Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 17th January 2013 Issue no. 553
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  International News
Products Danger: chemicals! New online toolkit alerts workers and employers to hazard pictograms A new toolkit highlighting the changes to the labelling of chemical substances has been launched by EU-OSHA, the European Agency for Safety & Health at Work. The toolkit helps employers and their workers handle dangerous substances with care and keep themselves safe at work. The High Seas Hobbit toilet wins the 2012 Lepicol Home Throne Award
BICSc to discontinue COPC qualification The British Institute of Cleaning Science has announced that the Cleaning Operator's Proficiency Certificate (COPC), along with Food Premises Cleaning Certificate (FPCC) and Healthcare Professionals Cleaning Certificate (HPCC) will be discontinued and withdrawn from use from 31st March 2013 following the establishment of the Cleaning Professional Skill Suite (CPSS). Swedish hospitals failing toilet hygiene guidelines The majority of hospitals in Sweden are not following the country's guidelines for toilet hygiene, with many only cleaning the toilets once a day or less, according to an investigation by the Dagens Nyheter newspaper (DN). The investigation revealed that only seven of Sweden's 53 biggest hospitals adhere to the national guidelines, which suggest at least two toilet cleanings a day. Blaklader to launch multi-certified product range designed for tough conditions
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Britain has seen three major High Street chains go into administration this week: Jessops (for many years The High Street's camera specialist), Blockbuster (the long-time leader in home video/DVD rental) and HMV (the last remaining dedicated music outlet). As well as the recession, people are blaming the companies' failures on the growing use of the Internet for personal shopping and for Jessops this is particularly sad as its staff have shared their extensive expertise with customers interested in finding out about a camera's attributes... they've demonstrated how the camera works and allowed the customer to 'have a play around with it' before seeing the customer go off to, no doubt, search for and buy the camera online, to save money. Perhaps if the marketing people had been a bit more switched on they'd have found a way of using the superior service offered in-store to the company’s advantage - perhaps even by charging for it and then offering discount vouchers to be put towards purchases made at the store. I don’t know if the company had an Internet-based mail order business but if it did, it wasn’t publicised enough. Jessops' demise needs to be taken as a warning to other companies like it, to find a way to work with the Internet rather than ignore it in the hope that it won’t take too much business away. And while the reports talk about the number of job losses related to each company’s closure, no-one ever mentions the number of cleaners who’ve lost their jobs because of the closures, do they?
Please get in touch either by emailing me or posting a comment on our Facebook page. www.facebook.com/Cleanzine Yours,
     This Week's News
REACH regs remain 'Elephant in the Room' for industry as fears grow over awareness - EEF survey Britain's manufacturers are being urged to get to grips with the requirements of a European Directive on the restriction or banning of certain hazardous substances, or face the prospect of unlimited fines or even prison through a failure to comply. Seminar: The New EU Biocidal Products Regulation: Applicable in Six Months and Counting A full day seminar is being held on 7th March 2013 in Brussels on the new EU biocidal products regulation (BPR). The seminar, 'The New EU Biocidal Products Regulation: Applicable in Six Months and Counting', will provide an opportunity for regulators and commercial actors at all stages of the supply and use chains to discuss issues of common interest and concern. Swedish cleaner goes off the rails!
FM professional and membership bodies "failing employers" - FM chief spearheads campaign for action
New colour for Karcher products makes differentiation easier
AffLink notes emerging distributor and supply chain trends for 2013 AffLink, the US-based sales & marketing organisation for the professional cleaning and building industries, has just released its jansan distributor predictions for 2013.
According to Michael Wilson, Marketing Director for AffLink, the predictions focus on emerging trends that the company believes will impact professionals in both the cleaning and building industries. UK business needs smarter spending strategies for growth Industry report finds lack of awareness at board level of spending habits and inefficient supply chains holding back businesses. Expense Reduction Analysts is launching a report as part of its 'Smarter spending for business' campaign, calling on UK businesses to implement smarter spending strategies to aid their chances of success or survival in 2013. China air pollution hits record levels but relief may be close at hand - for some Air Pollution is a major problem in China due to the country's rapid pace of industrialisation, reliance on coal power, growth in car ownership and disregard for environmental issues - and in some areas the related health problems are escalating. One of Beijing's worst rounds of air pollution recently kept school children indoors and sent coughing residents to hospitals. Reports Dr Huang Aiben, of Beijing;s Shijitan Hospital: "The Beijing Shijitan Hospital received 20% more patients than usual at its respiratory health department, most of them coughing and seeking treatment for bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory ailments. Idrobase Group closes 2012 at +13% and sets the targets for 2013
Clever FM solution can help increase efficiency and lower costs
Triangle Services commences operations In Colombia
Brighton hospitals pay dispute: an update Further to last week’s story regarding industrial action by cleaners and some of their support service colleagues at Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, this joint statement has been issued by the GMB union and Sodexo, the employer: Following negotiations between GMB and Sodexo that took place in London to resolve the ongoing dispute about Sodexo’s contract in Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, a proposal has been made to resolve the dispute which will now be put to staff on site. Holden Industries acquires Vector Technologies
The Cleanzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The Cleanzine. If you would like to run a search of the The Cleanzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. How to contact us at The Cleanzine:
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Our weekly updated Hospital Hygiene features current developments and product solutions cleaning and hygiene industry manufacturers are coming up with. Read More. Recent UK News
Biggest idiot on a ladder crowned by Ladder Association after public vote
The countdown is on to the opening of the UK's leading showcase for all products and services used in the cleaning & support services industry. The Cleaning Show 2013, which the organiser says is set to be the largest in the event's history, with pre-registered visitors up by 70%, will take place from March 19th -21st at Birmingham's NEC. Soapbox: Funding needed to keep Britain's open spaces clean and litter-free
LOTY 25th Anniversary winner is Staffordshire County Council
UKCPI Council welcomes new leaders
New partnership to find work for unemployed people in Wales Industry skills body Asset Skills has formed a partnership with a specialist training provider in Wales to train and find work for 50 unemployed people. Hull firms in court for worker's death in roof fall
Carlisle awarded Arriva contract
Housing and care provider appoints eight contractors Housing and care provider Midland Heart has selected eight contractors to take forward its Environmental Services. Vectair partners gynaecological cancer research charity to launch its Femcare MVP range
Synergy Health shows support for MRSA Action UK
As part of the sponsorship agreement, Synergy Health's Infection Prevention & Control division will also be making a donation to the charity of five pence for each UK purchase of its 50ml or 600ml alcohol free Assure hand sanitizer. UBM Live unites Facilities Show and FM Event for 2013 UBM Live, the organiser of Facilities Show and The FM Event, announced this week that the FM Event will merge with Facilities Show for 2013. Taking place from 14th -16th May at Birmingham's NEC, Facilities Show 2013 is the annual flagship event dedicated to those working across the full spectrum of facilities management. Avoid the perils of window cleaning in frozen wintery conditions
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