that a London contract cleaning company is celebrating a milestone of 20 years of trading this year.
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As two thirds of businesses indicate that swine flu is already within their organisations, research from international law firm Eversheds reveals the impact of the pandemic on UK businesses and the scale of contingencies in place for an Autumn escalation.
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UAE Facilities Management well placed to weather economic downturn
The UAE facilities management market is well placed to weather the economic downturn being felt around the region according to United Business Media, the organiser of Working Buildings Middle East incorporating Fit-Out Middle East - the international trade exhibition due to take place on the 9th and 10th of November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
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As we approach the end of a turbulent 2009 for the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry, Plimsoll has taken a look back at the highs and lows of the last 12 months and looked forward to the threats and opportunities facing the market in 2010.
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UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry - what’s in store for 2010?
Few would argue that 2009 was a difficult year for the UK Cleaning Equipment & Materials industry but early signs suggest that conditions in 2010 will be much brighter. According to new research by leading industry analyst Plimsoll, the market is slowly emerging from the malaise of the last two years.
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UK Government fails to accept Public Toilet Committee's recommendations
On Tuesday, the Government published its response to the Communities & Local Government Committee Report on the Provision of Public Toilets.
Published last October, the Report called on local authorities to reverse a decline in the number of public toilets. It argued that the Government should impose a duty on local authorities to consult with the local community to develop a public toilet strategy and thus ensure that more toilets were made available to the public. The Public Health Act 1936 gives Local Authorities the power to provide public toilets, but imposes no duty to do so. Partly as a consequence of this, the provision of public toilets varies enormously from one local authority to another.
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UK's first permanent hospital decontamination cleaning unit up and running
A healthcare cleaning company has launched what it believes is the UK's first permanent decontamination cleaning unit, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, London.
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As the global recession causes colleges and universities across the world to reduce operating budgets, their facilities management teams are searching for ways to do more with less. Increasingly, they are turning to core suppliers to help them control spending on cleaning and maintenance supplies. They also want help on how to clean smarter -- all while meeting important new environmental and sustainability goals.
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Upgrade to trade in Australia: the first big step
The Australian National Upholstery & Carpet Cleaners Association’s key objective is skills recognition and the achievement of trade Status for the Carpet Cleaning & Restoration professions.
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Users express their delight with KleenRite build quality and performance
Since Chemspec Europe became the authorised importer and distributor of KleenRite carpet & upholstery equipment for UK and a large part of mainland Europe, the customer reaction has been very positive. Portable cleaning equipment varies widely and the really notable difference with KleenRite machines is the very high quality of construction and their consequent reliability and performance.
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Vaska introduces green chemicals to commercial laundry industry
Vaska, the Californian-based producer of green, botanically-based laundry care products for the commercial, institutional and consumer markets, has announced that it has successfully turned what it says is: "the first major commercial laundry plant in the US (and possibly the world)" green.
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Vietnam's Department of Food Hygiene & Safety has just started a month's nationwide promotion of food hygiene and safety issues. The 'action month' is using community involvement to help businesses and authorities at all levels clean up the food industry, both in production and service, reports Vietnam News.
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Views sought on European regulation on biocides
Views are being sought on European proposals for a revised regime for regulating the placing on the market and use of biocides. Biocides include disinfectants, preservatives and pest control agents used to control harmful organisations such as bacteria, fungi and rodents.
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Wages - no change to minimum rates in Australia
As a result of The Fair Pay Commission’s minimum wage decision, there will be no change to minimum rates under the Australian Pay & Classification Scales.
Ruth Frenzel of EMA Consulting who advises the cleaning industry’s Building Service Contractors Association on industrial relations matters, says this means that the pay scales which apply to employers that are constitutional corporations and which are covered by federal IR legislation will remain unchanged.
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Wanted: award-winning toilets!
Nominations are now being received for the 2009 Loo of the Year Awards - the annual competition to find the best places 'to go' in Britain, Ireland and The Channel Islands.
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Want recognition for your excellence in resources and wastes management?
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management would like to hear from companies and individuals that have achieved excellence in the field of sustainable waste and resource management across a range of categories and criteria for the CIWM Awards for Environmental Excellence.
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New regulations on the collection, treatment and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators in the UK were laid before Parliament yesterday. The Waste Batteries & Accumulators Regulations 2009, complement the existing Batteries & Accumulators (Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008, a Directive which set out the requirements for introducing new batteries onto the market as of September last year.
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With graffiti costing the Welsh tax payer over £1 million a year to remove, environmental campaigners Keep Wales Tidy are clear that graffiti should not be considered art, but a crime.
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Westfield – where the biggest buys the best
When Europe’s largest shopping mall in West London, the 43 acre Westfield Centre, was specifying washroom facilities for this very ‘up market’ Centre, the focus was on buying the best.
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What's in a name? City & Kent becomes CK Group
City & Kent Cleaning Ltd, the long-established cleaning specialist for the healthcare environment, has evolved into the C K Group, the new operating name comprising a number of specialist companies, that as well as City & Kent Cleaning, also includes C K Consumables, and iDCS, the recognised experts with a multi-faceted approach to hospital decontamination.
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What would you like in your sandwich?
According to the Yemen Times, many of those who buy food and drink from food supply kiosks and restaurants suffer from the carelessness of those preparing and serving what they consume. It claims that a lot of foodservice staff are not aware that their job can be a threat to others’ health if they don’t implement hygiene standards, and that it is common for workers to use their bare hands to make food. "They even spread the eggs and cheese with their fingers in the sandwiches in front of the customers who have become so used to it that they don’t even mind!" it reports.
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When less is most definitely more
Metsä Tissue has found a way of dramatically cutting washroom waste whilst retaining high levels of hygiene, especially in areas, which traditionally make exceptional demands on paper consumables. The Katrin narrow range of hand towels, including the innovative Easy Flush range, provides the solution - reducing space requirements, lowering waste, saving money and improving green credentials simultaneously.
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Where hygiene and the environment are on the curriculum
If you were to visit the quiet Hertfordshire village of Datchworth, you would not expect to find it the centre of a hygiene and environmental awareness campaign for 5 - 11 year olds – but it is.
There’s a hygiene revolution in progress and it originates from the All Saints Primary School led by its progressive Head Teacher Mary Willatt. The result is that pupils who were already extremely happy are now healthier too.
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Where will your festive holiday meal end up this year?
With the festive holiday season rapidly approaching, people through much of the world all face the growing problem of how to responsibly dispose of our excess waste. From Thanksgiving until New Years Day, household waste increases by more than 25% in the US alone, which means that an additional one million tons of waste are added to US landfills each week.
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Who's joining you in your bed tonight?
With raised public awareness of the dangers of cross contamination and everyone (who hasn't already had it) worrying about catching swine flu, the more organisations can do to prove that they are striving to keep their building users safe, the more business they are likely to do. Recent reports have highlighted that bed bugs and bed mite infestation are increasing at rates of over 500% each year, so hotels and nursing homes in particular need to ensure that they meet the highest standards.
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Winners announced in NHS competition to find new ways to beat hospital bugs
Surface cleaning & protection specialists Chemspec Europe, Nanopool and UV Light Technology are among the nine winners of a competition to find new ways to help combat healthcare-associated infections.
They have been chosen from around 250 applications submitted to the Smart Solutions for HCAI programme, an NHS project which aimed to identify innovative technologies from different industry sectors with the potential to fight hospital bugs.
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Woolsafe Technician Training Course to run alongside Cleanlink conference
WoolsWoolsafe Australia is running a one day Woolsafe Technician Course in conjunction with the Cleanlink conference on Thursday 8th October at Twin Towns Services Club, Wharf Street Tweed Heads.
The WoolSafe Technician Training Course is for experienced technicians wanting to further their education and gain a greater understanding of the cleaning of wool carpet, rugs and upholstery fabrics.
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World toilet provision and hygiene
Dear Jan,
Educating the young and setting the right mindset are important aspects of improving school sanitation. Good personal hygiene habits, coupled with the correct toilet etiquette can help pave the way to better sanitation and health for everyone.
One of the subjects that will be discussed at the World Toilet Summit & Expo, taking place from 2nd - 4th December 2009, is school sanitation.
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World Toilet Summit & Expo 2009 a big success
An intensive three-day summit with over 50 expert speakers, backed by an exhibition of the latest sanitation technology, made for a highly successful World Toilet Summit & Expo 2009.
Held at Suntec Singapore earlier this month, the summit threw the spotlight on a wide range of sanitation issues affecting urban and rural communities. Delegates from 30 different economies participated at the annual event.
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World Workplace 2009 Conference & Expo brings latest workplace trends and innovations to Orlando
Workplace professionals from around the world will meet in Orlando, Florida, USA, to analyse the trends and new products impacting today’s built environment during the International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace 2009 Conference & Expo, October 7 - 9 at the Orange County Convention Center.
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WTO partners with Singapore company to provide affordable toilets to rural communities
The World Toilet Organization has joined with a local sanitation products manufacturer, Rigel Technology, to produce affordable toilets for rural communities that have no access to sanitation.
The toilets will be made available to local and regional entrepreneurs to supply to rural communities. The two parties will sign an MOU at the upcoming World Toilet Summit & Expo to be held from 2nd - 4th December at Suntec Singapore.
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