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Launching a new company into an established market can be a challenging task - as Alan Barnley and Gary Bishop recognised before making the decision to set up Absolute Cleaning Supplies, in Poole, Dorset.
Having gained a wealth of knowledge from running their own successful contract cleaning and carpet cleaning businesses, the pair realised the importance of using top quality products and equipment in their work.
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Abu Dhabi's cleaners seek better pay and conditions
The workers had written to their employer requesting an increase in basic salary from Dh450 a month to Dh600 and a doubling of the length of their vacation period from 30 days once every two years to 60 days once every two years, to allow them to spend more time at their homes in such places as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. They also requested better quality food.
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A clean slate: the skills contest showcasing training for prisoners
A competition to find the country's best cleaners is now running in a number of prisons. The UK Team Clean Challenge has already been held outside the prisons' sector. It is hoped the roll out to 12 prisons will help highlight the excellent training available to offenders while they serve their sentences.
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Acquisition of Contico Manufacturing Limited
In a statement received today Thomas Stücken, CCO Proventec Plc announced the acquisition of Contico Manufacturing Limited. "We are very pleased to announce that Proventec plc has acquired Contico Manufacturing Limited via the successful lead of a management buy-out.
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"A great success," says organiser of first St Petersburg cleaning show
Cleanexpo 2008 held recently in St Petersburg, Russia, for the first time, was a great success, according to the organiser. The 4,907sq.m show attracted 106 exhibitors from 13 countries, together with 4,610 professional visitors.
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AHCP's Penny Harrison reports...
The last ever Association of Domestic Management / first ever Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals, (ADM in its new guise) Conference & Exhibition took place in Blackpool last month. Sessions were based around the three key themes of Modernisation, Innovation and Inspiration. The outcomes of these sessions will be published shortly and developed at the NHS Confederation Conference which is being held from 20th - 22nd June.
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Albany Washroom Services has teamed up with Dyson to offer customers a cost effective, hygienic hand drying solution - the Dyson Airblade hand dryer.
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A little knowledge can help reduce flood stress
Flooding will be a new experience for many of the current victims in the UK and being unprepared for what the recovery phase entails can only add to their stress.
The BDMA (British Damage Management Association) has published a leaflet entitled 'Understanding Basic Flood Recovery Procedures', which it hopes will give flood victims an idea of what the recovery process might entail.
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Thinking of starting a cleaning business in the US? A recent survey by the US Soap & Detergent Association reveals that 12% of Americans regularly use a residential cleaning service, 8% have used one for help with the spring cleaning, while 27% would consider doing using a residential cleaning service for either regular or spring cleaning.
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Almost half of all hospitals kitchens and/or canteens in England could be failing to meet cleanliness and hygiene standards, according to a nationwide survey by the Liberal Democrats. Nearly a fifth of hospitals surveyed kept food at the wrong temperatures or in unsafe conditions, while 11 hospitals had problems with vermin.
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Almost £100 million spent cleaning the UK's graffiti each year
Local Authorities in England each spend an average of £75,000 cleaning up graffiti every year while Transport for London spends £20 million a year.
A survey by ENCAMS of over 10,000 sites across England found graffiti at over a fifth of these areas - although some incidents were so small that they were virtually unnoticeable to people passing through.
Hotspots for graffiti include back alleys, footbridges, subways and transport areas. Of the nine English regions, London is the most blighted by graffiti.
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On the 2nd December Carl Theakston, Managing Director of paper disposables and hygiene products manufactuer ESP, set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands with three friends and attempting to row a 29ft rowing boat across the Atlantic Ocean, some 2800 miles to English Harbour in Antigua, as part of the Atlantic Rowing Race.
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An event not to be missed
Your opportunity to entertain family, friends, colleagues and business contacts as well as networking with a number of like minded people.
The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners would like to invite you to join them at their inaugural Grand Charity Ball to be held at:
The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on 6th September 2008.
The event is in aid of the Livery's Charitable Trust. The Trust is called upon to support many worthy causes including many very closely associated with the cleaning industry.
Whether you are interested in obtaining tickets, sponsoring part of the event, providing a donation or need further information please contact maureenmarden
A new approach to waste management in the NHSIn addition to being the UK's largest employer, the NHS is also one of the country's largest CO2 producers with emissions of approximately 1 million tonnes of carbon per year. The UK government has set the NHS a mandatory target of achieving a 15% reduction in carbon emissions by 2010.
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A new name - new look - new funding - new horizons
London Property Maintenance, the 23yr old Kent based cleaning, security and property maintenance company, has new owners, a new name and a new corporate identity.
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After 17 years of successful trading in the USA, Ceiling Pro International has come to the UK. Of course with the recent smoking ban it's a timely entry, as it's likely that pubs, clubs and restaurant owners will be considering refurbishment as they know that the budget and effort put into any work is likely to make a long-lasting difference.
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Anpath Group announces addition of MRSA and VRE claims for its EnviroTru disinfectant
Anpath Group reported last week that its wholly owned subsidiary, EnviroSystems, announced that the US Environmental Protection Agency has accepted its submission to add additional claims to its disinfectant/sanitiser, EnviroTru for use of the product as a sanitiser against MRSA and VRE (scientifically known as Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecalis).
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Television personality and show presenter Anthea Turner will top the bill at the Kimberly-Clark Professional and Cleaning & Support Services Association Golden Service Awards luncheon on November 2nd.
Currently presenting the TV programme 'The Perfect Housewife' in which cleaning plays an important role, Anthea is well known for her numerous TV appearances over many years. These range from five years on Blue Peter, three years fronting Top of the Pops and appearances on The National Lottery and Wish You Were Here.
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Apprenticeships
New research released this week by the Learning and Skills Council shows the significant benefits apprenticeships programmes can bring to employers. Some 88% believe apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce.
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Aquatec Water Systems, the US-based manufacturer of diaphragm pumps, which are used in a wide range of cleaning applications, has appointed Becktech as its Master Distributor for the UK, Benelux and Scandinavia, building on a successful relationship between which began in 2003.
"Demand for our pumps in the UK and Europe has grown significantly over recent years, and we recognised the need to offer customers a more responsive distribution and backup service," explains Bryan Hausner, President of Aquatec. "We see Becktech as the ideal partner to build our business in northern Europe."
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Nominations and entries are now being received for the 2008 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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For more than 30 years managers of cleaning and allied services within the public sector, but especially within the National Health Service, have had their networking needs met by the Hospital Domestic Administrators' Association - latterly Association of Domestic Management.
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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
The Building Service Contractors Association of Australia is heavily promoting an organisation similar to our own National Carpet Cleaners Association, with a view to regulating the industry in a way that would help preserve the good reputation of the professionals within it - and, by encouraging specifiers and consumers only to employ the services of registered members, reduce the problems created when cowboy contractors attempt to do the work.
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Buildings across the UK have been recognised for helping to make life better for their occupants as well as their cleaning staff.
Shackleton House, London Bridge City, won the Overall Gold Award in the 2008 Building Cleanability Awards, promoted by the cleaning industry Livery Company - The Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners.
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Awards scheme will help put civic pride back into Britain
Following the 18 year success of Britain's Cleanest City Awards and the trial run of the new Clean Britain Awards - won in March by Birmingham, planning is well underway for an extended Clean Britain Awards Scheme in 2008/2009.
The new Awards were promoted last week at the British Cleaning Council's 25th Anniversary Reception, and will be publicised at the forthcoming Chartered Institute of Wastes Management show in Paignton in early June.
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Bahrain cleaning contractor withdraws services
Cleaning contractor MBM Alam Flora has suspended all its operations in three of Bahrain's governorates, laying off almost 550 employees and withdrawing 140 pieces of machinery including trucks, tippers, bobcats, sewerage tankers and other equipment - including the refuse bins - from the streets.
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Bahrain may appoint national cleaning company
A new national cleaning company could soon be established to cover Bahrain, reports the Gulf Daily News. Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Mansoor Bin Rajabsays says that if the plans are approved by the relevant authorities, his ministry would own 60% of the company, while the remaining 40% would be for Initial Public Offering.
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When Lloyds TSB wanted its South East Region high street banks cleaned, Project Xtreme Clean was launched, which was no mean task and a great challenge for its cleaning and support services company LCC.
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Barclays Bank cleaners demand a 'Living Wage now!'
Barclays was named the worst payer of cleaners out of the big banks at Canary Wharf as crowds of cleaners and London Citizens faith communities rallied last week to demand the London living wage be paid to the cleaners by the multinational banks and law firms that occupy the Wharf.
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Bathing water quality in the EU remains high
The annual bathing water report presented on Monday by the European Commission reveals that the large majority of bathing sites across the European Union met EU hygiene standards in 2007. Some 95% of coastal bathing areas and 89% of bathing sites in rivers and lakes comply with the mandatory standards. The report provides useful water quality information for the millions of people who visit Europe's beaches every summer and comes just after the latest raft of legislation has come into force.
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Batteries power ahead
Earlier this week the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform published a second consultation document relating to implementation of the EU Batteries Directive, this time covering just the EU's Internal Market provisions.
The consultation includes draft Regulations to transpose the Internal Market provisions of the Directive into UK law that set out the requirements for placing new batteries and accumulators (rechargeable batteries), and appliances containing batteries, anywhere on the EU market. These will be effective from 26th September 2008.
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BCC Celebration
The British Cleaning Council, 'the Voice of the UK Cleaning Industry', is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year - and to mark the incredible growth of the industry as well as its membership bodies and their professionalism, it is holding a celebration reception at the House of Commons in Westminster Palace for all its supporters as well as those who will help to shape the future of cleaning standards and legislation. The Westminster event signifies the development of important links with key influencers within the Government and the leading parties.
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BEAMA loses right to host UK pavilion at ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam
Last week Cleanzine heard from some very irate UK exhibitors that the British pavilion at ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam would no longer be offered to BEAMA, the trade association that normally takes this space, and that in future pavilion exhibitors would have to buy space direct from the show organisers.
As the possible loss of financial support from the British government could influence whether or not many exhibitors would take part in the show, Cleanzine decided to look into the situation.
We contacted the RAI in Amsterdam, and had the following statement from Rob den Hertog (r.d.hertog@rai.nl), Senior Product Manager:
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Beating office politics is key to successful leadership says research
Leaders place career transitions - the point at which leaders are promoted from one level to the next - second only to dealing with divorce when considering different life events. Some 59% of leaders rate career transitions as very or extremely challenging according to the latest research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and Development Dimensions International.
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Beijing's air conditioning systems get six-monthly clean
In what is thought to be the first regulation of its kind in China, Beijing's Municipal Bureau of Sanitation has decreed that central air conditioning systems sited in public buildings must be cleaned every six months. The initial clean must have been carried out by 31st May 2008.
It is estimated that there are some 10,000 air conditioned buildings in Beijing, and that half of them are located in public areas such as office buildings, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and supermarkets. It is also estimated that around just 1% of systems are cleaned regularly at present.
It is reported that such systems have become one of the major potential infection sources of respiratory diseases.
Source:
www.wings-china.com
One of the most popular events of the cleaning industry year and the highlight of the Institute year is set for Thursday 11th September - and this year it offers a particularly interesting package of events. The British Institute of Cleaning Science will be holding its Annual Awards Dinner at the Copthorne Hotel, Merryhill, Dudley, West Midlands on that day but there are important events taking place as a forerunner to the Dinner.
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BICSc Awards 2007
If you didn't manage to get to the dinner, our rundown on the Awards winners follows...
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Bin collections: how does the UK compare with other European countries?
With all the controversy surrounding the fortnightly collection of rubbish in some areas of the UK, as opposed to the weekly collections we'd all enjoyed for years, we've looked at how rubbish is collected in some of the European capital cities.
It's been difficult to find all the information we wanted so if your city, (wherever it is in the world) isn't included, please let us know how it compares.
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Around 20,000 of the 22,000 council workers in Birmingham walked out on strike on Tuesday, bringing many services in the city to a halt.
Those involved - many of whom were cleaners and refuse collectors - were protesting against the imposition of a new pay and grading structure, due to come into force on 1st April. Though it's designed to reduce wage inequalities, it could see some staff lose up to half their pay.
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Bluebell Railway and HSE team up to celebrate success of 'dodgy ladders' campaign
A great draw for tourists worldwide, the Bluebell Railway provided an impressive backdrop to a recent photo call with HM Health & Safety Inspector, Caroline Skinner to highlight the importance of safety when working at height.
The HSE has been running a 'ladder exchange' campaign aimed at removing 4,000 'dodgy ladders' from workplaces across the UK.
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Brick acid
A Derbyshire-based engineering firm recently installed 200 linear metres of stainless steel balustrading to a building - which the builders cleaners then used brick acid to clean up!
This is now leaving residues which although can be wiped off, keep reappearing. The balustrade is 6 storeys high and can be accessed by a scissor lift.
The balustrade needs a fast deep clean. We asked our experts if they had any suggestions:
Most of our experts rightly asked for more information (i.e. MSDS sheets, method of contamination such as overspray or spillage rather than direct application, but to date, this has not been forthcoming.
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British workers don't bring good environmental habits to work
Brits are leaving their environmentally friendly habits at home with a fifth of UK workers saying they take no steps to be 'green' at work.
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Buffing-up the hospital's good cleaning record
Housekeeping staff have praised a new cleaning system which sees even better results and strengthens work to reduce Healthcare Acquired Infections.
Two teams at West Suffolk Hospital tried out microfibre cloths and mops for seven months and found them even more effective at picking up dirt than their usual cleaning equipment. They are also lighter, meaning that cleaners do not have to heft the heavier water-filled buckets, and no other detergents have to be used with them.
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Byotrol says 'arrivederci' to algae in Venice
Byotrol, the UK company helping stop the spread of superbugs in hospitals and hygiene issues in food factories, has been called in to eliminate the persistent problem of algal growth on the iconic buildings and walkways of Venice, where its cleaning products are being utilised to clean and remove the algae, mould and mildew stains that are prone to gathering in every corner of the historical city.
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Call on women to step up to Skills Challenge
Karren Brady - as managing director of Birmingham City Football Club one of the most high profile women in English football - is calling on women to join a national initiative aimed at giving them opportunities to improve their skills and careers.
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Campaign against Tube cleaning cuts steps up
Cleaners responsible for cleaning the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee tube lines have stepped up their campaign to defend the cleaning service against swingeing cuts planned by Tube Lines, the multi-million pound private company responsible for operating the three lines, with a further demonstration at the busy Tottenham Court road tube station recently. The station is one of the busiest Northern line interchanges and one that will be hit heavily by a diminished cleaning service.
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Campaign aid should help ensure that snow and leaves are all that squelch underfoot this Winter
If you're a housing provider, local authority or a town centre management organisation, then ENCAMS has a new resource to help you run campaigns to reduce dog fouling.
Due out in December, the package is the latest in a line of CD based management guides, that includes all the high resolution artwork you will need to run your own anti-fouling campaign, along with step-by-step guidance on how to approach PR and media relations.
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There are some 50,000 Canadians employed in the sanitation sector and the organisers of Canada's largest cleaning exhibition, Can Clean, says:
"Every commercial building in the country uses and needs products from this industry. Without these workers and their products, buildings would not be cleaned and very quickly there would be outbreaks of infectious diseases. The impact on the nation's economy could be devastating. Often referred to as the unseen industry, the sanitation sector is worth more than $2 billion a year to the Canadian economy."
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Canadian Clean hands for Life campaign
Staff in several Vancouver-area hospitals and extended-care facilities will be getting a few lessons in hand washing.
Dr. Elizabeth Bryce of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority said hand hygiene is the most important factor in preventing infection and reducing the spread of viruses.
The Clean Hands for Life campaign aims to lower infection rates by educating 16,000 health-care and service employees. The year-long campaign will also include hospital and care-home visitors.
The Canadian Competent Clean-up Crew, operating through Sidedoor Youth Centre, has really made a difference to the streets of Yellowknife, Canada, in recent weeks. Its 12 crew members - 11 boys and one girl, who range in age from 14 to 24 and are split into two teams, work six hours a day, five days a week, doing different jobs throughout the city to ensure it's a cleaner and more hygienic place to be - and they're catching up on their education, too.
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Cannon primed for future as textile industry faces tough trading
Cannon Textile Care is focusing on customer service and investing in innovation for the future while much of the industry is struggling against the toughest trading for years.
"The workwear and textile care industry is going through major transition with some cut-throat pricing, acquisitions of smaller companies and some long-established players falling into administration," says Cannon Textiles' managing director Graham Turner, "So we believe this is just the time for us to push harder than ever to achieve service excellence and invest in the future."
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'Highly professional' was the term used by exhibitors, visitors and sponsors alike to describe this year's largest specialist exhibitions for the UK's carpet and window cleaning trades, which took place two weeks ago at a new venue, the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. Attracting more visitors than ever before and hosting the best stands and highest profile seminar programme within their six year history, the shows raised the bar with a passion.
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Reinforcing its position as the cleaning industry's biggest, most exciting and truly international trade show, ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam, held earlier this month, presented products from 631 exhibitors from 40 countries.
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Cespa awarded Madrid street cleaning contract, worth €76.3 million
Cespa, Ferrovial Servicios' urban services and waste treatment subsidiary, has increased its portfolio with new contracts in Madrid, the Canary Islands and Castilla-La Mancha.
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Chair of Asset Skills Cleaning Board makes national TV news
Last week Asset Skills showed TV viewers the important difference skilled cleaning can make to people's lives, when two of its Board members took centre stage on Channel 4 TV News.
During the programme, Chief Executive Richard Beamish and Chair of the Cleaning Board Lloyd Ansermoz, (who is also Sales Director at In Depth Cleaning Services) were interviewed about the importance of proper training for cleaners when they revealed that the industry is looking to recruit prison inmates for its training schemes.
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Chemical testing: are we doing enough?
Last month, the European Union's REACH legislation came into force, a move that will see around 30,000 industrial chemicals put through their paces to find out what risks they impose on health & safety. Twelve toxic chemicals - called persistent organic pollutants, or POPS - have already been banned worldwide under the Stockholm Convention; these include DDT, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls.
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Many of those employed in the cleaning industry will be potentially exposed to chemicals; particularly since statistics show that the most common chemical causing occupational contact dermatitis is water - from wet work, long term use of occlusive gloves, etc. Since exposure of the skin to chemicals in the workplace is unavoidable, maintaining an effective skin management system is an essential element for any caring workplace. Yet how many cleaning companies will have an effective skin management system in place? How many will really understand the complexities involved in selecting and using gloves?
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Cheshire company cleans up in Canada with help from UKTI
A domestic services franchise, which local entrepreneurs Mike and Elaine Hanrahan set up from home shortly after the birth of their first baby, is currently sweeping its way across Canada with help from UK Trade & Investment.
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Children shun sub-standard school loos
School pupils are shunning school toilets which have become no go areas because they're either closed, dirty or unfit for purpose!
That's according to the British Cleaning Council, which is throwing its weight behind the Bog Standard campaign, which aims to promote better toilets for pupils.
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Child's poisoning underlines the need to store cleaning fluids correctly
News that an infant is in hospital in Nicosia, Cyprus, having been poisoned, shows yet again the importance of keeping cleaning fluids in their original, properly labelled bottles.
Police are baffled as to how the poison got into the two-year-old's drink, but they believe that the hotel barman who served her family may have confused a refilled water bottle for water, and used it to dilute her orange juice. Apparently the cleaning fluid looked like water and didn't have any odour that would alert the barman that it might not actually be water.
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China's environment pledge
Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged in his government work report to strengthen the effort on energy saving, emission reduction and environmental protection, (which is also one of the major goals of China's 11th Five-Year Plan), while the plan for institutional restructuring of the State Council includes the elevation of the State Environmental Protection Administration to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Both initiatives show China's determination to enhance environmental protection reports China Clean Publication.
"The cleaning industry will bear a great responsibility in this. 'Environmental industry', 'green cleaning' and 'clean energy' will all be key phrases and themes of China's development pre & post Olympics and we are looking forward to sharing our visions with other cleaning professionals", says Jimmy King, Editor, CCP.
www.wings-china.com
Automobiles on the street were sounding their air sirens and the office was in silence, writes Jimmy King, Editor of China Clean Publication (CCP). On 19th May, the China Clean crew, together with many of the Chinese people, stood in silence for three minutes from 2:28 pm to mark the exact time the devastating earthquake shook Sichuan Province.
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Chinese cleaning show organiser blown away by attendance - despite dodgy weather!
Despite severe weather conditions caused by typhoon Wipha, ISSA/Interclean China 2007 was a success attracting almost the same number of visitors as last year.
Typhoon Wipha forced the authorities in China to evacuate 2 million people and strongly recommended everyone else to stay inside. Airports, schools and public offices closed and public transportation came to a standstill.
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Cig-Arrete Hits 'Home Run' in America
Radal Technology, a global leader in the manufacture of cigarette smoke detection systems, has opened a new sales and distribution operation in the USA. Radal Technology USA, based in Hamilton, OH, has taken over all North American and Canadian operations from the parent company in the UK.
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CIPD and TUC launch guide to clarify new age laws
Useful advice as to whether the new age laws prevent colleagues from sending one another birthday cards or employers running graduate recruitment schemes is contained in a guide published this week by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and the TUC.'Developing a new mindset on age and retirement' is for both employers and trade union representatives and aims to provide comprehensive guidance across all aspects of the new age regulations that came into force last October.
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Clantex partners Swisher in providing innovative washroom cleaning solutions
Clantex, provider in the UK of the Kaivac range of machines for washroom cleaning has successfully partnered with Swisher Hygiene Services to provide all Swisher UK-based franchisees with the same portfolio of services as offered in the USA.
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Clean Atlantic 2007 - Eastern Canada's largest cleaning trade show - coming soon
Canada's cleaning industry - worth more than $2 billion a year to the Canadian economy - employs some 50,000 Canadians, and 2007 marks the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Sanitation Supply Association, which has over 500 members. On Thursday, September 27th, the CSSA will hold Clean Atlantic 2007 - the largest trade show for the janitorial cleaning and maintenance industry in Atlantic Canada.
Taking place at the World Trade and Convention Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, the show will feature manufacturers and distributors from the Atlantic provinces, the rest of Canada and the US. Visitors, who will come from the North Eastern US as well as Atlantic Canada, will find the newest and most innovative cleaning products available.
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Cleaners working for Initial Air Services at Manchester Airport will strike for three days next week after the company refused further talks with the the cleaners' union - Unite - to try to resolve the dispute over pay.
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Cleanfix Ireland
It's always nice to have your efforts rewarded, particularly so after a period of doubt and uncertainty, that ultimately affects the way in which you can do business.
Based in Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford, Selco is not only celebrating 25 years as a supplier of machines, chemicals and the full range of cleaning consumables, but is also now enjoying a freshly revived and highly profitable relationship with Cleanfix, one of its key suppliers.
Selco had been a distributor of Cleanfix machines for a number of years with a consistent, if not particularly inspiring, degree of local success. However, the recent move of the UK base into its new warehouse and headquarters in Leeds provided Selco with the opportunity and the confidence to 'step up a gear' in the marketing of these world famous red machines.
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According to a survey carried out by Pakistan's DailyTimes, the number of eateries in Islamabad has risen rapidly over the past couple of years to cater for the fact that more people - particularly office workers - are eating out. And although prices and service charges have risen as a result, the eateries have not put any of their extra takings into improving hygiene standards, which appear to be falling short of acceptable levels.
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Wimbledon Stadium, owned by the Greyhound Racing Association, has recently extended and expanded its contract with Ridge Crest Cleaning, utilising the cleaning contractor to deliver new complementary services in a breakthrough service agreement.
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Members of the cleaning industry - amongst others - celebrated success at the eighth-annual Plastics Industry Awards, which took place at the London Hilton, Park Lane. Guest Presenter Jason Manford announced the winners to a record crowd of 500 people at the event's gala dinner.
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Cleaning industry veteran takes on killer mountain for charity.....twice
The famed generosity of the cleaning industry towards charitable causes is being sought to back Roger Papp, long-time Operations Director at Truvox International, in his attempt to consecutively cycle twice up the fearsome, infamous Mont Ventoux in the south of France.
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Alan Hardcastle, Publisher of the bi-monthly Australian Inclean magazine and the recently-launched Inclean New Zealand, gives his overview of Clean NZ, which took place on North Island earlier this month. Alan says that many show visitors had travelled from South Island for the event, which was a real success - particularly when one considers that NZ has a population of just four million.
Reflecting the unified scene that is the New Zealand cleaning industry, Clean NZ proved a rewarding exercise for all parties. Quality visitors, in healthy numbers estimated at 700-plus, were treated to a highly professional exhibition that was complemented with a popular seminar programme.
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Cleaners in Singapore forced to live in public toilets
When Manpower Ministry inspectors found four cleaners living in public toilets last year, with their clothes hanging from the urinals, their cooking utensils and cutlery scattered around the sinks and their mattresses on the floor, they took employer Maint-Kleen Pte. to court for failing to provide acceptable accommodation for its workers. The company was fined 7,500 Singapore dollars, reports the International Herald Tribune.
Singapore relies on a large population of foreign workers for jobs shunned by wealthier locals. Many of the thousands who flock there for these jobs are from impoverished neighboring countries and the Government has been taking action against employers who provide substandard housing for them. So far 18 have been fined.
Cleaners ranked 334 out of 346 in 2006 UK Pay League
GMB, Britain's general union, has updated its occupational pay league for employees in all 346 occupational groups in the UK by ranking official pay data for April 2006 from the top to the bottom, using official figures from the Office of National Statistics Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings for April 2006.
Top of the 2006 UK league were Company Directors & Chief Executives with mean gross annual pay of £181,491 which is 16 times the National Minimum Wage, while the cleaner's mean gross annual pay is said to be £13,296. The figures for window cleaners were judged to be 'unreliable or unavailable'. The UK mean gross annual pay in 2006 was £29,331.
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Cleaners win more than $1million in lost pay
Almost 500 mostly Latino janitors who cleaned UPS facilities, hotels, and other properties in Illinois and Texas have won a $1.2 million settlement in the latest in a growing number of lawsuits involving the failure of cleaning contractors to pay their employees according to federal overtime and minimum wage laws.
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Clean Expo Ireland held in Dublin
The Royal Dublin Society exhibition complex was the venue for the fifth staging of Clean Expo Ireland last week, supported by over 40 exhibitors from Ireland and the UK.
A brisk opening morning heralded good attendance for the two days and most exhibitors reported good quality enquiries from distributors and contract cleaners with a delighted Richard Dyson in particular, of chemicals manufacturer Greyland, commenting that "It was quality rather than quantity, with no time-wasters or people just looking for freebies." He added that from the enquiries the Greyland stand had taken future business "was likely."
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Cleanfix: art and machine manufacturing
In this latest edition of our series of In Profile features Cleanzine visits Swiss floor cleaning machine manufacturer Cleanfix Reinigungssyteme AG.
We take a look at the company, its manufacturing facility (where modern art adorns the walls, and even, some would say, the production line itself!) and at some of its latest ideas.
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Government figures indicate 79% of all Norovirus outbreaks reported between 1992 and 2004 occurred in healthcare settings, such as hospitals or residential care homes, with hotels (7%) and schools (5%) being the next most frequent locations. Outbreaks were shorter when control measures were implemented quickly, for example by closing wards or bedrooms to new admissions within four days of an outbreak.
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Cleaning up in business
Since B-Skill was set up in March 2000 to provide training in cleaning, support services in healthcare and Health & Safety for employers, adults and young people, the Tyne and Wear-founded company has gone from strength to strength. Now with five regional offices in Birmingham, Harlow, Leeds, London and Newcastle, along with employees and customers all over the UK, B-Skill puts its success down to one key ingredient - a commitment to providing the very highest standards of quality.
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Cleanliness summit will tackle unresponsive cleaning services
The NHS is to push forward with a step change in cleaning services, NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson will indicate today.
Hosting a summit of private and public sector cleaning representatives in London, Health Minister Ann Keen and David Nicholson will begin discussions with these organisations on new approaches to improve cleaning of wards and equipment. He will set out plans to:
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Clean win for Charlton House team
The Charlton House catering team at Sue Ryder Care - Nettlebed Hospice, Oxfordshire, has been singled out from 150 catering teams nationwide to receive The Alan Barnett Excellence Award for Hygiene, named after Charlton House's health, safety & environment manager who died last year.
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Clever employers respond to latest rises in sickness absence rates
The proportion of organisations now focusing on employee wellbeing as a means of tackling increasing absence levels and costs, has soared over the last year, according to a new survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
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CMS Purus Awards 2007: Four winners announced
After seven hours of consultation and in-depth discussions the jury has now made its decision. There are four winners of the Purus Award - the award linked to the forthcoming German cleaning exhibition CMS 2007.
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Comedian Bill Cosby is key speaker at Vegas cleaning show... Registration now open
ISSA/Interclean has secured US comedian Dr Bill Cosby as the keynote speaker for the forthcoming show, which is being held from September 8th - 11th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas and for which registration has just opened.
Dr. Cosby, who has enjoyed a well-known career spanning five decades of concerts, television, films, commercials and books, will entertain delegates with his talk: 'It's Your Job to Feel Good' on Wednesday, September 10th at 8:30 a.m. Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Barron Room (adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Centre).
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Conference Agenda announced for AHCP 2008: Infection Control Under the Spotlight
The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals' 33rd Annual Healthcare Cleaning & Domestic Management Event will take place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire from 11th - 13th June this year under the headline theme 'Infection Control Under the Spotlight'.
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Confusion over training causes hospitals to fail says BCC
Confusion over training and lack of expertise is causing hospitals to fail - and the British Cleaning Council is calling upon hospitals to invite cleaning industry chiefs, with years of expertise, to help reform cleaning regimes.
Steve Wright, Chairman of BCC says: "Sadly, for too long now, many UK hospitals are failing to hit the mark in hygiene terms. Cleanliness is critical in all healthcare environments and many seem to be lacking the ability to rectify failures. Unless hospitals managers avail themselves of cleaning industry know-how, the hospital cleaning crisis will continue."
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Did you know that the average company car driver spends 11 days a year stuck in traffic?
A survey by Company Car Driver in association with the RAC Foundation has found that on average, traffic congestion costs each company car driver five hours each week.
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Consultation on a new chemical classification & labelling regulation launched
The Health & Safety Commission has launched a 12-week consultation on the proposed European Regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals, based on the United Nation's Globally Harmonised System.
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Contract cleaners may be doing the Lambeth walk
GMB, the trade union for Local Government Workers, has held a strike ballot for Lambeth Council's cleaners. It says that the employer, OCS, operates a two tier workforce and employs cleaners on worse terms and conditions than those staff who transferred to them from Lambeth Council.
The union claims that cleaners working on OCS employment contracts in Lambeth Town Hall get 12 days holiday a year plus Bank Holidays, while cleaners who transferred from Lambeth Council get 26 days plus Bank Holidays. It also claims that cleaners on OCS contracts are not entitled to any occupational sick pay and this is also different to the colleagues who transferred from Lambeth Council.
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Coronation Street, UK television's longest running soap opera, (which follows the lives of the inhabitants of a fictional village in Lancashire) must have had to adapt to a lot of changes in society since it was launched in December 1960.
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CPD recognised by Deb and Office Depot
Hull-based cleaning & hygiene supplies specialist CPD has confirmed its position as one of the country’s top performers by picking up two important awards.
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Businesses in the cleaning and maintenance industry struggling to borrow crucial funds now have access to cash not previously available, thanks to a new service launched by Creative Business Finance.
The firm has set up The Debt Boutique, to provide cash solutions to those who have been unable to secure funding previously. This range of niche lending products - which the company believes is unique to the UK market - will make up bespoke funding packages tailored to fit the client's needs.
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Cleaning Research International has recently prepared a cleaning specification for the National Theatre and assisted the facility's management through the tender process.
Situated on the South Bank of the Thames, the National has three theatres and its 'front of house' facilities comprise various restaurants, cafes and bars, exhibition areas and a bookshop. Backstage, another world exists. Here you will find an armoury, wig and costume makers and scenery workshops, not to mention dressing rooms, rehearsal rooms and sound studios.
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In a press release issued last week, Douglas Cooke, recently elected Chairman of the Cleaning & Support Services Association, said he was delighted that membership of The Cleaning & Support Services Association has increased by over 20% this year.
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CSSA partners Kimberly-Clark in new Golden Service Awards
Kimberly-Clark Professional, founder and sponsor of the Golden Service Awards, has joined forces with the Cleaning & Support Services Association, forming a partnership to organise, manage and market the programme.
Now called The Kimberly-Clark Professional and CSSA Golden Service Awards, the 2007 programme is open for entry.
Andrew Large, Director General of the CSSA said: "I am delighted that we and Kimberly-Clark Professional have joined forces. Cleaning contractors rightly regard the Golden Service Awards as the most prestigious Awards in the cleaning industry and I look forward to the 2007 programme."
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CSSA rejects RCN call to return cleaning in house
The CSSA has rejected the Royal College of Nursing's call to bring cleaning back in house as "playing to the gallery."
Speaking following the announcement of the RCN's conference vote earlier this week, CSSA Director General Andrew Large said:
"Today's vote by the Royal College of Nursing to campaign for an end to contracted out cleaning flies in the face of the reality of hospital cleaning today. Without contract cleaning, UK hospitals would be in a lot worse state than they currently are.
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CSSA represents cleaning industry at Westminster Health Forum
CSSA Director General Andrew Large was delighted to be a panellist at the Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar, 'Healthcare Associated Infections and Patient Safety' on Tuesday.
The seminar discussed all aspects of HAIs in the UK and was a valuable opportunity to promote the role of cleaning in the cutting of infection rates.
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CSSA warns of NHS leadership vacuum on cleaning
The Government's £57 million hospital deep clean has now come to an end. While most of the NHS Trusts met this deadline for the completion of the cleaning programmes, some have not. However the major concern in the cleaning industry now is about what will happen after the deep cleans are over.
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Cutan clearly cares very well
Deb, part of the Deb Group, the renowned away from home skincare systems company, has signed a further five year contract with BUPA Care Homes for the supply of Cutan hand hygiene products into 296 care homes nationwide.
The contract, which is spanning nearly 10 years, emphasises the long-term commitment between both parties to provide staff with quality products to promote best practice in hand hygiene.
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Daytime cleaning: the way forward
A new phenomenon is set to shape the future landscape of our workplaces and add an important figure to the full-time working environment - daytime cleaning and the visible workplace cleaner.
Key representatives from the cleaning industry met last week to discuss the advantages of daytime cleaning, together with other hot topics including cleaning up Britain before the Olympics.
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Deep clean a welcome start
The British Cleaning Council has welcomed the news that new Prime Minister Gordon Brown is calling for a 'deep clean' of all UK hospitals.
"It is great news that hospital hygiene is now high on the Government agenda," enthused Steve Wright, BCC Chairman. "We have long called for cleanliness to be made a priority and now it seems that Mr Brown has heard our calls.
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The Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals feels that everyone has had different experiences regarding the recent hospital deep cleans - albeit from a procedural, microbiological or infection control point of view. As a result, it has organised a study day that will focus on all those experiences and give delegates the opportunity to call upon the advice of experts in each of these areas, so that everyone can focus on the fight to reduce Healthcare Acquired Infections.
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DEFRA endorses 'sustainable cleaning'
A newly launched sustainable cleaning guide from the British Association for Chemical Specialities and the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association has been given an endorsement by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
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Deodorising workwear with the feelgood factor... is this the future?
'Technical Textile Innovations in Japan' reports that Osaka-based Omikenshi has developed a number of health-promoting viscose fibres. One of these is its Sundia branded fibre which has special deodorising properties. The deodorising effect is activated simply by exposing the fibre to sunlight for five hours. Fabrics made from Sundia also have antibacterial properties and help to protect the wearer from UV radiation.
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Dermatitis costing catering industry up to £20 million
The Health and Safety Executive's recent initiative to tackle the rising number of dermatitis cases in the catering sector is a warning that workers in the hotel and catering industry are particularly vulnerable to the debilitating disease - which in some cases is being blamed on cleaning products.
It is estimated that dermatitis costs the sector up to £20 million every year, even though the cost of control measures to prevent the disease costs less than 1% of the average restaurant meal.
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Where do you put your baby when you need to use the loo in a public washroom? Where do you place your luggage - to keep it safe and clean - when using an airport washroom? How do you create a light and refreshing environment in a public lavatory?
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Desperate or dynamic: hidden story behind job cuts
The slowdown in the UK economy could cost 2,125 jobs in the cleaning equipment & materials industry, according to leading business analyst Plimsoll Publishing.
But it's the story behind the headlines that will determine the survival of the companies in question. Customers, suppliers and competitors have no way of telling from a job reduction announcement whether the cuts were made in panic mode or for clearly thought out strategic reasons.
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Discount for booking early for the first time at Berlin cleaning show, CMS 2009
Determined to build on the success of CMS 2007, which attracted record numbers of exhibitors and trade visitors, the Berlin cleaning show's organisers are for the first time offering a 5% 'earlybird' discount on the normal stand price to exhibitors applying for stands by 30th September.
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Discriminatory employers of female cleaners face massive wave of litigation
GMB has warned that it has notched up its 25,000th equal pay claim against local government and NHS employers throughout the UK. The claims - which are all yet to be settled - are estimated to be worth £250 million. Typically they cover women cleaners, catering workers, school support staff and admin workers who compare themselves to men in similar jobs who earn more. The 25,000 live claims are on top of the many tens of thousands that have been settled through negotiation or legal proceedings in the last decade as GMB has pursued employers who fail to implement equal pay.
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Distribution company to save 400,000 gallons of water a year by adopting waterless truck washing
Ventura Transfer Company, a leader in the transloading and distribution of bulk products shipped throughout the US, has initiated a programme to clean the majority of the company's fleet without the use of water and instead using a biodegradable, non-toxic product. In addition to significantly reducing water usage, a waterless product eliminates potentially toxic run-off that can pollute local bays.
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Does your organisation have what it takes to become Euroclean Champion?
Asset Skills, in conjunction with UK Skills, is launching the first ever UK Skills Challenge for the cleaning industry. UK Team Clean Challenge is a new skills competition aimed specifically at cleaning staff. The competition will take place in October 2007 across the UK, with the winning team going forward to represent the UK in the Euroskills Competition being held in Rotterdam in September 2008.
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Double Standards from BSI
The British Standards Institution has published two new Standards. The first, BS ISO 10014:2006 Quality management systems, provides guidelines for achieving financial and economic benefits through the effective application of the interrelated eight management principles developed from those in ISO 9000:2005, designed to help companies achieve success and sustainability.
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Do you produce a regular staff or customer newsletter?
Undoubtedly one of the most effective ways of connecting with your customers, engendering loyalty and promoting new products or services is a regular newsletter to customers and potential customers. It should be a vital part of your marketing mix, but unless you have the luxury of a dedicated marketing department (and an almost unlimited budget), it can often become a daunting and time-consuming task!
Help is at hand.
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Dry cleaning system perfect for care home carpets
In the UK, over 410,000 elderly people live in some of the 15,700 private, voluntary and local authority care homes, being part of what is estimated to be a business valued at more than £8 billion per annum. And with growing numbers of elderly people living longer, it's a business that's likely to keep growing.
Nursing homes provide care to those whose condition requires regular nursing by, or under the supervision of, a qualified nurse, while enabling the person to be as independent as possible, maintaining their dignity and pride - but it's a demanding task to keep aspects of these homes such as carpets, clean and hygienic without causing disruption to residents.
Cleaning staff throughout the UK will know very well that maintaining the hygiene and standards necessary in these environments is hard work. To respect the dignity of a home's residents, the cleaning of unfortunate incidents must be kept discreet and tactful.
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Dry Steam Vapour decontamination - the evidence
Manufacturers are required to provide evidence of the performance of their products on request in direct response to NHS Trusts needs to be compliant with The Health Act 2006.
Under Duty 4 of the Hygiene Code, NHS Trusts have a duty to provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment for health care. This includes the selection of cleaning method, materials and frequency and compliance with Health& Safety and COSHH requirements.
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Does managing risk add value to a brand?
Does managing risk add value to a brand? Absolutely, says Serban Teodoresco, global managing director, SafeKey Group, JohnsonDiversey, who presented a talk on the subject at the The Food Business Forum (CIES) International Food Safety Conference, in Amsterdam earlier this month. He and his team of advisors counsel hundreds of food safety managers around the world on how to best minimise food-safety risk through sound brand management.
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Double decade celebration for Cleaning Research International
For the last 20 years Cleaning Research International has been helping a diverse selection of clients to turn their buildings into healthier, safer and altogether more pleasing environments. The National Theatre, Manchester Airport, British Library, Health & Safety Executive, British Medical Association, Wellcome Trust and the Bank of England, together with more than 22 universities and colleges, are just a few high profile organisations that have all benefited from a cleaning specification undertaken by the organisation.
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Not only has South London cleaning company Chequers Contract Services recently been awarded a major new contact with One Housing Group, but it has also had its green credentials recognised collecting a coveted Silver Envibe Award.
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Ecolab: one of world's most ethical companies
Ecolab has been named one of the world's most ethical companies by Ethisphere magazine.
The magazine measures companies using a rigorous eight-step process and scores them against nine distinct ethical leadership criteria. The Ethisphere Council defines ethical business leaderships as:
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Economic slowdown already impacting on UK cleaning equipment & materials market
At a time when even the most ambivalent are starting to accept that a recession will hit the UK economy in 2008, a new study by industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing has looked at how the UK slowdown is already impacting on cleaning equipment & materials market.
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Edana releases European nonwovens production and sales statistics for 2006
According to figures just released by Edana, the international association serving the nonwovens and related products industries, production of nonwovens in Europe grew by around 6.5% in 2006 to reach 1,494,000 tonnes. This compares with 1,403,000 tonnes in 2005 when the annual growth was 5%.
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Over 80% of primary care, mental health, ambulance and care trusts have signed-up for the National Patient Safety Agency's (NPSA) cleanyourhands campaign. Registration closed at the end of April with over 170 trusts committing to improve the hand hygiene of healthcare workers in the fight against healthcare associated infection (HCAI).
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Employee retention helps land SCJ on Fortune's 'happy list" for 8th time
For the eighth time, SC Johnson has made the '100 Best Companies to Work For in America' list, published by Fortune magazine. The company was awarded 27th place this year.
Fortune specifically recognised SCJ for employee retention, noting that 28% of SCJ's employees have worked there more than 20 years while 78% have been there more than six years.
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Employers face minimum wage fines
The UK Government is to target cheating employers with a new regime of fines if they pay below the national minimum wage.
In a consultation that began yesterday, the Trade & Industry Secretary Alistair Darling proposed options including fixed penalty fines linked to the number of workers underpaid.
It is also proposed that for the first time businesses will have to pay interest or other cash to workers they have underpaid on top of repaying arrears, so the workforce are no longer giving 'interest free loans' to their employers.
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Employers' optimism about jobs defies 'credit crunch' gloom
The latest quarterly Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development/KPMG Labour Market Outlook survey finds a surprising degree of optimism amongst employers about short and medium employment prospects, suggesting that recruitment and redundancy expectations are at present being more strongly influenced by the recent strength of the UK economy than by forecasts of an economic slowdown next year.
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England`s smokers have dirtiest habit
Smokers in England are the worst for ditching their dog ends on the street, compared to the rest of the UK.
Keep Britain Tidy released the first ever statistics on the rise of flung fag ends since the smoking ban was brought in - showing that it has shot up by 43% in England. .
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Canada's number one sports and entertainments venue has equipped its premises with Tork in a bid to reduce its environmental footprint
The Air Canada Centre in Toronto has announced a multi-year agreement with SCA Tissue North America to use recycled Tork-branded towel, tissue and napkin products throughout the complex.
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Companies running fewer than 100 company cars are failing to make the link between 'green' fleet management and reducing overall operating costs, according to a survey conducted by Jaama at its Fleet Management Essentials workshops.
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Environmental contractor responds to deadly MRSA outbreak
As dozens of cases of MRSA are being reported across the US, including the death of a 17-year-old Virginia high school student, some school districts are taking the proactive step of bringing in licensed environmental contractors to decontaminate the facilities. Marcor Remediation, a national contractor with offices throughout the US, is on standby to work with school districts that are either affected by an outbreak or wish to clean as a preventive measure.
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Thailand's Public Health Ministry has called on the public to cooperate in getting rid of rats before the rainy season arrives, reports the Thai News Agency.
Describing rat eradication as an important public health mission as rats carry many infectious diseases, Director General Thawat Suntrajarn of the Disease Control Department, said that the Ministry has declared April as the month of rat elimination, and that during this time all departments would jointly destroy rodents to prevent their rapid reproduction.
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If you are a professional window cleaner, not only does Ettore offer without exception the finest tools for the job, but now there is also free membership of the Ettore Members Club that provides Club Card holders with ongoing exclusive offers and advice that is not dependent upon your turnover, number of employees, or how much you spend.
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European Commission pursues legal action over Italy's waste management failures
The European Commission is continuing legal action against Italy over two cases involving violations of EU legislation to protect human health and the environment against the risks posed by waste. The Commission is taking Italy to the European Court of Justice over the waste crisis that has continued to plague Naples and the Campania region for over a year now.
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European Scrutiny
The cross-party Commons European Scrutiy Committee has published a report which will have a major impact on the debate about whether there should be a referendum on the revived Constitutional Treaty. The report finds that the new Treaty is "substantially equivalent to the Constitutional Treaty", including for the UK.
It finds that the UK Government's claims that the new treaty no longer has the characteristics of a constitution are "less than helpful", and "likely to be misleading".
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European show's conference programme unveiled
ISSA, Amsterdam RAI and Polish Cleaning Association, the organisers of this year's ISSA/Interclean Central & Eastern Europe Trade Fair in Warsaw (20th - 22nd June) has unveiled the show's in-depth three day conference programme.
Building on the success of the 2003 and 2005 shows, 2007 will feature by far the richest programme of events covering virtually every aspect of the cleaning industry in the region. Mark Armitage, Director of European Services, ISSA Europe, commented:
"A must-attend for anyone wanting to claim a share in Central and Eastern European cleaning and hygiene markets, the conference will feature speakers from the region's major commercial players, leading decision makers and industry representatives."
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ExpoClean/Pulire launches in 2008
Russian cleaning and laundry exhibition & conference ExpoClean will in future be known as ExpoClean/Pulire, following a partnership agreement announced at the ExpoClean 2007 show last month.
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Exporting boosts productivity by one third
Firms that begin to export boost their business productivity by up to a third in the first year. This is one of the key findings of new research published by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), the UK Government's trade and investment development organisation. The paper confirms that in general in the UK, exporting firms are more productive than non-exporters, and are more likely to stay in business. The report suggests that this is likely to reflect improvements made by companies preparing to export. It also shows that some 60% of UK productivity growth during the period 1996-2004 was attributable to exporting firms.
"Globalisation presents challenges and opportunities for business. It is clear that working in global markets gives companies an opportunity to up their game," says Trade and investment Minister Ian McCartney.
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Extra holidays for up to six million workers
On Tuesday, the Department of Trade & Industry confirmed that it is to boost the minimum holiday entitlement from 20 days a year to 24 days this October, and to 28 days from April 2009. It has also announced incentives for early implementation, in response to recent industry consultation on the changes. The new regulations will benefit up to 3.5million women and 2.5million men.
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This spring, hundreds of facilities management professionals from across the US will meet in Denver, Colorado for the International Facility Management Association's Industries Forum 2008 - a three-day conference covering the latest issues, trends and best practices affecting the built environment. Attendance is open to both IFMA members and non-members.
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Lancashire-based Gazelle Steam Cleaning Services was last week fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £14,257 costs after an employee fell approximately three metres from a faulty ladder - suffering permanent disability.
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Figures published yesterday indicate that although over the last decade there has been a steady and significant reduction in fatal injuries due to falls from height, this type of accident continues to be the most common type of workplace accident, accounting for 19% of the 241 fatal injuries to workers in 2006/07.
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Over three quarters of 18-24 year olds depend on takeaways to sober themselves up or solve their midnight munchies after a having had a few too many drinks in the pubs and clubs.